DisClaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or any of the people in it. Please
don't sue.:0)
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Chapter 3: Circumstances
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-I want you to remember, a love so full it could send us always.
I want you to surrender, all my feelings rose today.-
- Bush-
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Zaibach Sunset
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" Can i get you to reconsider "? Miguel asked me. " No " I replied.
" Are you really sure you want to do this? " He asked. " Yes " I said.
Atrea and Miguel snuck into the castle. Miguel waited in the
basement while Atrea found Dilandau and Ziola. Her plan was to knock
them out with a mild sleeping potion and drag them both downstairs, tie
them up, gag them, and then who knows. She was not sure, she had
not got that far yet. She was angry and wanted blood, but it would have
to wait until she got some things out in the air. What had she got to
lose? She knew she had already lost her mind.
An hour later Both tied up and out cold. I waited until i could
not stand it anymore. I smacked them both around until they were mostly
awake. I stood there watching them come around. The looks of surprise.
It was priceless. I was not sure who was more surprised though. They
looked at each other and then back at me. Miguel remained in the
shadows, hiding his identity for reasons unknown to me. It was time.
Time to speak my delusional mind.
" Well you shouldn't look so surprised " i said with an evil grin.
" What did you think i would do? Hmmmm? Quietly go away? Perhaps i
suddenly went insane and became this submissive girl overnight. Or
perrrrrrhaps i just went insane. What do you think Dilandau? " I said.
He tried to speak through the gag, i only heard muffles. " Oh sorry,
did you really think that i would let YOU talk? Hmmmmmm. I have some
things i would like to tell you both. I wouldn't want to spoil it by
you talking.....Atrea walked up to Ziola..... I whispered " You seem
really surprised to see me Ziola, did you miss me? I suppose you
thought i would not come back to haunt you. Here i am..... I sure
missed you. When was the last time we saw each other? Ahhhhh yes, when
you tried to kill me, when you told me lies. Did i leave anything out?
Atrea turns her attention to the struggling Dilandau..... I guess you
must have missed me too. You thought i went back to the mystic moon.
You didn't even try to look for me. I was here the whole time. Under
your nose. You were duped. But thats ok; i forgive you. I kissed his
forehead. But i hate you now and forever. I said an inch from his face.
Atrea turned her attention again to both of them and stepped away from
Dilandau. She sat down in the third chair in an otherwise empty castle
basement.
" Oh how i do love having both your attentions, you see like i said
i do have a purpose for bringing you down here. I have a story to tell
you, since we would not want to have secrets between us. " I hissed.
" Let me see... Well first Van and Allen kidnapped me, and started the
rumor about the white light. Then i was told about Celena. Then your
upcoming marriage. That pretty much sums it up. Well except for the
fact that Ziola was part of the plan to split us up Dilandau. She knew
everything. And you never caught on. How quickly you replace me, in
only days. And the lies. I could have forgiven you, for believing the
white light scam. I knew in my heart you would find me, but you never
came. What a disappointment you are Dilandau. Fucking Disappointment.
Van and Allen did me a favor by telling me the truth. You see all my
love for you..... Has turned into hate.
Ziola, i guess you got what you wanted didn't you? In the end you
won. Just like you said you would. It is a shame.... Such a shame that
i won't let you enjoy it. Not a damn moment. And that. Well that kinda
makes me happy, even giddy with excitement. Atrea moves close to
Ziola's scared face. I hate you too. I guess you never expected me to
come for you. You thought that Dilandau would protect you. You were
wrong. I am going to kill you Ziola. She whispered. Atrea took out her
sword and slit Ziola's throat with a clean cut. " I guess you won't
live through that, will you?" Atrea watched the life go out of Ziola,
and kicked the chair over so she would not have to see her face again.
Dear Dilandau. Here we are together again. I know that you do not
fear me. I bet you wish that i would kill you now. Don't you? Not going
to happen. I could never kill you. As much as i hate your very being,
i could never kill you. Some part of me wishes i could let go of you
so easily, but the other holds tight. Like a vice. Atrea leans in
closer to his face and whispers and inch from his nose " I want you to
know, that after this moment i will never think of you again. But i am
sure that you will think about me for the rest of your life. "
After she said that, she walked away. Miguel came out of the
shadows in his hooded cloak and followed her out of the castle. They
both got about a mile away from Zaibach. Atrea stopped. " Are you ok?"
Miguel asked me. I could not speak. I was shaking so badly i was not
sure i could walk another step. I stood there shaking. I tried to walk
but my feet would not move. I stood there. After a few moments Miguel
picked me up, and i let him. We went back to the cavelike shelter. I
stared at the fire and could not speak. Hell i am not quite sure what
was happening to me. How quick i commited murder. Just like that. So
easy. I took another life because of anger. And i did not feel bad.
In fact, i was in awe that i felt no guilt. I loved him and i hated
him at the same time. I could not trust him yet i know he would never
harm me. I could have killed him, but i could not live knowing he was
dead. He told me once that he would never die. If he were to die, then
it would be by my hand. What have i done. Who was i? Who was the
person inside of this body. I was capable of anything. I was on the
edge. My emotions were so buried now. I couldn't feel. I was drained,
yet i could not sleep. I just sat there. Miguel was there too. Watching
me. He probably hated me for the person i had become. Just as well.
I hated myself too. He saw a person tonight that he did not even know.
I resign myself to sitting there. He would leave too. They all did at
one point in time or another...... they always left no matter what i
did.
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Miguel's thoughts
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Why does she sit there? How can i help her? I want so badly to
cross the line. I want to hold her, kiss her, and love her. God, i
want her badly. She needs help though. I could never take advantage of
her in that way. She looks so lost and alone. I am going to take her
away tomorrow. I am taking her to Fortuna Temple near Freid. They may
be able to help her when i cannot. I want to see her happy again. Even
if she can never return my feelings. I am afraid she made have started
a war though. The truth now revealed to Dilandau about the plot. Ziola
now dead. This does not sit well with me. I am taking her to the temple
now. We can't waste time. If anyone finds her, she is as good as dead.
" Come on Atrea, we need to go now. We can't stay here " Miguel said
breaking the silence. Saying nothing she stood up and went with him.
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Zaibach
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Someone finally found Dilandau and Ziola's body. Dilandau spent
the time thinking about everything. He had come to a decision. He was
going to find Atrea and bring her back, no matter the cost. He needed
her and would never let her go. If he had to he would kill the guy
that was her. He would find her. He would also have to explain to
Ispano what happened to Ziola, if at all. Maybe he would not tell
them, find a replacement of her or something. Why start a war? He had
a lot to do.
" Retwon, i want you to take your best men and find Atrea. I am
sure they could not have got far. Keep this quiet about Ziola's death
until i can think of something. Go now, and bring her to me post haste.
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Fanelia
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" King Fanel, we have word from our undercover operatives. Atrea
killed princess Ziola in cold blood and headed toward Spirit forest.
She had an unknown man with her. What do you want us to do? " asked
the gaurd. " Find her, kill the man if you have too, bring her here
now before anything else happens. Go quickly " Van said urgently.
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Somewhere in the middle of the forest
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Miguel leading Atrea through the forest. He would find a carriage
to take them the rest of the way soon enough. Miguel was walking a
zombielike Atrea. She was walking herself but that was it. She was
catatonic in every other way. Just then men wearing Fanelian uniforms
blocked the way forward. " Let us pass " Miguel said. " I am to inform
us, that the lady is to come with us, if you resist we will kill you "
the soldier informed him. Miguel drew his sword, pushing Atrea behind
him. She was in no condition to fight. it was too bad because she was
a lot better than he was. The odds did not look good. 5 of them and 1
of him. Behind him more movement. 4 Zaibach soldiers. He was
surrounded. " The lady is to come with us, if you resist you will be
killed " The Zaibach soldier said. Damn this is all too familiar. The
2 opposing parties noticed each other with surprised looks. " That's
right boys, we have a little bit of a conflict here. Why don't you
fight amongst yourselves, and let me know who wins " Miguel said
laughing.
The soldiers did indeed fight amongst themselves. Miguel took the
oportunity to escape quietly. He stole one of the horses. Seeing as
the owner just died, it should not be a problem. He rode away towards
Freid with Atrea in front of him.
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Zaibach-Dilandau
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Those Fanelia bastards! Trying to take away my love. What is she
to Van? He will pay for that soon enough. " How many men survived "
Dilandau asked the soldier. " One lord, i am the only one " he replied.
" What did the man with her look like? " Dilandau asked him. " I have
drawn a shadowgraph lord " he replied and handed it to him. " Thats..
thats impossible. Are you sure this was the man? " Dilandau asked as
the color drained from his face. " Yes lord, that is him. I saw him
with my own eyes " the soldier said. " Leave me now " Dilandau said
confused at the pictue that was in his hands.
Who was this man, it could not be Miguel. Zongi killed him. If he
survived, then his loyalties lie with Zaibach and to him. Why would he
help Atrea escape? I knew they were close friends, but Miguel was loyal
to him. That could not be Miguel, it just could not be. Who was this
fake? This imposter? I will find out and kill him for talking her away.
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Fanelia
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" Report " Van said impatiently. " Zaibach intercepted us as we
were about to capture the girl. Zaibach withdrew after much fighting.
The man left with the girl on a horse. We were badly hurt and could not
follow, my King " the soldier said. " Very well, get another team
together, we must capture her at all costs. Gaea's fate depends on it "
Van said most disturbed." Yes my king " the soldier said and left.
So she found someone to help her escape once again. this is not
good. Ispano will not take this news lightly. They will want a war
with Zaibach for justice. Which means Austuria will go to war. Fanelia
is allied with Ispano. This cannot happen again. I wish you were here
Hitomi, to tell me what to do. I have made so many mistakes already.
I wish you were here to guide me.
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On earth
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" Hitomi, your necklace is glowing " Yukari said shocked. " Oh. Is
it? I will be right back Yukari, i need to use the restroom " Hitomi
said and ran out of the restaurant.
Van is calling me. I need to go to him and find out what is the
matter. It must be urgent or he would not have called me to him.
Hitomi ran to her old school, so she could run the track behind it.
If he needed her, she was going.
Ok, concetrate. Focus everything. She ran. On the 10th second a
great white light engulfed her and she was returning to Gaea.