A/N: Here's chapter one! I worked hard on it...it was a lot of fun to
write...things get more interesting in the next few chapters. I'm already
plotting chapter two in my mind. Please R&R...I want to hear your
comments/criticism!!!.
Disclaimer: AHA! I've finally got it! I got the deed to Escaflowne! *holds up a piece of paper that says "DEED TO ESCAFLOWNE OWNERSHIP"* *hears police behind her* Policeman: You are under arrest for stealing the Escaflowne deed! Me: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! *dead run*
BRIIIIIIIINGGGG!!!...The alarm to signal the start of the training day rang so loudly Dillan jumped up and fell out of his bed. Riku, Dillan's bunkmate, peered over the edge of the top bunk and laughed, "Daijoubu desu ka?" "Hai. Daijoubu," Dillan replied, face red with embarrassment Dillan Ryuu Albot was a rather cute-looking 10-year-old boy. He had silvery hair and blood-red eyes. His skin was unnaturally pale. To sum it up in one word, he was albino. Dillan picked himself up off of the floor and headed for the shower room, "Get moving, Riku, or Yogore will have your head on a silver platter!." Riku jumped out of bed and hurried over to his friend's side. Only Riku knew Dillan's secret. And Dillan and Riku both hoped it would stay that way.
Riku and Dillan were both trainees in the Fanelian Army. With the already powerful Zaibach Empire gaining even more power, Fanelia needed as much help as it could get.
A few minutes later, Dillan and Riku, along with the rest of the trainees, emerged from the shower room with towels wrapped around their waists. Dillan and Riku headed for the small trunks at the foot of their bunk bed and got out their training outfit. Dillan shoved the clothes he'd use to change into afterward into a bag that resembled what we call a duffel bag on earth. Riku knew the real reason he always lugged the bag around whenever he could and not get caught with it. But he wouldn't tell. Not if his life depended on it.
"Sa, ikuyo." Dillan prompted, slinging the bag over his shoulder and heading out the door. "Oh, hai!" Riku said, doing up the last button on the collar of his shirt. Together they walked out the door behind the other young boys. Of all of then, Dillan was the youngest. All of the others were at least 11. Dillan always hated this part of the day. He didn't like Yogore any more than his mother and father did. Yogore scared the living shit outta him. He was brutal, and his punishments were always severe. Dillan even had a few bruises to prove it. But it was necissary. It was a minor sacrifice in the big run, or so he told himself.
Riku looked over at Dillan, seeing how he had just stopped, noticing a faraway look. He snapped his fingers in front of Dillan's face, "Yo, Gaea to Dillan. Come in, Dillan!"
Dillan blinked, surprised, "What? Oh. It's you."
"What's with the look? You just sort of zoned out..."
"Oh...it's nothing." Dillan lied. He didn't like telling people about his visions. It just made them freak out. The continues walking down the hallways and stopped in front of a door, "Here we are..." Riku muttered under his breath. Dillan nodded and swallowed a gulp. He always froze up when he was about to enter this room. Who wouldn't be, with a guy like Yogore as your opponent?
All of the young boys entered and stood at attention in a straight row in front of Yogore. Yogore was a tall man, a few inches over six feet. He had black hair and stone gray eyes. His body was well muscled from years and years of training and rigorous exercising. And his expression was as placid and stoic as ever.
"All right, you wimps!" barked Yogore, "Pair up and begin exercise one! By the end of the session, I want to be able to go up against each and every one of you. And I expect a big improvement from last session, so you'd better damn well work hard!"
Yogore's voice always sent a shudder up his spine. His job wouldn't be so bad if Yogore wasn't around...He shook thoughts from his head and he and Riku went out somewhere in the middle of the floor. "Ready Dillan?" Riku asked, drawing his sword. "Ready as ever," Dillan said, drawing his own. "Don't think I'll go easy on you, kid," Riku taunted. "Likewise, Riku." Dillan lunged at Riku. Riku blocked and sent a jab at Dillan. Dillan easily blocked and parried that move, sending his sword up towards Riku's head. Riku leapt to the side and sent a jab at Dillan's ribcage. Dillan managed to barely dodge, the sharp tip of the sword slitting a small part of the white training shirt. He lunged again at Riku. The locked swords. Riku merely grinned and kneed Dillan in the gut, the used the hilt of his sword to send him falling to the ground. Before Dillan had a chance to react, he felt the sharp tip of Riku's sword up against his neck, Riku standing triumphantly over him. Dillan growled, not happy with his defeat.
"Not bad, Dillan. But I'm still able to best you. Keep trying..." Riku added, more quietly, so only Dillan could hear, "It'll really help you out." He held out a hand to help Dillan to his feet. A few minutes later, Yogore called them all into attention again. He paced up and down the row, "Now...who will go up first against me? Dillan?" It was more of a demand than a question. Dillan gulped, backing away a step. "DILLAN!" Yogore barked, causing Dillan to jump. Dillan had no choice but to step forward and face him...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By the end of his fight Dillan had acquired a new scar on his face, a couple new bruises, and a limp. He got dressed in his regular uniform and stuffed his training uniform in his bag. He then walked out the door, finding Riku waiting for him. "Hey...sorry you got so beaten..." Dillan grinned, "Doesn't look like you got it any better, Riku-kun." "You going to do it now?" "Yeah...I've already got an excuse if I get caught...." "Good luck." "Thanks." Dillan quietly hurried off down the hall, towards Yogore's quarters. As much as he didn't want to do this, he knew it was absolutely necessary.
He quietly slid open the door. Stepping in, he slid it back. Quietly he looked around the room, opening drawers, checking in closets, looking in books...'Hmmm...what's this?' he asked himself as he pulled a worn-looking leather-bound book off of a shelf. Dillan grinned, 'Heh...not only is this Yogore's journal, it also has a few plans in here...' Plans for a mecha. Esca-something. Dillan couldn't read the sloppy adult hand writing. He shoved it in his bag. He picked the locks of some file cabinets, taking out battle mats and plans, shoving them in his bag. Anything like this is useful. All of a sudden he heard footsteps. He was paralyzed, "Aw, crap...he's returning..." Dillan finally forced himself to move, and hid under a desk. He knew Yogore would spot him, though.
Yogore opened the door and stepped into the room. He began to walk over and sit in the desk chair. All of a sudden, since it was so dusty, Dillan felt the need to sneeze. /Crap...busted now.../ Yogore, surprised, looked under the desk and growled to find Dillan there. He growled and yanked Dillan out form under the desk by the collar of his shirt, "What the hell were you doing in here?" He snarled, lifting Dillan off the ground.
"I...Umn...I..." /Get your mouth to work, Dillan!/ "I got lost, took a wrong turn...and ended up here." "Why were you hiding under the desk?!" "I was...scared...." "Yogore walked over to the door, Dillan still in his hands, and threw him out into the hallway. "Stay. Out." Yogore slammed the door. Dillan stood up and rubbed his sore bottom. As he was running down the hall, he came across the path of a young boy, about the same age as he...only this boy was different...this was Prince Van...and he seemed to be playing a game with his nanny...called "Escape bath time."
"COME BACK HERE, LORD VAN!" was the call of the poor distressed nanny. Yogore opened the door and stopped her. Who wouldn't stop? She was paralyzed with fright the moment she saw him. "What is all commotion?!" Yogore roared. "Sorry, sir..." she said, bowing, "but the young prince is..." SLAP! The woman's eyes filled up with tears as a stinging pain hit her. "Get the young boy under control!" yelled Yogore. "Yessir..." The woman said, bowing politely. Yogore slammed the door shut. The nanny, noticing Van looking at someone behind her, turned around and looked at Dillan, regarding him for the first time. She quickly turned back to tend to Van. Van just stood there looking at Dillan as he turned around and retreated down the hallway.
"I don't like him," Van stated plainly. "His red eyes scare me." Dillan heard this, and only walked faster down the hallway to the bunk room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
(At The Albot Home)
Celia Albot and her husband, Elijah, were seated in the kitchen of their small Fanelian house, not to far away from the palace itself. Celia set down her tea cup, "I don't see why we have to put him through this. Serena's already been through so much. Why must we put him in danger now?" "Celia...it's the only way. Dillan's small enough and quick enough not to get caught. He can snoop in the training quarters, I'll stick to the actual palace."
All of a sudden, the door burst open, causing both Celia and Elijah to jump. The small figure of Dillan walked into the house and shut the door, "Can't stay long...they don't know I'm gone." "Dillan!" Both exclaimed. Dillan opened up his bag and started to take all of the stuff he'd clamed out, although it was kinda hard with Celia hugging him. "I almost got aught getting what I could...if any of this helps, go ahead and send it on. I need to get back before someone other than Riku knows I'm missing." Dillan's mother kissed him on the cheek, and he ran out, bringing his bag with him.
Celia stated sadly, watching out a window as he retreated, "Elijah, it's not right...he shouldn't be involved in this...he's too young...He's only boy, Elijah..." A single tears slipped down her smooth, pale cheek as she whispered to herself, "Only a boy..."
A/N: What didja think? R&R!
Disclaimer: AHA! I've finally got it! I got the deed to Escaflowne! *holds up a piece of paper that says "DEED TO ESCAFLOWNE OWNERSHIP"* *hears police behind her* Policeman: You are under arrest for stealing the Escaflowne deed! Me: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! *dead run*
BRIIIIIIIINGGGG!!!...The alarm to signal the start of the training day rang so loudly Dillan jumped up and fell out of his bed. Riku, Dillan's bunkmate, peered over the edge of the top bunk and laughed, "Daijoubu desu ka?" "Hai. Daijoubu," Dillan replied, face red with embarrassment Dillan Ryuu Albot was a rather cute-looking 10-year-old boy. He had silvery hair and blood-red eyes. His skin was unnaturally pale. To sum it up in one word, he was albino. Dillan picked himself up off of the floor and headed for the shower room, "Get moving, Riku, or Yogore will have your head on a silver platter!." Riku jumped out of bed and hurried over to his friend's side. Only Riku knew Dillan's secret. And Dillan and Riku both hoped it would stay that way.
Riku and Dillan were both trainees in the Fanelian Army. With the already powerful Zaibach Empire gaining even more power, Fanelia needed as much help as it could get.
A few minutes later, Dillan and Riku, along with the rest of the trainees, emerged from the shower room with towels wrapped around their waists. Dillan and Riku headed for the small trunks at the foot of their bunk bed and got out their training outfit. Dillan shoved the clothes he'd use to change into afterward into a bag that resembled what we call a duffel bag on earth. Riku knew the real reason he always lugged the bag around whenever he could and not get caught with it. But he wouldn't tell. Not if his life depended on it.
"Sa, ikuyo." Dillan prompted, slinging the bag over his shoulder and heading out the door. "Oh, hai!" Riku said, doing up the last button on the collar of his shirt. Together they walked out the door behind the other young boys. Of all of then, Dillan was the youngest. All of the others were at least 11. Dillan always hated this part of the day. He didn't like Yogore any more than his mother and father did. Yogore scared the living shit outta him. He was brutal, and his punishments were always severe. Dillan even had a few bruises to prove it. But it was necissary. It was a minor sacrifice in the big run, or so he told himself.
Riku looked over at Dillan, seeing how he had just stopped, noticing a faraway look. He snapped his fingers in front of Dillan's face, "Yo, Gaea to Dillan. Come in, Dillan!"
Dillan blinked, surprised, "What? Oh. It's you."
"What's with the look? You just sort of zoned out..."
"Oh...it's nothing." Dillan lied. He didn't like telling people about his visions. It just made them freak out. The continues walking down the hallways and stopped in front of a door, "Here we are..." Riku muttered under his breath. Dillan nodded and swallowed a gulp. He always froze up when he was about to enter this room. Who wouldn't be, with a guy like Yogore as your opponent?
All of the young boys entered and stood at attention in a straight row in front of Yogore. Yogore was a tall man, a few inches over six feet. He had black hair and stone gray eyes. His body was well muscled from years and years of training and rigorous exercising. And his expression was as placid and stoic as ever.
"All right, you wimps!" barked Yogore, "Pair up and begin exercise one! By the end of the session, I want to be able to go up against each and every one of you. And I expect a big improvement from last session, so you'd better damn well work hard!"
Yogore's voice always sent a shudder up his spine. His job wouldn't be so bad if Yogore wasn't around...He shook thoughts from his head and he and Riku went out somewhere in the middle of the floor. "Ready Dillan?" Riku asked, drawing his sword. "Ready as ever," Dillan said, drawing his own. "Don't think I'll go easy on you, kid," Riku taunted. "Likewise, Riku." Dillan lunged at Riku. Riku blocked and sent a jab at Dillan. Dillan easily blocked and parried that move, sending his sword up towards Riku's head. Riku leapt to the side and sent a jab at Dillan's ribcage. Dillan managed to barely dodge, the sharp tip of the sword slitting a small part of the white training shirt. He lunged again at Riku. The locked swords. Riku merely grinned and kneed Dillan in the gut, the used the hilt of his sword to send him falling to the ground. Before Dillan had a chance to react, he felt the sharp tip of Riku's sword up against his neck, Riku standing triumphantly over him. Dillan growled, not happy with his defeat.
"Not bad, Dillan. But I'm still able to best you. Keep trying..." Riku added, more quietly, so only Dillan could hear, "It'll really help you out." He held out a hand to help Dillan to his feet. A few minutes later, Yogore called them all into attention again. He paced up and down the row, "Now...who will go up first against me? Dillan?" It was more of a demand than a question. Dillan gulped, backing away a step. "DILLAN!" Yogore barked, causing Dillan to jump. Dillan had no choice but to step forward and face him...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By the end of his fight Dillan had acquired a new scar on his face, a couple new bruises, and a limp. He got dressed in his regular uniform and stuffed his training uniform in his bag. He then walked out the door, finding Riku waiting for him. "Hey...sorry you got so beaten..." Dillan grinned, "Doesn't look like you got it any better, Riku-kun." "You going to do it now?" "Yeah...I've already got an excuse if I get caught...." "Good luck." "Thanks." Dillan quietly hurried off down the hall, towards Yogore's quarters. As much as he didn't want to do this, he knew it was absolutely necessary.
He quietly slid open the door. Stepping in, he slid it back. Quietly he looked around the room, opening drawers, checking in closets, looking in books...'Hmmm...what's this?' he asked himself as he pulled a worn-looking leather-bound book off of a shelf. Dillan grinned, 'Heh...not only is this Yogore's journal, it also has a few plans in here...' Plans for a mecha. Esca-something. Dillan couldn't read the sloppy adult hand writing. He shoved it in his bag. He picked the locks of some file cabinets, taking out battle mats and plans, shoving them in his bag. Anything like this is useful. All of a sudden he heard footsteps. He was paralyzed, "Aw, crap...he's returning..." Dillan finally forced himself to move, and hid under a desk. He knew Yogore would spot him, though.
Yogore opened the door and stepped into the room. He began to walk over and sit in the desk chair. All of a sudden, since it was so dusty, Dillan felt the need to sneeze. /Crap...busted now.../ Yogore, surprised, looked under the desk and growled to find Dillan there. He growled and yanked Dillan out form under the desk by the collar of his shirt, "What the hell were you doing in here?" He snarled, lifting Dillan off the ground.
"I...Umn...I..." /Get your mouth to work, Dillan!/ "I got lost, took a wrong turn...and ended up here." "Why were you hiding under the desk?!" "I was...scared...." "Yogore walked over to the door, Dillan still in his hands, and threw him out into the hallway. "Stay. Out." Yogore slammed the door. Dillan stood up and rubbed his sore bottom. As he was running down the hall, he came across the path of a young boy, about the same age as he...only this boy was different...this was Prince Van...and he seemed to be playing a game with his nanny...called "Escape bath time."
"COME BACK HERE, LORD VAN!" was the call of the poor distressed nanny. Yogore opened the door and stopped her. Who wouldn't stop? She was paralyzed with fright the moment she saw him. "What is all commotion?!" Yogore roared. "Sorry, sir..." she said, bowing, "but the young prince is..." SLAP! The woman's eyes filled up with tears as a stinging pain hit her. "Get the young boy under control!" yelled Yogore. "Yessir..." The woman said, bowing politely. Yogore slammed the door shut. The nanny, noticing Van looking at someone behind her, turned around and looked at Dillan, regarding him for the first time. She quickly turned back to tend to Van. Van just stood there looking at Dillan as he turned around and retreated down the hallway.
"I don't like him," Van stated plainly. "His red eyes scare me." Dillan heard this, and only walked faster down the hallway to the bunk room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
(At The Albot Home)
Celia Albot and her husband, Elijah, were seated in the kitchen of their small Fanelian house, not to far away from the palace itself. Celia set down her tea cup, "I don't see why we have to put him through this. Serena's already been through so much. Why must we put him in danger now?" "Celia...it's the only way. Dillan's small enough and quick enough not to get caught. He can snoop in the training quarters, I'll stick to the actual palace."
All of a sudden, the door burst open, causing both Celia and Elijah to jump. The small figure of Dillan walked into the house and shut the door, "Can't stay long...they don't know I'm gone." "Dillan!" Both exclaimed. Dillan opened up his bag and started to take all of the stuff he'd clamed out, although it was kinda hard with Celia hugging him. "I almost got aught getting what I could...if any of this helps, go ahead and send it on. I need to get back before someone other than Riku knows I'm missing." Dillan's mother kissed him on the cheek, and he ran out, bringing his bag with him.
Celia stated sadly, watching out a window as he retreated, "Elijah, it's not right...he shouldn't be involved in this...he's too young...He's only boy, Elijah..." A single tears slipped down her smooth, pale cheek as she whispered to herself, "Only a boy..."
A/N: What didja think? R&R!
