Disclaimer: Esca does not belong to me! But all original characters are mine!
A/N: Sorry, I'm a hopeless romantic, so naturally my fanfics are filled with romance most of the time! Note: Kanai means wife and Itooshii means lovely, beloved dear child, sorry, I'm learning some Japanese thanks to Nagi-Chan, so I just felt like adding a word or two every few chapters... Flashback R&R! Enjoy! ^_^
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Chapter 27: Unanticipated Guests
"I can't believe my two oldest children are getting married, it seems like just yesterday when I married Van..."
"Time flies when you're having fun," Varomi commented.
"Yeah." Mira added.
The three girls sat in Hitomi's room talking about the upcoming weddings.
"I'm the only one leaving right now, everyone else will live here. And Asturia isn't that far away, I can visit you whenever I want Leo said, maybe spend the summers with you guys.
"You do have a point Itooshii." Hitomi added.
"I wonder if Dad and the Dragonslayers will show up?" Mira wondered aloud.
"You invited THEM?" Hitomi asked in an exasperated tone.
"Of course, they're the closest thing to a family I have besides Chid." And she sighed.
"Well, we're your family now." Hitomi said warmly and Varomi and Hitomi gave her a hug.
"What's going on in here?" Van asked, as he, Leo, and Daren came in, covered in sweat from training.
"Nothing." Hitomi replied, kissing her husband and wrapping her arms around his neck. Van blushed and sat down on a nearby chair, where Hitomi sat in his lap. Daren walked over to his bride-to-be and spun her around, while she laughed, her silver hair getting in his face. Leo and Varomi hugged, as he kissed her forehead.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ria was happy, she loved her husband and he loved her, but still, sadness lingered in her heart. A year ago, Ruvan had run away. They had found a note on his bed saying:
Dear Mom, Dad, and Sis,
I'm sorry to let you guys down, but I just can't live at the palace anymore. I just don't belong there. Everyone looks down on me because I'm younger and I'm a catperson. I want to be free of all the pressure of royal life. I'll miss you all, say goodbye to Daren, Var, and Leo for me Ria. I'm leaving Fanelia, I don't know when or if I'll come back. Until we meet again, my love to you all.
~Ruvan~
'Ruvan, why'd you leave?' Ria knew that the others and her parents missed him more than she'd ever know. Merle and Rune sat in the garden next to their statue. Merle ran her hand across Ruvan's face and a tear trickled down her cheek. Rune wiped it away and held her close. 'Oh Ruvan we miss you so...' the sad mother grieved.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was the day of Daren and Mira's wedding. Ria and Varomi were comforting Mira, who had last-minute marriage jitters.
"Oh god, Oh god, Oh god..." Mira muttered as they helped her with her wedding dress.
"Oh don't worry Mira! Besides the constant worrying and endless toil, marriage is a piece of cake..." Ria was going to say more, but Var nudged her in the ribs before she made Mira even more nervous then she already was.
Mira was wearing her mother's wedding dress. She always carried it in her satchel; it made her feel closer to the mother she had never really known. It was white silk with lace and pearls stitched along the hem, waist, and collar. White sequins covered the bodice, making it sparkle. It had been Encia Schezar's before it came into Selena's possession. (She had found it while clearing up the items that remained in her decaying house, when she had returned to her body.) A veil transcended behind her, and she looked like an angel.
"Ooh Mira! I told you, I told you you'd marry Lord Daren!" Ria squealed triumphantly.
"You were right for once Ria..." Mira replied, her cheeks a bright crimson as she smiled at her archrival/best friend.
Ria handed her a bouquet as they pushed her towards the square platform. It was where Van was crowned king, so long ago. Daren wore his ceremonial armor that looked much like his father's. He thought it was heavy and uncomfortable, but the advisors wouldn't let this future king dress casual on his wedding day like his father did. The advisors had decreased in their bugging of him. But he knew that eventually their nagging would continue, and he'd be old and they still wouldn't let him be. 'The curse of being royal, I suppose.' He often thought. A priest stood to one side of them. There were rows and rows of pews where all the people of Fanelia and all the royalty sat. Daren was extremely nervous, but he tried to just think of Mira and what a great Kanai she'd be, and it made him feel much better. Banners swayed in the breeze, and the aroma of a wedding feast fit for a king (no pun intended) wafted by, making their mouths water.
Mira stood frozen for a moment at the beginning of the aisle, but then she saw Daren's smiling face, and progressed forward. "A Fanelian tune" (what Folken was always whistling) played loudly. Mira thought it was a very sad sounding song for a wedding, but it was a Fanelian tradition, so she let it go.
Daren stood transfixed by her grace and beauty, her long silver hair trailing behind her. Van and Hitomi stood proudly on one side of Daren; there was an empty gap on the other side of the priest where Mira and her parents were supposed to be.
'Dad? Gatty? Chesta? Where are you? I can't believe they wouldn't show up for my wedding.' She sadly sighed as she continued down the aisle.
The cat families and Leo's family had pews reserved in the front. Dryden was happily counting the money he had made from selling food to the Fanels for the wedding. Milerna had insisted that they get a half off discount, but it was still a lot of money since they had to have so much food.
Van looked proudly at his son; he looked so much like him on his wedding day, minus the armor. Hitomi looked back on the fond memories of her wedding day. The beautiful wedding cake, with frosting roses (not red of course) and a little figurine of Van and Hitomi on top. The flying towards the altar, Van's face smiling at her, that kiss, and of course the get-away flight... She couldn't believe that it had been over 20 years ago, she was only in her late thirties, and she could be a grandmother before she was forty at this rate. She smiled at Van standing next to her and could tell that he too, was thinking of their wedding so long ago.
The guests remarked at how beautiful the bride was, and what a fine queen she would make one day. There were also comments about what a lucky man Lord Daren was to have Lady Mira. The royalty and the cat family smiled at Mira, they had become close since wherever Daren went, Mira wasn't far behind. They all thought that she would make a fine queen and that Daren had chosen wisely. Mira blushed at everyone's praise, as did Daren. Ria thought, 'Such easily embarrassed people, they're lucky they had me doing their matchmaking!' She grinned as she gave her own husband a hug, happy for her friends.
Varomi was about halfway down the aisle, when it happened. There was the sound of screaming and a cold, evil laugh that Van recognized all to well. He went pale, as did Hitomi... She couldn't forget that diabolical laughter either, it still haunted her dreams, no, those dreams were nightmares.
"Dilandau..." Van muttered under his breath, cursing that the guards hadn't been able to keep him away.
Five blue and one red Alseides came into view. They flew over the horrified crowd, and landed in the bride's path. Daren looked terrified beyond all reason.
"Dad!" Mira exclaimed running over to where the red Alseides had landed. Steam hissed as one by one each of the pilots got out of their guymelefs. Of course, the red guymelef's pilot got out first, all the guests gasped in horror, and many women fainted. 'Dilandau Albatou. He was back. But how?' Everyone wondered.
Dilandau smirked at the shocked crowd, adjusting his tiara.
"Hello daughter." He coolly said, taking her in with his crimson eyes. More gasps were heard from the guests.
"Father, I am happy to see you." She replied, giving him a genuine smile.
"You've grown Mira, where have you been for the last three years?"
"Well, y'know, around..." She looked extremely nervous just then.
Dilandau continued in an angry tone.
"How could you Mira? How could you just abandon us like that? Are we not good enough for you? I guess we don't come close to this 'royal' crowd you've been hanging out with..."
"No, that's not true..." She whispered, loud enough for only him to hear.
"Yes it is Mira, you just won't admit it to yourself, you wanted this kind of family all along..." Mira remembered where she had gotten that advice she had given to Varomi when Leo had broken her heart, it had come from a special friend, a very special friend...
"Why does Father hate me so?" A seventeen-year-old Mira asked Gatty and Chesta as they polished their swords.
"He doesn't hate you Mira. He just doesn't know how to cope with all this, he needs your mom..." Chesta remarked.
"Never would've known..." She remarked sarcastically.
"You mustn't be so hard on Lord Dilandau..." Gatty started.
"He loves you very much Mira..."
"Gee, how can you tell? Is it the slapping, the cursing, or the ignoring, is that made you see?" She continued sarcastically, as she wiped away a tear that was starting to form. If there was one thing, her father had taught her it was to never cry.
"Mira, it's OK to cry over someone you love..." Chesta softly said, comforting his friend.
"I just wish that he'd love me for who I am. I can never be Philon, I can never be the son he always wanted, I can never live up to his expectations..." She trailed off.
"You have a soft heart, just like your mother's..." Gatty commented.
"But he does love you..." Chesta continued.
"Oh just leave me alone!" She cried out harshly, running away.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Mira sobbed into her pillow, when she heard her door creak and her father come in.
"Why are you crying girl?" He asked coldly.
"For my family..." She choked out.
"For the family I've never known for the last 14 years, and I'll never know again..."
He had left the room, and that was the night that Mira had left to slay the dragon.
"I guess it is true..." She whispered.
"At least you admit it." He said still in his cold manner.
"I wanted the love, that Hitomi has for her children, the pride Van has in them, I wanted that from you father..." She whispered, falling to her knees, tears staining the white silk.
Dilandau picked her up, and carried her back to his Alseides.
"First, I'm taking Mira home, then I'll come back to settle the score with YOU Van..." He gave a little high-pitched laugh as the six Alseides become a blur in the distance.
"NO!" Daren cried with rage.
"He took Mira!"
"He's gone too far this time..." Van whispered, he ran over to Escaflowne's tomb.
"Wait Van, stop!" Hitomi pleaded.
"Let Daren handle it! You're not as young as you used to be!"
"I won't let his heart be broken. I know how it feels, when I thought I lost you..." He whispered, kissing her.
"I bind myself by blood pact once again, to thee, Escaflowne. Sleeping dragon, awaken!"
Van placed the energist into the guymelef's chest, for the first time in over 20 years. Escaflowne kneeled before its master and Van could hear its heart beat. He jumped into the cockpit and turned Escaflowne into a white dragon.
"Wait! I'm coming with you!" Hitomi protested, climbing in beside him.
"Me too." Daren said, jumping in before Van could say anything.
"Bring her back, Lord Daren." Ria whispered.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Not what you expected, huh? Well, more to come, I have no more idea then you do... Check out my other fic, Angel of Dreams, when you want something to read, I'm making slow progress, but once I end this, I'll add chapters to other fics more often, I love this fic of mine, but it's extremely time consuming... R&R! Arigatou and Sionara! ^_^
~Trunks Gal~
A/N: Sorry, I'm a hopeless romantic, so naturally my fanfics are filled with romance most of the time! Note: Kanai means wife and Itooshii means lovely, beloved dear child, sorry, I'm learning some Japanese thanks to Nagi-Chan, so I just felt like adding a word or two every few chapters... Flashback R&R! Enjoy! ^_^
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 27: Unanticipated Guests
"I can't believe my two oldest children are getting married, it seems like just yesterday when I married Van..."
"Time flies when you're having fun," Varomi commented.
"Yeah." Mira added.
The three girls sat in Hitomi's room talking about the upcoming weddings.
"I'm the only one leaving right now, everyone else will live here. And Asturia isn't that far away, I can visit you whenever I want Leo said, maybe spend the summers with you guys.
"You do have a point Itooshii." Hitomi added.
"I wonder if Dad and the Dragonslayers will show up?" Mira wondered aloud.
"You invited THEM?" Hitomi asked in an exasperated tone.
"Of course, they're the closest thing to a family I have besides Chid." And she sighed.
"Well, we're your family now." Hitomi said warmly and Varomi and Hitomi gave her a hug.
"What's going on in here?" Van asked, as he, Leo, and Daren came in, covered in sweat from training.
"Nothing." Hitomi replied, kissing her husband and wrapping her arms around his neck. Van blushed and sat down on a nearby chair, where Hitomi sat in his lap. Daren walked over to his bride-to-be and spun her around, while she laughed, her silver hair getting in his face. Leo and Varomi hugged, as he kissed her forehead.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ria was happy, she loved her husband and he loved her, but still, sadness lingered in her heart. A year ago, Ruvan had run away. They had found a note on his bed saying:
Dear Mom, Dad, and Sis,
I'm sorry to let you guys down, but I just can't live at the palace anymore. I just don't belong there. Everyone looks down on me because I'm younger and I'm a catperson. I want to be free of all the pressure of royal life. I'll miss you all, say goodbye to Daren, Var, and Leo for me Ria. I'm leaving Fanelia, I don't know when or if I'll come back. Until we meet again, my love to you all.
~Ruvan~
'Ruvan, why'd you leave?' Ria knew that the others and her parents missed him more than she'd ever know. Merle and Rune sat in the garden next to their statue. Merle ran her hand across Ruvan's face and a tear trickled down her cheek. Rune wiped it away and held her close. 'Oh Ruvan we miss you so...' the sad mother grieved.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was the day of Daren and Mira's wedding. Ria and Varomi were comforting Mira, who had last-minute marriage jitters.
"Oh god, Oh god, Oh god..." Mira muttered as they helped her with her wedding dress.
"Oh don't worry Mira! Besides the constant worrying and endless toil, marriage is a piece of cake..." Ria was going to say more, but Var nudged her in the ribs before she made Mira even more nervous then she already was.
Mira was wearing her mother's wedding dress. She always carried it in her satchel; it made her feel closer to the mother she had never really known. It was white silk with lace and pearls stitched along the hem, waist, and collar. White sequins covered the bodice, making it sparkle. It had been Encia Schezar's before it came into Selena's possession. (She had found it while clearing up the items that remained in her decaying house, when she had returned to her body.) A veil transcended behind her, and she looked like an angel.
"Ooh Mira! I told you, I told you you'd marry Lord Daren!" Ria squealed triumphantly.
"You were right for once Ria..." Mira replied, her cheeks a bright crimson as she smiled at her archrival/best friend.
Ria handed her a bouquet as they pushed her towards the square platform. It was where Van was crowned king, so long ago. Daren wore his ceremonial armor that looked much like his father's. He thought it was heavy and uncomfortable, but the advisors wouldn't let this future king dress casual on his wedding day like his father did. The advisors had decreased in their bugging of him. But he knew that eventually their nagging would continue, and he'd be old and they still wouldn't let him be. 'The curse of being royal, I suppose.' He often thought. A priest stood to one side of them. There were rows and rows of pews where all the people of Fanelia and all the royalty sat. Daren was extremely nervous, but he tried to just think of Mira and what a great Kanai she'd be, and it made him feel much better. Banners swayed in the breeze, and the aroma of a wedding feast fit for a king (no pun intended) wafted by, making their mouths water.
Mira stood frozen for a moment at the beginning of the aisle, but then she saw Daren's smiling face, and progressed forward. "A Fanelian tune" (what Folken was always whistling) played loudly. Mira thought it was a very sad sounding song for a wedding, but it was a Fanelian tradition, so she let it go.
Daren stood transfixed by her grace and beauty, her long silver hair trailing behind her. Van and Hitomi stood proudly on one side of Daren; there was an empty gap on the other side of the priest where Mira and her parents were supposed to be.
'Dad? Gatty? Chesta? Where are you? I can't believe they wouldn't show up for my wedding.' She sadly sighed as she continued down the aisle.
The cat families and Leo's family had pews reserved in the front. Dryden was happily counting the money he had made from selling food to the Fanels for the wedding. Milerna had insisted that they get a half off discount, but it was still a lot of money since they had to have so much food.
Van looked proudly at his son; he looked so much like him on his wedding day, minus the armor. Hitomi looked back on the fond memories of her wedding day. The beautiful wedding cake, with frosting roses (not red of course) and a little figurine of Van and Hitomi on top. The flying towards the altar, Van's face smiling at her, that kiss, and of course the get-away flight... She couldn't believe that it had been over 20 years ago, she was only in her late thirties, and she could be a grandmother before she was forty at this rate. She smiled at Van standing next to her and could tell that he too, was thinking of their wedding so long ago.
The guests remarked at how beautiful the bride was, and what a fine queen she would make one day. There were also comments about what a lucky man Lord Daren was to have Lady Mira. The royalty and the cat family smiled at Mira, they had become close since wherever Daren went, Mira wasn't far behind. They all thought that she would make a fine queen and that Daren had chosen wisely. Mira blushed at everyone's praise, as did Daren. Ria thought, 'Such easily embarrassed people, they're lucky they had me doing their matchmaking!' She grinned as she gave her own husband a hug, happy for her friends.
Varomi was about halfway down the aisle, when it happened. There was the sound of screaming and a cold, evil laugh that Van recognized all to well. He went pale, as did Hitomi... She couldn't forget that diabolical laughter either, it still haunted her dreams, no, those dreams were nightmares.
"Dilandau..." Van muttered under his breath, cursing that the guards hadn't been able to keep him away.
Five blue and one red Alseides came into view. They flew over the horrified crowd, and landed in the bride's path. Daren looked terrified beyond all reason.
"Dad!" Mira exclaimed running over to where the red Alseides had landed. Steam hissed as one by one each of the pilots got out of their guymelefs. Of course, the red guymelef's pilot got out first, all the guests gasped in horror, and many women fainted. 'Dilandau Albatou. He was back. But how?' Everyone wondered.
Dilandau smirked at the shocked crowd, adjusting his tiara.
"Hello daughter." He coolly said, taking her in with his crimson eyes. More gasps were heard from the guests.
"Father, I am happy to see you." She replied, giving him a genuine smile.
"You've grown Mira, where have you been for the last three years?"
"Well, y'know, around..." She looked extremely nervous just then.
Dilandau continued in an angry tone.
"How could you Mira? How could you just abandon us like that? Are we not good enough for you? I guess we don't come close to this 'royal' crowd you've been hanging out with..."
"No, that's not true..." She whispered, loud enough for only him to hear.
"Yes it is Mira, you just won't admit it to yourself, you wanted this kind of family all along..." Mira remembered where she had gotten that advice she had given to Varomi when Leo had broken her heart, it had come from a special friend, a very special friend...
"Why does Father hate me so?" A seventeen-year-old Mira asked Gatty and Chesta as they polished their swords.
"He doesn't hate you Mira. He just doesn't know how to cope with all this, he needs your mom..." Chesta remarked.
"Never would've known..." She remarked sarcastically.
"You mustn't be so hard on Lord Dilandau..." Gatty started.
"He loves you very much Mira..."
"Gee, how can you tell? Is it the slapping, the cursing, or the ignoring, is that made you see?" She continued sarcastically, as she wiped away a tear that was starting to form. If there was one thing, her father had taught her it was to never cry.
"Mira, it's OK to cry over someone you love..." Chesta softly said, comforting his friend.
"I just wish that he'd love me for who I am. I can never be Philon, I can never be the son he always wanted, I can never live up to his expectations..." She trailed off.
"You have a soft heart, just like your mother's..." Gatty commented.
"But he does love you..." Chesta continued.
"Oh just leave me alone!" She cried out harshly, running away.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Mira sobbed into her pillow, when she heard her door creak and her father come in.
"Why are you crying girl?" He asked coldly.
"For my family..." She choked out.
"For the family I've never known for the last 14 years, and I'll never know again..."
He had left the room, and that was the night that Mira had left to slay the dragon.
"I guess it is true..." She whispered.
"At least you admit it." He said still in his cold manner.
"I wanted the love, that Hitomi has for her children, the pride Van has in them, I wanted that from you father..." She whispered, falling to her knees, tears staining the white silk.
Dilandau picked her up, and carried her back to his Alseides.
"First, I'm taking Mira home, then I'll come back to settle the score with YOU Van..." He gave a little high-pitched laugh as the six Alseides become a blur in the distance.
"NO!" Daren cried with rage.
"He took Mira!"
"He's gone too far this time..." Van whispered, he ran over to Escaflowne's tomb.
"Wait Van, stop!" Hitomi pleaded.
"Let Daren handle it! You're not as young as you used to be!"
"I won't let his heart be broken. I know how it feels, when I thought I lost you..." He whispered, kissing her.
"I bind myself by blood pact once again, to thee, Escaflowne. Sleeping dragon, awaken!"
Van placed the energist into the guymelef's chest, for the first time in over 20 years. Escaflowne kneeled before its master and Van could hear its heart beat. He jumped into the cockpit and turned Escaflowne into a white dragon.
"Wait! I'm coming with you!" Hitomi protested, climbing in beside him.
"Me too." Daren said, jumping in before Van could say anything.
"Bring her back, Lord Daren." Ria whispered.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Not what you expected, huh? Well, more to come, I have no more idea then you do... Check out my other fic, Angel of Dreams, when you want something to read, I'm making slow progress, but once I end this, I'll add chapters to other fics more often, I love this fic of mine, but it's extremely time consuming... R&R! Arigatou and Sionara! ^_^
~Trunks Gal~