Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne, nothing more to say.

Forgotten by Destiny

By Ryoko Porter

Part Twenty-One

The wind rushed heavily past Van as he rode the dragon Escaflowne. Behind him were both Namir and Hitomi, both demanding to come along. He drove the dragon as fast as he could, trying to catch up to his friend. He had no idea what Merle was up to, but he had to help her through whatever it was. He had to save her from herself and everything else.

He thought that he'd lost her for a while, when he couldn't see anything except forestlands. It kept on for many miles in every direction, an unconquered, wild place. Everything seemed untouched, passed over by all including the woman he was searching for.

But it seemed that he was wrong. With a sudden fierce ferocity, the wood burst into red flame. The point where it started was not so far away, but Van first had to find a place to safely put his wife and child. Spotting a high cliff waterfall, he flew over to set them down. After instructing them to stay put, he changed the Escaflowne back into armor.

Running as fast as the armor would let him, he dove recklessly through the burning forest. The stress making him more uncomfortable than the heat and exertion. Finally he came to the fire cleared area where the fire had originated. Standing at the edge of the huge clearing, he could see his prey. There stood his Merle, naked and burnt from the fire. She seemed to be in some sort of trance as another sudden destructive wave of fire shot out. Seemingly the fire came from her.

Van could feel that the fire was not any natural fire as the wave rolled past him. It was fast, and though it was hot and destructive, it didn't seem to have the power to kill. Still he couldn't allow it to continue he realized as yet another wave came tumbling off of her.

This woman, Merle, had always been loyal to him. Full of love for him, giving him whatever she could. But now she posed a threat, with her swift spreading fire. He couldn't imagine what she was doing; he wondered if she even knew what the jewel was doing. He wished that she could stop.

Taking the sword from its scabbard and extending it to its full length, he readied himself to attack. Breathing hard and his heart full of regret, he charged heavily into the field and with Merle as his target.

But Merle would not so easily be thrown away again in her life. Seeing the giant suit of armor come at her, she unconsciously made to protect herself. The waves of fire came with more strength from the red gem, burning her, but also keeping Van at bay. She couldn't let him near to her, there was still more that she had to do. Her plot including avenging herself and her child, even if by a little.

Van forced his way closer to her, eyeing the woman who now looked at him with an angry challenge. He was attacking her as he'd attacked and killed so many, she had the right to be irritated and hurt. Finally close enough he pulled back his sword, aiming to make a crushing blow. With a last regretful sigh he looked at the woman he could've loved, committing her sad beauty to memory. Then with a stressed cry he swung the sword down upon her.

'DADDY!'

End Part 21.