Escaflowne of the Sky
Cynic X
"..."- dialogue
'...'- thoughts
..... - scene change
Chapter 2- Van
"Uhh...W...wh...what happened?" Hitomi said as she tried to get up, but the pain in her head made her fall back to the ground. 'I must have fallen out of bed again.' She thought as she rolled over, and opened her eyes wide as she felt something touch her face.
"Wh...What the hell?" Hitomi asked, as she opened her eyes to see grass. 'GRASS! What the hell is grass doing in my room?' She got into a sitting position, placing a hand on her head to try and take away some one the pain. She opened her eyes to see that grass and trees surrounded her. 'I must be dreaming.' Hitomi though as she took in the landscape. 'It looks like I'm in some kind of forest.' Before she could take in her surroundings anymore, something in the sky caught her eye. 'T...two moons?! I must have banged my head harder than I thought because now I'm seeing doubles of everything.' With another moan, Hitomi got into a standing position, and, using the trees to brace her self, stumbled towards an opening in the trees.
"I must be dreaming." Hitomi chanted, as she pinched herself.
"Ouch! Guess I'm not dreaming." Hitomi said sadly. 'First I'm in my bed sleeping, and now I'm in a field somewhere. This is just great Mom is going to kill me when I find a pay phone and call her so she can come pick me up. Then she'll be even more pissed when she finds out that I did something to my head and...' Hitomi's thoughts where interrupted as she heard a twig snap and the ruffling of leaves up ahead. 'Someone must be here.' Hitomi though suddenly, as her guard went up. 'I gotta get out of here.' She thought as she started back in the direction she came, but after a few steps, her foot hit something.
"Ahh!" Hitomi screamed as her face came in contact with the ground. 'Just great, I trip and fall and eat dirt.' Hitomi said as she got up and spit out the dirt that had made its way into her mouth. 'What did I trip over?' Hitomi though, as she tried to see in the dimly lit area. She felt along the ground, and her hands came in contact with something. 'Hmm...feels...it feels like...like leather?' She thought as she moved her fingers over the object, not able to see since the moons had been hidden by the clouds. 'What could it be?...It feels like a...a shoe? I tripped over a shoe?!' She thought angrily as she tried to pick up the shoe in frustration to throw it at something, but found that it wouldn't move.'
"Come on, you are so going for a flight." Hitomi was now on her hands and knees trying to pick the shoe up, when her hand hit something else. 'A second one! Great, now I can go for target practice.'
"Excuse me, but would you please stop." A voice said from over head.
With a startled yelp, Hitomi's eyes went wide, as her hands fell to the ground. 'Oh Shit!' Hitomi though. 'Someone is standing right in front of me!'
"I believe that this is yours." The voice said as Hitomi saw something move in front of her face.
"That's my track bag!" Hitomi cried as she made out her trusty track bag in the dim light. "Thanks so much!" Hitomi said with a smile. 'I must have tripped over it when I fell.'
"I'm Hitomi, what's your name." Hitomi asked as she extended her hand.
"Van." The voice said, but didn't shake her hand.
"You know, you could at least shake my hand, it's not like I have the cooties or something." Hitomi replied as she drew her hand back.
"What for?" The voice asked, as he started to move.
"Because it is the polite thing to do!" Hitomi cried, as she saw that she was being left behind. "Hey, wait up!"
She saw the dark figure stop and waited for her to catch up.
"Do you know where we are? I have to call my Mom to tell her I'm okay, she must be freaking out by now." Hitomi said as she followed the figure.
"I'd say that we are on the outskirts of Fanelia."
"What? Where is that in relationship to Tokyo?" Hitomi asked with confusion.
"Tokyo, what's that?" The figure asked.
"Tokyo, you know Japan, on the planet Earth!" Hitomi said sarcastically.
"Earth?"
"What do you mean Earth, of course we are on Earth, what other planet would we be on?"
"Gaea"
"Gaea? You mean I'm on a different planet?" Hitomi asked with shock.
"I guess so. I really don't know where you are from. But judging by the Mystic Moon, I'd say we are most definitely back at Fanelia." Van said as he pointed to the two moons in the sky. Hitomi followed to where his finger pointed and gasped. Sure enough, the two moons that she thought she was seeing earlier weren't two moons at all, but the moon and the Earth.
"Oh my God! That's the Earth!" Hitomi cried as she looked at the sphere in the sky that resembled the pictures she had seen of the planet taken from outer space.
"Well then, I guess you are from the Mystic Moon."
"Yeah, the Mystic Moon." Hitomi said as she looked at her planet high in the night sky.
"Come on, if we hurry up, we can get back before sunrise." Van said, and started off again.
"Where are we going?" Hitomi asked, not wanting to let him out of her sight. Right now nothing made sense, and she didn't want to be by herself on a weird planet.
"Fanelia." Van said as he walked on.
"Is that where you live?" Hitomi asked as she walked with her track bag slung over her shoulder.
"You could say that." Van said.
"So, what were you doing out in the woods?" Hitomi asks, trying to make conversation.
"Practicing."
"Practicing what?"
"Sword fighting."
"In the middle of the night?" Hitomi asked.
"Sure, why not, it's the best time, no interruptions." Van said with a shrug. Hitomi had been studying him, as they moved out of the forest and on to a dirt road. He had dark black hair that feel playfully over his left eye, and from what she could see, he had brown eyes, he was wearing a red shirt, tan pants brown boots and gloves, and a sword hung at his side. 'Weird...' Hitomi though, 'What's with the sword?'
"I never asked your name." Van said.
"Hitomi, Hitomi Kanzaki."
"Okay, Hitomi, what were you doing in the woods?" Van asked eyeing her. 'She sure is dressed weird.' Van thought as he looked at the girl at his side. She had on, from what he could tell, a skirt, a dress top, and a jacked. Her hair was cut short, and she had green eyes. (AN: she has on her school uniform)
"Well, to tell you, I really don't know what I was doing in the woods, or how I got there. All I know is that I went to sleep last night, had a nightmare, banged my head, woke up, and poof! I was here."
"Hmm...I don't know what to tell you, we normally don't have people from the Mystic Moon come here, but I'll try my best to get you back home Hitomi." Van said as he smiled. 'I feel really bad for her.' Van thought solemnly. 'I know what it feels like to be all alone, and it isn't a very nice feeling.
With a blush, Hitomi replied, "Thanks. So, what's Fanelia like?"
"Well, it a moderate sized country, set in a valley that is surrounded by dragons." Van said.
"D...dragons? You're kidding me right?" Hitomi asked with disbelief.
"No, in fact, the tradition of crowning the king is only done after he can prove himself by slaying a dragon and getting the drag-energist."
"Energist?"
"Yeah, you know, the thing needed to awaken a guymelf." Van said as if he was talking to a little kid.
"Look, don't get an attitude, it's not my fault that on my world we don't have energists or guymelfs or whatever." Hitomi said.
"Anyway, where here." Van said pointing.
"This is Fanelia? It's so beautiful." Hitomi said as she looked at the city. It looked like a giant emerald.
"Come on, I have to get back to the palace e or the others will be worried." Van said, as he pointed to the huge building up ahead.
"The palace, why are you going to go to the palace?" Hitomi asked with confusion. Van sure wasn't dress like anyone who belonged at a palace, and she couldn't phantom why he wanted to go there.
"I have to go there," Van said with a smile, "because I'm the King."
"WHAT?" Hitomi cried. "How could you be the King?"
"Because my parents were the King and Queen before me, and I succeeded in the task of dragon slaying, so that makes me King." Van said as if it was no big deal.
'This just keeps getting better and better.' Hitomi thought as she followed Van into the palace. 'First I get humiliated trying to throw his shoe, and then I find out that he is King! He sure don't act like a king, he looks like he is about my age, how could he be king at such a young age?' Hitomi decided to ask him, as she continued to follow him, taking note of how huge the place was.
"Van, how could you..." But she was interrupted, as something jumped on Van.
"Lord Van!"
"Merle!" Van cried as he embraced his friend.
"Who's she?" Merle asked eyeing Hitomi.
"This is Hitomi, from the Mystic Moon." Van replied, "She seems to be stuck here, so I told her she could follow me home."
"VAN!" Hitomi cried.
"The Mystic Moon? Eww!" Merle responded.
"Merle, will you please show Hitomi to a guest room. I have to check with my advisors." Van said as he started off down the hall.
"Do you know that you're dressed real funny?" Merle said pointing to Hitomi's clothes, as they walked to her room. Hitomi looked down and saw that she was in her school uniform.
"I'm not dressed funny, this is how people dress from where I'm from, and any way have you gotten a look at yourself? You are what, half cat or something?" Hitomi responded and stuck her tongue out.
"Moron. Anyway here's your room." Merle said pointing to the door. "I'm gonna go find Lord Van." She said as she went down on all four and started off in the direction they had come.
'Very weird.' Hitomi thought as she entered her room and dropped her bag on the floor. She walked over to the balcony, and started at the sun as it came over the horizon. 'There are strange looking cat people here, not to mention, this place seems to be stuck in the Middle Ages. Oh, how I wish I was home, Mom, Dad, I miss you guys. I hope that you aren't worried about me. I promise I'll find a way back...Well, I guess it's no use sulking, might as well get changed and see what is around here.' Hitomi said to herself as she walked over to her bag and rummaged through it.
"Hmm...Let's see, track pants, track shorts, socks, underwear, jeans! Yes, I have a pair of jeans!" Hitomi said, thankful that she wouldn't have to wear here skirt the whole time. Sure she didn't mind wearing it to school, but she couldn't move as well in it as she could in pants. She dug through her bag and found a t-shirt, and changed.
"Much better." Hitomi commented, as she dressed herself in the jeans and t-shirt, and pulled a brush out of her bag and ran it through her hair. 'Maybe I'll go see if I can find Van so he can show me around.' She exited her room and wondered around the palace.
'Wow, look at this place, it looks just like a castle out of one of my textbooks.' Hitomi said as she walked over to a window and looked out. 'Look, there are the gardens.'
"Hitomi." A voice called. Hitomi turned around,
"Van. Hey." Hitomi said seeing him walking down the hallway towards her.
"Hitomi, what are you wearing?" Van asked looking at her strangely.
"Jeans."
"Why are you wearing pants? Only men wear pants, women are supposed her wear dresses." Van commented as he looked at her strange clothes.
"Well, on my planet they don't. Women wear pants just like men." Hitomi said in defiance.
"Well you can wear them around the palace, but if anyone of any importance comes here, you will have to wear something more suitable." Van stated.
"Whatever. So, are you going to give me the guided tour?" Hitomi asked.
"If you like." Van said as he walked down the hall with Hitomi and pointed everything out to her. From her, they went outside and into the gardens.
"These flowers, I've never see anything like them before." Hitomi said as she admired the landscape.
"I'm glad you like them Hitomi." Van said as he smiled.
"Hey Van, what's that building around back of the castle?" Hitomi asked.
"Oh that, that is where Escaflowne is stored." Van replied.
"Escaflowne?" Hitomi asked with confusion.
"Yeah, Oh, I forgot, you have never seen a guymelf. Come one then, I'll show you." Van said, taking her hand, and leading her to wear the building was. The two entered the building and Van lead Hitomi over to where Escaflowne sat, asleep.
"This" Van said, "is Escaflowne." Hitomi's eyes went wide as the familiar figure filled her mind.
"I've seen that before, that was the same machine that was fighting in my dream, that one and a red one." Hitomi said in a trance like state, as the pendant on her neck glowed softly.
"A red one?" Van asked with anger, "What do you know about the Red Guymelf?"
"Nothing, I just saw it in my mind. Escaflowne was fighting it. Why? Why Van were they fighting?" Hitomi asked as she took her pendant in her hand, praying for some kind of clue that would explain things.
"Because, the Red Guymelf is from Zaiback, and Zaiback wants to destroy Gaea." Van answered clenching his fists.
"Destroy Gaea? Why?" Hitomi asked.
"They are going to make a new future; they want to control destiny and fate."
"Can they do that?" Hitomi asked in shock.
"If they awaken the power of Atlantis." Van said softly.
"Atlantis, but I thought that was just a myth." Hitomi said, thinking back to what she had heard about Atlantis; that it was the lost continent and never really existed.
"A myth? No, it's been shown that the people of Atlantis had the power to control human will, and that was what caused their downfall." (AN-The Atlantis that Van is talking about is different from the one Hitomi is thinking about. Like in the show.)
"Oh." Hitomi said.
"We have to fight them. That is why I fight with Escaflowne." Van said, placing his gloved hand on the machine.
"So the guymelfs are weapons of war?" Hitomi asked.
"I guess, but it has been prophesied that the dragon will save Gaea."
"You mean Escaflowne?" Hitomi asked, trying to draw the connection between Escaflowne and the dragon.
"Yes. Escaflowne is the key. If it fights then Gaea will be saved." Van said, looking up at his guymelf.
"I hope you win." Hitomi said with a smile.
"Thanks. Come on, let's go get some lunch." Van said leading them away from Escaflowne.
The rest of the day passed without much excitement. Hitomi wondered around the castle and in the town outside the gates, taking in the people around her.
'They all seem so nice and friendly. It's a shame that their world is at war.' Hitomi thought on her return back as night fell upon her.
"I wonder where I have to go to get some dinner?" she said as she made her way back into the castle, and walked down a hall where she found that a room was open. She peered inside, and saw Van sitting at a desk.
"Hey, there you are." Hitomi said to her friend.
"Hitomi, did you enjoy your day?" Van asked. They had separated after lunch because Van had to meet with his ambassadors from another country called Astoria.
"Yes, the kingdom is so beautiful, and the people are so nice. You must be a really good king." Hitomi said, as she saw Van blush.
"Well, I try. Hitomi, do you want to eat dinner with me?" Van asked as the two exited the room.
"You bet, that's what I was looking for before I found you." The two entered the dining hall, and Van called a servant for dinner to be served.
"So Van, how did you become king?" Hitomi asked in between bites. She saw Van squirm in his chair, and knew that it was a sensitive subject.
"Well..." Van started out, "My dad, who was the king before me, died when I was really little. I didn't get to know him much. I had an older brother, Folken, who, after my father's death, was to be crowned king, only after he slayed a dragon, and got the energist to awaken Escaflowne. Unfortunately, he never came back. Mother went out to look for him, and she too never returned to the castle. It was assumed that both died. So when I turned fifteen, I too went out to slay a dragon. Fortunately, I was successful. And now, since war is upon Gaea, I am able to awake Escaflowne." Van said, studying the food on his plate.
"Van...I'm so sorry. I never lost any of my parents, so I don't know how you feel, but if you ever need anyone, I'm here for you." Hitomi said, her heart going out to Van with sympathy.
"Thank You Hitomi. No one has ever said that to me before and I appreciate it...So Hitomi, " Van said trying to lighten the mood, "Tell me about the Mystic Moon."
"Well, as you already know, we don't have guymelfs, and no one fights with swords. Wars are fought with computers and missiles and airplanes. There are big cities with many people and skyscrapers, and I go to school and am on the track team. My best friend can be a pain sometimes, but she means well, and I enjoy reading tarot cards." Hitomi said, enjoying telling his about her home.
"Tarot cards? Computers? Airplanes? Our worlds are sure different." Van said with amusement.
"I guess." Hitomi said fingering the necklace around her neck.
"That's a very pretty necklace." Van commented.
"Thanks, my grandmother gave it to me and my tarot cards, as keepsakes. I take my necklace with me everywhere I go as a good luck charm." Hitomi said taking the necklace off. "Look, it completes a cycle every second." Hitomi said, as she swung the red pendant back and forth.
"Amazing." Van said, staring at the necklace.
"Yeah, I'd read your cards, but I don't think I have them." Hitomi said sadly.
"That's all right. Come on, it's late, I'll walk you to your door." Van said getting up.
"Okay." Hitomi said following him. The two walked down the hall in silence.
"Well, here we are. Good night Hitomi." Van said. "Thanks you for your company."
"Any time Van." Hitomi said. "Good night." She opened her door and with a final wave, went inside. She walked over to her bag, which she had placed on her bed to get changed. She pulled out her track shorts and top, and decided to sleep in that, since she didn't have her normal pajamas.
"Van's such a nice guy. It's so easy to talk to him. I've never had a guy back home even bother with me, and here he is asking me to have dinner with him. I wish I had my tarot cards. I'd like to do a reading for him." She dug in her bag some more to find socks.
"Hey, look at this! I do have my cards!" Hitomi cried happily, seeing them at the bottom of her bag. As she reached into her bag to get them, thoughts of her previous reading filled her thoughts.
'I understand what some of them mean. The Chariot, a war, the conflict with Zaiback. The Tower, great distance, I'm no longer on Earth. Strength, I have to have courage since I'm away from my parents and friends. And The Wheel of Fortune, a future full of uncertainty and change. It sure seems like my future is going to be full of uncertainty. Could it be that since I wished for my life to change, and it did?' Hitomi thought, and then it hit her.
"Wow, I can't believe how accurate that reading was. I wonder what the other cards, the reversed Empress, the High Priestess, the Emperor, and the Lovers mean. I wonder if they will fall into place as well." Hitomi said softly. She put the cards on the table next to her bed and crawled in. With a yawn, Hitomi thought about how her life had changed, and worried about what the future held for her as her eyes drifted closed.
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