::Okay! After this is only the epilogue, so savor the chapter. ^_^ Sorry for the delay in getting this out (over a week, owie) but the semester is ending and my work load would ground the Crusade. Those who read the first version of the story will notice I cut out a character, Tobor. He really didn't serve much of a purpose, so I dropped him into the recycle bin. Please review!::
~Earth~
She woke up in a cold sweat. They were calling her! Oh, why couldn't she just remember? Darcy sat up and got out of bed. She stumbled into the bathroom and splashed her face with water. Seven years ago she had visited a world in turmoil, only to return twice to relive the same day she had left. Strange, yes, but it had proven how much she loved Riu. In the past year she had started having feinting spells when she would relive her experiences on Gaea. Lately the feinting spells had become more frequent and longer, always ending with a scene of Prince Riu falling away from her, calling her back.
Then the pendant had come. She felt around her neck and drew it out from under her nightshirt to gaze at it in the mirror. The yellow stone matched her eyes perfectly, the gold accenting her night black hair. A few nights ago she had been dreaming the same dream ending with Riu falling and calling, but this time the pendant had swung between them like a rope. When she woke up, it had been clutched in her hand.
Every night she had the same dream. Her feinting spells during the day could last for several minutes and occur every ten. While she had been excused from attending her classes to get medical attention, no doctor could find anything wrong. They had suggested stress management therapy, one had said she should be sent to a hospital, but she knew none of it would work. What she needed, none of them could give her. She needed to go back to Gaea, to see Riu and feel his arms around her again, to watch the sun rise over the mountains that separated Riu's country of Basram from Fanalia.
Fanalia: the land where a Draconian was king. There had been rumors while she was in Basram about him traveling around with a girl her age from the Mystic Moon, what the people of Gaea called Earth. Darcy had never had the chance to meet her. Supposedly, this girl and the king had fallen in love at the end of the war with Zaibach, but Darcy had left too soon to know if it was true or not, or if anything would come of it. She had been interested, because Riu was the heir to the Basram throne, and she was a commoner from the Mystic Moon, and their position had been much the same. The difference was Van Fanel was already king, Riu was not. Or had Riu become king and already married? Darcy had no way of knowing except for her dreams, which made it clear he still loved her.
Darcy climbed back into bed and pulled the sheets up to her chin as the tears washed down her cheeks. I want to go—home!
~Gaea~
The carriage jarred Hitomi awake. Van smiled down at her as she sat up and leaned against the back of the seat. She was getting bigger, and she had been forced to buy all new clothes for their visit to Basram. This particular gown was still a bit big, but she'd been assured she'd grow into it. A few minutes after they'd set out she'd fallen asleep against his shoulder. That had been early morning, it was now just past noon. Van knocked on the roof of the carriage. It pulled to a halt. He opened the door and got out, guiding a sleepy and slightly awkward Hitomi out into the chilled air. "Time for a quick stop and lunch," he said. The whole caravan stopped and unloaded food from the cart in back.
Snow made a picnic seem like a ridiculous idea, but they made the best of it by spreading four heavy blankets on the ground. Hitomi was wearing three layers of clothing in addition to her light spring cape and heavy fur cloak, more for Van's benefit than because she was cold. He helped her sit down on the blanket and handed her a canteen of lukewarm soup. She frowned at the soup as she drank it. "I still can't get used to this extra weight, it's like walking around with a basket full of grapes glued to your hip," Hitomi growled.
Merle plopped down languidly and said, "If you wanted to be graceful, you shouldn't have gotten pregnant, so there's no use complaining about it." Hitomi glared at Merle, who smiled showing all of her teeth. Lisa sat on the edge of the blanket and made a snowball before opening her lunch.
Lika, who had been flattered to be invited, took care to choose a spot free of snow before sitting down slowly to keep her snow-covered boots off the blanket. The others ignored this ritual because they had gotten used to it during the week they had been traveling. She took out her soup and hummed with delight at its warmth. At the last inn there had been plenty of room for everyone to have a bed, and they had been sent off with hot stew from the innkeeper's wife. Traveling with a very popular royal couple had its advantages.
"We should be out of the mountains by evening. There are plenty of inns around the pass, so everyone will have a warm bed tonight. I just hope we find what we need," Van said. Everyone nodded. The answer to the wish-energist question was the five pendants and their holders. It had come to Merle's attention that there had been rumors of a girl from the Mystic Moon in the neighboring country of Basram. Apparently, this girl had stolen the Crown Prince Riu's heart before being whisked back home. He had refused to marry all of the princesses and ladies his father had tried to hook him up with, and was reportedly quite moody lately. Guessing it was the same person Hitomi had arrived with, they had set out as soon as the passes were opened.
However, spring was still far away. Hitomi had been adamant on going, so naturally the others in her and Van's close circle had come. Yoii sat beside Merle, who smiled up at him. No secret there, Van was expecting the wedding to be announced in the spring. He had something else to look forward to in the meantime. Hitomi was expecting to give birth at the beginning of the spring rains, and he couldn't help but feel proud of himself every time he saw her. She was glowing, positively glowing!
"Let's keep moving," Van said. He stood and helped Hitomi to her feet. Soldiers folded the damp blankets and put them in the back of the cart. They would make better time now with the luggage so much lighter. The stew had been thick and heavy.
They made it to the other side of the mountains by evening, and had plenty of time to settle in before dark. Luckily, there were plenty of rooms available at the several different inns, and lots of food to feed the hungry travelers. After a good night's rest they were ready to continue down the road to Basram's capital. Hitomi managed to stay awake for this part of the trip, looking out the window at the snowy fields and homes. The royal palace was a sight to behold, perhaps a few halls larger than Fanalia's, and it had impressive stained glass windows.
Van helped Hitomi out of the carriage and Lisa and Lika followed. Merle and Yoii had insisted on riding alongside, and dismounted in time to meet their host. King Duke of Basram came down the steps to greet his noble visitors. With jealous eyes he looked at Hitomi's extended stomach and congratulated Van and Hitomi. He escorted the whole group into the grand hall to meet his son and daughters. King Duke had tried to get Van to marry one of the poor girls, but had failed. He had also failed to convince Prince Riu that any of the women in the whole world were any good. His jealousy of Van and Hitomi wasn't unfounded.
Van could tell right away why the prince had resisted marriage thus far. In the young man's eyes, Van could see the same expression of yearning love he had once seen in his own for Hitomi. No question, it had to be someone either already married, dead, or from the Mystic Moon. He hazarded to guess it was the latter and decided to talk to Riu at the earliest opportunity. Then they were being shown to their rooms, and he spent the rest of the day talking with the king.
After breakfast the next morning, hunting down the somber prince proved easier than Van or Hitomi had anticipated. The young man found them on their way to one of the parlors for a warming cup of tea. Hitomi also insisted on crackers. The pregnancy was proving to be a demanding one, giving Hitomi the appetite of a bottomless pit. She didn't seem to be putting on any more weight than was obvious, so the midwife had said there was nothing to worry about.
"Queen Hitomi!" Prince Riu said as he turned the corner. The couple paused and he came towards them, acting slightly timid despite being the same age. "Um, I have a small question I'd like to ask you." Hitomi nodded and he said in a hushed whisper so only the three of them could hear, "Back on the Mystic Moon, did you know anyone named Darcy Miller?"
Hitomi and Van shared looks and she said, "I'm sorry, but no. However…you know someone from the Mystic Moon?" Riu looked a little surprised, but nodded slowly. Van and Hitomi shared looks again, and Hitomi said excitedly, "We would like to ask you some questions about your Darcy." He looked a little taken aback, but shrugged and followed them to the parlor where tea and biscuits were waiting.
Hitomi saw the food and promptly sat down and buttered a biscuit. She had two before bothering to take a sip of tea. Riu stared. Van saw their companion's reaction and chuckled. "But—we just had breakfast! Wasn't there enough?" The poor prince seemed confused. Had the servants ignored her?
Hitomi sat back with another biscuit and said, "You talk to me again after your wife goes through her first pregnancy." She popped it into her mouth and said, "Now, who is Darcy?"
Riu seemed to brighten up as he spoke. "Darcy was found in the palace gardens about seven years ago. She was unconscious, and father thought someone among the servants had played a trick on her. He had her sent back to the servant's quarters, but the housekeeper sent her back to us because she didn't live there. Father gave her a guest room, and the maids all tended her like she was a visiting duchess. When she woke up, she asked where she was and was totally disoriented.
"We tried to explain to her that she was in Basram's capitol, but she couldn't get past the idea that she was on a planet called Gaea. Father gave up and said she had to be delirious or mad…My sisters and I weren't so sure though. I stayed with her for the afternoon and took her outside to where she'd been found, explaining the circumstances to her. Imagine my surprise when she looked up at the Mystic Moon and started crying about going home." He paused and asked Hitomi, "How did you feel when you arrived on Gaea, anyway?"
Hitomi bit her lip, " I was pretty irritated with Van at the time and didn't feel much homesickness at first." She took a sip of tea and Van waved for Riu to continue.
"Well, Father was surprised and sort of excited that she was from the Mystic Moon. It explained her clothes, weird pants she called "jeans," and her very elaborate sweater. I remember how well the sweater set off her eyes, they were bright yellow, and her hair was black and soft…" His voice trailed off a bit. Van cleared his throat and Riu snapped out of his trance and back into his story. "Oh, uh, anyway, she was treated like visiting royalty. Father had always studied the Mystic Moon and collects things that are believed to have come from it, he has a whole room filled with the stuff. Darcy got on his good side quickly because she gave him some of the things she'd brought with her.
"She'd been camping with some friends and had all of her gear when she arrived. Most of it is still here. She gave me some things, and only kept a few herself. You can see the rest of it with my father's collection. Darcy was very polite and courteous, and I think Father started to look upon her as an adoptive daughter. Then he had to prepare us for war with Zaibach because they had worked their way up to our borders and surrounded us after attacking Fanalia. The guymelefs got Darcy spooked. She saw them marching through the fields one day and started to shake." He paused, and swallowed. "Then she looked at Father in horror and a blue light came down from the Mystic Moon and sent her home."
Riu took a great gulp of his cooling tea and said, "I was walking in the same field the night after, with one of the things she'd given me." He dug into his pocket and brought out a little box. Hitomi saw the knob on the bottom and Riu turned it. The notes of the classic song, "Tomorrow" from Annie filled the room. Hitomi hummed to the tune and Riu stared at her. "You know this song? She used to hum to it, too. Whenever I asked her what the words were, she'd just smile and say she'd tell me someday." He put the tiny music box back in his tunic pocket and said, "Well, that beam of light appeared again and she came back. She was wearing the same clothes she had been when she first arrived, but this time she was conscious and delighted to be here.
"Then, at the end of the war, we were walking in the garden and she said she wouldn't be able to stay because she had things to finish back home. That blue light came down again and she left." He looked defeated. Hitomi rested a hand on his shoulder and made him look up at her.
"You love her, don't you?" she said.
Riu sighed and nodded. "How could I not? I had just asked her to marry me when she said she couldn't stay. She never even said she loved me back before that dratted light took her away." He looked a little angry now, as if the blue light had taken her away just to make him suffer.
Then Van said, "We think she's either come back already, or will soon, Riu." The prince's fallen head shot up. "Hitomi collected five pendants, and thus far each has gone to a person from the Mystic Moon. The fifth should follow the pattern as well. I found an ambiguous and seemingly fruitless prophecy about five youths from the Mystic Moon who come in three groups…To renew Gaea's "Blood." I'm still trying to figure that one out."
Prince Riu looked at Van and then at Hitomi and her distended belly and chuckled. "I can't believe it, you of all people didn't figure out what the prophecy meant? Hello! You, who are about to become a father, don't know how the five people from the Mystic Moon are supposed to renew our blood?"
Van blinked, looked at Hitomi, and laughed. Hitomi looked at him in surprise, then the meaning dawned on her and she smiled. How bizarre, she wondered who Lisa would end up with? Or Lika? Or Yoii… Now that would take some thought, he loved a cat-woman. Hmmm…
They decided to try to bring Darcy to Basram from the garden. Riu was feeling anxious to say the least, and Hitomi couldn't help but feel excited. She took a deep breath and let it out. Then she held the pendant in both hands, closed her eyes, and wished. Darcy, Darcy, can you hear me? Riu is here, Gaea needs you to come home.
At Riu's cry of surprise, she opened her eyes and saw the blue light appear. When it cleared away, a girl with thick, black hair wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt stood before them. The red shirt showed off the pendant beautifully. Hitomi noticed that it matched her eyes. Then Riu shot past and picked Darcy up and swung her around. At first Darcy seemed too surprised to move, then she clung to Riu and started to cry with joy.
Van put an arm around Hitomi's shoulders and she leaned against him. Yes, she knew how they felt, but the joy of seeing Van again had been dampened by the holes left by poisoned arrows. Not liking those dark thoughts, she concentrated on the rejoicing couple. They kissed fiercely, and then Riu finally set Darcy on her feet. To Hitomi's surprise, Darcy was a good five inches shorter than herself. She looked a little tired, but if she was a college student that was excusable.
Darcy saw Hitomi and Van and gasped. Riu let her go, but kept hold of her hand. Darcy walked toward them with her eyes wide and mouth hanging open like a fish and said, "You, I know you." Hitomi blinked. Did she know her? No, she'd have remembered those eyes. "You were in my dream, you told me to sprout wings and fly."
Hitomi felt slightly uncomfortable, but shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about. I'm Hitomi de Fanel, and you must be Darcy Miller." Darcy smiled and shook her hand. Van and Riu watched the ceremony with interest.
Darcy smiled and said, "You're the girl from the Mystic Moon everyone was talking about when I was last here. Tell me, did you ever go back?" Hitomi nodded. Darcy sighed with relief, "At least I'm not the only one who couldn't seem to stay put." Then she turned and held out a hand to Van. "You must be Van Slanzar de Fanel, the King of Fanalia." He took her hand and bowed over it instead of a more familiar shake.
Then Riu held Darcy's hand up to his lips and kissed it. "Have you had time to ponder my proposal? I think you should be able to stay on Gaea now, Lady Hitomi has." Darcy gave Hitomi another look and noticed the pregnancy. Then she threw her arms around Riu's neck and whispered something. He laughed and spun her around again. Hitomi guessed Darcy had answered positively. The couples danced around in the snow like children.
King Duke came around the corner of a hedge and said, "What's all this racket?" He saw Darcy and Riu and his frown turned into a wide grin. "You're back! When? How? Lady Hitomi, is this your work?" Hitomi smiled and nodded her head. "I thank you to no end! Darcy! Dove-let you've returned! Oh, we must celebrate this occasion. The King and Queen of Fanalia, and four new arrivals from the Mystic Moon. Oh yes, we must celebrate!" He ran off leaving the four young people half stunned.
The group found a bench and sat down. "Your room is just how you left it," Riu said to Darcy. "I don't think many of your old dresses will fit, but we can get you some new ones right away." She smiled at him thankfully.
Van helped Hitomi take a seat on his lap so she could lean back against him. Darcy rested her head on Riu's shoulder. "Where did you get your pendant?" Hitomi asked. It was an innocent enough question, with hidden meaning. She was certain Darcy was the one they needed, but still needed to be sure sure.
Darcy fingered it and noticed Hitomi's pendant. She smiled down at it and said, "I had a dream with this pendant in it one night, when I woke up it was in my hand. I haven't taken it off since." She let it go. "Why do you ask? Do you want it?"
Hitomi held up a hand. "No, no, I was just wondering if you were truly the person we came all the way out here to find." Riu held Darcy's hand protectively and Darcy frowned. "You see, a few months ago we retrieved an energist with wishing powers from the Gous desert and have been put in charge of destroying it or containing it. All of our research has pointed towards these pendants and their owners renewing the power that the people of Atlantis used to bring Gaea into existence. This deed we hope will purify the power left on Gaea and eliminate the energist."
Riu looked fascinated, Darcy looked confused. "You mean, I'm one of the people who's going to save the planet?" Hitomi and Van nodded. "Oh brother, and I was hoping for a quiet life." Hitomi laughed and Van smiled. Riu grinned at Darcy.
"Believe me, when you're Queen of Basram, your life will be many things, and none of it quiet," Riu said. Darcy blinked.
"That's right, I marry you I become a queen. That honestly never occurred to me."
Hitomi smiled and said, "You'll get used to it. Just attach yourself to the housekeeper's hip for a few months and you'll do fine." Van made a snorting noise and Hitomi looked at him. "What? I've been doing a fine job so far. And I grew up expecting to only have to deal with my family's meals and cleaning a house, not managing servants all over a castle."
Darcy grinned and asked, "What country are you from, Hitomi?"
Hitomi blinked in surprise. "Japan, why do you ask?" Darcy looked surprised. "Let me guess, you can't figure out why you understand me." She nodded. "I don't know. I suspect it's something about Gaea's effect on people so they can communicate no matter what language they're speaking. We have strange accents because we're actually speaking languages completely different from their own. We can also read the ancient Draconian texts and things that they can't without intense study."
Darcy laughed. "And here I thought I'd have to learn five other languages to be a good queen. What a relief. I wonder why it isn't this easy on Earth? It would solve so many problems." She and Hitomi sighed. Earth was a chaotic mess of cultures, and communication was a worldwide epidemic.
They ended the conversation on a more positive note, lunch, and went to find some. The palace seamstress kidnapped Darcy for the afternoon, with Hitomi in tow making suggestions and comments.While they were outside, Riu's arms had kept Darcy warm, a service her new clothes would hopefully render. Hitomi had been wearing layer upon layer of clothing, making her look slightly plump. Chalk one up for maternal nerves, Darcy thought.
Riu announced his and Darcy's engagement two days later at a small dinner party. King Duke had no objections whatsoever, and expensive wine was poured to celebrate. It took some prodding, but Hitomi and Van managed to convince King Duke to let Riu and Darcy visit Fanalia for a few weeks prior to the wedding, for which they would return to Basram.
The whole group headed out a month after Hitomi and Van and the others had arrived. The trip took over a week, and caused some of Van's advisors to grow a few more white hairs. Ever since Hitomi had gotten pregnant they'd been worried about everything. Should she ride? Should she travel? Should she be allowed out of doors during the winter? Hitomi had answered that for them by going on this trip. With about a month to go, she wasn't too worried. Van felt that she would have been worse than the advisors if they hadn't been so clingy. It made her rebel.
Anyway, the trip had been very successful. The King of Basram was now a close friend and avid supporter of Fanalia's monarchs. Van knew he could count on Basram for assistance if he should need it, and Basram would receive Fanalia's help if needed. Nothing had been written formally because there was no need. The politics had become a silent understanding between friends without official strings attached.
The castle was teaming with servants when they arrived. Van had only just helped Hitomi out of the carriage when the captain of the guard came running out and bowed saying, "My King, we have disturbing news. Someone broke into your personal vault a few nights ago and took the energist. We don't know who or exactly when." Van and Hitomi traded pale looks and rushed through the corridors and hallways and stairways to the study. The door was wide open, the room as it had been when the servant had discovered it. Hitomi waked slowly to the vault behind the bookcase and touched it.
She stiffened, and Van rushed to her side to hold her up. Hitomi's eyes went out of focus and she watched the crime take place. A woman dressed in tight and dark clothing skillfully opened the window and slipped in without a sound. She walked right up to the bookcase and pulled it aside to reveal the safe. With only a minimum of tampering she got it open and removed the box with the energist. Then she pushed some papers of the desk, removed a few books to lay down in a quiet mess on the floor and left back through the window.
Hitomi blinked and saw Van looking down at her, worried. "It was a woman, a very skilled thief. She messed up the room and left right after. She was either being paid enough that she didn't need to take anything else, or she just wanted the energist."
Van helped her get back on her feet and together they straightened their papers and the books. Then they sat down and stared out the window. How could this have happened? They were so close to dealing with the problem. Then Hitomi said, "If the pendants purify all of Gaea, it shouldn't matter where the energist is." Van sighed, she was probably right, but he didn't want to be the one to tell the other kings and ruling dukes that the energist had been stolen. There was no getting around it; they would want him to go after it.
"Could you dowse for it, Hitomi? Like you did the first time?" he asked. She looked at him in surprise.
"You're not going to try to go after it are you?" she asked, horrified at the thought of him going off and leaving her alone with the baby due soon.
Van just stared out the window at the fading sun and said, "I have to appease politics. First comes the energist. I give it a try, then come home and tell those who need to know. We don't want a panic, and I need to keep the other countries happy by saying I tried. It shouldn't take long."
Reluctantly, Hitomi agreed. She pinpointed the energist along the shore of Erchras, due East of Fanalia. Van organized the expedition so it could set out the following morning. He was up and gone before Hitomi, and she missed him from the moment she woke to find his side of the bed empty.
----
For a week she forced herself to be cheerful and to entertain her guests. She spent most of her time with Lika, who did not have a sweetheart to whisk her away into serious conversation or to dream over. Hitomi found her mind during their talks wandered to Van. He had notified the King of Erchras of the situation the same day he set out, and Hitomi received a message from Yoii (Who had insisted on going) saying they had received permission to enter Erchras and reclaim the energist.
At the end of the week, Yoii failed to give her his daily message to assure her all was well. By sunset, Hitomi was in a panic. The midwife pleaded with her to calm down for the baby's sake, and only then did she stop having hysterics. Riu insisted on recruiting some men to go help Van. Naturally, the women objected, but the men left anyway. Merle disappeared right after, and everyone could guess where she had gone.
Lisa also got a jolt when word came that Alan and the Crusade had gone to help. Hitomi dowsed for the energist again and found it exactly where it had been before. Then she dowsed for Van and found him where the energist was. Was he Okay then? Why hadn't Yoii sent her any news yet?
The answer arrived two weeks after Van had left. Yoii rode in on a weary horse, streaked with dust and dirt. Hitomi ran outside as fast as her altered shape could allow. "Where's Van, Yoii? And the others? Are they all right?" she felt like she couldn't get her questions out fast enough.
Yoii looked angry, furious. "Whoever it is that has the energist knows what they're doing. Everyone is caught in these giant red globes, frozen. I got out because my pendant started to glow and it melted the red crystal into jelly. I think we know what that vision of your means, now."
Lisa gasped. "What about the others? Alan, Riu, Merle?"
Yoii froze. "Merle? Merle went out there?!"
Hitomi grabbed his arms before he could go ballistic and said, "Follow me, we'll dowse and find out if everyone else is caught there as well."
They went to the map room and Hitomi pulled out the map of Erchras she had been using. She held her pendant above it and swung it back and forth. Then it froze over the same spot where the energist was. The others looked at Hitomi hopefully. Hitomi dropped the pendant on the map in her astonishment and said, "They're trapped, they're all trapped."
The five people from the Mystic Moon were frozen in time. Their loved ones were caught. They were not safe, they were in danger. Why? This couldn't be happening. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!
Hitomi and the others ran as one to the roof. Startled servants and guards jumped out of the way of the rampaging group. They held their pendants in their hands. "Come on, come on!" Lika said to her pendant. "Glow! Do something!" They burst out into the air and stood on the edge of the castle battlements, glaring at their pendants in frustration.
Then the pendants did glow, and Hitomi felt an itch. She frowned and continued to concentrate on her pendant. The others were looking strained, too. Why did her back itch so much? Then she heard cloth ripping. And she felt her dress tighten across her chest and then she felt a release. Golden wings sprung from her back. Gold! Metallic gold wings fashioned like the Draconians. Hitomi stared at the gold feather that fell onto her palm.
She looked around, and saw the others had wings, too. They all stared at each other. Then Yoii faced East and said grimly, "Let's go." He didn't need to say anymore. They took off from the roof. People below stared and pointed. Golden Draconians! The group flew with all speed along the coast. Hitomi felt her baby kick. She faltered a moment, thinking it might not be good exercise for the baby, then shook her head and continued. Nothing was going to happen to her and Van's baby. It would be fine. Now she needed to worry about Van.
They flew faster than Hitomi thought ought to be possible, then they saw the cove ringed with giant red crystals. The Crusade was landed a mile or so back, and motionless. They swooped down and landed on the beach. Suddenly, they were stuck fast in red rock. Hitomi couldn't move, she felt her baby kick furiously. Then she could move, and she shoved her way out. Yoii caught her as she left her red prison. The others gathered round.
Hitomi held up her pendant and said, "Let's get this over with and go home." The others nodded and took up positions around her. Yoii with the green pendent stood to the North, Lisa with the white pendant was to the South. Lika with the blue pendant stood to the West, and Darcy with the yellow pendant stood to the East. They were about to hold out their pendants when an arrow shot right by Hitomi's ear.
They all turned and Hitomi saw the woman who had stolen the energist. Her face was horribly scarred; her black eyes were filled with hate. Even her blond hair, which could have been considered a gorgeous color, was a mess. She carried a crossbow. "You! You dare to try to ruin my dream!" she said to Hitomi. Hitomi backed up a step, then stood firm. She wouldn't show any fear to this hag.
The woman came closer, a loose arrow in one hand. "I thought if I killed the king you would stay away, never come back. But he lived, and brought you here at the same time!" She put the arrow on the bow and snapped it into place. "They say the five travelers from the Mystic Moon will save it, but I don't want this damned world to be saved! I'm going to take everyone with me in the end!" She aimed and shot at Hitomi again. The shot missed. The woman screamed and threw down the bow. She charged at Hitomi, but hit an invisible wall between Yoii and Lika. The woman fell back. Then she fumbled in her pockets and Hitomi knew what she was trying to get at.
Hitomi held up her pendant. The others held up theirs, and a light golden glow began to rise around them. It swirled like a mist around Hitomi's legs, gathering around and growing denser. Then the others sprouted their wings once again, and took off like rockets in the four cardinal directions. The golden mist followed them in four huge waves.
The woman shrieked as the energist burned a hole through her clothes to fall to the ground and shatter like glass. Hitomi and the pendant glowed gold, her wings spread slowly as the others covered more and more of Gaea with the healing mist. Then the woman stood, shaking. Hitomi could barely see her through the mist, but she did hear the woman's fanatical cry as she charged toward the unguarded queen. Hitomi's wings closed around her in an impenetrable gold shell. The woman clawed and fought to get through, but could not. She fell back, and Hitomi opened her wings to let the last of the gold mist out as her wings spread to their fullest.
Darcy, Lika, Lisa, and Yoii all came back from the opposite directions they had gone in. They landed and encircled Hitomi with their wings. Just look at us, Hitomi thought, smiling proudly. We're grinning like idiots and it's all Okay, because we just saved the world. It's a nice feeling. Then they all fell into the gold mist.
All they could see was white and bright light. When it cleared they were standing in a large throne room. Everything was made of white marble and touched with gold. An old man sat on the golden throne and said in a booming voice, "You have used my gifts well, now you must choose what form to take."
Yoii frowned. "What form?"
The old man said, "Every man, woman, and child who left Atlantis for Gaea was used to using their will to shift into whatever form they pleased, but on Gaea they had resolved not to do that. Some chose to look like sea creatures or live on land, some became Draconians and kept their wings, some became mer-folk. You are from the Mystic Moon, make a choice."
Lika smiled. "I'll remain human."
Lisa nodded. "Me, too."
Yoii rubbed his chin for a moment, then straightened and said, "I'd like to be one of the cat-people." The old man nodded and they all looked at Hitomi.
"Ah, you must be careful, Hitomi, for there isn't enough of the Draconian blood in you for your offspring to be like their father, but your choice may change that." Hitomi truly felt the weight around her girth then. She put protective arms around her middle.
"I want to be a Draconian, like Fanalia's queen should be," she said. He nodded, and raised a hand to dismiss them. Then Hitomi thought of something and held up a hand, "Wait!"
"What is it? Do you wish to reconsider your choice?" He was patience itself.
Hitomi shook her head. "No, but, I was wandering, are the Draconians really cursed? If what you say is true, than everyone on Gaea is descended from Atlantis and cursed."
The old man shook his head. "The only curse is that the Draconian people remained in Atlantis and the Mystic Valley after its fall. When they emerged, the people accused them of trying to go back to the old ways. That is how the curse came about."
She sighed and bowed as far as her distended middle allowed. "Thank-you." The old man lifted a hand, and threw it down. The gold mist rose and the throne room disappeared.
----
"Hitomi? Hitomi? Hitomi!" Van cried. He and the others had watched in awe as she and the others from the Mystic Moon had arrived using shining wings. Then the others had flown off to spread the mist and left her alone. Thankfully she'd been able to protect herself, but when the crystals had shattered with the energist, there hadn't been enough time to reach the beach before Hitomi and the others with their golden wings dissolved into mist. Then they'd reformed, but slightly different.
Hitomi opened her eyes and saw Van's scared face above hers. She blinked and sat up. He helped her to her feet. "I feel like a cramped hatchling," Hitomi muttered, and she stretched with a yawn. The soldiers gasped when golden wings sprung from her back through her tattered dress. She looked back and said, "I think I'm going to need a new dress." Then Yoii moaned and she went over to him.
Indeed, he was now a cat-man. Merle edged forward slowly, her eyes wide. Hitomi helped her little brother stand, using her wings for balance. He yawned and stretched. A tail popped out from the seat of his pants. Merle yipped for joy and jumped on him, throwing him back down on the ground. "Ouch," he said with a mischievous smile, not really meaning it.
I don't know if I can get used to that, Hitomi thought. Then she thought of her poor parents and chuckled. Alan helped Lisa to her feet. Hitomi noticed him checking her for wings and cat ears. When Lisa yawned and nothing came out of hiding, he smiled and gave her good long kiss. Gaddes and the other soldiers hooted.
Hitomi just stood in Van's arms. To kiss would be a bit too awkward with her stomach in the way. Then she felt something trickle down her legs and her stomach cramped. She bent over slightly and moaned. Everything stopped. Then she half collapsed as the next contraction took her. Her wings were retracted back into her smooth back, so Van picked her up. Without a second thought, he removed his shirt and spread his own wings, flying with great speed back towards Fanalia.
He made it in plenty of time. He had to pace for a couple hours outside of the bedroom while nurses rushed in and out. Once in a while he would hear Hitomi cry out, and his heart would lurch at the sound, then he'd walk faster telling himself she was getting the best help she could. She was the Queen of Fanalia, this child would probably be the heir, and no one was skimping on this birth.
Then, just after he had finished a hasty dinner—his first meal in days—the shouting stopped and he heard an infant wailing. A second later it grew louder. It took all his willpower to keep himself from running through the door. Was Hitomi all right? Was it a boy or a girl? Was the baby all right? The door opened and the midwife nodded to him. He dashed inside. The nurses were pulling up the sheets around Hitomi. Her hair stuck to her forehead, and he could see a few golden feathers lying about.
Hitomi looked up and saw Van enter. She smiled and jiggled the little bundles she was holding. "We have twins, Van," she said, her voice sort of breathy. He looked down in surprise. "A boy and a girl, our daughter is the older one, though." Van hesitantly took the boy from Hitomi and looked down at the little face.
Dark green eyes looked up at him, trustingly. Van smiled down at the little boy and he smiled back, showing plenty of his gums. He heard baby laughter coming from the baby girl Hitomi held. "What are we going to name them?" Hitomi asked.
Van looked at Hitomi, then at the babies. "How about Volkan and Varie?"
Hitomi looked up in surprise. "Wasn't Varie your mother?" He nodded. She looked at the baby in her arms and smiled. "Varie it is, then. I know what Volkan is based on, and I think it's a wonderful name." The proper papers were signed, and announcements made. There was quite a celebration. When the weary warriors made it back form Erchras, they found the city drinking blessings to its new prince and princess.
"Twins?" Yoii said. Hitomi looked up to find her friends standing in the doorway. She smiled and put Volkan back in the basket.
"Come see your niece and nephew, Yoii." He and Merle leaned over the side of the baskets and went, "Awwwe."
Lisa and Alan came over next, Hitomi held up Volkan for them to see. At Lisa's request, Hitomi handed him over, carefully folding her friend's arms in the correct position. Then she picked up Varie just in time to show her off to Lika . Then Darcy and Riu brought up the rear. They were all so focused on the babies that no one noticed the first, "Excuse me?" Hitomi just happened to turn toward the doorway and see her mother and father waiting there. Her mother looked only a tad older than when she'd seen her last, and her father looked much stronger with arms like a lumberjack. She rushed over and gave them a big hug.
Seeing her rush away made everyone turn. Yoii and Merle came forward, each holding one of the babies. "They're Volkan and Varie, Mom," Hitomi said. Mrs. Kanzaki held the little girl and looked up with a frown.
"Varie and Volkan, did you say? What strange names." Everyone shuffled his or her feet, awkward at the woman's ignorance.
Alan cleared his throat and said, "Varie was Van's mother, and Volkan is a variation on Folken, who was Van's older brother." Everyone was somber. They knew about the tragedies that had ruled Van's life The Kanzakis caught on and looked at the babies with new respect. Then Van came in, all smiles, and the oppressive atmosphere was lost and the people played with the babies until they were ready for a diaper change.
It was then that Mr. Kanzaki noticed something different about his son's appearance. "Yoii, what heck did you do to yourself..?"