Vision Queen

Authoress: Princess Lalaith

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne, nor any of its characters, I do own this fic, as well as every other I've written. This story has been written for mere fun, and with no economical interest so please don't sue me. Enjoy the fanfic.

Chapter 1.- Peace. A mysterious Queen.

There's the Milky Way, a part of the galaxy with 9 well-known planets, lots of moons, and stars; even if just one planet has known life: the Earth. And even then, there's one more planet, one that most people don't even know about: Gaea. A mystic world full of nature, animals, history and…magic. A planet that has a history no one knows fully, because it goes back hundreds of years. A world that divides in countries, that interact with each other in an almost perfect society, warriors, princesses, peasants, they all live together in that wonderful planet.

.---.

In one of the countries, in between the mountains and forests, Fanelia. A young man in his early twenties was reading through some papers, making sure everything was in order. It was, after all, his responsibility to leave everything ready before he left his country to attend the festivities in another country: Freyd.

"Van-sama!" a female voice called him from the entrance.

"What is it Merle?" the man asked turning his attention to the girl-cat standing before him.

"The messenger sent this." Merle told him, handing him a sheet of paper. "It's the list of the guests who have accepted the invitation to the festivities, so we know who'll be there."

Van nodded as his eyes scanned trough the page, he knew most of the guests who where attending, from Asturia, and other nearby kingdoms, but then one name called his attention.

"Her Majesty Iris Kanza?" he asked aloud.

"So it called your attention too." It was more a statement than a question. "Yes, Iris Kanza, the famous Queen of Kizanka. Famous mainly of all because no one has ever seen her."

Van nodded. He knew who that woman was, at least he knew what everyone else in Gaea: she was the queen of a small kingdom that had grown in the last years. In fact he had seen one of her messengers once, when she asked for permission for her people to occupy the valley where Zaibach's people had once lived. And he accepted, even when some of the members of his Council doubted, arguing that he should have first investigated who that queen and her people where, as they hadn't known about them until then.

"If I'm not mistaken this is the first time she's ever accepted the invitation to the Peace Festivities, right?" Van said.

"That's right." Merle nodded. "Never in the five years since the Kizanka kingdom became well known by the rest of Gaea had she or any of her people answered to an invitation, in any of the kingdoms."

"What do you think is the reason?" Van was really intrigued.

"Some say it's because she's too attached with her people, and so she prefers not to leave them." Merle said. "Others it's because it took them all this long to finally establish completely."

"But we've been having business with them since two years after they settled." Van reminded her. "They are the best in Technology in all Gaea, and sell it to everyone in the nearby kingdoms. Even if we haven't bought much of it, only for defense, to be ready for anything that may happen."

"There has been no need to buy weapons." Merle added. "After all, there hasn't been any battle since seven years a…"

The cat-girl stopped before finishing her sentence, but it was already too late, and she knew it, Van's thoughts had again reached those painful memories, of that single girl who will no way leave his mind and heart, who he wished to see each day, but he had never had the chance. Even in the seven years that had gone by already, no one had been able to make him forget her, even when some members of the Council insisted constantly in the need that he found a suitable bride, marry and have heirs, he paid them no heed. The only bride 'suitable' for him was one world away, and even though he had tried, hard, there was no way he could reach her. And that pained him to the very bottom of his soul.

"I'm sorry…" Merle murmured in a low voice.

"Don't worry." Van said petting her on the head. "It's not your fault I can't get her off my mind. I haven't forgotten her in this seven years, and it's likely I never will, even if it seems like she has forgotten about me."

"I don't think so Van-sama." Merle tried to lift his spirits.

"It doesn't matter anyway, because she'll always be in my heart, now and forever." He said melancholically. "My beloved girl of the Mystic Moon, my dear Hitomi…"

.---.

A long sigh was heard through the Great Hall of the Silver Palace, the home of Queen Iris Kanza and her counselors, in the highest hill of the Kizanka Kingdom.

"You've been in deep thought lately your majesty." A woman said approaching the queen.

"The counselors have retired, there's no need for formalisms." The queen replied.

"Then, will you tell me what's happening to you my friend?" the woman, lady in waiting and best friend of the queen, asked. "I'm worried, as well as Susumo, and your brother."

"I know, it's just that I've had too much things to think about lately." Iris said.

But both women knew it was a lie.

"You're regretting accepting the invitation to the Festivities in Freyd?" the lady asked. "You know we can still cancel and…

"No Yu, that's ok." Iris interrupted. "It's just that I've had too much things in my mind lately. Remembering everything that has happened since we arrived here."

"Yeah, five years is a long time." Yu nodded.

"And even then, this will be the first time we attend an event with the authorities of the other countries." Iris added.

"So that's what is bothering you." Yu guessed. "The Peace Festivities, I don't see why."

"You don't see why?" Iris sounded a little sarcastic. "That's a royal party, they expect kings and queens to be there."

"So?" Yu asked, she didn't understand what the problem was. "You are Kizanka's queen."

"Please Yu, until we came here I had never, ever even imagined to become a queen." She made a pause, considering what she had just said. "Ok, scratch that. Maybe I did consider before the possibility. But it's not the same. I wasn't born with this, I don't know how to act between royalty, I just came to be queen because…just because."

"You came to be queen because everyone thought it was the best." Yu told her sweetly. "After all, you saved us all. When all hope of a future seemed lost you raised and gave us a new opportunity, and it was our decision that for that you became our queen. And I don't think anyone, ever, in the whole Kizanka has ever reconsidered this decision."

"Even then, I'm not so sure accepting that invitation was a good idea after all." Iris insisted, there was a tone of nervousness in her voice her friend couldn't fully understand.

"You're afraid of the party, or of the people that will be in it?" she asked, and after a pause added. "Do you know anything about those festivities?"

"You already know the answer."

"So that's why you accepted?"

There was no answer, it wasn't needed.

"What we left behind five years ago is about to catch up with us, and we'll have to decide not just our future, but of those who surround us too."

Yu turned to see her best friend speak those words but got no explanation about them, the queen had already left.

"So it's happened again?" Yu's husband asked when he entered the Hall to see no one but his wife.

"Yes." Yu answered. "And it worries me. Because as you say it's happened before. Speaking in riddles, things no one but she can understand. Remaining in this castle throughout the years, even when invitation after invitation to other festivities arrived for her, she never accepted them."

"Until now." Her husband, Susumo, finished for her.

"She's knows something about it. Something's going to happen." Yu said seriously.

"Something?" Susumo asked confused. "Like what?"

"That she didn't say." Yu answered. "But she did say it has to do with our past, to our former home."

"But that means…" Susumo didn't even wish to think the end of the sentence.

"Problems." His wife did finish for him. "Big problems."

.---.

The next day the ship was ready to take them to Freyd. Queen Iris, along with her lady in waiting: Yu, the Commanding Officer of the army: Susumo, and some others, boarded the ship and began their journey to Freyd. As Kizanka indeed owned the best technology in all Gaea they reached their destiny in very little time, even being the kingdom farther away.

.---.

"Freyd welcomes you and wishes you a happy stay your majesty, as well as for your people." An herald spoke as those from the Kizanka ship arrived.

"It's an honor for all of us to be received here." Yu spoke for the queen. "Her majesty has asked me to request an audience with King Chid Zar Freid as soon as possible."

"His majesty is really occupied with the preparations for the festivities beginning tomorrow night." The herald said. "But we'll do what we can. Again be welcome to this castle, the maids will show you to your quarters, hope you enjoy your stay in our country."

"I'm sure we will." Yu said seriously.

"Thank you."

They were all surprised when Queen Iris uttered those words, the only she spoke before following the maids to the rooms she and her people had been assigned.

The servants bowed to her, not knowing what else to do.

And it was that everyone was intrigued by the surprising presence of the Queen of Kizanka, a woman who everyone in Gaea knew about, the ruler of the country that produced and sold the best technology; but at the same time the queen no one had ever seen personally.

And even now, Queen Iris was wearing a long lavender robe over her dress, with a semi-transparent veil that covered most of her features; that, along with the dim-light that was in the place made it impossible for those present to see the queen standing before them.

.---.

Once in their assigned rooms Yu decided to go and check on Queen Iris. The lady in waiting found her standing in the balcony, looking melancholically at the sight below.

"So long, and it remains the same." Iris murmured, more to herself than to anyone else.

"You had been here before?" Yu asked, interested at any new information.

"It was so long ago, and even then I remember it as if it had been yesterday." Iris said, still speaking to herself, not completely getting the fact that she was being listened. "I remember it perfectly well, even if it's highly probable they have forgotten it."

And just as she spoke she saw two figures entering the gardens: the first was a woman that had pink hair, a short dress and the oddest of all: strange ears and tail like those of a cat; and the second a handsome young man dressed in casual clothes and of messy dark hair and opaque eyes.

"Iris?" Yu asked for the third time.

Her friend had apparently 'lost' herself…again.

"Iris? Is everything okay?" Yu asked, concern reflected in her eyes.

"Fine. Lets get everything ready for tomorrow night." Iris said turning around and reentering the room.

She didn't seem to notice someone had turned in her direction just then.

.---.

In the gardens the King of Fanelia had stopped for a moment the persecution of his dear friend and almost-sister: Merle, to contemplate his surroundings. Until a strange force got his attention to a balcony a level above him, in which he saw a young woman in a light purple dress, with a veil over head, the sunlight hiding any details of her face or hair he could have used to discover her identity.

"Van-sama?" Merle asked returning to him.

Van turned to look at her for a second, before returning his attention to the balcony, although it was too late already, the woman was in that moment entering the room, followed by another with simpler clothes.

"Van-sama?" Merle asked again, worried. "Are you okay?"

"Yes Merle." Van answered. "Come one, we've got to go back for dinner."

"Yay! Dinner!" Merle cried out happily, and followed him back.

'Who may that woman be?' Van was asking himself meanwhile. 'I had never seen her before.' He sighed. 'And even then, she seems so familiar…'

.---.

The nest day the last of the representative members of all the countries like Daedalus, Chezario, Bashram, Egzardia and Asturia arrived to the castle. And that night, the feast.

Most of the guests were already in the room, discussing about the lateness of their most intriguing guest: Queen Iris.

"You know why she finally accepted an invitation?" one of the courtesans asked.

"They say it's because her counselors finally convinced her of having some social relationships with us." One of them asked.

"I heard it's because her counselors want her to get married." Another commented.

This called the general attention.

"You mean she isn't married?" one of the guests asked.

"No." the other answered. "She's a young queen, about 23, 24 years old. And they say she took the crown just before she asked for the Zaibach's lands, five years ago."

"That means she was nineteen!" One cried out amazed. "That's too young."

"Well, king Van Fanel took the throne about at the same age or a little younger if I'm not mistaken." Dryden Fassa, king of Asturia commented.

"And I became king when I was eight." Chid Zar of Freyd added. "What's the problem in queen Iris being queen since 19."

"She's a woman." One of the courtesans cried out as if it was obvious. "No woman has ever taken a throne at such a young age, less of all without a husband."

"Different country, different rules." Another said.

"Maybe too different." The Bashram's embosser commented between clenched teeth.

No one answered to that, they knew Bashram didn't like much the idea of the Kizanka kingdom having such a good technology, leaving Bashram behind (Bashram used to be the best in technology along with Zaibach before Kizanka appeared).

"And why is our distinguished guest late?" Queen Millerna Sara Aston de Fassa asked.

"Maybe she thought it twice and decided not to show herself in this party." One joked.

"Yeah." His companion added. "They say she's really ugly, that's why she didn't show up in yesterday's dinner, neither in today's meals."

"Maybe she had something else to do." Princess Eires, suggested.

And just before anyone could say something else there was a light knock on the door, before it opened to reveal four people. The first two were men, dressed in military uniforms in purple and dark blue: Kizanka's colors, they were Susumo and Mamoru, General of the Kizanka army, and commanding officer of the royal guard respectively. Behind them was Yu, accompanying her queen.

There was a deep silence, as the guests tried to see the newcomers carefully, but the light from outside prevented that from happening. Until the lady in waiting took away Queen Iris's coat, leaving everyone gasping.

Before them stood a young woman, of about 24 years old, shoulder-length brown hair and jade eyes, wearing a long light purple dress with long triangular sleeves and light pink slippers, a silver tiara with a single amethyst ran across her forehead.

"Presenting to you, Queen Iris Kanza of the Kizanka Kingdom." Susumo said seriously.

"A pleasure finally meeting you in person your highness." King Chid was the first to stand up to greet her.

"The pleasure is all mine king Chid, I deeply thank your hospitality and attentions toward me and my people." Iris spoke choosing her words carefully.

Yu knew it was hard for her to speak to royal people, but she also knew her friend and queen would do a wonderful job, just as she had since she had become queen.

"If you might solve our deepest mystery your highness." A man spoke. "We would like to know why such a wonderful woman and queen hadn't attended parties like this before."

"The reasons of my absence are various and not of your interest my lord." Iris answered as courteously as possible.

Everyone understood she was saying: shut-up-it's-not-your-business.

"You shall excuse Lord Dorek, your majesty, he sometimes doesn't act as the gentleman he's supposed to be." A man dressed in a Celestial Soldier uniform spoke.

Blond hair, light eyes, he was Allen Schezar, First Knight of Caeli. Next to him was a woman with his same characteristics, just that in an azure dress: Lady Selena Schezar.

"Apologies accepted." Iris said slowly.

Her eyes traveled across the room, looking at each and everyone in there. Stopping a couple of seconds at the young King Van Slanzar de Fanel, of Fanelia.

Until she heard some voices speaking in a low voice, her name made echo in her ears.

"I would appreciate very much gentlemen if you would stop talking about me behind my back." She said looking at the men directly.

"We're sorry your majesty." Both men said flushing, they never imagined they were being heard.

"I have a very accurate hearing, and sight." Iris declared. "And if you wish to know anything about my person, I think it would be best if you asked me."

Her words where direct, harsh but true, and no one said anything about them.

"One thing." Iris said, her tone of voice changing drastically to a sweet and calm one. "I would like to take this opportunity, even if it's a little late, to thank personally King Van Slanzar de Fanel for giving me and my people the opportunity to occupy the lands of Zaibach."

"We must be the ones thanking you my lady." Van replied. "The technology your people produce has been a great help to me and everyone in Fanelia."

"For that I'm glad." Iris said with a sincere smile.

This froze Van for a moment, as he felt a chill running through his spine.

"As long as you don't follow Zaibach's steps in trying to destroy us…" Lord Gorth, of Bashram, spoke coldly.

This seemed to make everyone silent again, as the young queen of Kizanka turned to him, fire burning in her green eyes.

"How do you dare…" she began, she was really indignant at the Lord's words. "We would never do such a thing as destroying Gaea. If we wished we could, that's right, just as much as you could, we all know your technology advances are really considerable, specially in weapons, even with some inventions you haven't yet spoke about in public."

This left the lord really puzzled, how could she know about things no one in his country had spoke yet?

"I have my ways of knowing things my lord." Iris said. "As much as I have my ways of acting, and believe me, betraying someone, and destroying a world is not in my plans. I would never do such a thing as go against those who helped me before, I'm not a traitor! I'm not Zaibach, I'm the queen of Kizanka, and I shall not permit such blasphemies against me and my people."

It seemed as if she was about to hit the embosser, but she didn't.

"We just got away of the destruction of our previous home, and you believe we would do such a thing as destroying our home, of killing our own people?" her tone of voice again changed drastically, she sounded sad, deceived. "This is why I don't like to attend royal events, because I hate it when others pretend to judge me and my people before knowing us. It's the worst anyone can do." She turned to the king Chid. "If you may excuse me, your majesty."

Chid nodded, noticing how altered she was.

"Thank you." Iris murmured with a bow.

And in the moment she turned around to leave Van would have swore he saw a tear falling to the floor.

Immediately after the doors closed, leaving Queen Iris, and her three companions out of the room.

"Did I say something?" Lord Gorth asked.

"Cynic." Selena murmured.

"Excuse me, my lady?" Lord Gorth asked, surprised of the young woman's words.

"You just accused her and her people of wishing to destroy Gaea, and you asked what did you say." Selena accused him seriously. "You definitely have no manners whatsoever. You don't deserve to be a representative of any kingdom."

"I won't let you speak to me that way girl." Lord Gorth began.

"And I won't let you insult my sister." Allen interrupted him.

"Choose your words carefully Lord Gorth, you aren't exactly liked around here." Another courtesan murmured as he drank his wine.

With that Lord Gorth preferred to leave the place.

"Well, that was an interesting conversation." Dryden commented to break the tense moment. "Don't you think so King Va…"

And that was when they noticed Van was gone.

.---.

"It can't be…it just can't…" Iris was sobbing on her bed.

"Iris…my friend…" Yu murmured trying to hug her.

"Leave me alone please." Iris told her.

"But, that's not a good idea, it would be best if I stay here and…" Yu began, really worried for her.

"Just leave me alone!" Iris ordered, a little harsher than she first intended.

"As you order." Yu nodded and left the room.

In the door her husband was waiting.

"Anything?" he asked her.

"No." she answered, shaking her head for extra emphasis, and with a low and deep sigh she added: "I think that coming here wasn't a good idea after all."

Susumo just embraced her lightly, trying to express his support trough that simple gesture.

"Thank you…" Yu murmured hugging him back.

"Why?" Susumo asked with a smile.

"For being with him, all this time." Yu answered. "Even when thinks got really difficult back home, you believed in me and in her, and helped us convince the rest."

"Everything was falling, I was so afraid of losing you." As Susumo spoke he held his wife's face tenderly with his hands. "And when you came to me, with that small ray of hope, I decided it was the only option."

"You could have saved yourself, you had the opportunity." Yu reminded him.

"No, no without you." Susumo replied. "Even if in that time we hadn't married yet, I loved you, I still do, and I would have never left you there to die. I preferred an opportunity to live somewhere else, with you, or to die alongside with you. In life or death, we'll always be together."

"I love you so much!" Yu cried out hugging him tightly and kissing him passionately.

"I love it when you get like that." Susumo said when they broke the kiss to breath.

Yu just laughed lightly, forgetting for a while about the state of her queen and friend, and kissed back her husband. They had very few times for them alone, and she wasn't about to le go this one. Even if she was still worried about Iris, Yu believed her queen could survived a few hours without her.

Yu's husband carried her bridal style and walked to their room, which wasn't too far away, just a couple of doors, and once in a click was heard as the door was locked.

.---.

A while later Iris decided to get some kind of distraction. And so she got dressed in a simple white dress along with an ivory long-sleeved robe (it was Autumn and the chilling breeze could get her sick). And then she walked outside the castle and into the gardens.

Once in the gardens she began walking slowly, images, glimpses, memories passed trough her mind too fast for her to specify a time, but she knew anyway they had happened. She then turned to the sky, where all the stars shone, there was also the moon, as still as always, and behind it a second moon, but this one seemed to be enveloped in a dark shadow.

Flashback

It was all chaos. Explosions, and screams all around. In every home the same news could e heard: 'The war is here. The war has finally reached us. This is our doom…'

Weapons all around, people shrieking, crying for those lost, yelling in panic, running for their lives, praying for some superior force to have mercy of them; even when they all knew everything was lost, the armies had finally entered their country and soon enough they would all be killed.

"Help…please, someone help us…" that was the prayer that could be heard everywhere. "Hope…"

End of Flashback

So here it is. The begining of another of my fanfics. Reviews telling me what you think about this chapter will be much apreciated.

See you in the next chapter.