Escaflowne:Visons of the Past
The characters of Escaflowne, events, and story are all owned and copyrighted by Bandi Visual, and Sunrise Animation.
Author's note: After reading the wonderful story Rota Fortuna by Jiggykat it inspired me to pen this tale. Please do read the above mentioned story, it is one of the best Escaflowne stories that I have read in a long time.
No persons dramatized in this story resemble anyone living or dead.
Chapter 1: Beautiful Dreamers (The Fool)
The man stood atop the turret in the dead of night looking up into the sky with the wonder of a child. High over head, in the clear black sky floated two bright beacons of light: the pearl colored moon, with its deep craters that carved the illusion of a face into its side; and just behind it, the bright blue Mystic moon, with its many oceans, silently revolving in the sky. As he looked up at the two heavenly objects a tear slipped down his cheek.
Icy cold winds blasted the turret, forcing him to tighten his grip upon the black matted material, and whipping strands of his long auburn colored hair over his still youthful face. His somber ivy colored eyes were bright reflecting the lunar radiance of the Mystic Moon, and it gave him an almost angelic look. Anyone who dared to look up at this moment would see this man at his most vulnerable, and would find it perplexing to see him act so weak. Of course anyone who dared to say that to him would find their throat slit instantly, and their blood would flow over the white snow that lay on the ground.
Snjòr was a land of ice, never truly having a summer, spring, or fall. The people that did not live here called it the land of Endless winters, or the home of the Bitter frost. Yet the Snjòrians loved their land of snow, and use to consider it the most beautiful kingdom in all of Gaea. They would say it was the land of the Ice Queen, her kingdom of purity, and would be proud to tell all about its history. That was until the man with the green eyes appeared, and became their leader. He started off as a fair ruler, trying to make their lives better, but then he became cruel and bitter. He became obsessed with the Mystic Moon, and began to build up an army to rival that of Zaibach. He had made agreements with Emperor Donkirk, most were rumored to be dark evil experimentation that dealt with magic, which led to the creation of the invisibility cloak for Zaibach's Guymelefs, and other weapons of destruction. Not to mention assistance with Basrahm and their ultimate weapon, and the creation of several unknown elements. Yet Snjòr never once involved it self in the Great War; instead it stayed on the edge watching as the war proceeded, their leader choosing to see what became of the victors and losers. He had been highly disappointed in seeing that Zaibach wasn't fully exterminated, but was pleased to have political refuges of the Empire come to Snjòr, and gaining most of Donkirk's greatest sorcerers. Not to mention the technology that came with them, and avoiding the scrutiny of the Alliance members, thanks in no small part to Basrahm saying that Snjòr leader was simply helping an old friend.
It had been two years since the end of the Great War; two long years for Snjòr's leader to plan and plot with the remnants of Zaibach, and for him to fulfill his own desires. He stared up at the blue moon and wondered, "The Earth looks so beautiful tonight. How long has it been? Twenty years…God how long I've waited and now the time is nearly upon us…."
The man thought back to the first time he met with Donkirk; it was like meeting a kindred soul. Donkirk was someone who could fully understand his way of thinking, someone who he could share his knowledge with in order to make this medieval world all that much better, someone to help save it from its primeval being. To bring Gaea out of its dark age, and into one of enlightenment and industry. Donkirk had been the one to give him his new name, and the man had relished it. Deo non fortuna, that was what Donkirk had told him once and he'd taken it to heart, calling himself Deo Fortuna, 'God's Fortune', and insisting that his followers call him this as well.
"It's so bright tonight, I can almost touch it," thought Deo and he reached up with a gloved hand, eclipsing the moon before the earth, and focusing all thought on a single continent upon the planet. "If only I can focus for long enough maybe…"
Creeeek, the sound of the hinges on the wooden hatch door to the turret broke into his thought, and Deo quickly pulled his gloved hand back into the folds of his cloak. He turned his attention to the distant watch fires on the snowy hills that boarded the west. Behind him an old man with a long red beard, wearing several furs, shuffled over to Deo. He stood just behind him, but Deo did not turn around, and the old man made a weak cough. Deo smiled to himself, and said, "Hello Baron Wynd, what can I do for your this evening?"
"I just wanted to inform you, My Lord," the Baron said watching Deo with squinty eyes, "that the boy has been paid and, the journey man has been sent to retrieve the energist…"
"However," Deo said turning around and facing the Baron, "you still feel that it would have been much better to send Lothos and Alecto to gather the stone."
"True, Lord Deo." The Baron bowed, "I will not lie to you…I am not pleased at all by this plan of action. We do not know if the spy will be able to pick up the energist or if for that matter if the Knight of Eris truly left…"
Deo clapped the Baron on the shoulder, "Aitheros is a county that has very little protection, and I'm sure that our spy will do just fine. Most of the royal court has gone to Asturia, and with them the young man that you so fear. So, Dear Meliger, there is nothing to fear, after all, annuit coeptis –He, God, has smiled upon this undertaking. Nothing will go wrong."
Meliger smiled, and nodded, but he wasn't as sure as Deo. He had a feeling that something bad was going to happen, and that all their planning was going to go the way of the dogs. He turned and headed down the ladder back into the castle, pondering what Deo had been doing before he'd arrived upon Gaea. Meliger shook his head, would Zaibach truly rise again under the hand of this man, or would he be the one to set about its ultimate destruction.
Deo waited until Meliger had vanished down the hatch, and turned back to look at the Earth one last time before descending, whispering, "Wait for me Amidia, I'm going to come home."
Fanelia was far and away the exact opposite of Snjòr as could be possible. The kingdom of Fanelia was situated in a valley that was surrounded by woods and dragons. Warm and full of life, this was a city that resonated with familiarity and closeness. Truly this was a kingdom that any king would be proud to rule, and one that had become quite famous in a short matter of time. The valley, while beautiful was also a bit of a hindrance for anyone trying to escape, as there was only one way out through the canyon. This had proven to be problematic over the years, but there was no way of fixing it. Two years ago this small kingdom had been burned to the ground by Zaibach, searching for a girl that was an unknown element, one that could, and did, devastate its plans. They also sought out a white dragon that protected the girl, and plagued Zaibach the moment it awoke, becoming the symbol of peace through out Gaea. The girl was named Hitomi Kamzaki, and her protector was the Ispano Guymelef Escaflowne, who had been piloted by, then, Prince Van Salazar de Fanel, the heir to the Fanelian throne. Now he'd become King Van, as per the tradition of slaying a dragon and bringing back an energist from the beast, a tradition he planed on getting rid of.
In the two years since Hitomi's visit Fanelia had grown by leaps and bounds, returning to the once beautiful city that Van's father had ruled. He was seventeen now, at a point in life when things start to change around him, and when others were looking to his future. Van on the other hand was looking at the past, much to the chagrin of several officials of Fanelian nobility.
"How can it be that a boy his age has yet to be betrothed," he'd heard one assistant of Palos say earlier that evening. Van was sitting on railing on a small balcony that looked down upon the open square; he pulled his legs close to his chest and sighed. Only recently had he been given a chance at a normal life, to –as Mildy a lady that helped Palos had hired to assist Van in understanding diplomatic treaties and the like –'be a normal seventeen year old, and live life to the fullest.' Now there was talk of marriage, and he had to shake his head. Van had, in his youth, met with several members of royalty that had been engaged as children who later married at an early age. Some had turned out to be very happy, others he discovered were nothing more then an image and the couple hardly talked to one another. Van wanted nothing like that, besides he'd already pledged himself to Hitomi, and no one was going to change that. If he had to he'd do what his father had when the council was against his father and mother's marriage, and fire them all.
Van stared up at the Mystic moon, and wondered just what Hitomi was up to at the moment. He could see her if he wanted, but he'd been careful of how often he used the power to do so. It left him tired, and at times he didn't want to leave his dreams. He'd see her smiling face, and sweet green eyes, and he wouldn't want to let her go. Sadly she'd disappear after a while, he guessed she was woken up, and he'd find himself drifting back into consciousness. In those moments he'd take her flying and talk to her for hours, learning everything he could about her world and she would inquire as to what was happening on Gaea. They watched each other grow this way, and Van sometimes was surprised at how beautiful she was becoming. The closer they grew, the more he wished she could have remained on Gaea, but he knew she was okay. She was back at home with her family where she belonged.
A light gust of wind tickled his face and rustled the pendent he wore constantly, and he grabbed it tightly. It had been Hitomi's, a gift from her grandmother who'd come to Gaea before her. She'd given it to Van, and since then he'd never taken it off. When asked about it, he'd always say that it was from a very dear person who lived far away. He knew that some of Palos' assistants thought it was silly of him to wear it, but to Van it was the closest thing to having Hitomi physically with him. Gods how he missed her.
"Hope you're happy Hitomi," he thought to himself. "Just wish I could see you again."
In his hand the pendent glowed slightly, warming his palm, and he glanced down at it. The last time it had done that was when there was trouble, or some change was happening in Gaea. But there had been peace for two years, and Zaibach had since fallen into complete disrepair since Donkirk's death.
"So," Van wondered looking at the pendent, "what could be making it glow…"
Miles away from Fanelia, in the capital of Palas of Asturia, a lone young man stood on a bridge looking up at the sky. He wore light green shirt was under the high collared gold colored vest that clung tight to his chest. A light blue colored cloak with hood draped loosely over his shoulders, the royal insignia –a dragon and griffin entwining with each other –of Aitheros held it in place. Black pants, and silver boots, added a highly stylized décor to the man, and an ebony colored scabbard with gold hilted sword hung from his silver belt. While his frame was slight, and more boyish, he did cut a dashing figure, one that would certainly catch any woman's eye. His face was pale and young, and slightly feminine looking; an angular chin, and softer features, along with long lashes, and soft gray eyes, made him look like a poster boy for the role of prince charming. The only odd thing was his light purple hair which he had pulled back into a tail that sat on the nape of his neck, and the blue tear drop tattooed under his left eye.
This young knight was leaning against the railing of the bridge when he glanced back to see a blonde haired woman walking towards him. She smiled at him and waved, but he was far to deep in thought to wave back to what he assumed was one of the Ladies in waiting of the Princesses. They had been after him since he'd arrived, sending him little notes, and gifts. Most of which he returned with a kind –'Thank you' –and a kiss to the hand. But he wasn't interested in any of them. He'd long given up on love, and fingered a chain that hung round his neck.
"Lovely evening isn't it," the woman said coming up beside him.
The young knight turned and gapped for a moment then immediately he bowed to her, and said rather hastily, "Oh, ah, Princess Millerna. Pardon my lack of attention, My Lady, I was…ah…in deep thought, and, you'll have to pardon this, believed you to be one of your maids. Forgive; I should not have acted such."
"Don't be silly, Sir Lysander," laughed the young would-be Queen. She smiled at him kindly and looked up at the stars as he kept his head low. "There's nothing to forgive, we're not in court right now, and there is no need for such formalities."
"As you wish Milady," said Sir Lysander, and Millerna sighed. He was a kind young man, older then herself, but he acted much younger and treated her with more respect then she felt she deserved at times.
"So, what were you out here thinking about?"
Lysander looked up and said hastily, "My home, your grace. I was just thinking of how Aitheros is fairing this night. I haven't seen it in a week, and I worry how the young princesses are doing, and how the guard is doing."
"Is your mind always on your job, Lysander," Millerna asked, and he nodded.
"Sorry to say it is Milady. After all it is my job to protect Princesses Elyosis and Celestine." He looked down at the water that flowed below. "Sometimes I wonder if I am doing what the late Princess Lynette wanted. Training the guard, keeping the peace as best we can, it isn't an easy job being the only swordsman who's actually been in an actual battle."
"I see," Millerna said and placed a hand on his shoulder. Since his arrival Sir Lysander had been running himself ragged trying to learn all new disciplines in order to train the troops in Aitheros, and it had worried the young queen. She'd watched as he'd practiced till nightfall with no sleep trying to learn from two of Asturias Generals. In the end he'd fallen to the floor coughing up blood, and refusing help at all. She couldn't make heads or tails of the Knight of Eris; one moment he would be perfectly charming, charismatic, and romantic. She'd fallen under his spell for a moment or two when they first met, and noticed that there was a slight bit of a flush in the face of her beloved Allen's face when Lysander had dubbed her hand the softest he'd ever kissed. Then he would instantly change and become extremely serious, insisting on learning all the ins and outs of Asturia's defenses and how capable the Crusader truly was. He had insulted several members of the crew, but had asked for an excusal claiming illness, and worry.
Lysander and several members of the Aitheros council had come to Asturia in order to hammer out a detailed alliance between the two kingdoms, one that the leader of the Aitheros council –Tivalt- felt was long over due. Lysander also knew there was a second reason for them coming to Asturia, and he truly disliked this reason. The council had, since Elyosis sixteenth birthday had just passed, decided that she should be betrothed to King Fanel of Fanelia. The two Kingdoms had been considered sister nations for as long as Lysander could remember. And now, since the Great War had ended the council of Aitheros wanted the two to unite under one banner.
"Even if they were forcing two children who didn't even know one another to marry," Lysander angrily thought as he listened to the men talk in Tivalt's room. He gritted his teeth, they were hoping that Millerna or even the Knight Calli, Allen Chazar, could talk young Fanel into the arranged marriage, and they were expecting Lysander to get Elyosis to agree to it as well. It sickened Lysander, and he knew that Tivalt was a much against this as he was. But Lysander could do nothing, only an heir could veto the marriage, and he was not considered an heir. There were only two who could have stopped this, and both were out of the picture: Princess Lynette Aitheros, and Princess Astraea. Princess Lynette had died three years before the Great War had begun, and Princess Astraea, Lynette's younger sister had vanished five years prior to the Great War.
Lysander let out a deep sigh, and Millerna gave him a gentle smile, "Lysander, is there something you're not telling us…me?"
"No, milady, there's nothing for you to worry about. I…I was just thinking of how unique the Mystic moon looks tonight, and thinking, how many persons are looking up at the sky tonight and thinking of others, of home. I'm sure when Sir Allen is gone you look out at the moon yourself and wonder if he's looking at it. A dear friend of mine told me…" He paused and felt the chain again, "told me that the moon connects everyone all over Gaea. No matter how far you are from one another, you both can gaze up at the sky and see that moon, and feel connected knowing that the other person is seeing it at the same time."
Millerna nodded, and stood beside Lysander, "So what do you say we both watch the moon and think about our loved ones then, Sir Lysander."
"My Lady," Lysander said politely, "it would be an honor."
Aitheros is a small island surrounded by water, due east of Asturia, and it was once thought of as non existent. Several legends cropped up around this tiny island kingdom. Far before the time of Leviships and Guymelefs, sailors use to travel from one nation to another on ships via the sea, and those who passed the island would come back with fascinating tales, and exotic objects. One legend held that Aitheros was cursed to wander in mist for all time, a land were no one grew old, or died. The reason being was that the Atlanteans had grown jealous of the Aitherians, believing them to be far more beautiful then they, the Atlantans, were and thus placed a curse upon the island. Another held that it was the land of spirits and that the souls of those who died would go to Aitheros to rest in eternal peace. Still other legends were far darker, including one that told of dangerous beings who would lure sailors to their doom on the coral reef that surrounded the island.
All this had been disproved centuries ago, but some nations still felt that there was something bewitching about the Aitherians. It was true that they had no rival in their looks, and Aitherian women were known as the utmost in beauties. They were legends in their craftsmanship, and it was no secret that if you wanted a beautiful sword you would go to the sword smiths on the isle. Music and the arts were their primary export; kingdoms all over Gaea would request painters from Aitheros to come and create murals in their government buildings, as well as private quarters. Yet for all their artistic abilities, the Aitherians had very little in defense and armed capabilities. In fact their guard was known more for their parade and festival marches then in their actual fighting skills. Sir Lysander had worked very hard to change that, and was trying to make the royal guard into one of the most able bodied divisions in all of Gaea.
His name was already acclaimed by those in several near by nations, and he was gaining more accolades and followers in the passing years. Even his toughest critics had to say that he truly deserved to be the lone operator of Aitheros only Guymelef: Ewygkeit. A brilliant looking griffen that converted for both air and sea travel, and was apt on land. It was only supposed to be used by a royal heir, but the council had declared, as the king had had no sons, that Sir Lysander should be full operator of the guymelef. This annoyed Princess Elyosis, and she'd never forgiven the council for its impromptu decision.
She was sitting on the beach that evening, her silver blonde locks flowing freely over the blue uniform of a royal guard. Her bright black eyes reflected the moons' light, and made her soft pale skin look even more porcelain like. She'd used it to slip out of her room and allowed her freedom to roam about the island. She hated staying in the palace. She would have rather been night training with the other royal guards, but her ladies in waiting were keeping a strict watch on her like Sir Lysander had asked of them. Elyosis despised Lysander with a passion. Not only had he taken from her the Ewygkeit, but he'd been the last person to see her sister Lynette alive. He'd gone with her to see the Emperor of Zaibach, and he was the lone person to come back. She'd never forgiven him for that! Celestine had only been a baby at the time, so she had always had Lysander around and treated him like a favorite big brother.
"Not me," thought Elyosis bitterly and let heated tears trickle down her face. She knew why he'd left with the council. The whole diplomatic mission was just a small part of the council's plans to marry her off to Van Fanel. She'd met him once about a year ago, and two times prior when both had been little. To say there was no love lost between them was an understatement. She didn't hate Fanel, she just didn't like him and she didn't particularly interest him either. They were friends, not close, but both had the connection of loosing their parents at an early age.
She wished that something exciting would soon happen; she was board staying on the island. Elyosis sighed and put her head on her knees, and closed her eyes dreaming of the training that she would have to undergo tomorrow. Her short sword at her side, she smiled thinking of how the guards would be in shock at her skills. That's when the alarm was raised and she heard cries of, "Stop Thief!" echoing from the palace. Elyosis jumped to her feet, and raced back to the castle.
"This is it, something exciting happens finally!"