Vision Of Escaflowne Fan Fiction ❯ For the love of a Dragon ❯ Chapters 1-5 ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne okay so don't sue please ^_^

For the love of a Dragon

Chapter 1: the First Sign

It had been six long and heart breaking years for Hitomi. She was attending a university on a track scholarship; her friend Yukari was attending the same university but was there on a biology scholarship. Yukari and Hitomi shared a dorm together. Hitomi had changed over the years. She looked nothing like how she did in high school. Her hair went down past her shoulders, she always wore it in a loose braid, and she had a more feminine look.

"Hey Hitomi!" Yukari yelled as Hitomi was preparing for her track practice. She turned around to see her friend running towards her.

"Oh, hey Yukari! You're out early." She said as she took off her track pants.

"Ya because someone passed out while the professor was dissecting a pig." Hitomi's face went white as a ghost.

"How can you watch stuff like that Yukari? Just the thought of seeing a dead animal makes me sick!" they joked around for a while until Hitomi had to race. She went and got herself in position and waited for the gun to fire.

"READY! ......SET! ........GO!" the coach yelled as he pulled the trigger. Hitomi was in the lead until she remembered that fateful day. That day where she met her angel, Van. She stopped running and fell to her knees as tears ran down her cheeks. Yukari was a little worried and ran over to her friend.

"Hitomi, what's the matter." she asked as she knelt down by her friend.

"It's nothing Yukari . . . "she said as she wiped away her tears. Yukari got angry because she knew something was wrong.

"Hitomi don't put this shit with me. I know there's something wrong." She yelled.

"I'm just not feeling well today." She said as she got up and left the race track. The coach ran over to Yukari and asked her what was wrong with Hitomi.

"Uh, she's just not feeling well." She said as she began to follow Hitomi back to their dorm. Hitomi layed down on her bed and cried.

"I miss you so much Van." She said to herself. Yukari slowly entered the room and sat down beside Hitomi's bed.

"Hitomi, tell me the truth, what's wrong?" she asked with much concern. Hitomi didn't want to lie to her friend, but she knew it would be hard to explain. Hitomi rolled over onto her other side with her back facing Yukari. She grabbed Hitomi by the shoulder and forced her to look at her. "Hitomi! Come on! Stop being a little kid! You're a grown woman, so just please tell me what's wrong!" Yukari yelled at her friend.

"Fine, if you must know." Hitomi began as she sat up. "Now this is going to be long so you should get comfortable." Yukari went and sat down on her bed. "Okay, it all started six years ago just before we found out Amano was going to leave for England . . . " Hitomi told Yukari all about Gaea and all her friends there, Merle, Millerna, Allen, Gaddes, Dryden, and Van. "Now do you understand?" Hitomi asked as she yawned. Yukari nodded.

"That is so cool!" she yelled. Hitomi was shocked.

"What?!? How?" she asked confused.

"Come on Hitomi! You went to another planet and fell in love with a guy, no a king, who can fly! I wish I could have been you!" Yukari exclaimed. "So, how come you left? Like why didn't you stay on Gaea?" Yukari asked.

"I wanted to stay but, I thought about you guys, my friends and my family. At the time, I wasn't ready to give them up. But now, I would do anything just to be with him again."

"Oh, I see," Yukari said as she changed out of her clothes and into her pajamas. "So, why don't you go back to Gaea now?" she asked.

"Well, I don't know how Yukari, if I did, I would be with him right now." The two girls went off to sleep.

The following day was like any other for Hitomi and Yukari. After Hitomi's track practice and Yukari's class, the two went out shopping. "Aw, finally! The weekend!" Yukari shouted as they reached the mall. Yukari dragged Hitomi to all of the clothing stores. Then Hitomi forced Yukari to go with her to the sports stores. They had a blast. "Hey, I'm gonna go into the book store, you wanna come?" Yukari asked Hitomi.

"Nah., I think I'll just sit down on the bench." While Yukari was looking for romance novels, Hitomi could have sworn she saw someone very familiar, someone that looked like some of the people on Gaea. No way, Hitomi thought. She shocked her head and when she looked again, they were gone. She just sat there wondering if it was an illusion.

"Excuse me miss, would you like your fortune read?" an young, gypsy like woman asked Hitomi.

"Sorry, I don't have any money on me right now." Hitomi replied as she stood up ready to walk away from the woman.

"Don't worry. It's free of charge, Hitomi Kunzaki." The woman answered. Hitomi turned around immediately.

"How did you know my name?" Hitomi asked suspiciously. The woman laughed at her. "What's so funny?" she asked.

"Oh nothing, I know your name because I am a fortune teller. I know the past, present and future. So, would you like me to read your fortune." Hitomi shrugged and walked over to the booth.

"All right, tell me my future." Hitomi said sarcastically as she sat down in front of the woman. She closed the curtains and took out a very ancient looking tarot deck. She placed the cards out on the table and began to interpret them.

"Hm, I see a reunion with a past lover named Van." Hitomi's eyes widened. "I also see, jealously and conflict." The woman studied the cards carefully. "Your reunion with Van will not be a good one. You will be angry and jealous-"

"That's enough. Thank you." Hitomi said interrupting the woman as she stood up and left.

"But wait! I'm not done!" the woman yelled at Hitomi.

"Well, I've heard enough. So thank you." Hitomi said as she left. She was afraid to see Van again after what that woman had said. Yukari walked out of the book store and saw Hitomi's depressed expression on her face. She walked over to her.

"Hitomi, what's wrong? You're thinking about him aren't you?"

"Well, sort of. I was just told by that fortune teller over there . . ." Hitomi said as she turned and saw the woman's booth was gone. "How? It was right there a minute ago!" Hitomi shouted.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Now she'll never want to see him again! Van will be all mine!" a woman laughed. "Excellent work Caleesa." She said to the gypsy.

"I would do anything for you, your highness." The gypsy said as she bowed down to the woman.

Chapter 2: Warnings

For Van, it too, had been six long and heart breaking years. Fanelia had been rebuilt and looked as beautiful as ever. Van was a grown man, no longer a scrawny boy, but a nicely built man. He wore beige pants and a short sleeve, red tunic. Merle finally grew up into a young woman, well, cat woman. Her hair was long and straight but curly at the ends. She wore a short amber dress with leather shoulder straps. Van was visiting Queen Millerna and King Dryden in Astoria. Merle, of course was with him. They went to the bazaar that Millerna incited they go to.

"Excuse me sir, would you like your fortune read?" a young, gypsy like woman asked.

"No, that's ok miss." Van replied as he turned away from her.

"Don't worry. It wont take that long to do Van." The woman answered. He turned around to face the woman. He got a strange feeling from her.

"How did you know my name?" he asked suspiciously. The woman laughed at him. "What do you find so funny" he demanded.

"Oh nothing, I know your name because I am a fortune teller. I know the past, present and future. Also, you're the king of Fanelia, everyone knows that your highness. So, would you like me to read your fortune." Van shrugged and walked over to the woman.

"All right, tell me my future." He sighed as he sat down in front of the woman. She closed the curtains and took out a very ancient looking tarot deck. She placed the cards out on the table and began to interpret them.

"Well, I see a reunion with a past lover, Hitomi I do believe is her name." His eyes widened. "I also see, jealously and conflict." The woman studied both the cards and Van's reactions carefully. "Your reunion with Hitomi will not be a good one. You will be angry and jealous." She noticed Van's angry expression on his face. "Shall I continue?" she asked.

"No thank you." Van said as he stood up and left.

"Are you sure!?" the woman yelled.

"Well, I've heard all I need." Van said as he left. He was afraid to reunite with Hitomi again after what that woman had said. Merle walked over to Van.

"Van-sama, what's the matter?"

"It's nothing Merle." Van said as he continued to walk away from the fortune teller.

Van saw Hitomi standing by a beach. "Hitomi!" he yelled. She turned around and looked at him for a while, then a tall man with short brown hair and very well built ran over to Hitomi, held her in his arms and kissed her. Van's heart was crushed. Hitomi gave Van an evil look and approached him.

"Sorry Van, I just couldn't wait for you to show up. So, good-bye." She said with a smirk.

"Hitomi!" he yelled again. Van jolted up. 'It was just a dream' he though, 'just a dream.'

All Hitomi could think about that night was what the fortune teller had told her. Yukari sensed something was wrong with Hitomi but she knew there was probably nothing she could do for her. The two went to bed and hoped for sweet dreams, but that's not what Hitomi got . . .

Hitomi saw Van standing by a beach. "Van!" she yelled as she began to run towards him. He turned around and stared at her, then a very slender woman with long blond hair ran over to Van, who held her in his arms and kissed her. Hitomi could feel her heart fall apart. Van then gave Hitomi a devilish look and approached her.

"Sorry Hitomi, I couldn't wait for you to come back to Gaea. So, bye." He said with a smirk.

"Van!"she yelled again. She awoke with a cold sweat on her brow. 'Thank god. It was just a dream.' She thought. ' Just a dream . . .'

"Your highness, the dream weavers have successfully completed their duties on making the dragon and the girl believe each other has moved on like you ordered." A young woman wearing a blue robe said as she knelt down in front of a tall slender woman with pale skin and long ebony hair.

"Good work my faithful servant. This is just too easy!" she laughed.

Chapter 3: The First Broken Heart

"Hitomi! Get up!" Yukari yelled at Hitomi as she pulled off her blankets in an attempt to get her out of bed. Hitomi reached for the blanket but was too tired to fight Yukari for it. "Hey, Hitomi, you don't look so good."

"I had a really bad dream last night." Hitomi said with a yawn.

"What was it about?" Yukari curiously asked.

"Well, I saw Van, and he had obviously moved on." Hitomi said as she went through her dresser looking for some clothes.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean he forgot about me and went off and fell in love with this really 'hot' girl." Hitomi said in disgust.

"Oh, I see . . . " Yukari said as she too got herself dressed.

Back on Gaea. . . .

Merle was sitting alone in one of the court yards in the Austrain Castle. Allen saw Merle and approached her. "What's wrong Merle?" he asked as he sat down beside her.

"Hm, oh, well, it's just Van-sama, I'm worried about him. He hasn't been himself lately." She said staring at the ground.

"What do you mean Merle?" Allen asked.

"Well, since yesterday when we were at the bazaar, he's been acting like something's bugging him. I've asked him about it but he say's there's nothing wrong. But I know that's a lie. Hey! Maybe if you talk to him, he'll tell you!" Merle shouted. "Oh please Allen! I can't bear to see Van-sama like this!" she begged. Allen didn't dare to fight her. He knew one way or another, he would have to.

"All right Merle, I'll talk to him." Allen said as he stood up and left. Allen searched the entire palace for Van. He finally found Van on the roof practising his sword skills. "Van,"

"Oh, hi Allen," he said as he put down his sword. "What do you want?" he asked while taking off his sweaty tunic.

"Van, Merle has told me that you haven't seemed like yourself." Van just looked away from Allen. "So, what is it?" he asked. Van hesitated to answer.

"Well, yesterday some gypsy woman told me that when I see Hitomi again, I will be jealous and angry. Then last night I had a dream where Hitomi said she no longer wanted to be with me."

"Hm, I see. You feel as if you two were never meant to be."

"Exactly Allen. I just don't know what to believe." Van said as he gathered his things and headed back to his room. Van sat alone by the window staring up at the blue moon. Merle walked into the room and sat down by Van.

"Van-sama," she started. "You should go to the Mystic Moon and bring back Hitomi." Van opened his mouth, but nothing came out. "Allen told me everything, if you still love her, you'll go and bring her back. I know she still feels the same for you." she said as she hugged Van and left the room. Van sat and thought about it. He wanted to see her but feared that his dream would be real. He finally decided to go to the Mystic Moon and bring Hitomi back.

"Hitomi." Yukari said entering their dimly lit dorm. "Go to him. I know how much he means to you. If you don't go, you might loose him forever." Hitomi was touched by her friends words. She hugged her friend and ran out of the room and went back to Gaea, back to Van.

"Your highness, the dragon is going to the Mystic Moon and the Girl is going to Gaea. What are your orders?" a young girl aks the tall slender woman. She laughed.

"They're making it too easy. You and your illusionist may put into action, operation clone. Remember to make them believe that they no longer love each other."

"Yes your highness," the girl said as she disappeared. The woman laughed out of control.

"I shall soon become Queen Siren de Fanel . . ."

Van awoke laying in the middle of a field. Had he really gone to the Mystic Moon? He wondered. He stood up and observed his surroundings. He saw strange buildings and people wearing the most unusual clothing. He knew he had to be on the Mystic Moon.

Hitomi found herself in a forest. She was lost and could not tell if she had been brought to Gaea or not because of the large tress that made it hard to see the night sky. She wondered the forest until she could her footsteps. She stoped and waited to see who it was. To her relief it was the heavenly knight of Austria, Allen Schazar.

"Hitomi?" he said as he got off his horse and walked towards the slender girl.

"Allen!" she yelled as she ran into his arms. They embraced each other. Allen was happy to see he back on Gaea and Hitomi was happy that she had made it back. Allen had noticed how much she had changed since he had last seen her, six years ago. She didn't wear that school uniform of hers, she was wearing black, tight pants and a white, tight t-shirt. Allen hadn't changed much except for his muscles which had grown large from the last time he had held her in his arms. "Allen, I'm so happy I'm back. I never want to leave again." Hitomi cried into his chest. Allen smiled and offered to take her to the Asterian castle. Hitomi was overwhelmed by all of her memories of Gaea that she fainted in Allen's arms. Allen mounted his horse and held Hitomi in his lap. They arrived at the castle late the night. Merle was the only one awake at the time when Allen had arrived. She went to greet him and to her surprise, he had Hitomi with her. Merle was confused. What's she doing here? Poor Van-sama, what's he gonna do when he finds out that she isn't on the Mystic Moon? She wondered.

"Where did you find her?!" Merle yelled at Allen. He was rather confused. He thought she would have been happy to see Hitomi back.

"I found her in the forest. Why?" he asked.

"This is not good at all." Merle murmured to herself.

"Merle what's wrong?" Allen asked her in concern.

"Well, uh, Van-sama left to go to the Mystic Moon to bring Hitomi back. But she's here and who knows when he'll come back. This is just so weird." Merle said as she began to walk into the large castle. Allen quickly followed carrying Hitomi in his arms. Merle showed Allen to a room where Hitomi could stay for the time she would be on Gaea. Allen went to his room in the palace and Merle went to her own room where she sat on the balcony hoping Van would return.

Van walked though the busy streets of earth searching for his love, Hitomi. Where could she be? He wondered. He then figured the only way he'll find her is to ask every person he sees. He asked many people if they knew a Hitomi Kanzaki. Every person he had asked had no clue as to whom she was. Van then asked a young girl about his age if she knew Hitomi. To his relief, she did know.

"Please, could you tell where I can find her." Van begged. The girl nodded and showed him the way to Hitomi's dorm at the university. Once there, she left. Van knocked softly on the door. He couldn't believe that after six long years he would finally see her face again. Yukari answered the door. She was a little confused at they way the man standing in front of her was dressed. Van was not sure if this was the right Hitomi. "Uh, I'm looking for a Hitomi Kanzaki. Is she here?" Van asked breaking the silence.

"Um no she's not. May I ask who you are?" Yukari asked as she leaned against the door frame.

"I'm Van Fanel." Yukari's eye's widened. Oh shit, this is bad, she thought to herself. Oh my god. she mouthed. "Is something wrong?" Van asked. Yukari shook her head and giggled.

"You will not believe this but, uh, Hitomi left to find you!" she laughed. You had to admit, it was a funny situation. Yukari showed Van into her dorm and told him that he could sleep in Hitomi's bed for the night. She almost told him that her bed was Hitomi's, but that would have been nice to Hitomi. Van was like a god to Yukari. She now fully understood why Hitomi missed him so much. Van sat down on Hitomi's bed. He couldn't believe how small her bed was. But then again, he was a king and was use to sleeping in a much larger bed. Yukari layed down on her bed and told Van that once Hitomi see's that he's not on Gaea, she'll come back and he should just sit tight. The following morning, Yukari took Van to a café just down the street for breakfast. There were so many questions she was dying to ask Van about this Gaea. While they were waiting for a table, Hitomi approached the two holding hands with a tall and handsome man. Yukari saw the two and was confused.

"Hitomi? Who is this guy?" she asked as she tilted her head sideways. She smiled evilly at the two.

"This is Ricardo, my boyfriend." Yukari sensed something was not right. The previous night she was madly in love with Van and left to go and be with him. What was she doing back so soon and there was no way she could of hooked up with a guy that hot and be in love with him.

"But what about Van?" she asked. Hitomi laughed and had an evil grin across her face.

"I figured that we were never meant to be considering that every time I tried to go back to him, I failed. So I've moved on." she looked around and saw Van standing not to far behind Yukari. "Oh, Van, what are you doing here?" she asked innocently. Van was full of rage and sorrow. He could not believe his eyes, the one woman he had ever loved didn't even love him back. He then dashed away from the scene. Yukari slapped her friend across the face and chased after Van. He came to a stop at the field where he had landed the pervious night. Yukari had tried to keep up with him but lost him in a crowed of people.

Chapter 4:Nightmares

Hitomi awoke and got out of bed. she had forgotten she was on Gaea until she ran into Merle in the hallway. "Merle!" she yelled as she hugged the cat woman. Merle had really grown up in the pass six years. Hitomi was actually happy to see her. Once Hitomi had let go of the young cat woman she immediately asked where was Van. Merle bit her lip and hesitated to answer. "Merle?" she asked. She looked up Hitomi then around the room.

"Um, Van-sama is-" she saw Van standing outside with someone. "Outside!" she yelled. Merle ran down the large hallway to the outside of the castle with Hitomi trailing not too far behind. When they reached the court yard where Van was, to Hitomi's horror, Van had probably the most beautiful girl on Gaea hanging off his arm. She was very slender, pale, and had long copper hair and icy blue eyes. Both girls were confused. "Van-sama, who's she?" Merle asked in disgust.

"This is my fiancé, Princess Siren." he answered with an evil grin on his face. Hitomi's heart sank.

"Fiancé? But Van-sama, what about Hitomi? I thought you loved her?" he laughed evilly.

"Merle, I've moved on, my chances of ever seeing her again are one in a million." Merle got angry and slapped him across the face and ran off once she saw Hitomi was gone. Hitomi had ran off into the castle and headed back to her room. She ran right into Allen on her way. She made her way around him and continued down the long hallway. He noticed her tears and followed her. She collapsed on her bed and cried. Allen entered her room and sat down on the bed and stroked Hitomi's hair. She pushed his hand away. She wanted to be alone. I came here for no reason, she thought to herself.

"Hitomi, what's the matter?" he asked. She sat up and wiped away her tears. She explained to him what she had seen and heard from Van. Allen knew something had to be up. He left the room in search for Van. Merle entered Hitomi's room and sat down beside her bed.

"I knew coming here was a mistake. . ." Hitomi mumbled into her pillow.

"No Hitomi it wasn't. . ." Merle answered holding Hitomi's hand. "I wish I could apologize for Van-sama, but I can't. I don't know what happened to him. . ." Hitomi jerked her head up.

"What do you mean Merle?" she asked wiping away more tears.

"Well, last night he wanted to see you so badly, for the past six years he longed to be with you. He told me that there was no one else in all the universe that could make him truly happy except you Hitomi. And last night he left to go and find you on the Mystic Moon. I have no clue who this princess Siren is, I do know that I have a bad feeling about her. And I got a very unusual feeling from Van-sama today, it was as if it wasn't really him." Hitomi felt close to Merle now, she didn't see her as an annoyance like she did when she first came to Gaea.

Merle stood up and headed for the door and told Hitomi she was going to talk to Allen about the situation. Merle walked down a long hallway and passed what was an empty room before. She could hear a young woman talking. She peeked through a crack in the door. She saw that princess that was hanging off of Van earlier that day. She listened carefully to the conversation. She was talking to her mirror. Why is she talking to a mirror? Merle thought.

"So, how is the dragon doing?" she asked her mirror.

"Our plan is working well your highness." it replied to her.

"Wonderful, now all I need to do is get rid of the girl here on Gaea. Then I shall have the real Van to myself." she said with an evil grin. What? So that wasn't really Van-sama? I knew it! I have to tell Allen this! Merle thought as she dashed down the hallway.

"So how do you want to get rid of the girl?" the mirror asked.

"Have my dream weavers take care of her. They'll know what to do." she laughed evilly. Hitomi had fallen asleep while she waited for Merle or Allen to return.

"Remember our princess's orders. Lets bring her into our world, the world of nightmares." a small girl said to a group of other young girls surrounding Hitomi's bed. She walked over to Hitomi's head and opened a pouch that hung from her belt around her long blue robe. Her hair was a black as night and so were eyes. She put her hand into the pouch and grabbed a handful of a yellow dust. She sprinkled it over Hitomi's head. "Our work here it done, let's go." she commanded. Then they all disappeared.

Yukari finally caught up to Van who was sitting on a bench. Yukari sat down beside Van. "I knew I shouldn't have come to this cursed place." Van muttered under his breath.

"Van, I'm sure not what was up with Hitomi today." Yukari said glaring at the ground beneath her. Van looked at her in puzzlement.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well, last night she was begging to see you again. She told me she was crazy about you. She said she could never love anyone but you." Van's face light up. "And last night she left to go to Gaea, to be with you. So whoever that was, it wasn't Hitomi. I've known her all my life, and she would never do something like this. It's just not her nature."Yukari was still hungry considering they never really had breakfast. "Um, do you wanna go and get something to eat?" she asked. He just nodded, stood up and followed Yukari. This time she took him to a café on the university campus. When Van looked at the menu, he was a little confused, he didn't see anything he really recognized. Yukari explained everything to him.

"Hey Yukari, who's this? Is he your new boyfriend?" a tall girl with short scarlet hair and deep maroon eyes asked Yukari.

"Oh, hey Yohko, um, this is Van, he's Hitomi's boyfriend. Not mine. I'm still doing that long distance relationship thing with Amano." Yukari answered blushing.

"Oh, I'm sorry." she giggled. "So then, where's Hitomi?"

"Uh, she's, um, visiting her, uh, very ill aunt." Yukari sighed. That was close, she thought.

"So then, why are you with him?" she asked as she tilted her head.

"Well, he just showed up today, he was on vacation." hopefully she wont ask anymore questions.

"Oh, ok, well see you around then Yukari!" she shouted as she ran off. Yukari slumped back into her chair and sighed in relief. After breakfast, she showed Van around Tokyo. Later that afternoon, she took him to the movies to see the latest comedy American Pie III. Van didn't get some of the jokes, but then again he wasn't from earth and they probably didn't talk about those kinds of things on Gaea.

"Allen!!!" Merle yelled down the hall to Allen. He stoped and turned to the young cat woman. Once she caught up to him she gasped for air.

"Merle, what's the matter?" he asked.

"The princess. . ." Merle began still gasping for air. "She's evil! That wasn't the really Van-sama earlier today." Merle blurted.

"What do you mean?" he asked as he help Merle sit down.

"I saw her talking to her mirror and she said that she'll soon have the real Van-sama all to herself after she gets rid of the girl and I'm guessing that's Hitomi, seeing that she's probably her only obstacle to get Van-sama." Merle explained. "I think we should and check up on Hitomi." Merle suggested. The two hurried down the long and winding hallways. When they reached Hitomi's room, she was fast asleep. They quietly walked in. Merle noticed the frightened looked on Hitomi's face as she slept. Then Hitomi cried out, "get away from me!" Allen was not sure if she was referring to them, or if it was her dream. Merle softly shook Hitomi, but she did not wake. So she shook her harder and harder but she would not wake up. Allen was getting concerned. Allen then told Merle to go and and get Millerna, perhaps she would know what's wrong, he thought.

~*~*~*~the Dream~*~*~*~

Hitomi was running through a forest. She was being chased by strange beings. She tripped over an up grown tree root and fell. The dark beings surrounded her and grabbed her by her arms and wrists. She thrashed about as they began to drag her along the rough forest floor. "Stop thrashing about Miss Hitomi." one said.

"Yes, you can't beat us in our world." one laughed.

"Your world?" she stuttered.

"Yes, the world of nightmares. Here you stand no chance!" another laughed evilly. They took her to a large dark and towering castle. They threw her into a dangling cage, much like the one she was in when she, Allen and Van were in when the were in Ziabach, six years ago. She sat huddled against the bars of the cage and sobbed.

Chapter 5: The Cure

Allen sat and waited impatiently for Merle to come back with Millerna. He then her heard Hitomi speak "Van, Allen, please help me. . ." Allen rushed over to her side and caressed her face and wiped away her tears.

"Allen, what's the matter? Merle said it was urgent and didn't explain." she asked with much concern. He looked down at Hitomi then back at Millerna.

"It's Hitomi, she was asleep then Merle tried to wake her up but she wouldn't wake." Millerna walked up to her and felt her forehead. She felt normal, there seemed to be nothing wrong. She stood there and thought to herself. Then it hit her.

"I'm not sure, but I remember hearing about people being drawn into a world of dreams and nightmares. From what I can remember, if you're drawn into the world of nightmares, whatever happens to your body there, will become a reality and. . ." she stoped

"And what Millerna?" Merle asked.

"And most people who are brought to the world of nightmares usually never wake up or end up dying. . ."

"Oh no! We can't let that happen!" Merle yelled. "Millerna, how do you get drawn into the world of nightmares?" Merle asked in distress.

"Well, from what I can remember, usually, someone has to call these people known as the dream weavers. The person who called them tells them who they want to be brought the world of dreams or nightmares."

"Is there anyway to get her out of the world of nightmares?" Allen asked Millerna holding her hands. She blushed lightly.

"I have no clue Allen. But, maybe princess Siren knows." she said.

"Why do you say that Millerna?" Merle asked suspiciously.

"Well, she's from the country Searica. The people there are known for being experts in the craft of magic." Merle didn't like the idea.

"I don't think she would helps us even if she knew." Merle revolted. Millerna was shocked.

"Why do you say that?"

"Well because I know for a fact that she doesn't like Hitomi. I heard her myself tell someone in her mirror to get rid of the girl here on Gaea."

"Merle she could of been referring to anyone-" Merle cut her off.

"She said get rid of the girl here on Gaea. Then I shall have the real Van to myself. Who else would be stopping her from have Van-sama?"Merle implied.

"I'll go talk to Dryden, you two try to wake her up or something." Millerna said as she left the room.

"Hang in there Hitomi, everything's gonna be okay. . ." Merle said in a comforting manner. Oh Van-sama, please come back, we need you, Hitomi needs you. . .

Millerna and Dryden frantically searched through dozens and dozens of books in Dryden's study trying to find out how to break the spell. "I know I have a book on dream weavers somewhere. . ." Dryden mumbled. "Ha! I found it!" he yelled. Millerna ran over to her husband.

"What does it say?" she asked brushing the hair out of her face.

"This isn't good,"

"What is it Dryden?"

"Well, it say's true love's touch will break the spell."

"I'll go and tell the others." Millerna headed down the corridor back to Hitomi's room.

"Miss Hitomi, it's time for your punishment." a small man said wearing a long draping black cloak.

"Pu-punishment? F-for wh-what?" Hitomi stuttered. She could see him smile evilly at her.

"For loving Van Slanzar de Fanel." a bunch of other tall men dressed like him entered the cage and carried her out and strapped her facing against a brick wall.

"What are you gonna do to me?" she begged.

"Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough Miss Hitomi." the small man said as he let out an evil laugh. Then one of the tall men grabbed a whip and began to whip Hitomi's back. She tried to be strong but failed as she let out cries of agony.

Hitomi's room was silent until Hitomi let out a loud cry of pain. Allen rushed over to her bed side. She then turn onto her stomach to reveal whip marks across her back. It was all too much for Merle to watch. She couldn't see her like this. Millerna ran into the room and told them that the only way to break the spell is through love's touch. Allen then volunteered to go to the Mystic Moon and get Van. They all knew he was the only one who could break the spell. With that said, Allen rush out of the room and into the court yard where he was surrounded by a pillar of light and was whisked away to the Mystic Moon.

Van and Yukari saw the pillar of light through the window. "It looks like it landed on the track field!" Yukari yelled. The two ran out of the dorm and to the field.

"Allen, what are you doing here?" Van asked a little disappointed. He was hoping the Hitomi had returned. Yukari was stunned by his beauty. She felt as if she had fallen in the love. He looked like and angel.

"Van, you're needed on Gaea now!" he shouted.

"What's wrong?"

"It's Hitomi. . ." he began.

"What's wrong with Hitomi?" Yukari demanded. Allen looked at the strange girl.

"Who are you?" he asked

"I'm Yukari and I'm Hitomi's best friend." she said blushing. Hitomi was right, this Allen guy is hot! She thought to herself. Suddenly, the three were surround by the same pillar of light and swept away to Gaea. They landed not too far from the Astorian palace. Yukari could not believe she was on Gaea. It was so beautiful. Both Allen and Van noticed that Yukari had come with them but had no time to talk. They had to save Hitomi. Allen lead the way to the palace.

"So, how did you enjoy your whipping Miss Hitomi?" the small man asked the tried woman. She was released of the straps and to the ground.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Hitomi asked trying not to shed anymore tears. The little man laughed that annoying evil laugh.

"We're just following order's Miss Hitomi." he said as he was handed a long, thin cane.

"Who's orders?" she asked just before he hit her with cane. She cried out in more pain.

"Our master, princess Siren." he said as her hit her again. Then one of the other large men in the room walked over to Hitomi and grabbed her by the neck and held her up against the cold brick wall. Hitomi cried out in pain as she could feel the man's icy hands squeeze her neck tighter.

Allen, Van and Yukari dashed down the hallway to Hitomi's room. Her face had started to turn blue, there wasn't much time left. When Yukari saw her friend's condition, she fainted. Allen caught her just in time. Merle ran up to Van and looked at his left cheek and smiled. "It's really you Van-sama!" she yelled as she hugged him tightly. She then let go and left the room with the others. Van walked over to Hitomi's bed side. He placed his hand in hers. He saw the whip marks across her back, the bruises on her legs, and her face turning a light blue. When I find out whose done this to you, I swear, they'll never see the light of day ever again, he thought to himself as he placed his lips on her's. Hitomi then began to stir and the blue colour faded from her face. Her eye's slowly opened to see Van sitting by her. She wasn't sure if it was the real Van or not.

"V-v-van?" she stuttered. "Is it r-r-really y-you?" she asked as tears rolled down the side of her face. Merle stuck her head into the room and saw Hitomi siting up right.

"You guys! She's awake!" Merle yelled. Everyone's face's lightened up and they entered the room. Hitomi was laying on her stomach as Van ran his fingers through her long brunette hair. Millerna went over her bed side and examined Hitomi's injuries. Allen carried Yukari to a spare room in the palace. He layed her gently on to the bed and tucked her into bed.

"Um, your highness," a voice sounded from Siren's Mirror.

"Yes, what is it?" she asked as she rose from her bed and walked over to the mirror.

"Um, the dragon has returned."

"Oh good-" she began

"But, the girl has awaken from the world of nightmares."

"What!?!" she yelled. "How?!?" she demanded.

"The King of Astoria, King Dryden, figured out how to break the spell in one of his books in the library."

"Well, I guess we have to leave and go back to the fortress before anyone finds out about me." she sighed. "Now, go and get the illusionist. They will not be needed now." she snapped her finger's and her hair changed from copper to ebony, her eyes changed from icy blue to lifeless black and her scarlet dress changed to a long silky black dress that trailed on the ground. "They may have won this battle, but they have not won the war!" she laughed as she disappeared.