I feel a bit down at the moment because 9 months of effort turned to nothing yesterday. Someone stole my Neopets account. My dragon-escavalon is no longer mine. So any comfort would be nice.

Now to more serious matters (for you)-this isn't, I repeat, isn't the last chapter. I still have a epilogue planed to explain some of the things from this chapter and finish the story with some serious fluff. Like I always do...

Van was helpless. If the rain didn't stopped falling he could have still see his opponent, but now he was completely blind just like the pilot had said. Unfortunately that wasn't his only problem. His enemy was old, he recognized that by his movements, but he was obviously experienced and knew how to wield a sword quite well.

It would be correct to say he could do it better then Van. And that was something that worried not only the king of Fanelia.

The Fanelian solders gathered on the wall. It was Van's direct order not to open the gates and come out to aid him so all they could do was watch helplessly.

"Why don't you give up?!" the gathered enemy solders started to yell "Leave the kingdom to the king that deserves to rule!"

Van ignored them as much as he could as he dogged the attacks blindly. He was well aware his uncle was in better position in this fight and he used that in any chance possible.

A large guymelef hand appeared out of nowhere and hit Escaflowne's heart and so making Van step back. Several more attacks like that one and he was finished.

He had only a second to block the sword that came from his left. Van lifted his sword and stopped.

A guymelef was standing between him and his enemy and it was holding the sword by the blade. Everyone gasped as the unknown melef simply pull the sword and took it out of the hand of the invisible guymelef.

The cloak pulled back and the blue guymelef became visible once more. Van was surprised when it attacked the strange white melef with no weapon. A crazy strategy which resulted with the blue guymelef landing on the floor with broken energist. The white guymelef used the hilt of the stolen sword to break it with one motion of its hand.

Van was just as shocked as were the gathered enemy solders. They pulled out their swords and prepared to attack. But the voice from the behind made them stop and turn.

"Let it be! Do not attack!" they parted and a man with black hair that started to get gray hairs walked in front of the solders "They won!"

Van gasped. It was Gant; there was no doubt about that. But if his uncle was down there who was in the blue guymelef?

Like to answer on his unasked question the pilot chamber of the blue guymelef finally opened and a man dressed as the rest of the solders came out. When he looked up towards Escaflowne hate and despise was clearly visible in dark brown eyes.

Escaflowne lowered on one knee and Van came outside to be sure he was seeing right. The last man he was expecting to see was now standing right in front of him.

"You got impatient king Biel." Van said coldly "I expected you would leave the dirty work to my uncle."

"That bastard decided to work behind my back, and not just him." The Basramian king answered and spit in front Van's feet.

"Solders! Arrest so called 'king' Biel!" an order came from the voice known to Van. He looked behind the older king who was now getting shackles on his wrists and saw lord Borzan standing next to his uncle. Van smiled weakly and nodded to the Basramian high dignitary. The plan turned out fine.

But still one question stayed unanswered.

In all the commotion with the king Van had completely forgotten the strange white melef behind him. He turned and saw it was build to resemble a woman, something that was very unusual.

Ernest Biel refused to be taken away. Instead he tried the last thing he could think of.

"How does it feel to be rescued every time when danger comes? Like a pathetic little boy you always seek shelter behind someone else." He grinned before asking "I wonder if she would do it again. Would the witch stay with those creatures for you once more?"

Van was visibly taken back by those words, something the older man decided to use as his advantage "I truly wonder would she choose that faith once more."

"In a heartbeat!" serious voice answered.

Van lifted his gaze towards the unknown guymelef. It kneeled down next to Escaflowne and the pilot chamber opened soundlessly. Many gasped in shock as the tall figure dressed I a long black cloak jumped on the ground. The person turned to former king Biel and repeated the words that made all color to disappear from his face "I would do it in a heartbeat."

Less then an hour later five men gathered in Van's study. Folken was eyeing his brother strangely after he saw him talking to lord Borzan calmly. It seemed something was up.

The Basramian dignitary looked quite comfortable though.

"If you agree I would like that Ernest Biel gets trial in Basram." He said to Van "I would understand if you disagree. After all he made quite a mess in your kingdom."

"But not as large as in Basram. I believe people still loyal to the old family would appreciate to see the usurper punished." Van answered "People of Fanelia would like that as well. I am sure of it."

Lord Borzan nodded before turning to where Gant was standing.

The older man looked at him "I'm asking for the permission to return on my estate in Basram."

Van looked at his brother. They both knew if they wanted Gant would be arrested and thrown into the dungeon for his action against his homeland. It was Folken who finally interrupted the silence "You forgave me for a much greater crime brother."

Van smiled sadly. He saw the truth in the words and looked at Gant "I see no reason why you shouldn't uncle. But that is not entirely in my hands."

"I agree for you to return Gant." Lord Borzan "That piece of land is yours by law."

"Thank you." was all Gant said back.

Rustle sound made them turn towards the window where a cat-boy was sitting and watched his father seriously. Gant looked down. He knew very well exactly how he had wronged his son and now when the time arrived for him to fix it he couldn't find the right words.

Lord Borzan remembered something "Several weeks ago your now former adviser Cowin appeared in Basram with information for us."

"So that is where he went." Folken said angry "Where is he now?"

"Executed." Gant said seriously looking at his nephew "If he was ready to do such a thing once…"

"That wasn't for you to decide." Van said sternly "He was mine adviser and as such my responsibility."

"And what would be his punishment?" lord Borzan asked.

"I don't know." Van was honest.

"They you could say we took that problem of your hands." Gant was serious "Beside, he was working for Biel's side."

"Maybe." Van admitted "But…" he sighed "It's over now. No point to discuss it anyore."

"Correct." Allen finally spoke after observing the whole conversation "If I remember correctly there is someone you haven't seen in three years in the palace right now."

Van smiled as he looked at his friend "I suppose I should go there and say 'hi'."

"You suppose to say much more then that Van." Folken corrected him "For start a 'Thank you' would be nice."

"It would." Van nodded and walked out of the room. No one mind.

Hitomi was standing alone in a room. Her parents were in Asturia and Mamoru left just moments ago to training. Hitomi was expecting Merle to barge in any minute now. She couldn't wait to see the cat-girl again. And she had no doubt the feeling was mutual.

The door behind her opened and Hitomi turned ready to greet the neko when two brown eyes and a wistful smile greeted her.

Van frowned a bit. The hood still covered her features so he couldn't see the emeralds he missed so long. Tilting his head a bit he approached her and cautiously, like in slow motion, his hands reached for the part of her cloak that hid her beautiful face.

A smile spread on Hitomi's lips once more now that Van stood directly in front of her with nothing to hide her from him anymore. Van stepped even closer and hugged her. A hug Hitomi returned right away.

The silence of the room was interrupted after several moments with a soft "I love you."

Please find the time to review. It means a lot to me.