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Chapter 1 – Dilemma

Fanelia has a new king in the person of Van Laceur de Fanel. The whole of Fanelia rejoiced upon the ascendance of the new monarch. Everyone indeed respects and loves Van, as their leader even at such a young age of fifteen. However, the situation has not remained positive for a long time. With barely a month on his throne, the young king is faced with pressures put upon the Council—the Council Meeting has just been adjourned. Men from different states of Fanelia exit from the huge door of the Conference Room.

'Indeed, a ball would be a clever idea, milord!' exclaimed one. 'Of course! And I will make sure that all my daughters will come…' another stated wearing a sly grin. Merle, who has to meet the young King has overheard such conversation wondering what it could have meant. She was barely inside the room when she hears a familiar voice, fuming with utmost rage.

'I will not allow it, Balgus, I will definitely not!' Van spoke at the top of his voice facing the window.

'I understand, sire… but… the council members… they insist upon it.' The older man reasoned out patiently.

'How many times do I have to tell you Balgus, not to address me as your king since you insisted that I shall not call you master anymore. It is just a fair trade…' the young king suddenly stated, his voice now calmed.

Balgus only smiled—he sure knows how to handle the king. 'As I was saying, Van…'

'Ehem…' Merle interrupted, getting the attention of the two conversing men.

'Oh, Merle. Anything wrong?' Van immediately said.

'Nothing really. I just came by to tell you that your horse awaits.' Merle said with a grin on her face.

'Okay, thanks!' replied Van. He then realized Merle is up to something with that grin of hers '…hey, what are you up to?'

'Actually, you tell me what you're up to!'

'Merle, did I not tell you not to …' Balgus stated in a 'matter-of-factly' tone

'but I did not eavesdrop, honest! I happen to hear those from the meeting exclaiming about a ball, then when I entered I saw Lord Van fuming… that's all.' Explained the cat-girl.

'I see. Which brings us back to what we were discussing… you see Van, the Council has come up with a reason to remove you from the throne—at least not directly. Indeed, it is stated in the provisions of the Articles of Kingship that …' he was not yet through with his statement when Van spoke

'that in order for the ascendancy be stable and ensure the future of Fanelia, the crowned Prince at the age of fifteen must have chosen the woman to be his Queen and that the King upon assuming the throne must have by his side, his queen. I know this already!' he said desperately.

'I am old enough to be a king, so I am old enough to choose my queen—but not thru a ball—the way they are all acting it is as if I am a character from a fairy tale!!!'

'Look Van, I know, that some if not all of these men are luring you to a trap… thinking that if you marry their daughter, they would gain power… but the thing is, they asked you of your chosen queen, with the awareness that you have none—since as we all know, you are still very young and with the sudden turn of events, you were not given the proper transition from a prince to a king.' explained Balgus. 'however, this is not the only case, please be reminded of the talks that Zaibach empire is increasing its might through out Gaea, and since we refuse to ally ourselves to them, there is indeed a great chance that we be attacked…' continued the swordsman.

There was a moment of silence. None of them spoke—they both realize the gravity of the situation. Van then gave a huge sigh.

'then, what must I do?' he replied as he throws himself to a seat

'I trust we would come up with something, but for the mean time, why don't you get some rest.'

'I guess you're right, Balgus. I will see you later then, Merle and I are going somewhere for the mean time.' He stood up as his master pats his shoulder.

Unbeknownst to them, the fate of the young king has already been decided and that the fate of Fanelia had already been prepared.

 

Hitomi, a member of the track team, is practicing for the upcoming competition. Her captain, Amano and her best friend Yukari are there watching her. As she nears the end mark a ray of light appears from the pendant on her neck showing images of angels singing and flying around her. Then it disappeared leaving Hitomi unconscious on the ground. The two spectators immediately ran towards Hitomi, and then tried to wake her up.

'Hitomi, wake up. Are you alright Hitomi?' her best friend Yukari said worriedly.

She would not wake up.

'Let us bring her to the clinic. You carry her things, I will carry her.' Amano said calmly. Yukari did as Amano instructed. Both of them hurried to the clinic and laid the unconscious Hitomi to the bed.

After a while, Hitomi finally gained consciousness, completely unaware of the events that transpired beforehand. All she could remember where the light and the angels. 'Where am I?'

'In the clinic.' A man's voice said.

'Oh, captain Amano…' she acknowledged him.

Realizing that she had dozed off in front of him, her face is now pink. She tried to stand up from the bed but could not balance herself and fell. Amano caught her just in time. For a moment, they remained still looking at each other's eyes. Hitomi was sure her face is all red this time. Before anyone could say a single word, the door went open. It was Yukari carrying a tray—with a glass of water and some medicines.

'Oh, I am terribly sorry!' she said and immediately closed the door.

Upon realizing the situation, Amano brought Hitomi back to the bed. He then went towards the door and opened it. There stood a blushing Yukari.

'I really am very sorry, I did not mean to…'

'It is okay, errr…. Hitomi tried to stand up but she fell… that 's all…' he replied scratching his head.

'Oh.' 

'Hey, ummm…. Did any of you see anything peculiar while I was running? Well, except for me falling, that is.'

They said none. It seemed—Hitomi realizes—that only she had witnessed such a view.

'I see.'

'Is there anything wrong?' Yukari inquired.

'Nothing.' she smiled at her.

'it is getting a little late. I guess we should get back home. Especially you young lady, you ought to take some rest.' Amano said.

'You're right captain Amano.' Yukari replied as she takes Hitomi's sports bag.

'err… you guys go ahead?'

'What? the two were surprised by what Hitomi just suggested.

'I still need to practice… the competition is nearing and … and… I really need to work on my time… and ...

'No, you are going home, Hitomi, you have been working out a bit too hard…' Yukari insisted.

'I am fine, really I am! I can still run a few legs…'

'so, you really don't want to go home yet?' Amano asked.

Her eyes lightened up. Finally Amano understood her intent. 'Yes'

'Oh come on, captain Amano…' Yukari complained but Amano just smiled at her. She did not continue on with her sentence.

'very well then.' He said.

'then it is settled…' Hitomi stated victoriously when… 'oh…!'

She then found her self levitating from the ground. It seemed that Amano has carried her.

'If you don't want to go home yet… then Yukari and I will bring you home ourselves.'

'okay, okay! Please put me down! I can walk… I will go home…' Hitomi declared defeat. Yukari giggles as Hitomi blushes

'Good.' 

Balgus headed towards the shrine of Escaflowne trying to find an answer that will help Van. Then feathers started falling from the sky. He went near the spot. He found an old wall ruin which has been filled with dust. He dedusted it and removed the vines that now cover it. It then revealed old writings… he could not easily make out the words from the wall. It then revealed:

The dragon's heart will appear before an angel in the hands of an emerald vision and they shall be one to bring the kingdom towards heaven. For she whom the Mystic Moon gives birth to, will the only one to bear the future heir of Fanelia.

A beautiful angel appeared before him. It was Varie, Van's mother and Queen of Fanelia.

'My lady!' he kneeled down, a bit surprised for the Queen has long been gone already.

The Ryujinbito smiled at him and whispered something. But he only managed to grasp the last word: Hitomi. A ray of light appeared once again, transporting him to a world he has never set foot upon—the Mystic Moon—in front of him reads: Kanzaki residence.

Mrs. Kanzaki noticed someone was at the gate. She thought it was her daughter Hitomi. However when she glanced upon the window she saw a strange-looking man. Bearing a sword, and downing an armor, the man seems to be scrutinizing his surroundings. The lady of the house has mixed emotions—that of fear and laughter, for she has thought of Balgus of someone insane and could pose danger. Still, she decided to go outside and talked to the man. At first, Balgus was not able to realize he was being addressed by Mrs. Kanzaki.

'Good evening, madame… I am Balgus, one of the Four Samurais of Fanelia searching for answer to the crisis that befalls my king. It seems that the heavens has sent me here…'

The lady could not surmise the things Balgus was referring to… Balgus being a calm and mature man just continued. 'if you would just hear me out madame… I am from Gaea, it seemed that I have been sent here to the Mystic Moon…'

'Mystic Moon, you say?'

'Yes'

'and you are here to find a solution?'

'Right. I came here hoping someone here would be able to help me. I was able to find a ruin in the Holy Shrine which bears an old prophecy of our kingdom...'

When he realized, he told him of his situation, with the hope that she would believe him.

No, it cannot be. Mrs. Kanzaki's heart raced for somehow she understood what the man in front of her was saying, some of them at least.

'I am sorry sir. But I am afraid I can't help you.'

'But madame, wait!' the woman has just turned her back on him.

'if you happen to know anything about Hitomi… please... please tell her that Fanelia needs Hitomi…

 Upon hearing the name of her daughter she stopped and faced the man at the gate again. 'you know my daughter Hitomi?' she asked wearing a worried expression on her face.

'Madame, I realize that the things I am disclosing are indeed farfetched. But… I mean you no harm…'

Mrs. Kanzaki asked her visitor to come inside and for them to talk. Balgus then spoke of the prophecy he found in the Shrine of Escaflowne. Mrs. Kanzaki then brought out an old box from the attic. The box contained old pictures and mementos. The lady stressed that these was her mothers'.

'Here. Please read it…'

She took out a letter and handed it to Balgus. It was a letter from her mother:

I could feel that my end is near, my dear child. Everything that I know, I have shown you already; everything I have I have given you… but there is still one thing left unsaid—a promise that was brought upon years ago. A promise that surmised during the mystical journey I once had during my younger years. You recall that wonderful story, don't you, my dear? When Hitomi is of age, a young man will come to claim her hands. Hitomi and that man are to become one, as fate has set to fulfill the prophecy of the Dragon-kin. Please make sure that Hitomi knows this by heart and make her remember the story she and I once shared—the memory that of Fanelia. With this I bid you good-bye. And I will always love you.

Meanwhile, Hitomi, Yukari and Amano went on their way home. They parted ways with Hitomi now alone in the train. When she got out of the station, a thought came into mind. 'I really need to work on my time, with the competition only two weeks away…' It was getting late, the sun has already set not many people can be found in the streets. She started to walk all by herself. She was only several blocks away from home when she finally stopped and nodded to herself. 'I could do it' she said to herself. 'but my sports bag will surely be in the way… oh well, I don't have much of a choice.' She took out her running shoes and made sure her bag was secured tightly around her body. She kneeled down and posed a running stance clasping a timer with her right hand. At the count of three, she pressed the start button--it was as if she disappeared. She gracefully dashed thru the straight path before her.

Only a few steps left and she would reach their gate when suddenly a pillar of light appeared similar to what she saw earlier. Although this time, what was in it were not angels… before she could even discern the figure entrapped in the light… two solid entities collided.

OUCH!

AN: I re-posted the first chapter. I hope you all liked it. Please r+r, I would really like to know what you ppl think of this story or if there really are ppl bothering to read this… I know this story of mine is quite confusing so please feel free to clarify things that you don't get in this story.

Preview: Chapter 2: Prophecy

Van comes to Mystic Moon and finally meets Hitomi in an unusual way. Their unexpected meeting causes ire between them. Good thing, matured and reliable people were around in the person of Balgus and Hitomi's mom. The latter explained to the two youngsters about them being betrothed. Both of them was not surprised—Van knew that it is a part of being a member of the royalty on Hitomi's part though, her grandmother has told her about it… and thought it was okay. However, when she the news finally sank into her senses, she felt her insides squirming, all she could think of was one person—Amano.