Author's Notes: This is the last episode within the series. After this one, it will be completely my story.

Drifting Destiny: Chapter 3

I have no idea where I sent him. All I know is that he's somewhere on Gaia still. He only wanted his little brother to be happy, and for Van to be happy, he had to live. Maybe I shouldn't be changing the destiny of all, but someone gave me this power. The power being able to predict the fate of Van is terrifying, but it's something I can live with.

"The Zone of Absolute Fortune?" I understand now. I don't know why or how, but I understand everything going on. People of the Mystic Moon have the ability to shape this world. The Atlanteans gave us this power when Atlantis disappeared so long ago. Maybe they thought they were doing this world a favor. We now know differently.

"Yes. The last process of the Fate Redirector will change our fate. It will grant everyone's wishes, and create absolute happiness. The true potential of the Atlantis Machine will be tested." True happiness can only be achieved from suffering. He knows this, and I know it, but I won't let Dornkirk destroy Gaia. It wasn't his to create, and it's not his to destroy. I know it ruined Atlantis, but it will not destroy Gaia.

"They're fighting because they wish to. You can't grant everybody's wishes in the world! Can't you see that? Some strive for peace while others wish to destroy each other! This won't be a battle; it'll be a massacre," I break off into a whisper as I watch the allies turn on one another. Why is Van still fighting? Is there no hope left?

"If it is their inner desires, then yes, there will be a massacre. If this world was meant for destruction, it will be destroyed along with every life force in it. War is expanding in the Zone of Absolute Fortune, where people's wishes are supposed to be granted. Can't people escape the fate of war? Are people willing to fight?" He studies the battlefield for a moment.

"That can't be. Not everyone in this world wishes for war. Some have even laid down their weapons, and yet the fighting continues. You cannot say you didn't start this war because you created an army large enough to face all the countries of Gaia." I choke as I watch Van fighting his way through the enemy lines. Is Dornkirk so cruel as to keep me here to watch him die?

"Don't! Van, please stop!" Tears sting at my eyes as I blindly run towards him. I know he can't see me, but I yell towards him anyway. He falters for a moment before charging towards Allen. I can't watch as I turn my head away from the battle. I can somehow feel someone looking up at me, and I turn to see Allen's little sister, Celena. I smile sadly at her before looking down at my feet. She tries to yell towards Allen, but it has no effect.

"Why are they fighting still? Can't he see that it's no longer Dilandau?" A few of my tears touch the ground as I move towards the battle unconsciously. Van can't see me, but he can probably feel me. I can feel his every thought reverberating through my blood. Every tear he sheds for Folken, I shed for him. I slowly begin to descend the cliff.

"That's their wish. They choose to fight over Celena, and there's nothing that can stop it. Once the machine has started, it cannot be stopped. Denying this will only make it harder, Hitomi," he says after me. I ignore him as my determination grows stronger. I may not be able to stop the battle itself, but I only need to get through to Van.

"It can't be! Stop, Van!" I'm getting closer to the bottom. If I jumped, I wonder if anyone would catch me. Van and Allen are yelling at each other, and I can just now start to pick out their phrases. If they wanted to insult each other's fighting abilities, couldn't they do it over a nice cup of tea? The conversation nearly makes the battle seem casual.

"They look happy. Their wishes were granted in the Zone of Absolute Fortune." After everything he's seen in this battle, how can Dornkirk say they're happy? I can feel Van's pain coursing through me, and I hate what it's doing to him. He feels every blow, and I feel every scratch. It just sets my will stronger. I can almost touch Escaflowne now.

"Brother!" This is one of those times I wish I could hit Van with a gallon of common sense. He's forcing Allen back with his blows, and Celena has stepped in the center of the battle. I just hope Van doesn't get any sudden ideas about squashing her. I can see her in the field again running towards her brother. Only this time, Allen has caught her.

"Allen!" Van's scream slams me back into reality as I call out Van's name. Everything goes pitch black as I force myself closer to Van. I don't know whether I spouted wings and flew or just appeared there, but I do know one thing. However I appeared there, it forced Van to stop. He didn't move a muscle with his sword in Scherezade's headpiece.

"Stop, Van! You shouldn't be fighting him! Can't you see what Dornkirk's machine is doing to you?" I grab a hold of his arm, but the cockpit leaves me no room to do much else. I mentally sigh as Van's pain ebbs away at my presence. His hate melts slowly into nothingness as I look at him with eyes of longing. He tries to continue, but I hold fast. My mental projection wavers slightly.

"What...? Hitomi...! What are you doing here?" He asks as he gives me an adorable look of confusion. I tell him quickly about Dornkirk's machine, but he gives me a look of disbelief. The machines alters slightly, and I can almost hear Dornkirk laughing in the background. After all this, I hope he leaves Gaia for good. Earth doesn't really need him either.

"So, I'll settle the matter with Allen, then I'll kill Dornkirk." I do the only thing I can think of; I slap him. Hard. He looks at me in hurt as I tell him he doesn't have to fight anymore. I don't wish to hurt him, but he can be so stubborn at times. I feel like drowning in those endless pools of chocolate. At least he's listening now.

"I'll end this war. I'll avenge my brother, and save you. Dornkirk betrayed my country more than Folken ever did. I can't just let him walk away from this. Please, Hitomi, let me fight. Let me get rid of this anger." Van, you'll be so proud of Folken. He did everything in his power to save you, and he would've died for it.

"Folken's not dead, Van. Can't you see? He's still alive. I couldn't let Dornkirk steal one of your last sources of happiness. He's still alive. I don't know how well he is, but he's still alive," I tell him through the tears of joy. I might as well have hit him with a ton of bricks. His grip loosens, and Escaflowne's sword slides to the ground.

"Hitomi…." He trails off, and the cockpit opens. I can feel the fate alteration machine growing weaker. He flies out of the cockpit, and I slide back into my body. I can feel the embrace of feathers around me, and I can see Dornkirk appearing. He looks smug, but I know he hasn't won the war. His fate alteration machine trembles slightly as Van flies closer.

"You can't stop the fate alteration machine. Once it has begun, it cannot be stopped. It's the final phase. Just as gold can't be created, fate can't be controlled." I smile as I take in his denials. The machine cracks as Van hits the machine once more. Van flies into the same spot again, and it breaks apart. The shards fly around me as Van claims me in his arms. I breathe in the smell of the fields and wave cheerfully down to Dornkirk.

"I don't believe that there's a predetermined fate," I yell down to him. His jaw drops slack in shock, and he loses his composure. "Did their feelings surpass people's minds that were bound by the fate of war? However, can this moment, created by the fragile minds of people, last forever?" I can feel his final words echo inside my skull. I smile as I see people drop their weapons outside. It seems as if Escaflowne heard its master's call and followed us.

"Sorry, I was the one who was blind. I let fate try to control who I was, and I didn't see what was right in front of me. I love you, Van Fanel, and I couldn't explain what drew me to other people if I tried. Let's fly away from here," I mumble into his shirt as he clutches me to him tighter. The wind ruffles my hair, and I suddenly wonder about the people underneath us.

"What are you going to do with Escaflowne now, Van? It shouldn't be used for war again," I ask as Van lowers us closer to the ground. On a closer inspection, it appears to be a small glade. Van looks at peace for some reason. As I approach the monument, I can see images of the Fanel family. Only Folken's image seems to be missing. We'll have to find him soon.

"Mother, Father, look over Fanelia for us. There's only so much we can do while it's being rebuilt," Van's whispers as he bends his head towards the statue. I smile at Varie and Gaou as we all watch Van. He's at peace with himself I walk over to him, and place my hand on his shoulder. If ever I wanted to show him happiness, I did in that one moment.

I nodded silently over to his parents, and the pendant began to glow faintly. All ties I had with him were swept away. His grief was forgotten as looked at them for the last time. I once told him I would show him the world. He never needed me to survive, but he did need me to show him the way. Everyone gets lost along the path every now and then, but that's what drifting destinies are for.

The End.

I'm joking!!!!! (Sorry, I always wanted to do that in one of my stories. *runs away from the pitchforks*)

"Thank you, Escaflowne. You served Fanelia well," he murmurs. Van takes the dragon heart out of Escaflowne, and the sleeping giant rests once more. I can see Balgus turn and leave out of the corner of my eye. I want to call out to him, but Varie shakes her head. I don't understand, but someone out there does.

"Escaflowne should be kept asleep. My brother wished for a Fanelia and Gaea where no one relies on it. I want to see a world like that." And I want to see that world with you, Van. I know now, where my destiny ended. The past didn't matter anymore. Yukari, take care of my family for me. I'll be counting on you to tell them I'm fine.

"I'll stay here in Fanelia with you, Van. If that's ok with you," I stammer and turn away. My cheeks must be an interesting shade of pink right about now. After everything we've been through, I'm still nervous around him. I've known him for so long, but it was as if we just met again. It's on a different level this time.

"Hitomi…" he murmurs as he brushes a stray lock of hair out of my face. "You can stay here on Gaia as long as you wish. You know you're welcome to Fanelia for as long as you want. I thought you'd want to go with Allen, though." His hand drops to his side and he turns away to gaze at Escaflowne. I'm no longer seeing the boy I met who slayed the dragon. I'm looking at the King of Fanelia. He's still the stubborn-headed guy I know and love, but there's wisdom behind those eyes now.

"I never loved Allen, Van. He was only a shadow of my past life. A remembrance that flickered and died as soon as I realized you were there all along. My feelings bound you to me, and I noticed too late all the bad things happened because I feared they were going to happen," I trailed off as I caught his gaze. At my words, he had slowly turned to face me.

My hand lingered on his cheek, and I traced small patterns on his smooth skin. He bent down to kiss me, and my eyes flickered shut. I never dreamed Van would taste so much like home. He breathed life into me one day, and yet his lips enabled me to soar into the skies. I buried my free hand in his long mess of hair.

He massages my scalp, and I part my lips to wandering tongue. The war had finally ended, but our part in this tale was far from over. I pull back slightly and catch his mischievous gaze before he picks me up, and flies into the sky. I shriek gleefully as he kisses me again. His wings beat rhythmically against the wind, and I let him sink me into oblivion.

At that moment, we could have dived into the sea, and it would have taken tsunami for me to have noticed. All I cared about was Van. I don't know how anyone could think his wings were horrid because they gleamed in the afternoon sun. We flew over Fanelia, and the people waved to us. If there was fear of Draconians before, I couldn't see a trace of it in their shining faces.

Author's Notes: I know, I'm evil. This is not the end. I'm not even close to the end as far as I know. Responses are below. Ja ne, ~Insane Pineapple from Naboo

Challenge: Can anyone write this story from Van's pov as a companion piece?

Replies:

Jossi-31: I changed it slightly more. The point was to rewrite the ending, and I've done that. I hope upi found this chapter more appealing. You can't really separate thoughts and dialogue in this other than the quotation marks. It would look choppy if I tried it. Besides, I'm doing this more for the first person pov.

Momiji-chan Wa Baka: Now you have me interested. What does your penname mean? I know the Baka part, but that's about it. I never had violent reviewers until now. Well, at least there's worse ways of torture.

Aradow: Yeah, I have the worst habit of going too fast. I did it for these three chapters mainly because I wanted to get the series rewritten in three chapters. Next chapter will be a huge drop in speed because it will be at my own pace.

Sahira: ^_^ *eats cookie* I don't mind Allen too much. Yes, he's a playboy, but there's nothing really wrong with him. Although, a good Allen bashing is sometimes fun to read. ^_~

jess131346: Rotten fruit was the least of my worries. Jossi would've tied my intestines up with a cactus. I never leave people hanging. Oneshots aren't usually my best forms of writing.

One-Mean-Rabbit: I went back and proofread the chapter just for you. You should go tell Jossi over there about the whole mixing thing. I apparently haven't changed the storyline enough. ^_~

Kanathan: Hi, random person! What's the book about?

SabineBallz: What's a Dilly? Do I even want to know? See, if you kill the author, then the author can't update her fanfiction. Multiple personalites! I have a reviewer whose a relative of gollum's! I always wanted one of those. Thanks!

Lady Idril Celebrindal: ~Hands chapter to reviewer on a silver platter~ Good? Not good?