Summery: Hitomi discovers she needs to return to Gaea. Van's been hurt seriously and she can feel it, but when she returns someone else is expecting her, there's a desire for blood, for Gaea's blood, Hitomi knows she cannot let this happen, war can't start again, with Van she needs to find a way to stop all this nonsense, and her new powers shall help them well.
Would Gaea be safe?
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Heh for someone who hasn't write that many chapters, or fics, I gotta say I'm so happy with the reviews I got!
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Sorry it took so long! Hope it was worth the waiting….
Disclaimer: I don't own Escalfowne; its plot, or anything to do with it.
The Vision of Escaflowne: An Epilogue
Chapter 2: The Angel's Flight
Van walked around the castle after a long meeting with his council, together they had rebuilt Fanelia and Van was very proud of the outcome.
The entrance to the country were two big solid walls that began in the mountains, surrounding all the edge of the country and meeting in the two enormous oak doors that added a touch of elegance. The streets, buildings and houses were all new, improve and stronger, people had really made an effort to rebuilt a stronger city.
The palace of Fanelia was at the end of an amazing landscape that the country with its cities provide, it stand gloriously in the middle of the mountains, which were green with all their vast vegetation, and was bigger and more breathtaking that it was before; made of a fine pearly white stone, which could only be found in Fanelia's mountains, contributed making a perfect background.
The country wasn't the same, nor were the people but everything was fine, 'People learn to adapt', Van thought, as he continue walking.
Surrounding the country there where exquisite gardens, similar but bigger than the ones find in Fanelia's palace, they were called the Mystic Gardens, in honor to the defeat of Dornkirk's empire and the Seer of the Mystic Moon who help them win and who had protected their king, Fanelia's King, this wasn't Van's idea, not at all, but he wonder why he hadn't thought of it in the first place, after all part of the legend had come true… 'Or part of it' He thought again.
People from Fanelia where really thankful to Hitomi, and they have create these beautiful gardens themselves for Gaea and all it's people, so they could appreciate them, and Gaea's people did, not only in the Moon's Festival, which was the day when people all over Gaea celebrated their freedom and pay tribute to the Mystic Moon, thanking it for the protection it had given to them by means of the seer; it was, also a remembrance of the events and the people who were gone with it.
This holiday, Gaea wide, was celebrated the 2nd month of the year, it usually lasted a whole week, staring the seventh day, and it had been official for four years now, since Gaea's council, conformed by Kings, Queens of all the countries and the Heaven's Council, had approved it.
Van finally found his way out of the castle and walked into the gardens, he passed a fountain with a lovely fairy on its top, and sat under an old sakura tree. The air was calm and fresh, a perfect morning to have a walk around the city. He raised his sight, eyeing the Mystic Moon, his heart seemed to stop for a second, and his hand instantly reach the pendant that Hitomi gave him; lately he had been having uneasy dreams about Hitomi been sad, unhappy; he fear something was wrong with her, but even if something had happened he felt useless for he couldn't do anything to help her.
Trying to shake bad thoughts out of his head, he try to imagine how would it be to have her around, and suddenly he saw her walking around the sakura trees, she raised her arm and tear a flower of the tree, she smelled it and smile, the vision vanished. He smile, a sad smile, he usually had visions of her around the castle, the city, the gardens; it was as if her essence had never leave.
'Maybe if…I had told her' He shook his head again, 'there's no use in regretting.' He only wished to see her again, her face once again invading his mind.
Merle had been looking for Van the whole morning, a letter from a certain Knight had arrived announcing his arrival in two weeks time. 'Where the hell can he be!' she thought now a bit pissed off. She turn left at the end of the corridor and walked outside to the gardens, she had to blink more than twice for her eyes to adapt to the change of light, after a few moments she saw Van sitting under a tree.
'Should've known' she thought, he was staring again at the Mystic Moon, 'He does that a lot lately' she walked without saying a word, slowly towards him 'Hehe' she thought, she was planning to jump on him and get a good scare out of him.
Van heard something, someone was coming, the dreamy look on his crimson eyes vanished 'Oh, no' he thought, turning suddenly only to find Merle walking slowly towards him.
"What's with you?" He asked raising an eyebrow, and sounding relief.
Merle's face of amusement drop, frowning she answered "Nothing"
"I thought you were her" He change the topic.
"You are not that unlucky" She grinned
Van glare at her for a moment before saying "You shouldn't be that rude"
"Well, you can't say she's lovely, she even annoys you!" she glare back "Anyway, moving onto a better topic, Allen's letter has arrived, he says he's coming in two weeks, along with Celena, I'm eager to see her again!" she squeak happily
Van turned to look at Merle, "Really? Is he coming?" he asked curious "That's great, I'll arrange two chambers for them, then." It had been a long time since the Knight's last visit, in which Celena and Merle had become close friends.
"Common Merle, let's rest for a while, sit down" he lay down and cross his arms behind his head. Merle sat down looking at him.
"You look tired" she noticed.
"I…haven't been sleeping that well" Van said trying not to worry her.
"You should ask Lesley, maybe she can give you something, you know how good she is for remedies, we've got a great nurse" Merle said hoping nothing had happened to Hitomi, she had only see Van this tired and worried another time, and that was when he lost contact with Hitomi three years ago.
At the beginning of their trip in Gaea to defeat Dornkirk's Empire, Merle hadn't really liked Hitomi, she have the feeling that she might be the one who took Van away from her, she end up knowing that Van was never hers, and let the two of them be. She smiled sadly at the memory, but Hitomi was a good person, they have become good friends, she missed her too, 'though not as much as Van-sama' She gave Van a melancholic smile and stood up.
"Well I gotta get going, I'm going down town, I promise the kiddos I will sing with them today, under the wisdom tree" Merle said happily and left Van lying in the grass with his eyes closed.
"It's coming, can you feel it?" A woman's voice echoed in Van's ears, it was a warning, Van opened his eyes suddenly, he saw no one.
"What the…?" He look around again "Merle is that you?" but deep inside Van knew that, that had only echoed in his head, no one had been there, he couldn't help feeling worried once again.
--------- Two Weeks Later ---------------
A carriage entered the big wooden doors that protected the entrance of Fanelia. It looked as if someone really important came on it, everyone in the streets stare at it; it was weird when Fanelia had any visits. Fanelia was a peaceful kingdom, with a lot of people coming and going, but carriages where strangely seen, except when the Mystic Moon holiday was coming, a lot of people from all Gaea gather in Fanelia to celebrate a huge carnival that lasted a week.
Royalties stayed at the castle and the rest of the people in small hotels that where placed in Fanelia for that special occasion, it was a really huge thing, not everyone could come though, but each kingdom had their own celebration of the day.
The carriage arrived to the entrance of the beautiful castle that belonged to the King of Fanelia, it stopped right in front of the main door. The guard, called Joshua, hurried to open the carriage's door. From it a blond, tall, handsome Knight Caeli descended. (N/A: Mind you this description was difficult; I'm not too fond of Allen heh.)
"Good morning, Allen" the guard salute kindly.
"Morning, Joshua, how is everything in Fanelia?" Allen smiled and turned extending a hand to a girl who was under a silver cloak.
"It's fine sir, would you mind if I guide you to King Van's council chamber? He is waiting for you there"
"Sure" said Allen, as Celena lowered her hood.
She looked stunning on Joshua's point of view. "Good Morning, Lady Celena" He said bowing this time.
"Good morning, Joshua, How are you?" She kindly asked.
"I'm fine, thank you" Joshua said, "And how is the young lady doing?"
"Just fine" She smiled "I'm eager to see Merle, though"
"Very well, then follow me I'll take you to King Van's council chamber"
Allen and Celena followed Joshua around the castle, they walked five minutes, and chatting as great old friends, Allen had visited Fanelia in the past, during the years it was been rebuilt, and have meet several of it's people, specially the ones who worked in the castle. Celena had come to, she help, along with Merle, to distributed food, water and medicine, also to take care of the kids, while everyone worked.
Merle came running "Allen! Celena! I'm glad you are here!" she said cheerfully.
"Hey there, nice to see you too! Long time no see huh?" Allen smiled, as Celena hugged her cat friend.
"So nice to see you! Allen told me he was coming, and I couldn't miss an opportunity like this!" said Celena smiling, and releasing Merle, who smile back at her.
"Indeed, almost two years" She answered Allen after hugging Celena "And I'm glad you didn't miss the trip, I was so happy when I read the letter!" she paused and turn to look at Joshua "Joshua, I would walk them to Van-sama's Council chambers"
After nodding, Joshua excused himself, and walked towards the entrance of the palace, to his post again.
Celena stared at him as he walked away.
"So, tell me. How's Van?" Allen smiled.
Merle sighted "Well, melancholic lately, I believe he is worried about Hitomi, I hadn't seen him that quiet and worried since a long time ago," She hesitated "Sometimes, I think he'll give anything to fly to the Mystic Moon, one more time."
Allen looked worried "But he thinks that? It's strange, I thought they lost contact"
Merle shrugged "I don't know, I'm not even sure it's that, but I guess he can feel it or something"
"I guess it's like some sort of special bond they have, let's hope nothing is wrong with Lady Hitomi" Celena said, even though she never get to meet Hitomi properly, everyone spoke so highly of her that she wished she could meet her someday, and thank her for ending the war, and letting her return to his brother.
Allen had told Celena what had happened, it hurt him seeing her confused about her whereabouts all those years, he finally broke down and told her everything, she took it quite better than he expected, but she develop a serious fear to any kind of magic, and any person who perform it as well.
They turn a corner and they soon find themselves facing a wooden door.
"Here we are!" Merle squeaked, opening the door and looking around; she spotted Van and smirked, he was reading a book. "Van-sama!" she screamed.
Van jumped from his sit, he almost had a heart attack.
"Van-sama!" she said in a lower tone, "Allen's here" she let Allen come in, who was smiling and shaking his head. "And Celena too!" Celena made her entrance behind Allen; she had such a grace that as she walked it looked like she was floating, with pure elegance.
"Allen, welcome back to Fanelia" Van stood up and shook his hand.
"Celena, how nice to see you again" He took her hand and kissed it.
Celena smiled "Thank you, King Van, it's nice of you to receive us again"
"It's always a pleasure" Van assured her.
"Common Celena, let's go for a walked, the trees are flowering all ready, despite the cold! The garden is beautiful!" said Merle, who wanted to get out of there and have a more proper chat with her friend.
Van smiled, as they left the room 'I still can't believe that young lady was once Dilandua'
"I'm glad to see you again, Van Fanel, King of Fanelia" Allen said politely.
Van let out a small smile, "Polite as always"
"So, tell me Allen, what can I do for you?" Van turned around and sat again, offering Allen to do the same.
Allen took a sit next to the window, not to far from Van, he always enjoy a nice view.
"I was wondering if you could sell us, some of your livolti" Allen tried.
Livolti was one exotic fruit that only grew on Fanelia, near a place were dragons wonder, the fruit was capable to heal deep wounds, and it could cure almost every poison, but it was rarely found, and if sold, very expensive. Fanelia rarely sold it to other kingdoms, unless they had a good offer and reason.
The plum fruit was as big as palm and rounded, it had the scent of lavender mixed with citric fruits, if ate besides the unique flavor, its special characteristic was the effect it had on people, they become relaxed, and free from all pains, physical and mental, for a period of few hours.
A special medicine was made out of livolti, the healers of Fanelia, had discovered long time ago, that if it was mixed with the proper ingredients, it could heal deep wounds, cure most poisons, and give extremely good health. It was no secret that this fruit only grow in Fanelia's mountains, that's why they were highly secured.
Van looked at Allen for a moment, taken back by the request; surely Allen didn't have that much money to by a piece of fruit, but he must have a very good reason to ask for it. "And why is that?"
Allen sighted, Van looked carefully at him and he notice how tired Allen seemed.
"You know that my crew and I become royal guards, after the war. Well, a few days ago, we were patrolling a forest near Asturia, because a woman had been attacked and killed there. Something came out of the sudden, it attacked Gaddes so quickly we didn't have time to react, he is in the infirmary right now, the creature or whatever it was, bite him, he has a deep wound, our healers can't cure it, and it's poisoned, we figured that livolti might be our last hope, they've tried everything…" Allen had been staring at the window the whole time, trying to sound clam.
Van was thinking, it was all odd, he'd never heard of a forest creature that'll do that. "Have you traced the creature to see what it was?" he asked.
"We try, but there was nothing to trace, it was weird, we did not find a single evidence of attack, just like in the attack of that women, she was bitten too, but several times, she only manage to walk until the edge of the city. We never find anything in the forest, not even bloodstains or a sign of struggle."
It was Van's hope that perhaps if they found the creature it would help them develop and antidote but they didn't have time to spare on looking for the creature.
"Very well, I'll go looking for a Livolti" He finally said, Allen let out a sigh of relief "You know how hard they are to find, and I don't know if there's any, after the city was burned, we hadn't find many Livoltis. But I'll look anyway, you can go and rest in your chambers," He stood up, and called a maid "She'll take you to your room, I'll give you the fruit at dinner, if I find one" He said trying not to sound hopeless, or rude for that instance.
"Thank you, Van" He said "I know I put you under a hard position, but I wouldn't ask it, if it wasn't necessary"
"I know, Allen" he told him, before Allen follow the maid.
After Allen was gone, Van sat again, he was planning to ask Merle to go with him, it wasn't a dangerous trip but it was long and boring, it was the best way to annoy Merle, after making him jump like that.
He continue thinking about the attack on the Asturia woman and Gaddes, it was all weird, nothing strange had happened on Gaea after the war, usually everyone would hear about robs, or even sometimes murders but that was because of people's greed, something not even the greatest god could take away from men.
Van couldn't come with anything, he decided it must have been a creepy creature, sure enough after Gaddes recovery, they will go hunting it, and everything will be over. He stood up, and went looking for Merle.
After 10 minutes of walking, Van reached the gardens, and found Celena and Merle, gossiping and giggling, Van raised an eyebrow.
"What's so interesting?" He asked Merle grinning.
She turned suddenly, she hadn't heard Van coming, her face was a bit blushed "Nothing!" she said quickly with an innocent look. "What are you doing here? Where's Allen?" She tried to change of topic.
"He's resting, I need you to come with me, erm…I'll explain you on the way" He said.
Merle looked at Celena "I guess I'll see you later, it shouldn't take that long" and she stood up, as Celena nodded and smiled, and walked away with Van.
"Sure is not going to take that long, we are only going to look for some Livolti" he grinned at her stunned face.
"But that'll take a life time!" she protested, and growling cat-like "You know she won't stay long!"
"I guess not, but she can stay longer after Allen is gone if she wants, she is always welcome" said Van, now thinking about that, "But still, I couldn't go alone, who would get bored with me if not you?"
"Anyone?" try Merle sarcastically, she sighted, 'I guess he wouldn't want anyone else to come with him, Livolti is jealously kept, not anyone is allowed into the zone it grows'
An hour and a half later, they were ready to go. They mount their horses and started their ever-so boring trip. Merle was still frowning, she had been talking to Celena about a certain cat boy she had met, she was one of Celena's 'new' friends, and Merle and him seemed to have a connection, not only because of that she liked talking to Celena, but it had been long since Merle saw Harry, the cat boy.
"Are we there yet?" Merle asked, trying a way to annoy Van the most.
"No"
"And now?"
"No"
"How about now?"
"No" ¬¬'
"Is now better?"
"Merle! If we get there, you'll know, you know that place already!" Van said sounding a little bit exasperated; and how true it was, in their childhood, Van had gone exploring into the mountains, a worried Merle tried to get him back, but it was too late they were already in the zone where livolti grow.
Van's parents and brother, looked for them for longer than 10th hours, and when they finally found them, they didn't have what we'd call a nice chat.
Merle frown 'Grr. Is there anything more boring then this?' she tried looking for something to do, whistling, singing, but nothing worked.
"There we are" said Van after more than an hour, they enter a path cover with big trees and a lot of bushes; it was dark and a bit creepy.
Merle looked around, surely this was the place, she felt a ghost bump ran through her spine.
"Remember" said Van "Look in the smallest bushes, it's easier to see the plum color there"
Merle nodded "We need how many?"
"One or two" Van was looking around, guiding his horse and making it walk slow "but if we found one, it would be enough"
"You never really told me what happen, or why do we need livoltis for"
"Oh right, I forgot" said Van excusing himself and turning to look at Merle.
'Like you do with most of the things lately' she frowned mentally.
He explained everything to Merle, as they keep looking for the plum fruit; it seemed like forever before Merle squeaked at the sight of one.
"But still" she said as Van descended his horse and grab the fruit, she pass it to Merle, who saved it in a small bag "isn't it strange? I haven't heard of any creature like that, I've heard of those who bite and killed, who poison, but they usually take their pray back to their cave and eat them, they don't just bite and run away"
"I know, that's what I've been thinking too" Van search for another fruit in the bushed, 'Aha' he thought and seize another one. "Well we got two now" he said as Merle saved the second one "It's more than enough let's go"
They have spend quite a time looking for the fruit, since it was almost sunset, the sky was orange with trails of a pink color.
Van guided his horse out the restricted zone.
"Van-sama, can we go down the mountain and into the town? I want to buy something for Celena" Merle asked, trying not to gaze at Van, 'and to Harry too' she finished the sentence on her mind.
"Sure, just hurry up, I still need to get Lesley to make a medicine with the fruits" said Van now guiding his horse down the mountain. They finally descended and were riding near a rocky zone, it wasn't as green as the rest of the mountain, it was a short cut Merle and him had found when they where kids.
"Oh look at those kids" said Merle smirking looking at two kids who where chasing each other, playing and giggling.
Van raised his eyes to look at the kids, and found once again a vision of Hitomi, the kids seemed to be trying to catch Hitomi, instead of chasing each other, she was smiling looked amused. She suddenly turned around and looked straight at Van, she had nothing but horror on her green eyes.
Van, who had been staring at the scene and hadn't realize he made his horse stop, was frightened, he try to speak, asked her what was wrong but he's voice wouldn't come out. The vision vanished and he heard Merle screaming at his side, rocks were falling from the top, and the two kids didn't seemed to realize it.
Van jumped off the horse and started to run towards them.
"Van-sama!" Merle screamed
"Stay here, I need to save them" Van spread his wings out and fly whishing he could make it, he wasn't too far but the rocks were falling quickly.
He seized the kids, who screamed in shock. Van raised his eyes as he managed to turn and fly in the opposite direction, they were almost above them, it was it, they were going to crashed them.
Van made a final effort, he fly as fast as he could and through the kids, at Merle, who had get off the horse and was near. She immediately catch them both.
Van smiled, but not for to long, the rocks seized him and crashed him with the floor.
"Van…" Merle's lips quiver uncontrolled, "Van-sama!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, tear streaming down her cheeks, the two kids screamed too, and look away.
Merle hugged them both, crying. She didn't know what to do, they where alone, they weren't far from the town, but she didn't want to leave Van alone.
'What do I do? What do I DO' her mind screamed, trying to come with something. 'Is he alive? Is he breathing' from her position she couldn't see much.
The kids were still crying, the boy who was around 7, was sobbing now, not daring to turn and looked at Van.
"Kids" said Merle with a glooming tone, she stood up, she hadn't realize she had fallen to her knees "Kids, you need to go and get some help" She seized them both and put them in Van's horse. "Tell anyone, that King Van has been hurt, we need to get the royal curt to come as soon as possible!" she said, her voice was quivery, she was shaking.
The boy nodded, he seemed to recover a bit, and he knew what he needed to do and quick. "Yes" he said and started galloping with the horse, as quickly as he could.
Merle stared at them for a moment, as they vanished in the distance, she turned quickly and ran towards Van, she seized his hand, it was cold.
"Van-sama" she said with a low tone "Please, please hold on, help is coming…" she said, she couldn't believe this had happen to him "WHY DID YOU DO THIS! You didn't have to, you can't leave me alone!" she screamed "Please…please" she said silently before breaking into tears again, she covered her mouth with her free hand, the other still holding Van's tightly.
Her sight was blurred by the tears, she couldn't see Van very well his body was almost all cover by the rocks, she could only distinguish his wings that were stained with blood now.
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Please if you like it review, if you don't well please review as well, I would like to know your opinions. I will continue this soon, I hope so far it has caught your attention, to wait for the next chapter.
Chapter 3 – Bleeding Wings
Thank you!