{AN: This chapter was posted on June 12, 2004. I want to apologize for the format and if you got confused because of the spacing and such. I will try and figure this whole spacing and identifying thing so that it is not hard to read. I may not update as quickly as you would like but I will try and keep the fic going with out to many large delays. I apologize for the format in my 1st chapter changing from narrative to pov, sorry I fixed it though. I hope this chapter turns out well and that you aren't to mad about the delay. Thanks to all who reviewed my very first one Inda, Princess Neptune, Tarren and f-zelda. b-teddy: Thanks for pointing out my blunder I did notice after I posted it sorry. RyuuAngel: I hope you got my email. If not then I am interested in Dream Chaser update. Thanks for the pointers also. I think I prefer the narrative form of writing for now at least. Stay encouraged with school and everything. Full Moon Bunny: thanks for the encouragement.}
"text" Character is talking
'text' Character is thinking
text Vision or dream
{AN text} Authors Notes
text Telepathic talking
Chapter 2: The Dragon
Van stood in a large field there was a wall of trees to his left and behind him. However to his right there was just more open field and before him was a road. He searched the area and found the girl who had come with him. He looked down at her and began to think. 'She has rather short sandy colored hair. I can't remember what color her eyes were but her facial features are exquisite high cheekbones pink kissable lips. What am I thinking? However her curves are quite nice and lush. Van, get yourself together! Man I must be some demented pervert or something looking at her like this while she is unconscious.' Just then Hitomi opens her eyes. Van stares into the most beautiful green eyes he has ever seen. 'She is not just beautiful she is gorgeous a goddess. I could easily fall into the depths of her emerald eyes. I've never seen anyone with emerald eyes. Van get a grip, here you go again! It must be all the stress I have been under. I have never thought such things about a young lady before.' A very disturbed Van thought.
Hitomi groans grabbing her head. "What happened?" She looks around and then up at the sky. Her eyes get a little bigger as she whispers. "Wow, it is so beautiful. I guess I'm on Gaea."
Van hears her whisper and is a little startled that she knows where she is. "How did you know you were on Gaea? Who are you?"
Hitomi turns around toward Van. "Gomen. I'm Hitomi Kanzakie. Um...as for knowing where I am, well my grandmother was here before and she told me about it."
"Oh." Was all Van could manage to say.
As they were talking some rather interesting people where coming upon them from the tree line. Van felt like he was being observed and turned to find his friends coming toward them. "Hey Rhum over here."
Hitomi looks up startled to see a man that looked like he was part wolf coming toward them. 'Nana never mentioned this before. I wonder what else is here that I have never before imagined.' She gets up and gets both of her backpacks.
Rhum walks forward and sees Hitomi behind Van. He is shocked at how beautiful she is especially when she looks up and looks him in the eyes. 'She is an amazing young woman I can feel the power around her, Wow.' Rhum is the shaman of his people and knows about spiritual power, magic and such things. "And who is this Lord Van?"
"Rhum this is Hitomi Kanzakie from the Mystic Moon." Van introduces.
"From the Mystic Moon?" Rhum is shocked. The last visitor from the Mystic Moon was a Seeress who helped the nation of Austuria but that was about 60 or so years ago.
"Yes." Van replied. "It seems that somehow during my hunt of the dragon I ended up there and so did the dragon. Afterward we were transported back here."
"Interesting" Rhum mumbles. "The last time there was a visitor from the Mystic Moon was around 60 years ago and that was a Seeress."
"Yes, that would probably have been my grandmother." Hitomi says in a very confidant voice. However she was feeling a little nervous around such strange and new things.
Shocked at what she said both Van and Rhum look up at her. They both recover and decide this all needs more time to be sorted out and also when every one was fully rested.
"We will save questions and such for another time right now we should get some rest and head toward Fanelia. Rhum, can you provide us with transportation to the Castle?" Van inquires of his friend.
"Of course Lord Van. Come this way we have bantas just within the tree line. We were headed there ourselves."
Hitomi follows Van and Rhum. 'This is such a shock. Even though I have known of Gaea most of my life, it is still like a fairytale. I can't wait to see all of the sights here.'
As they enter the tree line they approach more men looking like Rhum with different colorings and women also. There are also giant animals that are as large as adult elephants yet these are furry and soft and have a face that looks like a giant Saint Bernard. On their backs were what looked like a boxed area like what you would see on an elephant in India when used to transport important people.
"What are those?" Hitomi asks.
"They are called bantas. We will be ridding them to get to Fanelia. You will be able to rest while we travel." Van told Hitomi.
Van notices that Hitomi is awake. "Good morning. Did you rest well?"
"Good morning. Yes I did thank you. Where are we now?" Hitomi inquires.
"We are just getting ready to enter the gates to Fanelia look down Milady." Rhum gestures ahead down the hill. There is a beautiful city and castle.
Right at that moment Hitomi realizes it is the city from her vision/dream. 'I can't let that vision come to pass at least not with all the people dieing. I may not be able to save the city from being destroyed but I know I can help save lives. I must speak with whoever is in charge here.' Just as she thinks this they enter the city gates and they are surrounded by a large crowed.
Van jumps off the banta and is immediately greeted by a young cat girl who looks to be about 14 years old if compared to a human. The cat girl jumps on Van and starts hugging and licking his face. "Lord Van! I was so worried for you." She yells.
"Merel, I'm fine. It's good to see you too little sister." Van hugs her back. She then releases Van and looks up as his advisors approach.
Van faces his advisors and retrieves the red stone, he got from the dragon, and holds it up. "I, Van de Fanel, have completed the right of dragon slaying for succession to the throne of Fanelia."
The advisors look at the stone and pronounce, "We the High Generals and High Counsel man of Fanelia do confirm that this is a dragon heart, our Prince." Then they bow and the whole crowed follows suit.
Hitomi is a little shocked to find she had been ridding with royalty and that the task of finding who was in-charge of the city was just brought to a conclusion.
The High Generals and Counsel man arise and approach Van. "Your highness we must prepare for the ceremony this afternoon." At this time the General speaking looks beyond Van and sees Hitomi. "And who is this lovely lady, your highness?"
Van turns and responds to his general. "May I present Lady Hitomi Kanzakie from the Mystic Moon, General Balgus, General Yuri, High Councilman Folken." Van gestures to each man as he faces Hitomi.
Hitomi bows. "It is an honor and privilege to be here in your beautiful city."
The Generals and Councilman are surprised by Van's declaration that she is from the Mystic Moon but recover quickly to greet her.
"Lady Hitomi, it is a pleasure to have you here. You must be weary from travel please come and we will prepare a room for you." Folken says.
"Arigato." Replies Hitomi.The servant showed Hitomi to a very large and plush room. The floor was carpeted and the coloring was one of her favorites emerald green and the bed covers where a rich purple. It made her think of a large field with wild flowers. The bed was queen size with a green canopy and it sat next to a fireplace, the furniture was designed with details of dragons and angels. Next to the fireplace opposite the bed was a small divan and table near it. There were large French doors across the room from the fireplace that led to a balcony. There was a door off to the side and Hitomi went over to check it out. As she opened the door she saw a tiled floor and as she entered she found a large deep pool in the back surrounded by a smaller and lower pool where the extra water from the first pool overflowed. 'Well this must be where I bathe, very nice.'
Hitomi turned around to see a maid enter. The maid looked at her and curtsied. "May I assist you in your bath Milady?" The maid asked.
A little shocked at the idea of someone helping her with her bath Hitomi was momentarily speechless. "Uh...... umm...... No, that's ok I will be fine."
"Very well Milady. I shall return to lead you to the dinning hall in an hour for the afternoon meal before the ceremony." The maid said and left.
Hitomi set her bag down and pulled out clean clothes. She then headed to the bath with her toiletry items, greatly looking forward to getting clean.
In Van's study
"Lord Van, how did you meet this girl and how did she come to be here?" Balgus asked.Lord Van proceeded to tell his two High Generals and High Councilman what happened during his hunt. "Then the dragon heart began to glow and a white light took us both up into it. The next thing I know I am in the field near Rhum's village and the girl is there laying unconscious. We met Rhum and came here."
"So then, she will stay here until we figure out why she is here and how to send her back." Yuri said with a thoughtful look.
"That was my intention." Replied Van.
"I believe it would be a good idea to not tell everyone that she is from the Mystic Moon just yet." Folken advised.
"Why is that, Folken?" Yuri asks.
"I agree Folken. We would not wish any harm to come to her. You can never be to careful and since we are unaware of her possessing any special skills silence is the safest method." Balgus says.
"Just so, Balgus." Folken replies.
"Very well, I will let her know not to tell everyone of her origin." Van says. "Now I need to get cleaned up it has been a long couple of days." That said Van exited his study and went to his room.Hitomi having thought that she should dress a little nicer because of the special ceremony decided to wear a black skirt that came to just above her knee (longer than her school uniform) and a green cropped shirt with thin shoulder straps. As she is sitting brushing her short sandy hair there is a knock on the door. 'I thought the maid said one hour maybe time is different her it has only been 45 minutes.' Hitomi gets up to answer the door.
Van finished cleaning up and went straight over to Hitomi's room to talk with her about not telling people about where she was from for her safety. He had just knocked on her door. The door slowly opened and he is bombarded with not so gentlemanly thoughts as he sees Hitomi in her new clothes. 'My blood is beginning to boil here. She is killing me and I don't think she even knows how beautiful she is. I would love to run my hands over her flat abdomen she is showing right now. WHAT!!! Oh get it together man this not a gentlemanly way to think here! What has come over me? Ever since I met her I just have this desire to be closer to her not just in a physical way either. There is such innocence still in her eyes. Strange. No time for this.' Van does a little mental head shake and shrug while still trying not to literally drool on Hitomi. He finds his voice. "Hello. I came by to talk with you for a moment if that is alright."
"Oh, yes please come in." Hitomi says.
Van enters her room. "I just wanted to let you know that for now we believe it is a good idea if you don't let everyone know about where you come from. It is just a precautionary measure for your safety." Van says.
"Well if you think it is necessary not to say anything then I won't. I also needed to speak with you." Hitomi says.
"Really, what did you need?" Van couldn't think of any reason that Hitomi would need to speak with him.
Hitomi was a little nervous because she didn't really know Van and therefore she did not know how he would react to her visions. She was sure of herself and her abilities but Van didn't really know her either. "First I need to tell you that I have most of the same abilities as my grandmother plus some extra ones. I don't know if you recall my warning you about the dragons tail back on the Mystic Moon but I only new it would happen because I received a vision of it actually killing you. Now recently I have had a vision of your city being destroyed by these giant robot-looking things. There was fire and destruction and senseless slaughtering everywhere. I just want to try and prevent all those deaths." Hitomi tells him in a very distraught voice because she can see the vision all over again as she tells Van what she saw.
Van hears the distress in her voice and he can also see the sincerity in her eyes. He does recall the incident with the dragon tail and he realizes that she must be a Seeress. "Do you know when this will happen? Was there anything significant that stood out? Like the placement of the moons in the sky or anything like that?" Van asks urgently.
All though Hitomi had not realized it she had noticed in both visions that the moons were high in the sky right above the castle. "Yes, I did the moons where very high in the sky above the castle. Does that mean anything?"
"Yes, it does." Van replied rather grimly. "We must speak with my advisors after the ceremony. Is that acceptable to you? We still have some time to prepare things."
"That would be fine. I just want to save as many innocent lives as possible." Hitomi says.
Having made a plan they left for the dinning hall. Hitomi was not sure what to expect with the meal and ceremony this afternoon. They enter the dinning hall and there is a table set up at one end of the room with more tables perpendicular to the first one, set in a pattern looking like a U. Van leads the way to the head table and seats Hitomi to his right and then Merel enters and he seats her to his left. They proceed to have a light noon meal.
After the meal Hitomi is led to a large open area in front of the castle overlooking the village. There is a great crowd below looking up to watch their Prince be crowned as their King. The ceremony is lengthy. Hitomi starts to become a little tired, but the ceremony comes to a conclusion before she falls asleep standing up.In Van's study
Van is sitting behind a very large desk, with his two High Generals, his High Councilman and Hitomi in seats around the desk.
"Balgus, Yuri, Folken I called you here because Hitomi has given me some disturbing news which I think is important for us to hear." Van states.
"What news is this Lord Van?" Yuri asks.
"Would you be willing to repeat your vision for them, Hitomi?" Van asks very courteously.
"I saw your city at night with the moons high above the castle. There were these giant robot looking machines everywhere around the city and they were destroying homes and crushing people and I could tell it was all deliberate. It appeared as if your own people could not see them like they had some kind of cloak or cover which made them invisible and all of your own people were dieing. I want to save lives. I feel that the city may still be destroyed no matter what happens but the people can be saved." Hitomi was visually trembling when she finished speaking. She was seeing the vision as she described it and it was still very troubling to her.
The generals and councilman could see how trouble the young lady was and adding the fact that she assisted Lord Van they judged that she was indeed telling the truth. They now believed her to be a Seeress, especially since she was from the Mystic Moon.
"That only leaves us two days Lord Van in which to evacuate the city and palace." Balgus said.
"Yes that is what I was figuring too. We should alert the city and start them moving out tomorrow. That way the city and castle will be cleared of all civilians by tomorrow night. I don't want to take any chances. I believe the hidden caves in the mountain will be the safest place for now." Van says his voice strained with worry.
"Yes, Lord Van I believe that is the best option. If that is all we will start planning everything now so that all will be ready tomorrow morning Lord Van." Folken says.
"Yes that would be most advisable. I will take Lady Hitomi to see the gardens and start to pack things here as well. Thank you gentlemen." Van says.In the gardens
"Thank you for bringing me here before we left. I would have missed seeing this in the event it is destroyed." Hitomi says sadly.
"You are welcome. You just seemed to me to be the type of person who would appreciate the beauty of nature." Van states. He has a suave and smooth manner about him now, as if he has a different personality from the one when he was hunting the dragon.
Hitomi picks up on the subtle change and is intrigued. 'It's almost as if he is a different person depending on the situation. I wonder what his true personality is?' She really wants to get to know this young king now. "Yes, I do enjoy nature. Well I guess we should be getting ready for tomorrow now." Hitomi says.
"Hitomi, may I ask a favor of you?" Van asks a little uncertainly.
"Yes of course. What is it?"
"Would you look after Merel for me during the exit and stay in the caves? I will probably be very busy and I don't want her to be alone. I am all the family she has and vice-versa. It would comfort me to know that a Seeress is with her and watching out for her." Van requested very seriously and with heart felt care for his sister.
"I would be honored to." Hitomi responds.The next morning
Hitomi was up with the sun. Which was an unusual thing for her, but hey this has been an eventful past couple of days. Who could sleep at a time like this any way? Hitomi had all of her things packed up again in her bags and was ready to go. She heads out the door to look for Merel and try to help the young girl if she can. She locates Merel just down the hall when she hears a loud bang.
Merel had just tossed a large pitcher at the door where Van had just been a minute ago. She was a little angered with Van because he had just told her that she would be under Hitomi's care during the exit from the city. Merel was feeling a bit upset since she felt she was old enough to take care of her self at 14 and that Van didn't always know best just because he was almost 20 and now King. She fumed at her brother for being so overprotective.
Hitomi walks up just as Van is headed away so he missed seeing her or he would have warned her about Merel being upset. Hitomi knocks on Merel's door and is treated to the door being yanked open and a book coming at her. She ducks just in time. "Hey what was that for? I didn't do anything to you." Hitomi says.
Merel having realized it wasn't Van is instantly sorry. "I'm so sorry. I thought you were my brother. I apologize again for my rude behavior. Please do come in."
"So why are you upset with your brother?" Hitomi asks.
"Well because he still treats me as if I am 10 and need someone to look after me. I'm 14 almost old enough to marry. If I am almost old enough to marry and become a wife and mother then I should be old enough to look out for my self on a little controlled exit from the city. Don't you think? I'm sorry I am getting you wrapped up in my own little world." Merel says.
"Don't worry. It's not a problem. So then you can get married at the age of 15 here? Wow that is like so young compared to where I come from. I'm sure that your brother is just showing he cares. It's only you and me and personally I think I will be needing your help a lot more than you needing mine." Hitomi says.
"Oh no. Not if I know Van. We will have at least a dozen guards to accompany us every where from here on out. He is so totally over protective it's not funny." Merel states in a very weary and resigned voice.
Just as she finished speaking there is a knock on the door and as predicted by Merel, there in the hall way were a dozen soldiers in uniform. The one at the door looked to be the leader of this small group. "I am Captain Dilandau Albautous of His Majesties elite squadron. I will be seeing to your safety Lady Hitomi and Lady Merel." The young Captain said. He looked to be only around the age of 16 or so.
Hitomi was just a bit shocked at the Captains youthfulness and also that Merel was correct in her prediction of a dozen soldiers to guard them. "Oh, alright." She said in a shocked and bewildered voice.
Merel just started to laugh. "I told you didn't I, Lady Hitomi?" She said still gasping between laughs.
Hitomi recognizing the humor of the situation started to laugh too. "Yes, you did. I just didn't really think you would be quite so accurate. Please call me Hitomi" She said as her laughter wound down.
The soldiers witnessing all of this from the two young women had no idea what was humorous and so just watched with puzzlement on their faces.
"Ok, but you must call me Merel. Deal?" Merel said to Hitomi.
"Deal." Hitomi said and stuck out her hand for Merel's and they shook hands. "I have a feeling that we are going to be great friends, Merel."
"You know I think we are." Merel said.
"Miladys we really need to be getting ready to go it is a some what long trip." Dilandau tells the women.
"Oh come of the formalities Dilandau." Merel tells Captain Dilandau. "We have know each other for years now, just because you are a Captain now does not mean I am going to change how I talk with you and you better get that through that thick skull of yours." Merel says with just a hint of anger but more with a teasing quality.
Captain Dilandau shakes his head and says, "Merel I am just trying to be respectful of your rank and the rank of the Seeress."
Hitomi being sensitive to auras as she is notices all the subtleties in the young girls voice. She realizes that here powers are growing and expanding again. 'This is something to ponder later when I have time. Now I can hear even the faintest feelings in some ones voice.'
"Please don't worry about being formal for me Captain Dilandau. I am not used to that sort of thing. Anyway, if there was an emergency and you needed to get my attention calling me Milady would go completely unnoticed, so please call me Hitomi." Hitomi says in a very straight forward manner but with a gentle smile on her face.
"Yes, Milady. I mean Hitomi." Captain Dilandau says. With that said the soldiers pick up boxes and chests with all of the things to be removed from Merel's room.
Hitomi then whispers to Merel. "So do you like the Captain?"
Merel snaps her head around to Hitomi with very shocked eyes and whispers. "How...?"
"I am a Seeress. One of my gifts is being able to feel auras and know what each of them means." Hitomi told her young friend.
"Oh, you won't say anything will you?" Merel asks a little worried.
"Never. I just thought you might like to talk about it later. It is easier to deal with when you have some one else there to listen. And seeing as how I have no opinions set about any one I am totally unbiased." Hitomi says.
"Thanks. I think that would be great, later in the caves when we will have a little privacy." Merel says with relief and gratitude.
The young ladies then walk out into the hall. Merel has a small pack on her back with some of her personal items. While Hitomi still has both of her packs. There are five guards ready to walk with them as they leave the room the other seven are busy with the larger luggage.
{AN: I am sorry this took so long. I was trying to build character relationships and I hope it came out well. I know Merel is very OOC and Dilandau is too, but hey this is my fic! lol I thank you for your patience and ask that you review and tell me how this chapter is. I am still very uncertain about my ability to write even an ok story with a stable plot and all. smiles self depreciatingly If there are any mistakes please let me know so that I can fix them.}