(A/N: Welcome to my very own version of "The Vision of Escaflowne",
starting as of Episode 6: "Capitol of Intrigue". I'm too capitolistic to re-
write the whole series and label it as such. The names will all be the
same, but as you will soon notice, Hitomi isn't nearly as dense in my
version as in the original [no offence to Hitomi fans, she's just too
oppressed for my liking]. She doesn't have a crush on Allen, although she
did at one point [I'll explain more later]. If I tell you any more in this
bubble, I'll ruin the whole story. Now, down to essentials: words and/or
sentences bracketed by this ~ are thoughts, and words/sentences bracketed
by this * are emphasized, since I can't make the italics work on here .
Now to the story ^_^)
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The wood splintered and flew, the liquid metal dispersed, and Hitomi gingerly opened her eyes. She looked up at Folken, who was looking at a speck floating in the distance. She rolled off of Van, sitting up and looking around.
"What was *that* for?!" Van shouted at her angrily as he stood. He brushed dust from his vest and pants as he stood, glowering at his brother.
"I had nothing to do with the attack," Folken said calmly.
"I just saved your *life* from a metal claw and *that's* all you have to say?!" Hitomi shot back hotly as she stood up, looking slightly down at Van. He turned his glower on her, and their eyes locked. She slapped him forcefully, leaving a large red bruise on his cheek. She stalked off towards Folken, not turning her head to look at Van.
She looked up at the tall man in the long black cloak before bowing almost as low to him as she had to Amano; that felt like years ago. "I am Hitomi Kanzaki, and I will aide you and Zaibach as long as my efforts are duly appreciated."
A cold metal hand delicately took her face, turning her face up. Folken was bowing to her, and he wanted her to see that. "I am Folken Strategos of Zaibach, and your offer is a great honor. Rise and come with me, Hitomi. Together, we will build a bright future for Gaea."
"No Hitomi!! All he *does* is lie!! You can't trust him!" Vanwalked to the edge of the bridge as he yelled, obviously angry at Folken. "If you help Zaibach, we're all lost!"
Hitomi rose and spun, facing Van as Asturian soldiers approached them tentatively. "All *you* and the others do is treat me like a tool! A weapon to be used to win this war. I don't *want* any of this, and what if Folken's right? If he can end war for all the planet, then why not help him? Besides, if you'd all *thanked me* a little more often, I might not be doing this! We'll never know, though, because the choices we make stick. Goodbye Van, I hope you realize that I *have* saved your life at least twice." She turned her back on him nd faced Folken again. "I'm ready to leave when you are, Folken-sama."
He raised his right hand to her (A/N: In that Zaibach "I want YOU!" poster pose) and he smirked ever so slightly as she accepted. He led her to the black carriage and let her in after scooting in first. They pointedly ignored Van's shouts, and started towards the pick-up point for the Vione.
~She has no idea how much her power will help our cause. . . how fortunate that she came to us willingly. Now the only problem is -
"What will I be doing in Zaibach?"
"I was just thinking about that myself," Folken answered truthfully. "I really don't know, we don't have anyone with you nartual abilities working for us at the moment. I'm sure Emperor Dornkirk will have an idea for you, though."
His face showed no trace of emotion, just an occasional smirk, which made Hitomi feel a strange, strong attraction-repulsion. She pulled her pendant out of her pocket and held in her hand, closing her eyes tightly. ~Have I done the right thing? Will this help the way I want it to? Oh Grandma, I wish you could give me some advice.~
Folken watched her curiously out ofthe corner of his eye. He jumped slightly when she gasped, opened her eyes and her pupils dialated. He turned slightly in his seat and watched her, making sure he could catch her if she fell over.
She was suddenly floating above an arena that roughly resembled the Roman Colloseum. "It's Escaflowne, and it's going against *three* other guymelefs?" She turned herself around to face the people seated in the box. "Millerna? What's going on here?"
The battle faded away, and she was suddenly standing on the ground in a mining site of some sort. ~Why can't these visions make more sense?~ she thought as she looked around.
Van had been captured by a strange man with pink hair and a pet snake. He was tied up by his wrists and had been whiped a few times. Hitomi couldn't hear anything, but after watching Van's face flash with horror she re-directed her attention. "ME?!" she shouted as she saw herself being threatened by the snake. Van somehow got himself loose and began knocking out his opponents left and right. As he led herself and Meruru away, the ground shook and starte to break apart. She could see herself falling. "That's weird, I'm usually falling, not *watching* myself fall. . ."
Van jumped from his secure ledge and sprouted wings, diving after her. "*HE'S* my angel?" The vision stopped shortly thereafter, and she found herself back in the carriage with Folken. "I'm sorry about that," she said weakly as she put the pendant back in her pocket and straightened herself in the seat.
"It's quite alright," he told her calmly. "That special gift of yours is exactly why I'm taking you on. May I inquire as to what you saw?"
She rubbed her eyes, leaning her elbows on her knees. "It was the future, I think. Some form of the future, anyways. I saw Van fighting in the Escaflowne against three other 'melefs in a stadium or colloseum. Then I saw something that I don't think will happen now, because I left. I don't know if it was right for me to come with you today."
"Were you happy with where that path was leading you?"
"Not really. Like I said, they were nice and all, but they treated me like an object, not a person with a soul and free will."
"Then maybe it was right for you to come with me. You can only do what feels right when the choice is presented, even if later you regret it or others think it was wrong." He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.
"Are you always this philosophical?" She asked while thinking to herself ~His eyes are so sad. . . . and beautiful in their own way.~
He chuckled a bit, not openeing his eyes. "I suppose I am. I don't pay much attention to myself, so I might be more philisophical at some times than at others."
Hitomi was about to ask him why he payed little attention to himself just as the coach stopped and the driver called back "We're here, Folken- sama."
"Thank you Joeseph," Folken said as he motioned for Hitomi to wait. Joeseph opened her door and helped her out. He continued to hold the door as Folken got out, ducking considerably so as not to hit his head. "You may return the coach, horse, and go home until you are called," he ordered regally.
"Yes, Folken-sama. Good day to you sir, ma'am." He tipped his hat to them and drove off.
"What is it that *you* do in Zaibach, if I may ask." Hitomi asked as he escorted her to a transport ship that would take them to his floating fortress.
"I design things for Emperor Dornkirk, like the stealth cloaks you seem to so readily see through," he said with a bow of his head and a slight smirk, closing his eyes. "For a long time I was training to be one of the Madoushi, the sorcers that do most of the truly experimental work. However, I disagreed with their methods and had to depart. The combined intensities of the positions get me a bit of respect in Zaibach."
"I see," Hitomi said as she analyzed his soliliquy. ~He gets respect for good reason, yet feels he doesn't deserve it. . .hmm.~ She boarded the ship, which was to her surprise a supplies ship. She lloked around at the crates wide eyed, making Folken smirk ever so slightly.
"I believe in making good use of such trips. Just because we're important doesn't mean it'll kill us to ride with the food supplies." He walked with his cloak held tightly shut and sat down on one of the stronger crates. Hitomi perched lightly on another crate and people bustled around her, preparing the ship for takeoff.
"What's the name of the fortress we're going to?" Hitomi asked of Folken.
"It's the *Vione*," he answered. "Be careful while you're getting settled in, I'm pretty sure someone there doesn't like you." He bowed his head, closed his eyes and smirked again.
"Wonderful," she said to herself, resting her elbows on her knees again and looking around. ~What *have* I gotten myself into?~
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(A/N: A very short chapter, I realize, but I *did* start it in the middle of the episode. If anyone shows *any* intrest in this at *all*, the other chapters will be much longer. And, in case you haven't noticed, I have a *serious* thing for Folken: I like my guys tall, pale, and brooding ^_^ He's so handsome! That said, doesn't this all make a *lot* more sense? Lol, review please!)
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The wood splintered and flew, the liquid metal dispersed, and Hitomi gingerly opened her eyes. She looked up at Folken, who was looking at a speck floating in the distance. She rolled off of Van, sitting up and looking around.
"What was *that* for?!" Van shouted at her angrily as he stood. He brushed dust from his vest and pants as he stood, glowering at his brother.
"I had nothing to do with the attack," Folken said calmly.
"I just saved your *life* from a metal claw and *that's* all you have to say?!" Hitomi shot back hotly as she stood up, looking slightly down at Van. He turned his glower on her, and their eyes locked. She slapped him forcefully, leaving a large red bruise on his cheek. She stalked off towards Folken, not turning her head to look at Van.
She looked up at the tall man in the long black cloak before bowing almost as low to him as she had to Amano; that felt like years ago. "I am Hitomi Kanzaki, and I will aide you and Zaibach as long as my efforts are duly appreciated."
A cold metal hand delicately took her face, turning her face up. Folken was bowing to her, and he wanted her to see that. "I am Folken Strategos of Zaibach, and your offer is a great honor. Rise and come with me, Hitomi. Together, we will build a bright future for Gaea."
"No Hitomi!! All he *does* is lie!! You can't trust him!" Vanwalked to the edge of the bridge as he yelled, obviously angry at Folken. "If you help Zaibach, we're all lost!"
Hitomi rose and spun, facing Van as Asturian soldiers approached them tentatively. "All *you* and the others do is treat me like a tool! A weapon to be used to win this war. I don't *want* any of this, and what if Folken's right? If he can end war for all the planet, then why not help him? Besides, if you'd all *thanked me* a little more often, I might not be doing this! We'll never know, though, because the choices we make stick. Goodbye Van, I hope you realize that I *have* saved your life at least twice." She turned her back on him nd faced Folken again. "I'm ready to leave when you are, Folken-sama."
He raised his right hand to her (A/N: In that Zaibach "I want YOU!" poster pose) and he smirked ever so slightly as she accepted. He led her to the black carriage and let her in after scooting in first. They pointedly ignored Van's shouts, and started towards the pick-up point for the Vione.
~She has no idea how much her power will help our cause. . . how fortunate that she came to us willingly. Now the only problem is -
"What will I be doing in Zaibach?"
"I was just thinking about that myself," Folken answered truthfully. "I really don't know, we don't have anyone with you nartual abilities working for us at the moment. I'm sure Emperor Dornkirk will have an idea for you, though."
His face showed no trace of emotion, just an occasional smirk, which made Hitomi feel a strange, strong attraction-repulsion. She pulled her pendant out of her pocket and held in her hand, closing her eyes tightly. ~Have I done the right thing? Will this help the way I want it to? Oh Grandma, I wish you could give me some advice.~
Folken watched her curiously out ofthe corner of his eye. He jumped slightly when she gasped, opened her eyes and her pupils dialated. He turned slightly in his seat and watched her, making sure he could catch her if she fell over.
She was suddenly floating above an arena that roughly resembled the Roman Colloseum. "It's Escaflowne, and it's going against *three* other guymelefs?" She turned herself around to face the people seated in the box. "Millerna? What's going on here?"
The battle faded away, and she was suddenly standing on the ground in a mining site of some sort. ~Why can't these visions make more sense?~ she thought as she looked around.
Van had been captured by a strange man with pink hair and a pet snake. He was tied up by his wrists and had been whiped a few times. Hitomi couldn't hear anything, but after watching Van's face flash with horror she re-directed her attention. "ME?!" she shouted as she saw herself being threatened by the snake. Van somehow got himself loose and began knocking out his opponents left and right. As he led herself and Meruru away, the ground shook and starte to break apart. She could see herself falling. "That's weird, I'm usually falling, not *watching* myself fall. . ."
Van jumped from his secure ledge and sprouted wings, diving after her. "*HE'S* my angel?" The vision stopped shortly thereafter, and she found herself back in the carriage with Folken. "I'm sorry about that," she said weakly as she put the pendant back in her pocket and straightened herself in the seat.
"It's quite alright," he told her calmly. "That special gift of yours is exactly why I'm taking you on. May I inquire as to what you saw?"
She rubbed her eyes, leaning her elbows on her knees. "It was the future, I think. Some form of the future, anyways. I saw Van fighting in the Escaflowne against three other 'melefs in a stadium or colloseum. Then I saw something that I don't think will happen now, because I left. I don't know if it was right for me to come with you today."
"Were you happy with where that path was leading you?"
"Not really. Like I said, they were nice and all, but they treated me like an object, not a person with a soul and free will."
"Then maybe it was right for you to come with me. You can only do what feels right when the choice is presented, even if later you regret it or others think it was wrong." He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.
"Are you always this philosophical?" She asked while thinking to herself ~His eyes are so sad. . . . and beautiful in their own way.~
He chuckled a bit, not openeing his eyes. "I suppose I am. I don't pay much attention to myself, so I might be more philisophical at some times than at others."
Hitomi was about to ask him why he payed little attention to himself just as the coach stopped and the driver called back "We're here, Folken- sama."
"Thank you Joeseph," Folken said as he motioned for Hitomi to wait. Joeseph opened her door and helped her out. He continued to hold the door as Folken got out, ducking considerably so as not to hit his head. "You may return the coach, horse, and go home until you are called," he ordered regally.
"Yes, Folken-sama. Good day to you sir, ma'am." He tipped his hat to them and drove off.
"What is it that *you* do in Zaibach, if I may ask." Hitomi asked as he escorted her to a transport ship that would take them to his floating fortress.
"I design things for Emperor Dornkirk, like the stealth cloaks you seem to so readily see through," he said with a bow of his head and a slight smirk, closing his eyes. "For a long time I was training to be one of the Madoushi, the sorcers that do most of the truly experimental work. However, I disagreed with their methods and had to depart. The combined intensities of the positions get me a bit of respect in Zaibach."
"I see," Hitomi said as she analyzed his soliliquy. ~He gets respect for good reason, yet feels he doesn't deserve it. . .hmm.~ She boarded the ship, which was to her surprise a supplies ship. She lloked around at the crates wide eyed, making Folken smirk ever so slightly.
"I believe in making good use of such trips. Just because we're important doesn't mean it'll kill us to ride with the food supplies." He walked with his cloak held tightly shut and sat down on one of the stronger crates. Hitomi perched lightly on another crate and people bustled around her, preparing the ship for takeoff.
"What's the name of the fortress we're going to?" Hitomi asked of Folken.
"It's the *Vione*," he answered. "Be careful while you're getting settled in, I'm pretty sure someone there doesn't like you." He bowed his head, closed his eyes and smirked again.
"Wonderful," she said to herself, resting her elbows on her knees again and looking around. ~What *have* I gotten myself into?~
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(A/N: A very short chapter, I realize, but I *did* start it in the middle of the episode. If anyone shows *any* intrest in this at *all*, the other chapters will be much longer. And, in case you haven't noticed, I have a *serious* thing for Folken: I like my guys tall, pale, and brooding ^_^ He's so handsome! That said, doesn't this all make a *lot* more sense? Lol, review please!)