Dragon Burn
By Amanda Wardropper
Party crashin'.
Chapter 5 - Castle of New Fanailia, market square, Fanailia's hall, forest of Fanailia.
Hitomi woke up the following morning to Merlle's voice, "Hitomi! You're awake!"
"I am now, Merle." Hitomi said drowsily.
Merle put on an innocent smile and said, "Here I brought you some breakfast," She held up the tray and placed it on Hitomi's lap when she'd sat up, " and this!" She held up a dress that was sizes too big for her.
"It's beautiful!" Hitomi said between mouthfuls of her breakfast.
"It belonged to Van's mother. I thought you could wear it at the party tonight to cheer Lord Van up."
"Cheer him up?"
"He hasn't been himself lately and I thought you could help."
"But I can't wear that, it doesn't belong to me."
"Now listen you silly girl, I just want my Lord Van to be as happy as he was before you left us!" Tears filled her eyes as she snapped at her then she added, in a sweeter voice, "You're the only one who can help, you're the only one he's ever loved and trusted."
After much arguing, Merlle got her way and Hitomi promised to wear the dress if the cat would leave her alone.
Merle left Hitomi to get dressed in some of the clothes she'd brought with her to Gaea and finish off her breakfast. She also said to meet her at the main gates so they could go into town.
Hitomi ran down the corridor. "Watch out!" She shouted as she went crashing into a figure who was also belting down the corridor.
"Hitomi?" It was Van, "Where are you going?"
"I promised Merle I'd meet her at the main gates so she could take me into town." She said between breaths.
He looked her up and down. She had a more visible figure. To break the silence that fell he said, "Well would you do a favor for me?" He took two notes out of his trouser pocket and placed them in Hitomi's hands, "Here's fifty gen, would you buy something for Merle for me? Oh!" He realized that Hitomi would not have any Gaean currency so he gave her fifty gen as well, "Here, spend as you wish." He gave her a shy smile and ran off.
"Thanks, I guess." She said after him. She carried on her run to the main gates.
When she met Merle at the gates the two of them caught a carriage into town and into the market square.
Merle taught Hitomi to barter and Hitomi came away with a rather fetching design on a nail file, her present to Merlle and shoes with the money Van had given her. With Van's money she bought a gold bracelet, which was meant to be a symbol of friendship, for Merle's gift.
When they got back Merle suggested that they start getting ready. Merle brought her dress and helped Hitomi into hers.
"Hurry up Hitomi or we will be late!" She shouted from outside the corridor.
"Shhhhh. We don't want Van to see yet and he's only down the corridor." She said in a hoarse whisper.
"Don't be silly he's probably already in the hall, so come on!" She grabbed Hitomi by the arm and rushed her to the hall entrance.
When the door opened for them the crowd cleared a path for Merle but all felt silent when they noticed Hitomi ... and the dress.
She could see Van at the back of the hall with a group of friends, he was dressed in a black tuxedo with a lilac flower in the lapel.
Van stared up at her and recognized the dress as his mother's. He thought to himself, Only Merle could come up with this. He smiled to himself, he didn't mind one bit, infact, he thought she looked beautiful in it, the white dress was made of the finest silk and was embroided with silver feathers, it had a thick, pink sash around the waist. At the base of the spine a pair of silk wings were attached and the skirt dropped to the floor, but didn't trail too much on it. Her hair was pinned back with small slides but the fringe had been left out. The whole dress seemed to give Hitomi a certain aura.
Sensing Hitomi's tension at being scrutinized by the crowd he shouted over, "Hey Hitomi, Merle, over here!" He waved them over to his group. Hitomi felt glad to leave the slightly raised platform of the stairs. Merle is going to pay big time for this!, she thought.
When they got to his group Merle left Hitomi's side and jumped across to the young cat boy. "This is Tirone, Hitomi." She said, she turned to Tirone, who was slightly smaller than herself and said, "C'mon the dancin's about to start." She grabbed his arm and they disappeared into the crowd.
Van turned back round to Hitomi and put his hand on her shoulder, "This is Hitomi, Jason." He said to the taller boy stood infront of them, "Jason is my wing second." He announced proudly to her. Jason knelt down on one knee, took her hand and kissed it. "Why Van she's even more beautiful than you said!"
Hitomi blushed, he stood up and chuckled. Van smiled at her. Jason gave a mock salute and Van returned it, he bowed to Hitomi and wandered off to greet others.
Van turned to her again and she looked up at him, "You know, there's only one thing that could make you look more beautiful." He reached round the back of his neck and unfastened the pendant. He placed it around her's and smiled in satisfaction.
Some music started then, he bowed to her and asked, "May I have this dance?"
She curtsied and replied, "You may."
She put her arms around his neck and he took great pleasure in putting his around her waist.
As the dance moved on she took her arms from around his neck for a rest and placed her hands and head against his chest. This would give the Lord Holders something to talk about at the next meeting. Their embrace was interrupted by a sudden explosion which shattered some of the hall's windows. Damn! He thought. The two were almost deafened when the piecing screams of the crowd infultraited their ears, she pushed him away gently when a messenger reported to him.
"Sir, Zaibech rebels have reformed and are attacking the castle!"
Van growled in agitation when he let go of her. He ran to the edge of the smashed window, followed by Hitomi and the messenger. He shouted at the top of his voice, "Jason!"
A voice sounded back, "Present." Suddenly, a huge red dragon, carrying him, came up from outside the broken window.
Hitomi asked, in a voice only meant for Van's ears, "A red Escaflowne?"
"It's all part of being wingsecond." He replied. Just then he summoned his own guymelif and Jason's backed away to allow the white dragon to rise level with the window. Van jumped into Escaflowne's cockpit.
Hitomi picked up her skirt and ran forward to the edge and shouted to him while he hovered politely while she spoke, "Van, wait, let me come with you!"
"No Hitomi, stay here, I don't want you getting hurt."
She had had just about enough of his caring attitude by now. "Look! I was willing to come back here again to save your worthless butt and that's what I'm going to do! Besides I'm here in the fear that something might happen to you." She added, in a less angrier tone, "I don't want to lose you, not now."
Van looked down at her and realized that on numerous occasions during their first adventure she had accompanied him on missions like this one and proved useful in encouragement aswell as skill. He sighed and shrugged his shoulders, women, you couldn't live with them or without them. He reached his hand out to her. She took it and he lifted her onto Escaflowne. "Hold on tight. Jason, lets ride, have the troops
been dispatched yet?"
"Aye sir."
She held on tight around his waist as the two dragons soared across the sky.
Suddenly, they were struck by metal claws coming from invisible guymelifs. She knew what to do before he even asked, she concentrated on the pendant and Zaibech guymelifs. "To your right Van!" She screamed, he responded quickly and had Escaflowne swerve on it's tail and haunches. They barely missed the flame that sped right past them. "Behind you!"
"I'm on it!" He drew Escaflowne's sword and sliced through a guymelif as he turned to sweep the ground with it. He climbed back up to a vigilant height.
"You go on ahead Van, I'll cover you. Say that's a nice good luck charm you got there, I wouldn't mind one myself." Jason shouted over, as he came up beside them. He winked at Hitomi.
"Hands off her Jason, she's mine!" The two boys laughed in unison. They must be best friends, she thought, blinking in surprise at Van's protectiveness.
By the time they got back the damage report Van received wasn't staggering. Jason retired to his room and Hitomi to hers. She got changed back into her uniform and scanned the dress in fear she might have damaged it. Having found no trace of a rip she wandered out onto the balcony.
Just for the pure fun of it, she whispered into the night breeze, "Romeo, Romeo, where fore art thou, Romeo?" Simple question, simple answer, in his room. She glanced to the side, where, she had learned, the kings personal chambers were. She couldn't see much, but from what Merle had told her she was already in them. The king had a vast number of rooms towards the back of the castle, most of which were guest rooms for friends of the royal family.
She stared out at the stars and, giving herself something to do, began placing the constellations she knew in the night sky, her watch said it was only ten at night, Earth time.
By Amanda Wardropper
Party crashin'.
Chapter 5 - Castle of New Fanailia, market square, Fanailia's hall, forest of Fanailia.
Hitomi woke up the following morning to Merlle's voice, "Hitomi! You're awake!"
"I am now, Merle." Hitomi said drowsily.
Merle put on an innocent smile and said, "Here I brought you some breakfast," She held up the tray and placed it on Hitomi's lap when she'd sat up, " and this!" She held up a dress that was sizes too big for her.
"It's beautiful!" Hitomi said between mouthfuls of her breakfast.
"It belonged to Van's mother. I thought you could wear it at the party tonight to cheer Lord Van up."
"Cheer him up?"
"He hasn't been himself lately and I thought you could help."
"But I can't wear that, it doesn't belong to me."
"Now listen you silly girl, I just want my Lord Van to be as happy as he was before you left us!" Tears filled her eyes as she snapped at her then she added, in a sweeter voice, "You're the only one who can help, you're the only one he's ever loved and trusted."
After much arguing, Merlle got her way and Hitomi promised to wear the dress if the cat would leave her alone.
Merle left Hitomi to get dressed in some of the clothes she'd brought with her to Gaea and finish off her breakfast. She also said to meet her at the main gates so they could go into town.
Hitomi ran down the corridor. "Watch out!" She shouted as she went crashing into a figure who was also belting down the corridor.
"Hitomi?" It was Van, "Where are you going?"
"I promised Merle I'd meet her at the main gates so she could take me into town." She said between breaths.
He looked her up and down. She had a more visible figure. To break the silence that fell he said, "Well would you do a favor for me?" He took two notes out of his trouser pocket and placed them in Hitomi's hands, "Here's fifty gen, would you buy something for Merle for me? Oh!" He realized that Hitomi would not have any Gaean currency so he gave her fifty gen as well, "Here, spend as you wish." He gave her a shy smile and ran off.
"Thanks, I guess." She said after him. She carried on her run to the main gates.
When she met Merle at the gates the two of them caught a carriage into town and into the market square.
Merle taught Hitomi to barter and Hitomi came away with a rather fetching design on a nail file, her present to Merlle and shoes with the money Van had given her. With Van's money she bought a gold bracelet, which was meant to be a symbol of friendship, for Merle's gift.
When they got back Merle suggested that they start getting ready. Merle brought her dress and helped Hitomi into hers.
"Hurry up Hitomi or we will be late!" She shouted from outside the corridor.
"Shhhhh. We don't want Van to see yet and he's only down the corridor." She said in a hoarse whisper.
"Don't be silly he's probably already in the hall, so come on!" She grabbed Hitomi by the arm and rushed her to the hall entrance.
When the door opened for them the crowd cleared a path for Merle but all felt silent when they noticed Hitomi ... and the dress.
She could see Van at the back of the hall with a group of friends, he was dressed in a black tuxedo with a lilac flower in the lapel.
Van stared up at her and recognized the dress as his mother's. He thought to himself, Only Merle could come up with this. He smiled to himself, he didn't mind one bit, infact, he thought she looked beautiful in it, the white dress was made of the finest silk and was embroided with silver feathers, it had a thick, pink sash around the waist. At the base of the spine a pair of silk wings were attached and the skirt dropped to the floor, but didn't trail too much on it. Her hair was pinned back with small slides but the fringe had been left out. The whole dress seemed to give Hitomi a certain aura.
Sensing Hitomi's tension at being scrutinized by the crowd he shouted over, "Hey Hitomi, Merle, over here!" He waved them over to his group. Hitomi felt glad to leave the slightly raised platform of the stairs. Merle is going to pay big time for this!, she thought.
When they got to his group Merle left Hitomi's side and jumped across to the young cat boy. "This is Tirone, Hitomi." She said, she turned to Tirone, who was slightly smaller than herself and said, "C'mon the dancin's about to start." She grabbed his arm and they disappeared into the crowd.
Van turned back round to Hitomi and put his hand on her shoulder, "This is Hitomi, Jason." He said to the taller boy stood infront of them, "Jason is my wing second." He announced proudly to her. Jason knelt down on one knee, took her hand and kissed it. "Why Van she's even more beautiful than you said!"
Hitomi blushed, he stood up and chuckled. Van smiled at her. Jason gave a mock salute and Van returned it, he bowed to Hitomi and wandered off to greet others.
Van turned to her again and she looked up at him, "You know, there's only one thing that could make you look more beautiful." He reached round the back of his neck and unfastened the pendant. He placed it around her's and smiled in satisfaction.
Some music started then, he bowed to her and asked, "May I have this dance?"
She curtsied and replied, "You may."
She put her arms around his neck and he took great pleasure in putting his around her waist.
As the dance moved on she took her arms from around his neck for a rest and placed her hands and head against his chest. This would give the Lord Holders something to talk about at the next meeting. Their embrace was interrupted by a sudden explosion which shattered some of the hall's windows. Damn! He thought. The two were almost deafened when the piecing screams of the crowd infultraited their ears, she pushed him away gently when a messenger reported to him.
"Sir, Zaibech rebels have reformed and are attacking the castle!"
Van growled in agitation when he let go of her. He ran to the edge of the smashed window, followed by Hitomi and the messenger. He shouted at the top of his voice, "Jason!"
A voice sounded back, "Present." Suddenly, a huge red dragon, carrying him, came up from outside the broken window.
Hitomi asked, in a voice only meant for Van's ears, "A red Escaflowne?"
"It's all part of being wingsecond." He replied. Just then he summoned his own guymelif and Jason's backed away to allow the white dragon to rise level with the window. Van jumped into Escaflowne's cockpit.
Hitomi picked up her skirt and ran forward to the edge and shouted to him while he hovered politely while she spoke, "Van, wait, let me come with you!"
"No Hitomi, stay here, I don't want you getting hurt."
She had had just about enough of his caring attitude by now. "Look! I was willing to come back here again to save your worthless butt and that's what I'm going to do! Besides I'm here in the fear that something might happen to you." She added, in a less angrier tone, "I don't want to lose you, not now."
Van looked down at her and realized that on numerous occasions during their first adventure she had accompanied him on missions like this one and proved useful in encouragement aswell as skill. He sighed and shrugged his shoulders, women, you couldn't live with them or without them. He reached his hand out to her. She took it and he lifted her onto Escaflowne. "Hold on tight. Jason, lets ride, have the troops
been dispatched yet?"
"Aye sir."
She held on tight around his waist as the two dragons soared across the sky.
Suddenly, they were struck by metal claws coming from invisible guymelifs. She knew what to do before he even asked, she concentrated on the pendant and Zaibech guymelifs. "To your right Van!" She screamed, he responded quickly and had Escaflowne swerve on it's tail and haunches. They barely missed the flame that sped right past them. "Behind you!"
"I'm on it!" He drew Escaflowne's sword and sliced through a guymelif as he turned to sweep the ground with it. He climbed back up to a vigilant height.
"You go on ahead Van, I'll cover you. Say that's a nice good luck charm you got there, I wouldn't mind one myself." Jason shouted over, as he came up beside them. He winked at Hitomi.
"Hands off her Jason, she's mine!" The two boys laughed in unison. They must be best friends, she thought, blinking in surprise at Van's protectiveness.
By the time they got back the damage report Van received wasn't staggering. Jason retired to his room and Hitomi to hers. She got changed back into her uniform and scanned the dress in fear she might have damaged it. Having found no trace of a rip she wandered out onto the balcony.
Just for the pure fun of it, she whispered into the night breeze, "Romeo, Romeo, where fore art thou, Romeo?" Simple question, simple answer, in his room. She glanced to the side, where, she had learned, the kings personal chambers were. She couldn't see much, but from what Merle had told her she was already in them. The king had a vast number of rooms towards the back of the castle, most of which were guest rooms for friends of the royal family.
She stared out at the stars and, giving herself something to do, began placing the constellations she knew in the night sky, her watch said it was only ten at night, Earth time.