| A short battle started at the beginning of the last episode between Van and Allen ends with Van's defeat, but not before he manages to damage the arm of Scherezade. One of Allen's men arrives with Merle accompanying him on his horse. Van and Merle hug each other in obvious relief and happiness, and she tells Van that Fanelia was completely destroyed. Hitomi then begins to see visions of the imminent attack on Allen's fortress and is convinced that Dilandau is an up to something, and passes out. She awakes to Van helping her with Merle in possession of medicine. Van chalks her collapse on poison in the forest. Meanwhile, in the Zaibach floating fortress, Dilandau plots his next attack: Allen's Fortress. He is certain that Escaflowne is concealed inside the fortress and vows to burn it. The attack begins, and the fortress is quickly ablaze. The invisible Zaibach Guymelefs use their flame cannons with powerful effectiveness. Gadeth hurries everyone to a hidden area behind the waterfall behind the fortress. There, an airship powered by floating stones waits. It is called the Crusade. The troops under Allen's command are losing badly and Van wants to help. Allen stops him and says that Van is being reckless. Van calls him a coward and that because his men are losing he wants to run away. Allen tells Van that recklessly choosing death is not the same as courage. Allen then promises to get the root of the attacks gets everyone on board the Crusade. Unfortunately, as they are leaving, Dilandau and the Dragonslayers attack the ship. Allen tries to stop them with Scherezade, but Van realizes that all they want is him and transforms Escaflowne into dragon mode and glides far away, causing the Zaibach forces to pursue him and leave the Crusade alone. Allen looks on in awe............
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