I do not own Gakuen Alice, nor any of the characters from said manga/anime.

CHAPTER I

Mikan had always thought that the tranquilness of Steepside Cliff was the most beautiful thing in the world. It offered a beautiful view of the small town with thatched roofs and small, fenced gardens straight out of a fairytale and the endless rye fields stretching out like golden carpets around Saoi. But lately, her reason for escaping to the cliff was just that - escape. Every morning new recruitment lists were nailed to the town's noticeboard, and more and more often messengers bearing the Queen's personal emblem on their chests passed through Saoi on the way to the Capital.

Some of the messengers was all too happy to share their news, and the inhabitants of Saoi had learned too much of the crushing defeats of their armies to celebrate the war like the ignorant fools in the Capital did. The Queen's armies fell like flies against the Eldwryn forces and hadn't been able to achieve a single victory over the last two months.

"Mikan-onee-sama!" Mikan pushed herself up on her elbows, and turned to face the boy that had called. She grinned. They looked nothing alike - Mikan had hair the same auburn shade as most of Evireth and only slightly more exotic, almond eyes set in a heart-shaped face that made her look childlike even as a teenager, while he had amazing light grey hair and big, beautiful blue eyes shining with innocence that half of Saoi's inhabitants were jealous of. "The Queen's soldiers are here! They're telling everyone to gather at Ichigo Hill."

He gestured with his hands towards the Hill Mikan knew the location of by heart. Every year the children of Saoi spent the summer watering and harvesting the red berries the Hill had been named for. Even though it was far away, there was no mistaking the reflection off pristinely polished armor. Mikan frowned.

"Did anyone say why they are here?"

"Keito-ojii-san said they came for the Alices. He said-" He paused, and glanced down at his feet.

"Keito-san said what, Youichi?" Mikan questioned, pulling herself to her feet. Youichi kept his eyes lowered and mumbled something she couldn't hear. "Tell me, Youichi. Louder."

"He said they will take me too." He repeated, quietly enough that she could barely hear him even as she crouched in front of him. He looked up at her with tears in his eyes. "Because of my Alice."

"Oh, imoto." Mikan smiled and folded him into her arms. He was still only four years old, but he usually acted so much older that she - and others - sometimes forgot how young and vulnerable he really was to the foul words of others. "They won't take you away from me and ojii-san. You're too young for battle, and your Alice isn't mature enough yet."

"Promise?" He asked, holding out his pinky for her to swear by.

"Pinky promise." Mikan smiled as she sealed the promise with her own hand. "Now, let's go."

Saoi was nearly empty. As they walked through the town and towards Ichigo Hill, Mikan realised that most of the inhabitants of Saoi had heard the news of the Queen's men and - Alice or not - had abandoned their usual morning activities to gather at the hill instead. To show support or find out who the Alices in their midst where, Mikan didn't know.

Being an Alice wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but many non-Alcies felt inferior and were jealous of those with unnatural abilities. Helpful Alices like healing or weather-control were treasured and respected, but those born with strange or "unnecessary Alices"- like Youichi who had the Ghost Manipulating Alice- were detested and shunned by the non-Alices.

Mikan knew, although her grandfather had never said so, that the reason Youichi had been abandoned as a newborn by his real parents was because of his Alice. They had detested his Alice enough to leave him behind a garbage bin in the middle of winter. By the time Mikan had found him, completely by accident, he had been weak and almost blue.

Youichi's life hadn't miraculously gotten better because he had Mikan and ojii-san to defend him though. His Alice had been strong and unstable nearly from the beginning, and not even Mikan and ojii-san could completely shield him from the backlash. Because of an instance when he lost control, most of the inhabitants of Saoi shunned Youichi.

As Mikan and Youichi neared Ichigo Hill, she could hear the booming voice of the Queen's Herald over the townspeople. "-royal Highness, Queen of Evireth, acknowledges and is grateful for the sacrifices of Saoi. Especially, since it was decided during the Queen's last Council that no monetary or proprietary compensation will be offered."

Mikan held Youichi's hand as they slithered into the crowd of townspeople like silent shadows, greeting familiar faces who noticed and greeted them in turn as they passed. A man years past his prime, with thick glasses balancing on the tip of his nose, stood on a hastily considered dias with a parchment scroll in his hands.

"Since long before the beginnings of our Great Queendom of Evireth, the Alices have walked on these lands." From the corner of her eye, Mikan noticed how the old shoemaker was eyeing the blacksmith's son with a dark look. Either he suspected the boy was an Alice, or he'd finally learned the identity of the boy who'd broken his daughter's heart two fortnights ago. "Powerful beings, the Ancient Alices were, capable of shaping the world around them as they pleased with the gifts the Ancient Gods gave them. With a wave of a hand, the Ancient Alices could split the land in two and make way for a river of fresh water. With a stomp of a foot, they could make the earth quake and open up under their enemies feet. With a whispered plea over a loved one's body, they could bring back a man from the embrace of death itself."

Mikan had heard the Tales of the Ancients before, including this one, but this was Youichi's first time and he listened to the Herald's words with a held breath and rapt attention. Mikan shared a grin with the innkeeper's wife over his head before she turned her attention back to the tale.

"However, the Ancient Alices with gifts from the Gods numbered only few handfuls, and over the years more and more perished due to old age and illness until the only way to preserve their abilities was to mix it with the bloodlines of the Powerless, the non-Alices. Now the Alices number more than they ever have before, but each child is a little less powerful than their parents." Here he paused to straighten his neckcloth. He swept his eyes over them, seemed satisfied with the attention they paid to him, and then fixated his eyes on a point above their heads.

"I remember when twenty years ago, those gifted with Alices rose up to defend Evireth from the violent southerners. How they destroyed the forces of the Fire Prince who came to seek war where no one wanted it. The Alice fought and won splendidly, and now, when a Fire Prince marches against Evireth again, it is time for the Alices to rise again and defend us!"

The Queen's Soldiers, standing in perfect formations between the dais and the townspeople, roared, striking their shields with their heavy swords and warhammers as they shouted their support to the Queen. The townspeople was a sheer contrast, quiet and unmoving and suddenly united in their resigned grief. There were already tears in the young children's eyes, and loss in their parents'. Royalty never cared for the commoners in war, Mikan thought as she watched them.

The Queen's Herald, too satisfied with his performance completely missed the townspeople's poor response, and continued on as soon as the soldiers quieted enough for him to be heard. "Then, without further ado, let the drafting begin."