Disclaimer: *sobs* I'm so sorry, Van!! I don't own Escaflowne©...

Dedication: To all those who love me and my stories, and also to those who I love. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

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~~The bittersweet Angel~~

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~Prologue~

~~Beautiful Stranger~~

" Mother? Who is that girl? " a little bot that age of seven asked as he pointed to the girl sitting in the chair across from him.

" Hmm? "

" Her, look! Before she disappears again! " he cried, reaching over to tug on her arm.

Varie de Fanel looked up from her book and gasped. It fell from her hands. She jumped up and blinked, bringing a hand to her mouth as she shook her head, " No! You shouldn't be here! Be gone... "

The little girl sitting in the chair blinked and then stood up. She slowly walked over to the little boy and extended her hand

" No! Leave him be... he means no harm... " Varie cried as she ran forward to snatch her son up place him behind her.

The girl looked at Varie with soft sea-green eyes and shook her head, " If only you'd understand, Varie... everything would have been alright... " she whispered, her voice echoing throughout the large dining room.

Varie raised her hands up and placed them over her ears. Van Slanzar de Fanel blinked his confused reddish-brown eyes and looked at the girl from behind his mother's skirts. He suddenly brushed past her to run to the girl and grab her hand as she extended it to him again.

Van's breath was sucked right from his lungs as his eyes went wide. Images of a tall, beautiful girl dressed in strange clothes, floating fortresses, and a large robot like machine that turned into a dragon flashed before his eyes. The girl in front of him suddenly let out a cry of pain and disappeared from sight.

Van suddenly felt arms encircle him from behind as he was lifted up into strong arms. He blinked and peered up at his father; Goau de Fanel, his features exactly like his son's when he was his age.

" What are you doing? Why didn't you listen to your mother? " the King scolded his son gently.

Van's bottom lip trembled lightly and he began to cry, " The girl... she was sad. She wanted me to help her, to stay with her... "

Goau glanced over at his wife who was watching Van with worried eyes, " Van... please. I think you need to lay down.. " Varie whispered as she reached out to brush the raven black hair that fell in front of his brow back.

Goau nodded, " Your mother's right, Van... " he said as Varie opened the door to Van's bedroom.

Van shook his head and began to squirm in his father's arms, " No! You're wrong, I don't have to lay down. I need to find that girl. She's sad and wants me to be with her.... "

Varie shook her head and then placed a hand to her forehead, " Van... she's not sad. She's not who she really is, and who you think she is... she only means to bring you harm. You have to stay away from her... "

Van ignored his mother and remained silent in his father's arms. Goau sighed heavily and then gently sat his son on his bed. He backed away and crossed his arms over his chest.

" F-father! There's a strange girl walking up and down the hallways! " a boy with light aqua hair and crimson eyes cried as he burst into the room.

Goau whirled around to face his eldest son; Folken Lacour de Fanel, " Where! Show me this girl... " he demanded as he followed his son from the room.

Folken swallowed and led him down the hall to where the girl Van had claimed to see. She walked up and down the dimly lit hall, her head bowed and her arms tied behind her back. She appeared to her the same age as Van, her long sandy brown hair hung around her face, curtaining it from view. Low, tortured sobs echoed through the hall as the girl walked past them.

Goau blinked, not knowing what to do or say, outstretched a hand to her as she walked past him. His hand passed right through her.

" C-can't you hear them? She's crying... she's sad... " Van's scared, small voice came out from behind his father.

Goau whirled around to face Van, " W-who is she? Where is she from? " he asked gently.

" She's gone.... " Van whispered.

Goau whirled back around to face the girl, but Van was right, she wasn't there anymore.

" Van... come... " Varie called out to her son as she walked over to him and gently took her hand in his.

Van shook his head, but allowed his mother to walk him from the room, " M-mother? Will she ever come here? To visit me? " he asked quietly.

Varie looked down at her son's puzzled expression and she smiled lightly, " No, dear... she's not ever going to come here and put your life in danger... " she assured him.

Folken looked at his father, " Is mother telling the truth? "

Goau looked at Folken and then reached out to trousle his hair, " Don't worry about it, Folken... your mother would never lie... " he assured him lightly.

Folken sighed lightly and looked at the doorway where his mother and younger brother had disappeared in and shook his head. Something was going to happen, he knew it. He just couldn't figure out what. A few days later, Goau de Fanel died peacefully with his wife crying softly at his bedside...

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