Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or any of it's characters

Chapter9: The Final Battle

Millerna was noticeably uneasy that her former enemy stood but two feet away from her, but she needed his help and was going to use it.

"You know exactly what they did to her, why don't you instruct me on what to do" she spoke pensive. Folken without words dug threw Millerna's blue medical bag, reading labels to the many medicine bottles till coming to a stop. He was clearly satisfied with his findings and injected the liquid into Hitomi's neck

"Amileos did not have time to start his operation just prepare for it and drug her. He did several tests, some which were painful, but not to harming to her physically. I believe she will be fine as soon as the harmful toxins are destroyed" He said softly yet seriously. Millerna nodded

"It's good to here you say that" she whispered continuing to eye him from the corners of her eyes. He was tall and forbidding his very presence powerful yet calm. He showed no emotion on his face. If he was having trouble dealing with the present situation, his movements showed no sign of betrayal. Millerna continued to stay silent letting the mysterious man work flawlessly on her friend.

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The armies of Atlantis had stormed the castle gates they had climbed ropes ladders over powering the walls watchmen allowing them to get to the gate controls and lower the bridges letting the armies pour into the castles grounds. Zaibach had already assembled their troops and were waiting fully armed for Van and Allen's attack. Kevin ran swiftly beside Greggory, his sword extended in front of him. His ears were filled with the thousands of cries that roar from the soldiers of both sides. The two sides came together with a mighty clash of vengeance. Kevin met his first opponent in his mind he thought to himself the final battle has begun.

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Folken watched Hitomi as she slowly awakened to his presence. He could feel a smile tugging at his lips a strange sensation indeed, one he hadn't felt in a long time.

"Folken?" Hitomi murmured.

"It is I child" he acknowledged standing and turning to Millerna

"I must go I have unfinished business to take care of, the war has begun and I intend to bring the fighting to an end" he said in a pensive tone as he walked away

"Folken" a soft voice called to him but was quickly ignored

"Folken wait!" it grew louder. He turned to see Hitomi reaching out to him.

"You can't go, not alone" she whispered.

"Why do you say that?" He responded.

"I can help. It's a two-man job what if you need me" she explained softly.

"Maybe your right but you are in no condition to tag along in such a dangerous mission"

"I'm fine honestly. This is my war to; what if something goes wrong Van can't loose you again" Hitomi pleaded. Folken stood silent starring at the girl that was looking right straight into his soul. He sighed inwardly and glided over to the edge of the table

"I shall regret this" he muttered pulling her into his arms and gripping her tightly.

"I can't let you take her" Millerna spouted stepping in front of them. Folken brushed passed her ignoring her warning.

"Stop! Don't do this!" She shouted running up behind him grabbing the back of his cape pulling at him.

"Stop!" She repeated. Folken resisted her pulling and continued forward opening the bay doors.

"I wouldn't stand behind me if I were you" he warned.

"What?" Millerna gasped.

"Don't say I didn't warn you" he spoke sternly. Millerna though not understanding backed away to the side. Brilliant white flashed quickly into view as wings burst forth from his back tearing the back of his uniform causing a scream to escape Millerna's lips.

"A Draconian" she breathed. Folken's feet left the platform and he quickly disappeared into the sky.

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Greggory shoved his sword into his opponent and turned to block another attack from behind him. Greggory pushed the younger man away from him and then sprinted forward impaling the soldier with his sword letting the blood cover his fingertips. A strong wind rustled Greggory's hair making him turn expecting to face another enemy, he was taken back by the sight of a Draconian man holding Hitomi in his arms.

"Hitomi?" He breathed

"Hello Greggory" she greeted softly.

"This is no place for you child, young man take her back to the ships" he ordered

"No we can't, listen we have an idea" she announced

"What?" He inquired

"Your Majesty Emperor Dornkirk will be activating the fate alteration engine, which will destroy Geae if not stopped. I know how to prevent that by the power you hold in your hands but your going to have to trust me" Folken spoke urgently. Greggory looked from Folken to Hitomi who's expression told him to trust him. He nodded handing the sword of Atlantis to them and retrieved Folken's sword in its place. Folken spread his wings and began to leave but not before Greggory could shout his warning

"Do not forget only one with Draconian blood can use the power or else it shall draw its power from the victim" He watched them leave and whispered his best wishes underneath his breath and quickly returned to the battle with a prayer in his heart.

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"What the hell!" Kevin muttered as he watched Folken flying over head

"What the heck is he doing!" He shouted again. Van heard Kevin's spouting from behind him and, removed his sword from his opponent's chest allowing him to turn and see Kevin gazing skyward. Van looked up to see what had the man's attention and spotted his brother. He strained his eyes to look closer

"Hitomi!" He breathed seeing the figure in the older mans arms

"Hitomi!" He shouted sheathing his sword and running forward sprouting his wings without another thought. Gasps could be heard from all around. Allen looked over in complete surprise

"He's a draconian!"

"My God Boss he...He's" Reeden stuttered. Van beat his wings harder and harder trying to catch up to Folken who was already way ahead of him.

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Folken entered a door that was atop the castle roof and began to sprint down the vacant hall

"Stop!" Hitomi whispered.

"What?"

"Some ones here I can feel them" she breathed. Folken slowed and set her down gently then drew his sword. A door crashed down in front of them and men began to pour from it

"The power of Atlantis I call upon thee to aid me!" Folken shouted extending the swords tip in front of him a flash of light shot forth from its tip and enveloped the enemy with a lethal force sending them crashing through the stone wall at the end of the darkened hall. He grabbed hold of Hitomi's arm and pulled her alongside him. Folken burst through a set of large doors entering an enormous room that came to an end at a large descending staircase. They trotted speedily down the stairs and landed hard against the room's marble floor. Hitomi followed as quickly as she could and approach the same doors she had been sent though earlier the ones that would bring them to Dornkirk. Folken turned sideways hitting the doors with a vengeful force shattering the doors lock causing them to fly open knocking to unsuspecting guards into the nearby walls sending then into immediate unconsciousness.

"Folken!" Dornkirk boomed

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Van landed on top of the castle roof and began to make his way towards the entrance

"Van!" Came an echoing shout. Van stopped dead in his tracks his eyes shot around looking for the owner of the voice though he had no doubts of who it was.

"Where are you Dilandau? Come out and face me!"

A cackle could be heard and Van unsheathed his sword turning to his right to see Dilandau's blood thirsty eyes emerge from behind a corner

"Looks like the end only one of us makes it off this rooftop Van and it's not going to be you" he smirked. Van took on his fighting stance and waited for Dilandau to make the first advance.

"Your delusional Dilandau" Van spouted. Dilandau started growling under his breath as he ran forward with a vengeful heart. Van left his stance and lunged forward to meet the attack, causing the swords to come to a crashing stop in front of each other's faces. Dilandau pushed back to send another blow

"I hate you!" He raged coming in from the side but he was still unsuccessful in penetrating Van's defenses. Van stepped back and let his sword part from his enraged opponents. He brought it around swiping missing Dilandau by only a hair.

"I'll kill you Dilandau" Van promised. Attacking again this time striking his sword and letting sparks fly. Dilandau faltered but for a moment before gathering all his power and pushed Van away then charged his sword high in the air.

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Folken raced forward the sword of Atlantis down in front of him. Dornkirk let the machine lift him up and set him down onto the ground as it still held him up. He yelled over to the man that stood in a corner near the throne

"Dunivan activate the machine now!" The large man raced to the controls flipping a leaver upwards. Causing loud noises to begin echoing through the room.

"No!" Folken cried charging towards the man, but was brought to a abrupt halt when Dornkirk surprisingly rolled in front of him in a small electronic suit never yet seen by Folken. Dornkirk took Folken's surprise and used it to his advantage knocking the sword from his hands sending it crashing to the ground sliding to a stop a few yards away from Hitomi. Folken quickly recovered and attacked back, though the machine was nearing full power. Hitomi stood but for a moment before sprinting for the sword gripping the handle in her hands tightly, looking down at it then averting her eyes to Folken then back to the sword again. The last of the Fate Alteration Engine gears began to turn and the green liquid that powered it began to bubble. The engine let out a loud rumbling growl that could deafen any man, but Folken was to caught up with Dornkirk to do anything and the machine was seconds away from setting off the powers that would destroy Gaea. Greggory had said that only a Draconian could use the sword because of its overwhelming power, but that didn't mean the power was in accessible to humans

"Oh God, I must be insane" she whispered. Hitomi raised the sword hesitantly and focused on her past vision when the sword had risen above her head she repeated the same words spoken by the old draconian man. Folken caught a side glance of Hitomi's actions

"My God, she isn't!" He breathed

"The power of Atlantis flow through me" she shouted

"Hitomi no!" Folken yelled trying to reach her but was once again blocked. Hitomi lowered the sword tip pointing the blade at the large glass globe that had begun to glow atop the engine. The sword began to radiate and grow brighter till it blinded its master forcing Hitomi to close her eyes. Her body started to tingle and it felt as if her life was draining away from her ever so slowly. A golden beam surged from the tip striking the machine with an awesome force. Hitomi hit her knees in surrenderence to the force, which was taking over her body causing a slight pain to overcome her. She grinded her teeth and concentrated only on the destruction of the machine that threatened so many lives.

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Van and Dilandau neared the edges of the roof sending pebbles plummeting over the sides as Vans feet were struggling to stay on solid ground. Van shifted his weight and managed to free a hand and grasped Dilandau's collar pulling him violently over his right shoulder and crashing into a stone column. Dilandau recovered quickly and rammed full speed into Vans side causing him to stumble backwards his feet hitting nothing but air, he reached forward grabbing Dilandau pulling him off with him as soon as Dilandau began to fall. Van released him and sprouted his angelic wings bringing his fall to a halt and instead planted his feet atop the castle again. He turned to see what became of his opponent, looking down he saw Dilandau lying in blood, broken on the boulders below. A loud thundering noise brought Van from his thoughts and caused him to turn to see what could be making the ear piercing noise. Across the roof laid several stain glass windows possibly over the throne room. An intense light poured from them causing Van to instinctively run towards them, with a leap Van left the ground and his body came shattering through the glass, of which fragments were now pouring around him causing minor cuts to appear on his bare skin. He spread his wings to they're fullest and quickly soared down to the marble floors below landing hard. He retraced his wings and looked over to see Folken who was fighting Dornkirk who appeared to be in a weakening state in spite of the powerful machine connected to him. His first thoughts were those of worry when he didn't see Hitomi in view. He averted his attention to the light behind him, he turned around only to be blinded, but he quickly adjusted his eyes and focused on its source

"No, God no!" He breathed running forward

"Hitomi!" He was sprinting for the girl who was now on her knees, using everything see had to control the sword, an expression of pain etched on her face.

"Hitomi drop it, you don't know what you're doing!" He yelled. Hitomi heard his cries and gave him a sideways glance

"Van!" She choked. Van dropped to his knees sliding to a stop in front of Hitomi

"Drop it!" He ordered.

"I can't" she breathed

"The machine has to be destroyed it will kill everyone" she added. Van watched as her skin ashamed and the sword began to lower, as she became weaker. Van lunged forward and pulled the sword from her hands

"I can't let you do this" he spouted and took over the sword. Folken was over powering Dornkirk and had just taken possession over Dornkirk's sword

"This senseless slaughter ends here!" He spoke coldly

"You're nothing Stratigoes, nothing without me I gave you life" Dornkirk raged.

"You gave me nothing, I'd rather have died than live this lie, hoping for peace, but only being the one to cause the pain of this world. I won't let you destroy any more lives!" He shouted as he raised the sword above his head. Dornkirk backed away slowly fear crossing his features.

"No! No don't" he gasped. Folken ignored his plea and brought the sword down impaling him in the chest, causing Dornkirk to gasp out in pain and begin choking for air as he sunk down to the ground his life slipping from him. Dornkirk's eyes burned into Folken's and blood began streaming down from the corners of his mouth.

"What have you done?" He choked. Folken pulled the sword out and backed away dropping it to the ground

"What I should have done years ago" he answered. Those were the last words that fell onto Dornkirk's ears as he rasped his last breath and lay lifeless on the ground.

"It is finished" Folken breathed. The enormous machine was throwing sparks across the room it was making rattling and un normal noises that only seemed to becoming louder and louder. Fire burst from it causing Van to step back

"It's over heating!" He shouted lowering the sword and turning to Hitomi who lay on the ground.

"Van the castle it's going to come down" she choked. The ground began to quake underneath them hot steam filling the air. Van gathered Hitomi into his arms and turned to his brother

"Folken we must leave, the machine is going to self destruct" Folken nodded letting his wings once again burst forth from his back and he followed Van who was already lifting off the ground flying towards the shattered window above. The machine let out an ear piercing shrill and it's insides burst forth-sending metal flying in every direction. Flames erupted consuming the air in a giant fireball. Van and Folken escaped through the window the fire shooting out after them, but receding just as fast as it had come. They were free in the air part of the castle crumbling to the ground behind them. Zaibach soldiers seeing this began to panic and drop they're swords and surrender some ran, but were stopped by Atlantis's army. The men let out they're victory yells as they watched Zaibach fall around them, they had won.

Allen quickly gathered his men making sure they had made it alive. Van landed near them and Folken beside him. He knelt down and laid Hitomi on the ground.

"Van!" Greggory called. Van rose to meet the king who had come to retrieve the sword

"It's over" Van whispered with a slight smile handing the weapon over to his fellow Draconian who took it in his hand and looked it over.

"I must destroy it" he spoke hesitantly

"What do you mean?" Allen inquired.

"It's a danger to Gaea, it has served it's purpose now it must rest" he answered

"I understand" Allen acknowledged

"And may I say good work Van"

"I'm afraid my brother is to thank" Van said waving his hand over to his elder a forgiving gleam present in his eyes

"You destroyed Zaibach Van not I" Folken argued.

Van smiled and knelt back down to Hitomi, and everyone else's attention went to Asland who as approaching quickly with Millerna on his head holding desperately to one of his horns. Asland leaned down letting Millerna hop to the ground

"Is everyone all right" she called running up to Allen.

"Hitomi?" Van whispered causing the others to look down at him. Van was holding the girl trying to awaken her.

"Hitomi, please answer me" he asked more desperately. Millerna knelt down next to him

"She's so pale" she whispered placing her hand on Hitomi's forehead

"God she's freezing!" She exclaimed pulling Hitomi out of Vans grasp and laying her flat on the ground.

"Millerna can you tell us what's wrong with her" Allen inquired kneeling down closer

"One moment" she whispered while examining her with the tips of her fingers placing them around pressing and rubbing. The Princess's expression went from serious to shock, then to sadness and Anguish.

"Wha...What is it?" Van asked gripping her arm his eyes pleading with hers

"Millerna? Millerna what is it?" Allen added. Millerna's eyes were visibly fogging up and a few tears escaped down her face.

"Oh God, Oh Allen!" She choked.

"What!" Van Demanded. Millerna closed her eyes and bowed her head

"T...there's nothing I...I...There's nothing I can do for her" she stuttered before braking down

"She's dying and there's nothing I can do!" She exclaimed in defeat. Van backed away terror on his features

"No!" He breathed

"Are you sure Millerna, you could have made a mistake couldn't of you" Allen asked.

"No...No she's dying" she whispered in a sob.

"She can't" Van breathed holding back his own tears. Kevin stepped forward and leaned down placing his hand on Hitomi's head pushing away a few locks of her sandy hair

"If only I could get you home you might make it" he spoke softly in deep thought.

"What? What did you mean by that!" Van spouted. Kevin now had they're undivided attention. He looked up meeting they're gazes.

"The mystic moon is extremely technologically advanced in the medical field, you might not be able to help her here but, they may be able to" he answered

"How do you know this" Millerna asked confused

"I know this because it's my home, my world, I lived there" he replied causing the others to gasp at his words

"I was unwillingly brought here 3 years ago like Hitomi, but I gave up on returning home and started a new life, and created a new past for myself here" Greggory stepped forward

"If what you say is true, which I have no doubts that it is, if she has a chance to live by going home then I shall send her there" he announced

"How do you plan to do that?" Kevin inquired.

"I can use the powers of the sword one last time before I destroy it, the power can be used to send you both home" he explained.

"Then what are we waiting for if we can save her let's do it" William spouted.

"Yes indeed do it" Allen spoke up.

"Greggory do it please" Van whispered. Greggory nodded in acknowledgement. Vans eyes pained more as Greggory lifted the sword.

"Power of Atlantis, I call upon thee once more before thy eternal rest, return those lost home"

Kevin pulled Hitomi to him as the sword began to glow and light emitted from the ground. Van lifted Hitomi's pendant from around his neck and placed it in it's rightful home around her neck. The light intensified and a pillar of light shot up into the heavens. Allen reached down and pulled Van back away from the light. Merle gripped onto Van's waist and began to cry along with several teary eyed comrades. Kevin tightened his hold on Hitomi as he felt a strange force pulling them. His feet lifted from the ground then they shout up into the cloudless skies the light dissipating behind them.

"I love you Hitomi" Van whispered almost inaudibly as they disappeared. The sword in Greggory's hand began to dissolve into nothingness letting itself finally rest.

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In the distance far out in the ocean the water began to glow turbulent and the ocean began to part, an aurora of lights filled the waters, loud rumbles of thunder cracked and the hidden city of Atlantis began to quake as it slowly rose from the ocean floor rising steadily to the surface. Water was spewing everywhere as the landmass broke the surface of the water letting Atlantis once again see the sunlight.

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Everyone stood silent, utterly speechless, they were gone. The war had been won but they're spirits were anything but high. Allen's thoughts were broken when a hand was placed on his shoulder causing him to turn around. Allen's eyes meet those of a girl no older than fifteen with Golden blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. Allen pulled away and drew his sword at the sight of her Zaibach uniform alerting the others to her presence

"Who are you?" He demanded. The young girl stood silent a moment confused and disoriented her eyes starring into Allen's, her familiar eyes, her haunting eyes

"I said who are you?" He spouted angrily. The girl broke her gaze and lifted her delicate fingers to her forehead, letting them touch the golden tiara that lay upon it. In one swift movement she let it fall to the ground then looked back into his eyes.

"My...My name is...my name is Celena...Celena Schezar"

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AN: I hope you liked this chapter though it hoped around a lot. This leaves me with just the last chapter to go whoopee! I guess I better get to work. Please, Please review I beg you I need your opinions (Smiles)

Bye for now,

Dragon Heart