Unaware of the twin's approach, Hitomi and Merle take the time to share a little small talk...

"AGAIN?" The fur on Merle's back starts to frizz....

Hitomi immediately relates her latest worries to Van and the Artist Formerly Known as Mr. T... Van runs to Escaflowne and leaps into the cockpit.

As Van's guymelef rises to its feet and faces itself towards the coming battle, the soundtrack reacts in a suitably dramatic fashion... A chant fills the air...

The Purple One finds himself strangely moved by this sound...

Not long, Hitomi hopes. Meanwhile, the leopard twins have touched down somewhere in the kingdom on a bluff overlooking a densely populated area...