AN: "Eriya don't be so smug" *glares then bursts out laughing* I'm just playing with you. As to who ends up with Folken whether it be me, my sister, or maybe someone else entirely, that's half the story. So I won't reveal that. Also this starts after the mystic valley incident, however no marriage announcement yet(btx millerna/Dryden) so in other words: Dryden's still on Allen's and Millerna's nerves, Allen's on Van's and after both Hitomi and Millerna. And well you get the idea. Oh and hearts may not go the they do in the show! Like I said in the summary Alternate Pairings.

P.S.: HELP! Does anyone know if the Tierings have separate names? And if they do what are they? Cause If they don't I'm gonna make some up.

Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflone or the characters
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It was night at the Asturian palace, and the full moon had just risen. On the roof a sword sliced cleanly through the crisp night air, then came back to parry an invisible adversary. The swordsman's face glistened with sweat as he continue to strike parry and dodge the imaginary enemy. 'I have to get better' the thoughts ran threw Van's head, ' I have to be stronger" played over and over. He didn't pause for a moment as a head parry turned into a jab. He was so engrossed in his thoughts he didn't notice someone watching him.
" You still leave yourself open on the left," the knight pointed out leaning against the doorjamb.
Van growled, the arrogant knight bothered the heck out of him and the fact that he was the better swordsman didn't help one bit. " What do you want Allen?"
" I was wondering how much you had improved," he answered stepping out and onto the roof, " Last time we were here I believe I beat you quite easily," added Allen in a challenging tone.
Van frowned at Allen, he knew the knight was manipulating him into a fight, but he also knew he wanted to. " I guess I'll have to wipe that smug smile off your face," said Van moving into fighting stance.
" I suppose you could try," said the knight drawing his sword and getting into position himself
"Ku-kuso," growled a third person. In the darkest shadows just between the edge of the roof and the wall from the stair case, Naria watched silently as the two men began. This wasn't her best choice of nights and she knew it. With the full moon out it was that much harder to hide, but she had gotten into the palace and she'd be damned if she let that Knight screw it up.
She slid farther back toward the end of the roof, she looked over the edge to see one of the sentry stations and in the wall opposite that one of the many gymelf bays. It would be dangerous and there was a good chance she'd be spotted but she had an idea.
The cat-woman gracefully lept down from the roof, as soon as she landed she pressed herself against the wall and looked up to make sure the guards hadn't noticed. They hadn't. It made sense, the guards were more concerned with outside of the palace. She ran the short distance to the entrance to the hanger. As soon as she got in she hid in the shadows taking in her surroundings.
It was small for a hanger with only a few 'melfs sat against the walls. Their owners were siting around a table in the far corner. They had a few candles on in, as well as cards and glasses full of what was probably achohol. They seemed drunk and were too busy arguing about how one of them had cheated to notice the cat-woman.
Silently Naria crept up to one of the gymelfs and lept on to it's arm. From there she could reach into the cockpit, if she could get it open without being noticed. She flipped open the latch and slowly pulled the cockpit open, all the time watching the men.
Finally it was al the way open. Naria wasn't a mechanic, but all pilots knew basic repairs and the such, including how to make an energest overload. As soon as everything was ready she activated the guymelf.
Naria lept down and looked over her shoulder expecting to see the guards to be coming. Instead they were so drunk they just pointed at the gymelf and laughed. 'Thank god for alcohol' she thought laughing and ran out of the hangar. Naria looked over her shoulder again to be positive she wasn't being followed only to run into someone. ' By Atlantis!' she thought, ' I got careless.'
Naria looked across at who'd she'd run into to see two bright blue eyes starring out of a striped face. " You could watch where you're going!" Yelled Merle. Suddenly she realized it was a cat-woman that she'd run into. But before she could say anything to the first cat-person she'd seen in what seemed like forever Naria lept up and over her still running as fast as possible. ' What was that about?' thought Merle as she watched the retreating figure, ' I just wanted to say hi?' Merle frowned, ' Why is there another cat-person here? And why was she in so much a hurry?' she wondered.
Allen dodged another of Van's swings and attacked when suddenly there was an explosion causing both men to stop and turn.
"What the . . .?" said Van as he and Allen tried to find the source.
" Gadess!" yelled Allen as he looked over the wall at the navy haired man, "What's going on?!"
The man slid to a stop and looked up, " Commander! Something's happened in one of the hangers!"
"They may need our help!" yelled Allen as he ran down the stairs sword in hand.
Van took another look at the dark smoke billowing in to the clear night. Then he turned to follow Allen, however he found a silver cat-woman blocking his way.
Van took a step back sword held up, " You!" he said glaring, " You work for my brother." he said it like an accusation.
"Hai Dragon," Said Naria standing up to her full height and putting a hand on her hip, " I do serve Folken-Sama."
"And you caused the explosion," he accused.
" You're a certified genius," she rolled her eyes, " I wished to talk to you, not that half-brained knight."
" About?" Van still held his sword threateningly.
Naria sighed she reached to her side where she carried the sword she had decided to bring. She slipped the sword and sheath off the belt, and held it horizontally in front of her, then tossed it to her right.
Van watched as the sword still in the sheath clattered across the roof before coming to rest against the low wall that surrounded the roof.
'Lets see I've got two things in my favor,' mussed Naria as she evaluated the situation she had just put herself in, '1. I've got speed; if I need to I think I could make it to my sword, 2. I've got my claws; he's not aware of those.' Naria stretched her fingers, for this reason she'd left her gloves in the Tiering. 'Yet he's got just as much, 1.He's got distance; His sword's longer than my claws 2. He gets first move; if we fight he's going to start it.'
" I've a message from Folken-Sama . . ." she started shifting her weight to her other leg.
" Why did my brother send one of his pets?" he interrupted.
' Pets! Pets! How dare he!' thought Naria, " Yet you hide behind your pet," she sneered the word pet. She smiled at the angry look that crossed Van's face. " Your brother wants to see you." she said baiting the hook.
"N-Nani?" Van's mind was racing, ' Folken? He want's to see me?'
" He want's to talk."
" About what?" asked Van regaining his composure.
" I'm only the messenger," said Naria turning around to leave. " Meet me in the south-west just outside of the city. And bring Escaflone we'll be traveling." Naria turned and started to leave.
" A trap ne?"
Van still watched Naria suspiciously as she bent down and picked up her sword. Silently she slipped the sheath back on her belt, and lept up on the low wall. Crouching there she turned to look over her shoulder, " He's left Zaibach." She disappeared over the wall.
'He left Zaibach???!!' Van dropped his arms to his side. Then looking at his sword he turned it enough to look at the crest. His family crest. Something that he and Folken shared as much as Van would like to deny it. Van growled, " Let's see what you've got to say. . . .Brother."
He sheathed his sword and ran down the stairs as fast as he could. Hitting the bottom he ran to the front of the palace and out of the gates into the city. He was about to turn on to one of the many city streets When he heard a loud scream.
" VAAAAAAAAN-SAAAAAAMMAAAAAA!" turning around he found Merle running toward him.
" Shhhh, be quiet Merle," he scolded being sure no one had heard her.
Merle slid to a stop in front of him, then in a whisper, " I wanna come with you!"
" Go back to the palace Merle," was all he said as he turned to head for the windmill where'd he'd hid Escaflone.
Merle ran on all four legs beside him, "I'm not leaving you!" she said in a determined voice looking straight ahead.
Van looked at the cat-girl a just smiled, though he hated to put her in danger it was also good to have her by his side like a younger sister.
They arrived at the windmill and Van lept into Escaflone and transformed it into dragon mode. " Get on Merle!" Van watched as the cat-girl happily lept up and onto the dragon gymelf. As soon as she was situated Van took off into the night sky.
About five minutes later they found themselves flying over the south-west side of the city just as Naria had said. " I don't see her," growled Van as his eyes scanned the canopy.
Merle leaned over when a shine caught her sensitive cat eyes, " Over there Van-Sama! I thought I saw something!"
" Good work Merle!" As Van flew Escaflone closer the form of one of the Tierings became clear, and a silver cat-woman relaxing on its open cockpit.
" I knew he'd come," Naria said to the sky as Van landed. " I see you brought the kitten."
Merle puffed up, " I'm no kitten!"
Van was surprised to se a genuine smile cross Naria's face, " No you really are very brave and loyal," Said Naria remembering when Merle had defended Van against Her and Eriya.
Merle's fur when back down and a look of confusion crossed her face as Naria retreated into her gymelf. Changing it to flight mode she took off Van following behind her.
" Where are we going?" he yelled up to her.
" To Fanaila," she answered as the gymelfs disappeared into the Asturian sky.