Escaflowne:   Mirrors

Episode 3:  Unexpectedness

            Hitomi tingled all over.  She felt a cool breeze on her skin, but she was afraid to open her eyes.  Had it worked?  Was she back on Gaea?  Around her, the air smelled sweet and clean with a pinch of saltwater.  She could hear waves and gulls not far off, and she felt the sun on her skin.  Taking a deep breath, she slowly peered out onto a world she thought she's never see again.  To her great astonishment, she found around her seven other people.  Jiai, Suru, Yukari, Hakai, Amano, Daiji, Koneko, and Yosu had been teleported with her and stood in a circle, hands clasped, on the grassy hill.  She nearly fainted with shock, and dropped Jiai and Yosu's hands.  She hadn't noticed that she was still holding them.

            "I think it worked!"  Jiai said, happily.  "I can't feel Hitomi's hand anymore."

            "That was WICKED!!!"  Hakai cried.  "Had my eyes open the whole trip!  Excellent!  Better than TV."

            Yukari opened her eyes, and her jaw dropped.  "Oh my gosh…"

            Yosu was in the same state.  "No way."

            "It worked alright, Jiai."  Yukari said. "Open your eyes."  She swallowed hard.  "Something went…uh…wrong I think."

            Jiai pulled her big teal eyes open and froze in shock and amazement.

            Suru looked up at the sky where the Mystic Moon was just visible through the blue.  "Its so beautiful."

            "Whoa."  Amano let Hakai loose with his first realization and the boy began running around and stomping down the tall grass.  "Good, dry fuel!  Where'd my matches go!?"

            Daiji seemed to be in awe "Awesome…"

            "This is Gaea!?"  Jiai said finally.  "Wow!  I knew it'd be pretty!"

            Koneko glanced around and spotted Hitomi.  "Hitomi!  You made it back and we came too!"  She bounced over, her pigtails bobbing.  "Isn't it great!  I wanted to come with you.  It sounded like it would be fun!"

            "Fun!?"  Yosu cried. "FUN!?!  We're stuck here!  I thought you said that it wouldn't be dangerous!"

            "I – I had no idea that you guys would come along!"  Hitomi defended.

            "So much for my appointment."  Daiji sighed, not seeming to mind, but absolutely captivated by his surroundings.

            Suru sat down and began picking wildflowers.  She studied them with her childlike blue eyes.  Hakai ripped huge clumps of grass out of the hillside.  "This is gonna be great!  I can do whatever I want and Mom'll never get me in trouble!"

            "Hold it, weirdo!"  Koneko commanded.  "You're not going to destroy this place!  This place is pretty, and we're gonna help keep it that way!"

            "That's right!"  Jiai realized. "This is an excellent opportunity.  Now we can help Hitomi fix this place."

            "You mean stay?"  Yukari asked. "But what about our lives back on Earth?"

            "You don't have to stay."  Hitomi answered.  "We could all hold hands and you can go back again."

            "Back!?!"  Hakai cried, outraged.  "No way!  Not when I've got so much fun to have!"

            "I like it here."  Suru said simply, picking the petals off of her wildflower.

            "And I do want to help."  Jiai stated.

            Koneko jumped into the air.  "Me too!"

            "I want to meet Allen."  Amano stepped forward.  "I want to help you help him."

            "Oh!  I want to help Millerna too!"  Jiai added.  "Maybe I can help her be happy again."

            "We gotta get that cat girl out of jail!"  Koneko recalled.

            "I'm ready for anything."  Daiji offered.

            "I'm staying if you are."  Yukari said, taking Amano's arm.

            He smiled down at her, then scanned the crowd.  "So we're all in agreement?"

            "What do you hope to accomplish anyway?"  Yosu cried.  "We're going to get killed!  I've got a responsibility to Neko and to my family!  I can't afford to gallivant around here like some superhero.  We've got to look at this realistically!"

            "Come on, Yosu!"  Koneko cried.  "We're not going to be clashing swords or anything.  We're going to help save Von." She looked to Hitomi. "Right?"

            Hitomi took heart and nodded.  It was like she'd known the seven of them her whole life and it was greatly encouraging to have them believe in her and want to help her.  Yosu looked like he was struggling.  He wanted to help Von, he had a connection with Von.  And he had a connection with Hitomi, too, something told him that he needed to look out for her as well as Koneko.  He tightened one fist in frustration before deciding.  "Okay, your right.  We need to be here and help.  Anyway, you said that you wrote over your previous history, right?"  He asked Hitomi.

            "Yes, I returned to Earth immediately before I'd left."  Hitomi answered.  "Like no time had passed."

            "Then we won't have to worry about our lives on Earth."  Yosu resolved.  "And as long as we watch our backs, we can do our part here and get back like nothing had happened.  Agreed."

            "Agreed!"  The others nodded.

            Suddenly there was a voice that called to them over the crest of the hill.  "Hey!  Who are you and what are you doing here!?"  Hitomi turned and found a troop of Asturian soldiers approaching over the grass.  "Answer!"

            Hitomi rushed forward.  "I am Hitomi Kanzaki!  I've come back from the Mystic Moon!  My company and I request an audience with your royal highness, Princess Millerna Aston!"

            "Th-The Mystic Moon!?!"  The speaker cried.  His fellow soldiers broke their rigid formation and began to murmur among themselves earnestly.  Jiai skipped up next to Hitomi and stared quizzically at the stammering troops.

            "Who are they?"

            "Asturian Men."  Hitomi answered.  "You can smell the sea from here.  We must be close to the capital city!"

            "And Millerna?"  Jiai asked.

            Hitomi nodded her affirmation and the soldiers regained their composure.  The captain stepped forward. "It is Asturian law that all visitors from the Mystic Moon must be brought to the palace to face trial before the Queen."  He signaled for his men to surround them.  "Please come peaceably with us to the castle."

            "We're going on foot!?  How far is it!?" Hitomi cried.

            "Just over the hill, miss."  The solider taking up post nearest her answered.  The part was gathered together and soldiers surrounded them at the corners and along the sides.  Everyone got very excited.

            Yukari tugged Suru up from the grass. "Come on.  We're going to see a Queen!"

            "A Queen?"  Suru asked, dropping her petal-less flower to the grass.

            "A Princess."  Yukari clarified.

            "Wow."  Suru said, meekly. "A real princess."

            "Someone grab that boy!"  The captain called, pointed to Hakai, who had a huge pile of plucked grass heaped up and was trying to strike a match to it.  His anticipating sneer turned into a frustrated scowl.  One of the soldiers strode over just as the head of the match finally caught.  He grinned in evil glee and dropped it onto the pile.  The living grass caught, but burned slowly with much smoke.  The soldier picked him up around the waist and he cried out in rage, kicking and screaming.

            "Ahh!  Dangit!  Stupid Jerks!  I just got it started!!!  ARRGG!!!"  As he was being carried off, two more soldiers stomped out his meager bonfire.  He joined the pack being held under the soldier's arm.  The man was trying hard to subdue his thrashing and remain stately at the same time.  Daiji glanced around hoping to exchange glances with someone.  He finally ended up doing it with Jiai in front as they began their march over the hill.  It only took a few steps to the edge of the bluff for them to realize how close they actually were to the city.  Below them were the colorful building and the grand royal castle of the Kingdom of Asturia.  The sea was lazily rolling toward the shore where some townsfolk were doing chores or playing in the surf.  The streets were paved in cobblestone and stocked with a variety of people from seamen to merchant beasts; all present to take advantage of the oceanfront trade routes.  The buildings were painted pastel tints of bright colors with the occasional terraced addition or striped decoration.  Towering above all else was the beautifully sculpted palace of King Aston.  There was a moment as the Earthers stared in wonder before they were escorted down the precipice and onto the small strip of grassland beyond the river.  Hitomi glanced around, the familiarity of her surroundings beating strongly in her heart.  She could see in the distance, the windmill where Von had stored Escaflowne during the Zaibach war.  It brought her mind back to why she had returned.  She realized that she couldn't let herself forget that Von was in immediate danger, and that she had to hurry and get to Fanelia as soon as she could.  Her steadfast dedication was rather short-lived, however, for when they crossed the bridge into town, she and the others were overcome with the sights and sounds of common life Asturia.  The soldiers relaxed a little as they saw their prisoners childishly enchanted by the town.  Even Hakai had stopped struggling to look around.  He watched people's waists move by and the counters of the different booths.  At one point he grabbed a fruit off one of the counters when the teller wasn't looking and was rewarded by a knock in the head from the soldier. 

Jiai rushed forward and grabbed Hitomi's shoulders.  "This place is Amazing!"  It's like I've wandered into a storybook!"

            "I told you I liked it here!"  Hitomi assured her.

            "Look at the clothes!"  Yukari mused, grabbing Amano's arm. "I love it!  The sleeves and the collars!  We've got to do some MAJOR shopping!"

            Amano rolled his eyes.  "I don't think my credit card is good in a place like this."

            "But you'd look so good in those sleeves."  Yukari persisted.

            Hitomi spoke back to her, something very important coming to mind.  "Yukari, promise me that while we're here, you won't fall in love with Allen, okay?"

            "I've got Amano."  Yukari answered.

            "That's the point."  Hitomi continued.  "If you dump Amano for Allen, it will be yet another thing I've ruined by being here.  So do me and you a favor and don't give Allen a second look, okay?"

            "Hitomi, this is silly."  Yukari laughed.

            "Promise me!"  Hitomi insisted.

            "Okay!  I promise!"  Yukari seemed astounded at the gravity Hitomi had placed on the promise.  "Don't worry about it."

            "Whew, good."  Hitomi sighed.

            Yosu's eyes bugged as two men with dog's heads marched past.  "Strange people here."

            "Who?"  Hitomi asked.

            "Don't tell me you haven't noticed!"  Yosu replied. "I think I've seen every one of the Egyptian gods wander by!"

            "Beast men."  Hitomi answered. "You never really get used to it, but you kinda learn to accept it."
            "Yeah, whatever."  Yosu replied, watching a man with a bird's head and feathers walk past.

            Daiji watched as a couple young Asturian women walked by in corsets gossiping.  He tugged down his glasses to get a better look.  "Very nice."  He pocketed the shades in his khaki slacks.  "There isn't anyone I shouldn't fall for is there Hitomi?"

            "What?"  Hitomi asked, then understood.  "No, I don't guess so.  There aren't any girls with Allen's love life that I know about."

            "Good deal."  Daiji grinned.  He fixed the collar on his read shirt.  "So who all will we be meeting here?"

            "You mean in Asturia?"  Hitomi asked.  "Well, we're on out way to see Millerna, but Allen lives here too so we'll probably get to see him.  Oh, and of course his little sister Celena."

            "Von and the Cat Girl aren't here?"  Koneko asked.

            "No."  Hitomi answered.  "They're in Fanelia.  We're going to try and get Millerna's help to rescue them."

            "Oh, okay."  Koneko understood.  She saw another cat person go by. "It must be cool to be a cat!  I can't wait to meet her!  We must have a lot in common if we're connected."

            "I'm still trying to figure the whole connection thing out…"  Hitomi admitted.

            It wasn't long before they had reached the gates of the palace.  Hitomi had entered here many times before, but there was something different about it this time.  There seemed to be a shadow cast on the normally cheery facade.  Even the personnel seemed gloomy.  They were lead up the stairs and into the main hall.  Before them, the great wooden doors of the audience chamber creaked back on their hinges to lead them into a long, tall ceilinged room.  The room was humongous, the center ceiling nearly 100 feet off the ground held up by towering alabaster columns.  The wings on either side of the main chamber had ceilings about 20 feet up, and were lined in rows of arched windows, letting natural light in.  Light poured in from above as well.  At the end of the hall were five thrones, with a long purple carpet stretching from them between the lines of columns.  Soldiers kept their vigils in front of each column along the walk.  Hitomi and her party were herded inside, the newcomers drinking in the atmosphere of wealth.  The girl, however, had her green eyes focused on the throne. 

            When they got close enough, she could see a young woman with wavy golden hair, a headband-like tiara and sapphire blue eyes.  She was slouched sideways in the chair, her long pink gown creased sloppily.  She sat in the Queen's throne; beautifully ornate and velvet lined; all the other thrones were empty.  Her had her chin in her hand and traced circles on the opposite armrest of her throne with the tip of her gloved finger.  She seemed to be the center of the sadness surrounding the building and even now, her eyes seemed to glisten, craving tears.

            The soldiers stopped and the captain prepared to report when Hitomi leapt forward and interrupted him.  "Millerna!!!"

            The young woman in the chair looked up, startled out of her misery, her back straightened and she darted her eyes around until she finally saw the one who spoke.  "Hitomi!?!"

            "Millerna!"  The girl form the Mystic Moon rushed forward.  The guard was shocked, and delayed in reacting until she was already past.

            "W-Wait!  Come back here!"

            "Millerna jumped form the throne and ran down the steps to meet Hitomi, her sadness erased at the sight of her lost friend.  "I can't believe it!"  The tow of them met and embraced, their hearts swelling.  Hitomi hadn't realized until then how much she'd missed Millerna, and for a brief instance, the blonde was rid of any signs of former woes.  The royal took Hitomi by the shoulders, tears of happiness now spotting her cheeks.  "How can it by you!?  How did you get here!?"

            "My friends helped me."  Hitomi answered, glancing back to the other seven waiting.  She turned to Millerna again.  "I wouldn't have come except that I received a vision telling me that there was trouble.  And I missed all of you down here so much!"

"I'm so glad you came!"  Millerna cried. "You don't know how much I've needed you these past months!  It helps the pain in my heart just knowing that you've come back!"  She took Hitomi's hands.  "I have so much to tell you!  So much to ask you about."

            "Not as much as me, I promise."  Hitomi answered.

            Millerna turned to the soldiers.  "AT ease, these people are not dangerous!  In fact…Chamberlain!"  A man who was apparently a royal helper rushed up.  Millerna issued him orders.  "Chamberlain, hurry and organized the cooks and maids!  WE are to have a magnificent feast tonight in honor of Hitomi's return and her visiting friends!  Invite all the knights and nobility in the city!"

            "Yes, ma'am!"  The chamberlain bowed and hurried off.  The soldiers keeping guard around the foreigners backed off and stood aside, ready should Millerna need their help.

            Hitomi smiled and lead Millerna down the stairs to where the others were assembled.  "I've got to introduce you to my new friends."  She stopped in front of them.  "First I should tell you how I got here.  Briefly, I'll get into detail later, but each of these people contributed to my arrival.  I couldn't come on my own without my pendant, but I found each of these guys to remind me of one of you here on Gaea.  It ends up that they all have a connection to one of you." She looked to Jiai, and waved the curly-haired girl forward.  "This is Jiai.  She was connected to you."

            Millerna and Jiai looked at each other.  It was nearly paranormal, as if they were seeing both sides of a mirror at the same time.  Time seemed to slow down as they studied each other.  Their eyes had the same shape, size and placing, as did their other features.  It felt like they were sisters, lost from each other at birth.  Jiai broke the silence as she spoke with Millerna's voice.  "It's, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."  Jiai smiled, seeming a little uneasy.  "I feel like I already know you."

            "It's a pleasure meeting you."  Millerna answered. "I feel…the same."

            They entered into another pause where they studied each other; this Hitomi broke by cutting in between them and continuing the introductions.  "That there is Koneko, she's connected to Merle.  That is Yosu, he's connected to Von."  Koneko waved enthusiastically, but Yosu seemed melancholy and simply nodded, very Von-ishly.  Hitomi gestured to the next in line.  "That is Yukari.  I don't really know how she connects….she just came along because Amano was coming.  Amano's right there, he's…"

            "Allen."  Millerna stated, staring at him.

            Hitomi paused.  "So you recognize him."

            Amano looked up to her properly, knowing that he was addressing royalty, but when their eyes met and he saw how she was staring at him, he became wary and felt uneasy.  Yukari saw it and took his arm.  He looked down at her, relieved.  Millerna's eyes glistened again when she saw.

            Hitomi ignored the exchange and continued. "That's Suru, she's connected to Celena, and that's Daiji, he's connected to Dryden."  Millerna shot he eyes up to him quickly and he smiled a big Dryden smile at her.  Hitomi was unhindered.  "And the last one is Hakai."  She looked around for the spiky-blond menace who had conveniently gone missing.  "Where did he go?"

            The other six of them immediately began looking around for him.  It was Koneko who spotted and pointed.  "There he is!"

            The point was directed over Millerna and Hitomi's heads to where Hakai had his matches out and was trying to set one of the polished wooden thrones on fire.

            Amano took a start, removed his arm from Yukari's grasp, and hurried up the stairs.  "Hey!"  He brushed past Millerna, steadying her shoulders and giving a brief 'excuse me'.  She blushed brightly, but he passed without a thought to dash to where the boy was grinning maliciously.  "Hakai!!"  He leaned down and grabbed the hand with the matchbox.  Forcing his cousin to his feet, Amano pulled him up by his wrist and frowned into his face.  "Stop that!  That's not how you act in front of a Queen!"

            "Like I care!"  Hakai responded.  He dropped his lit match and it hit on the carpet, starting up a little patch of fire.  Hakai felt victorious.  "HAH!  Hahahahahahahaha!"  Amano glanced down, then stepped forward and ground it out with the bottom of his shoe.  Hakai watched the pitiful little trail of smoke snake up, his face stretching in shock.  He then began kicking and screaming.  "AAAARRRRGGGG!!!!!  I hate you Amano Susumu!!!  I HATE YOU!  I HATE YOU!  I HATE YOU!!!"

            Hitomi smirked.  "Needless to say he takes after Dilandau."

            Millerna looked numb to Hakai, as if she had been lost inside her own head for the whole ordeal.  She snapped out of it and became very hostess-ly as she addressed them with her royal regularity and practiced smile.  "It's very nice to meet all of you!  And welcome to Gaea.  You have a feast planned in your honor, but for now, you must be weary and in wonder of this new place.  Please go and rest in my guest chambers.  The guards will show you the way.  Wash up and change.  I'll have some Asturian clothes sent up to your rooms so that you may look the part at dinner.  While you are here, the castle is open to you. Please explore and feel at home in its halls.  I will see you all again soon."

            A couple of the more learned ones bowed.  Daiji said 'thanks' and Suru didn't move at all.  One of the guards stepped out of formation and announced.  "I'll show you to your rooms.  Please follow me."  They shrugged and followed, Amano dragging Hakai back down the steps by his wrist and rejoining Yukari, who took his free arm.  Jiai, however, stayed behind.  She stepped up next to Hitomi as she began to catch up with the goings on in her absence.

            "So you're queen now!  Wow!"

            "Yeah," Millerna answered, "when I married Dryden, I got the title, but I was called 'princess' until my father passed away about two weeks ago."

            "Oh my gosh!  I'm sorry!" Hitomi cried. "That must be awful!"

            "It's alright."  Millerna answered, looking glum.  "I've cried my tears.  He wouldn't be happy if he knew I still grieved.  She took a deep breath and sighed.  "Before he passed, however, he married my sister Eries off to the new king of Zaibach; to establish peace and assure the fledgling government good leadership in the future.  That left me in charge of Asturia."  She shrugged.  "It's a great honor, but I'm not sure if I'm up to it on my own.  I'm glad there's not anything going on that requires strong leadership.  I'm still trying to fit the part."

            "I guess now you know how Dryden felt."  Hitomi observed.

            Millerna cast her eyes back down.  "Dryden…"

            Jiai saw this as an ideal time to burst in and ask the question that was getting ready to burst inside of her.  In face, the question exploded from her mouth much louder than she'd have liked in her earnest to get it out.  "Your Majesty!?"

            Millerna jumped at the sound. "Yes?"

            Jiai calmed down.  "I'm sorry, I've just been meaning to ask you…This morning, Hitomi helped me establish a connection with you.  I felt your emotions, and you were so heart-breakingly sad…it made me cry."  Her blue green eyes teared up again.  "Please tell me why you are so sad.  I want to help you, and make you happy again."  She paused and put one hand to her heart.  Make us both happy again."

            Millerna was moved to tears by this sentiment and looked to the two girls in front of her.  "Please come with me back to my chambers…I've got something I need to confide in you…"

                        *                           Escaflowne                              *

The party of Yukari, Amano, Daiji, Koneko, Yosu, and the twins was being escorted up to the guest tower.    Koneko was having the time of her life poking her head into doorways along the way.  "This place is soooo cool!  And that Queen said we could go anyplace we wanted while we were here!  I'm going to explore every inch of this place!"

"Just keep your nose out of places it doesn't belong."  Yosu told her.

            "But that's how you find out interesting stuff!"  Koneko replied.  "I might be able to discover some scandalous secret while I'm poking around."

"It's not right." Yukari told her.  "We're guests.  We really shouldn't do anything to make our hostess mad."

            "Since when did you become my mother?"  Koneko asked.  "It'll be her fault if I find something out!  She told me that I could go anywhere."

            "yeah, what did you think of our Queen?"  Daiji asked Yukari and Amano, who was dragging a fuming Hakai.

            "She was nice."  Amano said, indifferently.  "She seemed well rehearsed."

            "I thought she seemed sad."  Yukari answered.

            "I thought she was great."  Daiji announced.  "She seemed like a good person, and she's ruling the country all by herself, she must be smart enough.  And on top of that, she's beautiful.  She was great!"

            "Don't tell me you've got a crush on her now."  Amano sighed.

            Daiji put his hands in his pockets.  "Maybe a little bit.  You don't really meet someone like her every day."

            "I've met a lot of people who are sad and trying to mask their feelings with a smile and a proclamation."  Yukari replied.  "Just look around you when your downtown.  You'll see a ton."

            Daiji frowned.  "That's not what I meant."
            "Are you attracted to Jiai?"  Amano asked.  "She was the one with the connection to Millerna."

            "Yeah, maybe she's got that special something that you mean."  Yukari suggested.

            "I haven't really paid her much attention."  Daiji admitted.  "I only met her this afternoon."

            "You only met Millerna a second ago."  Amano reminded him.

            "Okay, okay, maybe it's just a crush."  Daiji admitted.  "I didn't come here to look for a girlfriend, although it would be nice if I left with one, I came here to help Hitomi save her boyfriend and meet up with this Dryden that I'm supposed to be so much like."

            "What was wrong with Dryden?"  Amano asked.

            "I don't know.  Is something supposed to be wrong with him?"  Daiji replied.

            "Didn't Hitomi connect you to him?"  Yukari inquired.

            Daiji shook his head.  "She never did.  I was convinced without a practical demonstration."

            "You've got more imagination than me."  Amano said.

            Yosu "hmm" ed from a few paces ahead.

            "I can't see how you could believe such a story like this one so easily."  Yukari insisted.

            "Well, I didn't rush in like some blind fool."  Daiji defended with a smile.  "IT was a case of Hitomi using my 'connection' to Dryden to explain some changes going on in me.  It ends up that the same stuff was going on with him at the exact same time.  That convinced me of my connection because it explained what I was going through to a very fine detail.  Stuff Hitomi could never have known on her own.  I hadn't told anyone."

            "Well, are you going to tell us?"  Koneko asked, returning from another peek in an open door. 

            "No."  He said, Jovially.

            Koneko crossed her arms and pouted.  "Well, your no fun."  Then she put on a triumphant face.  "I came to free a girl who has achieved my ultimate dream!  Be a cat!  That's why I'm here!"

            "I'm not here by choice."  Yosu answered.  "I'm looking after Neko, and Hitomi too.  I'm making sure that nothing goes wrong and they don't get hurt."

            "You're not concerned with Von?"  Yukari asked.

            Yosu paused.  "I am I guess…I forgot about him, those around me are much more important."

            "I'm primarily concerned with Allen."  Amano said.  "I feel compelled to find out what's plaguing him.  I mean, his problem wasn't like Millerna's.  Jiai's got her heart set on cheering Millerna up, but Allen's problem is both physical and psychological.  He is having trouble dealing with something he feels responsible for."

            "And I'm here because Amano's here."  Yukari finalized with a grin.

            Daiji rolled his eyes. "Bah."

            Presently, they arrived at the guest wing in the northwest tower of the castle. There was a wide flight of gently curving carpeted stairs that Hakai had the pleasure of being dragged up.  Their guide stopped on a landing in front of a stone archway.  "This leads to the second floor chamber hallway.  These shall be your rooms."  He announced.  "Please make yourselves at home. Food and clothing are being sent up.  I shall ring you this evening when the feast begins."  He marched back down the stairs.

            Yukari called "Thank you!"

            Daiji saluted.  "Thanks Jeebs!" And they all headed into their hall of chambers.  The archway led to a hall that ended in a set of double glass doors and a balcony.  There were five doors lining either side.  The first one claimed was by Yukari, who got the door one away from the balcony on the left side. 

"This one'll be mine."  She said.  "And I want Hitomi to have the one next to me.  Don't forget Jiai needs one too."

            "We wont."  Amano assured.

            Koneko ran down to the room closest to the balcony on the opposite side of the hall.  "I like this one!"

            Yosu took the room next to hers.  "Don't get any ideas on that balcony, Neko, I know how you like to jump around on things."

            "I'm not stupid, Yosu, I'm not gonna throw myself over the side or anything."

            Suru walked calmly to the room in the middle of the last three openings on Koneko's side.  There was left one door in between her and Yosu that would fit Hakai nicely.  Amano had a lopsided grin slide across his face and dragged his baggage to the entrance.  Hakai had turned into the picture of displeasure on during the trip, and now was yanked up from the ground by the same wrist he'd been held by the whole trip.  He put no effort into standing and just let Amano struggle by his own strength to keep the twelve-year-old elevated.  His older cousin leaned down into his face as he opened up the door.  "Now, don't do anything destructive!  I would hate to have to punish you when we've got a royal feast to attend."

            "You would not."  Hakai replied.  "You probably ENJOY making me miserable!  You and your stupid justice!  Where do you get off telling me what to do!?  I HATE YOU!!!!"

            Amano moved to fling the boy inside when he noticed that the box of matches were still clutched tightly in the captured hand.  Seizing the opportunity, Amano pried it lose from his numb fingers and pocketed it.  This was much to Hakai's outrage and dissaproval.  "There! That'll take care of it."

            Hakai's jaw was stuck flapping open.  "N-No FAIR!!!  That's Mine!  Give it back!"

            "You wont get it back unless you're good and don't destroy anything."  Amano reported.

            Hakai launched into a rage of fury.  "I HATE YOU AMANO SURUMU!!!  I HATE YOU!  I HATE YOU!  I HATE YOU!!!!"  Amano flung him through the door and slammed it behind him, muffling the screams.  Feeling very pleased with himself, he moved in next to Yukari and shut the door behind himself.  Daiji scratched his head, shrugged, and took the door closest to the archway on the left side, leaving two spots between he and Yukari for Hitomi and Jiai.

            As soon as all were shut away, Koneko's head popped out of her door.  "All clear."  She tiptoed out of her room and pulled the door closed behind her.  Chuckling softly, she started down the hall, but paused in front of Suru's door.  'Hmm…' she thought, 'Suru's a girl my age.  Maybe she'll want to come spying too!  I mean, it'll be an escape from her crazy brother after all.  Some girl time.'  Deciding to go for it, she knocked on the door.  There was no answer.  Koneko put a hand to her chin and studied the barrier thoughtfully.  She tried the knob and it was unlocked.  The door swung in and Koneko found Suru sitting in a chair in the middle of the room with the three pieces of the paper doll she'd brought in her hands.  She was muttering to herself.  Koneko ventured in.  "Su?"

            Suru gasped and turned.

            Koneko smiled broadly.  "Ah!  I got your attention.  I'm going out to get in trouble!  Wanna come?"

            "Ah, Molly Dolly, look," Suru said, holding the head of the paper doll up so that she could "see" Koneko just inside the door.  "A friend has come to play."

            "Uh…"  Koneko sweatdropped.

            "Do you want to play dolls with me?"  Suru asked. "There is enough of Molly that we all could play."

            "uh, no."  Koneko answered. "I've kinda gone beyond dolls.  I'm into adventuring!  Come on!  You can adventure too!"  She rushed forward and grabbed Suru's arm.

            Suru looked frightened. "But – I don't want to leave my corner."

            "Don't be such a baby, Su!  Learn to get some fun out of life!"  Koneko said, she pulled Suru to her feet.

            "Fun?  We can have fun in this castle?  But it's so…big…and strange."

            "That's the fun part!  Koneko cried.  "New stuff to see!  New people to pester!"

            "But… I don't – "  the  protest was cut short as Suru was dragged out of the room by her big light blue sweater sleeve.

            "Come on, Su!  Let's live it up!"

            "K-Koneko!!!"

                                    *                        Escaflowne                       *

            Millerna lead Hitomi and Jiai into her personal chamber and shut the door behind them.  She had a drawing room, a bedroom and an ocean-side balcony.  Jiai looked around.  "This is beautiful, your highness."

            "Please, sit down."  Millerna bade.  "And let's not be formal.  I want to talk to you as a friend.  Millerna is fine."

            "Alright, Millerna."  Jiai said, as she and Hitomi took seats on the couch.  Millerna sat in a high-backed upholstered chair facing them.  Jiai turned her blue-green eyes attentively to the Queen. "Alright, I'm ready to listen."

            Millerna seemed hesitant now that it was time to talk.  She fiddled with her hands in her lap.  Hitomi prodded her a little.  "It's okay, Millerna, it's me.  You can trust us, I promise.  And we really want to help you.  Please tell us what's wrong."

            Millerna sighed.  "Okay."  She began her tale, the sunlight shining in her moistened eyes.  "I suppose I should start after you left.  Peace was sweet for a while.  My father worked hard to try and help the Zaibachian people get back on their feet.  He helped them by building up a new government, and they placed in power one of the descendants from the king who was displaced when Dornkirk took over.  Things were going well, politically, but this new government was fragile, so he married Eries to the king, Sohn in order to support it.  With Eries's wisdom, the country wouldn't fall, and since she was an Aston, it gained us another ally.  What wasn't so obvious to my father was that by sending Eries away, he stripped from me my confidant and comfort.  I know what Father loved me, but he wasn't the kind of man you ask for advice.  At least not about gentile matters.  Eries was all that I had.  Also, after she left, it was clear to the whole country that mine was the back Asturia would fall on.  There have been mixed feelings about me since the war.  And Dryden.  There are people who think I drove him off.  There are other people who blame me for the deaths involved in the Zaibach conflict…"

            "It wasn't your fault Millerna."  Hitomi assured her.  "IT was war.  You had no control."

            "I know."  She said.  "Its just…I am troubled by the displeasure among my people.  Then there is the other side of the spectrum; people who think I could have won the war early on.  That I have the potential to be the greatest ruler Asturia has ever known.  I don't think I can stand up to that kind of aspiration, especially because it is that half of the people who blame Dryden for the whole thing."  She sighed.  "Things got so complicated after he left.  Most people have scorned him, calling him a coward and a weakling and dashing his character to pieces."

            "That's wrong!"  Hitomi cried.

            "I know!"  Millerna agreed, seeming to take the offense to Dryden personally.  "I hate it!  I know the real Dryden, and he is not a coward or a weakling.  He is nothing of what they say he is!  He was just unprepared for the job.  How many rulers take charge during war?  I crushed him."  She took a deep breath.  "I've really started to feel for Dryden over these past weeks.  I've started to realize what he went through.  And he really didn't' have my support through the whole thing.  I must have been extra hard knowing my heard belonged to somebody else…"  She got choked up at the mere thought of Allen and eased her emotional rant back down to a simple telling.  "And so, time continued on, and many months passed.  My father got sick.  I took care of him at first, but then we had to call in the doctors and nurses and attendants.  I sat worried in the throne room as the noise of his care taking could be heard all over the castle.  Before he passed on, he gave me his blessing and laid the responsibility of the crown on my head.  That night I cried.  I spent the entire night in tears, not only because the loss of my father, but because now I was alone in this castle.  I didn't have my sister to talk to, my father to turn to, and the servants didn't want to be any more than servants to me.  I sat alone on that throne day after day pining.  I would wish longingly for Allen…"  She paused, the memories causing her voice and lip to tremble. 

"My-my relationship with Allen over all of this time had moved slowly…  He came to visit less and less because he had to look after his sister, who was suffering from the traumatic stress as a result of the fate alteration procedures implemented on her.  She requires his care nearly constantly.  Most of his visits were cut short by the news that she was having another episode and needed his attention.  Some of the visits, she would come too, which would disappoint the romantic spirit inside me.  He loves her very much, which is to be expected, since he is her older brother, but I felt like he was less concerned about me.  Of course, I would just dismiss it and say that Allen truly loved me, and that when Celena was well, he would come back and visit all of the time.  But he frequented less and less and stayed away completely the month before my father's death.  A week after it happened, just last weekend, he showed up to pay his respects to my father and see how I was doing…" she started crying again quietly.  "He brought me flowers.  It was a beautiful time.  There wasn't any mention of Celena or what he'd been doing.  It was all about me, and helping me feel better.  He held me close, and I cried in his arms.  He stayed the night.  We stayed up late talking and reminiscing and more crying on my part.  He tucked me in bed like my mother used to, kissed me on the forehead and held my hand until I went to sleep.  I felt better because he was there, and he loved me.  The next morning we had breakfast on the terrace in the sun and took a walk in the gardens.  I knew that he would stay forever, and that we would get married and rule the kingdom together, and that I would never be alone, or burdened again.  It was completely calming.  As long as I had Allen, I would never have to be concerned again.

She caught her breath trembling again, and Hitomi and Jiai sensed that that wasn't the ending of the story.  Millerna continued tentatively.  "That morning I caught him in the portrait room…"  She choked back a sob.  "He was staring at the portrait of Marlene with tears in his eyes.  I was disheartened, but figured that he had loved her before she died, and that he was probably still grieving as I was grieving.  I decided that I should return the love he showed me by helping him the same way he'd helped me the night before.  I held him close and I told him how much I loved him and that it would be okay as long as we had each other.  But it wasn't working.  Instead of feeling better, he became stiff and elusive.  He was completely different from the night before, and told me with severity what was wrong."  She put her face in her hands, tears coming with great force and seeping through the fingers of her gloves.  "He told me…that he didn't love me!  That he loved me because I reminded him of my sister!  He then said that he couldn't go on using me like he was, and that he didn't want to be troubled by how he was leading me on.  Then he left.  I – "  She began yelling through her sobbing.  "I was broken!  I couldn't take it.  I'd thought that I was safe!  That I was secure!  I thought that I was loved and free from all the pain and worries and nightmares I had been having before he came.  Now the weight fell back on my shattered, broken, bleeding heart like the weight of a thousand countries.  I felt defenseless and unprepared and abandoned!  I cried on the balcony until nightfall, when I moved inside and cried in my bed."  Her shoulders shook and her tears came strong, her voice loud and stricken with the pain she was feeling.  "How could he leave me alone!?!  Why!?  Was I impossible to love!?  Was I mean to be alone!?  Why does no one love me!?  Why am I forced to live this way!?  I can't do it!  I can't lead this country by myself!  I cant!  I cant!"

Hitomi got up and put her arms around her.  Jiai put her hand on Millerna's knee.  Millerna leaned into Hitomi's embrace, and the girl whispered comforting words to him.  "It's okay, Millerna, I'm here for you.  I love you.  You're not alone anymore."

            "That's right."  Jiai assured, tears in her own eyes.  "You don't have to bear this burden by yourself anymore."

            They sat that way for a long time, everyone choking back tears and feeling the sorrow that Millerna carried with her.  She whispered thanks to them through her sobs, and received reassurance, knowing that she had friends again.

                                    *                           Escaflowne                              *

            Down in the Kitchens, the cooks and servers were hard at work preparing a grand feast at short notice.  "What does she take me for!?"  The head cook cried.  "A Fairy Godmother!?  It is impossible to prepare so much in so small a time!"

            "The pheasant is cooking well sir!"  One of the attendants called.  "There are twenty going steadily now!"

            "Good Good!"  The cook cried.  "Is someone working on the salad!?"

            "Being done sir!"  The salad server called.  "How many individual place settings?!"

            "All the knights and nobles and their wives and children that can get here within an afternoon including our guests? Prepare roundabouts 150 and remain alert to make more if more show up."

            "Yes sir!"

            "How's the soup!?"

            "Soup's well underway sir!"  Said a man leaning over a washtub-sized cauldron.

            "Dessert!?  How about Dessert!?"

            "I am mixing the pudding now, sir!"  The dessert man cried.

            "Good Everyone!"  He stated.  "Pick up the pace!  Tonight shall be our finest hour!!!"

            One man walked up to him with two trays stacked with food.  "The rations for the Lunar guests is ready to be brought up, sir." 

            "Go hurry!  We need hands!  Return quickly!!!"

            The server nodded with a "yessir" and backed out of the swinging kitchen doors, his hands full of trays.  Two mischievous little girls were watching him as he headed up a staircase, headed for the northeast tower.  Koneko lead the way, as they snuck around the corner.  The hustle and bustle could be heard through the door.  Suru followed fearfully.

            "This looks like a good place to find some juicy stuff."  Koneko said.  "C'mon, Su."

            "Koneko!"  Suru objected.  "I don't like it!  There are too many people!"

            "It's just people, Su!"  Koneko assured her.  "Plus, they won't even know we're there.  We're just looking for info."

            "I don't like lots of people!  I want to go back upstairs and play with my dolls by myself!!!  I don't like it down here!"

            "We're just gonna peek in."  Koneko insisted, then, without further consultation, she made her way stealthily into the kitchen.  Not knowing what else to do, and equally as petrified of being lost as she was of going in, Suru followed.  In the chaotic state of the kitchen, the two girls were able to sneak in and hide under one of the preparation tables unnoticed.  Koneko listened carefully as the cook ranted like an overstuffed French cuisenaire, and his workers scurried about answering his every demand.  Koneko began to crawl her way along, listening to what was being said.  Suru's eyes darted about as legs moved by in a hurry.  She jumped as something plopped to the ground.  Looking closer, she found it interesting and headed to the edge of the table.  After several minutes, Koneko had determined that there was nothing out of the ordinary going on.  She sat back, crossed her arms and pouted.  "There's nothing good happening!  This is boring."  She noticed that Suru was missing.  "Su?"  The girl wasn't far off; she was near the fallen object getting ready to poke at it.  Koneko joined her shortly.  "Hey!  Whatcha got!?"

            "It's juicy."  Suru said.

            Koneko crawled over and stared at the pile of peach colored, grimy flesh soaking in its own juice in a puddle on the floor.  She took that extra step and touched it, yanking her hand back quickly so that none of the workers would see it.  She looked critically to Suru.  "Its skin!"

            "Skin!?!"  Suru cried. "What is it doing off it's body!?"

            "We may have stumbled upon a MURDER!!!"  Koneko whispered.

            "Oh no!"  Suru threw one hand over her mouth.  "If there is a murder, they won't want us finding out!"

            "We have to solve this case!"  Koneko stated.  "The Queen needs to know if there is a murder afoot!  C'mon!  Let's look for clues!"  The girl started crawling again.  Suru glanced to the skin, then followed on Koneko's heels.  They stopped in front of a man's legs and eavesdropped on what he was saying.

            "The next twenty pheasant are ready to be put to the spit!"      

            "Do you hear that!?"  Koneko wrasped.  "It's a mass murder operation!  Twenty more victims!"

            "Twenty?"  Suru asked, not understanding.  "That's a lot of skin."

            "Right."  Koneko answered before becoming confused as the actual statement registered.  "What!?"

            But Suru had moved on to the next idea.  She had spotted up the wall, the oven where twenty birds were cooking on the rotisserie.  "Look!"

            Koneko turned her attention. "Oh!  Those chickens must be the victims!"

            "They probably don't like it up there."  Suru said.  "They want us to set them free."

            Koneko looked at her.  "They're dead.  What do you mean 'they want us to set them free'?"

            "They don't like being on those sticks."  Suru said.  "We should get them down."

            "And what makes you say that?"  Koneko asked.  "You're not pulling a Sixth Sense thing on me are you?"

            "Would you like being on a stick?"  Suru asked.  "I wouldn't, so they mustn't either.  I think we should set them free."

            Koneko cocked an eyebrow.  "Okay, I'll play along.  A rescue mission is one I haven't tried yet."  She snapped into the role.  "Okay, in order to save these chickens, we've got to act fast.  We've got to seize our opportunity.  I don't think we can save them all, so when I say the word, we jump up, grab as many as we can and make tracks to the door."

            "Alright."  Suru agreed.

            The two of them lay in wait until the cook helper moved over with a pile of raw pheasant on a tray.  Koneko caught sight of them and leapt to her feet.  "Now Su!!!"

            "Aaaahhhh!!!!"  The assistant screamed as the two girls flew at him.  He fell backward into the oven, knocking two of the four spits off their posts and dousing the flames with his seat.  Koneko and Suru rushed to the plate of poultry and grabbed two birds each, one for each hand. 

            Suru held hers up, juice dripping.  "Ew, its slimy!"

            "No time!"  Koneko cried.  "Get to the door!"  She ran out, pheasant juice flying about the kitchen.  Cooks jumped out of the way as they raced down the length of the table.  "FREEDOM!!!!"

            The dessert man threw himself over the huge bowl of pudding, shielding it from E-coli splatter and becoming soiled with it himself.  The salad man jumped up on the table, turning over the salad bowl and sending a shower of chopped lettuce and vegetables raining down.  The soup chef had two great pot lids out shielding his station.  He freaked out when the girls ran past and frantically tried to protect the vats.  The head Cook was beyond outrage, his face turning red, then purple in anger.  Meanwhile the hot coals had lit the pheasant cook's pants on fire and he began leaping around the kitchen whooping like a howler monkey.  He ran into the pudding cook, knocking him headfirst into the batch.  He emerged a banana-flavored pudding monster.  The poor man in flames jumped into the dishwashing sink and put out his butt.  He sighed as smoke billowed up.

            Koneko bounded towards the door.  "Come on!  We gotta get upstairs!  We can set them free outside!"

            "Come on, little chickens!"  Suru said to her baggage.

            The head cook finally reacted past coming to a boil and began yelling.  "AFTER THEM!!!  AFTER THEM!!!  Get those girls!!!"

            All those who weren't in food took off toward the door just as Suru and Koneko had busted out.  Unfortunately, the lead guy slipped on the pile of dropped pheasant skin and fell over backward, causing most of the pack to trip over him.  In the end, only three men survived to take up pursuit.  The cook kept yelling "GET THEM!  GET THEM!" as the three left the kitchen.  The soup man began picking floating lettuce out of his vats.

            The 12-year-old girls raced up the stairs, the three cooks, juice splattered and looking tousled, right in their tails.    As they ran, one of the slimy pheasants slipped out of Suru's hand and flopped onto the stone steps.  "I dropped one!"

            "Leave it!"  Koneko cried.

            "But - !"  Suru objected, but continued to run, leaving the hostage behind.  The man in the lead saw it on the steps.

            "Hey!  I got one!"  He bent down to pick it up and tripped the guy behind him who ended up smeared on the steps.  The third stopped and gaped.

            The second pealed himself off and looked to the only one left standing.  "Go!  They're getting away!"  The last cook nodded and resumed pursuit.  The guy on top whapped his hurdle in the head.  "Idiot."

            The girls reached the top of the stairs and were now on the main level.  They glanced quick, deciding which way to go.  "Do we go outside?  I can see the backyard from here."  Suru said.  "We need to set them free."

            "Nah, they'll be expecting us to do that."  Koneko said.  "Up another level!"  They headed around a corner and up another set of stairs.  The guy heard their voices and raced after t hem.  Koneko glanced over her shoulder.  "Oh no!  He's still on us!"

            The two who had been tripped up on the stairs surfaced and ran out of the stairwell and toward the terrace where Millerna was walking Hitomi and Jiai to the northeast wing.  The two of them rushed over and bowed hastily.  "Your majesty!?!"

            "Yes?  What is the matter?"  Millerna asked.

            "You majesty, have you seen two children run by here?"  The one who had obviously taken charge after dubbing the other 'idiot' on the stairs, said with urgency.

            "Children?"  Hitomi asked, becoming suspicious.

            "Yes, two girls, they raided the kitchen."

            The other man held up the raw pheasant as a witness.

            "Two girls?"  Millerna cried.

            "Man, I could have sworn it'd be Hakai."  Hitomi shook her head.

            "Please, your highness!  They've ruined your feast!  Please tell us which way they went!"

            "But we didn't see them."  Jiai told him.

            "You didn't?"  They cried. "Then which way could they have gone!?"

            Directly one story up, Koneko and Suru had arrived at a window overlooking the terrace.  "He is right behind us!"  Koneko panted.

            "But we still have to get back downstairs and set these chickens free!" Suru reminded her.

            Koneko decided that the joke could go one step further.  "Hey, they're chickens, we could just toss them out the window and they should fly."

            But Suru was being sincere.  "They have no feathers.  They might hurt themselves."

            "They have no heads either."  Koneko recalled.  "Think that might affect it!?"

            "Well…"  Suru had no answer for that.

            Koneko took up her two birds.  "C'mon, wings are wings.  Plus, I'm getting tired and we need to get rid of these fast!"

            "Okay."  Suru submitted.  "I guess setting them free could involve flying."

            "Let's do it!"  Koneko took up her pheasants and flung them out the window.  "G'bye birds!"

            "Bye bye, Little Chickens."  Suru said, dropping hers carefully.  "Be free!"  With the hostages taken care of, the girls whipped their hands on their shirts and took off to find a place to hide.  Their hunter arrived panting at the top of the stairs and saw them disappear  around the corner.

            "Hey!  You kids come back!  Bring back those pheasant!!!"

            But the pheasants were closer to being discovered than he knew.  Needless to say, they didn't fly far, and below, the queen and her friends were still speaking with the cooking assistants.

            "I wish we could help."  Millerna said.

            "We will."  Hitomi volunteered, looking at Jiai.

            "Yeah!"  Jiai agreed.  "We'll help you get your meal back."  Just then, one of the raw birds fell into her hands.  It was wet and fleshy and she squealed as she caught it, but stared at it in astonishment.  The other four stared too until a second pheasant fell into Millerna's hands.

            The cook scratched his head.  "Huh…"

            Jiai grinned.  "Pheasants from Heaven."

            Hitomi held up her head and smiled proudly.  "I told you we'd get them back for you!"  But her pride was smashed as Suru's pheasant, dropped so lovingly, fell and splatted Hitomi on the head.  Millerna muffled laughter.  The cook's eyes bugged and Hitomi began fuming.

            Jiai smiled with humor at it. "Oh gross."

            "Did I mention that there is a bathtub in your room?"  Millerna giggled.

            The man with the pre-captured pheasant counted.  "Three birds…all are accounted for."

            "Uh…excuse me your highness…"  The first man took the pheasants fro the girls, removing Hitomi's from her hair himself.  He shoveled them into the arms of his associate.  "Take these down and bathe them well.  I still have to find those girls."

            "Yessir!"  The other cook said, and scurried off, his arms laden with poultry.  The last man remaining bowed and rushed off to join his fellow in finding Koneko and Suru.

            The three teens left on the terrace took a pause.   It was Millerna who spoke first.  "Well…I suppose we should be expecting a lot of that now that you from the Mystic Moon have showed up.  I expect dinner to be quite an adventure."

            "I can't wait."  Jiai grinned, sarcastically.  "But I feel so dirty now!  I have raw meat juice all over my hands."

            "You're complaining!?!"  Hitomi cried.  "I got hit in the HEAD!!!"

            "Cheer up."  Millerna encouraged.  "You would have to change anyway.  Why not bathe first?"

            "I need to now."  Jiai said.  "So what do our new clothes look like?"

            "Hitomi has worn this type of dress before."  Millerna answered. "It is sleeveless with a long pleated dress and the traditional Asturian formal collar."

            "And do the guys get to wear puffy sleeves?"  Hitomi asked.

            "Yes." Millerna replied.

            "Oh, Yukari is going to be thrilled."  Jiai mused.  "This is going to be funny."

            "Amano won't be so bad…I've seen Allen before.
  Hitomi reported.  "I'm waiting to see Yosu in the sleeves."

            "Because he looks like Von?"  Jiai asked.

            Hitomi blushed.

            Millerna looked thoughtful.  "I wonder how Von is doing, we haven't heard from him in a while."

            Hitomi was alerted to the possibility of learning about Von and reminded of the trouble he was in.  "You haven't?  Maybe this has something to do with his problem!  When did you hear last from him?"

            "A little more than a month ago."  Millerna answered.  "He wrote to tell us that he was nearly done rebuilding Fanelia.  He hasn't been the same since you left, Hitomi.  I'm sure he misses you very much."

            "A month…" Jiai thought.  "That's about how long it's been since you saw him, Hitomi!  Do you think it's related?"

            Hitomi put her hand on he chin.  "I don't know."   

                        *                           Escaflowne                              *

            Koneko and Suru rounded a corner and jumped a short flight of steps.  The cook was right behind.  They skidded to a stop when they saw the cook from below appear at the end of the hall.  Suru cried.  "Koneko!?  What are we going to do!?"

            Koneko spotted a door just to their left.  "Hurry!  In here!"  The two of them shoved open the door and rushed inside.  They found themselves in a small library, probably for keeping family records.  Uninterested in the books, the girls found a desk and hid themselves under it.  The held their breaths, waiting for the cooks to come in looking for them. 

            Instead of the cooks, two other gentlemen came in from a door on the other side of the room.  Conveniently, a table hid the girls and the two men were unaware of their presence.  One was balding and gray haired.  The other looked to be in his thirties. The forty year old closed their door quietly; glancing about to make sure that no one had followed them.  The elderly gentlemen waited impatiently.  "Are you sure this is a safe place."

            "The room is secured."  The other assured.  "No one will hear us."

            Koneko put a finger to her lips to keep Suru quiet.

            The older gentleman seemed to relax a little.  "Alright.  Now what is the news?"

            "The master has a new plan."  The younger man said.

            "A plan?  What kind of plan?"

            "The strangers arrival has opened up new doors for his manipulation."  He told the elder. 

            Suru whispered.  "Do you think they mean us?"

            "Hsh!"

            "Manipulation!?"  Said the other.  "What has he in mind?"

            "I'm not sure.  The master never speaks of his plans to anyone but the most trusted."  He answered.  "But the visitors are trying to get to Fanelia.  We can't let that happen."

            "Fanelia is the cornerstone."  The older man pressured.  "Do you think they know about his intentions!?"

            "I don't think so."  The one by the door said, coming into the center of the room.  "But they have that girl with them.  The one from before, who had the power of Atlantis.  She is probably going to try to interfere with fate again."

            "Its like a merry-go-round."  The other said. "She has come and the whole endeavor is starting over again."

            "That's why we have to end it now."  He took a hold of the older man's shoulders.  "The strangers from the Mystic Moon CANNOT get to Fanelia!"

            Just then, the cooks burst into the front door.  The two men jumped and flashed defensive glances at them.  The cooks were equally as startled to see them there.  They bowed quickly.  "E-Excuse us!  Did either of you gentlemen see two little girls run in here?"

            "Little girls!?"  The older man cried in outrage.

            "Haman!"  The younger man grasped his shoulders firmly and looked intently into his eyes.  Haman calmed down.  The thirty-year old gained a peacefully professional composure.  "No, gentlemen, we haven't seen any little girls running through here."

            The cooks exchanged confused glances.  "We-we are sorry, sirs!  Sorry to have bothered you."  They bowed out and ran in different directions, still trying to find the two girls.  The younger stranger let Haman go.

            "We should go.  Remember what I told you."

            "I will take care of it."  Haman assured.  "Give the master my assurances."

            "I will."  With that, the man vanished.  Haman moved around the table and the desk and left through the other door.  Koneko and Suru were left alone in the room.

            Koneko crawled out from under the table.  Suru looked scared. "What was that?"

            "I think we just got the spy info we were looking for."  Koneko reported.  "Those guys didn't want to be heard by anyone."

            "We should go back."  Suru fretted.  "We shouldn't have come!  I should have stayed in my room with my dolls."

            "Its okay, Su."  Koneko assured, helping her out from under the desk.  "They don't know that we were here.  We'll tell the Queen about it when we get a chance."  She glanced around.  "I think we should go back to our rooms, though.  Its best if we don't look suspicious.  So we should get away from here."

            "I'd like that."  Suru admitted.

            They checked the hall outside the door and took off down the hall as fast as they could toward the guest wing.

                                    *                           Escaflowne                              *

            There came a knock at the door and a young man of 21 got up to answer.  He had been sitting in a chair, deep in thought.  The interruption was unwelcome, and he flipped aside his long blond hair as he took the handle and swung the door in.  He was surprised to find a messenger form the palace standing there.

            "Message for Sir Allen Crusade Schezar." 

            "I am Allen Schezar."  The blond answered, coming out to stand in the late afternoon sunlight.

            The messenger reached into the sack he was carrying at his side and pulled out an envelope with the palace seal.  "An invitation, sir."  Allen took it and puzzled over it.  The man bowed quickly and left for his carriage to take him to the next Asturian noble.  "Good day sir."

            "Uh…"  Allen was snapped back into awareness to mutter "good day", then returned inside with the envelope.  The lights were out and the curtains drawn, filling the whole place with shadow and the glow of the sun through thick red fabric.  He broke the gloominess by turning up a lamp by his chair only enough to be able to read the letter.  "This isn't Millerna's seal.  It mustn't be a personal invitation." He broke it and took out the paper, dropping the envelope on the floor.  "Dear sir or madam, You are cordially invited to a feast tonight at the royal palace of Asturia…"  He thought a second.  'Tonight!?  This is sudden.  It's not like Millerna to throw a party on such short notice.  I wonder if it says why…' He read on and found that it did.  "This feast is in celebration of the return of our friend from the Mystic Moon, Hitomi Kanzaki and the visit of her Lunar Comrades."  Allen sprang up.  "HITOMI!?!"  He caught himself and shot a glance to the fifteen-year-old girl sleeping in the chair in the corner.  "Hitomi's come back?  For what reason?"  He gazed at the innocent face of his little sister.  "We've got to go tonight, now.  I just hope that it won't be disastrous."

            Celena snoozed on.

To Be Continued….

Notes:

Haman : magnificent, the name of the vizier (i.e., the prime minister) of the Persian king Ahasuerus.  He was hung from the gallows build for Ester's father in the book of Ester.

Sohn:  "Son" in German.  Named so because he is the last son of the former monarchy

Pheasant is a type of prairie fowl.