CH 4 Pairing Up: Part 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne or any of its characters I do however own Stina and Alyssa ya you heard me Stina I own you Stina chases her around w a paint brush threatening to paint Alyssa's hair pink Just kidding but Stina and Alyssa are my idea
Alyssa's POVAfter dinner Amono excused himself to run in courtyard. Merle went off somewhere to play with Stina's catnip mouse behind a chair in the parlor, and the rest of us went to the parlor to chat. That had done it I think I'm officially going to be Closter phobic, I'm not a very social person ya know.
Normal POV
As they sat down Folken handed Alyssa two black bags, one was rectangular and flat identical to Stina's (incase you didn't know they're fabric portfolios to hold artwork and some small art supplies) and a small duffle bag about half the size of Hitomai which was also black; but strapped securely to the side of the bag was a long skinny black pouch about 3 feet long "the guards finally brought them in" she set the portfolio beside the chair and held her duffle in her lap. "Thank you" Folken simply nodded then added "what exactly is that long thing" he asked pointing to it. She unzipped the pouch and pulled out the most beautiful sabre ever seen then before anyone had the chance to open her mouth she put it back. Then stood up and turned to leave. "If any one needs me I'll be on the roof relaxing" then walked off leaving the three men stunned and the two girls left laughing.
Hitomai turned to Stina once they both finally shut up laughing (which is a miracle believe me hahaha sorry Stina just kidding) "since when did she get a new sabre I thought she didn't have the money for that one" she asked. Stina solemnly shook her head "she doesn't her dance partner for guard gave it to her as a gift." the left the men even more confused if that was even possible.
"What's going on why on Gea would a young woman carry a sword with her?" Allen asked. The girls glanced at each other "Stina why don't you explain you know a little more about it than I do" Hitomai suggested. Stina nodded "well ever since Alyssa was little she was obsessed with ballet and anything that had to do with it. In fact a Few months ago even though she hadn't had taken a dance class in over seven years she still went out and bought a pair of those torture devises. When the three men heard this they became slightly worried and there faces showed it. When Stina and Hitomai saw there faces they broke out in giggles, then Stina decided to clarify her statement, "Oh, it's ok you see when she dances she wears special shoes called Pointe Shoes that support her feet mainly the sides of her toes. That way she is able to dance on the tips of her toes. We call them torture devices because it hurts your feet a lot especially when you buy a new pair, that's why you have to break them in." she explained. The three male Geaens relaxed.
Five years ago she learned about a something called Color guard it is a performance art that contains dancing acting agility stamina and especially coordination so she's been hooked with it ever since. In color guard you perform using dance techniques and equipment. The equipment includes sabers, a type of sword, riffles that is like a type of weapon, and colorfully decorated flag. With this equipment they spin and toss it while dancing. I know it's a bad description but maybe Alyssa will show you some time."
The three men talked about Fanellia being rebuilt and the return of Hitomai along with the arrival of Stina and Alyssa. The talked till one particular subject came up, the two young artists. "I wonder what art from the mystic moon looks like; and if they have schools dedicated strictly to art the artists must be young." Van said with a thoughtful expression on his face. Merle popped up for a brief moment to speak her mind, "probably ugly" she said then immediately sunk back down. When Stina heard this she mane a mad dash for her room; she came back ten minutes later with her portfolio in hand. She quickly sat down with the portfolio in her lap. She unzipped the bag and pulled out a large stack of papers of assorted sizes. "You guys can look at them if you want" She handed them to Allen who took them and began to admire them then when he was done with on piece he passed it on. When they were done Stina pulled a large stack of pictures out of Alyssa's portfolio and handed them to Folken. "She said it was alright oh and Folken she asked if you wouldn't mind coming up to the roof so she can talk with you when you are done." he nodded and began to fawn over the artwork he held and then passed it along
when he was finished he stood up and headed to the roof. When Folken reach the roof he saw Alyssa by the short wall facing to the left with her right hand holding on to the wall edge. then he noticed she had changed out of her boots she wore champagne colored dancing shoes, she danced on the tips of her toes. As he watched her dance and rise up to her tiptoes, he noticed her bite her lower lip and wince in pain just before did a small side leap. Folken knew that wasn't a good sign, he made a dash to her side and arrived just in time to catch her as she landed on her toes and her ankles gave out beneath her. When she had landed safely in his arms, he gently set her down on the edge of the wall then shook his head. "Why do you continue to push your self." she sighed "if I don't I wont get any better" "fine but no more tonight its not healthy to push your self to hard" I've known you for barley a week but you treat me like a child as if you've known me my whole life." "I'm just concerned and we will probably need your help" "that's kind of why I want to talk to you, do you think tomorrow Van would take me, Hitomai and Stina to see where the Escaflowne was kept, we might be able to help" he nodded "I'll ask but if he won't I will." "Also Since we're artists Stina's and my eyes are more able to pick out subtle details" "Very well your room is next to Stina's good night" Folken turned to leave heading toward the stair case that led down but then turned back around "by the way how would you like to learn to use a sword tomorrow... I could teach you, if you wish"
The next morning Stina awoke to her dim room flooded with sun shine. she quickly slipped her shoes on and ran to find Alyssa and Hitomai. She ran through the halls, when she came to a window that looked over the courtyard she looked out and saw Hitomai talking with a young woman with curly long blond hair. She ran toward the courtyard with tears in her eyes. Before she could reach the door that led to the courtyard she bumped in to Allen causing her to stop. "Oh, Allen it's you" she said while drying her tears. Allen put a strong reassuring hand on her shoulder "Why Stina what's wrong why are you so upset?" he asked, concern filled his voice. "Nothing I'm fine" she assured him, smiling weakly. "Then why are you crying and in such a rush. Please talk to me" he all but begged. "Well I suppose I can tell you." they walked out side and sat on a bench beneath a tree. "I had a dream last night; I saw flames in the flames I saw the silluet of seven people burning. It was horrible Allen I don't know why but I was so scared. It's weird how scared I am of just a dream!" she sobbed then burst in to tears.
Allen wrapped his strong arms around her shoulders and pulled her closer, slightly rocking her back and forth "Shh Shh it's ok, but what worries me and might even be what worries you is that yesterday Hitomai said not to rule out premonitions. I guess that why you where headed to the courtyard, you were looking for Hitomai weren't you?" she nodded "yes" they sat for a moment as Allen thought "Would you like my opinion? " Allen asked as he gently pulled her away to look her in the eye. Stina nodded unsurely. "I think you did have premonitions, about the Escaflowne shouldn't; but don't be upset, it's a gift, not a curse." he said with one hand on her shoulder. "And you shouldn't cry over a gift" he added in his charming voice.
Stina smiled and folded her hands in her lap "Thanx Allen talking to you really helped a lot" she told him. As she was about to get up she Hitomai and a blonde woman walking towards her and Allen. "Oh Allen hello" Allen stood and bowed to the princess of Astoria. "What pleasant surprise princess Milerna" Milerna smiled and then noticed the strange looking girl next to him. "Who is this?" the blonde princess asked. " At that Hitomai decided to cut in and make her self known "that's one of the girls from the Mystic Moon her name is Stina." she said. Milerna examined the girl "well it very nice to meet you Stina. I'm Milerna, Youngest Princess of Astoria. Are you one of the Artists Hitomai told me about, And that Amano boy's Cousin" Milerna said. Stina nodded "yes that me, and speaking of art I must go find Alyssa To help me with some.
Stina stood up and walked off. Milerna turned to Allen and sighed, "that's one odd girl" she told him shaking her head slightly. She turned back to stare at Stina just in time to see her trip on the him of her skirt and fall flat on her face; but before any of them could rush to her side she instantly popped back up on to her feet like a bouncy ball. "I'm, O.K." She called out in a very loud and energetic voice. The others just watched as she began to walk toward the castle again. And yet again she fell and popped right back up "Really I'm O.K." she assured them as she turned to face them giving them a smile but failed to notice the large rip in her skirt. She turned around just in time to see Folken and Alyssa come out in to the garden.
Alyssa noticed some fairly high tares in Stina's skirt she sighed and shook her head slowly. " Stina your so clumsy, how do you manage to trip on the hem of your own skirt and put a rip in it up to your thigh?" She asks while kneeling in front of her and pulling a bobby pin out of her hair. "I don't know but I always seem to manage" Stina replies while looking down at her friend and watching her straiten out the hair pin and begin to poke parallel holes all up and down on either side of rip. Out of nowhere Amano appeared with Merle by his side "Stina, you did it again didn't you" he called out. Alyssa pulled a long piece of string out of her pocket. She overlapped the sides of the rip and aligned the holes; She started threading the string in and out of the holes. When she was finished she tied the two ends of the string together so that the fabric bunched up near the top; and the rest sloped down. Alyssa stood up and admired her handy work. "I told you, you should become a designer" Stina commented.
Folken walked over and put a hand on Alyssa's shoulder "Impressive problem solving skills." "Milerna stood there with a shock expression then quickly regained her composure "Maybe but its not very proper for lady to wear her skirt that high and that style!" she commented. Hitomai giggled "Milerna, this is Alyssa and Stina we're talking about they're not ladies" she told her. Milerna turned to Hitomai "that's horrible to say" Milerna glared at her then turned and left. "I think they are two beautiful young ladies" Allen said in his charming voice. "You would say that about anything in a skirt" merle muttered. "Well if their not ladies what are they...hmm?" merle added. "Artists!" the three girls from the mystic moon said matter-of-factually in unison.
Seeing the earth girls in a good mood Folken decided it was a good of time as any to tell them the news. "Alyssa while the three of you are together I wanted to let you know van and I decided to take you to the place where the Escaflowne was kept tomorrow." he said then headed back to the castle. Before he entered the door he added with a smirk "by the way the seamstresses are waiting for you three. " Alyssa had a hunch at what he meant and began to pale hoping she was wrong. "Seamstresses?" she ask getting more scared by the minute. "To make you girls gowns of coarse?" Alyssa and Stina turned white as a ghost. They looked at each other than at Allen, back at each other, and once again at Allen making a mad dash to hide behind the blond knight. "Allen save us" Stina cried out. Allen was completely clueless "what's going on?" he asked completely baffled. "Folken wants us to wear gowns." Stina explained "But dresses are EEEVVVVIIIIIIIIILLL." Alyssa added. Allen chuckled at their childish antics "come now they aren't that bad" he said. "you don't understand dresses are just to pink bright and frilly ick" Stina complained. "And their so restraining" Alyssa commented.
All the while Merle Amono and Hitomai just watched the two teen girls act like kittens by water. Hitomi soon became a bit tired of her friends' antics and decided to go find van.
