***Author's Note***

***Author's Note***

Grrrr...stupid, stupid me! I had like half of part 5 done and I stupidly forgot to SAVE it! Arrrgg! (*sigh*) Stupid me. But don't worry. I won't let my stupidity affect the fic that's for sure. And please review! I didn't get as many reviews for chapter 4 as the previous ones but whatever. Anyway, go on and read now.

Disclaimer: Look at previous disclaimers.

Dedication: ~*A White Rose Petal*~ and to you all!


Parents' Wish

Chapter 5: Queen Hippoly

By: ME jus1digigirl *Maura*


"Please no," Hitomi whispered. The white beam began flickering slowly at first and then faster and faster. They were still a little ways from it.

"Come on!" Amano urged Yukari.

The four teens reached the flickering beam when it suddenly began shooting back up into the sky.

"NOOOO!" Van yelled watching the beam go higher and higher, yet slowly.

His strengths and energy left him suddenly and he felt hopeless. Fanelia would be ruined, doomed, as the poem stated. He would never see his home, Merle, or anyone else. Everything would be ruined and it was his entire fault. The beam was his only way to get back.

Behind Van, Hitomi whispered one word, "Wings."

Van's head snapped up. That was it! He wouldn't be left like this. Things would be okay. He would be going back to Gaea, Hitomi and her friends with him, just as they had planned. A renewed strength surged through his entire body as his wings shot out. The luggage lay forgotten on the grass as he grabbed Hitomi around the waist who took Yukari's hand.

I can do this. I can. He began flapping his wings and slowly, the three lifted off the ground. They went higher and higher. Yukari's feet still dangled close to the ground meaning they still weren't high enough yet.

"Amano!" Hitomi yelled down. "Grab Yukari's feet!"

Amano ran right under them, waited until Yukari's feet were right in front of his face and then held on. In a few seconds, Amano was completely off the ground, the bottom of his feet about five feet above.

By now, Van's wings were tiring and his strength leaving him once again. The weight of four people was too much for even him. They began to slowly descend though Van tried with all his might to stay airborne. But it was hopeless. He was losing his energy much too quickly. No! The beam was disappearing into the air faster but still not yet gone. Van closed his eyes concentrating. Suddenly, a soft voice made him open them.

"You can do it Van! I know you can," Hitomi whispered staring into his eyes.

Van stared back, caught for a moment in those sea-green eyes. He had come to far to get her back and they would make it. He flapped harder.

"Yukari, Amano! Listen up!" Hitomi called down, looking at her friends who were fearfully clinging on for dear life. The looked up carefully at her. "Concentrate in sending your energy to Van! Hurry!" she yelled down urgently, wind blowing hair into her face.

Yukari and Amano asked no questions on how to do this but simply closed their eyes and tried to obey Hitomi, though they had no idea what exactly they were doing. Hitomi herself, closed her own eyes and concentrated. Come on Van. You can do. Use my energy, Yukari's, and Amano's. Please Van, I know we'll make it, she thought. Quite suddenly, she felt weak but luckily not weak enough to let go of Yukari's hands.

Van heard Hitomi yell down at her friends on sending energy to him. He hoped it would work because he was desperately losing strength and they were getting farther and farther away from the light. Then, he began to glow, glow white. He felt his strength and energy returning in a great rush, but in much more mass. Guess it worked. He thought with a smile. He flapped his wings with the greatest of ease and the new energy helped him get closer, closer, ever so closer to the beam.

The beam was almost out of sight, fading and going up. Almost there! Come on wings, don't fail me now! Van thought. He suddenly shot upward directly towards the white beam. Looking down quickly, he saw Hitomi, Yukari, and Amano were, thankfully, still with him, all looking very tired yet excited. He looked back up. The beam was right there! He lifted the arm not holding Hitomi and outstretching his fingers, touching the edge of the light.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Princess Kaira walked through the castle halls to her room when she heard a voice behind her.

"Princess?"

She whirled around to face the speaker who turned out to be her mother's trusted maid and nurse. Her face relaxed. "What is it Dori?"

Dori bowed. "Your mother wishes to speak with you my princess."

Kaira sighed, obviously not wanting to speak to her mother. But if she did not, her mother would summon her anyway with her magic. "Is she in her room?"

Dori nodded. "Nay, in her private study. She speaks in urgency."

"Thank you Dori. You may attend to your duties. I will go to Mother now." Kaira picked up her dress and walked the opposite way to her mother's study. Upon reaching the door, it suddenly flew open. Kaira, unsurprised, walked in.

She hated the queen's study. Her mother never appreciated the books it contained like Kaira. Only kept it for image. The entire room was dark, the curtains always drawn except in a guest's presence, and chairs and couches with very high backs, which were very uncomfortable for reading. There were a few tables here and there with books placed on top as decorations and never touched otherwise. Looking around the large room, Kaira spotted her mother sitting by a window on the far side. The curtain was actually open for once.

"You wished to see me Mother?" Kaira asked walking over.

Her mother raised her head. "Come sit Kaira. We have matters of importance to discuss." Queen Hippoly pointed to the seat across from her.

Kaira sat down.

"Would you like some tea dear?" her mother asked picking up the teapot on the table between them.

Kaira refused politely. "I would like to get on with the...important matters if you please." she said quite abruptly as if speaking to an advisor or council member rather than her mother, as it always was when they talked.

"If you wish. Kaira dear, we, your father and I that is," Queen Hippoly sipped her cup of tea delicately. "We believe that the sooner you leave for Fanelia, the better it is."

Kaira held her breath not believing what she was hearing. Hoping she heard incorrectly, she said nothing waiting for her mother to continue which she did.

"The carriage to take you there is here today and I've asked you maid to pack your things."

"No..." Kaira whispered. "It's too soon!"

Her mother did not look up at her daughter and continued as if Kaira hadn't spoken. "You have an hour before you are to leave. I already sent a message to Fanelia to tell them of the change."

Kaira didn't need to ask how her mother got the message sent so quickly, she already knew, her powers.

"Once you arrive, you are to be as courteous and princess-like. No talk of your hobby of reading. King's hate the knowing that they have smart wives." At that comment, Queen Hippoly's eyes flashed angrily and somewhat sadly but her little sign of emotion disappeared. "You will behave like a princess is to behave and you will not disrespect the King in anyway. The-"

"Stop Mother!" Kaira shouted suddenly. The queen looked up in disapproval at the sudden outburst. Her daughter never interrupted her if she knew what was best for her. "Please. I know I'm not supposed to speak when you are but why must I marry this king? What is so special about him? I don't know him at all. If I want to marry, I want it to be for love, not for--for some stupid marriage arrangement my parent's and his made years ago when I was just barely born!" Kaira took a deep breath glad to get this off her chest. Now she looked at her mother, hoping to have gotten through to her in someway.

"The wedding," the Queen said icily, "will be held in a week from now. You will have time until then to get to know Van Fanel and get him to trust you. Then, your father and I will arrive for the wedding. Make no mistakes my daughter, Princess Hippolyta, and you will later understand the reason for this marriage. You are dismissed."

Kaira started at her mother, tears forming in her eyes. It was no use. Her mother didn't care. She didn't care at all about her daughter, only about the marriage her daughter would make to a king. In shock and unable to speak, she rose from her seat and headed towards the door.

About to leave, she heard her mother say one last thing. "And remember. Do not try any tricks dear, for your father and I will know."

Kaira hung her head and flew out the door to her room in tears. There was nothing she could do. She would be in Fanelia before the day was over and there was nothing she could do except to keep up her hope.

"Don't worry Teddie. You'll be only I'll be marrying, not this king. There's a way to get out of this, I just have to find it myself, even if I don't have any help from my own parents," she whispered into the air, tears still falling.


~*~ Did the four-some make it? What is the reason for this forced marriage? We know it's because of the four parents' Kaira's and Van's wish for them to wed but could there be something deeper we don't know? ~*~


***Author's Note***

Whew! I think that turned out better than the one I deleted. LOL. Tell me what you think. Umm...I kinda need some ideas for later chapters from what you've read so far. For example, who IS the old man who owned the desk? I haven't a clue yet. And I also need ideas on what exactly are Kaira and her parents powers. Stuff like that. I have some ideas in mind which I know I'm gonna use but suggestions are always accepted and very helpful. And another thing, if anyone has watched all the eps of Escaflowne, and wouldn't mind telling me about what happened, please e-mail me and fill me in. I'd really appreciate it. Or if you know a site that has the dialogues or the entire episode summaries, please send the link to me. I know parts of what happened but not much. I want a lot of details! Thanks! Okay, enough babbling. Now review! ^_~

*Maura*

P.S. Chapter 6 may take a while to get out. I've got to work on some stuff and I've temporarily got writer's block but I'll try my best to get it out ASAP for your sake! J