Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ Beyond the Moon ❯ Final Redemption ( Chapter 23 )

I'd like to thank Raye-rei on not only her correction (the whole Rio thing.. guess mah compie didn't catch that) and for her comment on MM.org. ^^;

Almost there now...

Beyond the Moon

Twenty-Two

Atlantis! I felt my whole body start to prickle, as if each hair on my body was being slowly pulled out. I summoned up every last bit of strength in my body; every memory; every happy moment in my life, every true want and desire.

The boy, I could understand; apparently, Yukari and Amano couldn't. I had saved this little arrogant man from the dragon, and now look at how he spoke to me! I was worried about you, you little idiot!

Where am I? This certainly isn't Earth. Wait... that's home! In the sky!

Stupid cat! Get back here with my pendant! A vision... Where am I? Fire! Everywhere! Van, invisible giants are coming!

Who are you? Amano? Is that you? No... Allen is so nice to me. Why can't Van see that?

I am not Allen's lover! Don't look at me like that, you stupid albino. But I do like him...

That Millerna! Thinks she's the boss of me. They're all trying to pick fights with me.

Allen... how could you? Van was right. I shouldn't have gone up there.

Van! Are you alright? That big flying spike almost killed you!

I can't believe that bastard Meiden tried to sell me off! Van, you saved me. You.. You make me feel wanted. Thank you, Van.

Van is going to be killed! I have to get to him! Remember that long jump...

Your brother? ...he doesn't look anything like you.

Van! You saved me again. Your.. Your wings. You're an angel, Van. I love your wings. Don't hide them, Van.

Prince Chid looks so much like Allen... He fought, protecting me! It's all my fault that he's hurt.

We've been imprisoned! Why? This.. this Plaktu. He's a doppelganger... he's going to die! Van, we have to try! Please, Prince Chid!

Dowsing. That's what it's called. You can see the invisible giants... I.. I don't want to be a tool to you, Van. Not this time.

Van! We have to save Van! Please be alright! No.. your wings... Van, I.. I don't know how I feel about you. Van, just get better. I don't care about Allen just as long as you get better.

Done it again. He's done it again! Escaflowne looks so dead, so cold and black. I'm coming for you, Van. Hang in there, Van! Please! Let us fly back! Fly to where we belong... alive! Together!

Dryden and Millerna are going to get married. I can have Allen after all! But.. will they be happy? They must be happy. I'll make them happy!

What have I done? I have to go. I have to sacrifice myself. Van! Please, save me!

This Naria... she loves Folken. Van's brother. She only wants to make him happy... Naria! Be happy, Naria.

Van saw us kissing. I didn't feel anything. Allen doesn't feel for me... Van feels for me.

I... I just don't know what I should do. I have to help. This all mess is my fault! Why can't Allen understand? I am not his pet!

Folken asked for Van, but I cannot let him go alone. I... I have to watch him. I have to make sure he is alright, no matter how much he doesn't like me right now.

Van's brother is a good person. I can't help but trust him... and I can't let him die. Folken, don't die!

Why must they all fight?! Stop fighting, Van! I don't want to see anymore! I want to go home!

I got my wish. But... this is another wish born of anxiety. I don't want this wish. Van has come back for me... Van... I... I can't tell you how much I love you.

Folken is dead. I tried... I tried so hard. The war has begun; now both Folken and Dornkirk are dead.

Van, you have to come back to me. Van! I love you, Van! Please... I... I want to be here with you.

I can't stay. Goodbye, Van.

I felt Van's hand tighten on mine. "Atlantis," I murmured. I felt my hand being pulled heavenwards; red light shone all around me. My skin was on fire. It was now or never. "Return from whence you came! I no longer need your help!"

"LEAVE GAEA!"

Suddenly, the immense wind that I seemingly had not noticed evaporated. The air became deathly quiet; not a rustle could be heard. I felt my hair land lightly on the back of my neck, and my arm dropped limply to my side. The pendant hung from my fingers, the string swinging back and forth in a tireless pendulum.

My knees went weak beneath me, my legs trembling as I slowly lifted my head. The shaking joints buckled beneath me, sending me to the ground with a small rush of air. Still holding Van's hand in my own, I painstakingly raised my head to look at him. He stared ahead, eyes wide, hair still in a tussle. I slowly jerked on his hand, using his arm to lift myself slightly.

Finally taking notice of me, Van came down to his knees as well. He took his hand away from mine and reached around with me with both arms, lifting me up. I held onto him tightly, lightly letting my head drift against his chest. I looked behind us; Allen stood, eyes fixed ahead. Chid had disappeared, and upon further investigation, I saw him sitting beside the creek. Water ran down his face; as soon as the last few drops dribbled from his chin, he splashed himself with another handful.

I drew away from Van, looking up at him. I do not know what my face gave away; I felt light as air, ready to float away into the sky. Allen walked to the river, kneeling down beside Chid and shaking the Duke with one hand.

I turned around, looking up at the sun. It hovered halfway past the horizon, as if it were reluctant to leave. I took a step towards the cliff, raising one hand to shield my eyes from the bright orange light.

I spun as I heard a familiar high, frantic voice. "Don't move," he hissed.

***

Celena wanted to scream. She stomped in a circle, letting off every curse she had ever heard.

"I can't let him do it!" she cried suddenly, steeling herself with new resolve. "Stupid idiot! You're going to kill yourself!"

Celena had never been a runner. She had exercised regularly, yes, but sprinting? It wouldn't even be a sprint; Celena raised her eyes, the darkness beginning to spread over the plain making it difficult to judge the distance. She stood some ways up the long, grass hill, which reached around the cliff towards the top of the waterfall.

Hiking up her skirt, Celena began to run. Within a few short minutes, she felt as if her lungs were on fire; her legs pumped melodically, a steady rhythm to match her irregular breathing.

She followed the shoeprints etched in the grass; the sorrel mare Dilandau rode left a clear distinction of her trail.

Suddenly, a bright red light burst from the cliff ahead. Celena clutched her eyes, blinded by the blood-colored flash.

Just as quickly as it came, it disappeared. Celena stopped in her driven run, collapsing to her knees. She panted heavily, clutching her chest with one hand and her throat with the other. Her heart was pounding so hard she could feel the blood beating against her eardrums.

Slowly getting to her feet, she broke into another driven sprint. The sun had waned considerably, but the light grew more tolerable as she traveled upward. She couldn't let him be killed; either by Van or her own brother.

***

"Dilandau..." Hitomi reasoned, still clutching her pendant in one hand. She held her other limb out, fingers outstretched. Dilandau stood behind Van, one arm clutching his neck, his sword pressed against the king's bobbing Adam's apple. The albino trembled, his blazing, blood-red eyes fixed on her.

Allen stood some ways off, the Duke beside him. They had instantly jumped to their feet, swords drawn, but Dilandau's ultimatum stopped their blades.

"At least fight me like a man," Van growled. Dilandau's eyes grew wide, and he pressed the cold steel closer to Van's throat. The king refused to tremble; he stood up straight, despite the obvious height difference. Van knew just the right buttons to press: Dilandau soon drew away reluctantly, instantly jumping into a fighting stance.

Allen and Chid immediately advanced, but Van raised his hand in halt. "This is my fight." Allen nodded slowly, and the Duke reluctantly took a step back.

Hitomi covered her mouth, watching with wide, frightened eyes as Van drew his sword. It made a long hiss, the sound of metal against wood echoing as his hand fixed the blade. Every sound reverberated off the cliffs, making the sound of the two men's already heavy breathing sound like a herd of exhausted bulls.

Van's sword rose in the air, the blade - scratched and dinged - reflecting fractured images of the disappearing sun. Dilandau stood some twenty feet away, considerably closer to the grassy edge of the cliff. The sound of water roaring below returned suddenly, as if the very flow of the river had been silenced during Hitomi's plea. The albino looked unsteady, for his own sword shook in his grasp.

Without warning, Van charged. His blade flew through the air, a weapon turned blood-red from the receding light. It sliced the very air, colliding in an immense clamor with Dilandau's sword. Van seemed to hover in the air, applying his entire weight against the sword. Dilandau's eyes were narrowed and focused; he applied his own pressure, resisting the enormous power set against him. The albino coiled his muscle up beneath him, letting Van gradually push him into himself and towards the ground.

With a sudden cry, Dilandau released. He whipped his sword out from beneath Van's, bringing it back down with a clash. Van barely had the blade ready, and he now defended himself with a frantic look and a trembling hand. The two were at yet another standoff: Van's eyes widened as his own blade began to move towards him. Dilandau pressed with all his strength, relishing the sense of superiority he gained from watching Van struggle beneath him. Blood almost oozed from his blazing eyes, his pupils dilated in a sea of red.

Hair standing on end, Van leaped back. Swords scraped, creating the squeal of nails on a chalkboard as the black-haired king - no, warrior - regained his stance. He gritted his teeth, preparing for another onslaught; he was not disappointed. Dilandau charged again, his blade viciously colliding with his opponent's.

Hitomi stepped back, holding one hand over her mouth. The two moved gradually closer to the falls; she wanted to scream at them, to tell them to stop, but it would only make the situation worse. She let out a silent cry as the two men began exchanging blows; slash for slash, swing for swing.

Van inhaled sharply as he felt his foot slip. The grass was wet beneath his feet, slick from the water splashing out of the nearby river. Dilandau instantly caught the stumble and dove in, his sword grazing Van's exposed side. A bit of his shirt flecked, but he managed to careen back just in time. Undeterred, Dilandau moved in once more for the kill and slashed carelessly with his blade, almost doubling over on himself as Van hastily moved out of his way.

Dilandau let out a snarl, quickly regaining his balance. His once light, comforting Zaibach jacket felt heavy on his heaving shoulders, and it had begun to slow his movement. Dilandau ripped the sleeve that held his sword - unwilling to release it for a moment - and hastily removed the rest of the red and black coat from his panting frame. Van took the moment of distraction to attack; unfortunately, Dilandau was prepared. The albino used his setup agilely, pressing his blade against Van's as he spun around.

Van let out a sudden cry as he felt his foot slip. This time, it wasn't on the slick grass; a rock went tumbling down the cliff, where he now stood inches away from.

"Van!" Hitomi cried suddenly. She grabbed her mouth, eyes widening as both men became distracted.

Van was the first to recover from the sudden interruption. He lashed out with his sword, catching Dilandau in the arm. The blade nicked his arm, slitting the white fabric of his undershirt and staining the shoulder with a drip of blood.

Dilandau stepped back, eyeing the wound as his teeth grinded together. The albino raised his furious, blood-colored gaze, his blade trembling in rage. With a scream of anger, he charged, slashing wildly. Van matched him blow for blow, struggling to keep his body upright as his foothold began to slip.

Van! Push him back, Van! Hitomi cried silently, watching in horror as rocks began falling from beneath his sliding feet.

Dilandau stepped back, a huge, cock-eyed grin spreading across his face. He raised one finger to his cheek, stroking the long, pink scar emblazoned across his pale skin. Van watched in horror as Dilandau raised his other hand, which bore the weight of a glittering sword, into the air.

"Your turn," Dilandau hissed. He brought the sword down with a yell, the blade colliding with Van's outstretched hilt. Eyes wide, his feet frantically churned falling rocks as he tilted off the cliff.

"VAN!" Hitomi screamed, rushing across the grass towards the cliff. Van watched with wide eyes as he fell; when suddenly, immense, white objects burst forth from his back.

The wings spread to either side, feathers flying as Van closed his eyes. His wings beat frantically as he crashed against a jutting crag, his body jerking in unnatural ways. Feathers sang into the sky, springing forth from the collision. Hitomi screamed as she heard bones cracking; Van's left wing went limp as he continued his descent.

Allen appeared out of nowhere, grabbing Hitomi by the arm before she could run off the edge and join her fallen beloved.

"Van!" she screamed again, her voice strained and hoarse. The white, falling water swiftly blotted out Van's retreating form; only a few loose feathers could be seen floating in the heavy, misty air.