PART ONE
One gorgeous summer's day, Van decided to take Hitomi to the beach. He told Dryden, and Dryden asked if they could make it a romantic double- date outing, and Van said that would be fine. So Dryden brings Milerna, and the four get into their swimsuits and make their way to the beach, accompanied by Merle, tagging along Hitomi and Van, and also by Allen, stalking Milerna and Dryden.
As soon as they arrive at the beach, they decide that they will decide what they will do! Van and Hitomi decide that they will build a sandcastle. Merle wanted to help, so Van and Hitomi reluctantly allow her to come.
Just then, Folken, Naria and Eyria show up and said, "Merle, I'm treating the girls to some ice-cream. So you want to come with us?" Merle jumped with excitement.
"Oh yes! Yum!" she cries. Folken winked at Van, and Van mouthed 'thank-you.' Finally, Hitomi and Van will have some "alone" time! Milerna tells Dryden that she would just like to read her romance novel for a while.
Dryden replies, "That's cool. I want to catch some waves with my new surf board anyway! Hey Allen," he says mischievously, turning away from Milerna, "I'll bet I can out surf you!"
Allen, who has never even seen a surfboard in his life, much less used one, does what any sensible man would do. He replies, "You're on!" Meanwhile, he is thinking, 'this is my time to prove myself to Milerna and every other babe on the beach. Heh heh heh.' Everyone is just heading their separate ways when another group of people unknowingly walk right toward them.
Dilandau, Guimel, Dalet, Chesta, and Gatti stop dead in their tracks in front of the Escaflowne crew. The crew stops also. Everyone stares at each other in surprise.
"What are YOU doing here?" Dilandau asks the other group menacingly.
"I think the question is, what are YOU doing here?" retorts Merle.
Dilandau ignores her, and looks to Folken. "Ah, Folken. Long time no see, huh?"
"Just enjoying a day at the beach, Dilandau?"
"You bet we are!" Chesta chides in happily. "We're going to pick up chicks!"
Dilandau gasps and glares back at Chesta, his face turning beat red (and it isn't from the harmful UV rays of the sun!) He backhands him severely, and Chesta topples over into a heap on the sand. The other Dragon Slayers snicker.
"Oookay." Says Van, uneasily. "Well, it's been great, Dil, but we really must be going!"
"Don't patronize ME, Van!" Dilandau coldly replies.
Van and Hitomi walk by the Dragon Slayers. "Alright, I won't!" Van says simply. "See ya!" He waves over his shoulder, and takes Hitomi's hand. Dilandau blinks in disbelief.
He looks to his Dragon Slayers. "Did he just, like, totally blow us off?"
"I think so, sir." Says Gatti.
There is a silence.
"Hey Folken!" Merle's shrill little voice brakes through the awkward moment. "When are we going to get some of that ICE-CREAM!"
"Right now!" He replies with a smile, "C'mon ladies." He wraps either arm around Naria and Eyria's shoulders, and leads them away to the ice- cream stand on the other side of the beach.
"Oh Lord Folken!" They both sigh together.
"RACE YOU TO THE WATER, BLONDIE!" cries Dryden to Allen as he takes off with his surfboard.
"I'LL WIN!" Allen responds, and runs with another surfboard.
"NOT ON YOUR LIFE!"
Then the two speak together, "SEE YOU LATER, MILERNA, MY LOVE!"
"Your love! SHE'S MINE!" Said Dryden
"Grrrrrrr!" Growled Allen
"Bye boys! Play nice," says Milerna, waving and smoothing out her towel. She then goes on to adjusting a beach umbrella.
Dilandau's eye twitches. Milerna lies down on her stomach, kicking her feet up in the air with delight as she reads her romance novel.
"Hey, big D, are we going to do something?" Asks Dalet. There was a long pause as Dilandau tries to fathom what had just happened.
"Yeah." He says absentmindedly.
"Um, Lord Dilandau," Says Gatti nervously. "You have a very fair complexion. and I believe it would be in your best interest to put some sunscreen on, else you will burn quite badly.. sir!"
"You really think so? That's the last thing I want- really bad sunburn. That won't look too good in front of the ladies." Says Dilandau.
"No sir it won't," Gatti replies, very relieved Dilandau didn't freak out about his simple suggestion, and needlessly hit him.
They all put some sunscreen on; making sure it is all rubbed in so they do not look like geeks, and set out to find some. chicks.
Meanwhile, Van and Hitomi are happily building their sand castle.
"So, Hitomi, you enjoying yourself?"
"Yes, Van. I am!" She smiles sweetly at him. Those big green eyes, that pretty hair, that sweet smile. Van cannot help taking in Hitomi with all of his senses. "Hitomi, I. I."
"Yes Van?" Her eyes shimmer in expectation. He brings her closer, takes her hands.
"I." Van doesn't know how to say what he feels, but Hitomi waits patiently, staring up at Van with adoring eyes. Van decides he will do it. He will tell Hitomi how much he loves her. "Hitomi. I aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!"
"Ahhhhhhh!" Hitomi and Van screams and covered their heads. Just then, something comes crashing into the sand castle between them, showering them with sand. It is Allen. He had been surfing nearby and a giant wave had swept him up and thrown him.
"AHHH HAH HAH HAH HAH!!" An obnoxious laugh rings out from the water's edge as Dryden gets out of the water. He is laughing so hard he has to support himself by leaning on his board.
"Shut up!" Allen calls to Dryden, which makes him laugh even harder. Allen is covered with sand, clinging to him because he is wet from the ocean. "Sorry about your sandcastle Hitomi, Van." he says, looking down at the sad pile of useless sand and mud.
"That's okay, Allen." Hitomi replies.
"Gotta go! Later!" He shouts while running back into the water with his board. Hitomi and Van just chuckle to each other, and begin to rebuild the castle.
* * *
Elsewhere, Folken buys yummy ice-cream cones for everyone. Naria and Eyria are glomping over Folken and Folken is just taking it all in. They all lie on towels, the cats contentedly lapping at their cones, and Folken eating ice cream the way normal people eat ice cream. Merle, however, who finishes her ice cream rather quickly, becomes bored with the flirting, and decides to wander off. Of all people, she comes across Dilandau and the Dragon Slayers.
They are all huddled over a pile of brightly colored objects that Merle cannot see. They speak in a hush, and giggle now and then. Merle creeps up behind them and says very loudly, "HEY! WHATCHA DOIN'?"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" All of the boys scream in shock and jump a mile high, (well not really.) They all stand over her, intimidating her with their height.
"What are YOU doing here?" asks Dilandau.
"I'm bored! Can I play with you guys?"
Dilandau's eye twitches. The rest of the guys sigh and look around them for the quickest way to get away if Dilandau blows up. "You can't PLAY with us! We are your enemies! Do you understand that, you little cat thing! Or are you too DENSE!" Yells Dilandau.
For a moment, there is a silent pause, and then.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! Van w.wants to be alone with Hit.tomi.. and I c.can't surf, and Folken is being a boy toy! And NOW, YOU won't play with me!! IT ISN'T FAIR! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
Now, you can imagine how the boys would be reacting. Merle has tears pouring down her face, and she is whining so loud, and people are walking by saying things like, "Shame on you boys for making that little girl cry!" and, "tisk, tisk. That is so sad!"
"Okay okay, shhhhh.. calm down," eases Dilandau.
"Oh please stop crying, kitty. pleeeeaaaase!" Chesta and Dalet beg.
"You can play with us." Grumbles Dilandau in defeat. Merle stops crying in a split second.
"Really? YAAAAAAAAAY!!" She danced all around them happily. "So what are we going to play?"
"Uhhhhh. Hide and Seek, you go hide and we'll go.." Starts Gatti.
"Nice try!" said Merle. "HEY, What are these for?" She indicates the pile of brightly coloured plastic, which happens to be a laundry basket full of water balloons and water guns. She turns around slowly to face the boys. They all have malicious grins spreading across their faces. Except Chesta, he is looking around at everyone trying to figure out what they are all smirking about.
"W. What are you planning to do?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Says Dilandau, menacingly plopping a water balloon up and down in his hand.
"Uh. heh heh.guys?" says Merle, grinning as best as she can.
"Give US the water-works, will you?"
"OOOOOOHHHHHH! I GET IT!!" Chesta interjected excitedly "We're going to attack her with some of the fun summer water-fight products we plan to clobber Van and his friends with! It is ALL coming together now!"
"Cheeestaaaa," Says Dilandau through gritted teeth, his voice, the vocal definition of sheer annoyance, and his left eye twitching uncontrollably.
"Yes, Master Dilandau?"
"You are g. going to w.what?" Merle stammers.
Then Dilandau does something surprising! He slaps his forehead in distress and agony! But Dilandau doesn't know his own strength. This becomes clear when he hits his Dragon Slayers. He quite literally knocks himself out.
Everyone else blinks in amazement, and then sort of exchange glances uncomfortably.
"So." Merle breaks the silence; "I'll just be getting back to Lord Van now."
"Oh no you don't!" cries Dalet.
* * *
"So, Hitomi, you having fun?" asks Van.
"Yes! I mean just look at this giant sand replica of the Great Wall of China we've just built! It looks great, and watch," she stands up, "It's just as tall as I am!" She giggles.
"Yes. and I've been meaning to tell you something, but we have been working so tirelessly."
"What did you want to tell me, Van?"
"Well it's. Merle!"
Hitomi's expression fades from a sweet smile to an angry glare. "What?!"
"No! It's Merle!" Van runs up to the soaked, collapsed figure of the crawling kitten.
"Oh, Lord Van. It was a.awful. All of the Dragon Slayers are armed with fun summer water-fight products and plan to clobber everyone! They are coming this way!!"
In the distance, Dilandau and the Dragon Slayers move in slowly, and stop roughly twenty meters away from the. great wall. Chesta and Gatti begin unloading the fun summer artillery, while Dalet and Guimel scramble around setting up beach umbrellas. They position them on a sharp angle, umbrella-side facing Van. This creates a long shield of potentially waterproof protection.
All the while, Dilandau glares at Van. "This ends today, Van." He speaks deeply, his eyes narrowing as he does so.
"Uh sir, I am sure he cannot hear that.." Says Gatti.
Dilandau rolls his eyes. "That is beside the point! The point is. it is for drama!"
"EVERYONE!! GET BEHIND THE GREAT WALL!!" calls Van, picking up Merle and carrying her there. The Escaflowne crew clambers to the safety zone.
"HA HA HA HAH!" laughs Dilandau. "You fools! Do you think your Great Wall will save you? Not in the least! Eat dirt and water Van!"
"Don't you mean mud?" shouts Van, from the other side of the space of beach now known as "No Man's Land."
"Grrrrr. That is the last time he insults me!" Dilandau scowls. Then he barks his order. "Alright! Get me Big Red."
Chesta hands him a stick of gum.
Dilandau takes it and looks at it. There is a logo on its red rapper that reads "Big Red. Make it last a little longer." He whips it into Chesta's face.
"Ow.."
"I meant the balloon, you idiot!"
Dalet and Gatti bring the giant water balloon over, and set it on the catapult. They ready the catapult to fire, Gatti with his sword, ready to cut loose and let fly.
"Ready. Aim. Fire!" cries Dilandau with fury.
With one chop, the cow-sized water balloon soars across the sky and lands perfectly, right behind enemy lines on the other side of the Great Wall. Upon impact, the big red balloon erupts into a giant Mushroom Cloud of water.
And all of the Escaflowne crew's cries are silenced by the gurgle of defeat.
To Be Continued.
*****
Authors Note: Leave me reviews please! I will be updating soon! Flames or no flames, I accept all criticism, whether it makes me cry or not. Or makes sense, for that matter.
One gorgeous summer's day, Van decided to take Hitomi to the beach. He told Dryden, and Dryden asked if they could make it a romantic double- date outing, and Van said that would be fine. So Dryden brings Milerna, and the four get into their swimsuits and make their way to the beach, accompanied by Merle, tagging along Hitomi and Van, and also by Allen, stalking Milerna and Dryden.
As soon as they arrive at the beach, they decide that they will decide what they will do! Van and Hitomi decide that they will build a sandcastle. Merle wanted to help, so Van and Hitomi reluctantly allow her to come.
Just then, Folken, Naria and Eyria show up and said, "Merle, I'm treating the girls to some ice-cream. So you want to come with us?" Merle jumped with excitement.
"Oh yes! Yum!" she cries. Folken winked at Van, and Van mouthed 'thank-you.' Finally, Hitomi and Van will have some "alone" time! Milerna tells Dryden that she would just like to read her romance novel for a while.
Dryden replies, "That's cool. I want to catch some waves with my new surf board anyway! Hey Allen," he says mischievously, turning away from Milerna, "I'll bet I can out surf you!"
Allen, who has never even seen a surfboard in his life, much less used one, does what any sensible man would do. He replies, "You're on!" Meanwhile, he is thinking, 'this is my time to prove myself to Milerna and every other babe on the beach. Heh heh heh.' Everyone is just heading their separate ways when another group of people unknowingly walk right toward them.
Dilandau, Guimel, Dalet, Chesta, and Gatti stop dead in their tracks in front of the Escaflowne crew. The crew stops also. Everyone stares at each other in surprise.
"What are YOU doing here?" Dilandau asks the other group menacingly.
"I think the question is, what are YOU doing here?" retorts Merle.
Dilandau ignores her, and looks to Folken. "Ah, Folken. Long time no see, huh?"
"Just enjoying a day at the beach, Dilandau?"
"You bet we are!" Chesta chides in happily. "We're going to pick up chicks!"
Dilandau gasps and glares back at Chesta, his face turning beat red (and it isn't from the harmful UV rays of the sun!) He backhands him severely, and Chesta topples over into a heap on the sand. The other Dragon Slayers snicker.
"Oookay." Says Van, uneasily. "Well, it's been great, Dil, but we really must be going!"
"Don't patronize ME, Van!" Dilandau coldly replies.
Van and Hitomi walk by the Dragon Slayers. "Alright, I won't!" Van says simply. "See ya!" He waves over his shoulder, and takes Hitomi's hand. Dilandau blinks in disbelief.
He looks to his Dragon Slayers. "Did he just, like, totally blow us off?"
"I think so, sir." Says Gatti.
There is a silence.
"Hey Folken!" Merle's shrill little voice brakes through the awkward moment. "When are we going to get some of that ICE-CREAM!"
"Right now!" He replies with a smile, "C'mon ladies." He wraps either arm around Naria and Eyria's shoulders, and leads them away to the ice- cream stand on the other side of the beach.
"Oh Lord Folken!" They both sigh together.
"RACE YOU TO THE WATER, BLONDIE!" cries Dryden to Allen as he takes off with his surfboard.
"I'LL WIN!" Allen responds, and runs with another surfboard.
"NOT ON YOUR LIFE!"
Then the two speak together, "SEE YOU LATER, MILERNA, MY LOVE!"
"Your love! SHE'S MINE!" Said Dryden
"Grrrrrrr!" Growled Allen
"Bye boys! Play nice," says Milerna, waving and smoothing out her towel. She then goes on to adjusting a beach umbrella.
Dilandau's eye twitches. Milerna lies down on her stomach, kicking her feet up in the air with delight as she reads her romance novel.
"Hey, big D, are we going to do something?" Asks Dalet. There was a long pause as Dilandau tries to fathom what had just happened.
"Yeah." He says absentmindedly.
"Um, Lord Dilandau," Says Gatti nervously. "You have a very fair complexion. and I believe it would be in your best interest to put some sunscreen on, else you will burn quite badly.. sir!"
"You really think so? That's the last thing I want- really bad sunburn. That won't look too good in front of the ladies." Says Dilandau.
"No sir it won't," Gatti replies, very relieved Dilandau didn't freak out about his simple suggestion, and needlessly hit him.
They all put some sunscreen on; making sure it is all rubbed in so they do not look like geeks, and set out to find some. chicks.
Meanwhile, Van and Hitomi are happily building their sand castle.
"So, Hitomi, you enjoying yourself?"
"Yes, Van. I am!" She smiles sweetly at him. Those big green eyes, that pretty hair, that sweet smile. Van cannot help taking in Hitomi with all of his senses. "Hitomi, I. I."
"Yes Van?" Her eyes shimmer in expectation. He brings her closer, takes her hands.
"I." Van doesn't know how to say what he feels, but Hitomi waits patiently, staring up at Van with adoring eyes. Van decides he will do it. He will tell Hitomi how much he loves her. "Hitomi. I aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!"
"Ahhhhhhh!" Hitomi and Van screams and covered their heads. Just then, something comes crashing into the sand castle between them, showering them with sand. It is Allen. He had been surfing nearby and a giant wave had swept him up and thrown him.
"AHHH HAH HAH HAH HAH!!" An obnoxious laugh rings out from the water's edge as Dryden gets out of the water. He is laughing so hard he has to support himself by leaning on his board.
"Shut up!" Allen calls to Dryden, which makes him laugh even harder. Allen is covered with sand, clinging to him because he is wet from the ocean. "Sorry about your sandcastle Hitomi, Van." he says, looking down at the sad pile of useless sand and mud.
"That's okay, Allen." Hitomi replies.
"Gotta go! Later!" He shouts while running back into the water with his board. Hitomi and Van just chuckle to each other, and begin to rebuild the castle.
* * *
Elsewhere, Folken buys yummy ice-cream cones for everyone. Naria and Eyria are glomping over Folken and Folken is just taking it all in. They all lie on towels, the cats contentedly lapping at their cones, and Folken eating ice cream the way normal people eat ice cream. Merle, however, who finishes her ice cream rather quickly, becomes bored with the flirting, and decides to wander off. Of all people, she comes across Dilandau and the Dragon Slayers.
They are all huddled over a pile of brightly colored objects that Merle cannot see. They speak in a hush, and giggle now and then. Merle creeps up behind them and says very loudly, "HEY! WHATCHA DOIN'?"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" All of the boys scream in shock and jump a mile high, (well not really.) They all stand over her, intimidating her with their height.
"What are YOU doing here?" asks Dilandau.
"I'm bored! Can I play with you guys?"
Dilandau's eye twitches. The rest of the guys sigh and look around them for the quickest way to get away if Dilandau blows up. "You can't PLAY with us! We are your enemies! Do you understand that, you little cat thing! Or are you too DENSE!" Yells Dilandau.
For a moment, there is a silent pause, and then.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!! Van w.wants to be alone with Hit.tomi.. and I c.can't surf, and Folken is being a boy toy! And NOW, YOU won't play with me!! IT ISN'T FAIR! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!"
Now, you can imagine how the boys would be reacting. Merle has tears pouring down her face, and she is whining so loud, and people are walking by saying things like, "Shame on you boys for making that little girl cry!" and, "tisk, tisk. That is so sad!"
"Okay okay, shhhhh.. calm down," eases Dilandau.
"Oh please stop crying, kitty. pleeeeaaaase!" Chesta and Dalet beg.
"You can play with us." Grumbles Dilandau in defeat. Merle stops crying in a split second.
"Really? YAAAAAAAAAY!!" She danced all around them happily. "So what are we going to play?"
"Uhhhhh. Hide and Seek, you go hide and we'll go.." Starts Gatti.
"Nice try!" said Merle. "HEY, What are these for?" She indicates the pile of brightly coloured plastic, which happens to be a laundry basket full of water balloons and water guns. She turns around slowly to face the boys. They all have malicious grins spreading across their faces. Except Chesta, he is looking around at everyone trying to figure out what they are all smirking about.
"W. What are you planning to do?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Says Dilandau, menacingly plopping a water balloon up and down in his hand.
"Uh. heh heh.guys?" says Merle, grinning as best as she can.
"Give US the water-works, will you?"
"OOOOOOHHHHHH! I GET IT!!" Chesta interjected excitedly "We're going to attack her with some of the fun summer water-fight products we plan to clobber Van and his friends with! It is ALL coming together now!"
"Cheeestaaaa," Says Dilandau through gritted teeth, his voice, the vocal definition of sheer annoyance, and his left eye twitching uncontrollably.
"Yes, Master Dilandau?"
"You are g. going to w.what?" Merle stammers.
Then Dilandau does something surprising! He slaps his forehead in distress and agony! But Dilandau doesn't know his own strength. This becomes clear when he hits his Dragon Slayers. He quite literally knocks himself out.
Everyone else blinks in amazement, and then sort of exchange glances uncomfortably.
"So." Merle breaks the silence; "I'll just be getting back to Lord Van now."
"Oh no you don't!" cries Dalet.
* * *
"So, Hitomi, you having fun?" asks Van.
"Yes! I mean just look at this giant sand replica of the Great Wall of China we've just built! It looks great, and watch," she stands up, "It's just as tall as I am!" She giggles.
"Yes. and I've been meaning to tell you something, but we have been working so tirelessly."
"What did you want to tell me, Van?"
"Well it's. Merle!"
Hitomi's expression fades from a sweet smile to an angry glare. "What?!"
"No! It's Merle!" Van runs up to the soaked, collapsed figure of the crawling kitten.
"Oh, Lord Van. It was a.awful. All of the Dragon Slayers are armed with fun summer water-fight products and plan to clobber everyone! They are coming this way!!"
In the distance, Dilandau and the Dragon Slayers move in slowly, and stop roughly twenty meters away from the. great wall. Chesta and Gatti begin unloading the fun summer artillery, while Dalet and Guimel scramble around setting up beach umbrellas. They position them on a sharp angle, umbrella-side facing Van. This creates a long shield of potentially waterproof protection.
All the while, Dilandau glares at Van. "This ends today, Van." He speaks deeply, his eyes narrowing as he does so.
"Uh sir, I am sure he cannot hear that.." Says Gatti.
Dilandau rolls his eyes. "That is beside the point! The point is. it is for drama!"
"EVERYONE!! GET BEHIND THE GREAT WALL!!" calls Van, picking up Merle and carrying her there. The Escaflowne crew clambers to the safety zone.
"HA HA HA HAH!" laughs Dilandau. "You fools! Do you think your Great Wall will save you? Not in the least! Eat dirt and water Van!"
"Don't you mean mud?" shouts Van, from the other side of the space of beach now known as "No Man's Land."
"Grrrrr. That is the last time he insults me!" Dilandau scowls. Then he barks his order. "Alright! Get me Big Red."
Chesta hands him a stick of gum.
Dilandau takes it and looks at it. There is a logo on its red rapper that reads "Big Red. Make it last a little longer." He whips it into Chesta's face.
"Ow.."
"I meant the balloon, you idiot!"
Dalet and Gatti bring the giant water balloon over, and set it on the catapult. They ready the catapult to fire, Gatti with his sword, ready to cut loose and let fly.
"Ready. Aim. Fire!" cries Dilandau with fury.
With one chop, the cow-sized water balloon soars across the sky and lands perfectly, right behind enemy lines on the other side of the Great Wall. Upon impact, the big red balloon erupts into a giant Mushroom Cloud of water.
And all of the Escaflowne crew's cries are silenced by the gurgle of defeat.
To Be Continued.
*****
Authors Note: Leave me reviews please! I will be updating soon! Flames or no flames, I accept all criticism, whether it makes me cry or not. Or makes sense, for that matter.
