Disclaimer: We do not own Gundam Wing or Escaflowne. So, don't sue us because we are both broke and have no money. Just homicidal tendencies. :l
Author's Notes: Here is the beginning of EscaGundam, and my first real attempt at a fanfic, so be nice, or face the wrath of an Evangelion.
EscaGundam: War Returns to Fanelia
By: BatBarnes
The sky of Gaea had turned dark that day. It reflected the feelings of the young king perfectly. He walked in silence and alone, never letting the royal guards ever follow him on a walk such as this. The king walked on through the courtyard of the newly rebuilt Castle of Fanelia. He watched as the knights and footmen tended to preparing the guymelefs and heavy weapons for the coming rain. He looked at one man in particular. Allen Schezar gave him a nod and went on with his work.
Van Fanel, king of Fanelia, once pilot of the mystical Ispano guymelef Escaflowne, and hero of the War of Zaibach, continued outside the castle walls. He had been on this walk several times before, and never returned satisfied. Yet he still made this painful journey into the woods that surrounded Fanelia. The path was well known and marked by his own footsteps.
As he approached his destination, he grabbed at his necklace. It was given to him by his true love, Hitome. He had never even really known her last name, but he would never forget her. The love that bound them was forever, and that was one of Van's true pleasures. It had both separated and brought him closer to Allen, his First Knight. During the war with Zaibach, it seemed that they were secretly competing over Hitome. When she and Van had finally realized their true love, it had caused a force that no one could stop, not even the ruler of Zaibach and his fate-alteration machine. Allen now had Millerna, and seemed to be happy.
Van looked through the wooded landscape to see a familiar sight. It brought back mixed feelings, because it had nearly been the death of him, but also saved more than he could imagine. Escaflowne's majestic form was still in its crouched state from when he had removed the energist on the day Hitome left. It rested next to his destination: his brother's grave.
Van felt the normal upwelling of conflicting emotions. He had hated his brother for most of the war, but he found out that they might have been on the same side. He had intended to have a thorough talk with him after the final battlebut it was not to be. Van drew his sword, the sword that had the royal seal of Fanelia engraved into it. He fell to one knee and buried the sword with the symbol facing the grave. It made a metallic chink, but offered no resistance to entering the ground.
Van had felt his brother's death, even from many kilometers away. He remembered it all to well. He had been fighting a Zaibach soldier and felt it hit him with more force than a sword could ever do. He had visions of his brother taking care of him when he was but a child. He remembered his brother's laugh and his warm smile. In his anguish, Van had gone into a rage on the battlefield.
The wind caught his hair and drew out a tear. He could not find the emotion to express. Folken was a coward!! He had failed the dragon-slaying test, and ran away. However, Van could still feel his love, even when they fought. He could not forget the care his brother had shown him as a child. He had also learned the secrets of the dragons. How could he still be called a coward?
"Brotherplease tell me please" was all Van could manage. There was a way but he forbade it. Hitome's necklace could grant him the power to talk to his brother, even beyond the grave. The repercussions, however could be horrible indeed. When Hitome had inadvertently used it to depict the future she thought she was getting from torrot cards, terrible things happened. People lost their lives, and the war continued on strong.
Van spent several hours there, and the rain began to fall on him. He stood up and put his face into the wind. The rain was the harsh reality, he knew. He would never be able to figure out these feelings while he was alive on Gaea. This was the truth and he had to face it. Allen had taught him that he must be confident in order to lead is nation. Van grabbed the sword, and turned around. He took a final look at Escaflowne, noticing how lifeless it looked without the red energist in it's heart. He ran his hand over it's cold armor and then started back to the castle.
He emerged from the woods to find a companion waiting for him. She had a shield over her head and carried another for Van. "You really shouldn't stay out in the rain, Lord Van," she said with concern in her big eyes.
"Thanks Merle. I know that, but it feels better that way," Van said with a warm smile. Merle threw a coat over the young king and walked back with him. Van knew that he had hurt her badly when he fell in love with Hitome, but she knew it was unavoidable. She was still his constant companion, but Van had noticed a distance that she now kept between them. Another regret
*-*
"There have been reports of rebuilding in the center of Zaibach, I fear this could mean that they plan to achieve their once status," stated Lance Zromdon, the head of the scouting division. "Reports are sketchy, but there have been confirmed reports of at least one division on Samurai-Class guymelefs operating in that region."
"This is hardly worth our taking an expedition out to attack them on their own territory!" Allen replied. "We are hardly in the state where we should be finding battles with no reason. Our guymelef forces are at a mere 25% of what is needed to defend this nation. We are lucky that we are allies with the nations around us, because we would look the enticing target."
"I cannot agree Allen." That was Sephorim Marduke, the commander of the ground forces. "The guymelefs may be lacking, but we have ample amount of footmen that could take on this task. Even enough that we wouldn't need your guymelefs at all. How does that suit you?"
Van braced himself. "What are you insinuating?? That we send out people with a guaranteed high causality rate?? Is that it? Surely you cannot mean this!" Allen had both fists on the table and was standing in his chair.
"Certainly not, but maybe this would convince you to maybe spare us commoners a few of your precious suits." Sephorim stated calmly.
Allen began to reply, but Van stopped him. "Sephorim, you know as well as I that we cannot afford such an operation. We will however take this development into consideration. Allen, I will need you to speed up the construction of guymelefs. I know this will not be easy, but I see no other choice. As for you Sephorim, I give you permission to put your troops on standby for action and to keep them on alert status, but we will not attack as of yet. I will confer with the other nations. That is all."
Allen looked slightly relieved, and even Sephorim did not have quite as large a frown as normal. He had not known Sephorim, except that he had fought in the war with Zaibach. Sephorim had keen tactics and an expert knowledge of battle tactics, but was sometimes willing to wager too much. It was Dryden's suggestion that put Sephorim in his command, and although Van halfway trusted Dryden, he asked Allen before he approved. Allen had said that Sephorim was a bit brutal, but not a bad choice for a leader. Eating these word now, aren't we Allen? Van had to smile and walked out of the war room.
*-*
Van awoke in a pool of sweat. He was immediately awake and he didn't know why. He looked down and saw that Hitome's necklace was glowing. What could it mean? Then Van heard a sound that made his blood freeze. A Zaibach airship's engines could be heard just faintly. Van grabbed his sword and armor, his eyes wide with terror.
He reached the courtyard, where he saw the tower guards slump over with arrows in their backs. Van immediately flicked the switch next to his thumb. In a series of metal chinks, a shield was formed around his arm from its wrist deployer. Van had his sword in a front stance and proceeded very carefully.
I gotta reach the alarm!! Van could yell, but would open himself up for the assassins that were sure to be hiding nearby. There was a rustle behind him. He brought his shield around to deflect a deadly swift sword strike from his blind spot. The attacker seemed surprised and Van took advantage of this by making a precision strike to the man's throat. Less noise and all that more painful
Van ran stealthily away from his kill, because the sound of the sword hitting his shield was sure to bring unwanted attention. Sure enough, several arrows could be heard whistling through the air. This darkness can be used against you bastards as well. Van entered the guard tower and immediately pinned his back to the wall. He stopped his breathing to listen for the attack
From the left!!!!! Van spun to the right to avoid an overhead slash and brought the sword of Fanelia to connect to the middle of the attacker's skull. He unlodged it and headed up the stairs very slowly. If only the castle's defenses had been fully completed! As it was, the only central alarm was at the top of this watchtower. Again, Van stopped to listen. Nothing. He got to the top of the tower as fast as he could. He crawled on the ground as not to expose himself and hit the alarm bell as hard as he could. Now it's begun.
*-*
The remaining assassins had been dealt with quickly, but Van knew the true danger had yet to come. "Allen!! Get your troops ready, I fear the guymelefs are on their way!" Allen nodded as he ran to the hanger, where Gaddys had already prepped the Schezard for battle. Van ran to his stateroom and opened the chest in the corner. He extracted the dragon's heart he had fought for so long ago.
Van ran back to his brother's grave. There were no feelings of sorrow this time. He had a nation to protect, and he needed the help of an old friend He reached Escaflowne just as the engines of the Samurai guymelefs could be heard over-head. Van replaced the energist into Escaflowne's heart and the cockpit opened. "I am sorry, Hitome."
Van jumped in the cockpit and let the gears and straps adjust to him. He put his hands into the grips and tested the arms. Once he was settle he drew the Escaflowne's sword and charged out of the forest. He saw the first of the Samurais land and moved to attack. The lead Samurai pointed its spread launcher at Van and fired its deadly spear-threads. Van used Escaflowne's sword to parry the attack and rammed the Samurai with its shoulder. The Samurai fell to the ground, and Van pierced it's energist with his sword. The Samurai flared up into the familiar blue fire and was no more.
The other two Samurai charged Van and used their spread launchers to create swords of their own. Van brought up his sword to defend himself when the Schezard burst through the trees to slice one in half. The other seemed to be distracted and didn't even try to defend Van's crushing blow to the canopy, which killed the pilot instantly. Van looked for the next enemy and saw plenty. To his horror, hundreds of guymelefs could be seen approaching.
"How did they reorganize so quickly??" Van yelled in the mic.
"I have no idea, Van, but we're totally outnumbered. I hate to say it, but we must retreat," replyed Allen.
Nonot againIcan'tnot again. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Van screamed. He didn't even notice Hitome's necklace glowing. Or the tunnel of light coming from the sky
