AN: Woohoo! Wow, this story is getting long!! I feel so happy ~big
grin~ Thanks especially to Megumi and Kohuei, who have reviewed every
single chapter and given me much encouragement!!!! You guys are the best!
This chapter is mainly about a crucial part in Rose's past.where I can
hopefully answer some questions of yours and my own ^_^" Much fun. Enjoy!
Oh yeah.borrowed a ritual from a dragon book.don't remember who wrote it,
all I know is that there was a unicorn in it.needless to say, I don't own
it -_-
Leviathan- Thanks for the review!! Normally, I think it's cute with Van and Hitomi, but I needed to do something a little different from the fics out there.I hope I achieved it!
Megumi- Yeah, I have fun with Smoaks character. Have a good sleep!
June Mermaid- I feel special!!! And Van will find Rose..eventually ~evil grin~ Glad that you enjoy my story so far! (I like Rose too ^_~) And I'll type as fast as I can, promise!
Rose stared up at the vine-covered ruins. 'Cave, my foot.' It was more like an old castle. Thayanna stepped forward, nudging her muzzle against Rose's back. Glancing over her shoulder, Rose sent her a puzzled look.
'I have brought you to your destination, but it is you who must take the first step to recover your identity.' Shrugging, Rose stepped through the stone doorway to the ruined castle. Moss seeped out of every hole, covering walls, floor and ceiling alike, adding a splash of color to the dreary gray of the stones. Bits of rotted tapestries hung tenaciously to the walls, blackened and scorched. 'Creepy.' Her footsteps echoed in the passageways, and Rose had a strange feeling that she'd seen this before. Come to think of it.
" Did Aranor and Vargain live here? I've seen this place in my dreams." Thayanna nodded, stepping in front of her.
' We must go to the central chamber. There you will receive a gift that no human has, or ever will, receive.' Rose blinked. Whatever she was here for, it was serious. And, to be fair, it's true that she wasn't exactly human anymore. Shivering, Rose pulled her wings tight against her. It wasn't all that cold out, but the atmosphere of the now dead castle gave off a chilling effect. Knowing that the couple of her dreams had died in this place didn't help much either. Shrugging it off, she moved her eyes towards Thayanna and kept walking.
When they reached what Rose guessed was the 'central chamber' she was nearly blinded. Sunlight was reflected off of glass, precious stones, and metal. Specifically, gold. It was like something out of The Hobbit. There was armor, chalices, swords, bows and arrows, crowns, you name it, it was there. Most of it was in gold and silver, and rubies, diamons, amethysts and opals that sparkled and shone.
' This was the castle treasury. You see that wooden chalice over in the corner? Bring it here.' Glancing around, Rose saw what Thayanna was talking about. It was a crudely carved cup, cracks running along the stem and sides of it. All in all, it was fairly unattractive. Shrugging, Rose did as she was told.
' Now child, after you receive the gift you will fall into a sleep that may last for several days. You will dream, but they will not be fancy. They will be things that have been locked away in your mind to keep you safe. Do you still wish to continue?' Rose was starting to get a little freaked out. 'But then, I had no problem letting those sorcerers experiment on me.' she took a deep breath and nodded. Thayanna dipped her head down to the ground.
' Hold the chalice to my neck, child. And do not be afraid.' Rose didn't like the sound of that. 'What am I getting myself into?'
' Don't be afraid Rose. It's time for you to fill one of those empty spots inside of you. You can deny that it's there, as many things can be cloaked, but just because it's hidden does not mean that it does not exist. Do as I say.' Shocked, Rose held the chalice up, tremors of queasiness running through her stomach. They didn't decrease when Thayanna lifted a claw and pried loose a scale on her neck. Bluish-green liquid trickled into the cup and Rose had to fight down her breakfast. 'Blood.'
' Now drink child, before the magic runs thin.' Rose glanced at the cup warily, decided that nothing she had done had killed her yet and that the dragons expressed no wish to kill her, and gulped it down. (eeewwww ) A warm tingling feeling spread through her body. She felt lightheaded and dizzy for a moment, and then like somebody had wrapped her in a blanket made out of the fuzziest material available.
'Thayanna.what did you...hold on a second..' Through sleep-blurred eyes, Rose looked up at the dam.
' Rest child.you can fully understand us now.and any animal you may meet. The gift of dragons blood freely given is called the Language of the Allies. Any Arethian is entitled to it. Your gift was just.delayed.' Rose sank to the floor, drowsiness covering her limbs and weighing them down.
" A.Arethian?" * * * * * * * * * * * *
" Bye everybody!!! I hope you get adopted soon too!!" A girl waved to the crowd of children outside of an old strict-looking building, holding onto a woman and a mans hands. The others waved back, wishing good luck and happy years ahead. Then, once the car had driven off, one by one they trickled back into the building to resume whatever game they had been playing. There was one girl who had stayed silent throughout the whole ordeal. She had gone outside, but stood on the steps and then turned and walked at her own pace back into the adoption center. She had been there ever since she could remember, and kids like that came and went practically every day. 'So why should this one make a difference?' The other girls that were currently playing a board game glanced over at her as she made her way across the room and picked up the discarded book she had been reading moments ago. Whispers started up for a moment about the strange loner, but quieted down quickly after a dark glare was applied to everybody in the room. Lowering her eyes to the book, she sighed quietly. Standing, she set the book aside and went to the dorm rooms.
" You there, what's the matter?" The girl looked up at the councilor. And resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
" Nothing. I just want to be alone. I'm going to the dorm." The woman stared after the retreating figure of the little girl, sighing. She followed, catching up to her quickly.
" Don't worry kid. You'll get adopted, it just takes time." She hugged the girl, only to feel her stiffen and pull away.
" Look.Jane. I know you're trying to cheer me up. I don't need to be. I've been here practically forever, and nobody has ever looked twice at me. Fairy tales don't come true. I may only be a kid, but at least I know that much." Jane let her go, still kneeling. The kid was right, it was true that everybody seemed to be warded away from her. But it was heart wrenching to see a kid as young as her to be so disillusioned. Jane just hoped she'd be alright.
The young girl had had enough.
" Uff!" She grunted as she dropped from her dorm window. After taking a few steps, she looked back at the building guiltily. 'It's just for a walk. Not like anything bad is gonna happen, right?' With that thought firmly wedged in her mind, she let her feet carry her where they would. She reached a park, one that the orphans had visited on day trips. Sitting on a swing, she shivered. She had forgotten her jacket. And then, as expected..it began to rain. The girl deadpanned, getting off the swing.
" Right. No such thing as fairytales." She lifted her face upwards, eyes closed against the droplets.
" I can't even think in peace, can I? That would make it too simple, wouldn't it?" It began to rain harder. 'Figures,' she grumbled mentally, picking a direction and walking. 'Well, now I'll catch a cold. I guess I don't have any luck.' She sighed, glancing at a couple walking by under an umbrella, laughing. She kicked at a stone, frowning. 'All I want is a family.and maybe a Prince Charming when I'm older. Is that so much to ask?'
" HEY KID, LOOK OUT!!!" A terrified shout woke her from her thoughts, in time to see a bright light shining in her face, a horn screeching out in the silence of the night. She covered her face with her hands, bracing herself for the impact of the car. It never came.
" Mama, look!" A boys voice rang out excitedly, and she cracked an eye open, lowering her hands slightly. She was in.a library??
" What's going on? What happened?" She looked around frantically. Where was the car, the road, the rain?!?!? It had all disappeared!
" Oh no.Van, go and get a physician, she might be hurt. Folken, get maids to prepare a room, and get the cooks to prepare a meal for the child. Hurry!" Two boys, one older, and one around her age, ran out the doors. That left the older woman, their mother. The girls eyes widened when she saw her approach. She was in a medieval dress, and her hair was long and beautiful.
" A..are you.a princess?" She whispered in awe. She had only read about people like these in her books. The woman smiled softly and crouched down to her level.
" No. I am a queen. But you needn't be afraid, little girl. We will take good care of you here, until your guardian deems it safe to bring you back to your world."
" M.my world? Where are we now?" The girl was confused, but her fear was slowly melting away. The lady was nice.much nicer than any of the women that worked at the orphanage. The woman guided her gently to a large window, tilting her head up. She gasped. The moon and the earth were in the sky!
" We are on a place called Gaia. My name is Varie, and my sons are Folken and Van. Folken is the oldest, and Van is the youngest. You were brought here because you were in trouble in your world, am I correct?" The girl nodded.
" I was going to be hit by a car. I wasn't looking where I was going.." Varie seemed to be a little confused by this statement, but brushed it aside.
" What's your name, little one?" She blinked up at her. A name?
" I don't have one.I never have." Varie frowned mentally, puzzled.
" Surely you must.what do others call you?" The girl brightened slightly. She could answer this one easily.
" Oh, that's what you meant. Well then, I have a lot of names. You there, kid, orphan, child. Those are the names adults use for me. With kids it's loner, freak, creepy, scary, odd. I'm also called brat on occasion, but that doesn't happen too often, so I don't really pay attention to that one." Varies eyes filled with pity for the girl.
" But.surely your parents must have." Rose frowned, not liking where this conversation was going. Besides, didn't Jane tell her not to talk to strangers?
" I never had parents. The orphanage found me when I was a baby, lying on their steps. There wasn't even a note, like in the books where people do that. I've lived there all my life. I don't have a name." She scowled, crossing her arms. Varie leaned forward and hugged her gently, sighing again. The girl was pleasantly surprised. 'She feels warm.I guess.this is what a mom feels like.' She snuggled closer, and then realized that she was still soaking wet. She was going to wreck her dress!
" I'm sorry!" She pulled away, looking guiltily at Varie's outfit. It had a large wet spot on it. Varie blinked, and looked down. There was silence for a moment, and then she burst into laughter. The girl felt slightly relieved that she wasn't angry at her.
" Don't worry, don't worry. I have plenty more like this one. Now come, would you like something to eat, or would you like to sleep? It's quite late, and I'm guessing you've had an eventful night." The girl considered. She was a little sleepy, but after nearly being hit by a car and ending up in a medieval story, she didn't think she would fall asleep in the near future. Besides, her stomach answered for her. She had skipped dinner. She flushed.
" I think I'd like something to eat first, please." Varie chuckled, taking her hand and leading her down the corridor. 'Sugoi.this place is just like Arthur and Camelot!'
" So, I think we need a name for you. What would you like to be called while you're here, dear?" The child blinked, frowning in concentration. She'd never really been given a name, so this was important for her. Glancing around, she looked for something to give her an idea. Outside in a courtyard, her eyes fell to a bush full of white and red flowers. They were really pretty.
" I'd like to be named after those flowers, please." Varie glanced to where she was pointing and stifled a gasp. 'So, her guardian was right.she doesn't even remember who she is.but her namesake still calls to her.'
" Alright. Your name will be Rose." The newly named girl smiled up at her happily. Varie felt a tug at her heart, that she had to be ripped away from her heritage.
" I like that name. Thank you, Varie."
That summer was the best summer that Rose had known. They had picnics, plays, music, dancing, and horseback riding. Folken was like a big brother, Varie talked with her and did her hair, and Van was the one she always got into trouble with. The most fun they had was when they found the really big staircases in the castle and slid down the rails until they were caught by the maids. Then they ran outside and watched clouds. It was on one of these occasions that Rose came upon what seemed like a splendid idea at the time.
" Hey Van. Wanna get married?" He looked over at her, blinking. She giggled at his face.
" Not for real, silly. It'd be just for fun! I could put on an overly fancy dress, and you'd have to wear something really fancy, and then we'd get Folken to give me away, and-" He cut her off.
" Why would we want to give you away?" She shrugged, sitting up and combing her fingers through her hair.
" I dunno. It's just what they do in books all the time whenever somebody gets married in them. Then we could ask Varie to do a little ceremony, and we could ask the cooks to make cookies or something for the reception!" Van's face lit up at the mention of the cookies, and Rose knew she had him hooked.
" I'll go find Folken, you go ask Mother about it!" Nodding, they both set off for their separate duties. * * * * * * * * * * * *
Varie looked at the girl in front of her. ' Well.children do this all the time in her world, I suppose.besides, this could be fun.' She smiled, and saw Roses' eyes light up.
" Let's find you a dress." She smiled again at the girls cheer, but inside she felt troubled. She knew in her heart that Rose couldn't stay for much longer, and Van would be heartbroken. She wished that there was something she could do. But her guardian had made it clear that having Rose stay would upset the destinies that awaited both the girl and her own son. He, apparently, needed to meet another girl before Rose. * * * * * * * * * * * *
" Wow Rose, you look nice!" Rose glanced at Van, a little miffed.
" Ssshhh!! You're not supposed to talk during this part!" She whispered quickly, facing Varie. Still, she smiled happily to herself. 'I guess there is such a thing as fairy tales after all.' But everything had to have a hitch. Varie had dutifully recited a (shortened) version of the vows, and looked like she was struggling to hide a grin. Folken seemed to be having the same problem.
" Van, you may now kiss the bride." Rose and Van looked at one another for a moment.
" WHAT?!?!?!?!?" They screeched in unison, backing away from each other rapidly. Varie and Folken both burst into laughter at the scene. The two children regarded each other warily, a good deal farther apart than they had been a moment earlier. ' There's no WAY I'm going to kiss him.that's sooo gross!' Rose sent a pained glance towards Varie, who had tears leaking out of her eyes, leaning against the podium.
" Varie.I know this was mainly my idea, but.do we HAVE to do this?" Varie chuckled, shaking her head.
" No, no you don't Rose. I just couldn't resist. Sorry about that. Now.let's see what the cooks have managed to come up with, shall we? After all, a wedding is something to be celebrated." Rose let out a sigh of relief, followed by Van. * * * * * * * * * * * *
The sun had set, and Van and Rose were sitting on a hill close by the castle, after their 'reception'. Varie and Folken had gone inside, telling them to come in soon. They were giggling to one another, pointing out stars and shapes, as they did with clouds. In the meantime, Rose was trying to explain the appeal of books with romances in them.
" I don't see why every girl in your world wants a knight as their boyfriend. I mean, there really aren't that many of them here, and it sounds like there aren't any in your world." Rose sighed, shaking her head.
" It's not the fact that they're real actual knights, Van. It's the whole idea of chivalry and being nice and sappy and mushy. It's cute!" Van snorted, muttering something about cooties. She glared over at him, about to say something, when he spoke up, cutting her off.
" Hey, Rose?" She blinked at him, tilting her head.
" You did look really pretty in that dress today." 'He was blushing!' she thought with amazement. He continued.
" And.if you promise not to freak out or anything like that.if you really want to do the ceremony properly, I could, well.you know." Rose blinked, and started to blush when she caught his meaning. She swallowed, trying to keep her voice normal.
" Well.if you want, I suppose.it's not like it's anything big, right?" He nodded, sitting up. She followed suit, and they looked at each other uncertainly for a moment.
" Do you know how to do it?" He shook his head. Rose hmmed, thinking back on all the books she'd read.
" Well.I think they just put their lips on each others.from the books I've read, I think that's all you really have to do." Van gulped, looking at the ground and picking blades of grass. After a few minutes, Rose got impatient. She had never been one to wait around a long time for anything.
" Oh, for the love of Pete." She leaned forward, closed her eyes, and kissed him quickly, drawing back after she counted to ten in her head. Then, looking critically at him, she waited.
" Well?" He looked at her in surprise.
" Well what?" She huffed, frowning and crossing her arms.
" Well, did it feel like it was supposed to?" Van shrugged, looking bewildered.
" How'm I supposed to know what it feels like? It's not like I'd ever done that before." After considering, Rose nodded, satisfied with the answer.
' Children. Follow me. It's time.' They looked up, startled. Rose nearly screamed. A large green dragon was in front of them all of a sudden. Van scrambled to stand in front of her.
" Go away! We don't want you here!" The dragon chuckled, nodding its' head.
' I'm not comfortable near humans either, child. But there is something I must show you both. Now hurry, before it's too late. I've already talked to your mother about it, and she agrees that this has to be done. Now come, or you risk altering the destinies of both worlds!' That scared the two children into action. Rose got to her feet, and they both walked with the dragon. Somehow it remained quiet for a beast its' size, and soon they had reached a part of the castle that they hadn't even really explored yet. It was the temple.
' First things first. Van, you know what is hidden in this room. Escaflowne, the legendary machine, is waiting for you to use it, as you will discover in the future. I have brought an energist for you, but I will hide it until the appropriate time. Use it to protect and fight the forces of evil, never for your own personal gain. Of all that you will forget this night, you must do your utmost to remember what I have just told you. Is that clear?' Van nodded slowly, half confused and half awed at what he was being told. The dragon turned its' jeweled eyes to Rose, and she tried to ignore the bad feeling in her stomach.
' Child, I think you know why you are here. I saved you from that machine in your world, but it's time for you to go home now.' Rose opened her mouth to protest. It wasn't fair, she had a family now! But the dragon wasn't done yet.
' Furthermore.I regret to do this, but I must erase this from both of your minds. The entire summer. Rose won't remember a thing. Van, you will remember, but Rose will not be a part of your memories. Certain details will be erased completely, for no amount of explaining could tell why you held a wedding with merely yourself.' Now Rose was really mad.
" It's not fair! I don't want to go back there! Nobody likes me there.I belong here now!" She shouted at the dragon, fighting back an alien stinging in her eyes. The dragon sighed, and the room began to glow.
" NO!" Rose shut her eyes tightly, trying to keep her feet on the ground. It wasn't working. She could hear Van shouting for her, and risked a glance downwards. He was reaching for her, but even as she tried, she knew that she wouldn't reach him. The light was starting to bug her eyes.
" Wait! Rose! I had fun this summer..I love you!!" She gasped, raised almost to the ceiling.
" I lo-" Before she could finish, her world went dark. * * * * * * * * * * * *
" Kid..hey, kid.wake up." The girl groaned, rolling over in her bed. Cracking an eye open, she saw Jane.
" Wha.what is it?" Jane smiled at her, helping her sit up.
" You have a woman who wants to see you.I think she could be the one, hmm? She seems really nice!" The girl glanced up at Jane, and then shrugged. ' Yeah, but will she adopt me? That's the thing.' She felt an inexplicable sadness, even though after she had gone to the dorm room earlier that night she had fallen asleep right away.
" You can come in miss, she's up now." The girl glanced to the doorway, looking at the woman who stepped in. ' Wow, she's pretty.' The woman looked fairly young with honey blonde hair and green eyes. The girl felt her heart warming to her instantly.
" Hello little girl. My name is Hitomi Kansaki.and if you'd like.I'd like to adopt you." The girl couldn't believe her ears. After all this time.tears welled up in her eyes and she ran towards her, not hearing the woman gasp slightly as they made contact. Hitomi enveloped her in a hug, and the girl felt a stirring in the back of her mind.
" I'd like that very much, thank you ma'am." Hitomi chuckled, letting go and taking her hand.
" You don't have to call me ma'am. Sounds to strict." The girl giggled as she winked at her as they headed out of the dorm and down the hallway to the office, leaving an astounded Jane behind.
" Well then.what should I call you?" The girl asked shyly, glancing up at her. Hitomi smiled gently.
" You can call me mom, mama, mother, or Hitomi, if you want. Either way is fine with me." The girl considered, then nodded.
" Ok okaasan." Hitomi started signing papers, and glanced down at her again.
" And what should I call you? We need to get a name for you." The girl frowned slightly, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu. She had been asked this before, but she couldn't remember where.
" My name..my name is Rose." Hitomi nodded, placing her final signature on the paper. Picking up her new daughter, she smiled to herself. She had a real daughter, for forever. And when the time came, she would eventually let her go to where she had to.
" Well Rose.I guess this is our first day as mother and daughter."
Leviathan- Thanks for the review!! Normally, I think it's cute with Van and Hitomi, but I needed to do something a little different from the fics out there.I hope I achieved it!
Megumi- Yeah, I have fun with Smoaks character. Have a good sleep!
June Mermaid- I feel special!!! And Van will find Rose..eventually ~evil grin~ Glad that you enjoy my story so far! (I like Rose too ^_~) And I'll type as fast as I can, promise!
Rose stared up at the vine-covered ruins. 'Cave, my foot.' It was more like an old castle. Thayanna stepped forward, nudging her muzzle against Rose's back. Glancing over her shoulder, Rose sent her a puzzled look.
'I have brought you to your destination, but it is you who must take the first step to recover your identity.' Shrugging, Rose stepped through the stone doorway to the ruined castle. Moss seeped out of every hole, covering walls, floor and ceiling alike, adding a splash of color to the dreary gray of the stones. Bits of rotted tapestries hung tenaciously to the walls, blackened and scorched. 'Creepy.' Her footsteps echoed in the passageways, and Rose had a strange feeling that she'd seen this before. Come to think of it.
" Did Aranor and Vargain live here? I've seen this place in my dreams." Thayanna nodded, stepping in front of her.
' We must go to the central chamber. There you will receive a gift that no human has, or ever will, receive.' Rose blinked. Whatever she was here for, it was serious. And, to be fair, it's true that she wasn't exactly human anymore. Shivering, Rose pulled her wings tight against her. It wasn't all that cold out, but the atmosphere of the now dead castle gave off a chilling effect. Knowing that the couple of her dreams had died in this place didn't help much either. Shrugging it off, she moved her eyes towards Thayanna and kept walking.
When they reached what Rose guessed was the 'central chamber' she was nearly blinded. Sunlight was reflected off of glass, precious stones, and metal. Specifically, gold. It was like something out of The Hobbit. There was armor, chalices, swords, bows and arrows, crowns, you name it, it was there. Most of it was in gold and silver, and rubies, diamons, amethysts and opals that sparkled and shone.
' This was the castle treasury. You see that wooden chalice over in the corner? Bring it here.' Glancing around, Rose saw what Thayanna was talking about. It was a crudely carved cup, cracks running along the stem and sides of it. All in all, it was fairly unattractive. Shrugging, Rose did as she was told.
' Now child, after you receive the gift you will fall into a sleep that may last for several days. You will dream, but they will not be fancy. They will be things that have been locked away in your mind to keep you safe. Do you still wish to continue?' Rose was starting to get a little freaked out. 'But then, I had no problem letting those sorcerers experiment on me.' she took a deep breath and nodded. Thayanna dipped her head down to the ground.
' Hold the chalice to my neck, child. And do not be afraid.' Rose didn't like the sound of that. 'What am I getting myself into?'
' Don't be afraid Rose. It's time for you to fill one of those empty spots inside of you. You can deny that it's there, as many things can be cloaked, but just because it's hidden does not mean that it does not exist. Do as I say.' Shocked, Rose held the chalice up, tremors of queasiness running through her stomach. They didn't decrease when Thayanna lifted a claw and pried loose a scale on her neck. Bluish-green liquid trickled into the cup and Rose had to fight down her breakfast. 'Blood.'
' Now drink child, before the magic runs thin.' Rose glanced at the cup warily, decided that nothing she had done had killed her yet and that the dragons expressed no wish to kill her, and gulped it down. (eeewwww ) A warm tingling feeling spread through her body. She felt lightheaded and dizzy for a moment, and then like somebody had wrapped her in a blanket made out of the fuzziest material available.
'Thayanna.what did you...hold on a second..' Through sleep-blurred eyes, Rose looked up at the dam.
' Rest child.you can fully understand us now.and any animal you may meet. The gift of dragons blood freely given is called the Language of the Allies. Any Arethian is entitled to it. Your gift was just.delayed.' Rose sank to the floor, drowsiness covering her limbs and weighing them down.
" A.Arethian?" * * * * * * * * * * * *
" Bye everybody!!! I hope you get adopted soon too!!" A girl waved to the crowd of children outside of an old strict-looking building, holding onto a woman and a mans hands. The others waved back, wishing good luck and happy years ahead. Then, once the car had driven off, one by one they trickled back into the building to resume whatever game they had been playing. There was one girl who had stayed silent throughout the whole ordeal. She had gone outside, but stood on the steps and then turned and walked at her own pace back into the adoption center. She had been there ever since she could remember, and kids like that came and went practically every day. 'So why should this one make a difference?' The other girls that were currently playing a board game glanced over at her as she made her way across the room and picked up the discarded book she had been reading moments ago. Whispers started up for a moment about the strange loner, but quieted down quickly after a dark glare was applied to everybody in the room. Lowering her eyes to the book, she sighed quietly. Standing, she set the book aside and went to the dorm rooms.
" You there, what's the matter?" The girl looked up at the councilor. And resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
" Nothing. I just want to be alone. I'm going to the dorm." The woman stared after the retreating figure of the little girl, sighing. She followed, catching up to her quickly.
" Don't worry kid. You'll get adopted, it just takes time." She hugged the girl, only to feel her stiffen and pull away.
" Look.Jane. I know you're trying to cheer me up. I don't need to be. I've been here practically forever, and nobody has ever looked twice at me. Fairy tales don't come true. I may only be a kid, but at least I know that much." Jane let her go, still kneeling. The kid was right, it was true that everybody seemed to be warded away from her. But it was heart wrenching to see a kid as young as her to be so disillusioned. Jane just hoped she'd be alright.
The young girl had had enough.
" Uff!" She grunted as she dropped from her dorm window. After taking a few steps, she looked back at the building guiltily. 'It's just for a walk. Not like anything bad is gonna happen, right?' With that thought firmly wedged in her mind, she let her feet carry her where they would. She reached a park, one that the orphans had visited on day trips. Sitting on a swing, she shivered. She had forgotten her jacket. And then, as expected..it began to rain. The girl deadpanned, getting off the swing.
" Right. No such thing as fairytales." She lifted her face upwards, eyes closed against the droplets.
" I can't even think in peace, can I? That would make it too simple, wouldn't it?" It began to rain harder. 'Figures,' she grumbled mentally, picking a direction and walking. 'Well, now I'll catch a cold. I guess I don't have any luck.' She sighed, glancing at a couple walking by under an umbrella, laughing. She kicked at a stone, frowning. 'All I want is a family.and maybe a Prince Charming when I'm older. Is that so much to ask?'
" HEY KID, LOOK OUT!!!" A terrified shout woke her from her thoughts, in time to see a bright light shining in her face, a horn screeching out in the silence of the night. She covered her face with her hands, bracing herself for the impact of the car. It never came.
" Mama, look!" A boys voice rang out excitedly, and she cracked an eye open, lowering her hands slightly. She was in.a library??
" What's going on? What happened?" She looked around frantically. Where was the car, the road, the rain?!?!? It had all disappeared!
" Oh no.Van, go and get a physician, she might be hurt. Folken, get maids to prepare a room, and get the cooks to prepare a meal for the child. Hurry!" Two boys, one older, and one around her age, ran out the doors. That left the older woman, their mother. The girls eyes widened when she saw her approach. She was in a medieval dress, and her hair was long and beautiful.
" A..are you.a princess?" She whispered in awe. She had only read about people like these in her books. The woman smiled softly and crouched down to her level.
" No. I am a queen. But you needn't be afraid, little girl. We will take good care of you here, until your guardian deems it safe to bring you back to your world."
" M.my world? Where are we now?" The girl was confused, but her fear was slowly melting away. The lady was nice.much nicer than any of the women that worked at the orphanage. The woman guided her gently to a large window, tilting her head up. She gasped. The moon and the earth were in the sky!
" We are on a place called Gaia. My name is Varie, and my sons are Folken and Van. Folken is the oldest, and Van is the youngest. You were brought here because you were in trouble in your world, am I correct?" The girl nodded.
" I was going to be hit by a car. I wasn't looking where I was going.." Varie seemed to be a little confused by this statement, but brushed it aside.
" What's your name, little one?" She blinked up at her. A name?
" I don't have one.I never have." Varie frowned mentally, puzzled.
" Surely you must.what do others call you?" The girl brightened slightly. She could answer this one easily.
" Oh, that's what you meant. Well then, I have a lot of names. You there, kid, orphan, child. Those are the names adults use for me. With kids it's loner, freak, creepy, scary, odd. I'm also called brat on occasion, but that doesn't happen too often, so I don't really pay attention to that one." Varies eyes filled with pity for the girl.
" But.surely your parents must have." Rose frowned, not liking where this conversation was going. Besides, didn't Jane tell her not to talk to strangers?
" I never had parents. The orphanage found me when I was a baby, lying on their steps. There wasn't even a note, like in the books where people do that. I've lived there all my life. I don't have a name." She scowled, crossing her arms. Varie leaned forward and hugged her gently, sighing again. The girl was pleasantly surprised. 'She feels warm.I guess.this is what a mom feels like.' She snuggled closer, and then realized that she was still soaking wet. She was going to wreck her dress!
" I'm sorry!" She pulled away, looking guiltily at Varie's outfit. It had a large wet spot on it. Varie blinked, and looked down. There was silence for a moment, and then she burst into laughter. The girl felt slightly relieved that she wasn't angry at her.
" Don't worry, don't worry. I have plenty more like this one. Now come, would you like something to eat, or would you like to sleep? It's quite late, and I'm guessing you've had an eventful night." The girl considered. She was a little sleepy, but after nearly being hit by a car and ending up in a medieval story, she didn't think she would fall asleep in the near future. Besides, her stomach answered for her. She had skipped dinner. She flushed.
" I think I'd like something to eat first, please." Varie chuckled, taking her hand and leading her down the corridor. 'Sugoi.this place is just like Arthur and Camelot!'
" So, I think we need a name for you. What would you like to be called while you're here, dear?" The child blinked, frowning in concentration. She'd never really been given a name, so this was important for her. Glancing around, she looked for something to give her an idea. Outside in a courtyard, her eyes fell to a bush full of white and red flowers. They were really pretty.
" I'd like to be named after those flowers, please." Varie glanced to where she was pointing and stifled a gasp. 'So, her guardian was right.she doesn't even remember who she is.but her namesake still calls to her.'
" Alright. Your name will be Rose." The newly named girl smiled up at her happily. Varie felt a tug at her heart, that she had to be ripped away from her heritage.
" I like that name. Thank you, Varie."
That summer was the best summer that Rose had known. They had picnics, plays, music, dancing, and horseback riding. Folken was like a big brother, Varie talked with her and did her hair, and Van was the one she always got into trouble with. The most fun they had was when they found the really big staircases in the castle and slid down the rails until they were caught by the maids. Then they ran outside and watched clouds. It was on one of these occasions that Rose came upon what seemed like a splendid idea at the time.
" Hey Van. Wanna get married?" He looked over at her, blinking. She giggled at his face.
" Not for real, silly. It'd be just for fun! I could put on an overly fancy dress, and you'd have to wear something really fancy, and then we'd get Folken to give me away, and-" He cut her off.
" Why would we want to give you away?" She shrugged, sitting up and combing her fingers through her hair.
" I dunno. It's just what they do in books all the time whenever somebody gets married in them. Then we could ask Varie to do a little ceremony, and we could ask the cooks to make cookies or something for the reception!" Van's face lit up at the mention of the cookies, and Rose knew she had him hooked.
" I'll go find Folken, you go ask Mother about it!" Nodding, they both set off for their separate duties. * * * * * * * * * * * *
Varie looked at the girl in front of her. ' Well.children do this all the time in her world, I suppose.besides, this could be fun.' She smiled, and saw Roses' eyes light up.
" Let's find you a dress." She smiled again at the girls cheer, but inside she felt troubled. She knew in her heart that Rose couldn't stay for much longer, and Van would be heartbroken. She wished that there was something she could do. But her guardian had made it clear that having Rose stay would upset the destinies that awaited both the girl and her own son. He, apparently, needed to meet another girl before Rose. * * * * * * * * * * * *
" Wow Rose, you look nice!" Rose glanced at Van, a little miffed.
" Ssshhh!! You're not supposed to talk during this part!" She whispered quickly, facing Varie. Still, she smiled happily to herself. 'I guess there is such a thing as fairy tales after all.' But everything had to have a hitch. Varie had dutifully recited a (shortened) version of the vows, and looked like she was struggling to hide a grin. Folken seemed to be having the same problem.
" Van, you may now kiss the bride." Rose and Van looked at one another for a moment.
" WHAT?!?!?!?!?" They screeched in unison, backing away from each other rapidly. Varie and Folken both burst into laughter at the scene. The two children regarded each other warily, a good deal farther apart than they had been a moment earlier. ' There's no WAY I'm going to kiss him.that's sooo gross!' Rose sent a pained glance towards Varie, who had tears leaking out of her eyes, leaning against the podium.
" Varie.I know this was mainly my idea, but.do we HAVE to do this?" Varie chuckled, shaking her head.
" No, no you don't Rose. I just couldn't resist. Sorry about that. Now.let's see what the cooks have managed to come up with, shall we? After all, a wedding is something to be celebrated." Rose let out a sigh of relief, followed by Van. * * * * * * * * * * * *
The sun had set, and Van and Rose were sitting on a hill close by the castle, after their 'reception'. Varie and Folken had gone inside, telling them to come in soon. They were giggling to one another, pointing out stars and shapes, as they did with clouds. In the meantime, Rose was trying to explain the appeal of books with romances in them.
" I don't see why every girl in your world wants a knight as their boyfriend. I mean, there really aren't that many of them here, and it sounds like there aren't any in your world." Rose sighed, shaking her head.
" It's not the fact that they're real actual knights, Van. It's the whole idea of chivalry and being nice and sappy and mushy. It's cute!" Van snorted, muttering something about cooties. She glared over at him, about to say something, when he spoke up, cutting her off.
" Hey, Rose?" She blinked at him, tilting her head.
" You did look really pretty in that dress today." 'He was blushing!' she thought with amazement. He continued.
" And.if you promise not to freak out or anything like that.if you really want to do the ceremony properly, I could, well.you know." Rose blinked, and started to blush when she caught his meaning. She swallowed, trying to keep her voice normal.
" Well.if you want, I suppose.it's not like it's anything big, right?" He nodded, sitting up. She followed suit, and they looked at each other uncertainly for a moment.
" Do you know how to do it?" He shook his head. Rose hmmed, thinking back on all the books she'd read.
" Well.I think they just put their lips on each others.from the books I've read, I think that's all you really have to do." Van gulped, looking at the ground and picking blades of grass. After a few minutes, Rose got impatient. She had never been one to wait around a long time for anything.
" Oh, for the love of Pete." She leaned forward, closed her eyes, and kissed him quickly, drawing back after she counted to ten in her head. Then, looking critically at him, she waited.
" Well?" He looked at her in surprise.
" Well what?" She huffed, frowning and crossing her arms.
" Well, did it feel like it was supposed to?" Van shrugged, looking bewildered.
" How'm I supposed to know what it feels like? It's not like I'd ever done that before." After considering, Rose nodded, satisfied with the answer.
' Children. Follow me. It's time.' They looked up, startled. Rose nearly screamed. A large green dragon was in front of them all of a sudden. Van scrambled to stand in front of her.
" Go away! We don't want you here!" The dragon chuckled, nodding its' head.
' I'm not comfortable near humans either, child. But there is something I must show you both. Now hurry, before it's too late. I've already talked to your mother about it, and she agrees that this has to be done. Now come, or you risk altering the destinies of both worlds!' That scared the two children into action. Rose got to her feet, and they both walked with the dragon. Somehow it remained quiet for a beast its' size, and soon they had reached a part of the castle that they hadn't even really explored yet. It was the temple.
' First things first. Van, you know what is hidden in this room. Escaflowne, the legendary machine, is waiting for you to use it, as you will discover in the future. I have brought an energist for you, but I will hide it until the appropriate time. Use it to protect and fight the forces of evil, never for your own personal gain. Of all that you will forget this night, you must do your utmost to remember what I have just told you. Is that clear?' Van nodded slowly, half confused and half awed at what he was being told. The dragon turned its' jeweled eyes to Rose, and she tried to ignore the bad feeling in her stomach.
' Child, I think you know why you are here. I saved you from that machine in your world, but it's time for you to go home now.' Rose opened her mouth to protest. It wasn't fair, she had a family now! But the dragon wasn't done yet.
' Furthermore.I regret to do this, but I must erase this from both of your minds. The entire summer. Rose won't remember a thing. Van, you will remember, but Rose will not be a part of your memories. Certain details will be erased completely, for no amount of explaining could tell why you held a wedding with merely yourself.' Now Rose was really mad.
" It's not fair! I don't want to go back there! Nobody likes me there.I belong here now!" She shouted at the dragon, fighting back an alien stinging in her eyes. The dragon sighed, and the room began to glow.
" NO!" Rose shut her eyes tightly, trying to keep her feet on the ground. It wasn't working. She could hear Van shouting for her, and risked a glance downwards. He was reaching for her, but even as she tried, she knew that she wouldn't reach him. The light was starting to bug her eyes.
" Wait! Rose! I had fun this summer..I love you!!" She gasped, raised almost to the ceiling.
" I lo-" Before she could finish, her world went dark. * * * * * * * * * * * *
" Kid..hey, kid.wake up." The girl groaned, rolling over in her bed. Cracking an eye open, she saw Jane.
" Wha.what is it?" Jane smiled at her, helping her sit up.
" You have a woman who wants to see you.I think she could be the one, hmm? She seems really nice!" The girl glanced up at Jane, and then shrugged. ' Yeah, but will she adopt me? That's the thing.' She felt an inexplicable sadness, even though after she had gone to the dorm room earlier that night she had fallen asleep right away.
" You can come in miss, she's up now." The girl glanced to the doorway, looking at the woman who stepped in. ' Wow, she's pretty.' The woman looked fairly young with honey blonde hair and green eyes. The girl felt her heart warming to her instantly.
" Hello little girl. My name is Hitomi Kansaki.and if you'd like.I'd like to adopt you." The girl couldn't believe her ears. After all this time.tears welled up in her eyes and she ran towards her, not hearing the woman gasp slightly as they made contact. Hitomi enveloped her in a hug, and the girl felt a stirring in the back of her mind.
" I'd like that very much, thank you ma'am." Hitomi chuckled, letting go and taking her hand.
" You don't have to call me ma'am. Sounds to strict." The girl giggled as she winked at her as they headed out of the dorm and down the hallway to the office, leaving an astounded Jane behind.
" Well then.what should I call you?" The girl asked shyly, glancing up at her. Hitomi smiled gently.
" You can call me mom, mama, mother, or Hitomi, if you want. Either way is fine with me." The girl considered, then nodded.
" Ok okaasan." Hitomi started signing papers, and glanced down at her again.
" And what should I call you? We need to get a name for you." The girl frowned slightly, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu. She had been asked this before, but she couldn't remember where.
" My name..my name is Rose." Hitomi nodded, placing her final signature on the paper. Picking up her new daughter, she smiled to herself. She had a real daughter, for forever. And when the time came, she would eventually let her go to where she had to.
" Well Rose.I guess this is our first day as mother and daughter."