Inside These Walls
My Personal Prison
Author's Note: The origin of the story is actually quite interesting…I was trying to go to sleep one night, and the thought of a Gaean Princess who becomes infatuated with Dilandau sounded quite interesting. So there I was thinking…thinking… you know? And I finally decided to make a story about it! Please, please, please tell me what you think about this story!!! I was having a hard time deciding whether to write this in first or second person…but I decided that first person would be a fun change, so here we go! OH! And when I say "prison" I don't mean jail! Mei thinks of her castle as a "prison" of sorts!
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne, but I DO own Mei-shi, and the kingdoms that I just made up, and shtuff…
Hands clasped, I wander my prison aimlessly…Is anyone ever going to free me? I flip the pages of my sister's diary. I lead such a depressing life…my parents died when I was nine, and I am Princess of the largest Capitol of all Gaea, Marden. My greedy sister finally made it to her lifetime goal of queen. I didn't fight her, for I do not care…I just long to be an average woman…but I cannot, for I am engaged to be wed, to a man twice my age. I clench a fist in the air, for it is not fair, for a girl fifteen rotations of the phantom moon, to have to make an obligation that large. It wasn't even passed with my consent! Everybody looks up to me, for some strange reason…They think that royal youth, are admirable, no matter how horrible they truly are. Not saying that I am horrible. I think they admire me for my beauty…not trying to say that I have a vanity complex, or anything of the sort. I guess I will explain myself then… I have cerulean waist length hair, a very fair complexion, and perhaps my strangest feature, my eyes. One is silver, and the other is violet. Just a birth defect, I suppose. I really like this trait though…for it is not often that you come across royalty with two different color eyes.
Some time passes…I walk over to my sister. She is brushing her hair, and gazing at herself in the mirror. She is perhaps the most vain person I know. "What? What do you want, Mei-shi?" She asks me crossly. My sister is beautiful as well, she has knee length raven colored hair, lips that are naturally colored the deepest red you can imagine, a darker complexion than my own, and eyes as blue as the ocean. Hinota glares at me, with a deep fire burning in her eyes. Hinota drinks her vino crudely, having no manners at all. I smile as I hand her the diary. "Hinota, majesty, I found this on the floor, in the library." Hinota grabs the diary out of my hands hastily. "You didn't read this, did you?! Because if you did, I will kill you myself." I nodded in reverence. "Of course I did not read your diary…that would be invading your personal space." I must admit…I am a very good liar. Hinota is not entirely convinced, but she shrugs it off. "You are dismissed, little Mei." She says to me. 'Little Mei' I have had the deepest abhorrence for this name since they first started calling me it.
The Phantom Moon amazes me, as it did my mother….During her short life, she spent her time studying the cultures of a place called 'China' which is located on the Phantom Moon. That is why she gave my sister and I our names, they certainly are not Gaean. I have followed in my mother's footsteps, I find that the Phantom Moon is an amazing place. How can a place filled with such brilliant people be cursed? I doubt that very much. I base all my attire on the Phantom Moon civilizations I find most interesting, 'China' and 'Japan.' My favorite attire are 'kimonos.' they are very comfortable robes, and for me, they are made from the best materials in Gaea. I am very privileged, but day in and day out, I wish to escape my personal prison…my personal hell…
I sit in my sister's throne room. She has summoned me for no apparent reason…I believe she may be drunk again. I watch, and try to stifle my laughter, as her head sways back and fourth, and she lets out the most masculine belches I've ever heard. It is very disgusting for 'the most beautiful queen on Gaea' to be this way. Are you beginning to see why I hate her so? I swear, one of these days I will run away…to a better place. You are probably wondering where…unfortunately I cannot answer this, for even I do not know. Tomorrow night…yes…I am running away tomorrow night. I just hope I can hold on that long…Kami-sama…help me get out of these prison walls…don't abandon me, like all the others. I drift off to the land of sleep.
It is the next day, I wake up early, for I have fencing practice at sun-up. I have been fencing my whole life, and to be quite blunt I may be the best fencer on Gaea. I have never been beaten. Nobody has even matched my skill…thank Kami-sama I have at least one talent to keep me going. I am disturbed in the middle of my practice. My servant tells me to come immediately, and that some warriors from Zaibach, have requested provisions. I run down to the coronation hall, hoping my sister is not making a fool of herself, and gasp when I arrive. I expected middle-aged men, to be the soldiers…but I was very wrong. These men look no older than I…and as much as I am embarrassed to admit it, most of them were quite beautiful. I walk to the head of the line, and stand next to my big sister. I feel my face begin to get hot, as I see the leader of these soldiers' ranks. He is tall, about two inches taller than I, with beautiful crimson eyes, and silver hair…his voice is stern and commanding. Now I know, that my cheeks must be red…I have given into girlish crushes? I excuse myself before I am further mortified, and I pray that I will see this beautiful youth again.
I wander back to my room, for I cannot face that boy again. Perhaps…perhaps I'll run away to Zaibach. I look out my window, it is pouring outside, of course, such is my luck. I take off all of my make-up, and style my hair, so that it falls in front of my silver eye. If I am identified, I'll be taken back to the castle for sure. I then put on leather pants, and a tank-top shirt, then, I slip on a large, black, hooded cloak. Another attempt to conceal my ever-so-obvious appearance. Now, the tricky part, I must open my window, very quietly, and jump into the large tree below it. My window slides open, without making any sound. I then climb out of the window. The wind blows rain droplets in my face. Then, with all my strength, I jump to the nearest tree. Breathing heavily I cling to the tree with the tightest grip I have. With the magnificent luck I have, I fall out of the tree, and land on my feet, but then fall flat on my back. I gasp for air, as rain covers my face. I finally regain my breath, get up, and run to the city square. I will NOT go back to that hell, known as the Marden Castle.
After running frantically for about ten minutes, I reach the city square. The usually bustling streets are only filled with a few people. I run through the alleyways. I am freezing, it must be almost cold enough to have snow. I am also sopping wet. Perhaps when adults say you'll catch cold if you stay out in the rain, they are telling the truth. My body wont stand for the cold anymore, I fall to the floor, throwing coughing fits. I hug my legs against my chest, and slowly…slowly…fall asleep. I hear voices in my sleep. Is it just a dream? Or is it reality? I then blink awake slightly, feeling myself being carried away. "I won't…go…back." I say weakly. I then black-out again.
I wake up slowly, this time I force myself not to go back to sleep. I am in a bed…this bed is not my own. My vision focuses more, and I see that there is a young man, staring down at me. "Where the hell am I?!" I curse. I usually don't use such harsh words, but I try to act noble even when I'm very afraid. The young man hushes me. "You are in the floating fortress, 'the Vione'. Please keep it down, or Dilandau-sama will find out we saved a young woman." I let this all sink in. I was straining myself thinking…Zaibach? Dilandau? GIRL?! "Wait! How do you know I'm a girl?!" I was sitting up now. The boy looked at me strangely. "Well, from removing your cloak, and seeing your figure, then hearing your voice, I'm only to assume…" I then get nervous. "Who are you, and who was it that saved me?" He paused. "Well, my name is Gatti, and the people who saved you were myself, Chesta, and Migel." I then think some more. "…But you said I was in Zaibach? Am I really?" Gatti looked at her. "Well, I don't lie often. Besides, don't you remember me? Or doesn't my outfit look a bit familiar?" I looked at him with even more curiosity. "You don't recognize me, do you…Princess?" I thought I was going to faint again.
"P-P-P-PRINCESS?!" I exhale and inhale, for if I don't, death will come. "Whoever could you be talking about?" I say, trying to act cool. Gatti smiled. "I recognize you, Mei-shi, almost every one of my friends, now have the biggest crush on you." I blush madly. "Besides, I can tell by your beautiful eyes. Your gorgeous silver, and your deep, and lovely violet." I blush even more, if that is possible. "Your face was that same color when we were in your palace, Mei." I smile as well, "I was blushing like that because of one of you. The silver-haired, crimson-eyed one." Gatti slumped. "You like Dilandau-sama…All women do. I guess he CAN be handsome, but you should meet him. If he found out about you…it would be anarchy." I shrug. "Oh well…I guess I was just giving in to a silly, girlish crush. Too bad he isn't like you. You seem so very nice." Gatti smiled, as if he had been struck with the most ingenious idea. "Hey! Maybe you could pass as a male dragonslayer!" I giggle weakly. "Yeah, suuuure Gatti." I then grin devilishly. "Well maybe I can, will you help me?"