Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or any of its characters; this story was not created for any sort of profits only to get rid of some weird ideas floating in my head of one of the anime that practically changed my life.

Trials of Seasons

Broken and Captured

The land of the Western Plains was rich in both plant life and wild life. The stars were woven with great skill in the ebony colored the sky. They twinkled mischievously, knowing the secrets that forever eluded man kind. The wind blew softly across the land, whispering it rustic tune through the trees branches and reeds. Crickets chirped in the tall grass as the animals of day quietly slept and the nocturnal animals roamed about. The scenery was calm and peaceful. Many have fallen in love with this place and always came to forget about their troubles.

The wind stopped suddenly. The crickets chirped much more rapidly.

Something was coming.

Above in the sky a light grew brighter.

The pillar of light cut through the night air and the peaceful rhythm of the land, slamming onto the ground with great intensity. The animals near the site immediately raced for shelter in fear. The powerful light, and the deafening sound it brought with it, took over the area. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the light disappeared. Breaking off into little fragments of light, the rhythm of the land returned however with a new occupant.

In the area that the light had touched was a young woman in armor. A strangled cry broke through the air. Her sobs began to echo through the wind. Tears left trails as they traveled down her red face; her braided hair had become loose and tangled. Within one of her armor covered hand was a pendant on a thin gold chain while in the other was soaked in blood.

Her father's blood.

"Father!" The woman sobbed. She opened her eyes, which revealed emerald gems glistening with sorrow. Even now in her mind she could still see her father's still, cold body on the battleground of Kiaura with his soulless eyes looking up at the sky. She could still smell the blood and scent of her charred homeland. His last words still rung in her ear.

"I'm so sorry ... Hitomi, I know I'm ...the only one to ...blame for this." He said as he felt her tears.

She continued to sob as she tried to pick herself up only to find herself back on the ground. Her legs were weak; her entire body was weak. Through her frustration of her immobility she immediately began to rip of her armor. However, even that was a great task itself. Once she had thrown the armor off of her she found she couldn't move at all. She looked at her hand as her sobs stifled for a moment. The pendant lied on the ground a few inches from her. Tears poured down again.

"Why?" She whispered as she moved her hand towards the pendant with great difficulty and pulled it towards her. "Why? Why must everything I hold dear be taken away from me?" She whispered as looked at the pendant.

No answer.

She enclosed her hands around the bittersweet jewel and brought it close to her heart. Her cries continued to echo throughout the land.

(Fanelia)

The land of Fanelia was a prosperous one. After all the alliances they had made with the different countries their economy began to boom with the increase in trade. There was a higher standard of living everywhere. The new war between them and Kiaura also fueled the production of raw materials even more. Fanelia was getting close to being another world power just as Asturia, Freid and Egzardia.

It was because of this that the people and everyone else ignored the darkness that filled the land. This darkness was not something that could easily be spotted in plain sight. True, there was a high crime rate as with other countries but this darkness was something more than that. It was something more of the spirit of the land, or so the people said. The old castle that was nested in the center of the country was the main reason for this darkness, or so it was believed. Something had been lost, something that was needed so badly within their lives.

It was odd to the people that they felt something was lost. They had everything that was necessary. Often times since their necessities were fulfilled they often ignored the loss that tugged at them somewhere deep within their subconscious.

Behind the outer wall that circled the ancient castle laid a garden. The bushes were misshapen and a sickly brownish green color, the roses were as black as the night's sky, the pond was covered in a skin of thick green pond scum, the trees hanged lifeless and overburden with the untamed branches, the grass had turned into weeds, it was a very unkempt garden but a garden none the less.

There was a stone bench with elegant designs sculpted into the sides and a live figure sitting upon it, the young King of Fanelia just back from Kiaura. His red eyes looked around the dead garden, his mother's dead garden. Most of his childhood memories with his mother had been in this garden. This garden had been locked away immediately after her death. No one wanted to come back here after the Queen Varie died, everything reminded everyone of her. She was what had brought life to Fanelia; but now everything seemed just to die along with her when it was her time apparently. The king was not sure himself why he finally unlocked it. He believed that it had something to do with the battle at Kiaura but he knew that it was not true. The young king of Fanelia would never admit how deeply his mother's death affected him but those who surrounded the king seem to have the idea that that was the case when his childlike demeanor changed into the cold hearted ruler he now was.

A messenger then came at the entry for the garden. He didn't dare enter the garden.

"Milord, forgive me for disturbing you however King Folken's air ship has landed." He quickly said as he bowed his head. The young king didn't look at him as he picked himself off the bench and headed back into the castle.

"I nearly forgot that we needed to ask those prisoners a few questions." He spoke nonchalantly. He stopped for a moment and looked back at the garden. Bittersweet emotions clouded his eyes as he looked back. The only thing that went through his mind was, why he returned to the garden he had tried to bury in the past for so long?

(Zaibach)

A young man sat lazily in one of the chairs that were there in the council room. His expression told the story of his being there, he was bored. His red eyes looked around in the room searching for something that would hold his attention. He already knew this was a lost cause. The room was completely black and the chairs were made from metal frames with the cheapest cushions that were available at the time. Lamps were glowing with blue flames at each corner of the dark room. The young man raised his hand to cover up a yawn, as he did this the light glinted on his armored uniform. He was in the Zaibach military. His fingers found themselves in his silver hair, scratching an itch that did not exist.

The door then suddenly swung open. The red eyed youth looked up to find a young woman with strawberry blonde hair and beautifully tanned skin. The young man grinned.

"Good evening Queen Merle." The albino said in a somewhat sarcastic voice. Merle looked at him with her large cerulean eyes and smirked.

"Back already from the battle against Kiaura, Dilandau?" She asked in a similar voice that he had used. Dilandau smirked back at her.

"Yes and now I'm completely bored. However if you wish to know the battle was very interesting." He answered back as he twirled a piece of his hair in his fingers.

"Really how so?" Merle asked raising an eyebrow.

"Let's just say it has to do with one of the reasons that King Folken is flying over to Fanelia right now with Sora." Dilandau quickly said as he swiftly ran his hand through his silver hair. His red eyes were full of sarcasm. He looked at Merle and then asked.

"So how is my cousin doing?" Dilandau turned his body completely towards, deciding momentarily to be hospitable. Merle pulled a chair and sat down.

"You do mean distant cousin. Either way I am doing well." She said calmly. Dilandau cocked an eyebrow.

"That's the answer that most school girls are trained to say to those they must be formal with. I am your cousin; I do not care for formality with any of my relations." He spoke annoyed. The Queen smirked amused that she could get under his skin easily.

"Very well then, I am once again well. We didn't suffer too much of a loss while aiding Fanelia, as you well know, but now my King sees fit to leave me behind while he helps his brother with the interrogation. I am both pleased and put off. Which to me can only be summed up by saying, I am well." Merle said patiently. Dilandau looked at the Queen a bit annoyed with her answer.

"And you saw fit not to say this the first time around?" He asked.

"I did not think you needed the explanation." She said amused once again. Dilandau ignored that comment.

"Tell me why you are so put off by the king leaving you behind. You'll find out soon enough what was found out at the interrogation. Do you really find it necessary that you should have attended as well? "

"In truth, you are right. I will find out what was said and done at the interrogation. I quite frankly could care less about that. I am mostly put off that I must be separated from my love for the time being." Merle said honestly. Dilandau let out a howl of laughter to which Merle only narrowed her eyes.

"How can you call someone so cold and unemotional your love? Even though we may be distant I am aware of the extreme differences between you and the king. How it is that you are able to even share a bed with him is something beyond me." He said once his laughter finally calmed down. Merle looked away from her kin annoyed.

"Extreme differences you say? Well this shows how much you know of the king." She said as she rose from her chair and exited the room. Dilandau watched her leave still amused by her earlier statement.

"Say what you want." He sighed. It was still hard to believe that they were related. Well it was a very distant relation. Dilandau then stifled another yawn. "I'm so tired of waiting for something to happen." He said as he stretched out.

(In the dungeons of Fanelia)

Deep down under the castle laid the dungeons. A few torches were lit which poke through the pitch black that covered the dungeons. Though it wasn't very well lit to see the condition of it the fowl stench that permeated the place gave all of it's occupants a very good idea of it.

In one cell there were three males. The shadows that casted over them by the torches made it appeared that they were close to death.

"Milord." One of them whispered. "Are you alright?" There was movement corner of the cell.

"Yes, I'm fine General Riven. I'm just …still in shock." The other voice whispered hoarsely.

"No injuries then, milord?" The General asked again.

"Nothing that time can't fix and please at a time like this formality is pointless, Terries will do fine." Terries whispered. General Riven gave a quick nod and leaned back against the cell wall.

The two generals and the prince all sat on the dirt ground with chains on their wrists and ankles that bounded them to the cell's stone wall. Terries looked down at his hands that he couldn't see. He was supposed to be the future ruler of Kiaura and he couldn't even protect the one person he had cared about. Griffin moved himself to face where he heard the prince's voice, seemingly able to read his mind.

"Don't worry about Hitomi. She's one of Kiaura's generals, she make it back and help us find a way out of here." He whispered to him. They noticed light pouring in from the door to the dungeons that had just been opened. They paused for a moment and heard a shuffling of feet and the opening of another cell door. They were putting more prisoners in. By now they were used to this but their guard was constantly up after they had been captured.

"Yes, Hitomi is a very capable young woman." Riven said with a smile once the familiar darkness returned to the dungeons. Terries looked at both of them. They could not hear the faint sound of shuffling feet that was slowly approaching them.

"What was the pillar of light that took Hitomi away?" He asked in a very low whisper. Both Riven and Griffin stiffened when they heard that question. They knew that he was going to ask them but they were hoping not having to tell him quite yet.

"Yes." Another voice whispered. The three figures spun around to where they heard the voice. A blue light then appeared above pale hands and they were able to see the King of Fanelia, the King of Zaibach and an elf with long flowing hair standing next to them that held the ghostly blue flame. "Tell us all about this pillar of light." The King of Fanelia whispered.

Prince Terries looked at the King of Fanelia and the King of Zaibach in the dim lighting. The Fanelia King was dressed in dark clothing fitted to his war honed body. His skin was tanned, proof to his days training in the sun, his hair was pitch black and unruly and his eyes were blood red. The man who destroyed Kiaura.

Terries eyes then went to the Zaibach King who now looked completely different from when he was in line for the Fanelian crown. The King of Zaibach was cloaked in a dark cape with a winged collar that covered his entire body, his pale blue hair was jagged and short from what could be seen above his pale skin and he carried the same ruby eyes as the King of Fanelia, the only feature he shared with his brother.

The King of Fanelia looked at the prisoners again with a frown. They hadn't answered his question.

"What was that pillar of light?" He repeated himself. They didn't answer, just stared with defiant eyes. The King of Fanelia then looked to his brother who looked at the elf girl next to him.

"Sora." The Zaibach King called. The elf girl walked forward as the blue flame she held floated above her to allow her to do what both kings wanted.

"Yes, Lord Folken." The elf said in her bell like voice. She looked at the prisoners with her pale glowing eyes. She clasped her hands together and brought them to her chest as she slowly began to sing an ancient spell.

Win dain a lotica

En vai tu ri

Si lo ta

Fin dein a loluca

En dragu a sei lain

Vi fa-ru les shutai am

En riga-lint,

The generals and the prince looked at Sora as her beautiful flowing voice entered their minds. Their thinking was beginning to slow down, as if everything was a haze.

Win chent a lotica

En vai tu ri

Si lo ta

Fin dein a loluca

Si katigura neuver

Floreria for chesti

Si entina,

They felt their minds eased even more into the haze. She was putting them at peace. Everything that had happened at the battle in Kiaura seemed so far away now.

Sora watched them making sure that they were fully entranced.

However they knew something was wrong. As much as they wanted to forget what happened, something within them tugged at their minds. Griffin was the first to fight the trance. With some difficulty he tied the chain around his thumb and proceeded to try and break it. Riven also tried at his fingers to break out of the elf girl's spell. Terries thoughts continually went to Hitomi's sorrowful face during the battle and that was enough to defend himself against the spell.

They have stronger wills than I anticipated. Sora mused to herself. She closed her eyes and concentrated more on the spell as her voice continued to flow through the prisoners' minds.

La la la la la la la

La la la la la,

Fontina blu cent

De cravi esca letisimo

La la la la la la la

La la la la la,

De quantian

La finde reve

Despite their try's, the elf girl proved to be more capable. They were not able to defend their minds any longer and fell slowly into the endless bliss.

Win dain a lotica

En vai tu ri

Si lo ta

Fin dein a loluca

En dragu a sei lain

Vi fa-ru les shutai am

En riga-lint

Sora opened her eyes to see the results of her efforts. They were completely under her spell. She sighed and looked at her Lord.

"They are ready." She whispered. Folken looked his brother who just gave a nod.

"Continue." He murmured.

"Yes Lord Folken." She whispered. She walked further to the cell until she was nearly touching the metal bars. She slowly raised her arm through the spaces between the bars and closed her eyes again. She began to murmur something that was too low and fast for human ears.

The cell walls seem to disappear as ghostly images began to flow out of the Kiauran's minds. Sora had brought all of their memories out into the open. She began searching for the one they wanted. The King of Fanelia eyes' had widened at Sora's talent. He was not aware before this moment that she was capable of such a task. Folken simply watched quietly as Sora searched through the throng of memories. Sora eyes then shot open.

"I've found it." She whispered. Without waiting for any response she made a quick movement with her extended arm and the memory they had been searching for appeared.

There were four figures in a stone covered room with no torches. A window was at the east side of the room which allowed to sun to pour into the room. Two of figures were standing up looking at the other two who were sitting down. One of the two that were sitting down was a woman with her head bowed down in an unknown gesture to the ones standing before her. The man, who sat next to the woman, was dressed in custom armor that showed his station as a general of Kiaura. The two figures that were standing up were also in custom armor of their stations, General Griffin and General Riven. The woman's face was covered by her long light colored hair due to her bowing form. The General that sat next to her had dark hair and stubborn jaw, General Arien Kanzaki.

The King of Fanelia's eyes widened when he realized who that man was. He was the general whom that girl ran to and called father when he had been struck by death.

The woman slowly raised her head and looked at the men before her. Her eyes were a vivid green that mocked the beauty of emeralds. She was truly a beauty. General Riven looked at the woman.

"Will you tell us?" He asked softly. The woman, though she looked at them with unwavering eyes, was shaking, unsure of what to say. The man next to her, Kanzaki then gently whispered.

"Hikari, please tell us how you were able to create that pillar of light." His baritone voice seemed to smooth her nerves. She stopped shaking. She straightened herself as she prepared her mind of the possibility of what might happen once she told them the truth.

"I wasn't able to create it, I merely summoned it." She whispered in an inaudible voice. The men were slightly confused by her words but listened carefully to what she had to say. She drew in another breath. "There's something I haven't told you." She said as she looked at all of them. They looked at each other slightly worried at her words, not really sure of what they to expect. The woman close her eyes as the next words flowed out. "I'm a Mystic."

The Mystics were an ancient clan on Gaea. They possessed a sense of balance and understanding of the world around them within them. Most Mystics had psychic abilities or knowledge and extreme insight they had gathered on their own about the balance of life and everything on Gaia. However not too many people who quite fond of them, for Mystics were used the previous war as weapons of destructions. What many people never found out was that it was against their will.

"A…Mystic?!" General Griffin yelled incredulously. Kiaura had gone in battle with the Mystics in the previous war and they killed quite a number of them. Griffin couldn't help but think that the Mystic before them was anything but the murdering unnaturals that his father and grandfather had deemed enemies so long ago. Hikari swiftly nodded at Griffin's words.

"Yes, but it is not because of that that I was able to summon the pillar of light. Before the war a draconian was injured and my parents had brought him to our home and healed him. As he prepared to leave he gave my father a pendant and he told him, 'Though I'm not sure if you'll be able to use it I give a pendant from Atlantis to use as you wish. May it grant your heart's desires.' My father later found out that some how he was able to summon a pillar of light from Atlantis, my father believed that there was more held in the pendants power however he could never unlock the rest of it's secrets." Hikari paused and brought the pendant from around her neck into her hands. Tears began to form in her eyes. "On his deathbed he gave me the pendant and told me of the power he had experienced with it. That is all I know. We then had to leave because the country that laid to the west of us began to capture Mystics to use in the war. My mother and I came to Kiaura, before she died, as war refugees."

"Hikari…" Kanzaki whispered as he wrapped his arms around the woman in comfort. The woman smiled sadly at him.

"Forgive me, Arien, for not telling you sooner. However, I know how greatly the Mystics are hated. I know this will most likely change your perception of me. I do not delude myself of that." She whispered. General Griffin eyes then narrowed at her.

"You are certainly right about that."

"Griffin!" General Riven yelled.

"That is enough." Van called.

"Sora." Folken then called.

"Yes Lord Folken." Sora replied as she closed her eyes and brought her arms down letting all the memories flow back to the prisoner's minds. She then opened her eyes and released the prisoners from the spell she had casted upon them. She stepped back from the cell as the prisoners began to stir. Van looked at the prisoners.

"Thank you." He told them as the haze that clouded their mind began to disappear. The King of Fanelia, the King of Zaibach and the elf girl began walking away from the cell and out of the dungeons.

(In the forest of the Western Plains)

The day was nearly setting once again in the forest. Everything was quiet except for the sound of wheels being scrapped on the dirt road.

"It was quite the haul today; we might actually get enough for the feast by tomorrow!" A voice eagerly piped.

"Sorry Haru but I think we would need two more days of this to cover the entire village." Another voice spoke.

"This I realize but it doesn't hurt to be optimistic, Rhum."

"Well I suppose too much of optimism couldn't hurt. It'll probably make him work harder, right Rhum?" A different voice said with a laugh.

"Perhaps, Azan." Rhum spoke with a grin. Haru ignored the last two comments

He was about to say something when a foreboding scent filled their sensitive noses. They stopped dead in their tracks as they recognized what it was.

"Blood."

Assigning Haru to stay at the cart, Rhum's and Azan's feet pounded against the ground as they raced to see where that foul stench arose from. They knew they were in the right area when the scent became unbearable. They crouched themselves low and hid behind the trees in case of danger.

In the middle of the meadow that was not far from the forest line was a young woman lying in a curled up position on the ground. Was she dead? Rhum cautiously inched his way towards to the girl, keeping an eye out for any possible threat. His hand reached the girl's shoulder and turned her over. The girl had tear stains on her dirt covered cheek with eyes red from crying. He listened to her breathing and made sure to see her chest reluctantly rise and fall. She was alive... barely. His eyes looked to her hands where in one hand she held tightly onto a necklace with a rose pendant and the other hand he found the source of the foul stench… blood. It had already dried on the girl's hand but the scent never changed. Rhum looked around him once again. What ever had hurt this girl was not here.

"Azan." Rhum called. Azan rushed to Rhum's side and looked at the girl.

"What happened here?" He breathed.

"I don't know. Come on let's get her to camp." Rhum said as he picked up the girl. He then noticed a glint of light somewhere on the ground. Azan noticed it too. Azan walked over to the light and found pieces of well formed metal. Kiauran armor. He sniffed it.

"It belongs to the girl." He whispered. "She must have been in a battle. Should we take it along?" Rhum shook his head.

"We can't carry both the girl and the armor with all the harvest." He said as he began to head back. Azan nodded and followed Rhum. When they were near the cart Haru raced towards them to see what they found. He froze when he saw the girl.

"I-is she a-alive?" He questioned shakily.

"Yes, but she won't be for long if she stays here for any longer." Rhum answered as he moved towards the cart. He moved some of their gathered produce away to make room for the girl. Haru then pulled a sheet from a bundle they had stuck in the corner of the cart that was meant to cover the harvest in bad weather and wrapped it around the girl. While he was doing this the girl stirred a bit.

"…Father…" She murmured as a solemn tear fell down her cheek. The girl then lied still. Azan looked at the girl.

"Poor girl." He whispered.

"She'll be a poor dead girl if we don't get her to camp soon." Rhum muttered as he slapped the ox on the rear telling it to move. The wolf men then took their places by the oxen and near the cart. The girl stirred a bit more unknown to them. She opened her eyes half way and looked at the slowly darkening sky before falling back into her hazy sleep.

(Author's Note)

Thanks to those who reviewed. I just noticed there was a similar story to mine out there. Ha ha, guess that's what happens when you're away for so long and then decided to come back and revamp an oldie. Oh well. The next chapter should be coming up soon. Please be patient. Btw, is anyone interested in being a beta reader for me?

Sereneblaze