Disclaimer: I don't own The Vision of Escaflowne. If I did, I really don't think that there would be a disclaimer here in the first place…

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Chapter One: Gods and Prophets

The streets were shadowy and discomforting, even with the shining stars and Mystic Moon hanging in the sky. She walked alone down the middle of one wide street, her gaze fixed on the mountains that provided the backdrop for what would eventually be a beautiful palace. Suddenly, the girl stopped in her tracks and watched in wide-eyed horror as flames erupted in the clouds and searing lightning flashed among the tips of the mountain peaks. She choked on her cry and was unable to move, she simply watched as the fiery clouds burned even more brightly. She did not notice the growing crack in the rock under her feet until a tremor forced her to her knees and chunks of rock rose into the air.

The girl yelped and reached out for something to keep herself steady and caught nothing but air. Where was her winged savior? What about the people in the houses and businesses that bordered the street?

The fire from the clouds descended with a startling swiftness and she soon found herself enveloped in flames. And all she could do was scream.

***

Kanzaki Hitomi opened her eyes and gasped for breath. She sat up in her bed and pushed aside the blankets that covered her lithe body. Though her room was cold and the blankets barely enough to keep her warm at night, sweat beaded up on her forehead and rolled down between her shoulder blades and breasts. After several gulps of air, her sight came into focus and she found comfort in her surroundings. She was in her room, safe and sound. There was no fire, no lightning, no splitting earth.

She ran a trembling hand through her short hair and fell back to the mattress. Odds were not too high that she would fall back to sleep after a dream so vivid and terrifying as the one she had just experienced, but she could try anyway. Hitomi frowned. And just what was that dream about? she asked herself.

It was a nightmare, it had to be; she hadn't had a premonition since leaving Gaea. But the dream was as realistic as a vision, and nearly as confusing. She didn't even know where the dream had taken place. Hitomi rolled onto her side and watched the falling snowflakes pass her bedroom window. The dream did have that air of importance, however unlikely that it was of any significance. Perhaps she was just imagining things…

Unfortunately, even as she was drifting into the cradling hold of sleep, Hitomi could not help but feel unnerved.

***

Drums and boots thumped loudly, creating a rhythmic beat, like that of a heart. Shouts of encouragement accompanied the pulse, as well as the rattling of swords in their sheaths. Neither were heard by the two men who circled each other. They moved with the grace of dancers, their booted feet seeming almost to glide on the grass that was still wet with dew. Both had their swords drawn and ready; only their methodic breathing belied the relaxed looks on their faces.

One of the men, a blonde with the stubble of a beard on his chin, took note when his opponent suddenly shifted his grip. He side-stepped as the older man lunged forward and easily avoided the elder's attack. He smirked and shook his head slightly- the older man was not charging nearly aggressively enough. The blonde countered with a feint and then a slash that left the older bleeding from a cut on his upper arm.

"You telegraph far too much, Paol," the blonde informed him, laughing. His self-assurance was undermining the older man's own confidence, and Rian knew it.

"And you are too sure of yourself," Paol retorted. Blood trickled down to his wrist and then onto his hand. Grimacing, he rotated his sword arm shoulder and prepared to attack again. He admitted grimly, "You certainly have improved some since the last time you challenged me."

Rian's smile only grew. "Come now, old man. I think it's more than just some improvement." His heart pounded ruthlessly in his chest and his blood grew heated with excitement. It was not merely bloodshed that made a fight beautiful, but the feeling that one got from it. Rian could feel his opponent's strength giving way, taste his nervousness. It was wonderful. "I'm much better, as you are soon to discover. And, unlike you, I won't make the mistake of letting my opponent live."

His words were lost to the older man, but the dangerous glitter in his eyes was enough to let Paol know that this was his last fight.

Rian's sword drank blood and the prophet of the darkness moved one step higher in the rankings of power.

***

Van Fanel pressed his seal into the hot wax, leaving behind the mark that would indicate that the king of Fannelia had given his approval to whatever was detailed in the document. A page ran up, added the parchment to a short stack of papers, and ducked out of the way as Van sighed and stretched. The mornings were always filled with conferences with foreign officials, dealings with paperwork, and information reports. That last document meant the end of his morning business and he was finally free to take care of some more localized issues. Such as that of the construction of the new amphitheater.

"Milord."

Van lifted his head and saw the commander of his guard standing at full attention. The man's complexion was alarmingly pale and his brows were furrowed in anger. "Yes?" Van nodded. "Is something wrong, Damen?"

The commander swallowed hard. "Sir, I bring you news. From the southern border villages." Damen's posture remained rigid. "A border village was attacked about a week ago. No one knew about it until a farmer was going to market and found nothing but ashes and bodies."

Van stood, his cloak rippling. "Take me," he demanded furiously.

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Okay, so that wasn't too great and it's uncommonly short by my standards, but oh well. What do you want for only one can of soda? That's right, there is far too much blood in my caffeine system right now. Read, review, and I might just go get some more. Well, I'll probably re-caffeinate anyway, but a review would still be nice.

- Akino