Learning to Love, Chapter 15, Escaflowne
Author: angelwarriar
Email: crystaldreamer06@yahoo.com
Notes: Thanks to all of my faithful reviewers!! I really appreciate the reviews that I get for each new chapter!! And I know that this is nothing new for me, but I would just like to apologize to all of you for my delay of chapters!! I'm not going to complain about my life or anything, but I am working as fast as I can!! Thanks!
Hitomi, Van, Merle, and Collin were all sitting comfortably around a crystal clear pond that sparkled under the burning sun. They were all laughing and joking, trying to forget what they were going to have to do soon. Collin and Van were leaning against some trees, while Hitomi and Merle were leaning against their chests.
"Um, you guys," Merle said hesitantly when they had stopped laughing for a moment, "what exactly is the Powers of Eternity, anyway?"
"Well," Hitomi said, "we were always told of them like a story, so that we would understand them. Once, at the beginning of time, all creatures on Geia were very stupid and were ruled by five gods. The humans were so stupid that they didn't know how to keep warm when cold, they didn't know how to find food, and they couldn't worship the gods. Well, one god, the god of the moon, Ywio, took it personally that the humans wouldn't worship him. So, he decided to make the humans smarter. He stole a little of each god's power and placed it in a rock. He then threw the rock down to Geia, and it hit with a huge explosion. The humans went to sleep stupid and woke up smart. Too smart. They found out how they got smart and decided to rage war against the gods to receive more power. When the other four gods found out what Ywio had done, they banished him from being a god for all eternity. They sent him down to earth to live as a mortal, but sent his spirit to be locked away."
"So the Powers of Eternity is Ywio's spirit?" Merle asked.
"Yes," Hitomi replied. "It's his god-like essence. His power. With it, a person could save the world, or destroy it."
Everyone was silent.
"Hey, are there any fish in the pond?" Merle asked to lighten the mood a bit.
Everyone smiled at her.
"What?" she asked. "It's just a question."
Collin chuckled and got to his feet. "Come on," he pulled her to her feet. "I'll show you." They walked over to the edge of the pond and peered into the water.
"Thought they'd never leave," Van said into Hitomi's ear.
Hitomi smiled coyly and looked back at her husband. "I know what you mean," she said.
Van lowered his head and captured her lips with his own. After a moment, Hitomi began to giggle. Van pulled back and looked at her. "What is so funny?" he asked.
"I'm sorry," Hitomi said, still giggling. "I just remembered something I have to do." She got up and brushed her lips against his. "I'll be right back," she said and went to where Merle and Collin were standing. Van watched with curiosity.
Hitomi snuck up behind the unsuspecting pair quietly. She stood right behind them and waited. She cleared her throat. The couple turned around. Hitomi placed her hands on her brother's chest and pushed. He fell into the water with a yelp and a splash. He emerged from the water soaking wet and glared up to his sister.
"What was that for?" he demanded.
"Next time, you shouldn't push girls into the water when they're trying to get a lilac," she said with a mischievous grin.
Collin grinned back, both of them thinking back to the last day that they saw their parents in the field. "Well," he said. "It's a different story when the girls fall into the water while trying to get a lilac."
"Liar," Hitomi bantered. "You pushed me."
"So," Collin grinned. "Prove it."
"I just did," Hitomi said smugly and walked off. She sat back down in front of Van. He was chuckling as he wrapped his arms around her. They watched as a laughing Merle tried to help Collin out of the water, but only succeeded in soaking him further.
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The sun shone with bright vigor down on the busy village of Ronise. The people were gathering supplies for the trip that was going to take place. At the moment Van and Balgus were with Collin getting some weapons for the journey, while Merle was with some of the other villagers getting some extra blankets and food. Hitomi could see all of this from where she stood at the top of the huge tree house at the end of the village. She stood out on the little balcony enjoying seeing all of the people she loved walking around. She was distracted by the opening and closing of the door at the other end of the room. She stayed like she was, enjoying the view for a little longer. Finally, she turned around and was met with a fire that was glowing in the center of the room. Her grandmother, Nyla, was sitting in front of the fire with her eyes closed. To the side of the fire was the little box that Hitomi had purchased in the antique store in Fanelia. On the other side of the fire was Hitomi's two daggers and what Hitomi recognized to be her grandmother's bo staff. It was long, at least six feet tall with a curve at the top of it. It had writing on the middle of it and crisscross designs at the top and at the end of it. Hitomi moved toward the fire and sat down opposite of her grandmother. Suddenly, Hitomi's grandmother looked up.
"I have brought you here to give you a very special and powerful gift," her grandmother said to her.
Hitomi didn't say anything, just listened to her grandmother's words.
"You will need all the help you can get when you go to face Talik and Sasha at the castle of Ronise," Nyla continued. "I wish to give you this." She reached out her arm and placed something in Hitomi's hand.
Hitomi opened her hand and saw a teardrop shaped light pink pendant nestled in the palm of her hand. She looked up to her grandmother. "Why have you given me this?" she asked. She recognized the pendant to be the one that her grandmother had worn when she was a teenager.
"This pendant is the only thing that can harness the Powers of Eternity," Nyla said to her grandchild. "You must keep it around your neck at all times once the Power has been transferred from the box to there. Do you understand?"
Hitomi nodded her head. "I understand," she said.
"Good," Nyla said. She picked up the box beside the fire and handed it to Hitomi. "You know what to do," she said.
Hitomi took the box and closed her hands over the pendant and the box. A bright light began to produce from the box as the power transfer began. It was like a sting going throughout Hitomi's entire body as the transfer got to it's height. Then it became like a small shiver as it ended. Hitomi opened her eyes. The fire was still burning brightly as it was when she started the transfer, but the moons were shining outside. Nyla was no where to be seen. Hitomi looked down to her hands and saw the pendant that was a light pink was now a beautiful silver color. She clasped it around her neck and tucked it inside her shirt. She stood up for a moment and was surprised at the energy flowing through her body. She turned her attention to the little box still in her hands. She threw it into the fire then walked out of the room. The box burned, and the fire died to complete darkness.
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The horses that the party of five were riding were getting restless standing in the thicket. Van, Hitomi, Collin, Merle, and Balgus had left the village of Ronise four hours ago and had traveled a great distance. The sun was just beginning to rise, lighting the dark morning up just a little. The five of them were hiding in a thicket scanning the open field for any enemy activity.
"I have a bad feeling about this, My Lord," Balgus said to Van. "Something isn't right."
"I know," Van replied, "but we have to get to the other side of the field before the sun completely rises."
The riders got back on their horses and started out across the field in single file. Suddenly, when they had made it halfway without incident, a loud explosion erupted in front of the horses, and they reared back. Guymelefs appeared all around the little group. Van, Collin, and Balgus made a little circle around Hitomi and Merle as best they could. Suddenly, a roar sounded out in the distance. Everyone looked up and saw the Escaflowne descend.
Sorry that it's so short, but I wanted it up tonight!! Please read and review!!
Angelwarriar