Well I think this will be the second to last chapter.I have everything planned out so...yeah.enjoy. So sorry about the late update I've been on a massive job hunt that has taken up a lot of time. ~Avalon

Disclaimer: don't own Escaflowne never have never will.

Chapter 15: Fanalia's newest Prince?

Ryol sat with Van and Hitomi they had been talking for nearly half and hour. "So with that out of the way, Hitomi you must talk to my daughter. You must make her see reason on marrying a prince."

"Ryol I don't know if I can.I mean she's quite stubborn and after all will she truly be happy about all this?"

"Hitomi it is the only thing I could think of to help her.I want her to be happy I truly do.it is the only way."

"Then why don't you tell her that?" She looked down at Kali "Why don't you explain it to her?"

"Hitomi's right Ryol go talk to her."

Ryol sighed, "I'm never going to win this am I?"

"Probably not." Replied Van.

"Alright, alright I'll go talk to her."



Kali was alone in her room; she had just gotten out of a bath and was now watching the sun set. She sat in a chair next to the window gazing out at the sky thinking of Dion. He had left early in the morning saying he'd be back later on in the evening, some sort of medical emergency that happened in Fanalia. Apparently they were bringing the patient here and Dion was going to meet them. /Dion come back to me.I'll be waiting for you.tell me why we have to cry when there's so many things we could do? Show me the way, give me a sign and I'll give up everything for you./ She heard her bedroom door open "Please leave me, I have no need for help getting ready."

"Kali?"

Kali turned abruptly. "Father?!"

"Kali.we need to talk."

"I have nothing left to say to you." She turned back to the window, looking out as the last of the rays vanished behind the mountain.

"Fine. I have something to say to you though."

"It can wait I'm sure till you announce it to everyone at the ball."

"No it can't wait and I'm not going to talk about it in front of everyone at the ball.it's between me and my daughter."

"Well I have no father! My father wouldn't make me unhappy! He wouldn't lie to me for my whole life and then ignore me when I needed him the most! So as far as I'm concerned I don't have a father!"

Ryol watched his daughter vent her anger as she walked around her spacious room. Grabbing shoes, a hairbrush, a gown that was still in it's wrapping (so Ryol couldn't see what it looked like and he prayed that it would be suitable) pins to hold her hair, her royal sash, some jewelry, and a couple other odds and ends. "Would please sit down?"

"No I have to get ready and unless your going to help me into my dress like you did when I was a child I want you out of my room!"

Ryol sighed in defeat, he turned and left he was at the door when he stopped beside the door was a small table. He looked over his shoulder. "I gave up love once here on Gaia, I knew the revolution was coming and I gave her up. I loved her more than the sky, more than the air that gives me life. She gave me one thing in death a child.a daughter. She wanted you to have this." He placed a rosewood box and a small thin rectangular object on the table and left.

Fuming Kali never responded she never even looked at him. Her mother.he had never spoken of her.and now he did only to speak of love of all things! He had no right to talk to her of love right now! She stared at her reflection / Mother.what did you look like? What were you like? Would you be proud of me now a Princess of Gaia? / She walked over to the table despite herself. She picked up the smaller object first, it was bound in leather and looked as if it had seen better days, she opened it and there was a picture inside: A younger version of her dad and a woman that looked a lot like her.her mother. Her mother had amazing sparkling blue eyes and long reddish brown hair, she looked ill but at the same time beautiful. In her arms she held the reason for her happiness a small new born child./Me. / a piece of paper dropped out of the back she bent down to pick it up curious she sat down next to the window and began to read

Dearest Daughter, You will have reached your 18th birthday when you read this. I will have long been dead as I'm dying right now. I have lost too much blood in the delivery and will not make it much longer. I wish you to know that I'm so happy to have my last act in this world be the delivery of my only child. You are to be Gaea's shining star of hope my daughter. You can stop the wars; you can bring peace. My dear princess I love you so much and it pains me to leave you so soon in life. Reach for the sky and hold your head up high, for tonight and every night you're a star. Don't be afraid think of all the friends you made. It is a custom to pass on a word of wisdom to each child at the age of 18 so now I shall pass this on to you; Courage isn't always standing up to your enemies sometimes it is standing up to our friends and the ones we love, the brave may not live long but the cautious never live at all (A/N: Anyone recognize that from the Princess Diaries?) Remember my daughter you may be a warrior and a princess but you are also a young woman and please find happiness with the one you loved like I did. I love you and your father so very much

Kalmia

"Mother." Tears came to her eyes the mother she had never thought about before was the only thing she could think about now. She walked over to the table and picked up the last remaining object on the table the rosewood box. She opened it inside was a light blue key with a circle on top and inside the circle was a silver five-pointed star. "Why would you want me to have a key mother? What importance does this small object hold for you?" The key obviously was meant to be a necklace as it hung on a simple piece of leather but Kali knew there had to be some reason for her mother wanting her to have it so she searched her rooms for something that might need a key (for she was placed in her mothers old rooms during her short stay in the palace) She was about to give up when she found what she was looking for; an old locked door hidden by a tapestry. She quietly placed the key in the lock and just as quietly turned the key (for the ladies in waiting were in the room next door.) The door unlocked and opened and Kali let out a breath that she hadn't noticed she had been holding. She pushed the door open further and walked in. What met her eyes was a small room, done in white, silver, and blue. It had a small window that faced the mountains letting in the last few rays of sun. She walked over and opened the window letting the cool summer breeze play with the white curtains. An old rosewood desk sat in the corner while opposite of it stood a small bed with a dark blue blanket and silver pillows. A small chair and staircase completed the room. It was obvious that the room was a small hideaway for her mother when things got to be too much for the would-be queen. Kali sat at the desk feeling the cool wood beneath her fingers, the soft padding on the chair and the light breeze playing with her hair.and wondered what it would have been like if the revolution had never happened, for that was what it was like in this room untouched since her mother last left it all those years ago. Would she have spent time in here talking with her mother growing up? Would she and her mother spent time together.or would she, as the only child, followed her father around learning what her duties would be as protector of Gaea? Would she have been an only child? Or would there have been a younger brother or sister? Would she have been like any other princess on Gaea? Always in dresses doing whatever her father bade of her? Staying in the palace her whole life never knowing true friendship or love? / Perhaps it was for the best that I was raised on Earth.away from all this I now know what peace is, and I know freedom. But was I meant to know it only to have it taken away like the horses and hawks that they capture and train in the stables around Gaea and soon to be here in the palace stables? No that could not and will not happen to me! Yes I am Princess Kali Starfire of Gaea, protector and warrior for Gaea but I am also a woman, raised on earth, I will be free. I am a princes but I am also plain Kali of Earth they can never take that away from me! / She began to look through her mother's desk assuming that she wouldn't mind as she had given her the key to the room. She found many pictures and drawings that her mother had kept and made. In the last drawer she found her mothers diary. She opened it towards the end.

Today I am to marry my love. Ryol and I haven't had it easy over the last year fighting for the right to marry one another. After all the crown prince isn't supposed to marry below his class and defy the council with his choice but Ryol did for us. I cannot wait till we are married.not to be queen but for the honor of calling him mine and he can call me his.we need each other more than the air that brings us life, more than the heat that keeps us warm, more than the food and water that sustain us.we need each other for our very life.

There was a pause in the writing and a blotch where the quill (A/N: Do they even use quills to write? I dunno but I'm using quills if ya don't like it tuff ~_^) was placed on the paper, a few blotches that looked like they had been caused be.tears?

My love.my love has told me that the wedding must be put off as.as there have been reports that revolutionists plot to assonate one of us during the ceremony and until they know who is behind the plot the wedding cannot continue. Why is fate so cruel? Why does it conspire to keep my love and I from each other?

That was all that she had written on the page so Kali turned to the next hoping thing would be cleared up. Thing's did not seem to improve for her mother.

This could not have come at a worse time.but there is no way that I couldn't be. I have talked in secret to many healers and they all say the same thing. How will the council take it? How will my beloved take it? Oh what will happen to us when they learn that the future queen is pregnant out of wedlock? How am I even to tell Ryol in person when he has left to fight the rebels and will not be back for many weeks perhaps months? I cannot face the council alone to tell them this news my fiancée must be at my side when I tell them and yet how long can I keep this a secret? What am I to do how will Gaea take this news? Yet I cannot keep quiet about this. I know this much if it is a boy I shall name him Joram if it is a girl, and I hope I have a girl, I shall name her Kali.

The next entry wasn't for another month after that.

The council is in an uproar, and for once it isn't about me. They have yet to find out that I am with child, and I dare not tell them now. The Rebels have infiltrated the palace, the council trusts no one save themselves not even me, and they even suspect me of being a rebel. I suppose if I told them of the child that will be the kingdoms heir growing in my belly they might believe that I only want what is best for the people but it could also go the other way, making them think I was a rebel trying to latch onto the throne. If they thought that and my pregnancy was brought out into the open that would put my unborn child and I in greater peril. No for the sake of my unborn daughter I will stay silent for the time. That is another thing the dreams have returned I know I will have a daughter.Kali.my dear daughter Kali. She will be a great star for Gaea. I know this kingdom will fall I only hope that I can get to Ryol in time to get us away.we must get away for Kali, she must come back to re unite Gaea and bring peace. She is the last hope of this falling land. Even without my dreams I would know that this kingdom would fall.for the rebels are everywhere and we know not who they are. That is why only four people know of the unborn princess, she must remain safe, and therefore I must remain safe.

A few days later

We must flee the palace. My dear Ryol is on his way back and once he gets here he and I along with the rest of the royal family will flee the palace and hide on Gaea, most likely in Fanalia. How I love that country I only wish that I would be heading there under better circumstances. The royal family now knows of the child I carry within me and they have told me that they will not hold it against me as Ryol and I should have long ago been married and they understand my reasons for keeping quiet. I look around this room remembering how much I've loved being here and how much I will miss it. This place in the entire palace is mine and mine alone no one can enter without the starkey. It holds my treasures that I must leave behind. But knowing that the only ones to step foot in here will be my descendants makes me feel happy. Perhaps my daughter will one day find this room and this diary. I only hope that she will come to love this room as I have. I hope that she knows how much I love her and that I will always be watching over her, perhaps I will one day come back and I can hold my daughter in my arms as I look at the sunset from this room.perhaps. But for now I must flee and I must leave this book as there is nowhere I can hide it without someone discovering it.

For my daughter,

Your star may be small but as you grow so will it, Gaea will follow you as you follow your star. Take care of it, it is your power inside of you, one day it will grow bright and strong.

The last had been written hastily as if she realized that she would not be back to tell her those words herself. Slowly Kali got up not wanting to break the tie she had made to the past with her mother's diary, but she was expected in the garden in 10 minutes and if she didn't hurry she would be late to her own crowing. She walked over to the window and placed two white candles in the window one for Dion and one for her mother and her prayer of peace for Gaea.

Ryol, Hitomi, Van, the twins, Millerna, Dryden, Allen, Chid, Gaddes, Dagan, Merle, and Draco were all waiting for Kali to arrive in the garden. A number of other royal families and nobles were there attending the crowning of the king and princess, and as per the princess' request for the first time in Gaea's history commoners were permitted to watch the crowning. Kali had thought that the people they were to protect and rule over should be able to witness this moment and without a reason to disagree the council agreed. Finally the signal came that the princess was entering the garden.

"Announcing her royal highness Princess Kali Starfire!"

Kali stood at the top of the steps that led to the garden where the crowning would take place. She was dressed in a pair of beige pants and a dark blue top under her light blue royal sash. On her waist she wore her sword. She wore a white cape that nearly reached the ground. On her wrists her wore silver bracelets. Her hair that shone in the moonlight was brought up and put in curls while some of it was allowed to flow down her back. Ryol, although she should have been in a dress, thought she looked like her mother. He caught his breath when he noticed what was hanging around her neck: the starkey that Kalmia always wore. Yes her mother was indeed with her, and now he would place on her head the crown that should have been placed on her mothers so long ago, a crown that marked her as the future queen. Custom normally demanded that her fiancée or husband walk the princess, but in lack of either she walked alone. Her eyes never went to the alter where her life would forever change, no instead her eyes were on the people she saw as she walked past. Van, Hitomi and their twins who stood in the front. Draco and Gaddes standing behind their king. Dagan and Merle stood on the right hand side of Van and Hitomi. Dryden and Millerna stood on the other side of the path across from Van and Hitomi. Allen and Chid stood beside them. Finally Kali saw who she wanted to see Dawn and Maya, her old easy life, tears nearly came to her eyes as it dawned on her what she was leaving behind by accepting this responsibility. She would be the neo queen when her father passed on; all of Gaea would look to her. As much as she wished it she could never be that care free Kali of the mystic moon again after this day, no this hour. Kali saw many others who were royalty and nobility from around Gaea here to make good impressions with the king and the princess, some in hopes of allying themselves with the family through the marriage of Kali. She soon reached the alter where she knew her life would change. She knelt next to her father but she didn't hear one word of the ceremony that he went through, she was back in the past.

"Kali! Come on!"

"Coming Dawn!"

"Let's try this ride." Maya suggested. It was Kali's first time at a fair and she wanted to go on all the rides.

"Sure let's go!" Kali laughed as the ride started. She and her friends spent the rest of the night laughing and going on rides. She never wanted the night to end. When she finally got home at 11:00 pm she slipped in through the door without making much noise not wanting to wake her father up.



"Happy Birthday Kali!" Dawn and Maya shouted together. They handed her presents and cards. The others were playing with the fire at the beach while the three of them talked.

"Thanks guys."

"Go on open them." Maya urged.

Kali opened the present from Maya. "A palm pilot?"

"Yeah maybe now you can get organized." Maya laughed, "It's from my dad company.one of their newer models."

"Thanks." She turned to Dawns gift. She pushed back her brown hair. Her blue gray eye sparkled in the fading light. She opened the box; inside laid a small silver disk attached to a long chain. She picked it up there was an inscription on the silver medallion 'Kali' on the front were five symbols she didn't recognize. "What are these symbols?" She asked

"Your fathers idea. I told him about the gift and that I didn't know what to put on the front. According to him the five symbols mean earth, fire, wind, water, and light/star."

"It's beautiful thank you." She put the medallion on and hugged her friends.

Her fathers voice brought her back to the present moment

"I accept the responsibility that comes with this crown and I swear the I will protect this land."

The man placed the crown on her father's head. "I declare you king Ryol, King of Gaea."

Ryol got up off his knee and turned to the people. "As king I accept the responsibility of ruling over this land I was born and bred for such a life. But a person who was not now kneels before me ready to accept this burden, my daughter Kali. She was born on a world that you fear. Brought up with freedoms that she will soon give up for you. She is a warrior, a princess, and most importantly a woman." He looked down at her "Kali, born of myself and Kalmia, you have the chance now to turn away from all this. You have the opportunity to leave it all behind and forever remain Kali Starfire, without lands or title. Will you accept the burden of this crown and pledge to protect this land and that on which you were born?"

Kali looked at her father stunned. He had not told her of this part of the ceremony. With one word she could walk away, marry Dion, have all her problems vanish! She was sorely tempted. She looked around she saw Hitomi and Van switch between watching the twins in their arms and her. She saw Dawn and Maya her protectors. She then looked at all the people from the village that had turned out to see this occasion.families and orphan children all looking to her.to bring the peace her mother prayed for. No she could not walk away from this.Kali and Folken, all the children from the village they were looking to her the hope for peace for the future. She had saved them before she could not leave them now. / I was wrong to think I could still be plain Kali.these people need me. From the moment my birthright was revealed my life has been theirs, after all I saved this world for them, now I must protect it for them. / "I.I.." Her voice broke. She looked at her father and saw the look on his face, he clearly thought that she was going to refuse get up and walk away. He was about to turn from her when "I, Kali, daughter of king Ryol and Kalmia do accept the honor and burden of the crown. I will protect this land and that to which I was born with my life."

Ryol smiled "Daughter I pronounce you princess Kali Starfire, Princess of Gaea!" The crowds erupted into cheers. Ryol placed a the tiara on Kali's head and offered her his hand she accepted it, stood up and took her place next to her father.

The man that had placed the crown on her father's head yelled out to the crowd. "I present to you His Majesty King Ryol de Starfire, King of Gaea and his daughter her royal highness the crown princess, Kali de Starfire, Princess of Gaea!" The crowd's cheers doubled, small flowers blew across the garden from the evening summer breeze. It was quite some time before the newly crowned king and princess could get back inside to the already started ball. Her father stopped her outside the ballroom.

"Daughter, they do not allow weapons on people for such an occasion, please go to your room and leave it there. And perhaps change into a dress or something, I think I will change my self this armor is rather confining."

"Father!" Kali was about to protest.

"No Kali." He didn't raise his voice but it was firm and cold. "You cannot wear the sword in that room or any time tonight. As for the dress I will not force it this time but there are people in there that will accept you better with a dress on. Now go."

Kali turned fuming / you mean my fiancée will accept me better! / She walked to her room when she got there her ladies in waiting were waiting for her they were about to follow her in to assist her with putting on a gown when she shut the door and locked them out. She went over and gently placed her sword on the table. It felt so wrong to leave it. After her will had transformed the stone and it had sustained her life force she had not let the sword 10 feet of grasping range. But orders were orders and this was a party she was going to. Defeated she looked in her closet for a dress that she could wear. She didn't want the white one she wore in Fanalia, it was more practical, meant for free movement and quick reacting time simple and not fancy. The black one was fancy but a. it had too many frills for her liking and b. she didn't think black was a color to wear tonight. The next dress she pulled out was a dark gray blue and matched her eyes. It was sleeveless and had straps that went from the front over her shoulders and criss-crossed over her back to do up in a bow. It was tight in the top and lightly fanned out by her waist. She didn't look further and put the dress on grabbing the matching slippers she threw them on and went to her door unlocked it and came face to face with a bunch of startled looking ladies.

"Take the night off and enjoy the party."

"Your highness?" they asked not sure they heard her correctly.

"You heard me. This night you should be relaxing like everyone else. Your services are not needed for the rest of the night. Now go have fun.that's an order."

They all smiled and curtsied "Thank you your highness, thank you so much." They all walked away smiling and chatting about what they would do with the night off. Kali walked down towards the hall where the ball was being held. The scaffolding and repair jobs had been taken down or hidden in honor of the occasion, but tomorrow they would be back up the restoration in full swing once again. She reached the door through which the royal family always entered the room.she could see the curtain from here and beyond that was a chair for her and her father. And after that there was the dance floor on which she would dance a waltz with her fiancée in a matter of moments. She entered through the door and stood behind the curtain. She fidgeted with her dress and crown. A gentleman looked at her.

"You look beautiful your highness."

She smiled politely "Thank you." She motioned that she should be announced. He nodded and stepped through the curtain. The music stopped.

"Announcing her royal highness princess Kali!" S

She stepped through the curtain. The crowd of nobles and royalty bowed and curtsied. Candles decorated the outside of the room. While hanging plants and a few chandlers stood out on the ceiling. Kali walked to her father's side and said. " Everyone, I am please to welcome you here tonight. I am Kali, the daughter of Ryol and Kalmia, the crown princess of Gaea.I am pleased to make your acquaintance." She sat next to her father.

"Well done Kali. Good introductions are part of becoming a lady."

Kali turned her head away from her father; she had no wish or desire to become a lady. Lord and Ladies and Kings and Queens made appearances before the Ryol and Kali almost all of them had sons that they wanted to introduce or daughters they were sure were going to become Kali's 'best friend'. After all the princes had been introduced and Ryol had jugged each of them. He stood up.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for your attention! Thank you all for coming tonight. It is an extra special occasion, as tonight I shall, in the tradition of our family, choose a fiancée on my daughters 18th birthday." Mothers and fathers put reassuring hands on their sons' shoulders. "However I have already chosen a husband for my daughter, would the lucky young man please step forward." He turned to his daughter and held out his hand. Closing her eyes she lifted her hand and placed it in her father's. After this night though she swore she would find a way out of this marriage her father was planning. He led her forward and placed her hand in that of another. As she opened her eyes to look at her fiancée her father spoke. "My daughter I would like to introduce you to your fiancée" her eyes went form his legs to his chest. "His royal highness prince" from his chest to his face, her eyes widened in surprise "Dion, the adopted brother of King Van and Fanalia's newest prince."



Well one last chapter left again so sorry about the late update, I didn't think job hunting too up so much time but I guess it does oh well. ~Avalon