HEY HEY!!!!
HURRY!!! I've got a crazy person running after me with a hammer!!!
*looks back* oops...sorry onee-chan!!! ^_~

Disclaimers: YEAH!!! I OWN VAN!!!!
Actually....that's the after affect of the hammers...^_~ I don't
own any part of Vision of Escaflowne... *sniffle*

Claimers:I don't own Escaflowne, but we all know who does, but
if you don't...Copyright 1996-2000 Sunrise, TV Tokyo/Bandai
Entertainment, Inc. / Egan Loo.
Kawamori Shoji, created Vision of Escaflowne.

And technically, I do own the rights to Kyuuei seeing how I
made her up! LOL! I guess! But if you are thinking of
using her name, please, have my permission first!

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The Legend of a King's Heart
Chapter 3
Chibi-Anon chibianon_ymous@hotmail.com
October 28, 2000
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Was it all just a dream?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"I'm sorry Kyuuei...." Was the last thing that she heard before
she blacked out in the arms of her captors. She swam in that
darkness for a few hours, and when she had woken up, she was in
a strange cell. She was so tired that she could hardly move.
Her legs felt like mush and her head was spinning.

"What happened?" She could barely manage a whisper, but
obviously, someone had heard her because there came a reply.

"So? How's the little sleepy head been?" The voice came from
just in front of the cell's bars. It was a young woman...
perhaps the same age Hitomi was.

"I'm a bit groggy...and I've got a pounding headache, but
otherwise, I'm fine....I guess..." She rubbed her head, and
slowly got up; trying to get a good view of the kindly stranger.
Now able to see more clearly, Kyuuei was sure that she was about
the same age as her aunt. The woman had dark brown hair, that
came just past her shoulder, and brown eyes.

"Yes....that's probably because you aren't used to sleeping in a
dungeon for so long...without any food." She smiled at Kyuuei
and unlocked the door. She had a basket on her arm. "If you're
wondering if this basket is for you, well, you're right...it
is." Her smile grew warmer, Kyuuei felt safe in her presence.

"Thank you....miss...."

"Just call me Auntie Kari dear."

"All right, Aunti Kari... Is it ok if I ask you a few
questions?"

"Of course, go ahead...I don't mind in the least!"

"Well...what am I doing here? Why was I brought to the dungeon?
I didn't do anything wrong did I?" She thought that she may
have offended King Van by her actions somehow.

"I can't answer those questions for you....you'll have to wait
till King Van and Prince Eriondehs come here...." They sat
in an awkward silence for a few minutes.

"That's ok...since you brought these for me, why don't we share?
It's the only thing I can do for you...."

"Why not? I think I packed enough for two." She sat down
and joined Kyuuei in the feast.

"I suppose that you know my name by the looks of it.... I must
have humiliated myself in front of the whole court."

"I don't think you humiliated yourself... but you're right,
I do know your name, Kyuuei de Ciel. Strange name, but then
again, you're not from around here."

"You don't know how much.... I just can't shake the feeling
that I've seen you somewhere. It's a memory that I should
remember you...." A dark shadow passed over Kari's face.

"I just have that kind of face you know... very ordinary."
Kyuuei nodded, it was possible, but still. She continued to
chew on a carrot stick... thinking.... Soon, both she and
Kari had finished the contents of the basket. The mysterious
woman got up.

"I must leave you now, but we shall see each other again."
Kari left the cell, and quietly walked away.

"Good-bye.....and thank you for everything..." Kyuuei slumped
against a wall, trying to get to sleep. A few hours later,
a clinking sound woke her up. Upon opening her eyes she saw
a wavering light coming from the halls.

"Well... Hello Miss." It was a strange looking old man... he
seemed to resemble a mole. A flicker of a memory came into
her mind. Of course, it was Gaea after all, there would have
to be people that knew her Aunt Hitomi.

"Hello Mr. Mole." He blinked at her through his green
sunglasses.

"Ah...the lass has heard o' me then."

"Yes...."

"Then perhaps you've heard that I trade and collect things....
do you have anything you'd like to trade or sell?"

"No..." Ah, definitely the mole man her aunt told her about.

"Why that's a pretty pendant you've got there....it reminds me
of someone else's...now...who...."

"Hitomi Kanzaki?"

"Yes, that's it! Hitomi from the Mystic Moon! I wonder why
you're pendant looks like hers..." Kyuuei giggled nervously,
she couldn't give herself away just yet.

"Mr. Mole? I think we should get out of here now... have you
gotten her out yet?" The voice was coming at the top of the
stairs.

"No... you have the keys!"

"Oops...heheehe...right...I forgot." The stranger at the top
of the stairs came down.

"DEHS!!!" It was Prince Eriondehs, what was he doing here?

"Hello again Lady Kyuuei, I am very sorry for the actions of
my father. This is the reason why I am going to free you."

"Free me?! But your father, he will be extremely angry with
you! Dehs, I can not ask you to do this."

"Try and stop me..." He opened the door of the cell and
promptly picked her up, swinging her over his shoulder.

"PUT ME DOWN!!!!" She started kicking and punching him, but
to no avail...

"hehehe.... Your highness, you seem to have a way with women."
The moleman chuckled, although Kyuuei didn't seem to find
it very funny. She stopped kicking and screaming long enough
to ask Dehs a question that had been gnawing at her since
she had been taken prisoner.

"Why did your father suddenly grow angry at me and lock me up?"
Dehs was carrying her up the stairs, with the moleman behind
them.

"I really don't know why... I know it has something to do with
that pendant you're wearing... but that can't be all."

"What could I have done... your father wasn't insulted by my
behaviour, was he?"

"No... many people are worse with their manners, and he didn't
even bat an eye at them, it has to be something else, but
what?!" Soon they were nearing the gate. Kyuuei had stopped
struggling a while back so Dehs let her down.

"I'll take you to a place I know.... you'll be safe there, wait
until I pick you up from there, and I'll take you back to your
home." Kyuuei wanted to tell him that it was impossible for
him to be able to bring her home, it was much to far for him
to reach it. The only way to get back was by the light that
had picked her up in the first place, but she didn't see that
coming anytime soon.

"Thank you, Dehs... I appreciate your help very much."

"It's all right...." Dehs reddend a bit (^_^)

Outside the gate there was Bluefire waiting for them, somewhere
the moleman had disappeared on them.

"Now where did he go?!"

"Where did who go?"

"Why Mr. Mole of course..." She looked around her, but still
could not see a trace of the strange man.

"He's always disappearing....he'll come back sooner, or later."

"Probably later, from the stories...." she bit back her words,
she still couldn't reveal to Dehs about where she'd come from
and who her aunt was, she couldn't. It wasn't that she didn't
trust him, he had rescued her from the dungeon after all. But,
still.... it might be for the best not to tell him so soon.

"I think we'd better hurry, it's almost time for the guards
to make their rounds at the front gate." Kyuuei nodded her
head, she hopped on behind Dehs on Bluefire.

"How long will it take us to reach this place?"

"About.... a few minutes" She felt the rush of leaves and the
wind. A few minutes? That wouldn't get them very far from the
castle. "We're here!"

"Huh?!" Kyuuei could have sworn that the clearing was
different, she couldn't even see the castle. "Where exactly
are we?"

"We're about 20 miles away from the castle. Over there is
a little cabin, that's where they found me. At the moment,
no one is living there, but I come by every once in a while
to fix it up. It's livable at least." He opened the door
and led the way into the small home. Kyuuei looked around.
It was as if she had stepped into a fairytale.

"It looks so cozy!"

"It is, it stays warm all winter, and during the summer you
never get too hot."

"Is there something in the way the place is built that it
can be like that?"

"I really don't know. I better get back to the castle before
they realize that I'm missing. I'll be back with supplies."
Kyuuei nodded, what could she do until then?

In the cupboard she found a small box. There was no lock on it,
nor a name. But there was a picture engraved in it... it looked
very much like an angel singing.

When she opened the lid a beautiful melody came out. It was
so hauntingly beautiful, nostalgic even. She couldn't help
but sway to it. And once again she had gone into a trance.
Her eyes seemed to glow when her pendant did. To her, there
was nothing but darkness around, no chairs, no windows...just
the quiet dark.

She could hear a heart beat blend with the music, and eventually
the heart beat grew louder than the music. The heart beat faded
and a strange voice came to her, chanting.

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

Win chent a lotica
En vai turi
Silota
Fin dein a loluca
Si katigura neuver
Flereria for chesti
Si enitna

lalalala...
Fontina Blu Cent
De Cravi esca letisimo
lalalala...
De quantian
la Finde reve

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 - Vision of Escaflowne movie)

The words were foreign to Kyuuei, but somehow she knew she was
connected to them, as was Van, her aunt Hitomi, and Dehs. The
melody replayed in her head over and over, till it blended
with the tune from the box. For some reason Kyuuei felt that
there was something about that box and the song...

"Kyuuei! It's me Dehs! I've got some food for you!"

She was taken out of her trance, and opened the door. Dehs
came in and saw the box on the table, but didn't say anything.

"Thank you Dehs...and please, I told you to call me Ky!"

"So, I suppose that we should eat now."

"I suppose so."

"Where did you find that box?"

"In the cupboard. I'm sorry... I didn't think about it. I was only
curious. Do you know what the markings on the box mean though?
If it's not too much trouble..." A look of surprise was on his face.

"Oh... I thought that it might have been yours. I'd never seen it
before. I wouldn't know what those markings mean then. Sorry."

"Then who's is it?!" Dehs shook his head.

"I don't see how it could be a bad thing.... how it came in here... I
have the doors locked, and nothing is broken." Kyuuei was puzzled,
what did this mean?

"That's very strange indeed. I wish that I could take it with..."
She stopped midsentence. In the corner was a small backpack, large
enough to fit the box into.

"Now this is strange, there wasn't a pack there earlier."

"Indeed it is."

"Well I suppose you can bring it with you then." Kyuuei had a
sudden thought, could it be something in the house? Or the house
itself?

"What time would you say you brought me here?"

"Just after dawn, why?"

"...I'll explain later...and what time would you say it is now?"

"Just before noon."

"That's it... I was in a trance for over four hours!"

"Trance? Like the ones Hitomi went through?"

"Yes... and Aunt Hit..." She gave herself away!

"Aunt...Hitomi? Kyuuei, you never did tell me where you were
from..." Might as well tell him now.

"Earth... also known as..."

"... THE MYSTIC MOON!!!" Kyuuei hung her head in shame and
embarrassment.

"...yes. I'm sorry for not telling you sooner... I just..." Dehs
nodded his head, and looked at her with understanding eyes.

"I know...you've no idea where you are. You feel lost and alone.
It seems as if you can't trust anyone."

"Yes..." How did he....

"You're not alone." She threw her arms around him. And leaned on
his chest. Sobbing quietly into his shirt.

"Dehs! Thank you... arigatou..." His right hand rested on her hair.

"Ky... it'll be all right... I'll get you home." Suddenly, she
laughed.

"You called me KY!!!"

"I guess I did... is that ok?" She gave him a serious look,

"What do you think I've I been trying to do?!" He laughed right
along with her.

A thunder of hooves outside startled them out of their moment.
From the window they could see Van and a dozen of his guards.

"Open up Eriondehs!! Bring the girl with you!!"

With a signal from Van, they slowly crept towards the door. The
guards were ready.

"Father, call of your guards... we're coming out freely."

Ky stuffed the box into the bag, and slung the bag onto her shoulder.
They stepped out of the cabin and Ky was promptly grabbed by the
awaiting soldiers.

"FATHER!!! NO!!! LET HER GO!!!" Van looked at his son.

"Eriondehs, you disobeyed me and freed a criminal. What do you have
to say for yourself?"

"Why? Why is she a criminal?" Van frowned.

"That is not what I was wanting to hear. We'll settle this in the
castle." He ordered the guards to watch both Ky and Dehs carefully.
They rode back to the castle swiftly, with a restless Bluefire in
tow.

~In the Throneroom~

"Now we settle this now and for all girl... where did you get that
pendant? Where do you come from? WHO ARE YOU?"

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^_^ Well well well....I think that's the end of that chapter!
onee-chan...no hammers...onegai? ^_^ Hehehe....now...chapter 4...
wow...this story is coming on fast...and I'm not even halfway
done!!! I have plans....plans!!! To take over the universe...
oops...that's next month...uh....I mean...plans for the story!!!!

Ja ne!
Dun forget to e-mail me at chibianon_ymous@hotmail.com
I wanna know what you thought of the story!