The Ties That Bind
by Siren
Oh my Gosh! I'm temporarily catatonic, and somewhat crazy! (Starsky gives me a bored look.) I know, I know. I was crazy to begin with. But this is different. If any of you esca fans watched the Buffy episode where Tara got her brain sucked out, and she went crazy, will understand how my character is gonna act. Anywho, this episode is gonna involve a lot of my favorite characters. Also, I'm gonna try something knew, where each character gets a scene from their POV. I hope you guys like it!!!!!!! _______________________________________________________________________
A Kingdom Falls
Nikki sat next to Van in the conference room. Wrapping her arms around her knees, her eyes darted about like a nervous child. "So, Zaibach wants to recreate the world to their liking, and Nicole is the key. Well, keeping her safe is obviously our first priority. Though we will have to discuss what we will do if she falls into enemy hands. Secondly, I don't think that Van should be involved in this. He's too close to the enemy," Allen concluded. Van's eyes flared angrily. "I have every right to be involved in this! I don't care if my brother's the enemy, I want revenge!" Nicole began to rock back and forth, trembling. "Bad men coming. Bad, bad men. Zaibach bad, very bad," she babbled. Van took a deep breath, and tried to compose himself. Nikki began to rock back and forth, shaking her head. "Bad men. Bad, bad men. Zaibach is bad. Bad men coming. Bad men coming soon," she mumbled. Van's eyes widened, and he knelt infront of her. "Is Zaibach coming?" he asked softly. Nicole's eyes seemed to look right through him. "Zaibach bad. Bad coming. Close. Bad men close." Van stood up and looked at Allen and his crew. "Zaibach's coming. Gather your men, and prepare for battle." Gaddess frowned. "You're gonna listen to the crazy chick?" Van grabbed him by the throat, his eyes flashing. "She is _not_ crazy. And she's been right before. Do you want Zaibach to kill you? If so, get your ass out of this room right now." Releasing him, Van touched Nicole's arm gently. "Hey. We have to get you to a safe place." She looked up at him, her red hair hanging infront of her eyes. "Hide?" she asked in a small voice. Van nodded. "Yeah, hide. Come on," he said. She nodded. "Are we playing hide and go seek? Can I be the seeker?" Van shook his head. "No, you have to hide. Zaibach can't find you." Nicole thought for a moment. "Zaibach is the seeker?" she asked. Van nodded. She smiled slightly. "I find good hiding place. I'm a good hider. Zaibach won't find me. Nope, nope." Van smiled. He started to walk away, but Nicole grabbed his arm, and hugged him fiercly. "Don't go away forever, okay? I don't want to hide forever. Nicole don't want to be alone forever and ever." Van sighed into her hair, and nodded. "I know. You won't be alone for long. Don't worry." She looked up at him, eyes wide. "Promise?" He nodded. "Cross my heart. Now go hide." Nicole nodded, and scurried down the corridors. Van watched her leave, praying that she wouldn't be caught. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nicole wandered into a large room, and looked around. She'd seen this room before...she just couldn't remember where. Her eyes widened at the sight of a painting of two people. One of them looked like Van, and the woman...the woman had Van's eyes. There seemed to be a glow around the couple, their eyes locked on eachother lovingly. "Pretty..." she whispered. Hearing a noise outside, she gasped. "Gotta hide," she muttered. Seeing a door, she opened it, finding a staircase. She swallowed, and began to see where they would lead. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You sure she'll be okay?"
Van nodded. "She may be...out of it, but she's still a smart girl. I just wish I was able to keep an eye on her." Allen put a hand on his shoulder, and smiled. "You're an honorable man, Van. Your kingdom would be proud." Van nodded. "Thank you." Turning his attention to the task before him, he looked up at Escaflowne. He sighed, and began to make his way to the cock pit. "VAN-SAMA!!!!!!!" Van tensed, recognizing the voice immidietly. He swallowed, and turned around. His young cat-friend stood at the base of Escaflowne, her eyes welled with tears. Van choked down a sob, and jumped to the ground. The pink haired cat quickly threw herself into the young king's arms, burying her head in his shoulder. "Van-sama! I never thought I would see you again!" Van wrapped his arms around her, and closed his eyes. "Merle, what happened to you? I thought...I thought you were dead." Merle pulled away a bit. "When Fanalia was attacked, I tried to find you. But the village women insisted that I run as far away as possible. I didn't want to leave, but I had no choice." He smiled. "I'm glad you're okay, Merle. I was worried." Merle smiled brightly. "So, where's our little psychic?" Van's face fell. "After Fanalia was destroyed, I saught out Zaibach. She came with me, and they got us. She's...not well mentally. And it's my fault. Zaibach is after her, so I told her to hide. She should be somewhere inside. Can you go look after her?" Merle nodded. "Of course. Be careful." Van watched as the cat-girl ran towards the castle. Returning to his previous task, he got into Escaflowne, preparing to fight. "I will have my revenge, brother." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reaching the top of the staircase, she closed the door behind her. She turned around, only to come face to face with a massive portrait of an angel. His black hair was untamed, his brown eyes gleaming. White wings were spread behind him, seeming to glow brilliantly. Nicole's blue eyes widened. "Van..." She turned her gaze to the man next to him, and gasped. She knew that face. "F-Folken..." They looked so happy together. Van was just a little boy, and the man next to him was smiling. "A-angels...they're angels..." Feeling a sudden pang in her mind, she touched her forehead. Somehow, she had a feeling she knew a lot more about them then just their names. She knew the secrets they kept. But each time she tried to remember, it felt as though something was blocking her memories. Keeping them from her. She shook her head, and turned back to the door. She shrieked, coming face to face with the spunky cat-girl. "Geeze, calm down. It's just me. Merle, remember?" Taking a few deep breaths, she relaxed. "Merle," she said. The name was familiar. Merle nodded. "Yeah. You called me a...kleptoe or something." Nicole giggled. "Clepto. Someone who can't stop stealin' stuff." Merle huffed, and crossed her arms. "Whatever. Van told me to keep an eye on you. So, here I am." Nicole smiled. "Van's an angel," she said, and pointed to the painting. Merle gasped. "N-no he's not. That painting, it's just a mistake. Van doesn't really have wings or anything. He's just a normal guy." Nicole frowned. "Oh. Sorry." Merle sighed, and touched Nicole's arm. "Look. Van's worried about you, so can we just sit down and not get killed by Zaibach?" She nodded, and sat down. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Van waited for them. For his brother, and Zaibach. Folken destroyed Fanalia, his own home. The leader of Zaibach had nearly killed Nicole, as well as Merle. Hatred boiled in his veins as he grew impatient. "Where are you, brother?" His eyes widened as the ground began to tremble. He cried out as someone struck him from behind. He took out Escaflowne's sword, and swung it. Satisfied when he heard the crushing of metal, he watched as a mecha's invisibility cloak fell away. "Allen! If you strike them, you can see them!" Allen nodded in the Scherezade. He felt the ground tremble to his left, and struck the air beside him. Metal groaned, and collapsed.
The fight had begun. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Merle and Nicole clung to eachother as they listened to the fight erupting outside. "Van-sama, please be careful..." Nicole faught not to cry. People were dying again. "Please stop this, somebody. I don't want anybody else to die..." A sword crashed through the wall infront of them, and they screamed. Nicole buried her head in her hands, and began to rock back and forthe. Merle's eyes widened. "Nicole, we have to get out of here, as in NOW!" But Nicole didn't hear her. She once again escaped to the recesses of her mind. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nicole's Mind (ENTER AT OWN RISK)
Nicole was at home, holding Emma in her lap. The small, grey rabbit twitched its nose, and stared up at her with large eyes. The red-haired girl smiled. She felt safe, and warm. She heard her bedroom door open, and saw her youngest sister, Kimmie, come in. The blonde sat on the bed. "Whatcha doin'?" she asked. Nicole shrugged. "Holdin' Emma. You?" The younger sister shrugged. "Playin' SIMS." Nicole smiled again. "I tried that game, but my family died when the oven blew up," she said sheepishly. Kimmie nodded. "Accidents happen." Kimmie noticed something on the desk, and picked it up. "You been watchin' Escaflowne?" Nicole glanced at the box that held her DVD's. "I guess. I saw the ending and it kinda pissed me off." Kimmie blinked, and handed the box to her. "Well, you gonna watch it again?" Nicole frowned. "I dunno if it's worth watching again. I mean, Hitomi should've stayed with Van. She should've at least kissed the guy. And I can't believe she kissed Allen. That's just too gross." Kimmie smirked, and sat down next to her sister. Reaching out a hand, she petted the small rabbit. Nicole frowned again. "What's wrong?" Kim asked. She shook her head. "Dunno. I just feel like I should be doing something." Nicole stood up, and put Emma back in her cage. She stared at the Escaflowne DVD's on her desk, something pulling at her mind. "I know there's something I should be doing. I'm missing something..." The red-head glanced at her sister. Turning her gaze to the window, she wondered if she dreamt her tripto Gaea. "I had the wierdest dream that I was actually in the show." Kimmie laughed. "You and your dreams. I remember when you said you dreamt that you were being chased by killer umpa-lumpas." Nicole hit her with a pillow. "Hey, they creeped me out, okay? I just...this dream felt real." Kimmie frowned. "If it was that good, than just go back to sleep." Nicole shook her head. "It wasn't good. Fanalia was destroyed, people were dying. It was...really sad. Scary." Kimmie smiled. "Yeah, but you'd kiss Van, right? And you could be the hero. I mean, it's your dream. You can do whatever you want." Nicole smiled mischeviously. "Right. I can see it now." She grabbed the bedpost dramatically. "Oh Van, my love! Lemme give ya a kiss!" She planted a kiss on the bedpost, causing her sister to laugh. "I'm serious! Just go back to sleep, kiss Van, and be happy. Take advantage of that stupid dream of your's." Nicole smiled lightly. "I must be dreaming right now, 'cause you'd never be this sweet." Realization dawned on her, and she frowned. She thought back, remembering the battle raging on Gaea. She had been with Merle, Van was fighting Zaibach..."I am dreaming. I'm still on Gaea." Kimmie frowned. "Huh?" Nicole opened her window, and looked down. "Merle and I are in Allen's castle. There's a fight going on..." Kimmie touched her older sister's arm lightly. "What are you talking about?" Nicole looked at her younger sister sadly. She hugged her tightly, then leapt out the window.
Take me back. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Back in the castle)
"Nicole, wake up! We have to leave!"
Nicole snapped her eyes open, and looked at the cat-girl infront of her. "Right. Let's go." Grabbing Merle's hand, they ran down the stairs. The castle shook, nearly causing them to lose their balance. "C'mon, Merle! Move those cat legs!" Merle huffed, trying to keep up. "I AM!" Nicole and Merle ran out of the castle, and into the middle of the battlefield. They saw Van and Allen fighting off Zaibach, but quickly losing. They were outnumbered. "Van, we gotta get the hell out of here, as in right this second!" (by the way, I'm all better now. Kimmie snapped me out of it. Way to go, sista!) Van looked at Nicole and Merle. "Get out of here!" he shouted. Nicole rolled her eyes. "Van, get your stubborn ass outta here! Allen, prep the Crusade!" Allen nodded from his melif. Van faught off another dragon slayer, than scooped his two companions into Escaflowne's hand. He ran towards the maintanence bay, where Allen and his crew had prepped the Crusade. Van got out of Escaflowne, letting Allen's crew put it into the airship. Nicole grabbed his hand, and pulled him towards it. "C'mon! We are SO outnumbered!" she shrieked. Pulling Van into the airship, it took off. Allen walked in, and wiped the sweat from his brow. "We'll head to Asturia. We should be there in about two days," he announced. She sighed, and leaned against the wall, unaware of Van's stare.
Back at the battlefield.....
"Dammit! Cowards!" Dilandau was furious. Van and Allen had slayed a few of his warriors, and escaped. He had also failed Dornkirk by not bringing back the girl. He looked at the castle that stood before him. Holding out his melif's arm, flames were unleashed, burning down the structure. "Dilandau, Dornkirk has new orders. Return at once," Folken's voice echoed. Growling with pent up anger, he returned to Zaibach's floating fortress. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Merle was curled up in a bed, purring peacefully. Nicole stood infront of the glass wall, and gazed at the scenery as it passed. She heard someone walk up behind her, and smiled. Van stood next to her, watching the scenery as she did. "Are you...okay now?" Nicole nodded. "Yeah. I got a little help from my little sister." Van cocked an eyebrow. Nicole smiled again. "Um, nevermind." She paused for a moment. "Sorry if I scared you. I didn't mean to be all, wierd. I guess I just sorta freaked out or something," she babbled. Van didn't meet her gaze. "You have nothing to apologize for. If anything, I should apologize to you. You're my responsibility, and I let you get hurt." Nicole giggled softly. Van looked at her now, confused. "What's so funny?" he asked with a slight smile. "You're just a teen! Don't be so serious!" Van shook his head. "I'm a king. I have to be serious." Nicole watched as a shooting star passed infront of them. "Ooh! Shooting star! Make a wish!" Van shook his head, but made a wish anyway. "So, what'd you wish for?" Van stared at the sky solemnly. "For Fanalia to be rebuilt." Nicole rolled her eyes. "God, even your wishes are too serious. I, unlike you, wished for a discman," she said proudly. Van frowned. "Disc Man?" Nicole giggled. "Oh yeah. You don't know what that is here. Nevermind. And thank you, by the way, for saving me." Van shrugged. Nicole thought back to her encounter with her 'dream' sister. "Go back to sleep, kiss Van, and be happy!" She smiled lightly. "Hey Van?" Van turned to her. "Yeah?" Nicole wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly. She felt him tense with shock, and she let him go, slightly hurt, slightly proud of herself. Van saw the hurt in her eyes, and opened his mouth to say something. Anything. "Um, just doing what my sister said I should do, and um, I gotta kinda, like, go," she mumbled, and ran. Van knew he had screwed up, but she had taken him by surprise. Sighing, he ran his fingers through his hair.
This was going to be a long two days.
2 Be Continued.
by Siren
Oh my Gosh! I'm temporarily catatonic, and somewhat crazy! (Starsky gives me a bored look.) I know, I know. I was crazy to begin with. But this is different. If any of you esca fans watched the Buffy episode where Tara got her brain sucked out, and she went crazy, will understand how my character is gonna act. Anywho, this episode is gonna involve a lot of my favorite characters. Also, I'm gonna try something knew, where each character gets a scene from their POV. I hope you guys like it!!!!!!! _______________________________________________________________________
A Kingdom Falls
Nikki sat next to Van in the conference room. Wrapping her arms around her knees, her eyes darted about like a nervous child. "So, Zaibach wants to recreate the world to their liking, and Nicole is the key. Well, keeping her safe is obviously our first priority. Though we will have to discuss what we will do if she falls into enemy hands. Secondly, I don't think that Van should be involved in this. He's too close to the enemy," Allen concluded. Van's eyes flared angrily. "I have every right to be involved in this! I don't care if my brother's the enemy, I want revenge!" Nicole began to rock back and forth, trembling. "Bad men coming. Bad, bad men. Zaibach bad, very bad," she babbled. Van took a deep breath, and tried to compose himself. Nikki began to rock back and forth, shaking her head. "Bad men. Bad, bad men. Zaibach is bad. Bad men coming. Bad men coming soon," she mumbled. Van's eyes widened, and he knelt infront of her. "Is Zaibach coming?" he asked softly. Nicole's eyes seemed to look right through him. "Zaibach bad. Bad coming. Close. Bad men close." Van stood up and looked at Allen and his crew. "Zaibach's coming. Gather your men, and prepare for battle." Gaddess frowned. "You're gonna listen to the crazy chick?" Van grabbed him by the throat, his eyes flashing. "She is _not_ crazy. And she's been right before. Do you want Zaibach to kill you? If so, get your ass out of this room right now." Releasing him, Van touched Nicole's arm gently. "Hey. We have to get you to a safe place." She looked up at him, her red hair hanging infront of her eyes. "Hide?" she asked in a small voice. Van nodded. "Yeah, hide. Come on," he said. She nodded. "Are we playing hide and go seek? Can I be the seeker?" Van shook his head. "No, you have to hide. Zaibach can't find you." Nicole thought for a moment. "Zaibach is the seeker?" she asked. Van nodded. She smiled slightly. "I find good hiding place. I'm a good hider. Zaibach won't find me. Nope, nope." Van smiled. He started to walk away, but Nicole grabbed his arm, and hugged him fiercly. "Don't go away forever, okay? I don't want to hide forever. Nicole don't want to be alone forever and ever." Van sighed into her hair, and nodded. "I know. You won't be alone for long. Don't worry." She looked up at him, eyes wide. "Promise?" He nodded. "Cross my heart. Now go hide." Nicole nodded, and scurried down the corridors. Van watched her leave, praying that she wouldn't be caught. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nicole wandered into a large room, and looked around. She'd seen this room before...she just couldn't remember where. Her eyes widened at the sight of a painting of two people. One of them looked like Van, and the woman...the woman had Van's eyes. There seemed to be a glow around the couple, their eyes locked on eachother lovingly. "Pretty..." she whispered. Hearing a noise outside, she gasped. "Gotta hide," she muttered. Seeing a door, she opened it, finding a staircase. She swallowed, and began to see where they would lead. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You sure she'll be okay?"
Van nodded. "She may be...out of it, but she's still a smart girl. I just wish I was able to keep an eye on her." Allen put a hand on his shoulder, and smiled. "You're an honorable man, Van. Your kingdom would be proud." Van nodded. "Thank you." Turning his attention to the task before him, he looked up at Escaflowne. He sighed, and began to make his way to the cock pit. "VAN-SAMA!!!!!!!" Van tensed, recognizing the voice immidietly. He swallowed, and turned around. His young cat-friend stood at the base of Escaflowne, her eyes welled with tears. Van choked down a sob, and jumped to the ground. The pink haired cat quickly threw herself into the young king's arms, burying her head in his shoulder. "Van-sama! I never thought I would see you again!" Van wrapped his arms around her, and closed his eyes. "Merle, what happened to you? I thought...I thought you were dead." Merle pulled away a bit. "When Fanalia was attacked, I tried to find you. But the village women insisted that I run as far away as possible. I didn't want to leave, but I had no choice." He smiled. "I'm glad you're okay, Merle. I was worried." Merle smiled brightly. "So, where's our little psychic?" Van's face fell. "After Fanalia was destroyed, I saught out Zaibach. She came with me, and they got us. She's...not well mentally. And it's my fault. Zaibach is after her, so I told her to hide. She should be somewhere inside. Can you go look after her?" Merle nodded. "Of course. Be careful." Van watched as the cat-girl ran towards the castle. Returning to his previous task, he got into Escaflowne, preparing to fight. "I will have my revenge, brother." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reaching the top of the staircase, she closed the door behind her. She turned around, only to come face to face with a massive portrait of an angel. His black hair was untamed, his brown eyes gleaming. White wings were spread behind him, seeming to glow brilliantly. Nicole's blue eyes widened. "Van..." She turned her gaze to the man next to him, and gasped. She knew that face. "F-Folken..." They looked so happy together. Van was just a little boy, and the man next to him was smiling. "A-angels...they're angels..." Feeling a sudden pang in her mind, she touched her forehead. Somehow, she had a feeling she knew a lot more about them then just their names. She knew the secrets they kept. But each time she tried to remember, it felt as though something was blocking her memories. Keeping them from her. She shook her head, and turned back to the door. She shrieked, coming face to face with the spunky cat-girl. "Geeze, calm down. It's just me. Merle, remember?" Taking a few deep breaths, she relaxed. "Merle," she said. The name was familiar. Merle nodded. "Yeah. You called me a...kleptoe or something." Nicole giggled. "Clepto. Someone who can't stop stealin' stuff." Merle huffed, and crossed her arms. "Whatever. Van told me to keep an eye on you. So, here I am." Nicole smiled. "Van's an angel," she said, and pointed to the painting. Merle gasped. "N-no he's not. That painting, it's just a mistake. Van doesn't really have wings or anything. He's just a normal guy." Nicole frowned. "Oh. Sorry." Merle sighed, and touched Nicole's arm. "Look. Van's worried about you, so can we just sit down and not get killed by Zaibach?" She nodded, and sat down. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Van waited for them. For his brother, and Zaibach. Folken destroyed Fanalia, his own home. The leader of Zaibach had nearly killed Nicole, as well as Merle. Hatred boiled in his veins as he grew impatient. "Where are you, brother?" His eyes widened as the ground began to tremble. He cried out as someone struck him from behind. He took out Escaflowne's sword, and swung it. Satisfied when he heard the crushing of metal, he watched as a mecha's invisibility cloak fell away. "Allen! If you strike them, you can see them!" Allen nodded in the Scherezade. He felt the ground tremble to his left, and struck the air beside him. Metal groaned, and collapsed.
The fight had begun. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Merle and Nicole clung to eachother as they listened to the fight erupting outside. "Van-sama, please be careful..." Nicole faught not to cry. People were dying again. "Please stop this, somebody. I don't want anybody else to die..." A sword crashed through the wall infront of them, and they screamed. Nicole buried her head in her hands, and began to rock back and forthe. Merle's eyes widened. "Nicole, we have to get out of here, as in NOW!" But Nicole didn't hear her. She once again escaped to the recesses of her mind. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nicole's Mind (ENTER AT OWN RISK)
Nicole was at home, holding Emma in her lap. The small, grey rabbit twitched its nose, and stared up at her with large eyes. The red-haired girl smiled. She felt safe, and warm. She heard her bedroom door open, and saw her youngest sister, Kimmie, come in. The blonde sat on the bed. "Whatcha doin'?" she asked. Nicole shrugged. "Holdin' Emma. You?" The younger sister shrugged. "Playin' SIMS." Nicole smiled again. "I tried that game, but my family died when the oven blew up," she said sheepishly. Kimmie nodded. "Accidents happen." Kimmie noticed something on the desk, and picked it up. "You been watchin' Escaflowne?" Nicole glanced at the box that held her DVD's. "I guess. I saw the ending and it kinda pissed me off." Kimmie blinked, and handed the box to her. "Well, you gonna watch it again?" Nicole frowned. "I dunno if it's worth watching again. I mean, Hitomi should've stayed with Van. She should've at least kissed the guy. And I can't believe she kissed Allen. That's just too gross." Kimmie smirked, and sat down next to her sister. Reaching out a hand, she petted the small rabbit. Nicole frowned again. "What's wrong?" Kim asked. She shook her head. "Dunno. I just feel like I should be doing something." Nicole stood up, and put Emma back in her cage. She stared at the Escaflowne DVD's on her desk, something pulling at her mind. "I know there's something I should be doing. I'm missing something..." The red-head glanced at her sister. Turning her gaze to the window, she wondered if she dreamt her tripto Gaea. "I had the wierdest dream that I was actually in the show." Kimmie laughed. "You and your dreams. I remember when you said you dreamt that you were being chased by killer umpa-lumpas." Nicole hit her with a pillow. "Hey, they creeped me out, okay? I just...this dream felt real." Kimmie frowned. "If it was that good, than just go back to sleep." Nicole shook her head. "It wasn't good. Fanalia was destroyed, people were dying. It was...really sad. Scary." Kimmie smiled. "Yeah, but you'd kiss Van, right? And you could be the hero. I mean, it's your dream. You can do whatever you want." Nicole smiled mischeviously. "Right. I can see it now." She grabbed the bedpost dramatically. "Oh Van, my love! Lemme give ya a kiss!" She planted a kiss on the bedpost, causing her sister to laugh. "I'm serious! Just go back to sleep, kiss Van, and be happy. Take advantage of that stupid dream of your's." Nicole smiled lightly. "I must be dreaming right now, 'cause you'd never be this sweet." Realization dawned on her, and she frowned. She thought back, remembering the battle raging on Gaea. She had been with Merle, Van was fighting Zaibach..."I am dreaming. I'm still on Gaea." Kimmie frowned. "Huh?" Nicole opened her window, and looked down. "Merle and I are in Allen's castle. There's a fight going on..." Kimmie touched her older sister's arm lightly. "What are you talking about?" Nicole looked at her younger sister sadly. She hugged her tightly, then leapt out the window.
Take me back. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Back in the castle)
"Nicole, wake up! We have to leave!"
Nicole snapped her eyes open, and looked at the cat-girl infront of her. "Right. Let's go." Grabbing Merle's hand, they ran down the stairs. The castle shook, nearly causing them to lose their balance. "C'mon, Merle! Move those cat legs!" Merle huffed, trying to keep up. "I AM!" Nicole and Merle ran out of the castle, and into the middle of the battlefield. They saw Van and Allen fighting off Zaibach, but quickly losing. They were outnumbered. "Van, we gotta get the hell out of here, as in right this second!" (by the way, I'm all better now. Kimmie snapped me out of it. Way to go, sista!) Van looked at Nicole and Merle. "Get out of here!" he shouted. Nicole rolled her eyes. "Van, get your stubborn ass outta here! Allen, prep the Crusade!" Allen nodded from his melif. Van faught off another dragon slayer, than scooped his two companions into Escaflowne's hand. He ran towards the maintanence bay, where Allen and his crew had prepped the Crusade. Van got out of Escaflowne, letting Allen's crew put it into the airship. Nicole grabbed his hand, and pulled him towards it. "C'mon! We are SO outnumbered!" she shrieked. Pulling Van into the airship, it took off. Allen walked in, and wiped the sweat from his brow. "We'll head to Asturia. We should be there in about two days," he announced. She sighed, and leaned against the wall, unaware of Van's stare.
Back at the battlefield.....
"Dammit! Cowards!" Dilandau was furious. Van and Allen had slayed a few of his warriors, and escaped. He had also failed Dornkirk by not bringing back the girl. He looked at the castle that stood before him. Holding out his melif's arm, flames were unleashed, burning down the structure. "Dilandau, Dornkirk has new orders. Return at once," Folken's voice echoed. Growling with pent up anger, he returned to Zaibach's floating fortress. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Merle was curled up in a bed, purring peacefully. Nicole stood infront of the glass wall, and gazed at the scenery as it passed. She heard someone walk up behind her, and smiled. Van stood next to her, watching the scenery as she did. "Are you...okay now?" Nicole nodded. "Yeah. I got a little help from my little sister." Van cocked an eyebrow. Nicole smiled again. "Um, nevermind." She paused for a moment. "Sorry if I scared you. I didn't mean to be all, wierd. I guess I just sorta freaked out or something," she babbled. Van didn't meet her gaze. "You have nothing to apologize for. If anything, I should apologize to you. You're my responsibility, and I let you get hurt." Nicole giggled softly. Van looked at her now, confused. "What's so funny?" he asked with a slight smile. "You're just a teen! Don't be so serious!" Van shook his head. "I'm a king. I have to be serious." Nicole watched as a shooting star passed infront of them. "Ooh! Shooting star! Make a wish!" Van shook his head, but made a wish anyway. "So, what'd you wish for?" Van stared at the sky solemnly. "For Fanalia to be rebuilt." Nicole rolled her eyes. "God, even your wishes are too serious. I, unlike you, wished for a discman," she said proudly. Van frowned. "Disc Man?" Nicole giggled. "Oh yeah. You don't know what that is here. Nevermind. And thank you, by the way, for saving me." Van shrugged. Nicole thought back to her encounter with her 'dream' sister. "Go back to sleep, kiss Van, and be happy!" She smiled lightly. "Hey Van?" Van turned to her. "Yeah?" Nicole wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly. She felt him tense with shock, and she let him go, slightly hurt, slightly proud of herself. Van saw the hurt in her eyes, and opened his mouth to say something. Anything. "Um, just doing what my sister said I should do, and um, I gotta kinda, like, go," she mumbled, and ran. Van knew he had screwed up, but she had taken him by surprise. Sighing, he ran his fingers through his hair.
This was going to be a long two days.
2 Be Continued.