This story has definite spoilers so if you haven't seen the whole series just stop reading.
This starts out just a few days after the Destiny War ended. The scene at the end of the movie where Van and Hitomi were next to Folken's grave didn't happen. They don't have his body; they just took Hitomi's word for it that he was dead. That's the only change I have for now. Any other changes that you see, please just look over them and take them in as you go.
As for the romance aspect of this story, it's probably not going to show up for a while, so just bear with me for a while. This story will be D/H because I, personally, think they make a great couple.
A few people's characters will change a bit, but it's not going to be a "all the sudden Hitomi snapped and became a mighty warrior" kind of deal. Through struggles and experiences the characters will grow and change just like normal people do.
The beginning doesn't have a whole lot of action, but it was needed to explain what all's going on. The action/good stuff should be coming pretty soon so just have a little patience.
Oh yeah, before I forget, I don't any part of Escaflowne and I don't ever plan on making money with this (like I could anyways). I think that one disclaimer should suffice for the whole story, neh?
Prologue
Eerie stillness reigned in the heart of the once mighty Zaibach Empire. Rubble from the destroyed buildings littered the crowded streets. Children moved aimlessly through the city as the adults toiled at rebuilding their homes. No one smiled; no one spoke. They hardly ate or slept. Their lives seemed meaningless; their entire existence and purpose of being had been crushed with the fall of their government. The anguish they all felt was so intense that no one could even look at the enormous capital building anymore. Not a soul had entered since the war had entered for the citizens of Zaibach would not allow it. It was within those high walls, however, that their future laid.
After the Destiny War ended, Freid and Asturia sent their troops in to occupy the enemy country. Their purpose to prevent anarchy and bring order, peace and control to the citizens of Zaibach. The first action they took was to root out any extremists within the citizens and make examples of them. This did not take long, for the people had been stoic and apathetic since the downfall of their beloved nation.
The soldiers next began to destroy government buildings and documents. They did not want a trace of the old ways of the government to survive. Again, the citizens were mostly indifferent and unresponsive. There was one point, however, that every citizen was adamant about: no one was to enter the capital building. Every citizen of Zaibach gathered together and encircled the giant edifice. They did not loudly protest or shout their demands; in contrast, they were mostly silent. Their faces held no anger, just the pain and anguish of lost souls. The confused soldiers felt pity for these people, and stayed their hand against them.
Hours later a single man from the mob of people stepped forward and spoke.
"We implore of you, noble knights, to not enter this building. We have done everything you have asked of us without complaint and without contestation. This building is like a temple to us. It is all we have left of the way we used to live. Please do not take it away from us."
With a tear in his eye, the man got down on one knee and bowed to the generals and captains before him. The mass of people behind him followed suit and within seconds every man, woman and child was on the ground in humble supplication.
One of the generals cleared his throat. "What is inside this building?" It was obvious that his emotions were getting to him. His voice was small and tight, like he was fighting back tears.
"We do not know." The first man replied. "It is not our place there and none of us ever had the impudence to enter."
The general nodded. With a sharp hand signal he ordered his men back. It was not until every soldier had turned his back did the citizens of Zaibach begin to stand. The general was the only man to stay behind.
"I understand how you feel." He said quietly. "My own village was destroyed many years ago. If a part of it had survived I would have done anything to preserve it." With that he turned and followed his troops to another part of the city.
The people, now alone, still held their depressive silence, even after their victory. No one even moved except for a single woman who slowly ebbed her way through the crowd. A small boy obediently followed at her heels.
"Caleb, I need to speak with you." She said as she reached the man who had spoken before.
He turned towards her, but didn't say anything.
"It's about my son here, Leif." She paused for a moment. "A few hours ago, he and some of the other children were playing." She bit her lip. "They are all very young, and they don't know all the rules yet. Well, they found a way into the capital building."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Please, just hear me out." The woman continued hurriedly. "They started roaming around inside and they found a man. They said that he looked very sick, but he was still alive. Not only that, but he had wings, Caleb. Large, dark wings. They thought that maybe you could help him, since you're a healer."
Caleb's face showed slight curiosity and hope as looked down to the boy. "Could you show me how you got in, Leif?"
The little boy chewed on his bottom lip for a moment before nodding.
"Good." He glanced up at two men standing nearby. "Dredric, Frank, you guys come with me."
Leif confidently led the three men to the walls of the massive edifice. They seemed to be impenetrable, but the boy showed them a small hole where part of the wall had broken away.
The insides of the building were dark and silent. An ambience of terror, grief, sadness and pain could be felt within the close perimeters of the corridor walls, but the intruders continued on nonetheless.
Leif saw a feint light at the far end of the hallway. "We're almost there."
He led them on into an enormous room. The ceiling was at least ten stories high but the darkness distorted the distance, making it seem to have no end. The cold metal machines of the Zaibach sorcerers still hummed with existence; each one obstinately refusing to let go of the glorious dreams of their master. As an oxygen-recycling vent whirled on, the newly circulated air caused a flutter near the floor. There, lying near the bottom of a colossal dais laid a motionless figure surrounded by feathers of the deepest black. As the fans continued to blow clean air into the cavernous room the feathers began to blow away. The black feathers slowly departed into the shadows and white feathers were revealed.
The person on the floor moved slightly. He gasped sharply and put a hand over his chest before fading back into unconsciousness.
Caleb ran over and kneeled by the green haired man and checked his pulse. It was very feint, but still there. He moved the man's hand away to reveal the tip of a sword protruding out of his chest near his heart. The winged man took in another sharp gasp of breath, his chest heaved outward. The white wings behind him began to shimmer and perfect, angelic feathers began to flutter into the air. Suddenly the wings were gone. Caleb ignored this for the time being and concentrated on saving the man's life.
"Dredric, stay here with him while I get my medical supplies." As Caleb was about to stand, the man lying on the floor reached up and grabbed his arm.
"Don't bother." He spoke quietly. "Just pull it out. I will be fine."
"But Sir, if I did that it would kill you."
"If I was going to die I would have already. Her will shall keep me alive. Just do it."
Caleb drew in a long breath and held it before slowly exhaling. He looked to the three people standing behind him, but they looked just as perplexed as he felt.
"I will do it."
The man nodded, closed his eyes and laid his head back on the ground. Caleb reached forward and pulled the sword piece out without hesitation. He then wrapped the wound with a piece of his shirt. Throughout all this, the man had never screamed or cried; he just grit his teeth and stared blankly at the wall.
"There," Caleb said, standing up. "I'm done." He paused and absentmindedly wiped his hands on his pants. "What's your name, anyways? How did you get to be in here?"
He sighed and slowly stood up as well. After taking a few minutes to reorient himself and regain his balance he answered. "My name in Folken, and the story of how I got here is very long and I do not wish to retell it."
"Folken… as in the Strategos Folken?" Dredric stuttered.
Folken nodded solemnly. Relief and joy filled the hearts of the three men and they kneeled down on the floor before him.
"Now that Emperor Dornkirk has died, you are the new leader of Zaibach. We were told you were dead, but now that we know you are alive, we can build Zaibach up and we can be a great empire once more." Caleb was almost in tears for the second time that day, but they were tears of sorrow no longer. "We will do anything you ask of us, Lord Folken. The entire Zaibach nation is at your command."
"That is good. There is much that needs to be done."
*:.~;`;~.:*
That was kinda short, I know. The actual chapters will be longer. And don't worry about remembering any of those people's names. No one but Folken will ever show up again. I'm not that big on original characters being main characters.