Authors note:
Hey Guys, I'm really sorry it's taken me so long to update,I was having total writers block for like two years! I was really gonna abandon this story too because of it, but so mamy of you insisted that I finish it. So this is the last chapter and I will try to tie up the loose ends for you guys. Oh, and I changed the spelling on Evilan name, now it's the true spelling of what it's supposed to be: "Evelyn" still pronounced the same way. Again, I really sorry it's taken me so long and keep you guys waiting.(I feel so guilty!) Gomen na sai! ;(or however you spell it... or say it... i don't even think i say it right.;)
Disclaimer: I don't Escaflowne or it's characters.
"..Van..?" Hitomi breathed, clutching her hands to her chest.
"L-Lord Van...?" Merle echoed with confussion as she inched toward him.
The group stared at him uterly confussed. Unwilling to belive their eyes. Their faces were pale white as if they were seeing an
apparition, and that very well may have been the case, considering that their King was dead. But he wasn't, here he was
looking alive and well, but not all was well. Not only the question of him still being alive was on everyone's mind but also the
fact that he was getting married. And to who?! Who was this Elf? Which also posed a question because the entire Elvin race
had been wiped off the face of Gaea! The group was speechless, it was all too overwhelming. They just stared as Van's boat
drifted right in front of them. Merle gulped. Large tears welled in her fusha eyes. Tears of joy, tears of anger, tears of confusion.
She stumbled a few more steps toward as he was right in front of her.
She reached out her hand as she choked, "LORD VAN!"
Her yell reverberated over the already silent crowd. The citizens of Austuria winced and looked back and forth from Merle to the
young bride in the boat. They all had cringed when the saw the expression on the Elf-Girl. Her eyes once closed with a serene
expression now held anger and confusion. They darted through the crowd, curious as to find the rude interuption. When finally they fell
on a small cat-girl, who had tears running down her cheeks and her arm outstretched. Her face twisting into disgust as her emerald
eyes focused on a talled girl behind the cat-girl. She had short honey brown hair hacked all unevenly around her ears and the nape
of her neck, as though she had done the job herself. Her eyes shown with despiration as they too focused on the boy in the craft.
Without having to second guess herself Evelyn knew at whom she was staring at.
"Hitomi..." she growled through gritted teeth. Her head tilted downward as her green eyes gleamed through her blonde hair.
She raised he head and now shouted the name "HITOMI!" Her words cut through the air with a sick mallice.
Hitomi jumped at the sound of her own name. She tore her gaze from Van and frantically searched for whom that was that called her.
Her gaze quickly fixed on the bride, who was now standing in her small vessel and it teetered dangerously. Causing it to gently ran
into the side of the canal which momentarily stoped itHitomi was taken aback. everything was so confusing, she was now starting to
wonder weather or not this was a dream. She watched the the young woman trying to remember her face, but nothing of familiarity ever
came. She didn't know this girl.
'Then how is it that she knows my name?' Hitomi thought.
She gasped as her pupils dialated. Finally remembering Celena's words. She was overcome by fear, her whole being shook.
Her Lips trembled as she spoke the girls' name.
"...Evelyn...?" Her voice quivered.
The bride's expression changed. she looked up very smugly and sneered, "Well, I guess we can skip the formalities then."
Then in an instant her expression changed again. She threw out her right arm and shouted "Guards!" then snaped the same arm and now
pointed right at Hitomi.
Without saying another word several footsoldiers appeared from behind the bridge, from within the crowd, from alleyways and from all sorts
of inconspiquous places. They all formed a circle around the group. Not to metion that three large white Guymelefs appeared from behind
different buildings. The four drew closer to together.
"Whoa! I didn't even know they were there!" exclaimed Dryden
"Hitomi?! What did you do?!" Shouted Merle, her eyes still glistening with tears
"I-I don't know!" She breathed, as she stepped backwards.
Milerna twisted her face in anger. "-Wait a minute! I'm the Princess of this Kingdom! My Father's the King!"
Evelyn dropped her arm and bent her head down again. Her shoulders shook with quiet laughter, her eyes shut as though to suppress her glee.
She opened her eyes and glared at Milerna through her golden bangs. Inhailing and smiling very menelovntly she declaired "Not anymore!"
Milerna eyed her looking very perterbed.
"Wh-what do you mean?!" she stamered.
Evelyn only smiled wider and slowly pointed to one of the castle towers.
Milerna followed the girls finger and gazed up at the north tower.
She let out a bloodcurtling scream.
There impailed on a pike through his abdomin was their king. Haunched over, lifeless. Blood had dribbled down from the pike and down the
cobblestone wall. It was a sick statement made by this young girl. As all the breath left Milerna lungs with her scream, she promptly fainted.
Catching Dryden off guard he almost missed catching his wife.
Evelyn then threw her head back as corn silk hair followed her motion. She was cackling very loudly now.Her form convulsin in sheer
bliss. Her small watercraft teetering even more dangerously, yet it would not tip over. As though it too obeyed her out of fear, like the townspeople.
"WHO ARE YOU?!" Demanded Dryden
She didn't answer. She only slowed her laughter until it finally ended in an evil Grin. Her emerald eyes once again shot through her hair, and the
guards closed in tighter on the group.
'What are we going to do?...' Hitomi thought hopelessly, she shot one last glance at Van who abandonded his boat now stood on the cobblestone
street. His gaze was directed right into Hitomi's eyes, looking right through her. They held no love, ...not even hatred. Lifeless. Feeling her heart being
torn from her chest, she felt so nauseous as tears welled up in her eyes. She wanted no more than to just die right there, feeling completely abandoned.
Her hands shook down at her sides, then she abruptly drew them to her face and sank to the ground. Losing all composure, her body shook violently,
which only brought so much more joy to Evelyn. Just as she was about to raise her back for another horendous cackle, something happened...
A red glow resonated from Van's chest. Small at first, but quickly grew to a bright beam. His hair slowly swayed in the wind and energy the glow
produced. Hitomi, feeling the energy around her, slowly lifted her head from her hands and watching in awe.
Finally when it reached full magnifiaction, a building behind him exploded without warning. The water in the canal below stirred violently, throwing
Evelyn from side to side in her tiny boat, barely able to keep her balance, and nearly falling out, she fell on her butt. Evelyn swore.
"HOLD YOUR FIRE!!" She ordered, very aggravated.
"...No one shot that ma'am." reported one of the men in the Guymelefs.
Her head jerked from the Guymelefs to where the explosion just occured. "Then.. what just happened..?" She questioned almost innocently.
She stared intently at the devistation, trying to see past the screen of smoke. Finally, when it did clear all of the guards that once encompassed
her new prisoners had fallen to the ground. As they matter of her prisoners the were gone, no sign of them anywhere, and to her horror, so was Van.
Only rumble was in the place he once stood. She gaped at the sceen, then wordlessly began to frantically paddle, using her hands, to the side where
the pile of rocks laid. She clambered out of her boat and began sifting through the rubble. Repeating, "No, no, no! It can't be!" over and over again.
Finally, gazing over to her shoulder to her fallen hencemen she shouted "HELP ME DAMNIT!-" She gasped, now being close enough to see the details
of her fallen men she now saw they were all dead.
She Whipped her head around to the three Guymelefs and shouted "AFTER THEM!!"
"Ma'am!' As they immedatly took off, she ordered seveal townspeople to continute to sift through the rubble.
They ran through the empty streets of Austuria from alley way to alley way. Keeping cover behind the buildings. Dryden holding up the rear carrying his wife while Hitomi sprinted upfront and Merle ran on all fours right behind her. They frantically searched for a hiding place to duck out in, for they knew they couldn't outrun three guymelefs hot on their trail. One of them caught up and was now hoovering over them pointing it's monsterous Gatlin Gun at them. Looking up; Dryden noticed it and quickly shouted "SPLIT UP!" Merle and Hitomi glanced back then quickly obeyed. Merle and Dryden went left on two different streets while Hitomi ran right and the Guymelef followed her, while the other two behind this followed Dryden and Merle. She quickly ran short of breath, considering that she hasn't ran track for almost two years and she was pregnant! Looking for a place to hide, but threw that idea out the window when she glanced over her shoulder seeing the Guymelef flying right above her. 'He'll defantly see where I hide'
Every breath she drew cut like a knife to her lungs. She's been running so far, weaving from ally way to alley way. Completely lost. She thought she must be getting close the edge of the city, she way hoping. Anywhere but near Evelyn. However, though she may be far from Evelyn but not from her hencmen, at least one of them. Because that Gumelef was relentlessly chasing her. Yet, it wasn't pointing it's weapon at her anymore. Must have figured it's only a matter of time before she gets tired and stops running. 'HA! Yeah Right!' She thought to herself, 'I used to be a star track runner!-Yeah used to be!' She quickly dismissed the thought, 'I'm dying here!!' She heaved.
Just as she was about to give up, when she thought that there wasn't any point anymore, considering all that has just happened in the last five minutes, she felt her self arise from the ground. Her feet still in the motion of running but they weren't touching the ground. She also felt two stong hands lift her from under her armpits. Very confused she twisted around to she who had her, and she felt her heart sink. It was Van. She gazed up at his face, hoping that has awakened from his trance, but she was unfortionatly wrong. He stared straight ahead, not even acknowledging her gaze, and his eyes holding the same dead look as before. She struggled to be free, even noticing how high up they were, she didn't care, she was so frightened of what he may do to her. He tightened his grip on her as she fought with him to the point to wher it was it almost unbarable. He squeezed tighter and tighter, relentlessly, untill she finally stopped trying to free herself. She hung almost limp in her grasp,She wouldn't even try to speak to him she was so petrified and was completely crushed. She was at a loss for words. Until he started circle and lower to the roof of building, she frantically search and was becoming hopeful as her eyes danced from all four corners of the building. But her hopes were quickly dashed. It was by far the tallest building in the city with no way to get down to the bottom of the roof or even up. And the only way on there was the way they ware coming. Although, it looked like it was very close to a large body of water, so if she has a good running start the could jump off the edge, but even that looked unlikley.
They soon landed as her didn't care to put her down carefully, more like dropping her and she fell on her backside. She slowly climbed up to her feet, not paying any mind to the pain from her bottom. They stood there for a while staring one another, one with fear in their eyes, the other with apathy. She couldn't believe she was now facing her one true love this way, full of doubt, fear, and above all sheer saddness in her heart. Although, he didn't move toward her and make any threatening motion her just stood there studying her, like a lioness stalking her prey, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. What moment did he need? She was obviouly defensless, standing there shaking from head to toe. Or maybe there was something more, maube he was remebering her, maybe something was being triggered. However, it really didn't look like it. it didn't look like anything really, he only stood there motionless with his hands at his side staring intently with his cold eyes at his once-lover. She took the moment to try to talk to sense into him, she could only hope to atleast. Working up the courage to make her voice audible, she breathed "Van...?'', barely above a whisper. He didn't move,didn't even acknowledge his name being called, he just continued to stand there.His winds tucked behind him, his torso bare.
"Van, I know that somethings happened to you, but I know that you're not truly gone."
She contunued on through his silence and his total lack of reaction.
"It's still you inside... You're fighting with yourself aren't you, that's why you haven't really tried to ... kill me.." as she looked down.
"You remember me don't you?..." she said raising her head and taking a few steps toward him. "What we shared..." she raised her hand to her abdomin.
"... Van... I need you... now more than anything... Please don't abandon me, not now. There's something very important you need to know Van... But I honestly don't know if I should tell you now, considering the circumstances..."
Fear rising from the pit of her stomach to her throat, she knew she had to tell him now. It may very well be the only thing that brings him back.
She just never really prepared on how she was supposed to break the news to him. Well nows as good as anytime, she guessed.
"Van, I - ..." She looked into his eyes, through his eyes and smiled, knowing that deep down the Van she knew could still hear her. She was standing right in front of him. "I don't think you know this... but you've given me... a very precious gift.." She reached for his hand and, to her surprise, he didn't draw back. She place his hand on her stomach and quietly said " Van, I'm ...-" But was quickly cut off from the sound of a blast from a nearby source. Before she knew it, the ground beneath her shook violently and was crumbling beneath her feet. Stumbling back she quickly remembered her only escape plot. Not knowing where she was getting her courage from, she turned around quickly and started to run the edge of the building attempting to run off and reach the water below. However, her attemp was shortened by another blast this time close to hitting her than before. The blast launced her foreward, now she was straming in the air toward her goal, head first. The Distance was further up than she calculated. At the speed at which she was going she would surly die when she would hit the water below. She twisted her body around trying to hit the water with her feet first, to atleast cousin the blow, she only manged to have her back facing the water by the time she hit.
The blow immediatly know all the breath out her. Her eyes fluttered open. She was alive, but barely.
As she fought to retain counsciousness, she tried to detemine where the surface was but all was dark. She was amazed she wasn't paralyzed by the way she hit the water as she started to pump her legs to what she hoped to be the suface. Her lungs as she urned to draw breath. Her mind swirled, loosing her fight to keep her consciouness. Her whole body ached, yet her heart skipped a beat as she was starting to she some light. 'Only a little more' but she was quickly loosing the battle. The light was coming closer ever so slowly and she failing ever so quickly. after only a few seconds more of her futile swimming she staring to slow significantly. Soon she was completely immobil, watching her light, her only salvation slowly fade away. It teased her, giving her false hope. Her thoughts as always turned to Van, and their unborn child. She cursed herself. Now it too will die, not even given a chance to live because she was so weak. Her eyelids slowly drew closed as she finally lost the fight...
Bright! Everywhere was so bright! She couldn't keep her eyes open, they were having such a hard time adjusting. She raised the back of hand to her eyes and rubbed them hard in another attempt to open her eyes. When finally she was able to keep eyes open her vision was blurred, but she could still make out colors. A little shocked to discover someone towering over she blinked a few times to have a better deffinition of sight. Everything was still blurry, but she could make out this figure having dark hair and a whis aura around it. "Are you an angel?..." she questioned causallyrubbing her eyes again. having no doubt that she was dead. The person only chuckled sweetly. She quickly opened her eyes recognizing this voice, trying to focus on him. "You're lucky you know, not everyone lives after a fall like that" Finally her eyes adjusted and heart fluttered.
"Van!" He looked down on her and smiled very serenly. She tried to get up, but was so sore all over. she felt her head laying on his lap. She stuggled to get up anyway and face him.
"How? I don't understand..." she said weakly. "You're back!" she said though a laugh.
"It was you. You were right. I heard everything you said. You saved me, and when I saw you fall I realized that I couldn't ever lose you. I finally won the
battle that I was fighting all along." He smiled. His words were so gentle that they brought tears to her eyes. "Thank you"
"Van!..." she smiled as her eyes danced with tears. Something in her chest seemed to release the harsh grip of the vise that has been strangleing her heart. It felt as though that this has been a terrible nightmare! And now, she sighed, she had finally woken up! It was so very relieving!
They sat there silently smiling at one another until Van reach his hand to Hitomi's face and held a shock of hair between two fingers.
"You cut you're hair?" he smiled "and just when your long hair was starting to grow on me." he said through a small chuckle.
"Yeah about that..." she shrunk, totally embaressed at her horrible hack job 'what was up with that that day?!' she thought
Noticing her her humiliation he took her in his arms in a sweet and gentle embrace and quietly said, "Whatever you do, you'll always be the most beatiful girl to me." Feeling the warm tears stream down her cheeks she squeezed him tighter. 'This is real!' She confirmed to herself, feeling his warm embrace and his heartbeat against her chest. They held each other like that for several long moments until Van remembered something.
"Hitomi," pulling her away enough to look into her eyes "you said that there was something very important you wanted to tell me." he said with trust shining in his eyes.
Her stomach lurched, she knew exactly what he was talking about. 'Oh gosh! Here we go... how will I say it?... "Well,..." she paused searching for the right words.
"Van, I love you so much, and I know that you feel the same for me." She started, searching his face for a reaction and saw that he looked a little concerned. She continued on, "A while ago we shared a night that was... Van, I don't think that you know of what a special gift you've given me..." staring at his face still hoping that a light would click on somewhere. She gulped and tightly shut her eyes, praying for strength to confess this
"...I'm-... Pregnant..."
She trailed off, almost phrasing the statement as a question. She clenched her teeth and slowly opened her eyes hoping Van would still be there. He was, thankfully, and he looked completely shocked 'As to be expected.' she assumed.
He continued to stared at her, his wide and his mouth slightly agape. He blinked and looked down to the side. He continued to stared down and made
quick breathing sounds ever now and again.
She stared at him with her stomach twisting into tighter knots with every passing second they sat in silence. 'Say something!!' she mentally screamed.
After a few moments more of staring at the ground he blinked and his face softened into a sweet smile. he slowliy turned his face to meet hers. "I love you..." He breathed and immediatly took her lips with his own as she sighed in relief. They shared a passionate, long awaited kiss for what seemed like eternity. They finally broke apart and continued to hold one another a while longer.
Hitomi suddenly broke free from his embrace and said terrified,"what about the others!"
He didn't say anything; only picked her up and they soared down from their roost, far from Evelyn reach. It wasn't long until they reach where they reached the building that collapsed only moments before. The dust around hadn't even settled yet. They flew through the screen and continued on to where Evelyn was last seen. They searched the streets for any signs of the other three. As they approached the place they noticed something. There were now several more Guymelefs, but they didn't fear, for these were very familiar Guymelefs. They Finally landed there to find Evelyn being held but several men and at swordpoint. They looked through the crowd of familar faces to find one familar face above the rest: Allen Schizar!
"Allen!" They both exclaimed, He was being held up but two other men of his, the injuries to his leg and were very severe, and he looked really pale.
"Allen! What happened?!" Hitmoi gasped as she covered her mouth in shock.
"Everything is taken care of here. We're taking the Captian to the nearest doctor here." one of the men answered shortly. Allen looked far too weak to answer and had obviously lost a lot of blood. They hobbled off quickly leaving Van and Hitomi without any answers. They found Gaddess shortly thereafter and asked about what had happened.
he looked onto Van with shock and shortly being assured that the king was back to normal. He told them what had happened to Allen and how how he got his injuries. They had landed not too long ago and had destroyed all three of the enemy Guymelefs and was able to apprehend Evelyn easily after that. They were now reviewing her judgment, which looked bleak. 'Good!' They both thought. As he was finishing his story they heard a voice yell van's name and they had no time to react to before Van was tackled to the ground by the owner of that voice.
Merle held Van so tight and kept crying "You're back! You're really back!" repeatedly into his chest. "Oh, Merle," he smiled as he placed a hand on her back...
SEVERAL MONTHS LATER
The wails of a young child could be heard ringing through the castle walls. A tiny child was left to himself crying alone until a young man came running in.
"Okay, Okay! It's okay... shhhhh..." The man with dark hair and dark eyes cooed picking up a small baby boy with black hair and would big bright green eyes if they weren't tightly shut and streaming with tears. Van craddled his son in his arms trying to sooth his wailing. 'Ugh! I'm never going to get used to this 'Daddy' thing' He thought. "Come on let's go visit mom, how's that sound?" which seemed to be the answer now was to pawn him off on her. Which it wasn't like he didn't enjoy his son, he did! Only when he was quiet. The walked to their bedroom, which only two rooms down yet the shrill cries echoing off the walls made it seemed like the trip was longer. They reached Hitomi, who was laying in bed, having only delivered the baby two days before, she still was a little weak. "Oh Prince Vance, what's wrong honey?" she said qiuetly and the baby was placed in her arms. He calmed down quickly and was staring at her with his big green eyes and squeezed his mother that was placed in his tiny palm. "You have a gift!" shaking his head amazed. She only smiled up at her husband wordlessly. He bent down and kissed her tenderly. They stood there silently watching their son fall asleep...
DONE!!! That's all folks! Sorry if the ending was a little cheesey, I didn't know how to end it and I didn't want to drag it on and on. I hope that is a satsifactory ending to this story I started 4 years ago! Whew! Yeah, I guess the baby's name is a little unoriginal (I took it from Van) it sounded cool 4 years ago when I thought this story up. Well, thank you guys for hanging in the (all two of you) I 've probabily lost A LOT of reader because I waited so long. Thank you for all of you encouragement and your commitment, and the constant reminders that it was time to update again. (I really wasn't going to) But I guess I need to finish what I start;... Alright later guys!