The Dark of Dawn: Unexpected Arrival

The Dark of Dawn

An Escaflowne Fan-Fiction

We know I didn't create Escaflowne. Which is why I thank the companies who did, and assure them I am not making profit off this. I just have a lot of spare time and an overactive imagination.

Chapter Four: Unexpected Arrival

The priestess unpacked her bag. "Are you ready for this event?" she asked cheerily.

Arteissa laughed nervously. "I suppose, Princess Eries," she bravely said, not wanting this to happen. If only an interruption would occur... soon.

She got her wish, amazingly promptly. A servant came in, panting, to inform His Majesty that the former Prince was waiting to see him. Arteissa's reaction was mixed. It was rather nice to get her wish, but was Folken not dead?

Van's face registered shock, then a slight smile. He had felt grieved when his brother died, and as long as Folken wasn't evil, he would not mind having his brother back at all. "Welcome him in," he ordered, to the dismay of the servant.

As he strode out to the Throne Room, followed closely by the Princess Eries and Arteissa. Hitomi, Selena, Allen, Merle and her husband Matek, along with Dryden, were all there waiting for them. As usual, Prince Folken made a grand entrance, with a few major differences- he had all his limbs, and he looked more like his pre-Zaibach self.

"Brother," Van and Folken said simultaneously, hugging. As Arteissa stepped up to take a closer look, she suddenly had a flashback.

"I have brought my sister to Zaibach for her education. Treat her well and don't let her come to any harm." The servant bowed, murmuring affirmation to Zaibach's Strategos.

"I-I've seen you before," Arteissa whispered, although no one heard, "You were Strategos, and you said I was your sister, and you were going to educate me there at Zaibach." This, to her was a great explanation of why she had been able to defend herself against the bullies in her village. She had always been an outcast, making her an easy target when she was at school. She could kick-box, do kung-fu, karate and other martial arts and even fight with weapons.

Obviously, the bullies soon moved on to another target after their bones mended. Unfortunately for Arteissa, everybody was then scared stiff of her and she was left all alone. She realized then that she would still have to keep on training, and got one of the fighters of the village to help train her. Her arms had begun to get muscular, boosting her self-confidence to a new high.

As the brothers stepped up for introductions, Arteissa saw Selena's face show recognition to Folken. He did not seem to notice this, and kept on chatting cheerily with his brother. When Arteissa was introduced, however, the Prince gave a small start, remembering the girl who had been brought to Zaibach years before for training. She had been kicked off later on, having no use, though.

The two siblings stared at each other for a few seconds, then followed the others into a big hall, where they were to dine. Although there were awkward silences at the table, the food was exquisite, and everyone was ill afterwards without exception.

The next few days passed by without incident- for most people in the castle. For Hitomi and Van, it was a rather different story.

Hitomi had gotten bored of the idyllic palace life, and went out for a tour of the capital. She instinctively brought her cell phone with her, without really noticing that. As she strolled through the busy marketplace, she heard a familiar ring {true feelings are supposed to be what lets the reception work}. The people around her jumped, looking suspiciously around the area, then pinpointed the sound to her.

Hitomi had been too shocked to notice all the eyes in her, though. She answered her phone hastily, and then assured her mother of her well-being. As Hitomi hung up, she started to notice just how welcome she was in the city. The people were simply alarming, so she hastily turned a corner...

...Where a man had been waiting to take her away. Hitomi was knocked out, then dragged into a cart, which was going right to what looked to be an inconspicuous house. When the kidnappers went inside with her, she awoke, and found herself to be in what she thought was a bar, or strip club. It was a brothel house, frequented by men from everywhere around.

The men sold her to the prosperous owner, who was delighted. Luckily for our friend Hitomi, the first hours were simply introductions to the business; not that she wanted to know anything.

While Van had been participating in a group discussion at the palace, he idly wondered where Hitomi was. He decided to find out afterwards. After his meeting was done, he carried this out with amazing speed.

Of course, no one quite knew where she was. Van once again had to depend on the handy-dandy pendant to find her. He felt distraught when the pendant tugged so far forward that he was almost choked.

Van started to stride out into the forest nearby, for safe cover. Arteissa, who was in the garden, saw him and bounced over to her possible brother. When he reached the forest, with her following, Arteissa was exhausted. She persevered, though, finally reaching him as he ripped off his shirt and spreading his angelic wings.

This was when he noticed her, with terrible timing. She had lost her breath a while back, and she was quite sure she wouldn't get it back for a while. The King gave a melting smile, saying, "Family secret." He then flapped off, leaving a feather behind [There is no way he's going to molt in this story, baby.]

Arteissa picked it up with wonder, then was filled with excitement. If she was the Princess- she walked on into the woods. The girl then wriggled out of her beautiful dress, sure that she would not be seen. Then she concentrated like never before, and just wished hard.

She was surrounded in a swirl of white as a pair of wings rippled out of her back. Arteissa Fanel laughed delightedly, finding her wishes unfolding before her. She didn't even notice the Lady Schezar come into the forest.

Van, of course, found the house (he thought) in which Hitomi was. He burst in anxiously, not noticing his surroundings were slightly odd. The beaming landlady came up, thinking that the House was really having a great day.

Van once again concentrated on the pendant to find his love, but was stopped by the owner. "So, are you here for the afternoon show or an all-nighter?" she sweetly asked her king.

"I'm just trying to find someone," he replied. For a king, Van led a very innocent life.

"Perfect! I'll bring out the girls," she exclaimed. The girls were brought out, very scantily clad. They giggled and blushed to see royalty there. Van was very confused and unsatisfied.

"No, she's not here," he whined.

"Here, she must be at the show," said the lady, dragging him into a room where a striptease was going on. The citizens in the room whooped to see their king there. The woman on the stage was Hitomi.

"Hitomi?" Van yelled in amazement.

"Oh, Van!" Hitomi flung herself towards him, half-naked, and started sobbing violently. He calmed her down, while the owner hovered around yelling that he'd have to pay good money for the girl.

He brought himself to his full height, then looked down at her, with Hitomi still hugging him and said, "You have been an accomplice in a kidnapping. I am the King of Fanelia, and I hope you will just let this girl go instead of being arrested." Of course, the landlady just nodded dumbly, while Van took out his shirt and gave it to Hitomi, who was topless.

They walked out to the forest, where Van flew them up towards the palace.