Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne, nothing more to say.
Forgotten by Destiny
By Ryoko Porter
Part Twenty-Three – An Epilogue
The entire country of Fanalia was in mourning, the city nearly hysterical in their loss. As the funeral precession went down the main street of the city, a heavy silence filled the air. Men held their heads high in a warrior's respect. Women sobbed, some even falling to their knees. And children held flowers, which they threw before the parade, blessing the land they would walk on. The body held high on a pedestal, carried by the strongest war generals. Covered with banners of the country's pride. A carriage rolled slowly behind, hiding the royal family from view.
The sun was setting before the last of the ceremony was finished. And it took another hour for the guests to finally leave the royal family to themselves. The three women stood at the entrance of the royal mausoleum, quietly saying their goodbyes to their father and husband.
After a long while, one of the daughters left, leaving only the queen and the future queen. They remained silent for a while, contemplating what would come in the near future. The country would take a drastic shift, with a woman as their ruler. And the Escaflowne would take a new Draconian pilot.
'I'll miss your father very much,' the aged Hitomi finally said. Time had been kind to her over the last thirty years, making her even more regal in appearance. But the death of her husband would surely prove to break her. 'I can only hope that he'll finally find peace in the afterlife. He punished himself enough in life, he shouldn't have to suffer anymore.'
'I am sure he will find his happiness.'
Hitomi looked to the young woman, observing her already clear dominance. She would make to be a strong queen, Hitomi was sure. 'Tomorrow you will officially take his place on the thrown, and I know that you will show the same strength that he had. I only pray that you will have the same loyalty that your mother shown to him, to your kingdom.'
Namir turned to face the woman who'd been married to her father, surprised that she would mention Merle.
'I finally understand the power of the jewel after all these years. To make a wish come true, it had to take it from somewhere. Merle wasn't lying when she said that I had "stolen her destiny". I could've taken Millerna's, but I chose Merle's. When she took the jewel from me, she took back part of her destiny. You. I am amazed that my Kotori was born…' Hitomi noticed the curious look on Namir's face. 'Yes, "Kotori". She has no need for her formal name any longer, not to me. Your mother took her final revenge to me, by having you. And now with the jewel destroyed, I will have to accept that. Just as I had to accept your father's distain to me after her death.'
'He was finally free from the power of your wish, able to love who he was fated to love. In the end, my mother wasn't completely forgotten by destiny.' Namir observed.
The two women then left the king to his slumber, both sad, but looking to the future. With their backs turned to the past, they did not see the beautiful winged woman making her way the mausoleum door. Going in, she saw her son sitting at his fresh grave. Looking up, Van whispered her name in reverence. But Vari only smiled softly at him, making his aged eyes crinkle in a returned smile.
Then from behind her, a small face peeked out shyly. The little kitten untouched by time, only her eyes spoke of the pain she'd endured. Van stood from his highly perched pedestal, his newly young legs carrying him to stand before the two females. He didn't have long to wait before his arms were full of a happy bundle of Merle.
Vari was happy to finally see the two children back together, as they should be.
The End
MUST READ! I first want to thank those of you who read and enjoyed the series. Thank you. I wrote this mostly considering shock factor, but due to my displeasure at it, I'm doing a rewrite. Titled "Pallium Fatum", I hope to have the first chapter done in a few days. It's far more detailed and will hopefully have a much more emotional push. I even plan to be kinder to Hitomi… though I dislike her. (And before you ask, I don't like her for a lot of reasons. I much prefer a jealous, but loyal Merle over an indecisive, though slightly useful Hitomi.) And I also plan to have an appearance of everyone's favorite blonde bishounen! Please read it also, there will be some changes, and I'd like to see what you think.
Ryoko Porter