Draconian
Chronicles:
Part One
Roses Have Thorns
Van, Hitomi, and Merle were on the outskirts of the city Petite Beau. They had Escaflowne with them and were thinking about their next move.
"If Ziaboch is here, we can't go in like this. They'd recognize us in a minute." Hitomi said.
Van agreed. "We'll have to get disguises. Merle. Go into town and try to pick up a couple sets of clothing we can use to disguise ourselves with."
The cat girl nodded. "You got it." Then she ran off towards the city.
Hitomi came over to Van and held his hand. "You think she'll be all right?"
Van squeezed her hand. "Of course she will. Don't worry." He leaned in and gave her a peck on the cheek. She smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder, watching Merle disappear into the distance.
Merle went from rooftop to rooftop watching the marketplace below. The people looked like they were shopping on a regular day, but something just didn't smell right. She looked at all the fruit stands and vegetables stands, but couldn't find what she was looking for.
Finally she found it. A small clothing stand that had a few outfits hung up on a rack. If she could just get a couple of those, Van and Hitomi could enter the city, no problem.
Merle watched the people go by and waited until the right time came, then she made her way over to the stand. She watched the tender, a fat ugly man, turn around, then quickly took two sets of clothing off the rack and made off around the corner.
She ran through the streets, and then started through the alleys. She stopped when she thought she heard something. She looked behind her, while two hands came down from above and picked up the clothing out of her hand. Merle turned back around and found the clothes gone. When she looked up, she saw a pair of purple eyes. She growled and snatched the clothes back.
"Those are mine!" She said.
The figure came down in front of her and approached her. It came into the light and Merle gasped. It was a cat boy! It had a blue coat of fur, with black stripes. It had blue hair that was combed to the side. It looked just like her, but a boy!
"How'd you get those from old man Marly? He's the toughest tender to steal from." The boy said.
Merle looked down at the clothes and up again. "It's none of your business!"
"What's your name?" He asked.
Merle thought for a moment. Should I? She decided it would be okay. "Merle." She stated.
The cat boy nodded. "And where prêt tell do you expect to take those to?"
Merle had had enough. "What's with all these questions?!" She demanded.
The boy snorted. "Boy someone has a fur ball up their …ow!" He exclaimed when Merle scratched him across the face and ran off.
The cat boy just stood there with his hand on his cheek. "Merle. I won't soon forget that name." Then he began to walk off.
He walked in and out through the shadows, when he heard a voice. "So my little cat-spy? What news have you brought me?"
The cat boy gulped. "Nothing, Lord Dilandau. A couple of thefts at the food stands and one at the clothing stand, but the perpetrator hasn't been caught."
Dilandau stepped out of the shadows. "You should try harder then! Unless you want me to turn you over to Ziaboch."
The cat boy shook his head. "I will try harder, Lord Dilandau."
"So to it that you do."
The boy nodded and ran off.
Van was in the field practicing his sword techniques. Hitomi was lying under a tree, on her stomach, watching him. She played with a stick in the dirt and tried to remember that vision she'd had before. Was it something she should worry about? What was so strange about this town?
Before she knew it she had written something in the ground. When Hitomi looked down and saw what she'd written… "Van!!!"
Van immediately ran over her. "What's the matter!?"
Hitomi said nothing, only pointed to what she'd written. Van looked down and read the word engraved in the dirt: "Though beautiful, roses have thorns. Things are not always what they appear to be. Beware."
Hitomi closed her eyes and shook her head. "What does mean?" She asked.
Van put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We must be on our guard. Something's not right."
Hitomi nodded. Then she saw Merle coming from the distance. "Merle! You're okay!"
Merle came up and gave the clothes to Van. "Of course I am. Was there any doubt?" Merle looked away, towards the town.
Hitomi frowned. "Merle, are you feeling okay? You seem a little distracted."
Merle gasped and her tail began to jitter. "No. I'm f…fine." She said then turned quickly around. Those purple eyes, that handsome blue coat…
Merle shook
her head to clear it. He's a jerk
why do I keep thinking about him!
Van and Hitomi changed into the clothes and made ready to enter the city. "Merle, you stay here. Hitomi and I are going to do a little reconnaissance. Okay?" Van said.
"But I should go with you. I…" Merle protested.
"Merle, it's for your own good. We don't want anything to happen to you." Hitomi said.
Merle crossed her arms. "Fine."
Van smiled. "Thanks. We'll be back before sundown. We'll leave Escaflowne here, under cover. Don't let it out of your sight."
Merle nodded. "Yes, Lord Van."
"Okay. Let's go." Van and Hitomi made their way towards the city. While Merle stayed behind, with a certain cat boy still in her mind.
Dilandau walked through the dark chambers and came to the main hall. He walked through and bowed in respects.
"What news have you brought?" Folken said from his throne.
"Our spy has reported little. Your brother and his girlfriend from the mystic moon have not been spotted." Dilandau said.
"They are here. I can sense it." Folken said.
You and
all your powers, Folken. You're as weak
as a newborn kitten. And you will soon
find out.
"Continue searching the city. Do not stop until you find them, then bring both to me, alive." Folken instructed.
"Yes, my Lord." Dilandau said and exited the room. He was on the hunt, and Van would not escape him this time.
Van and Hitomi walked through the streets, looking at all the stands, the tenders, the people. Everything looked all right, but something didn't feel right. The people would look straight ahead, but as soon as the two travelers passed by, they would turn and look at them with fear. Van didn't seem to notice, but Hitomi did.
Van saw Hitomi was worried and grabbed her hand. "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you."
Hitomi nodded, but continued to look around for any signs of trouble.
Van looked around and saw something he thought might cheer her up. "Come on!" He said. He pulled Hitomi over to a man standing near a river. He was in charge of a boating service. He held up a sign saying "Tunnel of Love" and the price. "May we rent your boat?" Van asked and gave the man some money. The man nodded and gave Van the rope, holding the boat. "Thanks." Van said.
Van helped Hitomi onto the boat and they took off down stream. The man smiled and spoke into his communicator. "The targets have been spotted in sector B-17"
"Very good. You will be rewarded for your efforts." A voice came back.
Dilandau smiled at his fortune. "Get my guymelif ready."
"Yes my Lord." The servant bowed and left.
Dilandau smiled. "That was too easy. You let your guard down, Van. It will be your last mistake."
Van moved the boat with a large rod and pushed it against the side of the boat.
"This is so beautiful." Hitomi commented. "Thank you."
"Anything for you." Van replied. Van moved the boat under a large bridge.
Hitomi suddenly got very nervous. "Something's not right here, Van."
Van stopped and looked around. Hitomi stretched out her senses and tried to see what was out there. Where is it?! There!! She sensed it.
"Dilandau!" She said, just as Dilandau's guymelif came out of his hiding.
"You!" Van exclaimed.
"Surprised to see me, Van?" Dilandau taunted. He attacked Van, who quickly dodged out of the way. But Van couldn't go far.
Another attack came, straight at Hitomi. Just like it my dream! Suddenly a shadow came, grabbed both Van and Hitomi, and jumped through a sewer hole, in the side of the bridge.
"No! He got away again! That was my spy! Maybe he thinks he can run away. Think again." Dilandau said. "Folken!" He said into his communicator. "Send me three more guymelifs!"
Hitomi and Van followed their new friend. He was the cat boy that Merle had met earlier. "What's your name?" Hitomi asked.
"Reeko." He said as he led them through the dark passageways.
"Where are you leading us?!" Van demanded.
"One of the few safe areas that Ziaboch hasn't found yet." He told them. "They're in control of almost the whole town. This is one place where you'll be safe."
They came to a large cavern. In it was hundreds of families, all poor and obviously malnourished. "This is the true Petite Beau. Starving families, seeking shelter and food. I pretend to work for Ziaboch, so I can cover my own trail. Reporting thefts and such. Most of which are my work. I come here and feed the only family I've known."
"When did this happen?" Hitomi said.
"Ziaboch took over, a little after I was born. I've been alone ever since. The only one of my kind." Reeko explained. "It was said, that when I met a girl like me…"
"Like Merle?" Hitomi asked.
Reeko spun around to face them. "You know her?"
Van and Hitomi nodded. Reeko tried to settle down. "Anyway, two angels will appear and save this town from the Ziaboch rule. Then I was to follow them on their journey.
Van and Hitomi looked at each
other. Hitomi slightly shook her
head. Don't tell him, unless we have
to.
Van nodded. Just then, then cavern began to shake, and people ran around trying to hide. Four guymelifs smashed through the wall into the cavern.
"Lord Dilandau!" Reeko bowed. "I found them for you."
Van and Hitomi were shocked, while Dilandau laughed. "You did no such thing! You saved them from me!"
"They were about to escape. I wanted to hold them until you arrived." Reeko said.
Van clenched his teeth. Dilandau smiled. "Surrender now, Van! You and your girlfriend! Or I will trash this whole settlement!" He threatened.
Hitomi looked at all the scared faces and looked at Van, who was about to protest. She placed a hand on his shoulder. Get captured now. Break free later. We can't risk the lives of all these innocent people. Hitomi put both hands up in the air and looked pleadingly at Van.
Van sighed and raised his hands above his head. "We surrender."
