~Author's notes~
This is a revision of the prologue and chapter. If you've already read them before revision, you can read this or skip to the next chapter. It's all up to you! (I say that because there are no storyline changes, just a few stylistic things I wanted to add)~linay
Ancient Visions
prologue
Mia clutched his hands with her own, feeling the pebble-like pendant between their hands. They stood alone, on a green plateau in the middle of a burning city."We knew this day would come Slanzar," Mia said softly.
"It came too fast," Slanzar, the dark haired man replied.
A sudden earthquake shook the plateau. Mia and Slanzar were brought to their knees. Mia looked tearfully around her.
"Look," she said through tears, "look what has become of our home."
Beyond the ironically green plateau a once magnificent city burned. The two lovers looked at eachother and grasped the pendant together. The plateau began to shake once more and the ground beneath them broke apart. The plateau crumbled but they did not fall. Wings burst forth from their backs and both of them flew -- still clasping their hands together. Flames began to creep up to them.
Mia cried softly, "It's too soon."
"Now is the time for us to do this," Slanzar reminded her gently.
The flames began to eat at their wings and as they faltered in flight, they held eachother tightly.
"Now," Slanzar said.
Mia only stared at him, her green eyes filled with sadness.
"Mia, now!"
Mia squeezed his hands and the pendant.
"Wish!" Slanzar yelled as the flames leaped higher, "Wish now!"
Chapter one
Van sat by his brother's memorial, perched on escaflowne's shoulder in a characteristic position, holding his sword as he brooded. He sat, staring up at the mystic moon through the leaves.Gone, he thought to himself, gone back. I wonder what she's doing?
He stared down at the white metal of escaflowne. He was ashamed of himself really. He hadn't communicated with Hitomi for one month now. He was ashamed of his situation, ashamed of his duties as king. With his free hand he lifted up the rose-coloured pendant and stared into it. It began to glow. But just before it created a link between them, he dropped it -- still uable to face Hitomi.
She must be wondering what I'm doing, he thought, maybe it's better she didn't know
Van Slanzar de Fanel, king of Fanelia, sighed.
On earth, Hitomi Kanzaki sprinted down the race-track. She barely heard the crowd cheering as she crossed the finish line. Her heart pounding, she gradually eased into a loping run. Hitomi glanced up at the sky and smiled softly.
I won, Van she thought.
Yukari ran up to Hitomi and threw her arms around her best friend's neck.
"That was great!" Yukari screamed.
Hitomi glanced up at her and smiled. But before she could answer, a smallish boy came bounding up to them.
"Hey Kanzaki, Hitomi Kanzaki," he called, pen and paper in hand,"how do you feel?"
"Fine, thanks," hitomi replied, straightening.
"Time for a short interview?" the boy asked.
"Sure," Yukari answered for Hitomi, who was preparing to politely decline.
Hitomi inwardly groaned, but outwardly smiled. "What do you want to ask? " she said, giving Yukari a soft jab in the ribs.
"Well first," the school reporter said, brandishing pen,"Why did you quit track 3 months ago?"
Hitomi smiled gently, "I had a...different experience and after it, I felt that I didn't want to do anything anymore. I needed a rest and I wanted to get away."
"Why did you decide to rejoin the track team after quiting?"
"Well," Hitomi started, "I realized that I really enjoyed running. I really wanted to run, and it would make...my friends happy."
The boy reporter grinned, "Anyone in particular, any crush?"
Hitomi's smile slowly faded from her face. All of a sudden she seemed distant and unhappy. The change was so drastic that the boy became confused.
Yukari glanced sidewise at her friend then said quietly to the boy, "I think she's tired. Maybe that's enough for now."
Yukari steered Hitomi away almost by force. Hitomi drooped, a change from the happy Hitomi of just two minutes ago. Yukari stared at her friend's face anxiously. She was now getting used to her sudden mood changes. For the last month hitomi had dropped in and out of such moods without warning.
"Hitomi..." she whispered softly.
Hitomi breathed, to no one in particular, "Why? Why won't you talk to me?"
Yukari blinked in surprise. Hitomi looked up to the sky. Van,she thought, what is happening?.
A flash, sudden and blinding, envelopped Hitomi. She gasped. She couldn't breathe, choking fumes filled her lungs. What is it, she wondered desperately a vision? Of what?. Then she saw it. The fire. The fire was burning everything around her. Her eyes searched her surroundings. Two white specks caught her eye. Hitomi gasped. The specks were two people with wings. She strained to get a better look at them. They were definitely flying and they were holding eachother's hands. As she stared, one of them, a woman, turned and looked straight at her. Her green eyes were wide, but not with fear. They were filled with longing. The look of sadness in that woman's eyes struck Hitomi to the very core and she gasped from the impact. Flames began to lick at the couple's wings. Hitomi staggered forward and cried out to them. But as she stepped forward, flames drew closer to her and marble pillars crashed nearby. Hitomi whimpered as the heat scorched her face, bringing her to tears. Hitomi covered her face with her arm and tried to look up at the winged people. The woman was still gazing at her. Hitomi stared up at her, sensing something familiar. Then the woman turned back to her partner and clenched her hands tightly around his. Flames rose higher. Hitomi's chest constricted and she doubled over in pain, trying to breathe. The flames were licking at the couple now. Hitomi saw as the fire reached for them and then she screamed.
Hitomi fell to the ground, choking and gasping for air. People walking by turned to look as Yukari tried to help her friend up. But Hitomi was oblivious to it all. Her lungs were searing with pain and her skin was still burning. Never had a vision caused such physical pain. With all her mind she screamed out to him desperately, to Van.
