The Tri Elves
By: Aya Eliya
What if elves from Gaea were sent to the illusionary moon as babes, and found a way to return? This is the story of three elves, Ananda, Daley, and Rosalyn…
Disclaimer: I did not create elves, Escaflowne, Atlantis, or any other great accomplishments of Fantasy writing. Escaflowne belongs to the lovely people who own it as you read this, Atlantis was thought up by some great story teller I don't know, and elves are an ancient race who I found out about in JRR Tolkien's books. My morphed version of them is mine, along with the idea of having them on Gaea.
Thanks: Special thanks to Elven Princess, Joy King, and Dhanushka Mendis, who encouraged me to put elves and Escaflowne together.
Notes: This is my first Esca fic, and I have not seen the entire series as it was intended to be viewed, so my information may be incorrect. When I have seen the entire show, I will revise my fic and edit anything that is incorrect. My chapters usually start out short, but lengthen later on. However, chapter one was amazingly long (and took 3 days to complete ,), and I hope that I can continue to do so. Lyrics are quickly becoming a vital part of my fics. Music is my life outside writing. BTW, KMSO is a term my ¾ grade teacher used. It means knock my socks off, FYI.
This chapter features lyrics from Stereo Deluxx's album, "So Clearly." The song can be heard at www.rockerboo.com/kayaki/ficmusic.html
Flames policy: All flames will be given to Dilandau, for his enjoyment.
Chapter 2 – Good IntentionsDaley put her hands in a jar of a white, powdery substance. She took a deep breath, and examined herself. She was wearing a simple black leotard with a light blue sash about the waist. She had decided against nylons, and they merely restricted her. She much preferred her trio's uniform, but the trio wasn't together.
Daley's eyes scanned the bleachers in vain for the other two-thirds of herself. But Ananda had been officially 'missing' a week, and Rosalyn had given up all extra curricular activity, and sometimes even the required amounts to stand at the place that Miguel had left.
Tears welling in her eyes, Daley angrily brushed them away. Going before the entire student body, and her foster parents would not be appreciated. Everywhere she went, tears came, and the pity followed.
Daley's foster brother, the actual son of Joe Relen-Darlian, Jake, stood watching her. "She wasn't kidnapped you know. You and Rosalyn just dreamed the soldiers up."
Daley closed her eyes, fighting the flood that fought just as hard against her. "Shut up, Jacob."
But the boy continued, "You should just let it go. You were all orphans anyway. Found after a lightning storm where the bolt had come down."
Daley was not prone to violence, but she fought to keep her hands at her side, and off Jake's neck. "Stop it. I've got a meet in an hour, and I need to practice."
Jake smiled. "Of course, sister. You need to practice."
Daley's hand snapped from her side so quickly that nearly Jake or Daley sensed it. It left a stinging mark on the junior's cheek. He cupped his cheek, staring at the girl he was tormenting. She hissed, "You will leave me alone, or I will tell Joe you're teasing me!"
The sound had echoed through the deserted room, and brought the trainer running. "Is everything all right?" Her face held a quizzical look. It was no secret that Daley was in foster care, and it was rumored that her older brother tortured her.
Daley nodded, sniffling. The woman turned around slowly, then asked as she left. "Just why are you here, Jacob?"
Jake winced, and shook his head. "I was just making sure Daley was all right, Miss Vane."
Daley looked up. Ananda had teased Rosalyn about the trainer's son before she'd—been taken. She refused to give in and believe that the psychiatrists, teachers, psuedo-family, and so-called friends were right, and she and Rosalyn had made this up and somehow come to believe it. That would be weak. And she was tired of being weak.
Miss JoAnn Frie Vane, her star pupil was still suffering from the pressure to give up on her belief that her friend was gone. Grief washed through her, but that was exactly what this girl despised: pity, in all shapes and forms.
She touched Daley's shoulder. The girl started, then smiled. Miss. Vane spoke kindly. "It's a hard fight you and Rosalyn have, trying to convince this town that she really isn't on this planet."
Daley's eyes brightened. "You believe us? Then we could—" The reality set in as the girl looked into her teachers eyes. "No, I should have known better. Even you can't believe something so crazy. Thanks for trying to comfort me, though." The two hugged.
Miss Vane wiped her own tears away, and handed Daley a tissue. "You have a practice to do, don't you?"
Daley smiled. "Yes…yes I do. Thanks, Vane."
"Daleia Lorelei Relen-Darlian, of Park Hills High."
Daley took a deep breath. She still hated the name her foster family had chosen for her, but at least she hadn't passed through twelve, as Rosalyn had. No wonder Rosalyn handles it so much better. Daley shook her head, and somehow the tears disappeared. She put her hands in the same jar of powder, and prepared to do her act for the meet.
The majority of the district thought the idea for a gymnast meet was laughable, as no one was talented outside the Olympics. But no one laughed at Daley. She had talent beyond any who currently were in gymnastics in the district. If Ananda and Rosalyn had been there, they would have had KMSO'd, as a favorite teacher would have said.
The judges watched this girl who's trainer had just come and begged them to go easier on her as she was supposedly devastated by the loss of her friend. And yet the girl was showing no signs of anything except extraordinary concentration on her routine. At least ten times as much of that of her other teammates. If the girl continued without physical injury or mar on her permanent record, Daley Relen-Darlian would be headed for a choice college on the grounds of the newest special scholarship in the district—unique sports. This included dancing and cheerleading, supposedly talentless acts that someone had spoke highly of.
A few hours later, Daley emerged from the gymnasium, wiping the sheen of sweat off her face and arms with a white towel that had the Park Hills emblem emblazed across the front.
She wore a very short tunic that didn't come halfway down her upper leg, and the shorts for modesty came down less than that. It came down in a V neck far enough to show her collar bone, but came up snap around in two gold sticklike things that snapped it close, and somehow kept it from flying open. The tunic was white, and was very shiny, as it was made of dragon scales, though she didn't know that.
It was somehow connected to herself. When she was born in it, it was like a christening gown, and kept her and Ananda and Rosalyn warm through the cold night until they'd been discovered. As they had grown, the girls had been frightened of their clothing, but prevented whoever their family had been at the time from throwing it out.
The shorts were made of a very fine material that was like silk, and kept the dragon armor(for that's what the tunic was) from constantly riding up. It was decorated with beautiful gold designs that were so intricate, if one were to view the garment closely, they would realize that the artist who designed it probably went blind from staring at it, and lost the ability to use his right hand from holding it so rigidly to keep it from trembling.
The strange thing was that though the design on the three uniforms was the same, the colors weren't. Though Daley's was white with gilded gold calligraphed on it, Rosalyn's was a dark gray with a gilded silver(is that what the shiny silver is called?), and Ananda's was midnight black with a very distinct crimson that seemed to stand out like the gilded colors, like fresh blood.
Daley closed her eyes, remembering them in their costumes last week, while they'd prepared for today's performance. They'd all worn the knee high black lace up boots Ananda wanted. Now that Ananda had been captured, and Rosalyn waited like a hawk for the robot giants to return; giving up all extra curricular activity, (and if Daley didn't intervene, all required also) She was the only freshman gymnast. This wouldn't matter if she were at any other school. But at Park Hills, the three foster kids were the prodigies of the art. The kindly trainer had let her train with the juniors, (they were learning at that level, anyway) but Daley was their superior by several levels, but it was better than giving it up altogether.
Rosalyn had heard the slam of the distant gym door softly, and knew that Daley was coming. As she came closer, her footfalls became softer, and fewer farther apart. Rosalyn knew that like herself, Daley was still thinking about last Friday. Rosalyn had been worried Daley would blow it off like everyone else, and go back to teasing her about finally 'getting' her.
When Daley drew close enough, Rosalyn silently turned, and jumped down from her perch, mere feet from Daley's face. "I will practice our routine so I will not be behind Ananda when we rescue her." Daley smiled happily.
Rosalyn this was what Daley had wanted all week, but she had to have had time to have contemplated lots of things. If it hadn't been for Daley, Rosalyn would have spent a lot more time in her tree perch, and less in dull classrooms. But school did distract her from thinking about Miguel and his friends and their robots. She had wondered all week, how can we get to their base? But then she had realized that they would eventually return, so all she had to do was wait vigilantly for their return, and hone her skills so she would be more prepared to protect Daley than she had been for Ananda.
And gymnastics was one of those skills she wished to hone.
The two teens practiced in their bare feet, boots kicked off a few feet to the side, at a base of a tree. After an hour of stretching, Daley finally took a deep breath, and looked shyly at her friend. "I'll have to practice the jump on that rock. You and Ananda can easily pick me up, but I don't want you to get hurt."
Rosalyn rolled her eyes. The girl was very protective of her smaller friend, but accepted Daley's caution. The jump was a series of handstands that worked up the momentum for the girl to spring onto her friends' two arms, where she would wave at the crowd, upside down.
Daley took a deep breath. This was the only dangerous part of her act. And she was outside working on uneven ground with loose rocks and stones ready to cut her hands and feet. But she spotted a clear boulder ten feet away; just a small bit less distant than Ananda had planned her to go. So she backed up, and started
Jumping over and over, hands then feet, hands and feet, over and over. When she was halfway there, two things happened: One, she lost her footing and stumbled, two a blinding light came and put a dark haired boy there to catch her.
Rosalyn immediately set off from her twenty-foot distance to overtake the boy before he could take off with her. Daley slammed into him, making him falter. She immediately began apologizing. A strange glow was in the boy's eyes, which the two girls didn't notice, and it disappeared. His voice was harsh, but he was smiling. "Move." Daley stood frozen, now hearing the growling of the other thing the pillar of light had brought, a dragon. She turned slowly, terror filling her eyes, to see the dragon growling at her and slowly approaching, salivating, the liquid dripping onto leaves that withered.
Groaning and rolling her eyes, Rosalyn slammed into Daley and yanked her away from the boy. The two rolled a good few feet away, and then Rosalyn stopped and ran to her base tree, where they watched. The dragon breathed flames at the girls, but missed, merely creating rust on the knight's armor. He smiled, determined.
The boy took out a long sword, and easily killed the large dragon, now that he didn't have to worry about the girls. He reached into its chest, and pulled out a glowing pink sphere, roughly the size of his fist.
Through Rosalyn's prodding, Daley shyly walked toward the knight she'd just met. She curtsied, the best she could. "I am Daley Relen-Darlian, and this is Rosalyn Veroni. Thank you for rescuing me."
The boy shrugged, uneasily noting Rosalyn's apparent lack of interest that strongly conflicted with Daley's, which confused him, and made him tongue-tied. "I am Van Fanel, and this is my coronation ceremony before I am crowned king of Fanelia."
Daley smiled. "Then you're not from this planet! Do you know where our friend is? Can we come with you? You see, Ananda was taken by—" Rosalyn clamped a firm hand over Daley's flying mouth.
"What she means to say is that fourteen men about your age came with large robots they called Guymelefs or Alseides units. One we didn't see until the end made the group fifteen."
Rosalyn took out Daley's sketchpad, and drew the large purplish 'melef, then glared at Van. "So what is this thing, where is it, and how do I destroy it?"
But Van had taken the notepad, and stared at it, speechless. "This is a Zaibach Alseides unit. At least if that's what they called it, that's the right name." The young soon-to-be-king was mumbling to himself about impossibilities, and ridiculousness, and problems. So Rosalyn relaxed, as this king to be and his country were obviously not allies with whatever 'Zaibach' was.
Daley subtly put restraining arms around Rosalyn, bracing her, somehow sensing what was coming, as she explained to Van.
"Eleven days ago, fourteen of these robots came to this park, and tried to capture our friend. We expect she probably escaped, but not before she left this planet."
As Daley had known, Rosalyn tried to jump out of her skin. "Tried? Tried? They kidnapped her, and all you can do is pretend it didn't happen! You don't even care! You've just been a façade of hope to me—"
Daley had let go of her friend, backing away, frightened. Van noticed uneasily. She kept backing up, putting up her arms, as Rosalyn advanced. But when Rosalyn continued ranting, and she had come into striking distance, Daley slapped Rosalyn on the cheek, bringing instant redness, and where her nails had contacted, scattered drips of blood.
Daley was tired of crying and people trying to comfort her. That's all she'd had all week, and Rosalyn had been there, agreeing. But now she raved about her just pretending to ignore what happened? It was too much, as Daley wasn't emotionally untouchable. So anger came to wake both of them up.
Daley stood panting for a minute, Rosalyn and Van staring at her surprise. When Van put his hand forward, and took a step toward her, she took off deeper into the woodier part of the large park.
Van silently followed her, leaving his sword behind in the grass by Rosalyn, who had sunk to the ground in shame of what she had done.
Daley didn't hear Van's quiet footfalls, and she was crying also, and that covered his soft breathing.
She made for a favorite little clearing that was just big enough for her to sit in, where she curled up, holding her knees to her chest, her wide eyes in her face resting on her kneecaps.
She began quietly singing this song:
I know I say I love YouDeep down I think so
I hate to ignore You
Once more I must go
The hands on the clock
Are spinning 'round
I can't stay long
Good intentions pave my way
But they don't match the things I say
You needed me, I was not there
Can You forgive me
Next time I'll show I care
Next time I'll show I care
Won't You believe me
The hands on the clock
Are spinning 'round
I can't stay long
Good intentions pave my way
But they don't match the things I say
Rosalyn appeared, silently forgiving her friend, and asking Daley's in return. Both were forgiven as they sang the chorus together. As the chorus came, a blinding white light enveloped the threee and the dragon's carcass. They were floating into this otherworld with Van, singing,
But Your love…Your love will never fade
Your Love…
Your love surrounds me
Though I've walked away
My head is in the cloud
My word is failing
I hear You calling out
But I'm never listening
The hands on the clock
Are spinning 'round
I can't stay long
Good intentions pave my way
But they don't match the things I say
But Your love…
Your love will never fade
Your Love…
Your love surrounds me
Though I've walked away
But Your love…
Your love will never fade
Your Love…
Your love surrounds me
Though I've walked away
Both Daley and Rosalyn didn't sing the next verse, as it was usually Ananda's. They seemed to hear her singing as an echo from far away in this new land.
My friend I have the time nowLet's talk like we used to
I'm sure it'll be just fine now
Though I don't even know You
The hands on the clock
Are spinning 'round
I can't stay long
Good intentions pave my way
But they don't match the things I say
Daley and Rosalyn were sure it was Ananda, somehow finding a way to sing, or if it was the song that allowed them to hear her. She sang the chorus with them, her voice somehow closer and louder.
But Your love…Your love will never fade
Your Love…
Your love surrounds me
Though I've walked away
But Your love…
Your love will never fade
Your Love…
Your love surrounds me
Though I've walked away But Your love…Your love will never fade
Your Love…
Your love surrounds me
Though I've walked away But Your love…Your love will never fade
Your Love…
Your love surrounds me
Though I've walked away But Your love…Your love will never fade
Your Love…
Your love surrounds me
Though I've walked away
Ananda's voice faded away, tears forming in Daley and Rosalyn's eyes.
Van smiled. This must be some friend, he thought to himself. His fist clenched And the girl's in Zaibach's pocket on some floating fortress. Van watched tears once more stream down Daley's face, and it took Van an amazing amount of restraint to not immediately go to her, and wrap his arms around her, comfort her in any way he could. The flow stopped by itself, to Van's disappointment that he hadn't helped.
Van tried to pass off his need to comfort her as chivalry—when have you followed the knight's code? An inner voice taunted—or infatuation—You can ignore every prospective bride in your kingdom, but not this girl from the illusionary moon?
Deep down, with his annoying subconsious, he knew better. It became consious thought, and pricked him. Van once again used an extraordinarily strong will, and buried the thought.
A/N: Though people don't review, I continue. The site may not work yet, *sweatdrop* but I'm working on it! So, you like? Review! And I'm serious about giving the flames to Dilandau. He likes them better than me.