Oh, author slaps her forehead I almost forgot this part... Disclaimer: I do not own Escaflowne, this is written purely for the enjoyment of myself and others.

Prologue

He gazed calmly at the sight before him, taking everything in at once. In front of him was a boy leaning heavily on a bloodied sword. His shirt was torn; revealing a myriad of cuts and bruises. The smell of burning flesh hung in the air, and dark smoke rose in great clouds to the sky. A dragon roared in the distance, but neither flinched at the cry.

A crash sounded, as the wooden beams of a nearby by structure broke apart and scattered flaming bits throughout the area. The dry wood that made up the surrounding buildings was being consumed by flames. Everyone who had not run had been killed, and now it was only the two of them, alone. Taking a small step forwards he saw the boy tense, and once again lift the cold metal sword in his hands.He tried to appear strong, but the man could see the slight shake that his grip held on the hilt of the sword.

The boy took in a ragged breath, and a strangled shout left his lips. "Why?" He stared accusingly, condemningly, at the man who stood so coolly before him.

"Brother," the man started, but the boy stopped him.

"Don't you dare call me that!" Hatred was now clearly present in his words.

"We are related by blood, and therefore I have every right to call you so." Before the man could react, he found the sword now inches away from his throat. The deadly sharp metal pressed into his pale skin, close to drawing blood. "Van," he felt a shudder run through the sword from the boy. "Do you really think that you are capable of murdering your own brother? By killing me you would only be killing a part of yourself."

"Mother's dead Folken, just like I thought you were. She died trying to find you, and now you just suddenly decide to show up, alive… Why? Why did you do this, why shouldn't I kill you? Give me a reason!"

Folken could sense the pain from his brother, and it tore his heart. "If I could, I would erase what I have done, but I can't."

"Look around you Folken," Van stated in barely controlled rage. "Was it worth it? Was your stupid cause worth all this?"

Folken stared deeply into the dark brown and redeyes of his brother, and knew it was impossible. He couldn't do it; he couldn't save his younger brother. His sibling's fate had been sealed many years ago. Van carried a burden he was not even aware of, and if that hidden side was awaked it would be the end of his brother. No matter how much Folken had tried to harden his heart for this exact moment, he could not kill his sibling. He knew Van would be better off dead, but he could not summon the courage needed to take away the life that so clearly shone in his brother's eyes. He was a coward, and Van would probably suffer more for it.

Folken shook his head solemnly, and felt the sword press more into his skin. He had been used in the search for power. Killing and destruction would not bring about peace, and he had come to realize that a little too late. Now he was forced to condemn his brother to a life of oblivion. It would be the only way to keep him safe. Folken's solution was full of holes, but there was no time for any other course of action. The other soldiers would be here soon, and there was no way Van could fight through them all, no matter how defiant he was. One would land a fatal blow and his exhausted brother would fall, right into the wrong hands.

"Van," Folken whispered, as he stared sadly at his brother. His left hand went up slowly to touch the younger ones forehead. His long pale fingers were stark against the sweaty tanned skin, and he felt his brother shiver. Closing his eyes he concentrated, bringing out the power he had worked so hard to learn to control.

"Folken-" Van started to say in a warning voice, but a cry of pain cut him off. Doubling over he clutched his head. A searing white-hot pain coursed throughout his body, making it hard to think. His legs collapsed unable to hold him up any longer, and he fell onto his side. The sword he had been holding clattered to the ground uselessly beside him. White tendrils of mist started to seep out of his body but the he never noticed them, because his focus was on something else. Somehow amid the haze of his current state, Van managed to look up at his brother. He was now staring straight into his older sibling's face.

Sorrow. That was what he saw. There was no hate or contempt in his older brother's eyes. Only sorrow, and that confused him.

Folken rode hard, pushing his horse to the extreme. He had to do this quick, before anyone figured out what he had done. Some lights appeared through the dark night, and he almost smiled with relief. He would not fail his brother. Nearing the outskirts of the town-no village, he composed himself. Trotting down the empty streets he stopped suddenly in front of one small house. Swinging off his horse he approached the front step. He gave three gentle knocks on the wood, and was surprised when the door opened immediately.

A tall thin woman with greying hair, and emerald green eyes stood before him. She stared interestedly at the man in front of her. Taking in his aqua blue hair, and solemn face with a tiny tear shaped tattoo. She did not look astonished to see someone at her door this late in the night, and this surprised Folken, but then again, she was supposedly a seer.

"I had a feeling someone odd would show up this night." Her voice came out strong and sure.

Reaching into his black cloak, Folken pulled out a small pink pendant on a delicate golden chain. He handed it to the woman with great care, letting it slide off his palm into her open hands.

"Now this is something I didn't expect." She looked at him curiously, waiting for an answer.

Folken gazed back at her, bearing open her soul before his eyes. "This stone is more precious and important than most could possibly comprehend. It's the Heart of the Dragon."

"I promise to keep it safe." The woman looked at Folken with an emotion he could not grasp, but she seemed truly genuine. Maybe his plan would work out all right. As he turned on his heel and left, the woman glimpsed what lay hidden underneath the folds of his black cloak. A prosthetic arm, and a sheathed sword with a royalty crest. She wondered but refrained from asking any questions, as the man had already disappeared down the road.

Folken looked up at the stars. There were so many, they littered the sky. The mere vastness of the heavens made him feel small and insignificant, this was only a single short trial in the history they oversaw. He had one more thing to do. One final thing before the others caught up to him. A few stray tears rolled silently down his pale cheeks.

Van, someday I hope you will understand…

A/N

Thanks for reading my story (prologue). I have had this idea in my head for a long time now, and I finally typed it out. I tried my best to check for grammar and spelling mistakes, but I'm sure a few still exist in the writing. If you have any suggestions or complaints feel free to blurt it out in a review.

And just one warning... I tend to become busy a lot. I'm not going to make up excuses if a chapter doesn't get out in 2 or 3weeks. The reasons that this would happen would be because I'm too busy too write, or I'm stuck behind a boulder of a writer's block. If that is the case, you will all just have to bear with me.