Was it a dream? Or a vision?
Hitomi lay with her eyes closed. Silence filled her ears, except for the pounding of her heart. She had not known just how much she had wanted to hear those words from Van, and her stomach churned at the thought it had only been a dream. It had been a lovely dream. There was something about it though - She knew her vision of Fanelia was true. That was the Ancient Fanelia just after the creation of Gaia by the Draconians. She knew other things too, incredibly important things she had to tell Van. She needed to move; she needed to find him.
Her body was stiff with lack of use, and she couldn't get her eyes to open. Her body would not respond to her commands. She was trapped inside her body, unable to make a sound. She could breathe at least. She knew because her breathes were coming shorter as her terror at her predicament rose. She wanted to see Van so badly, even if it was only a dream. She wanted to cry. She thought she could feel a tear streaking down her cheek. She focused on only her fingers and tried to flex them.
She felt them move. It wasn't much, but the pain from their stiffness shot up her arm as she moved. Pins and needles began to spread from her fingertips up her arms. She moved her fingers again, and her skin hummed with the effort.
A voice started to force its way through the silence in her head. The voice sounded millions of miles away as if speaking through water.
She opened her eyes slightly. A blurry figure was bent over her, silhouetted by the light behind it. The figure moved as the muffled voice spoke. She could feel something touch her face. Slowly, both the voice and the figure began to take shape. After some time she could make out the words.
"Hitomi!" the voice murmured urgently. "Please wake up!"
The figure wrapped Hitomi in a hug, gripping her tightly. His smell filled her senses. It was Van. She knew that instantly, without any doubt. She lifted her numb arms and wrapped them around him. She tried to force sound from her throat, but her words only came out as a whisper.
"Van…"
Van pulled away so he could see her. His eyes were red and moist, and his hair was disheveled. He looked thin, but much healthier than the last time she had seen him. It must have been some time since they escaped from Zaibach. She smiled faintly. This was enough. Even if the kiss had only been a dream, it was better to have the real Van here with her. He was breathing heavily and gently caressed her cheek with his hand. His eyes were wide as they traced every inch of her face.
"Van," she rasped, "there's so much I need to tell you. I don't know how, but I know things and -"
Hitomi was cut short by Van pressing his lips to hers. He was warm and tasted of wind and fire. The seconds stretched to what felt like minutes to possibly an eternity. Nothing else existed. Hitomi was thrown back into the darkness, but this time it was safe, and she could feel Van's arms around her, supporting her. She could feel his breath on her skin, and his lips against hers, and she gripped him back. She wove her tingling fingers up into his hair. He squeezed her closer, and only broke the kiss to catch a brief breath, and then pressed his lips to hers once again, desperately.
Finally, he broke the kiss altogether.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, leaning his forehead against hers.
Hitomi bit her lip, unable to think of anything to say. Her insides were like jelly. It wasn't a dream. It wasn't a vision. This was real. She could feel him. He was holding her. Had he really said what she thought she heard in the dream? Had that been true too?
"I love you," he whispered. "I love you so much, but it's all my fault. I'm sorry. I don't deserve any of this right now. I'm just so glad you're alive. I'm so glad." He buried his head in her shoulder and squeezed her tight. Hitomi could feel his breath hitch as he tried to stifle a sob.
They stayed like that for some time in the silence of the temple of Escaflowne. Hitomi could see the giant guymelef behind Van,the energist jewel on its chest glowing steadily. Finally, she said, "you awoke Escaflowne."
Van pulled away and looked up at the legend. "I did. It was the right thing to do. I should have listened to you before."
"I can feel it," said Hitomi. She slowly got up from the floor, careful to stretch her legs and test their stability as she did, and walked over to Escaflowne. She put her hand up and touched the jewel, the heart of Escaflowne. The jewel glowed brighter, illuminating the hall. Hitomi could feel a rush of energy through her. She could feel every living thing both inside and outside the walls of Fanelia. She could feel every person inside the walls, and the inhabitants of the Zaibach ships outside. She could feel the hint of something else, but like Escaflowne, it felt like life, but wasn't. It was just light. Spots of bright energy hovering above the kingdom of Fanelia. They were the opposite of the dark spots Hitomi had felt inside Zaibach.
Hitomi felt refreshed. Warmth flowed from Escaflowne into her and filled her up. She felt loved, and safe. She felt connected to everything and everyone.
Van, she said, not realizing that she was communicating directly to his mind, there are things I need to tell you. There are things I know now, important things, that I need to confirm. We need to find Vesivius, the Elder of Fanelia.
Hitomi scanned the halls of the castle trying to find Vesivius. She didn't remember learning his name, or anything about him, but she knew he was the only one who would remember the things she knew, and she needed him.
When Hitomi looked over to Van, his face was a mask of surprise. She took her hand off of Escaflowne and ran to him. "Van, are you okay?"
"That's what I should be asking you," Van said, breathlessly. "You were glowing." Van looked back at Escaflowne in awe.
"I'm fine," shrugged Hitomi. "I actually feel a lot better now. I feel like I've just woken up from a really good sleep." She smiled up at him, and his face relaxed into his own smile. "Now, I think I found Vesivius. Can you have him brought to the castle?"
There was a lot of commotion when Van made his presence known at the castle. Every advisor needed to inform him about the Ispano ships that hung in the air, and the damage reports from the initial attack of the Zaibach fleet. Van made sure someone was sent to collect Vesivius right away, so all they had to do was wait. Hitomi watched as Van coordinated aid to be sent to the districts most affected by the attack, and repairs for the parts of the Fanelian walls that were damaged. He let them know that Zaibach may be operational again, and that they would need to be prepared for another attack.
When most of his official business was settled, Van filled Hitomi in on everything she had missed while unconscious. Some of what he told her was already validating the knowledge she acquired from Gaia while in her vision world. For one, she was connected to Gaia because of her blood. She would have been surprised, except that it felt natural, as if she had always known. She was Draconian. She was of Gaia. It made sense inside of her, as if she was visiting a childhood home.
Hitomi was horrified to learn of the Zaibach attacks, but at least she was beginning to understand the darkness she could feel in Zaibach. They were sucking the very life force out of Gaia. The wrongness she had sensed this entire time was exactly that.
Hitomi and Van were in his study when a herald came in to announce the presence of Vesivius, the Sage.
"Show him in," ordered Van.
The Sage was a small and very old man. He could not have been much more than four feet tall. His face was so wrinkled it was nearly impossible to make out his features. He had a long beard, and large bushy eyebrows that hung over his eyes like curtains. He leaned on a stubby cane with his small gnarled hands. He could have been hundreds of years old. Hitomi didn't know how long those on Gaia could live. The Sage moved slowly into the room, his cane preceding each step.
When he was only a few steps from Van, he bowed his head in what appeared to be as much of a bow as he could manage.
"Rise, Elder Vesivius," said Van, kindly. "You need not bow to me."
The Sage spoke in a quiet but stern voice. "I do, your highness. Of all the kings of Fanelia, since the Ancients, I do for you. You are truly the rightful King of Fanelia."
Hitomi could see a blush spread across Van's face. He dismissed the herald, and Van and Hitomi were alone with the ancient Sage.
"Why do you say that?" Van asked the old man.
"Because you carry the blood of Fanelia - No, not the blood of the Kings," the Sage interrupted when Van was about to speak, "the blood of the Dragons."
"The Draconians?" asked Hitomi.
"Yes, and no," answered the old man. "The Draconians built Fanelia when Gaia was born from the atonement of the Draconians for the destruction of their own world. The dragons were the first inhabitants of Gaia. Their hearts are the beating lifeblood of Gaia herself. The Draconians learned that their hearts could be used to power machines. All guymelefs today still use the energists, ancient dragon hearts, to power them. The dragons of Gaia were hunted nearly to extinction. Fanelia was the last refuge for these marvelous beasts. Before Gaia and the mystic moon were separated completely, those who were leaving charged the Fanelian's with a purpose; to protect the dragons, and to protect all of Gaia from the misuse of power enacted by their forebears. Escaflowne was commissioned to be the tool of that protection. Escaflowne shares a blood bond to the Kings of Fanelia. When the power of an energist is used, the blood of Fanelia is bound to its fate. This was done to make the draconians accountable for how they used the Energist."
Van gasped. Hitomi understood. Van's injuries from Escaflowne, their deep bond, was a remnant of this protective charge the Draconians left behind. Escaflowne wasn't meant for power, but for protection.
"Why haven't the Kings been using this power to protect Fanelia? How was Zaibach able to grow so strong without us knowing?" questioned Van.
"It is not the throne that imparts this relationship to Escaflowne," the old man continued. "Escaflowne can only be bound to one with the blood of the dragons. Many centuries ago, the Draconians that remained were forced out, exiled from Fanelia. They remained, in secret, to protect the dragons, but they could not act. The humans took over the leadership of the kingdom, and the power of Escaflowne became not much more than legend. Your mother was one of the last of the Draconians. You are the last. You are the only one who can operate Escaflowne, you are the only one left who carries the fate of Gaia. You are Fanelia's true king." The old man bowed his head again.
"Why have you not been in the castle? Why have you not advised my father? I didn't even know you existed until Hitomi told me we had to find you."
"Ah," sighed the Sage, "I am just an old man who tells stories. I keep the history of Fanelia, but no one wanted that history. It is good to be able to share my knowledge once again."
"Well, I am glad. You will be an honored guest in the castle as long as you are here. I would like for you to tell our history as you know it. I will have a scribe put your words to paper so they will not be lost. Fanelia will not hide from its history any longer."
"I am honored to have been able to pass my stories to the last Draconian. I have finally served my purpose," said Vesivius with gratitude.
"But I'm not the only one," said Van.
The old man looked at Van curiously.
"This is the Lady Hitomi, of the Mystic Moon," Van introduced. "She also carries the blood of the Draconians."
Vesivius stared at Hitomi open-mouthed. His eyes were so wide Hitomi was actually able to see they were blue.
"The prophecy," breathed the old man.
"What?" asked both Hitomi and Van simultaneously.
"The prophecy of the shard! It was the earliest story that was passed to me as a child. I haven't thought of it since I was a boy, but I remember it like it was yesterday.
When a dying Gaia cries
And the Guardian flies
And the heavens attune
To bring the children of the moon
The two dragons shall ride
THE ANCIENT POWER REVIVED
To put right what was wrong
For the weak and the strong
To heal the land and the sea
The two as one shall always be
I always believed it was from Gaia of old, but it was you. You are the saviors of Gaia! As long as you are here, Fanelia and all of Gaia shall prosper. Praise the Ancients!"
Hitomi felt Van bristle next to her. Another prophecy, another predetermined fate Van would be forced to reckon with. She had been silent as the Sage confirmed what she felt in her bones. It wasn't that her vision had told her these things. They were just True. Every word the Sage said felt to Hitomi as if she had always known it.
"No," declared Van. Van backed away from both Hitomi and the old Sage.
"Van," Hitomi began, reaching out to him.
"I said 'No'," he reiterated. "I told you, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. We can send you home, if you want, we can just stay here if you want. Fates be damned! We make our own fate from now on. Let someone else save the world for once. I wasn't even supposed to be King! My brother was!"
Hitomi could feel the boiling emotions inside Van. He was scared, and he was angry for never being able to live his own life. He finally wanted for them everything she had hoped for since her return to Gaia, but she now knew that wasn't to be. Her life, both their lives, were meant for a greater purpose. How could she make him see that? It was so clear to her now, as if she had always known.
She put her hand on Van's arm. He looked up at her, meeting her eyes.
I want to help, Hitomi said to his mind, pressing as much of her knowledge and confidence into the words as she could manage. I want to serve my purpose for Gaia, now that I understand. Let me be who I was meant to be.
Hitomi could see the resignation take root behind Van's eyes. She could feel him overcome with a sense of futility and loneliness she didn't understand.
"If that is what you wish, I will be by your side," he nodded.
Hitomi turned her attention back to the old man. His eyes were like saucers and his mouth hung slack in wonder. She could feel his amazement as well. To have his childhood legends appear before him in the flesh was invigorating the old man. She smiled at him.
"Thank you for confirming my visions, Elder Vesivius. You have helped me understand what it is I need to do. For that, I will be forever grateful." Hitomi bowed to the old man.
"I-I am but a humble servant," the Sage stammered as he bowed his head to Hitomi.
Van called the harold back and instructed that the old Sage be provided with a scribe to record the Draconian history of Fanelia. He maintained the regal disposition expected of him, but Hitomi could sense the dejection in his composure. When they were once again alone, she took his hand and wound her fingers between his.
"You hoped I would choose to run away from it all," she accused.
"I didn't," he said, "until it was inescapable." He sighed deeply and wrapped her hand in both of his. "I wanted you to have a choice. I didn't want you to be forced into all this again, not after-"
He didn't have to complete his sentence. Hitomi knew he was thinking of her speech in the vision-land. She hadn't known then what she was fully aware of now. With Escaflowne awake, her connection to Gaia complete, and her powers fully realized, she couldn't hide from her fate anymore. He was right, they might still lose, but they had to try. Her powers were the only thing standing between Gaia, and Zaibach's reckless and selfish destruction of Gaia's delicate balance. Even now, she could feel the emptiness and death in the patches beneath the Zaibach fortresses. She could feel the sorrow within the walls of Fanelia. She could prevent that from happening again.
"I don't have a choice because Gaia doesn't have a choice, Van. We are bound together. As long as Zaibach is pulling the life from Gaia, none of us have a choice. They have taken that from us."
"You never should have come back," Van said, squeezing Hitomi's hand. He leaned his forehead against hers. "But I'm glad you did." Van pressed his lips to Hitomi's, and all of Gaia fell away. Hitomi wished they could stay like that forever, but she knew better.
"We have work to do," she said. "I still have so much to learn."
Van and Hitomi walked out onto the rampart hand in hand. The Ispano ship still hung in the air above the city, but it seemed to Hitomi to have become less real. The edges of the ship wavered as if seen through heat vapors, and the colors rippled and bled indistinctly. The air tremored with energy. A dark hole ripped open in the sky, and the Ispano ship slowly rose through it until all that could be seen was the hook-like point on the bottom, then it was gone. The hole in the sky closed up as if it had never been there. Hitomi heard birds chirp and realized for the first time since waking up that their songs had been missing.
"I need to go down to the scorched earth," she told Van, as they both watched the sky.
Van led Hitomi through the main gate to the ground beneath the dark Zaibach fortresses. They still hung motionless, sapped of all power by the Ispano. Hitomi had no doubt those inside were scrambling to figure out how to regain power over their own ships. It was only a matter of time before they figured it out.
Van and Hitomi were escorted by a regiment of Fanelian guards. There was no way the advisors would let the King of Fanelia so close to the enemy without defense.
Hitomi walked out beyond the walls across the scorched ground. Nothing grew. The grass had been sapped of all life. Every living thing that made its home in the dirt had been reduced to lifeless shells. Worse than the wrongness she had experienced before, the blank, lifeless earth threatened to overwhelm her. She felt dizzy, and she could feel the energy almost being pulled from her, but she could feel her tie to Escaflowne, and the near-infinite resource of life energy to which Escalfowne served as a conduit. Hitomi drew forth some of that energy and crouched to the ground. She placed her palm to the dead earth, her fingers spread wide, and let the life of Gaia flow through her fingers. The energy flowed from her into the dormant roots of the grass and flowers, and into the empty husks of bugs and rodents that made their home in the ground. The wrongness and emptiness was slowly filled by the bright energy of the lifeforce of Gaia.
Hitomi stood up and stepped back to stand beside Van. Small shoots of green sprung forth through the desolate earth before their eyes.
Van let out a gasp.
"I think I can do it Van," Hitomi whispered beside him. "I think I can set things right."