In the throne room in the Freid palace...
Duke Freid: "I was told of your story.  King of Fanelia, as a governing monarch I sympathize with you for the tragedy your country has suffered."
Van: "I appreciate that very much, Duke Freid."
Duke Freid:  "We are aware of Zaibach's advance.  Therefore, I returned to the capital, Godasim, as quickly as possible.  However..."
There is silence as the camera pans across everyone present, until it stops on...
Duke Fried:  "Allen...!  No matter what your reason is, it is disloyal and thoughtless for a knight to disobey his sovereign and leave his country.  Did you think I'd rely on such a dishonorable man?"
Chid:  "Allow me to speak!  Allen and the others risked their lives for our country!  They prevailed over the doppelganger and defeated Zaibach's schout units..."
Duke Freid:  "Be quiet!  It is too early for you to give me advice!  Your selfish act might have ruined the country."
And since it's high time someone else threw in their two cents...
Millerna:  "Allow me to speak!"
Everyone looks to see Millerna come out from the back of the room.
Duke Freid:  "Princess Millerna...."
Hitomi:  "Millerna..."
Millerna comes out and bows before the duke
Duke Freid:  "Princess, we can talk later."
Millerna:  "Forgive me for being impertinent, Brother.  Actually, I can no longer call you Brother, because I gave up on my country also."
Duke Freid is shocked by this
Milerna:  "Your Majesty, Zaibach's invasion is insane.  Their deed will draw all Gaea into war.  Fanelia won't be the only one to suffer from tragedy.  Moreover, Freid is their next target.  Unfortunately, my father, I mean King Aston, appears to be overlooking this.  He said that it's best for Asturia.  However, if all Gaea falls into Zaibach's hands I doubt that Asturia alone could maintain the peace.  Allen... Allen Schezar tried to prevent it from happening and came to Freid.  Your Majesty, please forgive Allen!"
Duke Freid:  "Princess Millerna...  You have become such a wonderful woman.  You are wise and generous.  Asturia has a good princess."
Duke Fried gets up to make an announcement
Duke Freid:  "Allen!  Will you join our army and fight against Zaibach?"
Allen:  "My life will be in your hands."
Duke Freid:  "Your face says it all.  I'm looking forward to it."
At this, Duke Freid leaves, walking past everyone.  Hitomi watches him intently, confused
Hitomi:  "He's Chid's father..."

The camera pans across a river, where dinosaur-looking creatures bask.  Floating above them is a Zaibach floating fortress
Dornkirk:  "A girl from the Mystic Moon?"
Folken:  "Yes.  She can easily locate the guymelefs in the stealth cloaks.  It is also said that she guides the Dragon to a better situation by predicting the future."
Dornkirk:  "Wonderful."
Folken:  "Sir?"
Dornkirk:  "I want to see the power that interferes with my fate predictor."
Folken:  "Yes, sir."
The typical grainy image of Dornkirk fades out per the usual.  However, he's got more to say to himself
Dornkirk:  "Earth... it only exists in my distant memory."

Back in Freid, soldiers and guymelefs prepare for Zaibach's invasion.  Monks sit around chanting.  The gates are closed as the sun sets over the rice fields.  Inside the castle, Millerna changes Allen's bandage.  The mole man walks out of the room, then decides to eavesdrop
Millerna:  "It looks fine.  Your wound is healing."
Allen doesn't seem to hear her.  He seems preoccupied by something.  Images of a woman who bears a resemblance to Millerna flash across the screen.  Allen sighs.  Millerna notices this and rests her head on his shoulder
Millerna:  "Allen, I don't care about Asturia or Freid.  I'll be fine as long as you're safe."
Outside the room, the mole man is still eavesdropping, but Merle shows up out of nowhere, scaring him witless (cute!)
Merle:  "Wha'cha doin'?"
Mole:  "N... nothing..."
Merle thinks nothing of it and just wanders into the room
Merle:  "Allen, did Hitomi come here?"
Allen:  "No, she hasn't."
Merle:  "I see.  Sorry for bothering."

Outside on the balcony, Hitomi is looking over the city, when she has the vision of Zongi dying again
Hitomi:  "Oh no... Why can I see it?!"
Merle:  "Hoo boy...  I'll never get bored watching you."
Hitomi:  "You don't understand how I feel."
Merle:  (mockingly)  "'Oh no, why can I see it?!  No... why, why?!'  It's annoying!  Anyway, Lord Van is calling you!"

Elsewhere in the city, Van in in a bunker sharpening Escaflowne's sword
Pyle:  "Man, it's got scratches all over!  Your sword handling is so rough."
Van:  "Is it...?"
Kio:  "It is.  Scherezade's sword has no scratches at all."
Van:  "I'm sorry about this.  My swordplay isn't as good as Allen's."
Kio:  "Oh, the King's all sulky."
Gaddess:  "He's lying.  Even the boss damages his sword.  Not as bad as you, though."
Merle:  "Lord Vaaan!"
Merle comes running in and glomps Van per the usual, with Hitomi walking in behind her
Van:  "Hitomi...!"
Merle:  (glares)
Hitomi:  "You called me?"
Van:  "Yeah, I need your help."
Hitomi:  "Huh?"
Van:  "No, you don't have to go to war.  You can predict the future and see the invisible enemy.  I want you to tell me where Zaibach's invading by using your ability."
Kio:  "That's a really good idea!"
Gaddess:  "We might be able to catch them off guard if things go well."
Pyle:  "She's our goddess of victory!"
Merle ruffles up from everyone praising Hitomi
Hitomi:  "No...  I won't."
Van:  "Hitomi...?"
Hitomi:  "No, I don't want to see it.  Don't use me at your convenience."
Van is slightly taken aback.  He never really thought about it that way
Hitomi:  "I... I was just an ordinary girl.  I was pretty good at fortune-telling.  Since coming to Gaea, my predictions become real so often and I see so many scary visions.  I..."
Van:  "Hitomi...."
Hitomi:  "Don't rely on me!  Don't make me read fortunes and see scary visions, please!"
Hitomi runs out of the bunker
Van:  "Hitomi!"
Merle:  "What's with her?  :P  Nyeeeeeh!"

Hitomi wanders out to the fountain and sits on the steps.  She thinks back to all the times she read fortunes fo her friends
~Friend 1~:  "Hitomi!  How good is the match between me and my boyfriend?"
~Friend 2~:  "No, I'm first!  Right, Hitomi?"
~Friend 1~:  "When should I tell him how I feel?  Can you read it?  Your predictions hit the mark so often."
~Friend 2~:  "Hitomi, I'm counting on you!"
Hitomi:  "Fortune-telling is only a game.  So... no more fortune-telling or visions...  No more..."

Millerna is out walking.  She looks over and notices her older sister's mansion.  Duke Freid is inside, looking up at Marlene's portrait.
Millerna:  "Duke Freid..."
Duke Freid:  "Princess Millerna."
Millerna:  "What is this place?"
Duke Freid:  "A separate manor Marlene used.  The complex was relocated before the marriage."
Millerna:  "Everything looks just as it did."
Duke Freid:  "Yes, everything has been kept as she left it.  Feel free to use it.  Marlene would be very happy."
Millerna wanders around the room, fingering the old bookshelves and sits down at the vanity
Millerna:  "This is...  I know!"
She opens the cover of a music box, which begins playing a rendition of "Yakusoku wa Iranai" (the show's original opening theme).  Millerna looks into the mirror and remembers her sister
~Little Millerna~:  "You're really leaving, Sister?"  (AAAAHH!  Big, sickeningly cute eyes!  Aaaaahh!)
~Marlene~:  "Millerna..."
~Allen~: (with short hair o_O)  "Princess Marlene, it's time."
The scene switches to Marlene's wedding, with the Knights Caeli standing in the background.  Marlene leaves in Freid's floating ships
~Little Millerna~:  "Sister, I wish you the best!"
The flashback ends and the music box stops
~Millerna~:  "Sister..."
Millerna absently taps one of the figures on the music box, and it's head caves in (aaah!  She killed it :P).  The music box spins around, revealing a secret compartment with a book
Millerna:  "This is...!"

Meanwhile, Van is outside practicing his archery.  Merle is on the steps watching him.  However, he can't seem to remain focused.  He envisions the pendant to aim his arrow, but Hitomi keeps flashing across his mind.  The arrow flies, and misses.

Back at the fountain with Hitomi...
Chid:  "Hitomi, can't you sleep?"
Hitomi:  "Prince Chid?  I feel like if I go to sleep now, I'll never wake up."
Chid:  "I'm the same.  Even though I tried to sleep, things about war came to my mind and I couldn't stop shivering.  I don't deserve to be King, as Father said."

Back in the courtyart, Van is still practicing archery using the Pendant Method.  But he keeps thinking about what Hitomi said
~Hitomi~:  "Don't rely on me!"
He misses again

Chid:  "I won't be like Father.  Mother wanted me to be a great king, that's why she told me about Allen.  But I won't be able to meet Father and Mother's expectations."
Hitomi:  "Prince Chid..."

Van is staring at the moon and earth

Hitomi:  "I was told that people have mysterious powers.  My grandmother told me.  Keep the wishes of how you want to be and what you want to do strongly in your mind.  Then the wishes will come true."
Chid:  "The wish will come true..."

Van nocks arrow again..

Hitomi:  "It's true, isn't it?  When we wish strongly, we try hard and keep working.  But if you think you're not good and can't do anything, or think your wish won't come true, that will be the real outcome.  If you wish strongly enough it'll reach the stars someday, and they will give you the power in the end."
Chid:  "Power from the stars..."

Van lets his arrow fly again, and this time it hits the target's center.

Hitomi:  "Prince Chid, I'll read your fortune.  I'll ask the stars.  You have to rely on the stars when you read the tarot cards.  I'll read your fortune."

Back in Marlene's manor...
Millerna:  "'Thirty-fourth of Yellow... Uncle Nueva took me out to see a military arts championship.  It was because he was concerned about staying indoors most of the time, but I was not interested in the military arts...  But...  That young genius swordsman of Asturia's Knights...  His name is Allen Schezar.'  This is Marlene's diary...?!"
She continues reading, anyway :P
Millerna:  "'Twelve of Green...  The man with blonde hair was appointed as a Knight Caeli.  Only twelve honorable swordsmen of Asturia carry the title.  Knight Caeli...  He indeed deserves the title.  He was ordered to guard the royal palace and came to Castle Palas.  My pressure on Father seemed to have worked.'  Oh, Sister..."

Elsewhere in the castle, Hitomi is doing a tarot reading for Chid
Hitomi:  "L'imperatore...  Giustizia...  Don't worry.  You'll learn many things, and gain respect from the people."
Chid:  "Really?"
Hitomi:  "La Luota - Overcoming possible hardships, and..."
Hitomi has a sudden flash of Marlene
Hitomi:  "What was that?"
Chid:  "What's wrong?"
Hitomi:  "N... nothing!"

Millerna continues to be a snoop
Millerna:  "'Third of Red... The marriage between Duke Freid and I was settled.  Why was I born into a royal family?  I like him.  I fell in love with him.  He said that this is the destiny of women born into a royal family and a knight.  Even though I love you so much, Allen.'  Marlene and Allen were..."
There is a flash to Marlene and Allen holding each other

Hitomi:  "What is it....?"
Another shot of the two lovers
Hitomi:  "Allen...?!"

It begins to rain, and Millerna continues reading
Millerna:  "'No doubt, the baby's from that night.  If I tell the King about this, what would he say?  He can count the days and...  But there's no way I can hide it.  I...'"

Chid:  "What's wrong, Hitomi?"
Hitomi:  "Sorry, I couldn't concentrate.  One more time..."
Her eyes widen
Hitomi:  "An inverted card of La Imperatrice...  Forbidden love..."

Millerna:  "So, Chid is Allen and Marlene's..."

The sun rises.  The light shows thousands of specks in the sky.  They are Zaibach floating fortresses.
Adelphos:  "What a magnificent sight.  All four forces of Zaibach simultaneously mobilized after so long."
Soldier:  "General Adelphos, I'm pleased that you're leading the army in this war."
Another Soldier:  "All hands are in position!"
Adelphos:  "Very well.  The time has come!  God is on our side!  All forces, move out!"
Guymelefs drop from the fortresses
Bronze Commander:  "Bronze Army, move out!"
Steel Commander:  "Steel Army, move out!"
Platinum Commander:  "Platinum Army, move out!"
The Zaibach guymelefs crash through the forest, beginning preparations for the invasion of Freid
Freid Lookout:  "Look at the number of Guymelefs!"
Zaibach Guymelefs and soldiers continue to advance.  They stand on an overlooking ridge, holding banners.

In Freid's throne room...
Boris:  "Your Majesty, the enemy has taken up positions on four sides.  They number 55,000 troops and 10,000 Guymelefs.  Even though we're on the defensive..."
Duke Freid:  "Boris, you know the fate of people born in Freid, don't you?"
Boris:  "Today is the day to follow the 'Chapter of the Lion' in our ancestral tome, isn't it?"
Chid:  "'Chapter of the Lion' in our ancestral tome...?"

Outside, Freid is mounting its defense
Soldier:  "To the gate, quickly!"
Merle:  "Lord Van!"
Van is prepering to get into Escaflowne
Van:  "Merle, take care of Hitomi, okay?"
Merle:  "Lord Van..."
Escaflowne is prepped and leaves per the usual (stock footage!)
Merle:  "Lord Van, please be careful."
Allen:  "Gaddess, you guys cover the top of the castle with the Crusade.  I'll move out in Scherezade."
Gaddess:  "Aye, sir."
Allen prepares to board Scherezade, but...
Millerna:  "Allen..."
Allen:  "Princess Millerna..."
Millerna:  "Allen, I have a question."
Allen:  "About Princess Marlene, right?  Yes, Princess Marlene and I were in love before she married Duke Freid.  Princess, Prince Chid is probably..."
Millerna:  "No, I don't want to hear it!"
Duke Freid:  "Chid is my son!"
Millerna:  "Brother..."

Overhead, in the floating fortresses
Soldier:  "The Dragonslayers are in position."
Folken:  "Have them wait for a while.  Verify the timing of your assault."
Dilandau:  "I know, Commander."
Folken:  "Van..."

The cloaked Guymelefs wait for the order to attack just outside of Freid...