Card Captor Sakura Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Veils of Destiny ❯ The Path of Destiny ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura, or Visions of Escaflowne. Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, Dic & Cloverway. Cardcaptor Sakura belongs to CLAMP/Kondansha. Visions of Escaflowne belongs to Bandai. I am doing this for reader enjoyment only and am not making a profit.

Author's Notes: Thank-you for all the reviews and encouragement. It's nice to know that people actually like my story. I was worried no one would like it. This one was a little rushed but I'll try to add more description in the next one. It may see like Amano and Yukari are useles but they have a purpose. Anyways please enjoy and remember to review.

Part Two: The Path of Destiny

Sakura felt herself falling and grabbed the key from around her neck to call on the fly card only to have the key slip from her grip. She screamed and saw the ground rushing towards her. As she shut her eyes she felt strong arms grasp firmly around her waist and felt her feet gently touch the ground. She opened her eyes and saw Yue his wings fully outstretched. He glanced at her and gently slipped the clow key back around her neck. She looked up and gasped as she saw Usagi heading straight towards her. To Sakura'a amazement Usagi sprouted wings and alighted beside Sakura. Both girls glanced up as they heard Hitomi scream. Usagi moved as if to catch her but at that moment Van caught the helpless girl and landed on the ground with her in his arms as he folded in his brilliant white wings.

Sakura turned to Usagi "You never said you had wings."

Usagi looked surprised and glanced at Yue "You never mentioned that you had a friend that had wings."

Sakura looked flustered "Well...well Hitomi never mentioned Van having wings so......so there!" She then looked wildly around. "Oh my there sure are a lot of people here."

Usagi looked away from Sakura and was startled to see all of her friends. She and Sakura slowly backed away from their friends and nearer to where Van was still holding Hitomi. Usagi's heart leap in her throat as she saw Mamoru but questioned why he was there. She did not want to talk to him and began distancing herself from him. Seeing Sayoran and Yue together made Sakura confused and sensing Usagi's confusion backed towards her and Hitomi.

Hitomi saw Amano and Yukari but was distracted about events that had happened moments before. "Usagi who was the girl you called Hotaru. She said she was death. What was she doing on Gaia?"

Usagi looked from Van to Hitomi "She was sent to destroy all life on Gaia"

Van's anguished voice spoke out "Why?"

Usagi looked at him "I don't know. She was once the Sovereign of Silence and it was the fall of her glaive that brought about the ruin of the silver millennium."

Van was silent and after a while he spoke. "So Gaia is gone?"

"I don't know." Usagi answered "Once her glaive fell Gaia would have been reduced to dust. We left so I do not know the outcome."

Van sank to his knees and cried. The emotions tumbled inside of him, anger, pain, loss and devastation. Merle, Allen, Millerna, Prince Chied, his people gone in an instance. No he would not believe that, could not believe that. It was his fault he reasoned. Hotaru had said that they had brought it on themselves. If he hadn't awakened Escaflowne and gone to war possibly this catastrophe could have been avoided.

Minako took in the scene slowly. In a matter of second her princess had returned to her senshi yet seemed farther away then before. They were soldiers bonded together through their silver millennium heritage yet Usagi had turned towards Sakura and Hitomi instead of her senshi. Judging from the look on Sayoran and Amano's faces they to sensed a change in those they had believed lost.

At that moment Hotaru materialized. Van saw her first and unsheathed his sword lunging at her in blind fury. She side stepped and Van fell past her regaining his balance before hitting the ground. Hitomi and Sakura held him back as he shouted "How could you, you little....."

Hotaru held up her hand and silenced Van "Your world is safe for now. Princess Serenity is right perhaps it is wrong for me to pass judgment. Fate has ordained you and your planet be given another chance. Use it well."

Van looked startled as joy overwhelmed him. He bowed his head in respect and then doubled over in pain. He thrashed as he felt his body being pulled apart. Searing pain swept through his body and he clenched his jaw in agony. Suddenly gashes appeared on his chest and arms and blooded welled up.

Hitomi screamed and Sakura caught her just before she fainted. Through his pain Van gave Hitomi a concerned look. Usagi rushed to Van's side. "What's wrong" she asked.

"Escaf..." Van said before he started spitting up blood.

Sayoran, Touya, and Yue ran towards Sakura as to prevent the sudden turn of events from happening to her. She turned to them "I'm fine go help him." They looked startled at being turned away from Sakura. Yue was the first to obey. Cradling Van he tried desperately to heal him with magic to no avail.

Hitomi looked up as she regained consciousness. "It's no use. He mingled blood with Escaflowne. If anyone dismantles Escaflowne Van directly feels the pain. The only thing to do is to find Escaflowne. By saving Escaflowne we save Van. There is no other way."

"Hitomi can you find it?" asked Sakura.

Hitomi was silent glancing from Van to the pendant she clutched in her hand. Usagi gave her a reassuring look and nodded. The pink gem sparkled in the moonlight. Hitomi was searching for her center as she allowed the pendant to guide her.

All was silent. Sayoran sensed great powers at work and watched in fascination. This girl was summoning powerful magic and he sensed that to invoke this source came a price. Sayoran wondered what the price was and if this Van's life was worth the end result. Yet he felt Hitomi and Van's connection and feverishly wished he could share this love with Sakura. It startled him to have come to this realization and vowed whatever the end result he would fight by his loves side.

Hitomi traveled through the mists of fate desperately seeking the source of Escaflowne. She couldn't pick up a trace of the guymelf and was momentarily confused. Was not her pendant directly connected to Escaflowne? If so why could she not see it. Instead visions came to her and emotions that threatened to suffocate her. Grief was the emotion that hit first followed by pain and suffering. It wasn't just her emotions she felt but Sakura's and Usagi's as well. Something was happening, the wheels of destiny were moving, forever changing.

Yukari sensed her friends discomfort and reached out as if to pull her out of her terrifying vision. It was Amano who stopped her. It was than Yukari realized Hitomi was unreachable that she would have to face the trials in the future by herself.

Usagi sensed the change in Hitomi first. "Did you find it?" she asked gently.

Hitomi shook her head sorrowfully. "No but she's coming, no she's here."

All three girls felt it instantly, agonizing pain. It invaded there senses immobilizing them. Usagi tried to transform but the pain was to intense. Hitomi looked blurrly at Van through her tears.

Everyone else seeing the girls distressed and tried to save their friends but found themselves unable to move. Mamoru felt helpless, he had come to save Usagi and thus far had done nothing to help her. Sayoran could not believe it, his beloved was suffering and he, the most powerful mage of the Li clan, could do nothing against the forces that binded him. Van looked at his angel. She too was suffering but he knew her pain was greater than his. Even if he had not been restrained he knew he would have been powerless to stop her.

Usagi looked up and through her tears she saw the men that had come to 'bargain' with her earlier. He smiled sardonically. He reached towards Usagi and grabbed the silver chain and yanked it from her neck. The chain cut into her neck as it snapped burning her. Dimly Usagi realized that the pain of the necklace was greater than Lady Gemad's torture. Her logic told her this shouldn't be possible yet in that moment she felt a part of herself being taken away, that an essence of her soul had been savagely wretched from her body.

The man walked towards Sakura next. Sakura gazed at him and it seemed like an eternity till he stood before her. He reached towards her neck and with a startling amount of concentration and power of will she jerked away from his grasp. This moment of defiance was short lived as a new flash of pain pierced through her. The man raised his hand and smacked her across the face before tearing the key from her neck. Sakura though was dimly aware of her throbbing cheek as she blacked out.

Hitomi saw Sakura collapse and fear seized her heart. She wanted to run and help Sakura but the pain coursed through her veins like fire. She stood immobilized as the man strolled purposely towards her. She hated him, the way he smiled victorious, yet Hitomi was powerless to stop him. She stared at him defiantly, he grinned viciously and took the pink pendant from her neck.

The man grinned and bowed mockingly. He nodded to his men and he and his soldiers slowly walked away fading to nothing. Hitomi and Usagi both blanked out from the sudden release of pain. Mamoru discovering he was no longer confined rushed towards Usagi and caught her before she hit the ground. Amano ran towards Hitomi and Sayoran gently picked Sakura up from the unforgiving pavement.

* * * * * * * *

Mamoru gazed at the sleeping figure before him. She was a vision with her flowing blond hair framing her beautiful face. He blamed himself for her present state. If he had been there instead of forsaking her this would never have happened. Then again Hotaru had mention destiny so maybe Usagi's path was preordained and he was powerless to stop it. Fate had to run its course. She moaned and he was instantly at her side. "Usagi. I'm here."

Usagi opened her eyes and gazed into Mamoru's concerned eyes. She was relieved to see him. He looked tired and worn and he had deep circles under his eyes. Usagi felt guilty for what she had put him through. She wrapped her arms around him "Oh Mamo-chan I'm sorry for what I put you through. I'm so glad you're here."

Mamoru felt Usagi melt in his embrace. Deep blue tears rolled down her cheeks. "Shhh" he said soothingly, "I'm here now."

Sakura awoke slowly to the sound of a whispered argument. She could make out Kero's agitated voice and Sayoran's voice laced with anger. She also heard the hushed towns of Touya telling them to keep it down. They were in a heated debate over who was suppose to be watching her that no one noticed her sitting up. She realized her mistake as a wave of nausea washed over her and she leaned against the wall for support.

Touya glanced up from Kero and Li's disagreement. "Sakura," he said surprised. "You shouldn't be up. Lay back down."

Sayoran and Kero stopped their conversation and gazed worriedly at Sakura. "I'm fine," she said. "Just a little dizzy is all. It will pass." She managed to stand up without collapsing. "See what did I say."

Sayoran watched as Sakura rubbed her neck. She paled and looked down frantically. "They took the key" he said angrily " A lot of good it will do them without the clow cards."

"But....But....without the key I'm no longer the clow card mistress."

Sayoran saw Sakura's dejected look. He moved towards her but she shied from his embrace. "I need some time alone." she said. She walked to the door, slid it open, and walked away without looking back.

Hitomi awoke to Van's voice. "How is Hitomi? Don't take care of me go look after her."

"Hitomi's fine she's just sleeping. It's you I'm worried about. It's evident Hitomi cares for you deeply so if I something happens to you Hitomi would be devastated so by watching you I'm taking care of Hitomi." Yukari said.

"Thank-you Yukari." Hitomi said.

"Hitomi your awake. No don't sit up. Wait I'll help you."

"No Yukari I'm fine. How's Van."

'I'm okay. It's you I'm concerned bout. When I find Lady Gemad I'll cut out her beating heart and than...."

"Van, stop it I'm fine how are you doing?"

"Better. I have no new injuries. They must have stopped dismantling Escaflowne now that they have the pendant."

"The pendant?" Hitomi asked her hand instantly going to her neck. Her eyes darkened as she remembered the night before. "I'm sorry I need to go. Yukari watch Van. I need to go talk to Usagi and Sakura."

Hitomi walked through the temple. She passed a room and saw Amano, and Usagi and Sakura's friend sitting together in a circle discussing the recent events. They looked up when she entered. "Does anyone know where Sakura and Usagi are?"

A raven haired girl girled stood up. She wore a white shirt and red pants. Hitomi assumed she was the resident priestess. "They are in the garden behind the shrine. Just go out the door to your left and follow the path." the priestess said.

"Thank-you." Hitomi said and turned to follow her direction.

Usagi saw Hitomi approach and rose from the bench in greeting. "Hello" Usagi said "How's Van? How are you?"

"Van's okay, but we have to get Escaflowne back or else they can still hurt him, only now they have the pendant. I don't know what to do. Without the pendant I'm nothing. I'm of absolutely no use to anyone without the power of prophecy."

"I know what you mean." Usagi said. "Without the Silver Imperium Crystal I cannot transform. Without the crystal the events of Crystal Tokyo will not come to pass."

"Yes," Sakura said "Without the key of clow I cannot summon the Sakura cards. Without the cards I too am useless. There is no reason to go on. I was intrusted with the key and I have failed to fulfill my destiny. It is said that when the book is opened evil will befall the world. I still have the book but how long until Lady Gemad posses that too? I have failed."

"I too. Who ever posses the crystal holds much power. I fear for the fate of this world and Gaia." Usagi said sorrowfully.

"Whoever posses the pendant may attempt to change fate like Dornkirk attempted. We must get the pendant, crystal, key, and Escaflowne back. To save Van. To save our friends. To save Earth and Gaia."

"How do we do that?" Sakura asked.

Hitomi was silent. "I do not know" she answered truthfully. The quietly said, "I do not know."

To be continued...

A/N Sorry if the chapter seemed rushed it was. I needed to finish it because I will busy the next couple of weeks and I wanted to have it posted. As I result it is not as good as I would have hoped. I hope you enjoyed it and weren't to disappointed. Please review though as I will be checking. Please tell me how I can improve. All suggestions are welcome and taken into consideration!