Summary: Esca characters learn about gardening, nature and about themselves in the process from a strange woman.
Prologue: Wishes
* * * Palas, the capital of Asturia
The fall season in Asturia was certainly a beautiful time. The leaves of the trees turned to golden reds, fiery orange, sunlit yellows, and honey browns. Merle had never been in Asturia during this season and so she decided to commemorate it by inventing a new sport. Gardeners would rake up giant piles of the multi-coloured leaves, and then she would sneak up to the piles and jump into them, spraying the leaves in all directions, which annoyed the gardeners to no end, running off laughing when they approached her with their rakes. They had taken to complaining to Princess Millerna about keeping the demon cat-girl away from the gardens so they could do their work in peace. When Millerna had confronted Merle, being wise enough to have Van present when she did so, Merle simply didn't care.
"But Van-Sama!! It's so boring here!!" she whined. Van replied in an annoyed tone.
"Merle." He said sternly. "Princess Millerna is asking you politely to allow the gardeners to go about their work. Why don't you go find someone to play with?"
"Van-Sama! There is nothing else to do! Everyone is either busy, or they ignore me completely. Whenever I do ask someone to play, they say later, and I can't wait that long!" Merle then looked hopeful. "Unless…you will." Van sighed with some measure of impatience.
"Merle, you're so impatient. Why can't you just for once behave yourself for longer than five minutes?" Van didn't want to be having this conversation at all. At this rate, he would miss the strategy meeting with Dryden, Allen and…Folken. He still hadn't forgiven Folken for anything he had done, even though they were all on the same side, he didn't want to believe that his brother had really had a change of heart. It didn't help his straining tolerance that Merle couldn't just sit still and be quiet. He wished that she could learn some patience.
Van felt a small shiver go up his spine, unbidden. He shook it off, and simply turned and left, leaving Merle and Millerna alone in the room. Merle pouted. She knew what was making him so short with her.
'Oh Van-Sama.' She thought, after Millerna left without a word. 'You have so much anger in your heart for Folken. You still can't see what everyone else can. Folken has had a change of heart. He is really on our side. Why can't you see that?' Merle sighed, and looked out the window, momentarily without her usual quasi-destructive energy. She watched as Van walked across a small courtyard toward the previously scheduled meeting place for the second strategy meeting that day. Brightly coloured leaves swirled around his feet as he walked, but he paid them no mind. Merle sighed again, wishing Hitomi was here to pull him out of his well of hatred. Unfortunately, Hitomi was in Freid with Prince Chid at his request, but nobody knew just what that request was. As Van disappeared into the palace, Merle made a wish of her own.
"I wish you could learn to forgive Van-Sama." Merle felt a chill as well, but shook it off also.
* * * The Crusade, somewhere over the mountains
Hitomi sat by a window, looking out among the clouds. She was aboard the Crusade on her way to Freid at the request of Prince Chid. Why he had asked her, she had no idea. After its destruction at the hands of Zaibach, Fried was just beginning to rebuild itself to its former glory. The Crusade was bringing supplies needed for that purpose from Asturia, and Hitomi was to return with the supplies. As usual, she was thinking about Allen and Van, weighing their differences and trying to figure out which one she really loved. She was currently contemplating Allen's playboy behavior and how good he was at it. Even though she knew that he flirted with other women besides her, she couldn't help but be affected by his smile whenever he turned it on her. Then she wondered, 'Why does he do it?' Underneath that playboy exterior there had to be reason for his sometimes-inappropriate behavior, especially how he kept coming back to Hitomi even though she was constantly refusing him. Was she simply a challenge to him? Or what it something more?
Through visions, she had seen a good deal of Allen's past. His sister's disappearance; his mother's death, his father's death, and even his illicit love-affair with Princess Marlene, which had resulted in the birth of Prince Chid. He had lost so many people that he had loved, was he simply looking for someone to fill that void within him? Did he just want someone to love?
So deep in thought she didn't notice Allen walk in and take a place at a window on the opposite side of the room. He hadn't noticed her either. Hitomi became aware of another presence and turned to see Allen facing the window, staring blankly towards the horizon. His face was so passive that Hitomi first thought that something was wrong, but then realized that this was Allen in an unguarded moment, his soul open to any who could see it. She could see his face reflected in the glass and was shocked by what she saw. It was so sad, but also confused, as if he was aware of the fact that was sad, but didn't know the reason why.
A thought hit her. 'He isn't even aware of the real reason he behaves the way he does. It's buried so deep in his subconscious that he behaves as though he chooses to be this way.' Allen suddenly moved, and still unaware of her presence in the same room, left.
'Oh Allen.' She thought. 'I wish you would realize the source of your sadness.' Hitomi felt a sudden chill. She started, and then felt a powerful force move around her and through her, as if it had been listening to her thoughts. She was afraid at first, then the force felt familiar, and warm, then she recognized it. It was magic, the type she had felt when they had been in the Mystic Valley and she had the vision of Varie, Van and Folken's mother. Hitomi then did something she hadn't done for some time, since coming to Gaea. She smiled with real happiness, because she realized that everything was going to be all right for Allen, and for everyone.
* * * *
*AN: Hmm, How does this sound so far? Should I continue? I'll do these three on basis of the wishes made, but I'll do others just because…I want to include Folken, but I can't think of anything that someone would wish for him that coincides with what I'm planning for him.
One more thing, I need help deciding on a name for my gardening….well, I suppose you could call her a spirit. I welcome any suggestions, and hopefully come up with one, cause I can't write the next chapter without a name for my character…and it has to be something that sounds unusual, maybe even Atlantian...I don't know, just be creative. Reviews and/or constructive criticisms are more than welcome, and I suppose I'll accept flames, but don't expect a big reaction, 'cause I really don't care.
BTW, does anyone remember the name of the mountains they had to pass over to get to Asturia in episode…three…I think it was? Well it was three or four, but you know what I'm talking about…I hope.