Gomen, Gomen, Gomen, my loyal readers

Gomen, Gomen, Gomen, my loyal readers. I t has been one heck of a summer. I haven't had a working internet connection in two months, and to top it off, I had Major, writer's block. I know that's no excuse, but better to have it late and great than early and bad, right? O.K Just a quick reminder before you continue, Itallics=thought and I hope the dream isn't too confusing. If it is I'm sorry. As always R/R

And enjoy!

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Miguel ran towards her at an incredible speed and raised his sword for the first blow. Angela just stood, waiting, a defiant look on her face. It came down faster and faster until someone's sword had flown across the gym and another was defeated.

The crowd that had gathered roared. With one swipe, Angela was able to disarm Miguel and have her sword pressed firmly against his neck.

"H…How did you manage to beat me so easily?" a very stunned and very embarrassed Miguel asked.

"Actually," she replied matter-of-factly, "it was because of the way you are holding your sword. The grasp was quite flimsy and I was easily able to knock your sword out of your hand. As you can see," she continued, now addressing the entirety of the dragonslayers who had gathered around her to watch the fight, "even the smallest of details can be exploited by the enemy, so you must be prepared for anything."

So the princess then began teaching her now attentive 'pupils' how to refine their already great skills. They weren't just taught how to hold a sword correctly, but also instilled in their brains was how to hold their feet when an enemy either charged outright or slowly. As she was showing the grateful troops how to slash at someone without getting knocked down, a great awful noise filled the air.

At first it sounded almost inhuman as it echoed down the corridors, but, as they listened intently, everyone in the gym realized with a gasp the only thing such a sound could be coming from.

"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE!?!?!?" an extremely pissed Dilandau screeched from the doorway, after seeing a total lack of discipline and training from his men.

"M..Master Dilandau…sir, we were," Gatti stammered, trying to keep his master, and especially his temper, under control.

"Out of my way FOOL," he bellowed and swiped Gatti to the side. "Who has started this…this mutiny among my troops? Well? Who was it? Step forward now, worm and you won't be hurt as badly."

Angela, who had heard enough of the blowhard, stepped forward and declared "I am your worm, what are you to do with me?"

Dilandau's eyes burned with rage, as he glared at her, but she did not back down at his silent threats. She just stood, as two equally dangerous animals would stand. Finally, Dilandau's gaze broke from hers and he asked in a mocking tone "Just what were you trying to do here, little princess?"

Angela answered in the same tone, "I was teaching them how to win. With my help, you could easily defeat cities like Fanalia." As those words came out of her mouth, Angela realized exactly what she was doing. What am I saying? I can't help them defeat Fanalia. Angela knew she needed to get out of there- and quickly, so, to the astonishment of all the dragonslayers, especially Dilandau, Angela ran- not knowing or caring where, until she was out of the castle and deep into the middle of the woods surrounding it.

Finally, she stopped just outside of a clearing, and decided to sit and think a while. Fanalia, they can't destroy it. But, where can I stand against them? Where do my loyalties belong? To, Fanalia, where I was practically born and raised and where Van rules? Or to Zybach, where, on a whim, I was cast out by my father to fulfil a destiny he could not? Why has fate dealt me such a cruel hand? To which do I stand for? My love? Or my kingdom? This is too much to think about right now, I will think later, when I have a clear head. But, right now, I have to calm myself down. So, still sitting in her spot, Angela began to meditate.

As she relaxed, Angela saw glimpses of happier times, mostly with her and Van, but other, stranger ones also became prominent in her mind. Ones even before she fell in love with Van, ones of Folken. A particular one stuck out, though. It was the last time she had seen him, until the castle.

He is riding off towards the forest, where he is to slay a dragon to become king. As he starts off for the woods, a voice calls him, and he turns. It is Angela, and she is worried that he might get killed, so she tries to stop him, but he shakes his head, tells her he loves her and he'll be back, hands her a white rose and rides into the woods. This was right before her mother died, she wished she could see her once more. She then tried to remember the last time she saw her mother. When was the last time I saw her? I remember people coming to the castle, yelling about something. Then she made me promise. The promise! I was never to use my wings again. She made me promise. Then the fire…the burning…the screams………….

Angela awoke to violent shaking by an attendant of hers. What was his name? Bob, Bert,… Ben! That's it, Benjamin. That was weird, why had they sent a house servant to find her? "I'm, alright, Ben. Please stop shaking me now."

"Oh, thank the gods, you're alright, we were so worried."

"Worried? I was only gone for a few.… hours?" Angela then took a good look around and realized exactly what time it was. Had it gotten dark already? How long was she in a trance? No wonder they were looking for me, I must have been gone hours, and scared them half to death. I should go back anyway, but what did those visions mean? What happened back then? And, more importantly, what's going to happen now?

Eh? It wasn't too sucky, was it? Like I said let me know, R/R. Oh, and just incase the real owners of Escaflowne read this, I DO NOT, although I would love to, own Escaflowne.

So, till, next chapter all my loyal readers… bye. Oh, and don't forget to R/R