The Legend of Liocorna
Disclaimer: Don't own Escaflowne or any of its characters……
FINALLY! I never thought I'd manage to finish this chapter! Please forgive me for taking so long, but I never thought school could be so…so… exhausting! It's the last chapter, but there should be an epilogue following shortly and maybe even an extended edition for this chappie, as I am not quite happy with it, but I wanted you guys to have a chance to read before a new year starts °. ENJOY!
Chapter 18: Together we can fly
Van woke up with a throbbing head and total darkness once again around him. It was getting on his nerves, but at least he knew he was awake.
The feeling the rough stones beneath him, lying sideways on them and hearing the constant "drip, drip" of water in a puddle near him made it clear.
Pushing himself up carefully Van blamed himself for everything. He couldn't believe he had been so stupid to get himself and the others caught. They had been running the whole time from that darkness and not even a minute after they had left the temple they had already been captured by that horrifying shadow.
He wondered how their enemy could have known the location they would come through the gate but let it drop when he heard a groan coming from somewhere opposite his current position.
Stretching his hand out carefully, Van could feel old metal bars in front of him and then only air. Getting frustrated again over not seeing a thing Van blinked his eyes rapidly.
He thought he was hallucinating when he started to see red lines forming before his eyes. They connected, building forms and shapes – first the bars before him then the rest behind it. Still bewildered he rubbed his eyes twice and after the second time everything was not only rendered in red but had a light shading of blue.
Van made out the rather huge cell he was sitting in and one on the opposite side of the hall, with his friends.
Merle was just sitting up with Millerna still lying beside her.
Celena was helped up by her brother Allen while Dryden sat directly in front of the bars of their cell, running a hand up and down on the half rusty metal.
But Hitomi was not there…
With a pained moan Van saw Millerna lifting herself up carefully from the floor her head held in one of her hands.
"Ow… I feel like I was hit by a Guymelef…" She looked around bewildered.
"Where are we?"
"I have no idea my dear", Dryden answered her thoughtfully.
"We seem to be in some kind of cell as far as I can make out. Is everyone here? Merle?"
"I'm right here, but this darkness is so thick I can't see a thing!"
Van watched as Allen held Celena tightly to his chest.
"I and my sister are also here, but where "here" is I have no clue…"
Contemplating for a second, chin held in one hand, Dryden spoke up again.
"I also have no idea where we could be… Van? Hitomi? Are you here as well?"
"I'm over here!" Van called out to them, still searching for Hitomi.
"I'm in a cell on the other side from you. But I can't find Hitomi! Has anyone of you seen her?"
"How am I supposed to see or find her, if I can't see my own hand in front of my eyes?" Merle growled, her tail twitching nervously from side to side.
The others all shook their heads in resignation – which was rather ironical, since only Van was able to see them anyway – not knowing what to do and if she was somewhere near.
Dryden, who now held his wife's hand tightly, furrowed his brows together even more.
"Van… how come you know we're in different cells? Where you still consciousness when they brought you here? Did you see anything?"
The young King of Fanelia cursed inwardly. He hadn't really thought about the others not being able to see like him.
But why could he?
He shrugged his shoulders although he knew his friends couldn't see it.
"Sorry, but I only woke up a few minutes ago. I don't know where we are or how we were brought here, but I know it were those people who have been after us the whole time."
"Well, then please tell me how you know where we are in this darkness if you came only to yourself moments ago…?" Allen asked irritated, confusion and frustration clear on his face for Van to see.
Again, he shrugged his shoulders, his thoughts still on getting out fast and finding Hitomi.
"I have no clue, Allen, why or how, but I can in some surreal way see in this darkness…"
He saw that Dryden was still sceptical.
"In some surreal way…? Could you please explain what you mean?"
"I… don't know Dryden… I'm seeing only in shades of light blue… and everything has red lines around it… It seems like my powers have somewhat enhanced since we have been in the temple… Maybe the last seal, which Hitomi told us about, has partly been lifted by that shadow or through the powers she has used…"
Everyone was silent after that, trying to sort their thoughts and think of a way out of this mess.
When Dryden started to speak up again they all heard a key being turned in a lock. Shortly after light fell in through a crack in a door, which quickly widened. The light, coming from some lamps outside, made the shades of blue and the red lines vanish quickly out of Van's sight, before he saw the shadow of two mans coming through the wooden door.
The two, clad in the same green Samurai-Suite as the others Van had met before them, said no word as they walked up to his cell door. With a huge key they opened the door and gesticulated him to stand up. His hand went automatically to his hip where his sword usually was, realising it wasn't there when he only felt air. Somehow logical when looking at his current situation. Not even his enemies would be so dump as to leave him his weapon.
Again, they told him without words to finally get up. Slowly, as not to look suspicious, Van got up from his position from the floor and carefully stretched himself, his gaze never leaving the faces of his two enemies.
Their faces were shrouded in darkness almost completely, not revealing much. But those things Van managed to see made a cold shiver run down his spine. The faces of both of them were haggard and worn-out, as if they never had enough food to eat and water to drink. The skin was a very pale grey and the eyes nearly the same as one of the dead.
Van had never taken such a close look at the faces of his enemy, since they were half covered during battle and he never had taken time to inspect the once, who had fallen during battle, always to preoccupied with other, to him more important things.
The strain of thoughts his mind was going vanished into the back of his mind, when one of the two men in the green samurai-suite took up his position behind Van and the other one turned around. He began heading back the way they had come, not once taking a look at the other prisoners.
Van shortly met the look of Dryden and Allen before they vanished out of his sight.
He heard the one behind him lock the door again before they led him up a flight of stairs of rough stones. Only a few torches hung on the stone walls until they came to another door. The corridor behind it was big but also sparely lit, although thick black curtains where draped over each window they passed. Some where even bolted with wooden blanks, tiny slits letting a bit of light in. Nothing hung on the walls, except for two banners they came across. But even those were mostly black, the only thing really interesting being about them the Silver Star in its centre. Van wasn't sure, but to him it looked slightly like the one he had seen in the temple with the huge painting of the woman on the unicorn.
He had not much time to think about it. Sooner than he had expected, Van and his two guards came to another, almost huge wooden door. There were no carvings, no drawings or anything else on the two enormous wings of the door, except for the metal plates to give it more weight and more stability. And yet there was something about it that made Van wish back away from it. The presence which made itself clear behind it had to be the shadow that had started it all. Started the war, all those battles and intrudes…
…and the hunt on Hitomi.
The doors slowly swung open leaving Van to look into a complete black room. It was an unnatural darkness, one that gave away nothing, letting you stand there feeling naked and without defence.
Stepping into the room, he heard the door close behind him again taking away the light which had entered with him. Once more his vision seemed to clear in that strange sort of way with the red lines and blue shadings.
At first there seemed to be nothing in the room; no windows, no furniture, no drapes on the walls, no light. Only one thing stood in the middle on the opposite side. A gigantic throne arose there, the backrest almost as high as the ceiling. Ten steps led up to it. And sitting on its stony surface was… nothing.
No, it's not "nothing". Van thought to himself. It's the shadow that took us captive. The one who attacked not only Fanelia but half of Gaia and tried to catch Hitomi!
The moment Van thought of his beloved, he saw standing at the base of the steps looking in his direction. Their eyes met and Van knew she could see him just as he could see her.
"Well, well, well… If it isn't our little draconian. Welcome, King Van Slanzar de Fanel, to my humble home."
Van turned back to the throne and to the shadow that sat in it. If it had eyes would have probably stared right at him now. He wasn't really sure that he wanted that… "thing" to have eyes; for he could have sworn there was only malice and bloodlust in them. The fight had shown him enough of what his enemy wished, although not everything. But he remained silent.
If the creature could have managed, he would have doubtlessly raised an eyebrow in mock amusement.
"It seems like you do not wish to talk to me. I must say that such behaviour isn't nice and not appropriate for a one of your status. But it does not matter."
He turned back towards Hitomi.
"There is only one thing I would have liked to show you, which you may find quite surprising. I'm feeling generous today so I'll let you take a look at this before I kill you and I am feeling restless as the time is at hand, so I will make it quick."
With a flick of his hand the bandana around Hitomi's forehead tore away. Into the open came a shimmering silver star, the exact replica of the one the inscription from Dryden and the frescoes in the temple. Van sucked in his breath as the light intensified and illuminated the room. But it did not penetrate the shadow sitting on the throne.
"The probably most well kept secret of the Liocorna Clan. This is which controls the power before it becomes too much for the human body to bear. Only with this sign the human mind is able to control a Liors true form without causing total destruction around it. As for the true form… it is the Unicorn itself not the human body although born into it. Allow me to demonstrate…"
In the blink of an eye the shadow transformed and charged at Van. With no time to fully react he braced himself mentally as good as he could for the impact. It came, but not from the front. It came from the side as Hitomi pushed them both out of the way, giving them a moment to breath. She took his hand and squeezed it tightly to get his attention.
"We haven't got much time left. Van you must get the others out of here before the castle might collapse of the sheer force."
"What about you?"
"I'll stall for time as much as I can."
Van gazed into her eyes. He saw no fear, only determination and the will to fight. Nodding once and squeezing her hand back, he pushed himself up from the floor. Somehow he managed to make it towards the door and outside before a shockwave came from behind, sending him to the floor one again. Trying to catch his breath which had been forced from his lungs, he got up and looked back. Only seeing a white and a black blur he focused on his task again hurrying towards the dungeons. As he neared the stairs a group of five samurais came into view. Taking them by surprise – and noticing once again he still hadn't his sword – Van barrelled full force into them, sending four to the floor and only one standing. His mind racing, he instinctively grabbed the huge black banner hanging on the wall and pulled. It ripped of with ease, burying the samurais in thick blackness. A torch hung beside him, which he lifted and flung onto the cloth. Not waiting for any result Van ran on, hearing with relief a scream coming from behind. Reaching the door to the stairs without meeting more enemies he flung it open. Taking three steps at a time he sighted two more with their swords drawn and ready to attack. Not thinking, threw out his right hand, wishing them both to hell. Power surged through his arm, centred in the palm of his hand and sent out a wave of magic. It hit the two full forces. The result was deathly. The bodies smashed into the wall leaving a bloody mess of crashed bones, metal and gore as the door in the back burst from his hinges. It crashed somewhere against a wall, splintering into tiny pieces. A startled scream came from within as Van grabbed the keys from the wall and half dashed, half stumbled to the cell which held his friends trapped.
"Lord Van! What's happening!"
"No time to explain, Merle." Van replied, throwing the cell door wide open. "Quick, we gotta get out of here before everything might come down on us!"
Not asking anymore questions they all followed the young King, making their way up the flight of steps and down the corridor Van had spotted earlier. The whole castle shook in its foundations, sending them all crashing to the floor before hasting on. After a while they came to another set of doors. Van and Allen flung them open at the same time. They were met with bright daylight, blinding them momentarily. When everyone was able to see once more, the friends were met with the sight of a small courtyard, fully laid out with grey and black stones. A high wall surrounding it had already collapsed halfway, revealing high mountains and a thick forest all around. Not knowing where to head now – seeing that they were confronted by at least two docent enemies – they were not prepared for the next and strongest quake that shook the rest of the castle walls and its surroundings. The rest of the outer wall collapsed, burying half of the samurais beneath a heap of thick stones, as everyone else was forced to the floor. Before they managed to get up, a second quiver went through the floor.
At the same time something crashed through the inside wall.
Everyone gasped as the shimmering Unicorn managed to stand up again.
"What…?" Millerna began to ask. But she never had the chance to finish as a second Unicorn emerged from the whole in the wall, the castle falling more and more apart behind it.
But the other Unicorn wasn't white or shimmering…it was totally black. Where the eyes should have been there was nothing. The hooves made smouldering marks on the ground and the horn did not glitter like stars, but burned flaming red from inside like liquid fire. It did not have the soothing and comforting effect; it was much more menacing and frightening.
The two Unicorns charged at each other, light clashing with darkness, the whole world seeming to tremble from the powers unleashed. Again and again their forces met the nature around holding its breath. And yet the white Unicorn seemed to falter with every attack a little more, always being defensive, never offensive.
Then it happened…
The black unicorn feigned an attack to the right, but was suddenly on the left, ramming head first into the flank of the other one. The impact made the white unicorn fly against one of the still standing walls. As it slid down its form suddenly started to glow and shrink in an unusual way, the hair changing it colour as the front hooves turned into human hands and the horn seemed to retreat into its head until only a star was left.
The friends stood there frozen in shock as they stared in horror at the black shadow that had formed itself out of the black unicorn and was now walking slowly towards the gasping form of Hitomi leaning against the wall and trying to get up.
"Oh how pitiful you are…" the shadow drawled mockingly still advancing on Hitomi. He lifted one of his hands and her body was pulled by an invisible force in the air, as if someone or something had clutched her around her throat. She tried to struggle but could not break free. And the shadow kept on coming.
"Did you really think you could stand a chance against me? Me, who has been looked away in darkness, forming it to my needs, increasing my power more and more over this long time span? Oh how foolish you truly are…"
The shadow flipped his outstretched arm away from his body. The motion sent Hitomi flying away, straight at the other side of the court. Her body would have hit the wall full force if Van hadn't reacted instinctively. Without thinking he unfurled his wings and somehow managed to catch his beloved in mid air although the impact still sent them both crashing onto the floor. He more felt than saw a magical attack aimed at them and curled his wings protectively around their bodies. His own power absorbed most of the blow, but he couldn't hold back the gasp of pain coming from his mouth.
"VAN!" Hitomi screamed, trying to get away from him, so he wouldn't get evolved anymore into the fight, nevertheless he held on tight.
"You can't fight him alone Hitomi!"
"But I don't want you to get hurt anymore. I…"
The King of Fanelia let go on the tight grip he had on her an instead grabbed both her hands with his.
"We can do this together. Together, we can fight him. Together, we can defeat him. Together, we can fly on the power that holds Gaia together…"
Hitomi relaxed slightly, her concentration now turned inwards, trying to bundle her power and reform it to fit with Van's. He did the same as their form began to glow.
The mocking voice was heard once again.
"My, my… are we now so desperate to have a go at me? Do you really think you can defeat me like that? Fools I say once again."
"No," Van answered, his aura pulsating around him. "You are the fool here. I do not only think I KNOW we can defeat you!"
Pure energy seemed to flow through his veins, his whole body mind and soul as he reached out with it towards Hitomi. She responded with her own power, melting it with his. Their auras formed one, pulsing in the steady beat of their hearts. Time itself seemed to hold its breath as the energy flowed all around responding from the earth, the air and the trees. It started to centre in the hands of the two lovers, growing steadily in power.
"Enough with this pitiful show of meekly power…" the darkness retorted. "Time to end this. What…?"
The shadow had thrown out his hand o send a wave of his own power towards Van and Hitomi, but it never managed to get to them. Just as it had come near them had been a short flash of blue and pink light. The next spilt second Escaflowne had stood there in all his glory, cape pillowing behind it. The Guymelef had his sword drawn out , placing it in front of the two figures before him, shielding with it there bodies from harm as the spell was absorbed.
At the same time as the Guymelef lifted his sword the world around the castle seemed to shudder. The young king and his beloved, who had had both their eyes closed while the energy flowed, opened them now, fixing their gazes on the black nothingness. Simultaneously they thrust the palms of their hands outwards, Hitomi's left and right and Van's up and down, forming a circle. Their combined power expanded, the aura withdrawing around their bodies and merging into the hands.
Then without warning, the power shot forward in a sphere of dazzling light.
Everyone later agreed that, for a split second the sphere had taken on the form of a Unicorn with wings wide outspread, just like the one of the painting on the prophecy.
It shot towards the shadow, still gaining in power. He made a gesture as if trying to cast a shield for defense, but he was to slow. The light engulfed him, devoured him, let the darkness fall apart from the inside. A high pitched scream, unlike anything the friends had ever heard, erupted from within the diminishing shadow. Dark hands tried to claw itself out of the light, back into the shadows, without success.
Slowly, ever so slowly the power-flow stopped. The light diminished as the scream faded away, only its echo resounding of the leftover walls and the mountains.
After the power had vanished completely and time seemed to flow again, the spot where the shadow had stood was bare of any hints to its existents. The Samurais had also disappeared without a trace and it was assumed later, that they had been part of the magic somehow.
But right now, it did not matter as Van slung his arms around Hitomi and pulled her against him. She let her body finally relax as her head rested on her beloved shoulder.
Watching the sun overcome the thick wall of clouds only one sentence was spoken into the healing quietness of the reborn day.
"It's finally over."
Chapter End.
R&R Is all I can say and once again, that there will be an Epilogue and maybe an extended edition of this chapter. CIAO!