Chapter 3 - Palas
Palas, Capital of Asturia, outskirts
"Good Afternoon," Mina said as she bowed towards Van and Allen, "My name is Minako Aino, and I was hoping you could help me...you see because...well I'm ... please, where am I?" She finished. It was then she got a good look at the people who had rode up to her. The first one had dark hair, a red shirt, beige pants, and a very sad look on his face. Right away Mina felt sympathy for him, even though she didn't know why. She could also see a girl sitting behind him and she kind of looked like a cat. Then Mina locked eyes with the longhaired one. Mina held her breath. He was the most dashing and handsome man she had ever seen, and he seemed to be staring at her. Mina blushed and looked down.
"Oh..." the longhaired man began as he snapped out of his trance. "You are in the land of Asturia, young lady, one of the countries of the planet Gaea. My name is Allen Schezar and I am a Knight of Asturia. This is Van Fanel and his companion Merle." He said as he pointed towards the dark haired boy.
"That's LORD Van!" the cat girl said as she jumped of the horse and marched right up to Mina. Mina held her ground though. "Lord Van is King of Fanelia and just what exactly are you doing here? Did you come from the Mystic Moon?"
"Merle!" The one named Van yelled out as he jumped off his horse. The cat girl gave Mina one last glare and then jumped over beside Van.
"Really, a king? I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was in the presence of royalty." Mina said as she gave an awkward little curtsy.
"Please, don't." Van said a little embarrassed. "Um, are you from the Mystic Moon?"
"The Mystic Moon...?" Mina asked.
"Also known as the planet Earth, Minako." Allen said as he jumped off his horse. As he neared her, Mina could feel her heart beating faster.
"Yes, that's right, I'm from Earth, and call me Mina." Mina answered as she met eyes with the handsome man.
"Okay, Mina, just how did you end up on Gaea?" He asked. Wow, Mina thought, what deep eyes, and his voice is like an angel.
"Um..."Mina started as she caught another glare from the cat girl named Merle. "Now, this is going to sound a little fruity, but I'm not making it up." Mina took a deep breath. "I was walking home from school when suddenly this storm came from out of nowhere, you know, thunder and lightning, and then there was this big white flash. At first I thought nothing happened but as we got closer we saw a dragon, or what we thought was a dragon and..."
"Wait, a dragon!" Van asked.
"What do you mean 'we', who was with you?" Merle asked right after.
"Well, I was with Artemis, my c...friend. He was one that said it might be a dragon."
Van quickly described the type of dragon he fought on Earth for the energist and Mina nodded eagerly.
"Yes, that's exactly what we saw." Mina said excitedly. At least they don't think I'm crazy, she thought.
"Go on." Allen urged.
"Well, then I... ran away, because it was a dragon, right? But it was catching up to me...when it...well, then this light appeared and the dragon started drifting upwards...and I was caught in the light too...." Mina gulped. "Um, I'm sorry. Things are a little fuzzy after that." She said as she brought her hand up to rub her temples. "But then I woke up, not far from here, alone. I headed for that city down there when I noticed you two riding towards me." Mina said as she nodded her head in the city's direction.
"How inconsiderate of us!" Allen said he reached out and took Mina's hand. "Here we are drilling you with questions when you're probably tired from your journey. Come," he said as he patted her hand, "We will go back to Palas and let you rest. Then perhaps you can tell us a little bit more about yourself."
"Okay." Mina whispered as she turned her head to try to hide her bright red checks. Allen led Mina over to his horse. He got on first and then helped Mina up behind him. Van had already climbed on to his horse and was helping Merle up.
"Hold on." Allen told her as he kicked his horse. The horse started off towards the city and Mina grasped Allen around his waist.
Whoa, Mina thought, this bad day is turning into a very...strange day.
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As Mina laid on the giant bed in her room Allen had arranged for her, she thought about the day's events. Palas was a fascinating city. There were so many kinds of people, even people that were half animal. The marketplace was bustling with business and Mina wished she could have had time to shop around. Lita and Serena would have been in heaven. There were so many interesting things there! And the palace, it was huge. Allen had a servant bring Mina a plate of meats, cheese and fruits before he left. Mina smiled at the memory. Allen had tried to stay as long as possible, until finally someone dragged him away. Allen Schezar, thought Mina. Who are you? And why can't I stop thinking about you? Mina sighed.
A knock at the door brought Mina back to reality.
"Mina, its Van. Can I talk to you?"
Mina walked over to the door and let Van in. She directed him over to the table and they sat down.
"I wanted to apologize to you." Van started. "I wasn't very friendly or open to you back there. It's just that, well, I was expecting someone else and I was disappointed that you weren't her."
"Who were you expecting Van?" Mina asked as she munched on some fruit.
"Well, I was hoping, maybe you know her. You said you came from Tokyo, right?" Mina nodded. "Well, about a year ago a girl named Hitomi Kanzaki came to Gaea. She helped us defeat the Zaibach empire and restore peace to the land, but she went back, and I thought, well, maybe that she had returned." Van finished, looking a little embarrassed.
"Listen Van," Mina said, "when I first saw you, I could tell you were sad, and now I know why. Hitomi must have meant a lot to you."
Van looked a little startled at this.
"How did you know that?" He asked. "Are you a seerer too?"
"A what? No, it's just, when it comes to love and feelings, I guess I'm sensitive about them. Plus, I could see it in your eyes. Someone once told me that if you look deep into a person's eyes, you can see into their soul, and your soul is heavy with sadness. I've loved and lost too, Van, but if you believe that Hitomi might return someday, then that hope will keep your love for her alive." Van and Mina were silent for a couple of moments.
"I'm sorry Van, I didn't mean to pry into your life like that."
"No, it's okay. You're right. I loved Hitomi and everyday I wish I hadn't let her go."
"Kanzaki...Kanzaki...where have I heard that name before..." Mina whispered. Van's eyes immediately lit up.
"So...you know Hitomi?!" He asked excitedly.
"No...but I know I've heard that name before. Did she tell you what school she went to?" Van said no, but then described Hitomi's school uniform to Mina. She recognized it as a high school from the other side of town, but she still couldn't place the name.
At that moment, there was knock at the door and Allen and Merle came in.
"Lord Van!" Merle said and she ran over and hugged Van.
Whoa, thought Mina, is she clingy.
Allen came over and sat down beside Mina. They smiled at each other and Mina could feel herself getting warm again.
What is it about this guy that does this to me, she thought, as she watched him talk to Van.
Later on, the four of them were enjoying a small meal together when another knock came at the door. Allen went over to answer it. A soldier was at the door. He spoke with Allen quietly. Allen's light disposition slowly turned serious.
"Alert my men and have them prepare the Crusade." He told the soldier as the soldier saluted and left.
"What's happening Allen?" Van asked as he stood up and instinctively put his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"It's Zaibach. It's been reported that a band of roaming soldiers is terrorizing a small town on the outskirts of Asturia. I'm going to take the Crusade and my men and track them down. I'm don't like them being this close to the capital or anywhere near Asturia for that matter."
"I'll come with you." Van said. Allen nodded. Van, Allen and Merle started to leave.
"Wait!" Mina yelled. "Let me come with you. Maybe I can help?"
She saw Merle react with shock and annoyance. Her face read, 'Oh really, like YOU could do anything useful'. Just as Merle was about to say those things, Allen spoke up.
"Alright, but you're going to have to stay in the ship with Merle." And with that, the four of them headed out towards the dock where the Crusade awaited.
NOTE: What will be waiting for our heroes? The story is going to get much more exciting from this point on. And what about Allen and Mina! I think it's about time Allen got the girl, don't you? Let me know what you think! Also, I apologize if I'm getting some of the facts wrong, like, I'm not sure if Hitomi lives in Tokyo, but she does in this story :)
Palas, Capital of Asturia, outskirts
"Good Afternoon," Mina said as she bowed towards Van and Allen, "My name is Minako Aino, and I was hoping you could help me...you see because...well I'm ... please, where am I?" She finished. It was then she got a good look at the people who had rode up to her. The first one had dark hair, a red shirt, beige pants, and a very sad look on his face. Right away Mina felt sympathy for him, even though she didn't know why. She could also see a girl sitting behind him and she kind of looked like a cat. Then Mina locked eyes with the longhaired one. Mina held her breath. He was the most dashing and handsome man she had ever seen, and he seemed to be staring at her. Mina blushed and looked down.
"Oh..." the longhaired man began as he snapped out of his trance. "You are in the land of Asturia, young lady, one of the countries of the planet Gaea. My name is Allen Schezar and I am a Knight of Asturia. This is Van Fanel and his companion Merle." He said as he pointed towards the dark haired boy.
"That's LORD Van!" the cat girl said as she jumped of the horse and marched right up to Mina. Mina held her ground though. "Lord Van is King of Fanelia and just what exactly are you doing here? Did you come from the Mystic Moon?"
"Merle!" The one named Van yelled out as he jumped off his horse. The cat girl gave Mina one last glare and then jumped over beside Van.
"Really, a king? I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was in the presence of royalty." Mina said as she gave an awkward little curtsy.
"Please, don't." Van said a little embarrassed. "Um, are you from the Mystic Moon?"
"The Mystic Moon...?" Mina asked.
"Also known as the planet Earth, Minako." Allen said as he jumped off his horse. As he neared her, Mina could feel her heart beating faster.
"Yes, that's right, I'm from Earth, and call me Mina." Mina answered as she met eyes with the handsome man.
"Okay, Mina, just how did you end up on Gaea?" He asked. Wow, Mina thought, what deep eyes, and his voice is like an angel.
"Um..."Mina started as she caught another glare from the cat girl named Merle. "Now, this is going to sound a little fruity, but I'm not making it up." Mina took a deep breath. "I was walking home from school when suddenly this storm came from out of nowhere, you know, thunder and lightning, and then there was this big white flash. At first I thought nothing happened but as we got closer we saw a dragon, or what we thought was a dragon and..."
"Wait, a dragon!" Van asked.
"What do you mean 'we', who was with you?" Merle asked right after.
"Well, I was with Artemis, my c...friend. He was one that said it might be a dragon."
Van quickly described the type of dragon he fought on Earth for the energist and Mina nodded eagerly.
"Yes, that's exactly what we saw." Mina said excitedly. At least they don't think I'm crazy, she thought.
"Go on." Allen urged.
"Well, then I... ran away, because it was a dragon, right? But it was catching up to me...when it...well, then this light appeared and the dragon started drifting upwards...and I was caught in the light too...." Mina gulped. "Um, I'm sorry. Things are a little fuzzy after that." She said as she brought her hand up to rub her temples. "But then I woke up, not far from here, alone. I headed for that city down there when I noticed you two riding towards me." Mina said as she nodded her head in the city's direction.
"How inconsiderate of us!" Allen said he reached out and took Mina's hand. "Here we are drilling you with questions when you're probably tired from your journey. Come," he said as he patted her hand, "We will go back to Palas and let you rest. Then perhaps you can tell us a little bit more about yourself."
"Okay." Mina whispered as she turned her head to try to hide her bright red checks. Allen led Mina over to his horse. He got on first and then helped Mina up behind him. Van had already climbed on to his horse and was helping Merle up.
"Hold on." Allen told her as he kicked his horse. The horse started off towards the city and Mina grasped Allen around his waist.
Whoa, Mina thought, this bad day is turning into a very...strange day.
************************
As Mina laid on the giant bed in her room Allen had arranged for her, she thought about the day's events. Palas was a fascinating city. There were so many kinds of people, even people that were half animal. The marketplace was bustling with business and Mina wished she could have had time to shop around. Lita and Serena would have been in heaven. There were so many interesting things there! And the palace, it was huge. Allen had a servant bring Mina a plate of meats, cheese and fruits before he left. Mina smiled at the memory. Allen had tried to stay as long as possible, until finally someone dragged him away. Allen Schezar, thought Mina. Who are you? And why can't I stop thinking about you? Mina sighed.
A knock at the door brought Mina back to reality.
"Mina, its Van. Can I talk to you?"
Mina walked over to the door and let Van in. She directed him over to the table and they sat down.
"I wanted to apologize to you." Van started. "I wasn't very friendly or open to you back there. It's just that, well, I was expecting someone else and I was disappointed that you weren't her."
"Who were you expecting Van?" Mina asked as she munched on some fruit.
"Well, I was hoping, maybe you know her. You said you came from Tokyo, right?" Mina nodded. "Well, about a year ago a girl named Hitomi Kanzaki came to Gaea. She helped us defeat the Zaibach empire and restore peace to the land, but she went back, and I thought, well, maybe that she had returned." Van finished, looking a little embarrassed.
"Listen Van," Mina said, "when I first saw you, I could tell you were sad, and now I know why. Hitomi must have meant a lot to you."
Van looked a little startled at this.
"How did you know that?" He asked. "Are you a seerer too?"
"A what? No, it's just, when it comes to love and feelings, I guess I'm sensitive about them. Plus, I could see it in your eyes. Someone once told me that if you look deep into a person's eyes, you can see into their soul, and your soul is heavy with sadness. I've loved and lost too, Van, but if you believe that Hitomi might return someday, then that hope will keep your love for her alive." Van and Mina were silent for a couple of moments.
"I'm sorry Van, I didn't mean to pry into your life like that."
"No, it's okay. You're right. I loved Hitomi and everyday I wish I hadn't let her go."
"Kanzaki...Kanzaki...where have I heard that name before..." Mina whispered. Van's eyes immediately lit up.
"So...you know Hitomi?!" He asked excitedly.
"No...but I know I've heard that name before. Did she tell you what school she went to?" Van said no, but then described Hitomi's school uniform to Mina. She recognized it as a high school from the other side of town, but she still couldn't place the name.
At that moment, there was knock at the door and Allen and Merle came in.
"Lord Van!" Merle said and she ran over and hugged Van.
Whoa, thought Mina, is she clingy.
Allen came over and sat down beside Mina. They smiled at each other and Mina could feel herself getting warm again.
What is it about this guy that does this to me, she thought, as she watched him talk to Van.
Later on, the four of them were enjoying a small meal together when another knock came at the door. Allen went over to answer it. A soldier was at the door. He spoke with Allen quietly. Allen's light disposition slowly turned serious.
"Alert my men and have them prepare the Crusade." He told the soldier as the soldier saluted and left.
"What's happening Allen?" Van asked as he stood up and instinctively put his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"It's Zaibach. It's been reported that a band of roaming soldiers is terrorizing a small town on the outskirts of Asturia. I'm going to take the Crusade and my men and track them down. I'm don't like them being this close to the capital or anywhere near Asturia for that matter."
"I'll come with you." Van said. Allen nodded. Van, Allen and Merle started to leave.
"Wait!" Mina yelled. "Let me come with you. Maybe I can help?"
She saw Merle react with shock and annoyance. Her face read, 'Oh really, like YOU could do anything useful'. Just as Merle was about to say those things, Allen spoke up.
"Alright, but you're going to have to stay in the ship with Merle." And with that, the four of them headed out towards the dock where the Crusade awaited.
NOTE: What will be waiting for our heroes? The story is going to get much more exciting from this point on. And what about Allen and Mina! I think it's about time Allen got the girl, don't you? Let me know what you think! Also, I apologize if I'm getting some of the facts wrong, like, I'm not sure if Hitomi lives in Tokyo, but she does in this story :)