"No...," Escaflowne breathed as he watched the doppleganger take off with the youth in tow.
"Wait!-ohh.....," He was overcome with a sudden weakness and the barrier surrounding Hitomi flickered momentarily, "My power's draining. I can't hold this much longer, I have to get her out of here." He turned and stopped, his eyes casting one last glance back at the building where they disappeared. His heart filled with remorse, "I'm sorry, Kid....I'm truly sorry."

Escaflowne
09:22 p.m. -- on Monday, October 6, 2003

That had been too easy.
She found deep pleasure in sliding among the soldiers of mighty Zaibach and plumbing its secrets. What fools. The first step of her plan was now in motion.
Tsien, I will come back for you.
She now knew that the Dragonslayers were collecting at Fortuna, around a certain area, but she could not determine for what purpose. The Strategos himself had not given that information to his right hand.
Fharr knew this also: The armies of Zaibach were ready for invasion. And when they came, nothing could stop them. Their technology, manned by their Strategos, would crush everything in its path.
Fharr's violet eyes darkened in anger. I would have revenge on them both, the man of white and Zaibach. But I shall take my opportunities when they come.
When they come.
Fharr's image rippled. Light turquiose hair and maroon eyes. The Strategos walked silently along the hall. He paused at the door to the training room. He could smell feline. But they weren't in there, they had moved somewhere else...Fharr felt a stab of annoyance.
He approached the comm link panel. He pressed the button and commanded the comm officer to relay his orders on the double.
Several minutes later, a Zaibach sorcerer stepped along the corridor. He smiled. The chamber loomed ahead. The place of nightmares. He entered it, letting the door shut silently behind him. He locked it. His lips slid back from his teeth. "My, its good to be home..."

Fharr
03:21 p.m. -- on Monday, October 6, 2003

"Nariya. You may enter. What news do you have for me." Folken turned to face her. She knelt and touched the floor at his feet. "Lord Folken, Lord Dornkirk has ordered that attain observational information on the man of white must be found."
The slightest frown creased Folken's brow.
"Escaflowne."
Nariya nodded. "I assume my orders are to track him into the field and ascertain how powerful he is."
Folken stilled. Only they could be chosen for this task.
He raised his eyes to her face. "Be careful, Nariya. Very careful. Dilandau and the Dragonslayers are also in Freid." He paused. "If Escaflowne enters the temple, consider the mission aborted."
The thought of the twins facing the unnatural creature disturbed him more than he would admit. Folken turned back to the notes and beakers and blueprints laid out on the desk. The task was complex, but not impossible...Could it possibly--?
"Lord Folken--" Nariya's words were closer to him. He turned his head to find her dark eyes just over his shoulder. "...Yes?" he said quietly.
Her gaze was locked on his. "I...have witnessed the power of the guymelef in action. Even before it was in human form it was a force to be reckoned with." His maroon eyes flickered slightly. Never before had Nariya or Eriya confessed feelings of inadequacy. As if suddenly realizing this herself, Nariya suddenly looked at him with familiar steel in her gaze. Her tone was crisp. "We will bring the proper information back to you, Lord Folken."
She knelt again, then left. The door hissed closed behind her.
Folken was left in the dark. He turned back to his experiments, but could not focus on them.
Escaflowne...
He had already begun construction. It was only a matter of time.
Yet still, his eyes lingered, just for a moment, on the door.

Folken
01:30 p.m. -- on Monday, October 6, 2003

Fharr crawled silently along the vent. Tsien should have been back at the airfield by now. The scents left behind would tell of definite unpleasantness. Fear.
She would not know what happened. Fharr did not like to think of what she would do. She prayed that it would be nothing, but she knew this would not be so.
Tsien.
Fharr's lips curled a steely snarl. The man of white will die. His blood will be mine. For this, for shoving me back into the fire. He will be mine.
Fharr looked down. The chamber of the Strategos was not far ahead. Fharr paused, but did not slow. His experiment chamber was now beneath her.
Fharr melded herself with the shadows. She carefully, and silently slipped out of the vent and into the darkness. The shadows enfolded her.
The Strategos.
Fharr's reptillian violet eyes opened wide.
He was there, broad shoulders curved as he leaned over the table. He was doing something, but she knew not what. Experimentation. Documentation. He will report to Dornkirk with his findings. Or else... Fhar's eyes glittered in the darkness. Of course. Her image rippled.
Folken looked up as teh door hissed open.
"Lord Folken," said a familliar voice.
It was Nariya.

Fharr
05:10 p.m. -- on Sunday, October 5, 2003

Nariya
05:10 p.m. -- on Sunday, October 5, 2003

Tysien's eyes narrowed. His heart froze, but his thoughts calculated swiftly. At your mercy? She will never be at your mercy!
"I will not yeild!" he screamed out. His eyes pricked with hot tears, hateful tears. Tysien grabbed the king, and then using all his strength he leaped through a window into the first floor of the nearest building. He just barely made it. He hit the floor running, stumbled, kept going. He heard a woman scream, he looked up to see a panicked housewife standing in the doorway with a pot. She threw it at him. Tysien slammed her to the side with a snarl and ran through a room. He leaped out the window, landed outside and fled, fast as his legs would carry him.
His eyes burned with tears of defeat. Fharr, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, you would have done better, I'm sorry.
Tysien pulled himself into an alley and stopped, chest heaving. He dropped the king into a boneless heap. He phased back into his normal form. She passed a hand over her eyes, rubbed away the wetness.
Awful creature. There is no way he could have found an antidote!
The king made a tiny sound, like a groan. Tyien kicked him. He made a sound of pain and curled inward. She suddenly leaped upon him, pinned both his arms to the side, and grabbed his jaw with her hand.
"Do you know where she is? The other doppelganger, where is she?" The king looked up at her, his brown eyes clouded. His mouth opened, but he didn't make a sound. He grimaced, then shook his head.
Tysien barely resisted hitting him again. "You're useless!" she spat. "I should just kill you right now!" She pressed her blade to the soft flesh at his throat. She watched a thin red line of blood stain her blade. All it takes is one small twitch, one tiny movement, and his life will bleed itself out at my feet.
The king shifted beneath her weight, his eyes focusing on hers, their clouded depths suddenly steely like before.
"Don't even think it," she hissed quietly, her voice dangerously low. She dug the knife in deeper. More blood trickled down the king's neck. He stilled.
She looked into his eyes, her own suddenly dull. She said, "I'm going to cut your throat now."
His lips moved. He said clearly, "Don't."
Then he said, "Hitomi."
With an animal scream Tysien threw herself off him. She put her face in her hands and cried.

Tysien
03:46 p.m. -- on Sunday, October 5, 2003

Escaflowne's eyes hardened and his faced twisted into a sneer, "You really are an idiot, Tysein. You know I'm not really in the mood to be handing out advice, but if I were you I would focus on staying alive. If you do kill him, you'll be dead before his body hits the ground. And where will that leave Fharr after you've died? How will you be able to protect her then? It will leave her completely at my mercy," His eyes traveled down to Hitomi, "Besides, I have more than one option when it comes to saving this girl," Escaflowne turned back to Tysein, "Don't be a fool; stay alive and just walk away....it would be in your best interest."

Escaflowne
11:43 p.m. -- on Saturday, October 4, 2003

Van clenched his jaw and kept his mouth closed as Escaflowne took off running. Damn him! His heart was beating wildly, his mouth dry. Hitomi! Van raced after Escaflowne's retreating figure, his eyes on the pale limbs of who the man-melef held. Even as he ran he felt a dull rage at Escaflowne's patronizing brusqueness, snatching her from his arms as if--
as if she was his.
Something within him hardened. I won't lose her. No matter what happens. She knows it. I know it.

I will not lose her.

He sprinted on, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on Escaflowne's back.
He was falling behind; he could not keep up with the melef's pace. Van pushed his muscles to work harder, he must not lose sight of her!

Tysien had covered a mile before she dared look back. She knew she was not followed, but only the gods knew what power that creature had under his command? She stopped, blending into the wall. They were running, the creature and the King. She smiled. The poison was working. The female had already felt the earliest effects. The two companions must believe that they could heal her. Tysien snorted. This was from her homeland, the Destroyed land, and the plant was nearly disappeared from this world.
But still they do not come.
Then she must take matters into her own hands. And face the white creature once again.
They were moving fast. She tracked the King, who was following the creature at a slower pace. She leaped along the rooftops silently. This would be a good time to kill him. The female is obviously the one of importance here.
Tysien paused. Her Other would say, leave nothing to chance. But the King may be another integral bargaining chip. Tysien made a decision.
In a blur of movement, she leaped, her image rippling in the air.
A mercenary hit the ground, two steps the king's shadow. His blade was already in his hand.

He was falling farther and farther behind! What was wrong with him? Van pulled more air into his lungs and kept going. His legs were aching, and yet his head was light.
Suddenly there was a strange sound behind him. He whirled, drawing his blade, and met the eyes and the blade of a grizzled man. The man struck him hard with his fist. Van hadn't even seen it coming, what the hell was going on? He felt clumsy, lurching. The man smiled, and suddenly the world spun and Van's head seemed to explode.
No--Hitomi!

Quick as a snake Tysien struck the King's blade away. His blow had fallen just where he wanted it to--the King's temple. He latched his arm securely around the King's neck and pressed his blade to the flesh. But his eyes weren't on this particular prey any longer.
"Stop! He screamed up the alley, his voice gone high in the girl, Hitomi's, range. The creature slowed, came to a stop. Tysien watched his every moment very, very carefully. The thing used some kind of mental power--the distance was unknowable. Tysien locked up his deepest secrets with lock and key, and then he buried them, buried them in his deepest memories of darkness at the hands of Zaibach's sorcerers.
He called, "Hold your distance or I take his life with my blade." He paused. "Do not tempt me."
He locked eyes with the creature. "She will die within the day if you do nothing. I know of a way in which she may be saved, a way which I will willingly give you--for a price."
He suddenly hissed venemously, "You raise your hand, or come towards me, he dies. There will be not a moment of hesitation! With my dying breath I will slit his throat to the bone. If you doubt me his life is forfeit. Now--fulfil my wishes and thier lives are both yours. Bring Fharr to me. Alive and unharmed."

Van and Tysien
03:51 p.m. -- on Wednesday, October 1, 2003

Hitomi looked down at the dagger in her shoulder, "Looks like I should have worn my armor. Strange...It doesn't....hurt...that much....."
She slumped forward into his the youth's arms.
"Hitomi!" A sudden weakness seized Escaflowne. No...not her.. Damnit! Why did it have to be her?!
He took the girl from Van's arms and laid her gently on the ground, "Those darts were poisoned. We have to get her to the temple immediately," He produced another small beam of light from his hand and enveloped her. His gaze shifted to Van, "I've frozen her in time for now, that will stop the poison's progress. However this is only temporary. Once this barrier fades she will be dead before the night is over. When she dies I will disappear and Gaea will be lost," He gathered her into his arms and turned back to Van, his eyes hard and cold, "You better be able to keep up with me, Boy. If you fall behind, you'll be on your own. Hitomi's life is all that matters. If she dies, Gaea dies."
The guymelef took off for the temple at top speed.

Hitomi and Escaflowne
11:38 p.m. -- on Sunday, September 28, 2003

They emerged into the midst of what seemed like a storm. The bright sunlight almost blinded him for an instant. But in that instant he saw a spectre of Hitomi in the air.
Knife attack!
Instantaneously he whirled, grasped Hitomi and flung them both to the dirt. He landed on top of her, his body between her and what must have been the doppelganger. He stood up as the creature landed, his sword drawn. He caught a glimpse of bright green eyes and the thing was gone, running as if demons were on her heels.
What?
"Hitomi--" he said, turning and going to one knee next to her, "Are you okay?" I don't know what it threw, but it had to be something... He lifted her to her feet, his gaze on her face. His hands passed over her shoulders gently, searching for injury. His left hand found something. It was small, embedded in her flesh.
Van heart nearly stopped.
It was a dart. A tiny, long bladed dart.
His eyes went to hers, suddenly wide.
"Hitomi...!"

Van
04:53 p.m. -- on Friday, September 26, 2003

Tysien's eyes went wide. In her shock she shivered back into her original form. Fharr!
"What have you done with her?" Tysien snarled, her green eyes narrow and bright with rage.
>Her weapons hadn't fazed him in the slightest. The poison should be working now. What kind of creature was he?
Tysien's form rippled and assumed the look of the King's female. She needed the cover of darkness for this! But Fharr!
Suddenly, there were feet coming up the stairs. The King! The female!
Tysien turned and leaped as they exploded onto the rooftop. In a flash the idea came to her. Her only chance.
In her fists appeared ten tiny darts. Fast as lightning they streaked towards the King and the female. Tysien hit the dirt running as the tiny darts struck. She leaped away from the creature and her prey, as fast as her legs could carry her.
Fharr! I will come to you! This is my only chance.
Her expression was grim. He will not kill me yet...for in these hands, I hold two lives...

Tysien
04:10 p.m. -- on Friday, September 26, 2003

Escaflowne's twitched in surprise as he felt the tiny daggers pierce his flesh.

Little Bitch....didn't even give me the chance to turn around. Oh you'll pay for that..you'll pay for that dearly.

For and instant he contemplated playing dead, but thought better of it and opted for his second plan. He held his hand out and aimed it at the spot he knew the doppleganger would land.

Time to show you what I can really do...

Suddenly a familiar pink light erupted from his hand. The very instant the doppleganger touched down, the light left Escaflowne's hand and surrounded her. She was motionless.

He stood with his hand still outstretched to her. While maintaining his hold on her with one hand he extracted the daggers from his body with the telekinetic force from the other. The tiny weapons flew away to their unknown destination. A vicious smile curled his lips as he approached the frozen assassin, "It will take more than a few tiny daggers to bring me down, Little Girl." He released her from his influence, "Well, now that wasn't very nice of you Tysein. Attacking me from behind like that, how rude. But it won't matter, you can't defeat me," He leaned toward her and added smoothly, "At least your Other was smart enough to realize that."

Escaflowne
10:40 p.m. -- on Thursday, September 25, 2003

Van grabbed his sword, trying to prevent his face from burning. For that one instant there, just that one, he'd teetered on the brink of meltdown. "Escaflowne!"
No time to think on it now. He squeezed her hand and stood, pulling her up with him. He looked into her emerald eyes and fought away a foolish smile. He kissed her, quickly, deeply, then turned and made for the door.
"Stay behind me," he said, and opened the door. He kept a grasp on her hand as he slipped out into the street. Empty streets.
Where was Escaflowne?
Suddenly he saw him, on a nearby rooftop, his pale hair a blaze in the sun.
Van immediately scanned searched for an attacker--
An odd blurry movement! Van took off, aiming for the ground floor of the building. He was almost positive it was the doppelganger. He pulled Hitomi into the ground floor room. The creature was upstairs. Van narrowed his eyes and drew his sword. He passed a firm glance to Hitomi and nodded. Then he ran up the stairs. As quiet as he could be, the thing would hear him coming. But this time it would not be able to flee so quickly!
Come on! Although he doubted Escaflowne's peril at the hands of this creature, he didn't doubt that the danger Hitomi felt was real.
Escaflowne, we're coming!

Van
01:50 p.m. -- on Tuesday, September 23, 2003

Where was Fharr?
Tysien ran from rooftop to rooftop, leaping the gaps as gracefully and silently as a lithe grey cat.
The panic in her was growing.
Fharr's scent had disappeared at the shipyards, which would have been acceptable--but there was another scent there as well. The pale being's scent. And overlaid with the pale thing's scent, she could smell Fharr's fear.
And that, above all else, drove ice into Tysien's heart.
The creature's scent had brought her here, to this old deserted bunch of buildings. Fharr was nowhere to be found. Tysien barely held back a snarl.Her lip curled.She had picked up more deadly weapons.She was more than ready.
But she was wary.
Silent as a shadow, she crept to the lip of a near wall. She blended herself with the aging brick, disguised her scent.
There. The creature was there. Two buildings away. Unaware. And from inside the building.
Tysien froze.
The prey.
The cut on her arm still stung. The would not escape a second time. Not if Fharr and herself were to escape Zaibach's iron fist--before the war was begun.
Tysien plotted her strategy.
She ached to bring down the white creature, make it hurt, and make it tell her what it had done with Fharr. But she had to be rational, like Fharr always was.
Take out the weaker ones.
Suddenly a slight brush of wind brought her the creature's scent...accompanied by a strong scent of her Other.
Tysien's face twisted.
She threw five tiny, needle-like daggers at the creature. She knew she would not miss. They made no sound, and they were true to their marks. Not one in any one area. Before they had hit their mark, she was moving, swift as lightning, always a moving target. But her eye didn't leave the creature's face.
You will be mine!
She didn't miss.
Tysien smiled.

Tysien
01:21 a.m. -- on Tuesday, September 23, 2003

The ship sailed onwards through the sky as the daylight dimmed and faded. He didn't even know how long he'd been there when Oro came to report.
"We got ourselves several good fine Asturian boys," he observed blandly, "and some of em aren't in the best of shapes, if you know what I mean." They exchanged a weary smirk.
"What are the Boss's orders?" Oro said, his voice gone slightly quieter. Gaddess ignored it. "The Asturians are to be kept in the brig--unharmed--until the Princess can be summoned. Carry on." Oro nodded his affermative, and Gaddess dismissed him. Gaddess knew the talk that must be circulating now. The crew was intensely loyal to Allen...and probably intensely pissed off at the Asturians. Gaddess himself wasn't all too pleased with the Asturian nation as a whole...but it couldn't be blamed upon the militia, who were just following oders, after all.
Just following orders.
Gaddess rolled his broad shoulders, felt his shirt pull uncomfortably. Probably stuck to his back with his own blood. Damn shirt.
Gaddess cast a nonchalant look back at the merchant, who had amused himself by watching the bright collours of the sunset. The man irritated him on sight. He couldn't help it.
They were close now, close to their destination. But neither Allen nor Millerna had appeared. Gaddes wasn't a man who liked to fear the worst, it was just that the worst was what usually happened. He didn't like to think of the Princess battling an arterial deluge alone...in fact, it made him uneasy just thinking about it.
"The bridge is yours, for the moment," he said to the helmsman. He made it to Allen's quarters in fifteen seconds flat.
To knock, or not to knock?
He didn't.
Gaddess froze, then slowly and silently shut the door behind him. It plunged them into almost total dark. The lanterns had burnt low. But it was enough. The scene that was laid out before him was almost too perfect.
The Princess in the arms of her gallant lover.
A wry smile lifted Gaddess' lips.
At least they're not dead.

He knelt down near their sleeping faces, Allen's still pale, and Millerna's as rosy as always.
He didn't want to wake them...but.
"Princess...Princess Millerna." He said it as quietly as he could. Waking Allen was a very bad idea--he needed to sleep off the horrible goddamn day he'd had.
Gaddess mentally winced in remembrace, and then put his lips closer to the Princess's ear.
"Millerna..."

Gaddess
04:11 p.m. -- on Monday, September 22, 2003

"Well, I've had enough," Escaflowne murmured to himself, "I can monitor them just as easily from a few yards away. At least then I won't have to hear this..."

He made his way to the top of the building and plopped dejectedly on the roof. He gazed up into the night's sky, his eyes coming to rest on the Mystic Moon, "You'd think after ten thousand years this would get easier," An image of Yuri flashed in his mind. He sighed, "But I guess a pain like this one never goes away...."
Suddenly another much more unpleasant image invaded his mind's eye. He bolted upright and smiled darkly, "Something's coming. Wonderful, you're timing is perfect.."

"Escaflowne!" Hitomi gasped. Her eyes traveled to Van's face and a look of horror filled her own, "No! No! I-I didn't mean it that way! Someone's coming this way. I just saw it. Escaflowne's in danger, we have to help him," She embraced the youth gently and whispered in his ear, "I'm sorry. I want you....I really do...," She looked into his eyes and then kissed him tenderly, "Come on," she said, taking his hand.

Escaflowne and Hitomi
10:45 a.m. -- on Saturday, September 20, 2003

Allen gazed at the field of little white flowers before him. It was a place he had been to many times: a place he had loved as a child. He bent down and picked one of the flowers, "Mother's favorite flower...� He looked to the setting sun in the distance and paused. A silhouette was outlined in the fading sunlight. It was a figure he recognized. Allen took to his feet and ran toward the familiar figure as fast as he could.

"Hitomi!" he cried happily as the figure turned to face him. Hitomi smiled warmly and held her arms out to him...
And vanished.
Allen stopped abruptly, "...Hitomi..?" His gazed shifted back toward the sunlight. The light had changed. It was no longer warm and inviting, but hollow and deadly. Allen looked around in horror to see the field of flowers gone and replaced with scorched, dry earth.
"What's going on?" he breathed, "Is this our fate? Gaea's fate?" He looked back toward the sun, "NO!" He ran to and fell to his knees beside a body that lay on the hard ground. Allen's vision blurred with tears as he took the muddy, bloodstained girl and held her in his arms, "Hitomi.....HITOMI!"

The blue eyes of the Caeli knight flew open as he started in bed. He fell back with a silent cry as the pain of his injuries hit him with full force.
Why? Why am I never able to protect those I care for? Why must they always suffer because of me? As his vision began to clear his eyes came to rest on Millerna. Her sleeping figure was perched precariously on a small chair next to the bed. Each breath she took brought her closer to falling to the floor. Allen inhaled deeply and slowly pulled himself up to a sitting position. Reaching out his arms, he gently took the sleeping princess by the waist to push her back onto the chair. However his hold proved too weak, and Millerna began to slip out of his grasp. Without a second thought, he pulled with all his might and her head came to rest on his shoulder. He smiled ruefully, Well this will have to do. It isn't proper but it will have to do for now... I promise you, Princess, I won't let anything happen to you... Allen's head fell back onto his pillow and his eyes drifted closed.

Allen
11:23 a.m. -- on Wednesday, September 17, 2003

"Is she alright?"

The numb daze that Millerna was drowning in suddenly pulled her under a bit more as she began to feel that familiar buzz in her head. Her violet eyes went off cast as she froze involuntarily, her shoulders relaxing. She heard everyone talking, yet it went right through her head as she desperately tried to register what they were talking about. She couldn't. All she could feel was the sort of cold sadness, so cold it was hot, run through her right down to her toes. For a moment, she flickered her eyes to Gaddes', then lowered her own again. Walking slowly past the stirring men in an almost burdened manner, Millerna began the walk down the passageway to Allen's cabin. It wasn't that Allen cared about Hitomi. Millerna began to wring her hands nervously as her thoughts veered off into the distance. Just everything combined, it was like hearing Allen's concern about Hitomi woke her up, that they weren't the only ones suffering.

That maybe she wasn't the only one Allen cared for.

Resting her delicate hand on the cold door knob of the knight's cabin she opened it gently after rapping on the wooden surface three times.

The blonde's breath caught in her throat as she stepped inside. Normally she would have yelled or screamed at what she saw. But in this case...

Golden locks lay on the floor, dark crimson staining his clothes as the normally fair skin of the knight was clammy and pale. His mouth was open slightly, and the bones in his face were unnaturally prominent. The buzzing in her head sky rocketed in volume, but Millerna only kneeled and slowly picked up Allen's arm. Placing it on her lap and turning it over she felt his pulse. Weak. She could feel her mind screaming at her to work fast, especially since it was Allen...

Slowly placing his hand on the floor she straightened up, her head making tiny circles as she tried to think of what to do. Shock was slowing her movement, her thinking process, and as she stared at the neatly folded blanket at the end of his bed she felt something flashing in her head. Blanket.... Holding her temples the princess shut her eyes, taking deep breaths as her chest rose and fell. She just wanted to sleep, to forget everything for a few precious hours.

Picking up the dark material and the pillow, she sat by Allen's side, not before brushing a few strands of hair out of his eyes softly.

I'm sorry, this might be a while.

Millerna
01:36 p.m. -- on Tuesday, September 9, 2003

Gaddess felt his heart constrict in his chest. Allen's at the end of his tether!
His captain's unusually quick exit was more than enough proof of his condition. Gaddess restrained himself from sprinting to his captain's side. He was bound to the bridge, by Allen's own order.
He didn't let his anxiety show. He gave orders to the navigator, but his mind was focused elsewhere.
How to do this...how....second in command shouldn't leave the bridge unless there's an emergency....emergency?
Gaddess's face twisted in a grimace that was almost entirely contrived--almost. He turned quickly away from Millerna and that irritating merchant--damn the man's foreign bones--and faced the view from the bridge. He could feel the blood from the wound on his back warming his shirt as it seeped through the fabric. He was pretty sure it wasn't too bad--pretty sure--but it still hurt like a bitch. And most importantly, Gaddess was almost entirely sure that it looked way worse than it was. From behind him he heard a slight intake of breath.
Come on, Princess...Allen needs you...you need to get to him now! Or I will go against my orders.

Gaddess
11:35 p.m. -- on Monday, September 8, 2003

"Might I suggest you plot a course for the Freid border!" Dryden yelled over the din of the engines, "My informants have told me that was the last location of the King and the girl. They may even be in the country now!"

Allen turned and noticed Gaddess' face redden slightly. His gaze shifted quickly to the helmsman, "You heard the man! Alter the heading accordingly!"
"Aye, Captain!" shouted the helmsman.
"Tio! Send a message to Lord Dryden's vessel. Tell the to follow us!"
"Aye, Captain!"
Just then Allen was seized by a moment of panic. He could feel the last of his strength fading away. Soon, he would succumb to the pain of his injuries.
Allen made a swift movement towards Gaddess, "Gaddess, you have the bridge."
Allen started for the exit before his second in command acknowledged the order. His face growing paler by the moment he left the bridge and closed the door. He fell back against it with a soft cry of pain.
I have to get to my cabin....I must get there....I WILL get there!
But movement grew more challenging by the moment. As he crawled along the passageway, he grew more light-headed. His eyes began to swim and a pretty little girl ran into his field of vision. She turned to face him and smiled.
Allen breathed in horror, "Celena..."
The child gave a laugh and took to her feet. Allen stretched out his hand, "No! Wait! Don't go that way! Celena! Come back!" The image of the child melted into darkness as Allen's unconscious body hit the hard wood floor of the deck.

Allen
06:41 p.m. -- on Monday, September 8, 2003

God....is this really happening...?

Van's body moving against hers-the look in his eyes; everything seemed so surreal. Though despite extraordinary circumstances of this subsequent union, one thing was clear to her now more than ever: she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

Her heart raced and eagerness seized her as the youth removed his armor and shirt. She met his lips with insatiable hunger. One hand entangled in his hair while the other raked mercilessly at his back.

Don't stop....don't....

Hitomi
01:57 p.m. -- on Monday, September 8, 2003

Gaddess glanced quickly at the Asturian Princess. Her last words had had steel in them. She was indeed a tough little thing when she put her mind to it. But Allen's dismissal of her concern was necessary. Necessary, but costly.
Gaddess stood slightly behind Allen, at his right hand. He could see how white Allen's knuckles were as he gripped his sword. Gaddess didn't let anything but a slight non-chalant pride show on his face. If it looked as if Allen would fall, Gaddess would improvise some sort of chummy manly manouever that would keep him upright. But his captain's broad shoulders remained unbowed.
The merchant was a fast talker with a broad smile...and the most ridiculous clothing Gaddess had ever seen on a man. Waht the hell was with that pink bow?
as Allen and Dryden continued to talk, Gaddess sould see the lines of strain growing in Allen's face. That dumbshit merchant better finish quick or I'm going to have to--"girl from the mystic moon."
"Is she alright?"
Gaddess' eyes were on Millerna's face as those words came out of the boss's mouth. She didn't flinch, but something changed a bit in her eyes.
Gaddess filed that away in his mind for later.
Right now the most important thing was the fact that somehow, this Dryden was either stir crazy or there was definitely something wrong with the world. The guymelef become a man? What total horseshit! But Gaddess kept the same expression on his face as Dryden offered the book to Allen.
"Sir," Gaddess interjected quickly, "I request permission to complete your order to flee from Asturian airspace before more soldiers come to the aid of their companions." It wasn't quite out of line, but it was definitely not completely in line, either. Gaddess hoped he didn't see Allen's shoulders stiffen ever so slightly. His commander knew him well. Gaddess was not sure Allen could spare the strength to take his weight off the sword and take the book, let alone read it. This encounter was taxing his reserves of strength badly.
He would never admit that, of course.
Gaddess held back a sardonic smile. What he really needs is fourteen hours of sleep and a tankard of beer. He felt a sudden throb of pain split his back in two. His arm followed suit. It hurt like hell, and he hadn't been through half of what Allen had this day.
The Princess is right. I've gotta get the boss out of this! But Gaddess could not undermine Allen's command.
Oh, to the hells with it. He locked eyes with the helmsman. "Start warming up the engines," he commanded.
Immediately the rumble of the engines started up, providing just enough background noise that talking was slightly difficult. Gaddess could do no more. He had left the proverbial door open; now all Allen had to do was walk through it. If he could.

Gaddess
12:10 p.m. -- on Sunday, September 7, 2003

He knew only a sliver of hesistation. He caressed her, nearly shivering as his hand moved over the curve of her breast, and its plumpness filled his hand. He teased the nipple, felt its hardness. He felt her body rising to his, and he kissed her lips, her cheek, her throat, feeling the rhythmn of her movements. And he wanted her. Suddenly, absolutely. Completely.
There was nothing that could stop them now, not now, no fate, this was their time. This little time.
His torsal armor fell to the floor. He pressed the full length of his body against her. He could feel his need rising. He kissed her, and paused long enough pull his shirt off over his head. He slid his other hand beneath her shirt.
He felt her back arch beneath him.
"Hitomi..."
Nothing can stop us now...

Van
01:30 a.m. -- on Sunday, September 7, 2003

Fharr barely resisted a hiss at Escaflowne's turned back. The other's words had put a lance of ice in his chest. He took off for the airships, thinking how much he wanted to bury his knife in one of those inhuman eyes.
If he hurts Tysien-- Fharr's eyes became narrow slits. Revenge will be mine. He will live to regret this day--and when his time comes he will beg for death.
But first, it is I who must live to fight another day.
With a swift and silent running leap, Fharr slipped into the shadows beneath the airships. The air swirled around him. As the ship took off, he was deep in the bowels of the ship, and his thoughts were most unkind.

Fharr
12:42 a.m. -- on Sunday, September 7, 2003

"I will gladly take you anywhere you wish," Escaflowne replied politely. He turned back towards the city, "Now I must depart, for I have more pressing matter to attend to." He turned and then stopped abruptly, "Oh yes, I should tell you. My apologies for disappointing you, but I'm afraid to inform you that your companion was not successful in eliminating his targets. Pray that he doesn't run into me on my way back to town, for I can assure you, he will not survive the encounter. Good day, dear Fharr." Escaflowne took off for the city before the doppleganger could speak again.

It didn't take him long to locate Hitomi and Van. He silently entered the abandoned building where the youth and the girl had sought refuge. Stopping short before a doorway, he could hear the soft rustling of clothes and Hitomi's sweet voice. Escaflowne bit back a wave of one of the blackest rages he ever felt. Of all the times he chooses for this...it's now... He could feel his body numbing as his anger subsided, leaving a hardened vengefulness in its wake. He fell back against the wall, No matter. I'll just simply wait for the most opportune time to announce myself, a dark, spiteful smile pulled at the corner of his mouth, say when His Majesty's trousers are around his ankles...

Escaflowne
11:05 p.m. -- on Saturday, August 9, 2003

The Caeli knight made an attempt at a curt bow, "I thank Her Highness for her concern for my well being, but I can assure her that I am perfectly capable-," a gut-wrenching wave of pain tore threw him as he turned. He quickly gathered himself together and continued, "I am perfectly capable of carrying out my duties."
I'll be damned if I'll appear the least bit weak in front of my men. To see me fall now would demoralize them. They need me now more than ever if we have another ship full of Asturian soldiers to fight..."Tio, tell me about that ship." Allen slowly pulled his sword from his waist and set it on the ground applying some of his weight to it.
"The ship's definitely gonna to intercept us, Captain," replied Tio as he gazed threw his telescope, "Wait a minute, something's happening."
"What?" Allen's voice was tight, "What is it, Tio?"
"Their flag's comin' down. No...it's comin' back up again and it has a white flag below it."
"Looks like they don't want a fight," Allen murmured.
"Now their lantern's goin' off. They�re requestin' permission to come on board."
"Ask them who wishes to board," Allen ordered to The Crusade's operator.
After their lantern operator had sent his message Tio spoke again, "The person they want to send over is....Dryden Fassa."
"Dryden Fassa? Who's he?" Oro asked.
"He's a rich Asturian merchant," Allen responded, "He must have heard of our plight. Tell them we agree, send him over."
"But, Boss, what if it's a trap?" Tio asked.
Allen smiled, "I have a hunch that it isn't."

"Ah, what a splendid vessel!" Dryden cried as he entered the bridge. First of all I must ask where I might find Sir Allen Schezar?"
Allen noticed Gaddess moving to step forward, but Allen put up his hand and waved him back, "I am he, Sir. What can I help you with?"
"I've been looking for you for over a month. There has been a lot of activity in Freid as of late."
Allen's blue eyes narrowed curiously, "And what has that to do with us?"
"It has alot to do with you when it concerns the King of Fanelia."
"Van..." his blue eyes widened with surprise, "He's alive?"
"Alive and well for the moment and I must add with the most interesting of travel companions."
"Travel companions? Well if you mean Hi-"
"No I don't mean the girl from the Mystic Moon, though she is with them as well."
"Is she alright?" Allen asked quickly.
"Yes, yes. She's fine," Dryden replied, now beginning to sound a bit flustered, "but that isn't the most interesting part."
"Then what is?"
"The guymelef called Escaflowne is no longer a guymelef but a real man."
Allen's mouth dropped open, "How is that possible."
Dryden smiled and produced a small book from his sleeve, "This book explains just about everything."

Allen and Dryden
09:41 p.m. -- on Monday, July 28, 2003

She stared for a moment at the questioning look held in those brown eyes, and then dropped her gaze.

"I don't know."

Stepping backwards, out of his gentle hold, Millerna turned her back to Gaddes and hugged her torso, her jaw clenching as she drew in a deep breath. "It's just a bit quick, that's all. I..." she trailed off, and she composed herself before turning aruond again. "I'll be fine," she smiled. She didn't even know herself if she was lying or not, however she stood still as Gaddes raised an eyebrow at her. A knot gripped at her heart, and she skated her vision to her shoes, rubbing her arms as if she was cold.

"There's another ship coming Searge!" came the faint ringing of a man's voice, and Gaddes looked up as Millerna followed suit numbly. ....More? A sort of nervous blanket wrapped around her body, making her breathing almost choked as her lips parted, staring blankly at the men.

"Shit," someone muttered, and Millerna straightened up.

"Are you..." she began quietly, her voice catching to her surprise, and as she began to trek on she saw him. "Allen?" His face was sullen and pale, and tinges of crimson were seeping through his clothes. "Why is he here?" Millerna snapped dangerously, her voice suddenly ominous. The blanket dissapeared and she was plunged in ice cold water. But it was better.

"I had to follow his orders, Princess," one of the men replied solemnly, and Millerna exhaled sharply.
"I understand," she nodded, her eyes weary, "But we have to do something now.

...He could die."

Millerna
07:46 p.m. -- on Monday, July 28, 2003

Tio gazed through the telescope and whispered, "No...not another ship. Please let it not be another ship!" He slammed the scope shut and dashed to the door of the bridge.
"Tio! Where the hell you going?!" shouted Oro.
"I have to find the boss! I'll be right back!"
The Crusade crewman found his Captain sitting on the floor propped against a doorframe. His arms were wrapped around his sides. His shirt was stained with blood.
"Boss! Are ya alright? Gods! yer bleedin' all over the place!"
Allen gazed up at him, his face chalk white, "Yes...Tio... I'll be fine...," he answered meekly.
"Boss, I'm sorry I hate ta tell you this now, but there's another ship comin' this way."
Miraculously, Allen's face grew even whiter, "Gods...we...we can't sustain another attack.. What kind of flag was it flying?"
"Red and white, Sir."
Allen swallowed hard, "Sounds.....like a merchant vessel."
"That was my guess too, but it could be a deception."
"Let's pray it's not," Allen took a deep breath and tried to stand. He gave a painful cry and fell back against the door.
"Boss, please stay where you are. I'll get the sergeant."
"No, Tio. Take me to the bridge."
"But Boss!-"
"That's an order, Tio!"
The crewman sighed, "Aye, Sir."

"Can't you get this tub to go any faster?!"
"We're already at top speed, Young Master Dryden. We can't go any faster!"
"We have to! I must get to the Crusade as soon as possible. I must speak with Allen Schezar!"
"We'll be there within minutes, Young Master, The Crusade is in view now."
Dryden leaned on the observation deck railing, Millerna...

Allen and Dryden
06:21 p.m. -- on Monday, July 28, 2003

Keeping the princess at his back, Gaddess continued to hold off his nearest opponent. All over the bridge, we could see the crew in a flurry of battle, blades ringing all over the place. The Asturian soldiers were no doubt well trained, but--and here Gaddess let a grim sort of smile cross his face---they had nothing on the crew of the Crusade.
But he was starting to get irritated.
First, Aston gets it into his head that he should frame Allen for treason, THEN he beats him up with a band of bloodthirsty mercenaries, THEN we get attacked in the castle, and THEN we get boarded by the godawful fucking swine-assed dirt snorting Asturian Knights! The crew, Millerna and Allen, need a GODDAMN BREAK!
Gaddess suddenly looked up at the soldier, and his brown eyes were not entirely calm.
With a sure, hard blow he deflected the solder's blade, and knowing the Asturian response to such an attack, he brought his blade down hard on the man's wrist.
The guy screamed, naturally, and clutched his hand--or rather the place where his hand would have been, had it not been on the floor. Gaddess shoved him out of the way.
"That's two today," he observed, in the same tone as if he was referring to pieces of fruit. Using anger to fuel his muscles, Gaddess buldozed a way through to a knot of his companions. He didn't want to let go of Millerna.At least when she was behind him, he couuld almost be sure she was safe. "Stay here," he said to her over his shoulder, seeing three new soldiers enter the bridge. He intercepted them, his sword a silver blur. He was successfully holding them off until one of them feinted and rolled behind him. He danced to the side, but not fast enough to avoid the tip of the soldier's sword as it made a burning slice up his back.
Without hesitation he turned and flicked his bade sharply across the soldier's face. The soldier, no, the boy, went to his knees screaming, and as Gaddess turned his smoldering gaze upon the last two, they turned and fled.
Gaddess half expected another knife in his back, but instead he turned to find the bridge cleared of enemy fighters. From across the room, Oro gave him a wide grin and a thumbs up. Gaddess gave him a lop sided smile. "Good job, boys, but we ain't finished here yet." Oro flipped a blade nonchalantly and grinned. Gaddess snorted in amusement. He gestured to the Crusade members, putting a brash note in his voice. "You fellas are in charge of cleanup duty. I'll hold the bridge." Several men made grunts of assent, and Oro chuckled. But they moved out quickly.
When they were gone Gaddess let out a loud sigh. Well this has been a great day... His eyes went to Millerna. Her violet eyes were still full of pain and a little bit of shock. OVer in a corner, he could hear some soldier moaning.
SHe shouldn't have seen this.
"Hey, Princess," he said, lifting her chin. "You okay?"

Gaddess
01:58 a.m. -- on Monday, July 28, 2003