~PART 2~

& Julian hefted the bale of hay onto his back and made sure it was tied securely. He then jumped down from the hay loft through the hay shaft and landed in a mound of straw and old hay. "AHG! TORY!" screamed Ron. He backed up so fast he tripped and fell over Kira. "Damnit Ron!" she cried and shoved him so landed upside down. Tory laughed, "I guess I startled him. And I thought he was a big brave hero!" Everyone laughed at Ron, who was being nosed by a new colt. "Yeah, yeah…Can you help me up?" Julian gave him a hand up and continued down the hallway to the third set of stalls. Ron stuck his tongue out at Julian's retreating back. "God. That kid is annoying. He always screws me up." Everyone laughed, "I think you're just afraid of him, Ron," taunted Kira. Ron blushed and stuttered, "Look, just shut up. We have to work." Everyone got back to work.

& Julian smiled as he loaded the bale of hay into the horse's stall. He patted the mare's nose and stroked the colt's mane. "Beautiful." He murmered. He picked up the bucket and went outside to fill it. Clouds were in the brillant blue sky and somewhere a bird sang. He didn't notice the figure standing in the doorway. He dipped the bucket in the water and heaved it back to the stall, where he dumped it into the trough. He squatted to watch the horse and her son drink. The mare snorted into the water as the colt splashed in, filling his nostrils with the new feeling of water. Julian pushed him back, "Careful…don't want to drown." He watched peacefully as they drank quietly. He tilted his head back and listened to the morning sounds; Kira shouting at Ron, Doryken yelling at some new hands, the horses and their new foals nudging around their stalls for breakfast. It had been a year since he had come to Palas, and the Knight Trials were fast approaching, perhaps 3 or 4 weeks. "Attention for the princess!" shouted a rough voice, pulling Julian out of his thoughts. "What?" he mumbled and quickly stood up. "Princess Diantha?" he whispered as he watched the princess approach him with four palace guards. "Goodmorning. I would like a morning ride. Do you think…?" She didn't speak to him long. 'Why would she?' Julian thought, 'I don't look the same. I'm not even supposed to be here.' He bowed slightly and moved to the nearest stall, where the princess' favorite mare lived. "No." she said.

"What?"

"I don't want her today. Do you have a large, distance stallion?"

"Of course, princess. This way." He led them to a stall where the newest stallion resided. He was a beautiful animal, with a black coat dappled with grey spots and a thick, unruly mane. "He's our newest animal…but he's the best, calm and heeds to your every word. You'll like him, princess." Commented Julian gently. The princess glanced at him, and for a second, her eyes widened in realization. She tilted her head, "Thank you…master…?"

"Tory."

"Tory…"

He waited for her to mount. She didn't. "Guards. Please tell my parents I have gone for a ride. I'll arrive home at noon, in time for the ceremony."

"Yes, my lady!"

"Right away!"

Diana turned to Julian. "Would you assist me in mounting, Master Tory?" He smiled and kneeled so she could stand on his thigh. She placed her foot on his outstretched thigh and stared down at him, her fingers grasping his shoulder for support. Then she gave a quick leap and was up in the saddle. "I expect you to be here to take my horse when I return. Good day." She called as she rode away. Julian watched her leave by the Palace's west gates. "`Bye." He murmered.

& Kira stomped on Ron's hand for the second time of the morning. "STOP BOTHERING ME RON, CAN'T YOU SEE I'M BUSY?!" she yelled at him. He blushed and shrugged then trugded in the direction Tory was coming from. Tory was walking with his hands in his pockets and he looked like he was thinking hard about something. He watched Ron stomp away and shook his head then turned toward the hay loft. Kira watched as he climbed nimbly into the loft and listened as he picked up another bale and tied it to his back. She waited for the running jump and thud of him landing in the old pile of straw but all she heard was silence. Kira looked up at the golden brown floorboards and watched the sun flicker through. Early-morning sunlight always flickered through the boards and lit up the work-room. "Tory?" she called hesitantly. She heard floorboards creak and the shuffle of feet walking towards the open barn window. "Tory?" she called again as she walked quickly towards the ladder. She climbed as fast as she could and peeked over the top of the trapdoor. Tory was sitting, bent over, on the bale of hay staring at the newly risen sun, his hands clasped on his knees, his chin touching his hands. "Hey." She said softly. He didn't move but his eyes had a new light glowing in them she hadn't noticed before. She walked cautiously to him and tapped him on his shoulder, "You okay?" He closed his eyes slowly and stood up. Suddenly, he grabbed her arm and shoved her to the open barn window. She cried out and clutched to his hand that was gripping her arm. He let her hang out the window, which was two stories higher than the ground and he growled, "What do you see?!" She gulped at the look in his maniac eye and stared at the ground.

"I see, Ron and Doryken..an..and--"

"NO! Look beyond Palas! What do you see?"

"Forests…and meadows--"

"WHAT ELSE?!"

Kira strained her eyes to see what he was looking at.

"I..I don't know…The sky…clouds."

"Yes." He pulled her back in the window and let her fall gratefully to the floor. "Clouds. Free, floating clouds." He stood looking at the clouds and whispered, "I was free once. When I was with her." He turned suddenly, gathered the bale of hay and jumped down from the loft into the stables below. Kira stared after him, she had never seen him so violent. He was her age, a mere sixteen, but she had seen him in action. And now she knew he was capable of murder. She grasped her arm where he had held her and flinched. "I can't tell…he didn't mean it…" she murmered.

& Julian sat on the wooden bench outside the stables holding his sword. It was nearing noon and he hadn't apologized to Kira yet. He didn't think he should, she would just be more scared of him. He turned his sword so the sunlight glinted off of it and stood up. He glanced around the barn yard but it was deserted, everyone was inside eating lunch. Lunch. He snorted at the thought, who needed food when all you needed was yourself and your sword? He shook his head and cleared his mind of all thoughts. The fence was in need of repair but he would fix it after he destroyed it.

"RAGGGHH!" he yelled and attacked the fence as if it was an army of soldiers. He sliced its arms off neatly and jammed his sword through its gut, on to the next soldier. This one he cut its legs off and some splinters rammed theirselves into his cheek. He didn't flinch but continued hacking away at the fence until all was left was a pile of wood. He stood there for a few seconds, gasping for breath, shoulders rising and falling. He stood up straight, bowed to the fence and re-sheathed the sword after wiping splinters of wood off it. It was then he felt the wood in his cheek. A single hand-clap was heard to his left. He inhaled and drew his sword, facing his opponet. His sword suddenly found itself held up the the neck of a young, dark haired man with deep brown eyes. The youth wore fancy riding clothes and a plumed hat.

"Majesty!" exclaimed Julian as he quickly lowered his sword and bowed quickly, his sword in front of his knee.

"No, no! Continue!" cried the young prince, "Chivalry declares we battle, since you drew steel against me!" The youth drew his sword and took a stance. Julian inhaled and glanced around, stable-hands, guards and Doryken had gathered to watch. "Your highness, I cannot fight you…you are royalty and I am but a simple stable-hand. I have no chance against you." He muttered. The prince raised an eyebrow, "You would not have thrown your sword against my neck in defense if you did not think you were worthy to fight. I have been watching you, you will be an excellent opponent!" He leapt into battle, sword aimed for Julian's sword hand. Julian darted back and raised his sword in defense. Steel clanged on steel and sparks flew as he pressed against the prince's attack. "Strong…" grunted the prince through gritted teeth. They were equal in height, Julian was now six foot one, and the prince was just an inch taller than him. Julian ripped out of the locked sword embrace and ran to the opposite side of the yard, he couldn't let his senses get the better of him, he had to remain in control. "Prince, please, let us stop, please surrender!" he cried over his shoulder, he could feel the effects of the adrenaline taking control of his body, his mind…

"Never!" screamed the prince and threw himself at Julian. Julian again blocked the blow and forced the prince back. He reached out his sword and nicked the prince on his arm. "What?" cried the surprised prince as he looked at the pin-prick of blood forming on his white sleeve. Julian jabbed again at the prince, this time blindly because he could feel the super-charged adrenaline filling in the gaps in his mind, making him super- alert and on guard. "One. Last. Chance." He growled at the prince. The prince narrowed his eyes and roared, "I WILL FIGHT YOU FOREVER!" He blocked Julian's blow and retaliated with one of his own, but missed Julian's foot lashing out and suddenly, Prince Allen II found himself lying in horse manure in a barnyard. Julian had tripped him and now held the prince's sword in his left hand. With his right, he held his own sword which was pressed against the small life-vein that pulsed gently in the prince's throat. "Do. You. Surrender. Prince Allen?" whispered Julian hoarsly. The prince nodded in fright. Julian threw the prince's sword on the muddy ground and walked away. Everyone stared as he resheathed his sword and turned to walk back to the stable-boy quarters. Suddenly hoofbeats sounded on the packed earth. Everyone turned as Princess Diantha rode into the yard and rode up to Julian. She stared at his bloody cheek and at his icy gray eyes. They were still the same Tory eyes, even though his hair color had changed. "Excuse me, could you help me down and take my horse in to stable?" Tory turned and looked up at her for the second time that day, "Of course, my lady." He offered her his hand and she slid down the stallion's flank. Diana landed gracefully and touched his shoulder lightly then walked towards the breezeway that led to the palace's entrance. The prince sat up and watched his sister. He then glanced at the stable-hand who had beat him and threw his head back as he laughed. "That's TOO much!" he chuckled and lay back on the ground, clutching his sides and laughing. "Sister! Sister come here!" Diana paused and turned around, "Brother?!" she cried and ran to him.

"That man who just helped you and took your horse, HE BEAT ME IN SWORDS!!" the prince threw back his head and laughed again. Diana looked at him and glanced at Tory's retreating back. "Are you alright?" she asked Allen. He nodded and said, "Help me up, lovely Diana." She threw his arm over her shoulder and helped him up. "Come, let us go talk to this young man, he should be in the first round of Kinght Trials, he is wonderful!" Diana stared at her brother, aghast and mumbled, "Alright…" They walked after Julian and Diana called, "Tory!" They found him brushing down the stallion and letting the big horse nibbled on his raven colored, unruly hair. He turned at Diana's voice. Julian bowed quickly to the crown prince and princess of Palas.

"Yes…majesties? Can I help you?"

Prince Allen II spoke to him,

"I want you to come to the Palace and meet my father, I believe he'll take you on right now for Knight Trials! You'd be perfect for the Kinghts of Austeria!" Julian narrowed his eyes at the prince, "I would wait until I am scheduled to fight!" The prince shook his head violently, "NO! My father will fight you now, I can get you out of these stables and into the palace as one of the King's personal Knights! You're that good." Tory turned away and stroked the stallion's mane as he thought. This was his dream and he'd be close to Diana. He turned his head and looked into her eyes, she shrank under his glance. He smiled and nodded "Alright, I'll come with you." The prince's face lit up and he hobbled over to Julian, clapping his hand on Julian's shoulder. "Wonderful! Come now!"

& Julian found himself walking through the corridors of the palace. It was much bigger than Fanela's palace but wasn't as beautiful. Finally, they arrived in the throne room. Before Julian stood the King and Queen's throne chairs, upon which the king and queen sat. Standing to their left were their advisors, who looked up sharply as they entered the room. Standing to the right were two other people of royalty, though he was too far away to see who it was. They seemed to be talking with King Allen and Queen Millerna. All looked up as the royal twins and a stable-boy walked into the room. "Father," called the prince, "I have brought you your new right-hand man!" He strode gallantly forward and made a sweeping bow, pausing to kiss his mother's hand. King Allen stood up and walked down the steps towards Diana and Julian. Diana gave him a little shove in the throne's direction and walked to her mother. Julian bowed to the king and stood up straight as he approached.

"I understand you're my newest knight, you defeated my son in combat?"

Julian gave a brisk nod, keeping his eyes straight ahead, he was watching that couple whom was standing to the right of Millerna, they looked familiar.

"I can fight you know, if you wish to test your guymelef skills."

"I would like for my skills to be tested, sir. I have no guymelef."

"It is no matter, I will provide one for you."

"Thank you, majesty."

"You are not from here, are you? Your accent…"

Julian stiffened and replied quietly, "I would rather not talk about my past, sir."

Allen nodded and turned away, back toward the throne. "Come boy, and meet the king and queen of Fanela! They are here to watch the Knight Trials with their daughter and remaining son." He gestured to Julian and Julian walked towards King Allen, keeping his head down and nodding slightly to his parents. He heard Queen Hitomi inhale sharply and heard his father clear his throat. "Well, go on boy…" said King Allen. Julian looked at Diana and her brother and then walked to his parents. He kneeled before them and placed his sword in front of King Van's feet.

"My sword, presented to King and Queen of Fanela. Father. Mother." He said hoarsly. He heard what he didn't want to hear, Diana gasped, and the prince cried out. He felt his mother kneel beside him and felt her warm, comforting arms around his neck. "Mother...please…" he whispered as he felt her warm tears mingle with his. But he succumbed to her warmth and grasped her around her waist and hugged her. His mother was holding him and that was all that mattered now. "Can you forgive me?" he choked.

She pulled away, tears sliding away from her smile, "We thought you were dead…Dilan was going to have to become King…Sora was upset, no, devasted and your father…"

"That will be enough Hitomi." Thundered King Van. Julian helped his mother to her feet and faced his father. He avoided King Van's angry eyes and looked at the ground, but he felt Hitomi's comforting hand on his arm and forced himself to look his father in the eye.

"Father."

"Julian Tory de Fanel."

"Father…please forgive me."

"No."

"What…" Julian watched as King Van's fierce eyes glowed with tears.

"You must forgive me…I knew I was what made you leave Fanela."

Julian laughed suddenly and cried, "You?! How could my father do such a thing!" He walked to his father and hugged him, something he hadn't done in over ten years. He felt his father's strong arms around his back and knew it was all right. A last pat on the back and the Fanelian men pulled away. Julian stood up straight in between his parents, towering over Hitomi and just level with his father. They faced the King, Queen, and the royal twins.

"King and Queen of Austeria, may I present our son, Julian Tory de Fanel." Said Queen Hitomi grandly. King Allen bowed to him and Queen Millerna curtsied to him as Millerna replied, "Crown Prince Julian Tory de Fanel, I want to introduce Crown Prince Allen the 2nd and his sister, Princess Diantha." Julian bowed to Prince Allen, who bowed to him, and took Diana's hand, who curtsied to him. He kissed her gently on the hand, as he knew he should have done the first time they had met and said, "An honor, your majesties." He bowed his way back down the steps and stood next to his parents.

& Everything was going to be different, Julian knew. Diana may or may not treat him the same. One thing was for sure, he wouldn't know the carefree life again. No more early, peaceful mornings with the horses of the castle's stable. Regardless of whether he made a Knight or not, his parents, especially Van, would insist on his immediate return to Fanela. He still had to become king. Julian scrunched his eyes shut and kneaded his hands into his forehead. He was lying in his bed sometime after 3 in the morning. It had been decided, by the "majesties", not him, that tomorrow would be the day of his trials, or officially, "Crown Prince Julian of Fanela against King Allen I!"

Julian groaned and turned over on his stomach. Everything was going in the wrong direction. Now, his life was being run by monarchs again. As a regular guy, he could make his own desicions about where he lived, who he chose for friends, what he did with his money, and most importantly, choose for himself what FRICKING DAY HE WANTED TO FIGHT KING ALLEN. Julian threw back the covers and sat on the edge of his plush, satin, silk, GOD-FORSAKEN ROYAL BED. He stood up and paced as he felt his anger build. It would boil over soon, and he would have to fight. "Stay calm," he whispered to himself, "Save it for the battle today." He couldn't concentrate enough to keep himself calm. He grabbed his sword from where it hung and pulled on his boots, ignoring his shirt or good pants, shabby ones would do for his purpose. All he wanted to do was get to stables and get back his old work clothes; they would be more useful in the guymelef tomorrow, not royal clothes. He stepped onto the balcony and froze as the wind whipped his hair behind him. This castle was higher than he thought. He stared at the faraway ground and smiled, then stepped off the balcony.

& Diana sat at her windowseat, knees drawn to her chest. She hadn't always been an insomniac, but after she retured to Palas, she couldn't sleep. It was the same day to day pattern she hated. And the tension had grown since she had last left. Because of her departure so long ago, her mother had miscarried and become barren. Diana wasn't really to blame, but her family was more distant than ever. Except for the Allens, her brother and father, they were the only two who didn't blame her and who seemed as if they cared. Riding horses, to escape Palas life, to escape her mother, her family, was what she did now that she was back. Diana stared hard at the moon as tears formed in the corners of her eyes; she had asked to leave again a couple months after she had gotten home, to go out again and "visit" relatives, but mother had forbidden her to leave Palas' boundries. Queen Millerna had said it was time Princess Diantha stayed at home and waited for a prince, count or king to come and marry her. Diana could no longer go for long day rides, she had to stay inside Palas' walls. It wasn't any fun being who she was, why couldn't it all end? When she could choose where she wanted to go and when, that had been a real life. Diana looked steadily out the window and watched the balcony, there was a small plant swaying in the breeze, it was windy out. She got up and walked to the balcony door, slowly opened it, and stared into the night. Diana moved quietly to the edge of the balcony and curled her small, white, princess hands around the wrought iron barriar. She frowned and raked her palms and the back of her hands along the rusty iron. Blood seeped form the shallow cuts but that was enough, as long as they weren't pretty princess hands anymore. She glanced around at the sleeping Palas and moved her hands to her sides, careful not to stain her night gown. The barriar was only waist high, easy to climb over and off to the roof, or just to jump. Jump. Diana's eyes widened at the thought. She hadn't really thought of that. It was an intriging thought. A white feather gently brushed her cheek. Another floated past, riding the wind, and there went another and another! Diana looked around her, craning her neck to watch every one that floated past. It was like a storm of feathers. She reached out and grabbed one. "Beautiful…" she murmered. As she watched the storm of feathers, she thought of her wish for it to end.

"I could do it…I could finally make my wish come true."

"No."

"What? Who's there?!" Diana searched the roofs, and looked up, but all around her were feathers, they were too thick.

"You can't stop me, whoever you are. Only I can stop myself and I don't want to."

Diana placed her foot on the first wrung of the fence. Then she flung herself off the balcony.

"DIANA!" called the voice.

& Flying wasn't so bad. Dying? She didn't know about that. She didn't know what it felt like to die, but she would soon known. She spread her arms as her pearly blue nightgown rippled around her, she was free-falling stomach down toward the cobbled streets of Palas. Tears lashed at her eyes as the result of the screaming wind but Diana laughed. Something was invading her happiness.

"diana…!"

Someone was calling her, faintly, but urgently.

"Diana!"

It was closer now. It was clearer.

'Go away' she thought. 'leave me alone.'

"DIANA!"

Now it was right in her ear, screaming, ripping her back into reality.

She felt warm, strong hands around her waist and suddenly, she wasn't falling anymore, she was going backwards. She squirmed.

"Let me go!"

"Never!"

"What are you doing?! STOP IT!"

She twisted her head and saw--

"Tory?"

Julian flipped her so she was facing him and gathered her in his arms, hugging her.

"What the heck were you doing?!" he whispered hoarsly in her ear. Diana's eyes widened at his voice. She roughly pushed him away, "I didn't ask for you to save me, you stupid Crown Prince of Fanela!" Julian looked at her sadly, but flew higher—

"You can fly?!" gasped Diana as she realized what was going on. He set her on her balcony.

"I'm sorry Diana. I…" he glanced at her, this time with sorrow and regret, and then he flew away and that's when Diana saw his white wings. She turned her nose in the air and walked into her room, slamming the door shut. Julian hovered for a bit, watching the door, but he turned again and headed in the direction of the stables. Diana's door flew open and she screamed after Julian,

"YOU'VE GOT WINGS JULIAN TORY DE FANEL! GET BACK OVER HERE!"

& Julian touched down on the roof of the stable-hands' common room and nodded to Diana. He crept forward, with Diana right behind him.

"Tell me again why we're here?" she hissed at him. He motioned wildly for her to be quiet and quickly dropped to his knees next to a skylight. Diana watched him ease it into an upright position and she held it for him while he jumped down into the room. It was nearing sunrise and Diana couldn't see Julian. She heard only the soft thuds of his feet and many, many snores. A sudden creak, bang and "What the--?!" and Julian came flying out of the skylight. He slammed the skylight shut, grabbed Diana's crust blooded hand and ran in the direction of the barn. A large gap was between the barn and common room stables, and Diana was a bit worried about that, but Julian didn't hesitate, he threw their bodies across the divide and they landed with a sliding thud on the barn's roof. As they started sliding backwards, Diana cried out as she lost her balance and grabbed Julian around his waist. She was on her back, her feet closest to the edge, slowly sliding towards the end. She was stretched out, her head braced against Julian's thigh, he was standing upright, straining to pull both of them to a safe distance away from the edge. "Julian…" murmered Diana fretfully as she watched her feet disappear over the edge. "Hold. On." He grunted and suddenly, his wings were back, and Diana hadn't even seen how, she had blinked, and they took off into the night, Julian slowly pulling Diana up off his waist. "Hold this, while I hold you." He said to her and handed her some stained, leather pants and a brown shirt. She held on to them tightly with one hand and with her other, she grasped him around his shoulders.

"Do I have to go home now?" she muttered as she watched the sun creep over the horizon.

"We all have to go home…I have to defeat your father today. Then I'll become a Knight and leave Palas."

"Leave? But if you're a Knight?"

"My parents still need me…in Fanela. I wanted to be Knight for me, become famous and earn honor, but now, I have to become a Knight to honor my country."

"Can't it be an honor for you too?"

"Not now. Not since my PARENTS have decided my future again."

"Julian."

"I was doing it for ME…it's not the same."

"No, I guess not."

"I don't know how you'd understand."

"I can try and understand."

"Don't worry about it. Here we are, princess. I bid you, good morning."

"I'll see you later, right?"

"No."

"Julian!"

"Okay…maybe…"

"JULIAN!"

"Fine. I'll see you later."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Pause.

"Can we fly again, some other time…?"

Pause.

"Perhaps…princess…perhaps."

"Julian…?"

"I will see you later, Diana, I promise."

"Ok…"

Diana watched Julian soar into the early morning sky.

"I would give anything to have wings…to fly away from here. Well, almost anything."

& Julian sat in Escaflowne's cockpit. The sun was already at its highest and it was steadily getting hotter, it would be worse while he was fighting. He sighed loudly as he waited for King Allen to appear; he had been waiting for over half an hour.

"Come ON!" he cried. Hitomi, Van, Sora and little Dilan were sitting in the royal box, with the rest of the majesties of Palas: Millerna, Diana and Allen II, the children. The stands weren't full to overflowing, but there were quite a few spectators; they were mostly people from the palace, stables and a couple hundred townespeople. Hitomi leaned forward and called to her son, "Be patient! Channel your energy…wait!" Julian closed his eyes and tried to relax, but just then, he heard and felt the thuds of a melef's footsteps. "The Sheczar`d" he whispered tensely. King Allen raised his right arm, his sword arm, swung his cape over his shoulder and roared, "Let it begin!" The stands erupted and the majesties clutched the arms of their chairs. Julian lowered his brows, "begin…"

& Their swords clanged together in a shower of sparks and pieces of metal. Julian grinded his teeth as he fought hard, pushing with all his strength, he would lose himself in this battle, things would happen. They broke away and Julian swung Escaflowne's sword with all his might, aiming for Allen's energist. Allen swiftly blocked the blow, and smiled inside his guymelef; the boy fought like Van, this would be easy. Julian retreated a few steps and waited for Allen to retaliate. Allen narrowed his eyes, this boy thought and acted at the same time, something Van wouldn't do but…this was Hitomi's child, also. Allen took the challenge and bore confidently down on Escaflowne, meaning to swing his sword backward and trip him so he would fall and then it would be over. But Escaflowne avoided the attack, and ran to the left, the way the attack was coming from!

"Foolish boy!" cried Allen, losing himself for an instant.

"Ah! Not so foolish!" replied Julian and smiled.

Allen felt a hard blow on his right side, "What the--" He ran forward and faced Julian again.

"Clever…" he murmered; Julian had drawn his attention to the left then had shot something, a spear, small knife, or claw at Allen's right side. Allen swung his sword but Julian nimbly blocked it. The boy was strong, supple and smart. Allen smiled but pushed harder on the sword and he felt the boy weaken.

"NOPE, SORRY NOT THIS TIME!" roared Julian and, Allen-surpirsed-lost his concentration. Julian let go of blocking Allen altogther, and ran out of the way of the falling guymelef. Allen's melef crashed to the ground, but grabbed Escaflowne's cape just as he went. Julian tripped and fell also. He heard his father's laughter from far away and grinned as he saw his father clutching his sides and pointing at the twisted up melefs on the ground.

"SWORDS!" cried Allen. Julian opened up Escaflowne and hopped onto the ground, pulling the wires that had attached him to Escaflowne off. He drew his sword and waited for Allen, again. He got impatient and ran to the fallen Sheczar`d. Allen was climbing out.

"Wait…wait…don't attack him blind…" he muttered to himself. Allen hopped from the guymelef to the ground and drew his sword.

"Today. We fight. I am eager, Julian Tory de Fanel."

& Diana leaned forward as her father bore down on Tory-Julian. She kept calling him Tory. They were almost equal in height, her father being just a bit taller than Julian. It was exciting watching this battle, all the others were meant for her attention, the ones with the suitors in their armor and ribbons, fighting for her. But this one, this was two people she cared for, and anything could happen in swords, although she knew Allen wasn't supposed to kill his oppenent, it was scary. She had seen her father fight many times before, and this was the first in which he looked truly interested and even a bit vexed. Julian wasn't graceful in his fighting, like Allen, he was vicious and sly. He could fight. She had seen that on the road when they had been travelling together. But he was fighting differently here, with more control. She watched him dodge and skip out of the way of Allen's sword and realized he was playing defense for a while…leading her father on. He finally attacked, bringing his sword up and he was immediately met by Allen's sword. Julian swung away and attacked on the other side, and this blow was met with such force that everyone actually heard the screeching metal and saw the sparks dancing off the two swords. Julian gritted his teeth and bore down. Diana closed her eyes and whispered, "Julian…" He was so powerful and gentle. She heard a roar, looked down, and gasped, her throat closing. Julian's arm was spurting blood; the king had scraped his arm badly. He was still standing, clutching his sword and Diana knew this time, it would happen, he would start fighting like Tory, king of the forest, not Julian, prince of Fanela. Julian would become a killer. Allen was breathing heavily, he hadn't meant to do that, and it was clumsy, very clumsy, for him to make his oppenent bleed. Julian looked darkly up through his shaggy bangs at the King.

"That hurt." He growled at Allen, and then charged him. Allen raised his sword defensely but for some reason was too slow and Julian caught his sword and it almost flew out of his hand. Allen regained his balance and there was Julian again, attacking harder with each blow. Allen blocked each thrust and could start to feel the adreneline wear off. Damn. Julian gave a final thrust and Allen parried the blow, forcing Julian to come in close. Allen tried to knock Julian off his sword but Julian held on and they were locked togther, in a battle of strength.

"Give up?" whispered Julian delightedly to the king.

"No. I'm just getting started," returned the King angrily. They broke apart, Julian with a crazy grin and blood soaked left arm, Allen with sweat on his face and an angry smirk. They swung their swords at the same time and Julian gasped as he felt a tingle run through his arms while their swords connected. He was holding his sword with two hands while Allen was more noble, using only his sword hand. Allen looked surprised also. Their swords began to feel hot, then red hot pain shot up through the sword and Julian could feel his fingers, hands, arms, they all burned with a searing white hot pain. Julian quickly broke their struggle and stared at his sword and his left hand. "What is this..?" he muttered as he saw white shapes that danced on his hand. He awoke suddenly as Allen cried out and saw the King on the ground, clutching his right hand. "King?" he asked and rushed to the king's side. Diana and Millerna both stood up in the box. Julian squatted next to the kneeling king and placed a hand on the king's shoulder.

"Are you alright?"

"My…hand…"

Julian examined Allen's right hand and gasped, white bubbles were boiling across the king's flesh.

"What?!" Julian gently touched one and it exploded, sending steam everywhere.

Allen screamed in pain, closing his eyes. Julian muttered, "whoops…sorry about that. We have to get you to a doctor. You're burning." He glanced around and thought, 'with an invisible fire…how the hell did he get these burns?' he hoisted the king up and they slowly walked to an exit of the arena. Suddenly the crowd gasped and several shrieked. Julian swung around and watched as Escaflowne stood up and stretched its hands to Julian. Julian gently dropped the king down and turned to Escaflowne. He drew his sword, as if that would do any good, and held his ground; Escaflowne advanced and bent down. It reached its hand to Julian and pink light engulfed its energist and body. As Julian watched, a wind rose and whipped his hair around, and Escaflowne froze. He narrowed his eyes. Something was wrong.

& "Julian!" screamed Hitomi and pulled Van to his feet, "Van…Escaflowne is leaving! We have to stop it!" Van, confused cried, "It can't disappear again! HITOMI WAIT!" But Hitomi was dashing down the stairs to her son. Sora stood up and walked to the edge of the railing, bending over Diana. She looked straight at Escaflowne and whispered, "De cravi esca letisimo, de quantain la finde reve." Escaflowne froze, the pink light spun around its energist then disppeared, and Hitomi stopped running and came back up. Sora smiled and sat back down, ignoring Diana's stare. Julian watched as Escaflowne sank down, right on top of him; he gasped, and Escaflowne caught itself. "Lucky for Julian, he would have been crushed if the guymelef had continued," murmered Sora to her father.

& Van was watching tensely, something was wrong, this was complete déjà vu. He remembered the first time he had met Hitomi. It had happened this way. Water suddenly poured out of Escaflowne's chest, showering Julian. It was the after-battle coolant that guymelef's naturally generated. He put up his hands and watched in amazement as its chest began to open again. He looked up and something fell on top of him, they both crashed to the ground.

~END PART 2~