Vision VII:  Unexpected Parting.

'"Was it a dream? Or perhaps an illusion?

We finally reached Pallas and met the princess Mirana Aston.

She was so kind to me…

Allen wanted to meet us in the market.

On the way, an old woman told me the future…

What is the power of the dragon knight?

And why was Van attacked?

Why do I have this feeling of danger?

Are we truly safe in Asturia…"

A mecha tournament. That was what the kind Aston wanted from Van and Escaflowne. Three guymelef, against one. Everyone was watching the fight, as if it was normal. Van accepted the challenge but groaned what he though about is host. Nobody heard it, but wind carried the bad words to Millennia, responding to her own though . It somehow revealed something inside her and as the first guymelef attacked, she just caught Allen's sword and jumped in the arena. The light of her forehead was back. Using her magic she helped Escaflowne destroying the three 'melef before the pilots could even move an inch.

Clap…Clap…Clap… Clap…

"What an impressive weapon" whispered the king's advisor.

"The girl seems to me as impressive. Did you see what was glittering on her forehead?"

"What are you doing father!" yelled Mirana.

"I didn't remember that a guymelef and a girl against three guymelef was calling a duel!"

"It's all right Allen. We gave them the show they wanted. Are you satisfied your highness?" replied Van.

The king Aston nodded.

"You were pretty impressive, and your woman is too! Do you use magic Lady?"

But Millennia didn't heard the question. The sign was still on her forehead and she was slowly moving to the three defeated guymelef. She move the sword up and whispered:

"I decide who live or die. For you guys, the sentence is death."

"No!" yelled Van, grabbing her hand and throwing the sword away.

The light immediately disappeared and Millennia fell unconscious in his arms.

The King Aston just decided a banquet with his guest in order to honour the king of Fanelia and to admire his Guymelef. Mirana was flirting outrageously with Allen, but he seemed not minding it.

"What a beautiful guymelef you have king Van! I'm still surprise of what you've accomplished. But where is the young lady who jumped into the arena ?"

"I'm sorry King Aston, she has been wounded during the attack of Fanelia and she's not healed at all. She apologizes not being able to stand the whole diner in our company."

"That's too bad. I would have asked her a few question. Where did you met her? Is she from Fanelia?"

"That's too much interest for just a maiden, my lord." Answered quickly Allen.

"I  know where she comes from!" said calmly Mirana. It's wonderful and far, far away place. But  that's enough talking about her and King Van's Guymelef. I want to speak about a walk in the market…"

"Ha young ladies! So romantic!" exclaimed King Aston.

Van sight.

"I'm very tired, if you would excuse me King Aston, princess and lords."

Van get out of the dining room and took his way to the esplanades.


Millennia was so tired that she felt asleep after princess Mirana gave her a new dress and helped her with her injuries. She was very surprise by the wounds and scars, but when Millennia told her that she didn't even know how she got them. She though that Mirana just took her for a mad girl. But that was OK with Millennia. She was not supposed to make friends here. Somehow, she was just 'en transit'. But hunger decided her body to wake up.

Evening diner. Every one is at the banquet King Aston decided to give to apologize. Van wanted that I go,' diplomatic' he told me, but I saw in his eyes that he was even more furious than I was, and I know is rasher than me ! pff!  And I am too dizzy to go to the diner. I hope they'll excuse me, but I don't want to let the other me take the control behind the king if I loose consciousness again... Please, forgive me Mina.

She was trying to find her way to the kitchen, when she found herself lost in the gigantic palace. Suddenly the wind whistled and whispered a soft and sad song to her hears. She followed the voices and discovered a large door, decorated with blue and green precious stones, drawing a large dragon. She didn't know what get through her mind, but she needed to go inside. She carefully touched the door. The wind surrounded her and with a great noise, the door began to move. She entered and found a statue of twins. A boy in the light, wearing warrior clothes and a sign on his forehead, representing a dragon's head. A girl in the shadow of the man, a cape covering her silhouette, but you could see that she was carrying a child. She had the same sign on her forehead, her right hand touching the same sword as the boy. Both seemed to use magic with their second hand. They were surrounded by flames.  Is this the sign Merle was talking about with Allen last time?

"I knew you were going to loose you in the palace, and that you were going to find this place."

"Allen? I don't understand what the statue is representing."

"It's a old legend from our land. One day, the Dragon lord came with her twin sister. Using his magic and strength, he saved the people from a devil attack, but he died before the end of the war. His sister took his sword and magic and helped people ending the war. People recovered faster, thanks to her healing magic and decided to build a new kingdom there. She disappeared after giving birth to twins, a boy and a girl. Years later, the twin revealed the abilities of the Dragon Lord. People decided to use them to conquer the lands in their neighbourhood. But the boy destroyed the kingdom his related  protected. He just let a few people live told them that he and his sister were not weapon for humanity, and that the power of Atlantis created Gaea, but could also destroy it. This statue is to remember the royal family that they can't do what they want because the Dragon Lord and Lady are watching over Gaea but they can destroy it any time."

"You're killing Allen! Atlantis? Dragon Lord? And why not witches, people with wings or men who can switch into woman? That's just a fairy tale!"

"I'm serious, you can find this legend every where on Gaea. Even if nobody have seen any of the Dragon Lords for century now! And if the king find you here you'll have serious problem for having disturb this sanctuary!"

"A sanctuary? So who is going to punish me if I do something not permitted?"

She jumped on the statue and give a kiss to the boy. The boy's sign glowed softly, the girl's sign following the boy's one. Millennia surprised stepped  back. The sign on her forehead appeared, her eyes went violet. Then the light of the statue beamed Millennia. She absorbed it, smiled and then felt on the ground.

Allen carried her into her bedroom and found Eries, king Aston second daughter in age, older than Mirana, in the way.

"What happens Allen?"

"Nothing important. She get lost in the palace and had a faint. As Van said, she was deeply injured and you know the young ones, overdoing and pretending that every thing is okay."

"I know, but you came from the secret area of the castle. Does anything happen?"

"You should know as a Dragon priestess, if something happen in your temple."

"I'm not that powerful Allen. And that was not why I was looking for you. I wanted to told you that Mirana is not Marlene, even if she looks like her. Don't play with her."

"I can not play with her, because there is no more love in my heart. Marlene took everything with her when she died."

Eries looked at the strange girl Allen was carrying. And said "liar", before disappearing in the corridor.

Van was standing alone on the battlements. He had looked for Millennia before he found her in her bedroom with Allen. Something has hit his heart and he ran away. From her… from the heavenly knight… Even from Merle. He needed to be alone for a moment. He took his royal sword and began to cut the air all around himself, imagining he was killing those who destroyed his country. After a few minutes, Millennia came up, she was feeling dizzy and stand in shadows to watch Van's skills. She was impress by the way of gaean fighter. And more by Van 's attitude. A loud pain was hurting her heart. Why… Why do I feel like this when I see him?

Van was finishing a difficult pass when he saw Millennia. Immediately he broke his position and his eyes went everywhere except on her. Neither did hers. After a few moment, she went on the terraces and began to look at the view. She jumped on the ramparts and just let the wind blown around her surrounding her and giving her a feeling of comfort. But tonight, it didn't have any effects on her nerves. She was still thinking about everything she had live since she came on Gaea, and it make her shiver.

She tried to protect herself, but Van took her in his arms. He didn't say any words and she didn't care. She just felt that it was good to have someone understanding you like this. They let go a few minute before Millennia began to speak.

"I'm sorry. I'm only causing you troubles."

"You saved me twice. Now it's my turn to protect you."

"I don't want someone to  protect me! I need a friend! Someone who can understand my feeling or better, me! I'm able to fight."

"Woman don't have to be warrior! I like the fact that you say what you think without thinking about the rank. But I don't want to let you be hurting again."

"Do you think you're better than me with a sword?"

"Well, I think you're…"

"Fine. Come on, let's find a sword for me and try to touch me. First blood end the match."

"Are you killing?"

But the icy blue eyes has been turning mauve for a second with the same death smile she had in the arena. He followed her and gave her a sword. She looked at it carefully and tested every single inch of the blade before saying: "A sword for a child. But I'll win without using any magic. Are you ready Van?"

"Millennia, I don't think it's a good idea, you should…"

But she didn't wait for the end of the sentence and slashed the air right before Van's face. Van jumped one step back and draw his own sword. She continued her quick assault, putting the pressure on him. He contained all her attack and actually attacked her. Sparks between their swords were illuminating the terraces. An assault. Their faces were just an inch away. They both smiled at each other, they were enjoying the match.

Finally, Allen came up  and stand a moment shocked, watching the two of them sparring. Then he yelled: "Van haven't you any common sense, your fighting with a girl! "

Van groaned and Millennia grimaced. A last assault and flash. Millennia looked at her sword. The blade was standing in the ground a few feet away.

"You won Slanzar!"

He smiled at her, but Millennia ran away. Allen tried to stop her, but she didn't paid attention to the Caeli knight. She just ran to her room. Allen smiled at Van.

"So you are proud?"

"Of what? Fighting with a girl? It was not purpose, but she wanted it. I had no choice!"

"You don't know who she is, do you?"

"She is Millennia, a girl from the mystic moon."

"But she has magic power. Don't you know who she really is?"

"What are you talking about Allen?"

"She found the secret temple of Dragon lord of Asturia. Even princess Eries, the priestess hadn't feel her presence. Van, she is not human!"

Van took his sword.

"Say that you didn't mind it and I'll forget."

"Oh,oh, the little terror want to play with me? So come on Van!"

Van rushed on the caeli knight. Allen avoided the sword and took his own. Allen seemed to have fun, but Van was really serious, too serious in the knight's mind. It was not the way a king should act. And he didn't say that the girl was not human in a bad way. The duel ended quickly when Van lost his sword. Mirana Appeared from the roof and made eyes at Allen after saying 'bravo' to the knight of Asturia.

Millennia was so upset, but why did she wanted to provoke Van. He was so kind to me, why did I just react like this? Tears were falling down her cheek, she ran to her room thrown herself on the bed.

Merle, in her usual annoying way, kept asking what was the matter. Millennia kicked her away and told her to shut up. Sulking, Merle climbed out onto the roof not paying any more attention to the mystic moon girl.

Millennia let her tears falling and her inner feeling surrounded her. Why did I came back to Japan? Why did the pillar took me? Why does I feel like I have been in Gaea before? Why do I feel that thing in me fighting for his freedom? Why… Why… Why!!!!

Just then three lizard creatures climbed into the room and thrust a struggling but exhausted Millennia into a sack. Merle watched as they took the girl away, and wondered if she should tell Van. The creatures loaded Millennia into a miniature submarine and made their way down the canal.

Van took Escaflowne and holding Merle into an hand went after Millennia. He gave chase down the canal. Soon the guymelef lost his cloak, revealing Escaflowne to Zaïbach's troops. Following Merle's advises, They soon caught the sub and opened the lid. Millennia seemed not afraid, but surprised that it was Van who came to save her. Merle found out that she had already broke her links and was waiting for the good timing to attack the lizards. They didn't saw that her blue eyes were glittering with mauve sparks.

Dilandau saw the reports that Escaflowne was in Palas. After kicking one of his soldier, he spotted the Alseide and left the fortress to fight Van. Van dodged Dilandau's attacks. He yelled:

"Millennia, Merle, get out of here and hide yourself in the city."

"We can't let you alone Van-samaaa!"

His glare made her understand that it was not a topic to disguss, so she caught Millennia's hand and wanted to go. But Millennia didn't want to run. Her eyes had changed their colour and it was mauve. Dilandau's attacked with fire, but immediately the sign appeared on her forehead and she counterattacked. She saved Van and Merle but serious collateral damage to the surrounding buildings occurred. Everyone in the place was staring at the guymelef and the strange girl. Someone began to cry, others prayed, but everyone was set. Time of legend was back.

Dilandau paid attention to the girl. A flash. Someone was crying inside of him.

Leina save me! I'll give you my power but don't let me in this life of slavery!

The light on her forehead grown larger and nobody could see what was happening in the area. She took her head between her hands, crying of pain. Dilandau was hurting too, but his way to express it was to destroy everything around him. He finally attacked Escaflowne, but Van leaped upwards the Guymelef, transforming it into the flying dragon mode. Dilandau wanted to follow them but Allen in his Scherazade came between them.

"You are not going to destroy my country without a punishment Dilandau!"

"That's not your concern!" groaned the young man following with his eyes the dragon. As the distance between him and the girl increased, the pain in his head decreased.