The Legend of Liocorna

Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne... sadly or there would have been a better ending I wouldn't have to write this stupid disclaimer thingy -_-°

Chapter 7: Try again some other Time

"So there will be a gathering in Asturia, Allen?"

"Yes Van. The Lords want to discuss the current situation of all Gaia's inhabitants since no one now knows, who the next target will be.

They sometimes don't even attack the countries openly, but replace the ruler through different persons without anyone noticing before it is to late. It also happened in Hearim just a month ago and no one suspected it."

"I see..." Van trailed of as he got up from his chair to stand at the window.

Only two days had gone by since the battle for Fanelia with this still strange enemy (not so strange to Van, mind you...). The Crusador had landed only an hour ago in Fanelia and Allen had requested to speak to the King at once because of outmost importance.

Now they were currently in Van's room. As Allen had told him, it had been decided to make a gathering between most of the countries, who hadn't been attacked yet and Asturia wanted Van to be there if possible, since he had somehow managed to defend his people against the growing foe. They didn't know how he had managed it, but they hoped it would keep the enemy at bay until a plan was made.

Van was thrown out of his strain of thoughts through Allen:

"So Van... Tell me, how on Gaia did you manage to hold of the attackers? Surly it wasn't only, because you were prepared, other countries were that too. Everyone thinks it as mysterious."

"It is Allen. It is..." was the only thing Van said as he turned around to look at his long time friend. He saw the curious raised eyebrow and sighed as he rubbed his temples.

"Would you believe me, that a barrier suddenly started to form around us and that about two docent Dragons came out of the woods attacking the enemy and then retreating back after they had won over them?"

"Huh? A barrier? Dragons? This is really getting over my imagination? And you're not joking?"

"If you want to have prove, you can ask any of the soldiers, who were on the battlefield with me. They will say the exact same thing."

Allen wanted to reply something, but the serious look in his friend eyes made him stop. He didn't have to ask the soldiers to have prove of Van saying the truth. But there was something else in Van's eyes. Something he hadn't seen since Hitomi's disappearance. It was a steady growing sparkle his eyes. He had somehow found his hope again. But Allen didn't ask about it in fear of reopening a still healing wound. For Allen himself had not yet gotten over Hitomi's sudden departure, but had already given up, like all others. Only Van was still standing strong and holding on to his hope of finding her again. It made him wonder. This time it was Van's voice which brought Allen out of his thoughts:

"But there is still one thing that is bothering me the most, Allen. Do you remember the two attacks that happened to Hitomi two years ago, the ones I told you about?" He saw the nod from his friend and continued. "Well those men, who seem to be behind all these attacks have the exact same Suits as those two years ago. I only noticed it at the battle field."

Allen had to make a sharp intake of breath: "They are really the same as two years ago? But why are they attacking now? For what? What is there cause?"

"I have no idea, Allen. They always talk about cleaning all Gaia of it's dirt or something like that. I can't make any sense out of it though and were they got that sort of technology for there Guymelefs.... *silence for a while* I think we should leave as soon as we have the opportunity. I also think it would be best if I brought Escaflowne with me, we can never know what they will be up to..."

Allen nodded: "Sounds good to me. I will have everything arranged. We should be ready at nightfall."

Allen left the room and also Van still standing at the window. A habit, he had come to recently. Van's eyes wandered over his city as the people tried to start a halfway normal life after the attack, although the tension could still be felt in the air around it. The Fanelian themselves were still wondering, how the barrier appeared and why the Dragons suddenly interfered.

They hadn't heard what Van had heard and the Dragon had not spoken with them, only with him. His eyes left the busy streets of his city and came to a halt at the forest. A single word escaped his lips in only a soft whisper:

"Hitomi..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ some time later on the Crusador ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh Lord Van! I'm soooooooo excited! How do you think Millerna is doing? And do you think Dryden has changed? Oh and their daughter Lienna is so cute! I hope they are all doing fine."

"I'm sure they are Merle. But I still wonder how you made me bring you along. I still think it would have been best if you stayed in Fanelia. Besides isn't Ress going to be jealous of you making a trip with the King and not telling him? Maybe he wanted to spend some more quality time with his `girlfriend´ ..."

Merle went red as a tomato. Ress was a cat-boy around Merles age with brown fur and whites streaks, who she had befriended not long ago. They weren't a official couple yet, but Van saw it all already coming. There was no mistaking it.

"Well, for your information, your `majesty´, Ress is not my Boyfriend. He may be a boy and he may be a friend but he is not my boyfriend! Man you can sure drive someone crazy with your nagging."

"Sure Merle. Sure. Just inform me when you two get married."

"Awwww you...!!!!"

She tried to bounce on Van, but he quickly got out of the way, making her nearly run headfirst into a wall. When she managed to turn around he was already gone. She would have probably fallen over in shock, if she had seen the small, but genuine smile tugging at his lips. He hadn't smiled in so long and she would have nagged him all the trip to Asturia and back if he couldn't give her an explanation of the sudden turn of his mood. It may sound weird, but if Merle saw him smile like that for the first time in two years, she would have him in bed and with hundreds of healers surrounding him in no time thinking Van was sick.

Van made his way to the hangar to check on Escaflowne. They were already a few hours away from Fanelia and had managed about half of the route they were following right now. He didn't want to say it, but he had a gut feeling about this all. Something felt awful wrong and it wasn't that Merle was coming along or that his country could be attacked again while he was away. It was a feeling of something that would happen very soon, here and now if you want to say.

Van was so deep in thought, that he only noticed something being REALLY wrong when the ship started shaking uncontrollably. He was thrown against the wall, knocking the wind out of him. Something out of the corner of his eye made him jump to the right just in time as a second later something some thing connected with the spot where he had been standing. The thing was a sword and the one holding the sword had a green shimmering Samurai Suit on.

Van cursed under his breath and drew his sword to fend of his foe.

How had they managed to follow them without being noticed? The had taken a hard but very safe route through mostly mountains with thick green woods under them. Why were they even here and what did they want?

Van, behind you!

With his quick reflexes, he spun around and managed just in time to block the blow from another attacker.

Another two from the left!

Again he jumped out of the way and the sword missed him by an inch. This was slowly but surly getting on his nerves. He was being attacked from all sides and some voice inside his head was giving him the direction! And it happened again.

Watch out! There are two Guymelefs outside! One with a flame-thrower, the other has metal claws! RIGHT!!!

He did as was advised and was glad he had done so. A moment ago he was standing there, fending of four attackers at once, the next he jumped to the right just as a metal claw ripped open the wall behind him and flames erupted from the outside. They killed two of his attackers, who didn't make it to jump away in time while the others advanced towards him again and a third came out of a door near him. He tried as best as he could to block all of the attacks, but it as no use.

Van didn't know, how long he had already been fighting, when finally Allen and two of his crewmembers managed to make there way towards him. They got him free of his attackers, who had stocked up to already five. When he had time to catch his breath, Van leaned against the still standing wall, blood dripping out of several wounds. The room already started spinning as he tried to focus.

"Hey Van. Can you hear me? Answer me? How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay Allen. Thanks for your help. Are there still enemies on board?"

"A handful, but they are being taken care by the others. We were attacked by a small Levi-Ship, that had an invisible cloak of some sort. *Allen spotting the hole in the wall* What on Gaia was that?"

"O shit I almost forgot, there are two flying Guymelefs outside. One with a flame-thrower and one with a metal..."

Van didn't have time to finish as a loud crash interrupted him. A metal claw came right through the wall he was leaning against making him loose his balance as the claw nearly ripped him into pieces. Before Allen or the others could do anything, Van was falling down towards the forest beneath him. With the last bit of strength he could afford he spread his wings and gained his balance again. As he turned his head back Van just made it to not get fried by the other Guymelef. The second time he was not so lucky and the flames burned one of his wings. He let a gasp slip through his lips at the intensity of the pain surging through his body, making the world go totally black for a moment. He didn't quite know later how he had managed it, but he got through the thick roof of leafs of the trees and rather fell the landed on his feet. But as soon as he touched the ground, they gave away beneath him and he fell face first onto the ground.

Van couldn't move anymore as the world started to spin and slowly, but painfully turn black. He was bleeding heavy and would die if he lost much more blood. And his wing was hurting like hell, making it impossible for him to retreat them back into his back. He made one last effort of getting up and fleeing, before the enemy could find him and do whatever they had in mind with him. He tried to push himself up with his arms, but they almost instantly gave away again. He was just to weak. And so tired.

The last thing Van remembered before the world went all black, were soft footsteps and the blurry image of someone in a cloak.

Chapter end