1.1.1.1.1 Vision Three: The Magnificent Knight
" Is it a dream? Or perhaps an illusion?
Fanelia was consumed by flames. In the midst of that chocking hot air,
Along with that guy, once again wrapped in light, I flew.
Yes… this is Gaea. Where the moon and Earth float in the sky, a world of mystery."
Millennia and Van were taken away from the burning Fanelia in a column of light. The light brought them down in a forest by a river, but they were separated before landing.
Millennia was alone, in this new strange place. Her arm had stopped bleeding but she still felt the pain and didn't remember how she had reopened it. She was too tired to keep her eyes open. She whispered , holding out her pendant hoping it would show her the way : "Please Hahaue? Protect me…"
Instead of helping her, it made the wind whistle around her. She didn't understand what it was trying to tell her and when she reopened her eyes, she cried out with surprise and fear. She was accosted by a strange man who had seen them landing. As he saw the light from the pendant, he took a liking to it
"What a pretty stone you've got! I'll take it!"
"Don't touch it! Tasukete!" (Japanese word for Help)
She screamed out for help. The wind carried her call through the forest to Van's ears. At first he wasn't too worried, because he was certain they were still on Gaea. But when he didn't find Millennia he began to worry…
Millennia's cries were heard by another. A handsome young man with an owl appeared from a small craft on the river.
"Didn't I tell you to stop tormenting the young ladies Mole-man?
"Allen?!"
With one swift punch, he halted her attacker and checked on Millennia.
"You were bleeding?! Why are you alone in that forest? It's not a place for young ladies…"
She looked at his face in order to answer all his questions, but she didn't even say a word, her eyes widened. He looked so much like her older friend who was paralysed after that accident seven years ago, with blond hair instead of red. She was traumatized, thinking he was her long lost friend and she clung to him sobbing.
"Allan-san! You can walk again…" and she passed out.
"What a strange girl."
Her mysterious rescuer picked her up and turned to leave when Van arrived, his sword in his hand.
"Don't touch her!" he yelled as he saw her in his arms, preparing to attack.
"You're too young to die, little boy. Put down your sword!"
"Let her go or I'm gonna attack you!"
The man nodded and sighed. He placed Millennia on the ground and easily avoided Van's lunge, then he trounced him soundly.
"Foolish child! What should I do with these two young persons?"
He took Van's sword and watched the guard. His eyes widened recognizing the symbols.
Millennia felt that it was a dream, but it was so much as her childhood, She knew this because she had her silvered hair instead of black now. She was playing in the fields, it was one of the rare occasions when the sun was shining on the landscape of Ireland. A light wind was blowing but no rain was falling. She was playing St George and the dragon with Allan, her childhood lover and her adoptive brother's best friend. And another boy was here too playing with Ryô and Allan. But she didn't see his face. It was a peaceful day.
But suddenly soldiers appeared in black and blue uniforms, trying to catch her and the young boy she didn't recognize. Afraid because she and her friends were in danger, she shouted loudly and the fields became engulfed in flames. Allan was thrown to the ground, he would never be to walk again or open his eyes , even if he was not dead. Ryô stood voiceless, unable to react, and the other boy had disappeared. She fell to her knees suddenly remembering his name and called "Dilan!!!!!!"
The ground quaked and then opened up. She was falling down into a vacuum. Light came out of her forehead just before she saw a man jumping after her. He deployed wings and caught her, ending her fall. She smiled at him but couldn't see his face. He whispered something softly in her ears but she didn't hear it and awakened.
She opened her eyes and saw the man who looked so much like Allan. She found herself lying in a bed in a room full of strange men. She was devastated not to be back to the time of her childhood or even on Earth and cried.
"Don't cry young Lady. My name is Allen Schezar, heavenly knight of Asturia. They are my men. Don't worry, you are safe now."
He smiled to her and she tried to smile back she was worrying, not seeing Van.
"What's your name Lady?"
"Millennia" she whispered, "Millennia Albatou no Tsubasa or just Tsubasa. Please, didn't you find a young man in the forest? I was with him when the pillar…" she stopped her sentence, figuring that her story was so unbelievable even in this world. Just at that moment, the door opened and a soldier pushed Van into the room. She was so relieved that without worrying about anyone else in the room, she jumped up and flung her arms around his neck, tears in her eyes.
"Van! You're okay! I was so worried!"
"Millennia…" he hugged her.
"Is this sword yours?" asked Allen.
"Of course it is!" answered Van, letting Millennia go. "give it back to me!"
"I need to talk to you before, but you two are too tired now. Please rest, we'll talk later."
"You…" began Van.
"Arigato Allen-san." Said Millennia, taking Van's hand to calm him down.
The next morning, he told a slightly incredulous Allen all that had happened and where Millennia had come from.
"So you are the King of Fanelia and you come from the Mystic Moon, Millennia…"
"Hye…" she timidly answered, "I was in Japan, but I'm just half Japan and half French and I grew up in Scotland and Ireland…"
"Are all those world kingdoms from your world?" asked Allen ,curious.
"You can see things like this…" she sighed.
Van was listening to her, but she saw he was not happy to be wasting his time like this.
"Allen you know what happened, Give me Escaflowne back, I must go to Fanelia and fight my enemies."
"You don't have to go." replied Allen irritated. "There is no more Fanelia."
Van's eyes opened wide and Millennia hid her mouth with her hand to block her cries of surprise. They were reliving those few happy moments they had had in Fanelia, the smiles from the peoples, the city… Everything was burned by the invisible enemies.
"The marchand of Asturia who were in Fanelia for the coronation didn't find a lot of survivors. Every thing has been destroyed."
Millennia could still feel the heat of the burning city. She cried "Liar!!"
Van thumped the table and yelled "That's impossible! You…"
At that moment, a strange flying fortress appeared in the sky hiding and covering the sun. Flying down from it guymelefs. Millennia froze when she recognized the invisibles who attacked Fanelia. She said to Allen.
"Allen!!! They asked you for a meeting!"
"I don't trust in them but they are Asturian's allies. Please don't disturb us."
The visitors were effectively members of the Zaïbach Empire, an ally of Asturia, though it was plain that Allen didn't particularly care for them. Allen met with the Empire's representative in the central hall of the fortress.
A squadron of young men, maybe the same age as Millennia, in black and blue uniforms entered the hall, leaded by a strange boy in black and red: Dilandau Albatou.
"We come to replenish our supplies!" said Dilandau not interested at all.
"It will be done in a few moments." replied Allen.
"Did you seen a strange guymelef around here? We are looking for it in the area."
Van followed by a curious Millennia came in glaring at the people who must have destroyed Fanelia.
" I haven't seen anything", answered Allen. "Have you heard that Fanelia has been destroyed?"
"You mean that little kingdom? I heard that they have all been eaten by the Earth dragons. Even their king has disappeared. What a shame…" He said before his laugh exploded.
"And what cowards going invisible to fight?" replied Van with anger, ready for the attack, but Millennia took his hand and said no with her head.
Dilandau stopped laughing and turned toward them. He approached and parted Van and Millennia. He stared at her with mischievousness. Millennia looked at his face and her eyes widened. Is he…?
"Who is she?"
"She is my new girlfriend. She came from East." replied Allen gently kissing her on the cheek and putting his hand on her shoulder. She was surprised but immediately stopped shaking. There were shocked faces all around and it diverted Dilandau's attention successfully. Allen followed Dilandau out, leaving Millennia to her thoughts.
"That man…" she whispered. She saw wings coming out of Allen's back. "Baka Millennia! Angels don't exist!" she said to herself tapping her head to get her spirits back. The wind had blown her off course, but she hadn't noticed.
In order to keep them safe and to keep Van from running away, Allen put Millennia and Van in a locked room without windows. Van was deep in his thoughts. Millennia was looking in her bag and found a tarot set.
"I remember!" she exclaimed, "Hitomi gave me this after that I had understood how to read them. Where are the notes?"
She found the notes in the book Vargass gave her, in the chapter "Read the future". Millennia began to read what Aban had written.
"Reading the future is something dangerous. That's why there is no spell for this. I heard that some of the draconnians have the power to see it. I also met a strange girl who read the future through tarot cards, but I have never seen these this objects in Gaea…"
Millennia smiled whilst reading. She had understood that the girl came from her world. She suddenly noticed Van's sad expression.
"Why are you so sad Van?"
He didn't answer but opened his eyes.
"What if I foretold the future for you?" she said cheerfully shaking the card and beginning to place the cards on the ground.
"You can do such a thing?" he said curiously.
"Well, It's my first attempt, but my friend Hitomi is experienced and she showed me. So why shouldn't I be able to ? Let's try!"
She turned over a card and began to explain its meaning with the notes Hitomi gave her.
"In a few words" summarised Van, "we are going to meet someone we loved but lost, make some new friends and take a big trip all around Gaea in order to understand our legacy."
"That's what the card said. Let's look at the last two cards."
Lover she blushed and didn't said a word. Her pendant began to glow.
Death her eyes widened as the wind whistled a heat around her and as she saw the dark god of death coming toward the fortress.
"Millennia!" yelled Van, shaking her by the shoulders.
"Van, the invisibles, they are coming." She whispered still shaking, her hands hot and sweaty.
A loud noise came from under the floor before it exploded, letting a rather strange visitor came up through the opening.
"Oh oh! No lights. I must have turned the wrong way."
"Ah! You are the pervert man from the forest!" exclaimed Millennia.
"Pervert?" asked a surprised Van.
In the tunnel, Van persuaded the mole-man ,as he called himself, to take him to where the fort's guymelefs were stored.
"I need to take Escaflowne back to go to Fanelia."
"Van didn't you hear Allen, Fanelia is no more…"
He turned to look at her with anger, but he noticed that she was extremely tense and how sad her expression was, with tears in her eyes. He put a hand on her shoulder and nodded.
"If I had known that this girl was your woman", said the mole-man making Van and Millennia blushed, "Perhaps I would not attacked her Fanelia-Ô! But the stone she has is pretty rare."
"You're talking about this?" She took her pendant out and showed it to Van and the Mole-man, who tried to catch it.
"I'll never loose it. It's the only present my true mother gave me before she died… It's the proof of my identity. One day it will tell me who I really am." She smiled as she saw their understanding. But it was not the time to talk about her past.
They finally reached the storage area. Van entered Escaflowne and put Millennia gently on the giant's shoulder. Allen, who had discovered that Van and Millennia were missing, had taken his guymelef Scherazade and surprised Van before he had left. The face protection of the Scherazade opened and Allen spoke to them.
"Van, leave Escaflowne here. I don't allow you to go!
"Let me go to Fanelia! As the king I must be with my people!"
"You give me no choice." Allen sighed. The protection closed and he took his sword.
"Van?" asked Millennia when Escaflowne dropped her to the ground. Van didn't answered, he was concentrating on the fight. He took the sword in Escaflowne's back and let her groan.
Allen charged but Van warded it off.
"You're pretty good" grumbled Allen. "But not as accomplished as Vargass!"
Van's eyes sprung open wide with surprise but he fended off the second attack.
"You know Vargass?" he asked pushing the Scherazade away.
"He had resisted two attacks, and then gave me money." said a man behind Millennia. She was horrified at this stupid being. The wind was carrying the scent of violence and war, and she was affected by this.
"It's just a game, don't worry Young Lady. Allen knew what to do. On which one would you bet?" asked Gadeth.
" I… I hope they'll stop before the end!" she said quivering and paying attention back to the guymelefs.
"Sure I know Vargass, he was my master", said Allen disarming Van and pushing him down. He pointed his sword at Escaflowne's head.
"It's over", he said softly.
"Vargass, I lost." Van whispered his face mixed with anger and sadness. Millennia tried to call him but suddenly the wind whistled around her and became as hot as if she was still in the burning city of Fanelia. Her eyes widened as she understood, that it was the ruins of Allen's fortress and that the wind she felt during the fight were the emotions of the Zaïbach's
soldiers waiting for the battle. Closing her eyes and calling the wind to protect them she yelled:
"Allen-San, Mina-san! Run away, they are coming!!!"
" Is it a dream? Or perhaps an illusion?
Fanelia was consumed by flames. In the midst of that chocking hot air,
Along with that guy, once again wrapped in light, I flew.
Yes… this is Gaea. Where the moon and Earth float in the sky, a world of mystery."
Millennia and Van were taken away from the burning Fanelia in a column of light. The light brought them down in a forest by a river, but they were separated before landing.
Millennia was alone, in this new strange place. Her arm had stopped bleeding but she still felt the pain and didn't remember how she had reopened it. She was too tired to keep her eyes open. She whispered , holding out her pendant hoping it would show her the way : "Please Hahaue? Protect me…"
Instead of helping her, it made the wind whistle around her. She didn't understand what it was trying to tell her and when she reopened her eyes, she cried out with surprise and fear. She was accosted by a strange man who had seen them landing. As he saw the light from the pendant, he took a liking to it
"What a pretty stone you've got! I'll take it!"
"Don't touch it! Tasukete!" (Japanese word for Help)
She screamed out for help. The wind carried her call through the forest to Van's ears. At first he wasn't too worried, because he was certain they were still on Gaea. But when he didn't find Millennia he began to worry…
Millennia's cries were heard by another. A handsome young man with an owl appeared from a small craft on the river.
"Didn't I tell you to stop tormenting the young ladies Mole-man?
"Allen?!"
With one swift punch, he halted her attacker and checked on Millennia.
"You were bleeding?! Why are you alone in that forest? It's not a place for young ladies…"
She looked at his face in order to answer all his questions, but she didn't even say a word, her eyes widened. He looked so much like her older friend who was paralysed after that accident seven years ago, with blond hair instead of red. She was traumatized, thinking he was her long lost friend and she clung to him sobbing.
"Allan-san! You can walk again…" and she passed out.
"What a strange girl."
Her mysterious rescuer picked her up and turned to leave when Van arrived, his sword in his hand.
"Don't touch her!" he yelled as he saw her in his arms, preparing to attack.
"You're too young to die, little boy. Put down your sword!"
"Let her go or I'm gonna attack you!"
The man nodded and sighed. He placed Millennia on the ground and easily avoided Van's lunge, then he trounced him soundly.
"Foolish child! What should I do with these two young persons?"
He took Van's sword and watched the guard. His eyes widened recognizing the symbols.
Millennia felt that it was a dream, but it was so much as her childhood, She knew this because she had her silvered hair instead of black now. She was playing in the fields, it was one of the rare occasions when the sun was shining on the landscape of Ireland. A light wind was blowing but no rain was falling. She was playing St George and the dragon with Allan, her childhood lover and her adoptive brother's best friend. And another boy was here too playing with Ryô and Allan. But she didn't see his face. It was a peaceful day.
But suddenly soldiers appeared in black and blue uniforms, trying to catch her and the young boy she didn't recognize. Afraid because she and her friends were in danger, she shouted loudly and the fields became engulfed in flames. Allan was thrown to the ground, he would never be to walk again or open his eyes , even if he was not dead. Ryô stood voiceless, unable to react, and the other boy had disappeared. She fell to her knees suddenly remembering his name and called "Dilan!!!!!!"
The ground quaked and then opened up. She was falling down into a vacuum. Light came out of her forehead just before she saw a man jumping after her. He deployed wings and caught her, ending her fall. She smiled at him but couldn't see his face. He whispered something softly in her ears but she didn't hear it and awakened.
She opened her eyes and saw the man who looked so much like Allan. She found herself lying in a bed in a room full of strange men. She was devastated not to be back to the time of her childhood or even on Earth and cried.
"Don't cry young Lady. My name is Allen Schezar, heavenly knight of Asturia. They are my men. Don't worry, you are safe now."
He smiled to her and she tried to smile back she was worrying, not seeing Van.
"What's your name Lady?"
"Millennia" she whispered, "Millennia Albatou no Tsubasa or just Tsubasa. Please, didn't you find a young man in the forest? I was with him when the pillar…" she stopped her sentence, figuring that her story was so unbelievable even in this world. Just at that moment, the door opened and a soldier pushed Van into the room. She was so relieved that without worrying about anyone else in the room, she jumped up and flung her arms around his neck, tears in her eyes.
"Van! You're okay! I was so worried!"
"Millennia…" he hugged her.
"Is this sword yours?" asked Allen.
"Of course it is!" answered Van, letting Millennia go. "give it back to me!"
"I need to talk to you before, but you two are too tired now. Please rest, we'll talk later."
"You…" began Van.
"Arigato Allen-san." Said Millennia, taking Van's hand to calm him down.
The next morning, he told a slightly incredulous Allen all that had happened and where Millennia had come from.
"So you are the King of Fanelia and you come from the Mystic Moon, Millennia…"
"Hye…" she timidly answered, "I was in Japan, but I'm just half Japan and half French and I grew up in Scotland and Ireland…"
"Are all those world kingdoms from your world?" asked Allen ,curious.
"You can see things like this…" she sighed.
Van was listening to her, but she saw he was not happy to be wasting his time like this.
"Allen you know what happened, Give me Escaflowne back, I must go to Fanelia and fight my enemies."
"You don't have to go." replied Allen irritated. "There is no more Fanelia."
Van's eyes opened wide and Millennia hid her mouth with her hand to block her cries of surprise. They were reliving those few happy moments they had had in Fanelia, the smiles from the peoples, the city… Everything was burned by the invisible enemies.
"The marchand of Asturia who were in Fanelia for the coronation didn't find a lot of survivors. Every thing has been destroyed."
Millennia could still feel the heat of the burning city. She cried "Liar!!"
Van thumped the table and yelled "That's impossible! You…"
At that moment, a strange flying fortress appeared in the sky hiding and covering the sun. Flying down from it guymelefs. Millennia froze when she recognized the invisibles who attacked Fanelia. She said to Allen.
"Allen!!! They asked you for a meeting!"
"I don't trust in them but they are Asturian's allies. Please don't disturb us."
The visitors were effectively members of the Zaïbach Empire, an ally of Asturia, though it was plain that Allen didn't particularly care for them. Allen met with the Empire's representative in the central hall of the fortress.
A squadron of young men, maybe the same age as Millennia, in black and blue uniforms entered the hall, leaded by a strange boy in black and red: Dilandau Albatou.
"We come to replenish our supplies!" said Dilandau not interested at all.
"It will be done in a few moments." replied Allen.
"Did you seen a strange guymelef around here? We are looking for it in the area."
Van followed by a curious Millennia came in glaring at the people who must have destroyed Fanelia.
" I haven't seen anything", answered Allen. "Have you heard that Fanelia has been destroyed?"
"You mean that little kingdom? I heard that they have all been eaten by the Earth dragons. Even their king has disappeared. What a shame…" He said before his laugh exploded.
"And what cowards going invisible to fight?" replied Van with anger, ready for the attack, but Millennia took his hand and said no with her head.
Dilandau stopped laughing and turned toward them. He approached and parted Van and Millennia. He stared at her with mischievousness. Millennia looked at his face and her eyes widened. Is he…?
"Who is she?"
"She is my new girlfriend. She came from East." replied Allen gently kissing her on the cheek and putting his hand on her shoulder. She was surprised but immediately stopped shaking. There were shocked faces all around and it diverted Dilandau's attention successfully. Allen followed Dilandau out, leaving Millennia to her thoughts.
"That man…" she whispered. She saw wings coming out of Allen's back. "Baka Millennia! Angels don't exist!" she said to herself tapping her head to get her spirits back. The wind had blown her off course, but she hadn't noticed.
In order to keep them safe and to keep Van from running away, Allen put Millennia and Van in a locked room without windows. Van was deep in his thoughts. Millennia was looking in her bag and found a tarot set.
"I remember!" she exclaimed, "Hitomi gave me this after that I had understood how to read them. Where are the notes?"
She found the notes in the book Vargass gave her, in the chapter "Read the future". Millennia began to read what Aban had written.
"Reading the future is something dangerous. That's why there is no spell for this. I heard that some of the draconnians have the power to see it. I also met a strange girl who read the future through tarot cards, but I have never seen these this objects in Gaea…"
Millennia smiled whilst reading. She had understood that the girl came from her world. She suddenly noticed Van's sad expression.
"Why are you so sad Van?"
He didn't answer but opened his eyes.
"What if I foretold the future for you?" she said cheerfully shaking the card and beginning to place the cards on the ground.
"You can do such a thing?" he said curiously.
"Well, It's my first attempt, but my friend Hitomi is experienced and she showed me. So why shouldn't I be able to ? Let's try!"
She turned over a card and began to explain its meaning with the notes Hitomi gave her.
"In a few words" summarised Van, "we are going to meet someone we loved but lost, make some new friends and take a big trip all around Gaea in order to understand our legacy."
"That's what the card said. Let's look at the last two cards."
Lover she blushed and didn't said a word. Her pendant began to glow.
Death her eyes widened as the wind whistled a heat around her and as she saw the dark god of death coming toward the fortress.
"Millennia!" yelled Van, shaking her by the shoulders.
"Van, the invisibles, they are coming." She whispered still shaking, her hands hot and sweaty.
A loud noise came from under the floor before it exploded, letting a rather strange visitor came up through the opening.
"Oh oh! No lights. I must have turned the wrong way."
"Ah! You are the pervert man from the forest!" exclaimed Millennia.
"Pervert?" asked a surprised Van.
In the tunnel, Van persuaded the mole-man ,as he called himself, to take him to where the fort's guymelefs were stored.
"I need to take Escaflowne back to go to Fanelia."
"Van didn't you hear Allen, Fanelia is no more…"
He turned to look at her with anger, but he noticed that she was extremely tense and how sad her expression was, with tears in her eyes. He put a hand on her shoulder and nodded.
"If I had known that this girl was your woman", said the mole-man making Van and Millennia blushed, "Perhaps I would not attacked her Fanelia-Ô! But the stone she has is pretty rare."
"You're talking about this?" She took her pendant out and showed it to Van and the Mole-man, who tried to catch it.
"I'll never loose it. It's the only present my true mother gave me before she died… It's the proof of my identity. One day it will tell me who I really am." She smiled as she saw their understanding. But it was not the time to talk about her past.
They finally reached the storage area. Van entered Escaflowne and put Millennia gently on the giant's shoulder. Allen, who had discovered that Van and Millennia were missing, had taken his guymelef Scherazade and surprised Van before he had left. The face protection of the Scherazade opened and Allen spoke to them.
"Van, leave Escaflowne here. I don't allow you to go!
"Let me go to Fanelia! As the king I must be with my people!"
"You give me no choice." Allen sighed. The protection closed and he took his sword.
"Van?" asked Millennia when Escaflowne dropped her to the ground. Van didn't answered, he was concentrating on the fight. He took the sword in Escaflowne's back and let her groan.
Allen charged but Van warded it off.
"You're pretty good" grumbled Allen. "But not as accomplished as Vargass!"
Van's eyes sprung open wide with surprise but he fended off the second attack.
"You know Vargass?" he asked pushing the Scherazade away.
"He had resisted two attacks, and then gave me money." said a man behind Millennia. She was horrified at this stupid being. The wind was carrying the scent of violence and war, and she was affected by this.
"It's just a game, don't worry Young Lady. Allen knew what to do. On which one would you bet?" asked Gadeth.
" I… I hope they'll stop before the end!" she said quivering and paying attention back to the guymelefs.
"Sure I know Vargass, he was my master", said Allen disarming Van and pushing him down. He pointed his sword at Escaflowne's head.
"It's over", he said softly.
"Vargass, I lost." Van whispered his face mixed with anger and sadness. Millennia tried to call him but suddenly the wind whistled around her and became as hot as if she was still in the burning city of Fanelia. Her eyes widened as she understood, that it was the ruins of Allen's fortress and that the wind she felt during the fight were the emotions of the Zaïbach's
soldiers waiting for the battle. Closing her eyes and calling the wind to protect them she yelled:
"Allen-San, Mina-san! Run away, they are coming!!!"