Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or W.I.T.C.H or any of the characters etc.

Chapter 4.

Van and Hitomi sat with the Guardians around a table in the silver dragon - Hay Lin's parents restaurant. Van had insisted on keeping quiet until they were some place they could relax. Now they were seated towards the rear of the restaurant Will started off the conversation.

"So who are you?" she asked.

"The names Van Fanel, King of Fanelia." he replied. "This is Hitomi Kanzaki."

"Your a king!" Cornelia exclaimed, wide-eyed.

"Yes, why is that surprising?" he asked confused.

"Well, we don't really have kings around here." Irma interrupted.

"Why not?"

"It's not important, we're getting side-tracked." Taranee spoke up.

"How did you get here?" Will asked.

Van looked at Hitomi strangely.

"We...don't really know." he said. "We were just in my kingdom one moment then the next we were in that strange place."

"Metamoor." added Hay Lin.

"Well whatever brought you here grabbed Phobos's attention." said Will.

"Can you help us get back?" asked Hitomi. "To Van's world."

"Van's world?" said Cornelia confused. "Shouldn't that be 'our world' "

"No I'm from Earth not Gaea." replied Hitomi.

"How did you get to this other world then?" asked Hay Lin curiously.

"It's a long story but I want to return to Gaea with Van for the moment."

"Ok we'll help however we can." said Cornelia looking at the other guardians.

"Thank you." Van added.

Cedric stood in the centre of Phobos's room with a nervous look on his now human face.

"You failed." Phobos said calmly.

"The guardians interfered my prince." Cedric bowed. "But I have a plan."

"Go on."

"All I need to do is get the girl then that little brat will give himself up."

"And how do you plan to get this girl?"

"I'm going to wait on Earth until she's alone then it will take no effort to grab her and bring her through the portal, where I will then put her in the prison."

"I want them brought here."

"Sire!" Cedric raised his voice slightly with his confusion.

Phobos glared at him with an icy stare, Cedric backed away slightly and lowered his head.

"Forgive me my lord." he said quickly. "I was just wondering why you would risk having them so close."

"If I'm to absorb their powers I have to learn first exactly WHAT their powers are and to do that i need them close by. No go and don't fail me again."

"Yes sire."

Cedric left the room and Phobos coldly smiled to himself.

End of Chapter 4.
Chapter 5 to come soon.