Escaflowne-The Return
By Lovely-chan
"Sweet dreams my love" The mother of three years old Hitomi kiss her cheek and put her in her bed to take a nap when the telephone rang. (Ring Ring) "Hello? Oh! How are you doing Yukari! It's been so long..."
Hitomi suddenly wake up from her nap. "Is that boy again!" She ran to her play room and took some crayons and began to draw.
Her mother hang the phone and was smiling remembering old times, then she went into her daughter's room to found her bed empty. "Hitomi? Hitomi where are you..." Hitomi didn't answer, she was very concentrate on her drawing, but her mother found her. "There you are...you wake up so fast. What are you drawing sweetie?"
"The boy in my dream"-Hitomi answer her mother happily. "Wanna see him?! ^_^"
"Of course, let me see." Hitomi lifted the drawing and show it to her mother, she opened her eyes widely when she saw a boy with wings. "Van!" Her eyes were filled with tears.
"What's wrong mommy, don't you like it?"-Hitomi
"No, it's not that...it's just...where did you saw that boy?"
"I saw him in my dreams, so I ran here to draw him before I forget him."-Hitomi
"Do you know his name, from the dream?"
"No...I don't remember. Do you know him?"-Hitomi was curious.
"No...why?"
"You call him Van. Why you call him Van? Is his name Van?"-Hitomi
"I don't know if his name is Van, but...let me tell you a story..."-Hitomi's mother told her a story about a planet in which the Earth and the Moon can be seen in the sky, about man that look like angels, like the one in her drawing, and animal like people. Hitomi was very curios with the story and gave her mother all the attention she never does.
"Wow! Is it true mommy?"-Hitomi
"Everything is as true as you want it to be...I believe there is no truth or lie, it all depends on the eyes that sees."
"Do you beleive in that planet?"-Hitomi
"Yes."
"Then I believe too! Can I go to Gaea some day and meet the boy in my dreams?"-Hitomi
"I don't know...if you wish it hard enough, maybe it will come true."
From that day on, little Hitomi wished to meet this boy. She has grown so much since that day, but ever since she kept drawing pictures of the boy, improving more and more as years passed. His face was more clear, his eyes were big and red, and his hair was very black and long till his shoulders. The boy was slim and apparently not very tall, but handsome. Hitomi has become a great artist full of dreams, but her most desired dream was to meet the boy with wings. Hitomi, like her mother, could predict situations, but Hitomi usually can see by her dreams. She keep this from her mother, also the drawings. She never mentioned the boy with wings since she was three years old, but how well she remember every word her mother said back then.
One night she pray like every other night...
"Please Holy One, protect my family and friends from evil. Gave us health, happiness and love. Protect him from any harm, and let me find him before I die." Before turning off the light, she took her last drawing of the boy. "Good night...I will see you soon."-Hitomi
In that same instant a young man held in his hands a beautiful pendant of a shinny stone. "I wish I could see you again."-The man said as he held the stone near his chest.
An immense pillar of light surrounded young Hitomi and she disappear, leaving only her drawing on top of her bed.
A young boy and another young man where fighting with their swords. The older one was teaching his friend to fight. They young boy's father didn't want to teach him because he believes in peace and wanted no wars. His son was learning with his friend behind his father's back, he knew it was important to know how to defend himself even if he believes in peace.
"You are not attacking strong enough!"-The young man yelled at his apprentice.
"AHH!" The young boy's sword fly away from his hands and he breathed fast. "I lost again..."
"If you fight like this you're gonna get killed fast!"
"I am not as good as you or your father!"
"You can be as good as you want. Believe me...I used to be very bad at this. Compared to you...you are a lot better than I was at your age. So don't give up."
They both saw a pillar of light a few miles away from them and ran to find what it was.
Hitomi fall on the floor and after a few minutes she opened her eyes. "Where am I?" She stand and looked around. "I am lost...but how did I end up here? That light!" Hitomi looked up and saw the Earth and the Moon hanging above her. "The Earth and the Moon? HUH!" She recall what her mother said a long time ago.
(Flashback) "Gaea was a planet where the Earth and the Moon floated in the sky..."-Hitomi's mother's voice was heard in her head.
"Could this be it?! Is this a dream, or a vision? How can I know I am not asleep right now..." Hitomi heard some footsteps and hide behind a tree very scared. After all, she was lost in an unknown world.
"I am sure it came from this place!"-The blond young man said very secure of what he was saying.
"There is nothing here, not a single sign...are you sure?"-The young boy's insecurity was always easy to see.
Hitomi peek to see who they were and recognize the young boy from the one in her dreams. "That's him!"
"Who's there? Show yourself at once!"-The young Duke demanded, but scared Hitomi didn't move an inch from where she was.
"Whatever it is, is hiding behind that tree."-His red eyes shinned with the light of the Moon and Earth.
"I'll check it out...back me up."-His blond hair glowed like the moon.
"Alright."-The young boy stayed behind the Duke of Freid waiting for a sign.
"Get out of there and don't try anything if you want to live."-The Duke demanded.
Hitomi opened her eyes so big when she saw the blade of a sword right in front of her. "Yiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
"It's a girl!" He took the sword away and get close to her; she was trembling. "I am sorry miss, I though...she is in a shock!"
"You scared her to death! Let me handle it." The young Prince get close to scared Hitomi. "Miss...are you ok? Miss?" He looked at the Duke. "She is afraid, thanks to you...but...she is staring at me, I think."
"Now you're gonna said she is in shock because of you, don't make me laugh!"-Duke
"I didn't say that."-Prince
"Pick her up; I am taking her to my palace."-Duke
"Why can't we take her to my palace? I am here too."-The young prince felt left out.
"Well if you want to explain your father why you were at the woods at this hours...that's fine with me. ^_~"-Duke of Freid
"Ok, let's take her to your transport. ^_^" He turned to face Hitomi. "Can you walk? I think not...she pass out, you gave her a heart attack! Poor girl." He step with her in his arms and when a little bit of light touched her, they noticed she wasn't from around. "Hey Chid, look at her...she is dressed so weird."
"You are right...but...she remind me of someone...oh well, let's go."-Both of them take Hitomi to the Duke's transport and he took her to his palace. "Please take good care of this girl, she is an important guest. Stay beside her, and if she wake up, let me know immediately." The Duke left Hitomi in hands of one of his must trusted servant.
The mornig come in Freid, and Hitomi wake up with they rays of light. (Yawn) "Ahhh...I fell in deep sleep. I am late for school!" She step and noticed she wasn't home. "This is not my room...where am I? Am I still dreaming?..The boy!..Am I still in this world? " She look through the window and up to the sky. "I wasn't dreaming, I am still here...but why, how?"
"Sleeping beauty finally wake up." The young Duke was beside Hitomi, but she didn't noticed.
"Ah?!" She turned around to found a beautiful man with blue eyes and long blond hair looking at her with kind eyes. "Are you an illusion?"
"Ha ha, no...I am Chid, Duke of Freid." He kissed Hitomi's hand.
"The Duke of Freid..." *That explains his beauty...he is a king!*-Hitomi
"I am sorry, but I was the one to give you the scared yesterday."-Chid
"The scared?"-Hitomi
"With my sword...I..."-Chid
"Oh! That...but...where is the boy?"-Hitomi
"What boy?"-Chid
"The young boy that was with you yesterday...the one with the big red eyes."-Hitomi
"Red eyes? Oh, Folken! Ha ha ha, so he was right."-Chid
"Right? About what?"-Hitomi
"No, nothing. He is at his house...I can see you remember some details. ^_~"-Chid
(Blushed) "Oh!" *I suddenly want to be swallowed by the ground* "Well...can I see him again?"-Hitomi
"^__^ Yes you can."-Chid
"Let's go! I mean...when?" *Baka...how can you be so careless...he must be laughing of you.*
"Maybe later...I got some business to attend, but we can travel to Fanelia later on."-Chid
"Travel? Is it far?"-Hitomi
"Just a little. Now have some breakfast and go see the city with Sayek, then I'll take you to Fanelia."-Chid
"Who is Sayek?"-Hitomi
"My servant, she has orders to take care of you. I'll see you later...by the way, what is your name?"-Chid
"Hitomi, Iragashi Hitomi."
"Hitomi!" *That's right, she looks like Hitomi...but...it can't be, she is so young.* -Chid
"Yes...why, is there a problem?"-Hitomi
"No, nothing at all...where did you say you were from?"-Chid
"I didn't say...actually, I am lost...I don't know how I end up here."-Hitomi
"No need to worry, we'll get you home in no time, leave that to me."-The Duke of Freid left the room with a doubt in his head.
"Ahhhh! I didn't ask him the name of this place!"-Hitomi
On Earth, Hitomi's mother was calling her again and again for breakfast.
"Hitomi! Are you deaf? She is gonna be late for school." She went to Hitomi's room and found the night light on, and no one on bed or in the room. "Hitomi? Where is she?" She saw the picture on top of the bed. "Oh! Van...She's gone...take care." Hitomi's mother keep looking at the picture. "He look so much like Van."
"Van Fanel, King of Fanelia!" The young Duke of Freid said to his old friend while they share a hug.
*Van? Where did I heard that name before?* -Hitomi though, but couldn't remember.
"Chid! What brings you here, I haven't seen you in months!" Van look to his side to found a pretty young familiar face in front of him. To his surprise the young girl had an incredible resemblance with his lost love Hitomi. "Chid...who is this girl? She looks...familiar." *Hitomi? But...she is so young, like when she first came to this world...could it be her? No, is impossible; I am just imagining things.*
"She is a friend of mine, Hitomi Iragashi. She is lost and I came for your help."-Chid
"Hitomi?! It can't be her!"- Van was surprise to hear the name of the girl. *Same name...but her last name is different...her daughter?!*
"Chid! Hey, so long since we last speak! ^_~ "-The young prince approach his friend and gave him his hand.
"Folken-san! I bring a friend of mine...would you gave her some company? ^_~ We speak later."-Chid
"No problem. ^_^ Hey father, I will take care of her if you don't mind. I'll show her around."-Folken
"No problem...ask Merle to go with you."-Van said to wait for his reaction.
"But father! I don't want her to come...she gets on my nerves...you know Merle!"-Folken
"Ha ha ha, no problem...it was just a suggestion."-Van
"Folken-san, why don't you want me to go, huh?" Merle asked moving her ears to the side.
*A cat girl?! Animal like people...just like mother said.*-Hitomi though.
"Merle!" O.o *Where was she?* "Nothing personal...bye!"-He left quickly so she won't bother.
"Van-sama...the girl that was here...she look just like..."-Merle
"I know."-Van said softly.
Hitomi hasn't spoken a word, she was so confused, somehow people seem to know her, or someone related to her...but nothing matter to her, she could only hear echoes at the very first sight of the boy of her dreams. *Could it be him? He is so alike...but he have no wings....Folken, his name is Folken.*
"Hitomi? Hitomi, are you listening?"-Folken asked.
"Oh, sorry...I was just distracted. You were saying?"-Hitomi
*She keeps staring at me.* "I ask you where are you from, yesterday you were wearing very weird clothes."
"Oh...Duke Chid order Sayek to give me some clothes. I had only my pajamas...very embarrassing."-Hitomi
"Still haven't answer my question."-Folken
"Oh...you wouldn't believe me."-Hitomi
"Why not?"-Folken
"Look." She pointed at the Earth in the sky. "Will you believe me if I told you I came from that planet."-Hitomi
"The Mystic Moon?"-Folken
"Mystic Moon? No, the name is Earth."-Hitomi
"For you it is, but we call it the Mystic Moon here in Gaea...and I do believe you."-Folken
"Really?!"-Hitomi
"Sure, why not. My father once met someone from there."-Folken
"He did, who?"-Hitomi
"I don't know very well, he don't like to speak about it...I think it hurts him."-Folken
"Hurt him? I see...maybe he can help me."-Hitomi
"Help you, how come?"-Folken
"Maybe he knows a way for me to return home."-Hitomi
"You are leaving so soon? You just arrive." He smiled at her and she understand he didn't wanted her to leave just yet.
"Not now...but at some point, I'll retun home."-Hitomi
"We'll ask when the time comes."-Folken
"What if he doesn't know...I need to find a way!"-Hitomi
"He knows...somehow I know he knows."-FolkenNext Page