The Wrong Girl
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Escaflowne or any of its characters.
Chapter 10
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After breakfast Merle wanted to show Yukari around the castle and grounds. As they walked through different parts of the castle Merle explained the use it was for. "Merle, why is it always so quiet?"
"There aren't many people that live in this gigantic place. The people that do live here are almost all old, and they are spread out all over the castle" replied Merle
"What about the children or the Queen? I haven't seen any of them yet" Merle tried to stifle her laughter "What's so funny? All I asked was where the children and Queen are" At that Merle couldn't hold it in anymore. She burst out laughing. "I really don't think it's that funny"
"Ye-yes it is. Just the thought of Lord Van having children or a wife is hilarious. All the women who have left this castle have been pissed off. He just doesn't know how to treat women." She quickly said
"What about you? And he's been pretty nice to me"
"I've been his friend for a really long time so we can just hang out. As for you, I think he's just being nice because you're the one who found him and got help." They went down a flight of stairs into the main hall. Merle led them out the doors and headed towards the gardens. The grass was a lush green and there were flowers everywhere.
"This is really pretty" Yukari exclaimed. The path was barely visible; flowers were growing out blocking the way. They walked for hours in that garden and finally came to a clearing. Against one tree was a huge robot looking device. There was ivy growing on it but it wasn't rusted at all. "What is that?" Yukari asked
"That is Escaflowne. When the Destiny war was being fought Lord Van used Escaflowne in battle. It's sorta like a suit of armor; the pilot gets in and controls it. Lord Van laid it to rest and promised not to use it ever again."
"Wow! It's really something" Yukari started to walk over to it. She heard Merle protesting in the background but ignored her. She finally got close enough to touch it and she stopped. She held out her hand and touched the cool metal. She saw a pink glitter near the shoulder and wanted to know what it was. She climbed up it and Merle shouted at her even louder. "What? You said it was resting so it shouldn't move right?"
"I guess, just be careful okay? Don't fall off" Yukari turned back and climbed the rest of the way up. She stopped at the pink jewel and gazed at it. It was a kind of clouded pink. She reached out and touched the jewel with her whole hand resting on it. Suddenly the jewel became bright pink and the cockpit opened. "Ahhhhhh! Yukari!" Yukari lost her balance and tumbled off of Escaflowne. She landed on her back and didn't move. Merle was frozen to the spot not fully taking in what she just saw. Merle finally snapped out of it, she turned and ran full speed back to the castle yelling Lord Van at the top of her lungs.
Three Days Later* * * * *
Yukari opened her eyes a tiny slit. My eyelids are so heavy, why? She tried to open her eyes a little more and succeeded. Now she could make out where she was. White walls and she was lying in some sort of bed. The infirmary, but how did I get here? She groaned a little when she tried to sit up and that got the nurse to come over. "Ah, I see you're awake. But you must not try to sit up or do anything because you might have a back injury." The nurse told Yukari.
"How did I get here?" asked Yukari
"You don't remember what happened?"
"All I remember is that I was walking with Merle and we saw a giant metal suit of armor. I wanted to see something near its shoulder so I climbed up. It was a pink stone, I touched it and it turned bright pink. After that it's all blackness."
"Yes, well that was three days ago. Now lie back down and rest." The nurse forced Yukari back and she slid into comforting darkness.