Escaflowne: The Legacy
By coolpriss
…A girl in search of her identity…a puissance quietly bidding its time…as it awoke, it claimed her…she who lacks in spirit…yet holds their hearts…
A/N: This is sort of a sequel to the TV series, although it will have a different theme you read along. I can't explain anything yet, as sooner or later, everything shall be clarified hopefully. But if you have any questions, feel free to ask it in your reviews and if it's not gonna give away the story, then I'll try to answer it. I posted the first five chapters, I'll post the next ones soon. Please read and review!!! I really, really need it!!! Oh, and this was also known before as For the Love of Gaea, revised, and nearly completed.
Disclaimer: No, I still don't own Escaflowne or any of it's original characters. What I DO own is this fic including the new characters here. This disclaimer is in effect for the whole fic.
Prologue
She walked happily on the dusty path, humming to herself as she neared the market of the small town. She couldn't believe it at first -- it was too good to be true. Her older brother finally allowed her to go alone! They were in desperate need for some chives, an herb that could be used as a spice and for medical purposes as well. Everyone was either working on the Crusade, which was under heavy reconstruction, or else in bed. There was a flu going around, so they needed the essence. Allen refused at first, but Gaddes and the others talked him into it.
I'm not a little girl anymore, she thought as she looked at some weird items the gypsies had in their stand. They had a rock that turns hot to tell if a person is lying (according to the fat lady with a thick accent -- why not try it at her?! ^_^), a gold-and-silver medallion from the North and some other jewelry, potions of all sorts, and plenty of other stuff, including a "Draconian" feather that looks suspiciously looks like the real thing. Why does Allen always treat me as if I couldn't take care of myself? I'm old enough to have my own family! But he wouldn't even allow me go to the market alone!
She sighed and went to the herb stand. I guess I shouldn't blame him for trying to protect me. He's just doing his job as my older brother. He said he's just making up for all those years…years that I simply cannot remember…She rubbed her head as a goat-man arranged the dark green herbs into a bottle. She smiled politely at him when he handed her the jar, and slowly made her way back to their fort, near Fanelia's border. Why can't I remember a thing? Nobody really tells me anything. But I have a strong feeling I played an important role on that great Gaean war. Why was I on that guymelef? Why do I have these flashbacks that I couldn't understand? And the voices… Who am I really? Why can't I remember anything?!
All of a sudden, the bottle of chives shattered on the ground. The girl dropped on her knees, her light blue eyes wide with fear and confusion. She was breathing heavily, her hands gripping her wavy light blond hair, almost tearing it from her scalp. The busy market was hushed with shocked silence as they stared bewilderedly at the beautiful girl at the middle of the road. The silenced was shattered with an excruciating scream.
"STOP! Please…stop…STOP…MAKE THEM STOP…!" the girl cried frantically, pounding her head on the ground. Several onlookers rushed to her side, and tried to calm her down. But she wouldn't budge. Her fingers were white and cold as ice, and were still grasping her shoulder-length hair. Her eyes were now of a wild, almost white, light blue. Blood was trickling down her pale, distorted face as she battled with her unstable mind. In her head were a flurry of images--guymeleves…faces of young men in armors…cities burning…steel claws sprouting everywhere… a field…a butterfly…a young boy calling out to her… Voices where everywhere…calling her…and another name…a strangely familiar name…Then her mind focused on something…someone…such a kind face…
"Jajuka…" she whispered. Her light blond hair has turned silvery white. Her sky blue eyes were slowly turning that of blood red. She felt pain slicing through her right cheek. "Jajuka…JAJUKA…!" a male voice was now mixed with that of the girl. "JAJUKAAA!!!!"
The crowd gathered around the screaming girl watched in stunned silence as a guymelef formed in front of their eyes and scooped the hysterical figure, still screaming and crying. And as quickly as it appeared, the red guymelef was gone, along with the girl.
~~~***~~~
It's been quite a long time…sometimes I wonder…was it all just my imagination…No…it was real…I couldn't have just dreamt those times…the feeling…him…
The elevator stopped at the fourth floor. The doors opened and she got out. She walked slowly, looking carefully at the numbers on the doors. She stopped on room 406. Voices could be heard inside. She knocked softly. Hearing a muffled "Come in", she opened the door slowly and stepped into the room.
"Hitomi!" a handsome young man welcomed her.
"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Kanzaki," she returned the warm welcome. "And you too, little miss Kanzaki," she addressed the tiny baby on the hands of her brother.
Hitomi placed the bouquet of flowers she had been carrying on the table along with the basket of fruits. "How's your back now, Reika-chan?"
"A lot better, thank you. You're in luck, Hitomi. She's been up for half an hour now and looks like she was waiting just for you," the tired but happy young mother sitting on the bed, behind a tower of pillows told her.
"Oh, really now?" she smiled at the baby girl, looking at her from behind her father.
"Here. Hold her for a sec.," the young man in a business suit handed the small child to her.
"Aw, she's so cute!" Hitomi held out her arms and carefully held the baby close to her. Then a flash of light blinded her, causing her to almost loose her balance.
"Hitomi, are you alright?" her brother supported her right arm.
"Yeah…I…I'm fine," she replied, still a bit dazed.
"Here, let me help you," the young man got the baby from Hitomi's trembling hands, and handed her back to her mother. He went back to Hitomi and led her to a nearby chair.
"Are you sure you're okay, Hitomi?" he asked again, once she sank into the hospital chair. "I can call a nurse, if you want…"
"No, you don't have to do that, Kenji," she reassured him. Her hand went instinctively on a chain underneath her cream-colored blouse. "I'm fine…it was probably the…stress…the track finals are taking up a lot of time than I thought…" she smiled weakly at her brother and sister-in-law.
"If you say so, Hitomi…" his hazel brown eyes doubtfully examined her emerald green ones.
"I'm fine," she repeated, more to herself this time.
~~~***~~~
"But my King…" the advisor followed him to his room.
"Enough," he told him firmly. "I shall be the one to decide when, and most importantly, WHO I'm going to marry, is that understood?" He glared at one of his advisors, Hubert.
He turned around and went inside his room. They had been plaguing him to marry someone ever since Fanelia's restoration was almost complete.
But they are right, he thought to himself as he opened the glass doors that lead to his balcony. Fanelia does need a queen. Especially now that the reconstruction is almost finished.
He took out the pendant hanging from his neck and stared at the pink crystal for a while. But how can I marry someone I do not love? How can marry someone not you?
He balled his hands over the pendant and closed his eyes, letting his mind wander back to those days…
~~~***~~~
I can't believe it. That was the first time I had a vision ever since…
Hitomi was sitting at the bus, her right elbow on top of the seat's armrest, her face resting on the palm of her hand. She was looking at the passing scenery of tall glass buildings, but not really seeing anything.
It wasn't much of a vision, though. I don't remember anything. It was more of a flash of light. But what could it possibly mean? I was holding her in my arms…could it be her? Could it be that she's…connected…to Gaea? I mean, I was thinking of Gaea…of Van…
Then she wondered what brought it all back. It has been a long time…she couldn't even remember the details anymore. But she could never forget. She thought it had lapsed from her consciousness, but when the little girl on the elevator asked her if she had ever seen an angel, she didn't quite know what to say. His deep, reddish brown eyes, his dark black hair, his soft white wings…it all came back to her with unexpected vividness and clarity.
The bus stopped. Hitomi stood up and got off the bus. Her hand was still grasping the object underneath her blouse, hanging from the thin gold chain around her neck. She slowly started to walk to her house. It was the same house she had lived in for twenty-four years. Both her mother and father passed away, a couple of years back, on a plane crash. They were on their way back from their second honey moon, right after her brother's graduation. Both she and her brother were devastated. She was tempted to call Van…to tell him to take her back to Gaea…away from Earth…far away from her parent's death… But she knew she couldn't just leave her brother alone. But now, he was the one who left her. Her brother married just over a year ago, and moved to their new place, a few streets from her own, leaving her alone in that house.
Oh, Van…I miss you…
~~~***~~~
The gem in his fist started to light. He opened his hand and stared at it for a moment. Then he shifted his gaze to the sky, the Mystic Moon, in particular.
Hitomi…are you thinking of me too?
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A/N: Yeah, yeah. I know Jajuka's dead. Just continue reading and you'll understand it…it's gonna be explained in later chapters, kay? Now, on to the next chapter! --- ^_^