The Legend of Liocorna

Disclaimer: Don't own Escaflowne *wails*…

You can't believe how sorry I am for not updating again such a long time. You really must have a very bad impression form me now *is sad*. But I have finally managed to get at least this chapter finished. It was really hard to describe what should be happening in this chapter and the next chapter is already all planed out (only got to write it down *sigh*).

But just so you all know it… I will NEVER EVER abandon one of my stories! It may take weeks even months for me to update the next chapter (I'm one of the laziest people you can think of), but I would never stop in the middle of a story because I hate it when people do such things. It's like reading two third of a book and then only getting blank pages in the middle of the stories! I will always finish my stories (I swear by my brothers grave!!!). So have patients with me if it takes a long time once again. I will try to get the next chapter up of this story ASAP and I'll try t make another chappie for my other story. PLEASE R&R!!! ENJOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY…!

Chapter 16: Full of Danger

Hours and hours passed by as the friends stayed in the library. At least it seemed like hours to them, since they had no way to tell which time of the day or night it was at the current moment. The library had no windows in order to safeguard the mass of already extremely old books that had already been here for centuries and would stay there, since no one was allowed to take them out of the library as Sherak told them.

"Why do you think I am here?" he asked them with an amused grin. "Someone has to look after the book within these walls and take care of them. Some of these books in the wrong hands and you could forget your whole planet or maybe the sun would just go out, never to return again. Believe me, it can be made and thus I try to protect those powerful secrets in here. For you, it may seem like a burden since I am already dead and would have deserved my eternal rest. But if nothing all to important concerning us is happening on the Mystic Moon or Gaia, I may also rest, even it does not happen to often. But let me tell you, that I am not the only "ghost" or "soul" in this temple. Some come and go as they please, some also protecting other things I don't even know myself about or have sworn not to tell about, so you better not wander of to much on your own."

And so they just spent their time as best as they could, most of them reading one of the few books in common while Dryden had buried himself behind a huge wall of draconian texts and such things. He was constantly murmuring to himself while he wrote some more or less interesting facts on parchment from one of the tables. Celena had decided together with Millerna to take a nap and both were now sleeping soundly on the cushions in one of the corners.

The only one who didn't quite fit in this picture was Van Slanzar de Fanel, the young King of Fanelia. He was sitting in the darkness of the corner where Millerna and Celena where still asleep. To the others it may have seemed that he was also sleeping, but it was quite the contrary. Van was wide-awake, thinking things over, things he somewhat regretted. Somewhere in the back of his mind a little but bugging voice had asked him over and over again, why he had said those things to Hitomi since she had left the room. It had questioned his behaviour all the whole time through and a part of him felt really guilty and wanted to apologise to Hitomi right away. He was missing her nearness already.

But there was still anger he felt. Anger he had never felt before. It was so intense, making him feel cold and yet burning hot inside. It's blackness was slowly engulfing him more and more and he didn't know if he wanted it to stop or to relieve him of all the pain he had gone through in his life, of all the bad and sad memories. The feeling of loneliness he had felt as a child when no family had been there to comfort him, to show him how it was to live happily, without a care in the world. Then the feeling of dread he had had when Fanelia had burned to the ground on that fateful day and the feeling of having failed his people. Then had come the days of war where he had for the first time felt something tug at his heart whenever he was around the girl from the Mystic Moon and how he had wished to protect her and how he had always felt hurt and somewhat betrayed when he had once again saw that look in her eyes when she was with Allen and especially the stabbing pain in his heart as it had broken in two when he had seen her kiss the blond knight on the bridge. And there had been the time only a few days after that when she had stood there at the port, her eyes full of sadness, anger and maybe even hate against him. She had wanted to go home in that moment so hard that her pendant had granted her wish and all because of him. Yes, she had returned a short while after that and they both had finally and fully understood the feelings they had developed for each other, but it had only lasted a few days. She had returned to her planet after the war and he had been alone again. Of course, there had been Merle, always trying to cheer him up. She was like a real sister to him, but it had never given him the feeling he would have felt if his family had still been there with him and Balgus had been dead also, like so many others. Van had tried to drown the feeling of not being whole in his heart by working as hard as he could to help rebuild his country and even others, but all that hadn't help against the lonely nights in which he hadn't been able to sleep and had kept tossing and turning in bed only thinking of her. Thus she had returned once again after a very long time, only to disappear again after short while. Again, she had left him, with no one to turn to, to tell what was really on his mind and to ease the pain in his soul and heart. Lastly, she had shown herself again and he had thought, that everything would turn out for the better this time. Oh, how wrong he had been. How foolish. She had kept away from him, hadn't trusted him and now, she was not even here (again).

Van just didn't know what to think anymore. He was losing himself in darkness and this time it seemed like there would be no blinding white light to get him out of it.

Van's trail of thoughts was broken by Merle's unexpected question to them all:

"Say, did anyone of you see Hitomi? She hasn't come back since she left shortly after she brought us here."

The others all exchanged worried glances and Van felt a tingle of worry that could not even be suppressed by the deep anger within him.

Maybe it's because of me. Maybe she doesn't want to see me anymore, because I hurt her too much.

The pain that his heart emitted by that thought was strong. It was as if through the pain his heart was slowly beginning to beat again in the way it should be. The blackness had stopped the beating of the rhythm of life in him he had been so used to and with the pain the slow beating came faintly back, driving a bit of the blackness away from.

What have I done? That was the only thought that struck him with full force, as his mind seemed to clear a bit again. His mind snapped back to reality, when he heard Sheik's soft answer to Merle's question:

"I would say that she has retired to her chambers to get some very needed rest. She brought you all here safely after all."

"I hope I am not being rude, but your last statement just now sounded like we put her in some great danger by getting us here." Dryden asked with a curious raised eyebrow.

Sheik gave a sigh and closed his eyes: "Actually you did. With trying to get you here safely without anything happening she put herself in the most grave danger you can imagine."

They had expected anything as an answer, but surely not that and surely not the bitterness and sadness in his voice. Even Millerna and Celena who had halfway woken up at Merle's question where now wide awake with shock.

"What do you mean?" Millerna asked in a hoarse whisper, eyes wide with disbelieve.

"That what I say my child. Let me explain it all. At first there is the transportation itself. You may have seen the pentacle in the Temple of Fortuna she used to activate the power for the transportation. It must be drawn with the live blood of the one wishing to release the spell. It must be done not to slow and not to hasty. It must be done in a steady rhythm with the beating of once heart and the spell you must call upon with you voice must also be finished at the exact moment as well as using part of the energy itself in or from the temple."

"The energy from the orb in the sword." Allen muttered unaware of himself doing so.

"Yes the orb Hitomi used had just the right amount of energy needed for the chant. But if something, anything had gone wrong, even if one drop of blood had not been right, it would have caused a catastrophe. It surely would have not harmed any of you, the transportation-pillar would have come probably anyway, but it would have not brought you here or even anywhere near. It could have set you down almost anywhere in Gaia safe and sound. But it would have cost Hitomi her soul. Her body would have been transported with you and to you it would have looked like she was asleep, but it would have been a sleep for the rest of the live on this world. Everything would have still functioned; her breathing, the beating of her heart, she would have even shivered if it had been too cold for the body and all, but her eyes would have stayed dull and unmoving, like the ones of a dead person. There would have been nothing for any of you to do, not even the nine High Ones would have managed to return her soul to her body. They would have probably not even been able to find her soul. It would have not gone to the afterlife like other souls do when the body dies, nor would she have roamed the plains of the living on Gaia or the Mystic Moon. Her soul would have been trapped for all eternity in a plain even not fully known by us, alone and in pain."

Every single one of them had slowly stopped doing what they had been doing in mid air as Sheik had continued to explain. Their faces showed horror but also disbelieve. Why would anyone make up such a dangerous spell?

Sheik faintly smiled at them sadly:

"Yes, I know. It may seem totally impossible that something as that could exist, but it does. The Draconians and the Liors made that spell right at the beginning when the Fortuna Temple was being build. At that time there was a short moment of peace between Draconians and the Clan of Liocorna, which lasted only a few months. My Clan had helped make the last key, the sword, which gives entrance to the power of Atlantis. My kin and the winged people had discussed this already for a few weeks and had come to the conclusion that there should be a connection from the their temple to our temple where you are right now. The path should have been able to use from both sides and from both races alike, but alas a new fight ended it all, which also became the final parting of the Draconians and Liors. My ancestors immediately shut the connection between the temples as far as it had already been established and sealed the pentacle in this temple right away. Its remains should be right were the altar in the great hall is standing, which is why you came into that room. But a small group of Draconians was determined to gain access through the portal. No one knows what happened to them, but we know they failed to make the right connection, thus disturbing the balance which was still held within the closed pathway cursing it without knowing and thus making it for one who tries to use it so greatly dangerous."

Van couldn't believe it. Why had Hitomi done such a thing? Had she not known the full consequences for herself had she failed? And if she had done with knowing everything, why would have anyone (even her) done such a foolish act? Did her live mean nothing to her?

Regret, guilt, worry and care for the person he so much loved (but thought he would hate forever a few minutes ago) were slowly beginning to grow once again in Van's heart, pushing the darkness away from his soul and away from him like a gentle summer-breeze. The darkness did not go away completely, fighting with all its might to take control of him again. Van could hear in back of it his mind a terrifying scream full of anger and hatred, all directed at him, but he did not listen to it as once again Dryden spoke up with a shaky voice, just above a whisper.

"There is still more for you to explain isn't it?"

"Sadly there is. Hitomi may have fully succeeded in getting the portal under her control, but she did not only had to focus her mind as best as she could on this temple to get you all to her chosen destination, but the temple itself is protected by many barriers which are only open at certain moments, when the temple is above the ocean (more to that later). For someone, who wants to enter the temple when it is under the surface, it is nearly impossible is he not of our kind, since no other race was ever allowed to enter this sacred temple." Sheik smirked and his eyes held an amused sparkle in them. "Even you shouldn't be here, it was forbidden to Hitomi to bring anyone who is not from our Clan here, but she seems to like to bend an eventually break some of those rules taught to her, some of the which she greatly dislikes. Anyway, to gain access while the temple is still underwater, one must open a hole in the defences with his or her power. But it sounds easier than it really is, trust me. For if someone normally would just make a hole to get through all the defences would fade and eventually, the temple would probably collapse through the force of the used power, so the one wishing to enter has to be the hole itself With that I mean that he or she must allow the energy flowing in the different protection spells and other defences all around to flow through their body. Thus the person is also able to let other people pass into the temple. And yet again it sounds a bit easier then it will ever be. For each other person that must be transported through, the person letting them through looses a great amount of energy, since the barriers are connected to your whole power-force. I must say, you are not quite much, only a hand full but still it amazes be that Hitomi could breath correctly, yet alone stand and walk after she brought you through the barriers. She is one of the most talented people I have ever seen and believe me, I have seen more then enough. She knows exactly how to use her powers. Even so it must have cost her nearly all her strength and even some of her inner life force itself. She must care for you all a lot to put herself so willingly in such danger."

If the first explanation about the teleportation-pillar had been scary there was no way of explaining the utter shock and amazement on the faces of the people in the library. Who would have ever thought that there existed such dangers around them, such powers that could have easily killed them without them even realising it until they where already dead?

And who of us would have ever thought that Hitomi would have brought herself in such great danger (and at the same time showed powers that were able to resist those dangers) only to bring us somewhere safe? Van thought with wide eyes.

He had known hat Hitomi had held some sort of great power within herself. She had already healed him; she herself had healed her wounds several times through her powers without even registering it. And he was sure that she had at least helped with her powers in protecting Fanelia and Palas and had warned them about the attack on Freid. But never in Van's widest dreams had he suspected her powers being so great.

"…Some of them where probably so powerful, that they could have destroyed great parts of Gaia, even whole countries with no effort or risking their own lives through the amount of power set loose…"

Dryden had told that about the Clan of Liocorna back in Palas right after the attack and it came back to Van with a vengeance. The words tumbled around in his head making it impossible for him to think straight.

But he felt something else. He felt an emotion coming back to him from which he thought the darkness in him had swallowed them forever.

Love…

He felt his love for Hitomi now as clearly as ever and the darkness was retreating more and more so great was the feeling of wanting to have Hitomi once again by his side, to embrace and protect her and to tell her what an idiot he had been and how foolish it was to think he could not trust her. He felt how the darkness for one last time tried to strike him down, to win him over again and he struggled against it as best as he could. He thoughts were still tumbling about and that didn't make it easier.

But through the chaos of his mind suddenly came back another memory; a memory of him holding Hitomi in his arms abort the Crusader, heading towards the Fortuna Temple, and her deep penetrating, piercing gaze she had given them all. And with it came the words back she had said:

"…A darkness every one may has to defeat on their own… … not even realise it until you have driven it away or it has swallowed you whole… … attack in many different ways… … the very depth of you own soul, your essence of live…"

How could he have been so very blind? How could he not have noticed after Hitomi had warned them all? How could he have let the darkness take so much control over his emotions and his mind?

Van felt the darkness once again trying to return but this time he pushed it with all the power he had got within him not fully realising what he was just doing. He did not only push it back, but when it wasn't more then just a tiny speck in the back of his mind he gather his power and crushed it with all his might. A cry full of agony and hatred pierced his mind with such force that he thought his head would explode. But it quickly subsided and nothing was left of the darkness that had cased great shadow over his heart, mind and soul. And with it disappearing he finally knew what he had to do right now.

Van slowly got up. He saw how the others had somewhat returned to the things they had been doing before, Dryden having his nose in one of those giant books, writing furiously while Merle and Allen strolled around the vast shelves full of books and Millerna and Celena were quietly talking to each other not noticing him leaving. He made his way through the giant library and over to the door, which led back out to the hallway and from there to several doors and the big hall.

"So you have finally decided to go after her?"

Van turned his head to his right only to see Sheik standing right next to him, his clear blue eyes shining softly.

"Yes, it is the only right thing to do after by behaviour. I would even understand her if she would send me back here right away, but I want to try at least. I hurt her deeply without noticing and it is something I can probably never make up again."

"You'll just have to be a bit careful. Even if she does not show it, most of the time she would just like to throw of the burden she is holding right now and forget everything. She tends to let her feelings get the best of her and the pain in her heart must be terrible right now."

"I can understand. I have felt like that also, but her pain could even be greater then mine, for it was not her who hurt me, but myself. Can you tell me where she could be right now? Is she resting?"

"I can not tell you. She has a sleeping chamber of her own with a bathing area like all revered daughters and sons had in the earlier days, when the temple was still full of live and the boys and girl who wanted to enter the order in the temple rushed up and down the halls to fulfil the task given to them by the High One who was the head of the Order at that time. To find her, you will have to follow your heart, like you always have done without noticing."

Van nodded and was heading through the door when Sheiks voice stopped him again.

"You should also be careful with the way you are using your powers right now. I noticed your fight with the darkness inside. Don't worry; I was the only one able to notice anything since not much power was revealed to the outside. But it seems to me that you are quickly learning to control great parts of the power you ancestors possessed. Just try not to use it to openly. Besides I can see that it was not your full potential you just used there. Now go and talk to Hitomi. Go."

And with that Sheik shoved Van through the door and out into the fast hallway, where he stood still for a few moments, contemplating on the things Sheik had said. Slowly he began walking down towards the way his heart was leading him, towards his beloved Hitomi.

Chapter end.

Yeah, yeah, I know that the ending of this chapter is total crap, but I couldn't think of anything better here and right now it doesn't matter. And still got to write a new chapter for my other story, finish the One-Shot I'm planning, finish the next chapter of this story and maybe even begin a new story or continue the story I am writing for my friend (If anyone is interrested and needs a good laugh, just look up the review my friend roseninselchen left me for chapter 15 *lol*). It really is a lot for me to do untill next weekend! *is currently dying* CIAO!!!