Picking up right where the cliffhanger left off, except now everyone has come down from the ship and are standing around the blackened Escaflowne
Hitomi:  "Van!  Snap out of it, Van!"
Millerna:  "What's wrong, Hitomi?"
Hitomi:  "Van's in danger!  Van, open your eyes!"
Hitomi looks into the control chamber, and Van is unresponsive, enveloped in a black mist.
Hitomi:  "Van..."
The black mist starts oozing out of the chamber.  Hitomi grasps at Escaflowne's facemask and tugs at it, trying to open it.
Hitomi:  "Van, wake up!"
Millerna:  "Stop!  You may not be able to return, just like what happened with the Doppelganger!"
Allen:  "Hitomi!"
Hitomi:  "If we leave him, Van will... Van will be gone!"
The black mist starts sucking Hitomi in, while Millerna grabs onto her
Millerna:  "Don't!"
Escaflowne's energist crystal stops glowing and becomes an opaque white.  It is quiet and Hitomi is limp across Escaflowne.
Millerna:  "Hitomi..."

Hitomi runs through a grey mist.  It is completely empty grey here
Hitomi:  "Van, where are you?"
A crowd of the dead is ahead of her, lazily marching along.  You see some Zaibach soldiers, some red-feathered hat guys, and the Dragonslayers in this group.  Although Hitomi is running like crazy through them, she doesn't seem to be going much faster than the procession's lazy walk.  Then, Van is seen, as quiet and inattentive as the rest.  Hitomi almost seems to be running in place in the crowd behind him
Hitomi:  "Van!"
Hitomi picks up her pace, weaving her way through the slain warriors
Hitomi:  "Van, wait!"
Hitomi finally reaches Van.  She stretches her arm out to him, but her hand passes right through his body, and he disappears
Hitomi:  "VAN!"
Hitomi falls and the screen goes white

Back in the world of the living, Millerna checks feels Hitomi's wrist
Millerna:  "It stopped."
Everyone else present gasps in shock

The white screen fades back in, looking up at the sky.  Winged people buzz around like gnats (er, perhaps that's not the greatest simile).  Hitomi is lying in the middle of a stone walkway, the shadows of the winged people passing over her, paying her no attention.  Hitomi opens her eyes and looks around.  The setting is very Grecian in nature
Hitomi:  "This can't be heaven, can it?"
She runs to the balcony and sees a person fly by.  She glances over to a grassy plateau with a large tree on it.  Somehow, she manages to spot Van sitting under the tree, even though he's probably about a mile away.  Hitomi wastes no time in making a mad dash to the tree.  Upon closer inspection, yup, that really was Van under the tree.  Man, she's good.  He's sitting under the tree, curled up in the fetal position
Hitomi:  "Van, let's go home."
Van doesn't respond
Hitomi:  "Everyone's waiting."
Still getting no response, Hitomi crouches down and looks at Van's face.  His eyes are wide in fear, his mouth trembling
Hitomi:  "Van...?"
Suddenly, the ground heaves, and the sky turns red.  Fire erupts from the ground and incinerates all the winged people.  The buildings all collapse, and the city is destroyed around them
Hitomi:  "What the...?"
The land starts sinking into the fire.  Hitomi runs over to Van and starts shaking him
Hitomi:  "Van!  Snap out of it, Van!"
The plateau underneath them starts to crumble away.  Hitomi holds herself protectively over Van

Back to the living world...
Allen:  "Three minutes have passed."
Millerna:  "We've got to recover Hitomi, at least."
Merle:  "No!"
Merle runs over and leaps onto Escaflowne, standing over Hitomi
Merle:  "Hey, you stupid girl!  Don't give up!  Make sure you bring Lord Van back with you!  Hey, are you listening?!"
With that, Merle starts smacking Hitomi's face
Merle:  "Lord Van!"

And it seems Hitomi can in fact hear her...
Hitomi:  "Merle...?"
A light flashes in the sky, bearing Merle's voice
Merle:  "Lord Van, come back!"
Hitomi:  "Merle?!"
At that point, a yellow pillar of light envelops them.  However, the ground underneath them gives way as well.  They fall, Hitomi clutching Van
Hitomi:  "Van!  Van, fly!  Van!"
At this point, some life reappears in Van's eyes (however, it could just be where on Hitomi's anatomy his face happens to be ::cough::).  This time Van's wings rip through the shirt, rather than disintegrating it.  It's a just-in-the-nick-of-time save.  Hitomi and Van float upwards through the light, both looking dazed

In the living world, Hitomi falls off of Escaflowne (and Merle with her).  Escaflowne's energist shines to life again, and repels the black coating away, until it is its original white again.  The control chamber opens, and Van struggles his way out
Gaddess:  "He's alive!"
Merle:  "Lord Van!"
Hitomi then winces and feels her cheek.  Merle's eyes get big and looks away
Hitomi:  "Merle... That was your doing.  Thank you!"
So, Hitomi bowls Merle over in a hug ^_^*  Meanwhile, Van is standing on top of Escaflowne, staring off into space

However, not everyone is so happy.  Back on a Zaibach floating fortress, Dilandau mourns the loss of his men
Dilandau:  "They were all incompetents.  Gimel, Darret, Shesta, Gatty, Viole...  You won't be recognized it you die in battle like that."
Dilandau fingers a rose, then tosses it over the edge of the fortress.  There is suddenly a flashed image of a little girl crying
~Little Girl~:  "Don't leave me alone!"
Dilandau's eyes widen, wondering where the heck that came from.  But he sees it again
~Little Girl~:  "Don't leave me alone!"
Dilandau falls to his knees and clutches the railing, breathing heavily
Dilandau:  "Alone..."
He clutches his mouth like he has nausea, then collapses onto the floor

Meanwhile, in the usual spot...
Dornkirk:  "Since the Freid Dukedom has been conquered, the power spot is in our hands.  However..."
Folken:  "About the Dragon, right?"
Dornkirk:  "Exactly.  The fate of the Dragon is covered in a mist, and is barely visible."
Folken:  "Leave it to me.  I've already made the next move."
And... here comes Dornkirk's tagline!
Dornkirk:  "Capture the Dragon!"

Dryden's ship is hiding in a crevasse, and everyone is aboard.  Van is practicing with his sword.  However, he keeps seeing the faces of the Dragonslayers he killed, and falters
Van:  "Why?  Why does my hand shake when I hold a sword?"
Hitomi:  "Van..."
Allen walks up behind her
Hitomi:  "Allen..."
Allen:  "You don't have to worry about Van."
Hitomi:  "But he's been like that since then."
Allen:  "It's an ordeal which swordsmen have to overcome.  I had the same experience.  Conceit and arrogance draw you into a mist of fear."
At this point, Allen has a flashback
~Balgus~:  "Is it you who's been picking fights with swordsmen recently?"
~Allen~:  "If you're scared of fighting, leave all your money and I'll spare your life."
~Balgus~:  "You seem to have some background.  What's your name?"
~Allen~:  "Allen Schezar.  C'mon!"
Allen then charges at Balgus, who defeats him with one stroke
~Balgus~:  "You have good aptitude, but your conceited swordplay will never shine."
~Allen~:  "Kill me.  Kill me!"
~Balgus~:  "Why are you in a hurry to die?"
~Allen~:  "I have no family or house.  The sword is everything!  I can't live in disgrace once I've lost!"
~Balgus~:  "In swordplay, power and technique aren't important.  The key lies within you.  Train yourself."
Allen:  "That was how I met my master, Balgus.  He enlightened me when I was dissolute.  Mastering the sword means training oneself.  But I haven't come close to my master.  I..."
Hitomi:  "That's not true.  You're brilliant, strong, and compassionate.  I... I... I don't know anything about the sword, and he probably won't listen to me, but if it's you, he will.  Because you're wonderful, and everyone trusts you.  And I like you, too."
Note that the term she uses her is "suki", which is a rather ambiguous term, meaning either "like" or "love".  Hitomi is somewhat flustered at her word choice, and blushes
Hitomi:  "Take care of Van, okay?"
She then runs off
Allen:  "'Like', huh?  Sometimes I see a demon in you, Hitomi."

Dryden is in his study, attempting to make sense of the situation
Dryden:  "The mysterious power of Hitomi, who came from the Mystic Moon, Van, a descendant of the Draconians, Escaflowne... And Zaibach, which is after the power spot... Mysterious incidents that take place one after another... Gaah!  It's so frustrating!  Something's coming to my mind."
Millerna: "Um, Dryden?  Thank you."
Dryden:  "For what?  I don't need your smooth words.  It doesn't cost you a bit to bow."
Millerna:  "Your way of saying that... I had reconsidered about you, and I was going to apologize for my lack of manners."
Dryden: laughs "That's it.  That's more like you.  My mind's full of dirty thoughts.  I'll do anything to get your attention."
Millerna:  "But... I..."
Dryden:  "Allen?  I don't care.  I get everything I want."
Millerna is disgusted and leaves
Dryden:  "Well, it's all right.  Instead... I want you to do me a favor."

The moth goes to the flame.  Or something like that.
Allen:  "It's my father's final log, from his study."
Dryden:  "Oh, this is it!"
Millerna:  "Is that really useful?"
Dryden:  "Sure it is.  This might solve all the mysteries surrounding you."
Allen:  "Mysteries?"
Dryden:  "It's Atlantis."
Millerna:  "Atlantis?"
Dryden:  "My father often told me your father was after the secret treasure of Atlantis.  Let me borrow this for a while."
Allen:  "What a notorious man he was.  He disgraced me, even in a frontier like this."
Millerna:  "It's insignificant compared to the price he paid to repair Escaflowne."
Allen: "I suppose."

Meanwhile, Hitomi is looking out the window of the ship, brooding over what she said to Allen
Hitomi:  "Geez, why did I say that?  I'm like a fickle girl."
Millerna walks in, to initiate a conversation that should be remembered, since this comes up again a lot later ^_^*
Millerna: "Hitomi..."
Hitomi:  "Millerna."
Millerna:  "I want you opinion about my friend."
Hitomi:  "Sure."
Unbeknownst to them, Merle is listening in on the conversation from downstairs
Millerna: "She has a boyfriend.  He's a playboy, and she found out that he has a secret child."
Hitomi:  "Disgusting."
Millerna: "Listen until I'm finished."
Hitomi:  "Okay."
Millerna:  "But another guy, who seems to be rich and kind, came to her and said he loved her."
Merle: "It's so obvious, that idiot."
Hitomi: "And...?"
Millerna:  "What do you think she should do?"
Hitomi:  "What she should... If I found out I was hanging around with him when he'd had a child, I'd never talk to him."
Millerna: "Why not?"
Hitomi: "He doesn't deserve to be a man.  He sounds like he approaches any woman."
Millerna: "But he's wonderful."
Hitomi: "The other guy isn't?"
Millerna: "Looks are okay..."
Hitomi: "And he has love and a financial background, doesn't he?  Then, he's the right one."
Millerna: "It sounds so calculating."
Hitomi: "What about going steady with both, like him?"
Millerna: "How immoral."
Hitomi: "What about giving up on both, and becoming a tragic heroine?"
Millerna: "No way!  You talk as if you don't care about me... I mean my friend!  What about the feelings she has?"
Hitomi: "That's the point, after all.  In any case, it's natural to follow one's own feelings."
Millerna: "Own feelings..."
Hitomi: "Should I read their fortunes?  To find out which one is most suitable for her.  I'm usually right, if it's about someone else."
Merle: "Are you stupid?  What's with that fortune telling bit?  Before your read someone else's fortunes, why don't you make up your own mind?"
Hitomi: "My mind...?"
Merle:  "Which on do you love, Lord Van or Allen?"
All the girls glare at each other.  At random, the mole man comes wandering up the stairs.  He sees the girls in their little face-off, and cautiously backs down the stairs.  Pointless, but amusing ^_^*
Merle:  "Which one?!"
Hitomi: "The one I love is... Allen.  I just worry about Van." thinking "Worry...?  Is that all?"
Merle: "Then, don't get close to Lord Van."
Millerna: "Allen is out of your reach."
Ooh, shot down
Hitomi:  "I don't know."

Two figures sit outside beneath the Mystic Moonlight with their guymelefs.  They are Naria and Eriya, collectively referred to as the Leopard sisters
Naria: "Sis, that's the one, isn't it?"
Eriya: "How fortunate to find it in a place like this."
Naria: "He said that was our kind of luck."
Eriya: "Let's give them a greeting and make it a gift for Lord Folken."
Naria: "Nice idea."
They both jump into their guymelefs.  If Scherezade brings up the question "Why would you put a cape on a giant robot?", these two bring up "Why would you put hair on one?"  The two leap off the cliff onto Dryden's ship
Merchant 1: "...and my wife found it."
Merchant 2: "Bad luck."
Crash
Naria: "There's a guymelef called Escaflowne, isn't there?"
Eriya: "Hurry and give it to us.  If you disobey..."
Eriya shows off that they're Zaibach people, complete with extendable liquid cat claws on their guymelefs
Eriya: "...you're all gonna die."

Since two rather large things just landed on top of the ship, they don't go unnoticed for very long
Pyle: "Boss, it's Zaibach!  Zaibach's guymelefs are..."
Gaddess: "What?"
And, the girls go chasing after Van
Merle/Hitomi: "Lord Van / Van!"
Hitomi: "Don't!  You haven't recovered!"
Merle: "Lord Van!"
Too late.  He's already in Escaflowne, ready to go
Van: "Alright."
And off he goes, doing his death leap off the ship, dragonizing in a move that looks suspiciously like the one in episode 4 (even the same scenery ^_^*)
Allen: "Van's gone out."
Naria: "It came out."
Eriya: "Let's finish it quickly."
Ooh, the kitty girls get rocket-powered guymelefs!  They begin to pursue Van.  They catch up to him easily and throw Escaflowne into a bellyflop on top of Dryden's ship.  The impact nearly sends Hitomi and Merle off the edge.  Almost.  Escaflowne reverts to humanoid-mode, and Naria lands on top of him.  She gets a hit in, which leaves a scratch on Van's cheek.  He throws Naria off, but Eriya gets him from the front.  Van is able to block the next attack with his sword, but then realizes that he's fighting women
Van: "A woman...?!"
Eriya: "The torso is unguarded."
Eriya mashes Escaflowne in the stomach, giving van a pretty bad stomach ache as well.  Van throws her off and holds her at swordpoint, but Naria comes in from behind and knocks him over.  The two stand in front of Escaflowne, who is down and not getting up.  But it's not because of injury.  Van is having on of his "oh-crap-I'm-holding-a-sword-and-freaking-out" moments again
Eriya: "What's wrong with him?"
Naria: "He seems to be scared.  Dilandau was defeated by a guy like him?"
Eriya: "No wonder Lord Folken's worried.  Let's finish it."
The two prepare to rid themselves of Van one and for all, but Merle jumps out in from ot Escaflowne and holds her arms out protectively.  The Leopard sisters are shocked by this.  They remember back to a similar situation they were in, when then protected each other from a mob
Merle: "I won't let you kill him.  I won't let you kill Lord Van!"
Van: "Merle...!"
The Leopard sisters stand down
Naria: "She ruined the mood."
Eriya: "She did, but it's a cat.  That's enough for today."
They leave, and Merle collapsed in shock that she actually did something brave.  Van gets out of Escaflowne and runs to her
Van: "Merle!"
Merle: "Lord Van... Lord Van, I'm so glad!"
She glomps him
Merle: "I'm so glad you're safe, Lord Van!"
Hitomi: "Merle..."

Meanwhile, in his study, Dryden appears to have been oblivious to all this, and is laughing to himself
Dryden: "I found it.  I found it!  As I thought, all the mysteries lie in the Mystic Valley."
Well, with a name like that, of course they do! :P

Dawn breaks, and no one's there to fix it.  Er, nevermind.  Dryden's ship, and, consequently, everyone on it, is headed towards the aforementioned "Mystic Valley".
Hitomi: "Mystic Valley...?"
Van: "It's the legendary place of the Draconians."
They sail off, with Hitomi looking worriedly at Van