Legend
"Hey, have you seen him?"
"Who?"
"They said he's returned, the Prince of Angels."
Anaiya shook her head as she walked by the local gossipers
There seems to be no end to the rumors about the Prince of Angels. I would've known if he was really here.
"Hey Anaiya, wait up!!" Yumi called as she ran up.
Anaiya chuckled. "Looks like you've been eating too many sweets again."
"I have not!"
"Then how come you can't keep up with me?"
Yumi stuck out her tongue. "You left without me!!"
"As you say."
"Anaiya."
Anaiya turned and was immediately in the dirt, being choked by a bright ball of pink fluff.
"Meina........you're......choking me!"
The thirteen year old image of Merle laughed and allowed Anaiya some air.
"I told you I could track you down!!"
"As you say. I recall you nagging your mother and father and them doing the tracking."
"Like I said, I told you I could track you down."
Yumi helped both girls to their feet.
"It's nice to know I wasn't on the list this time Meina."
Meina purred and replied, "You're next time, Yumi."
A group of boys shouldered past roughly just then.
"Outta the way!!"
"Coming through!!"
"Step aside!!"
The girls stopped in disgust.
"The nerve of people these days!"
The ringleader stopped at the sound of Yumi's voice and turned.
"Well, look what we found guys. Pretty girls."
Anaiya stood calm while the guys surrounded them.
"Yumi, Meina, just let me do the talking."
They both nodded in reply.
"So, pretty girls, what do you see." The ringleader asked cockily.
"I see little boys that don't know what they're getting into."
He raised an eyebrow. "And how would you know what we're getting into?"
In a flash, Anaiya drew a dagger from the sheath on her thigh.
"Because I've already been there."
The leader held up his hands.
"Hey, I didn't want blades drawn."
"Then let us pass."
The leader nodded left and right.
"Do as she says." The boys moved off.
"Thank you," was all she said as the girls passed.
**..**..
"Hey Anaiya! That was sooo cool!! Where'd you learn how to do that?"
Anaiya smiled at the younger girl's antics.
"You know of Van sama, right?"
"Yeah, duh!!"
"Well, he's the one who taught me."
"No way.'
"Believe what you want."
"I didn't know you knew Van sama!! Did he teach you anything else?"
"Archery."
"Van sama taught you how to shoot too?" Meina stopped and thought a little. "Wow."
"Excuse me for asking, but what the heck does sama mean?"
"It means Lord in the language of the Angels." Meina piped up.
"And how would you know that?"
"My momma grew up with Van sama, and she knows how to speak his language."
"Spoken like a true catwoman."
Yumi shoved Anaiya lightly.
"How come you always take Meina's side?"
Anaiya chuckled again. "I don't."
"Sure seems like it."
Anaiya stopped at the sight of a crowd beside them.
"I wonder what that's about." Meina wondered.
"Beats me." Yumi replied.
Meanwhile, Anaiya had reached the front of the crowd.
A scholar stepped forth to address the crowd.
"People of Antol, is there anyone who can read this script?"
He unveiled a stone carved with winged dragons and a language long lost upon it's surface.
"That's the language of Angels! None of us can read that1"
"Only the king can read it!!"
"He's not here!"
"No one knows where he is."
Two people stepped from the crowd and called out, "I can read it!!"
Anaiya looked beside her to see the familiar face of the ringleader.
He tossed his white blond hair out of his sky blue eyes and grinned.
"Didn't think I'd see you again so soon."
Anaiya returned the smile.
"How old are you two?" the scholar asked, trying to stifle a laugh.
"Eighteen today sir." They answered in unision.
"And you expect me to believe that you can read it when the most educated scholars on Gaia could not?"
The crowd burst out laughing.
"The ringleader turned to Aniaya.
"Che's bee a teyo, no?"
Anaiya giggled.
The crowd went quiet at his words.
"What did he say?" the scholar asked.
"You really want to know?"
Anaiya giggled again. "He's being and idiot, no?"
Most of the crowd sniggered, while others just stared.
"Hm, well, I guess that you two should have a go." He said, a little flustered at the apparent insult.
Anaiya stepped forward.
"In a time of war, when Gaia is plunged into darkness,"
The boy stepped forth.
"Two young ones must fly, to the temple of the One,"
He saw Anaiya's shoulders twitch unconsciously, as if flexing wings.
"To awaken the soul within, Riya."
"Why did you stop?"
"That's all, it's broken off at the bottom."
"What do you mean?"
"Just look." She pointed to the bottom, where it was broken.
"Impossible!! I don't believe it!! Guards, arrest these two for stealing the rest of the stone!!"
The boy wrapped an arm around Anaiya's waist and pulled her close.
"Stay close to me, and when I give the word, run." He whispered.
She nodded in agreement.
"Get ready."
The guards were closing in.
"NOW!!!"
They both took off an opening in the crowd, which seemed to close behind them.
"I'll meet at the temple." He whispered as he dashed off in another direction.
Anaiya only nodded in reply.
**..**..
Anaiya got up slowly from her prayer.
Mist had rolled in outside since she had been there, and it gave the temple an ethereal quality. One of the last temples of the Angels, it was built of white crystal and black obsidian, it was generally left along except for the occasional red neck.
The hall was tall enough to accommodate even the tallest of dragon armors. Pillars of white crystal rose among walls of obsidian, giving the feeling of acceptance for both good and evil.
Tracing her fingers along the obsidian, Anaiya walked toward the altar, catching glimpses of her wings, even though they weren't unfurled.
Ahe stopped and gazed into the eyes of a winged dragon. It seemed to be alive, head, neck, forelegs, and part of the wings striding forward from the wall, as if trying to free itself.
It gave her a feeling of loneliness greater that before.
Tears started to fall as she uttered the prayer of a fallen Angel.
"Ana tahoea. Shitu no nea."
A pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist.
"Hey pretty girl, you're not lost anymore. 'Cause, like it or not, I've found you."
She turned to face him as he let her go.
Through her tears, she thought she saw Cereya, and it made her cry harder.
"Hey, don't cry."
He pulled her close again and she buried her face in his chest.
"Someone special to you leave?"
She sniffled then replied, "Yeah."
"Hey, what's that in the statue's claws?"
She turned as he walked to the statue. She hurried to catch up.
"What is it?"
"There's a tablet about the legend the scholar asked us to read.
"What does it say?"
"It says that when Gaia wars, the Prince of Angels and a fallen one must fly to the Temple of the One, to unleash the soul within, Riya. Doesn't Riya mean dragon?"
"Yeah."
"I've heard rumors about the Temple of the One, but, is it really real?"
Anaiya's eyes widened in shock and surprise, then delight.
"That's it!! The soul within, Riya, was imprisoned within the dragon armor. The temple was built on the spot where the One disappeared. The One was also Escaflowne!! Don't you get it? It's the Temple of Escaflowne!!"
It slowly dawned on him as well.
"You're right!!"
He dashed toward the door, dragging Anaiya alongside.
"Where're you taking me?"
"You'll see."
When he reached outside, he stopped.
"You wanted me to see out side? Jeez, you must be more of a dummy than I thought!!"
he couldn't help smiling at the comment. She sounds so much like her......
"Just watch."
Anaiya stood beside him impatiently as he closed his eyes.
Almost at once a breeze picked up and swirled around them. Then she felt, rather than heard a name close to her.
Escaflowne..........
A blue light lit the sky, and the dragon armor appeared.
Anaiya stared at him in alarm.
"Y-You can summon Escaflowne?"
He turned to her and smiled. "Didn't know I was a prince, did ya."
Anaiya took a step forward.
"Cereya......"
"How do you-"
"Cereya!!!!!"
"A-Anaiya?"
She ran closer.
He ran toward her, and in an instant, they were in each other's arms.
"It's really you Anaiya?"
"Yeah, it's me.
AN/ finally!!!!!! After two long hours, the next chappie is ready to go!!! If took forever to get this chappie going!!! Thanks for reviewing the winged lady knight S!! Your reviews were so welcome!!!! You've renewed my esca spirit!! Well, gots to go!!
~destiny7
"Hey, have you seen him?"
"Who?"
"They said he's returned, the Prince of Angels."
Anaiya shook her head as she walked by the local gossipers
There seems to be no end to the rumors about the Prince of Angels. I would've known if he was really here.
"Hey Anaiya, wait up!!" Yumi called as she ran up.
Anaiya chuckled. "Looks like you've been eating too many sweets again."
"I have not!"
"Then how come you can't keep up with me?"
Yumi stuck out her tongue. "You left without me!!"
"As you say."
"Anaiya."
Anaiya turned and was immediately in the dirt, being choked by a bright ball of pink fluff.
"Meina........you're......choking me!"
The thirteen year old image of Merle laughed and allowed Anaiya some air.
"I told you I could track you down!!"
"As you say. I recall you nagging your mother and father and them doing the tracking."
"Like I said, I told you I could track you down."
Yumi helped both girls to their feet.
"It's nice to know I wasn't on the list this time Meina."
Meina purred and replied, "You're next time, Yumi."
A group of boys shouldered past roughly just then.
"Outta the way!!"
"Coming through!!"
"Step aside!!"
The girls stopped in disgust.
"The nerve of people these days!"
The ringleader stopped at the sound of Yumi's voice and turned.
"Well, look what we found guys. Pretty girls."
Anaiya stood calm while the guys surrounded them.
"Yumi, Meina, just let me do the talking."
They both nodded in reply.
"So, pretty girls, what do you see." The ringleader asked cockily.
"I see little boys that don't know what they're getting into."
He raised an eyebrow. "And how would you know what we're getting into?"
In a flash, Anaiya drew a dagger from the sheath on her thigh.
"Because I've already been there."
The leader held up his hands.
"Hey, I didn't want blades drawn."
"Then let us pass."
The leader nodded left and right.
"Do as she says." The boys moved off.
"Thank you," was all she said as the girls passed.
**..**..
"Hey Anaiya! That was sooo cool!! Where'd you learn how to do that?"
Anaiya smiled at the younger girl's antics.
"You know of Van sama, right?"
"Yeah, duh!!"
"Well, he's the one who taught me."
"No way.'
"Believe what you want."
"I didn't know you knew Van sama!! Did he teach you anything else?"
"Archery."
"Van sama taught you how to shoot too?" Meina stopped and thought a little. "Wow."
"Excuse me for asking, but what the heck does sama mean?"
"It means Lord in the language of the Angels." Meina piped up.
"And how would you know that?"
"My momma grew up with Van sama, and she knows how to speak his language."
"Spoken like a true catwoman."
Yumi shoved Anaiya lightly.
"How come you always take Meina's side?"
Anaiya chuckled again. "I don't."
"Sure seems like it."
Anaiya stopped at the sight of a crowd beside them.
"I wonder what that's about." Meina wondered.
"Beats me." Yumi replied.
Meanwhile, Anaiya had reached the front of the crowd.
A scholar stepped forth to address the crowd.
"People of Antol, is there anyone who can read this script?"
He unveiled a stone carved with winged dragons and a language long lost upon it's surface.
"That's the language of Angels! None of us can read that1"
"Only the king can read it!!"
"He's not here!"
"No one knows where he is."
Two people stepped from the crowd and called out, "I can read it!!"
Anaiya looked beside her to see the familiar face of the ringleader.
He tossed his white blond hair out of his sky blue eyes and grinned.
"Didn't think I'd see you again so soon."
Anaiya returned the smile.
"How old are you two?" the scholar asked, trying to stifle a laugh.
"Eighteen today sir." They answered in unision.
"And you expect me to believe that you can read it when the most educated scholars on Gaia could not?"
The crowd burst out laughing.
"The ringleader turned to Aniaya.
"Che's bee a teyo, no?"
Anaiya giggled.
The crowd went quiet at his words.
"What did he say?" the scholar asked.
"You really want to know?"
Anaiya giggled again. "He's being and idiot, no?"
Most of the crowd sniggered, while others just stared.
"Hm, well, I guess that you two should have a go." He said, a little flustered at the apparent insult.
Anaiya stepped forward.
"In a time of war, when Gaia is plunged into darkness,"
The boy stepped forth.
"Two young ones must fly, to the temple of the One,"
He saw Anaiya's shoulders twitch unconsciously, as if flexing wings.
"To awaken the soul within, Riya."
"Why did you stop?"
"That's all, it's broken off at the bottom."
"What do you mean?"
"Just look." She pointed to the bottom, where it was broken.
"Impossible!! I don't believe it!! Guards, arrest these two for stealing the rest of the stone!!"
The boy wrapped an arm around Anaiya's waist and pulled her close.
"Stay close to me, and when I give the word, run." He whispered.
She nodded in agreement.
"Get ready."
The guards were closing in.
"NOW!!!"
They both took off an opening in the crowd, which seemed to close behind them.
"I'll meet at the temple." He whispered as he dashed off in another direction.
Anaiya only nodded in reply.
**..**..
Anaiya got up slowly from her prayer.
Mist had rolled in outside since she had been there, and it gave the temple an ethereal quality. One of the last temples of the Angels, it was built of white crystal and black obsidian, it was generally left along except for the occasional red neck.
The hall was tall enough to accommodate even the tallest of dragon armors. Pillars of white crystal rose among walls of obsidian, giving the feeling of acceptance for both good and evil.
Tracing her fingers along the obsidian, Anaiya walked toward the altar, catching glimpses of her wings, even though they weren't unfurled.
Ahe stopped and gazed into the eyes of a winged dragon. It seemed to be alive, head, neck, forelegs, and part of the wings striding forward from the wall, as if trying to free itself.
It gave her a feeling of loneliness greater that before.
Tears started to fall as she uttered the prayer of a fallen Angel.
"Ana tahoea. Shitu no nea."
A pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist.
"Hey pretty girl, you're not lost anymore. 'Cause, like it or not, I've found you."
She turned to face him as he let her go.
Through her tears, she thought she saw Cereya, and it made her cry harder.
"Hey, don't cry."
He pulled her close again and she buried her face in his chest.
"Someone special to you leave?"
She sniffled then replied, "Yeah."
"Hey, what's that in the statue's claws?"
She turned as he walked to the statue. She hurried to catch up.
"What is it?"
"There's a tablet about the legend the scholar asked us to read.
"What does it say?"
"It says that when Gaia wars, the Prince of Angels and a fallen one must fly to the Temple of the One, to unleash the soul within, Riya. Doesn't Riya mean dragon?"
"Yeah."
"I've heard rumors about the Temple of the One, but, is it really real?"
Anaiya's eyes widened in shock and surprise, then delight.
"That's it!! The soul within, Riya, was imprisoned within the dragon armor. The temple was built on the spot where the One disappeared. The One was also Escaflowne!! Don't you get it? It's the Temple of Escaflowne!!"
It slowly dawned on him as well.
"You're right!!"
He dashed toward the door, dragging Anaiya alongside.
"Where're you taking me?"
"You'll see."
When he reached outside, he stopped.
"You wanted me to see out side? Jeez, you must be more of a dummy than I thought!!"
he couldn't help smiling at the comment. She sounds so much like her......
"Just watch."
Anaiya stood beside him impatiently as he closed his eyes.
Almost at once a breeze picked up and swirled around them. Then she felt, rather than heard a name close to her.
Escaflowne..........
A blue light lit the sky, and the dragon armor appeared.
Anaiya stared at him in alarm.
"Y-You can summon Escaflowne?"
He turned to her and smiled. "Didn't know I was a prince, did ya."
Anaiya took a step forward.
"Cereya......"
"How do you-"
"Cereya!!!!!"
"A-Anaiya?"
She ran closer.
He ran toward her, and in an instant, they were in each other's arms.
"It's really you Anaiya?"
"Yeah, it's me.
AN/ finally!!!!!! After two long hours, the next chappie is ready to go!!! If took forever to get this chappie going!!! Thanks for reviewing the winged lady knight S!! Your reviews were so welcome!!!! You've renewed my esca spirit!! Well, gots to go!!
~destiny7