Escaflowne:   Mirrors

Episode 7:  Readiness

            Afternoon sunlight warmed every hall of the ship.  Outside, the gray-purple mountains had turned red-violet with the arrival of day.  The Crusade sat docked on a wall-mounted port called Apiobathra that was built into the Chesarian mountain range called Adynaton which would continue north to boarder both Fanelia and Deidlas.  The ship and its rebels had just barely limped over the Asturian boarder, and now the crewmen, and many Chesarian workers, were laboring in the boiler room to replace or repair all the cheap and broken parts in the works.  Coal was being unloaded into the appropriate cavity to provide boiler fuel.  Allen was talking with the head foreman.

            "This repair job wasn't suitable for flying."  The foreman said.  "Why'd you take off with it looking like this!?"

            "We were in a hurry."  Allen answered. "We didn't have time to go over the details."

            "Well, you should have."  The Chesarian hissed under his black mustache.   "I'm surprised I isn't worse than it is!"

            "Well, we can't do anything now but fix it."  The blond replied.  "Just make sure you do a good job of it."

            "Where should I bill you?"  He asked.  "I expect you can't pay up front."

            "I'm afraid I cant.  Send it to my home.  I'll write you the address."

            "That was terrible!"  Jiai cried.  She, Hitomi, and Yukari were standing around watching the repairs with Daiji and Gadess.  The Brown-headed Earther put his hands in his khaki pockets, washed up form the crisis.

            "Yeah, it was crazy.  Things were popping out everywhere….steam a foot thick on the floor…a real mess."

            "I'm impressed."  Hitomi smiled at him.  "I had no idea a representative's son could pull something off like this."

            He shrugged and looked flattered.  "Aw, it was nothing.  I had the other three helping, and besides, I've messed with the insides of my car before."

            "There is no way we would have survived without you, Katz, and Paile up here."  Gadess said. "Although, I can't ignore the work of the people on the bridge.  You Lunar persons certainly pick stuff up fast."

            "Gee thanks."  Yukari blushed, jovially.  "But please, I'm an honor student, it was nothing."

            Daiji chuckled, recognizing the joke she was making.

            Gadess turned and watched Allen in his negotiations.  "The boss held it together well, too.  He's got a lot of stress going, but he was as professional as ever.  I appreciate it when he's here.  Me alone over this crew can get pretty rough."

            Daiji studied Gadess quickly.  "You know, you remind me of my friend Rick."  

            "Was that the one you were talking to on the phone?"  Hitomi asked.

            "You mean in that bookstore?"  Jiai asked, also.

            "Probably."  Daiji answered.  "He's my stockbroker, but he's one of my best pals, too.  You're just like him.  He can run all the decisions on his own and be completely cool about it, but he'd rather call and ask me because he knows I'd do a good job, too.  Two heads are better than one."

            "Who came up with that saying?"  Yukari asked.  "I'd like to know.  Whenever anyone says sit, I think of a two-headed monster."

            "What does that have to do with anything?" Hitomi asked, one eyebrow quirking.

            Yukari shrugged.  "I dunno… two heads – "

            Allen stepped up to them rubbing his temples.  "What a headache.  Not only did we have to deal with this morning, but the repairs are even more complicated and the bill is incredible."

            "I'm sure Millerna would help pick it up."  Jiai told him.

            "I'm trying not to let anyone know the Queen is here."  Allen answered.  "We're rebels, remember?  I don't want to give us away to the world entirely if we can help it."

            "We're supposed to be meeting up now."  Hitomi said, checking her watch.  "To decide on a plan of rescue."

            "Where?"  Allen asked.

            "The room we had Celena in." Jiai answered.   "It's all cleared out now, we might as well use it."

            "Alright."  Allen agreed.  "Gadess, would you stay here and oversee everything?  I need to devote my entire attention to this."

            "Don't worry, boss," Gadess assured, "I'll keep 'em in line."

            Convinced that his ship was well looked after, the knight and his fellows went up to the meeting room.  There, al the Lunar representatives, the Queen, and Allen's little sister were waiting.  Hitomi stepped out from behind him.  "Is everyone here?"

            There were nods.  Two tables had been pushed together and set in the middle of the room so that everyone could sit around it.  Millerna was at the head in the middle of the far end.  Amano was on her right and Yosu was on her left.  Allen's counterpart had his two cousins, Hakai and Suru sitting down the side of the table nearest him with Celena in the middle.  Koneko was at the edge of the nearside next to Suru.  Hitomi moved over and sat next to Yosu.  He cast her a look and swallowed a lump of emotion that was threatening to squelch his voice.  Jiai and Yukari sat next to her.  Daiji sat on the other side of the corner on Yukari's left.  Allen took the center between he and Koneko.  There was silence for a moment as everyone faced each other.  Millerna began formally, as if she were conducting a royal debate.  "So we are gathered to discuss a means of infiltration and recovery.  We need a plan that will grant us quick, secret access to the castle and a swift escape afterwards."

            "So we'll probably have to escape by night."  Allen stated.  "That way, our entrance and exit will be hidden."

            "But it wont' be night inside."  Jiai said.

            "Let's save the timing to when we actually GET there."  Amano suggested.  "Let's work on what we're going to do once we're inside."

            "You've forgotten about GETTING inside."  Yukari corrected him.  "First thing's first."

            "Now I'm just confused."  Yosu announced.  "We're having trouble on where we need to start with this.  Lets just get a frame down.  We'll need two groups, right?  One for Van, one for Merle?"

            "That's probably a good start."  Millerna told him.

            "No, that provides no security."  Allen said.  "We need three parties."

            "Three?"  Koneko asked.  "For what?"

            "One for a diversion."  Allen answered.  "If we can keep the guards and the imposter Hitomi distracted, we'll have a better chance of getting out cleanly."

            "Okay, I get it."  Yosu said.  "Three groups.  And there are how many of us?"  He counted in his head.  "Twelve?  That's four per group."

            "Not so fast."  Amano interrupted.  "I don't think all of us can do this.  Some will have to stay behind."

            "Why?"  Hitomi asked.

            "I see his point."  Allen agreed.  "Taking into account who we've got on board, if we show up with the Queen, they'll know who we are immediately, and the Maginot there will arrest us on the spot.  Plus I'm not letting Celena go in."

            "I don't want to go."  Suru spoke up.

            "There's something else."  Yukari nodded to Suru.  "The twins would just get in the way."

            "HEY!"  Hakai cried.

            "Second."  Amano agreed.

            Hakai crossed his arms and fumed.  "Nazis"

            "So that's four out."  Daiji finalized.

            "I don't think Hitomi should go either."  Allen announced.

            Hitomi jumped to her feet.  "WHAT!?!"

            "They'll know who you are!"  Allen replied.  "You're famous like Millerna!  You might jeopardize everything!"

            "There is no way you're excluding me!"  Hitomi cried.  "I'm coming!  This is my project!  You need me!"

            "I don't know about this whole 'project' thing," Daiji said, "but under that premise, you shouldn't go either."  He was looking at Allen.

            Allen looked appalled.  "You can't be serious!"

            "No, he's right."  Millerna said.  "You are as famous by face as I am.  They could identify you from the back.   You should remain on the ship and look out for the mission from there."

            "I refuse!  No way!"  Allen cried.

            "Com on, Allen, swallow your pride."  Yukari charged.  "You know that's how it's gotta be."     

            Allen looked to her and backed off.  Her eyes and her voice made something in his memory replace his defense and he sat back down.  "Alright, lets continue."

            "How would we go about a diversion?"  Jiai asked.  "We would have to do something really big to get everyone involved."

            "Or we could infiltrate it undercover."  Koneko suggested.  "Just like on TV, we could get in costume and go in under an alias!"

            "That's really not a bad idea."  Amano said.  "We could have a party appear to be some sort of despot or something come to seek an audience with King Van.  That way, security will be concentrated around them and the rest of us can sneak in."

            "Is someone taking notes?"  Jiai asked.  "Maybe we should write this down."

            "I'll take care of it."  Millerna volunteered.  She got up to retrieve supplies.

            Yosu, thinking logically as always, asked, "do we have a map or something or are we just going to have to find our way in?"

            "Duvera can get us one."  Allen answered.

            "Duvera?"  Hitomi asked.

            "Oh!"  Yukari understood.  "Your friend you were talking about at dinner."

            "That's right."  Allen answered.  "Duvera Hoden is second in command out there."

            "Second!  Wow!"  Daiji gawked.  "And he'll help us out?  I mean, he's not scared of losing his position?"

            "Don't worry."  Millerna assured, returning.  "I'm the Queen!  He's in no danger of losing his job if he's obeying my orders."

            "Oh yeah."  Hitomi grinned.  "I keep thinking that you're a princess still."

            "Okay."  Millerna set a piece of paper down on the table and got out a crude pencil.  "We've three parties: the diversion team, the Van team, and the Merle team."

            "Who's on which team?"  Koneko asked.

            "List."  Millerna began writing all she could. "Me, Celena, Suru, Hakai, Hitomi and Allen are staying behind."

            "No!"  Hitomi cried.  "I'm going. You guys need me."

            "You'll endanger the mission."  Allen insisted.

            "But through me, we can find out where people are!"  She said.  "I can connect Yosu or Koneko to Van and Merle and they can give us hints to where they are in the castle and what they are doing."

            "That's a good strategy," Daiji agreed, "We get somewhat of a head start that way."

            "Okay, Hitomi, you should come."  Amano said.  Allen pouted in silence.

            Millerna crossed Hitomi off the 'stay behind' list and looked up.  "Well, if Hitomi does go, where would be the best place to put her?  She still endangers the mission after all."

            "She can't be on the diversion team."  Yosu stated.  "They'll see her and know something's up, since there's that fake one running around."

            "We shouldn't stick her on the 'Van Napping' team then, either."  Amano added.  "Because if Van sees two of her, he might make a scene."  Hitomi was crestfallen as everyone agreed.

            "Okay, so Hitomi goes on the Merle team."  Millerna said, writing her in.  "Now where should everyone else go?"

            "These are going to small parties."  Yukari said, concerned.

            "Well, Gadess will be there.  We're taking the Crusade so we'll have him and the crew."  Allen said, still slightly put off because he wasn't included.

            "Gadess will certainly help."  Jiai agreed.  "He's  got knowledge of the customs, plus a lot of muscle on him…"

            "Jiai!?!"  Hitomi cried, amused.

            Jiai blushed and shot her eyes to Amano, then to Daiji.  "Well, I…"

            "No, that's a good point in itself."  Yosu said.  "Gadess would be a good member of the Van team, in case he puts up a fight."

            Hitomi was appalled.  "A fight!?  I'm sure he wouldn't – "

            "Just in case."  Yosu assured her.

            "Okay," Millerna continued, "so Gadess is on the Van team, who else?"

            "Daiji or Amano," Yukari suggested, "I don't think any of the girls would help in convincing Van to leave his country."

            "Yeah, he'll be skeptical if girls try and get him to do anything."  Koneko agreed.

            "How would you know?"  Hitomi asked, offended by the way they all were talking about Van when none of them knew him.

            Koneko pointed to Yosu.  "I live with him!  He and Van are exactly alike, right?"

            "You know, we could use that."  Daiji said.  "Van's in control of the whole palace.  What better way to get stuff done in a hurry than to have a Van body double who looks exactly like him and has his voice?"

            "But Van has black hair."  Hitomi said.

            "Get him a wig."  Daiji answered.

            "That would be great to get us inside."  Amano grinned.  "No one will ask questions if we've got the king with us."

            "But we can't take Van into the throne room to meet Van."  Jiai stated.  "That would be an obvious fraud."

            "So Yosu dressed as Van is on the Merle team?"   Millerna asked.

            "Perfect."  Allen announced.  "There'd be no way we could break her out of a stone cell with metal bars.  We'd need a key.  And we could either lift one off a guard or have it handed to us through Yosu!  That's excellent."

            "So who's with Yosu and Hitomi?"  Amano asked.

            "I'll go!"  Koneko volunteered energetically, her hand waving in the air like an anxious student with the right answer.  "I want to!  Pick me!"

            "Okay."  Millerna smiled, laughing to herself. "You can be on the Merle team, too."

            Koneko pumped her fist in victory. "Yes!"

            "And Hitomi should close out the Merle team."  Yukari said.  "We don't need any more than three.  Now we need to place the other two teams."

            "My thoughts exactly."  Millerna said, starting up a new list.

            "Gadess is on the Van team, and we need another boy."  Jiai recalled. "So either Daiji or Amano.  Maybe both."

            "No, we should make the despot male too."  Allen corrected.  "They'd cut a better image and it would be less of an acting job for whoever's involved."

            "So we ask again," Yukari repeated, "Daiji or Amano?"

            "If no one would mind, I'd like to take it."  Daiji said.

            "Are you sure?"  Jiai asked.

            "Well, I think I'm probably the only one going who's qualified for the role."  He said.  "My father is a state representative.  Just living with the guy has taught me how to talk like him.  Plus, we've all gotten a taste of Amano's acting job…"

            "Hey, it wasn't that bad."  Amano defended, remembering the conversation with the gatekeeper the night before.

            Daiji mocked him.  "Oh, and Allen promised to give us a tour…oh my goodness."

            "Shut up, would you."  Amano said, reddening.  Daiji chuckled.

            Millerna's cheeks were rosy watching them; she shook herself out of her daze and got back to work.  "Okay, so Daiji's the diversion team and Amano's the Van team."

            "He and Gadess are all we'll probably need on the Van team."  Yosu said.

            "It's all we can have if we're going for all males."  Hitomi observed.  "And that would place Yukari and Jiai with Daiji."

            "Good.  We've got that straightened out."  Allen said.  "What else do we need to do?"

            "How's it going to play?"  Millerna asked.

            "Well, I expect we enter from separate sides of the castle; the diversion team from one side and the other two from the other."  Allen said.  "But we can't make any real plans until we have a map of the inside."

            "You realize this is going to be a heavily costumed operation…" Yosu said, "we're going to have to disguise everyone involved.  We're going to have to disguise the ship because they know what it looks like.  And we're going to have to maybe disguise Van and Merle.  If you think about it, getting them out is going to be just as difficult if not more so than getting us in."

            Allen put a hand to his chin. "We don't have those kind of supplies on board the Crusade.  I don't know where we would find them."

            "We might have to change the whole thing to a smash and grab job."  Amano stated.

            "Please no."  Jiai said.

            Just then, Gadess stepped in.  "The repairmen are leaving, now, sir."

            "Gadess, do you know if the crew have any useful clothing or something we could use to make costumes out of?"  Allen asked.

            "Costumes?"  Gadess asked.  "Our crew?  I highly doubt it."

            "I figured as much…" Allen sighed.

            "But…" Gadess continued.  Twelve heads snapped around to face him.  He took a start, but recovered to finish before they got violent.  "But my cousin Philos lives in Chesario not far from here.  We can see if he can help us."

            "I didn't know you had family in Chesario."  Allen seemed amazed.  "And you really think he could help us?"

            "Philos and I always got on well.  We sort of lost touch when he moved to Kataphygio, but I'm sure he would help if I asked him."  Gadess assured.

            Allen got to his feet.  "Take us there."

                        *                           Escaflowne                              *

            "Van, I've got to go meet a friend."  The young girl said, rising form her seat on the steps.

            The king looked up from his throne.  He was sitting sideways across it as always.  "Who?"

            "He's just a friend."  She answered with Hitomi's voice.  "You don't have to be jealous."

            "Who said I was jealous?" Van answered.  "I just want to know where you're going."

            She turned and smiled at him, her large sparkling green eyes warm and her light red-brown hair moving at mid-back level.  "I'm staying in town.  I'll be back by dinner."

            "I didn't know you knew anyone around here, Hitomi."  Van said, righting  himself and leaning forward.

            She turned completely, her Fanelian dress moving behind her.  She reached up to her chest and showed him his pink Atlantican pendant.  "I can't forget you, Van.  I've got you with me always as long as I have this.  I'll be gone for the afternoon, then I will be right back, I promise."

            He studied her through his disheveled black bangs.  "Alright, Hitomi, whatever you want.  I trust you."

            "Thank you, Van, that means a lot to me."  She turned and headed out the throne room doors.  The Fanelian royal guards stood at attention as they watched her pass.  She'd been living at the palace for nearly a month and they'd come to accept her as a sight as common in the Urthras castle halls as the family portraits and high-mounted wall lanterns.  She headed through many halls of stained wooden paneling and long red carpeting to the armory where the newly arrived Guymelefs from Asturia were freshly docked and unloading their occupants.  She passed without looking in, but if she had, she would have seen the green knight melef kneeling on one knee.  A hiss of steam was released from the cabin entrance and the decorative spade-like seals folded off the chest, allowing the front of the armor to fold open.  With the cockpit hatch open, Captain of the guard, Asturia, Seguir Nadeje, emerged upon Fanelian soil.  He moved down to the ground, stately in his deep green, sleeveless over-shirt with double shoulder clasps and a puffed Asturian shirt the color of his Melef.  The captain of the guard, Fanelia saluted him.  "Nadeje."

            "Gambero."  Seguir saluted back.  "These men and their Maginot are at your disposal.  I've been sent by Sir Haman with tidings."

            "Haman and not the Queen?"  Gambero asked, formally.

            "Sir Haman has become acting head of Asturia.  Queen Millerna is incapable at this time."  He answered, seamlessly.

            "I'm so sorry to hear that."  Gambero responded and saluted again.  "then I am sure you mean to return as soon as possible.  I welcome you as our guest in the name of King Van Slanzar de Fanel."

            "Thank you sir, much appreciated."  Seguir gave a final salute and exited.  He, like the young girl, also had a meeting to get to and followed the same hall as she had moments before.  There was an empty hangar that had been closed off for maintenance.  He entered without a thought and once inside heard a smooth and eerily pleasant voice speaking.  The voice belonged to a man in a Zaibachian-style black cloak, he was young, maybe thirty, with iron-black hair and piercing eyes.  He was speaking tot eh girl who was kneeling before him, his voice very soothing but at the same time menacing, like a snake charming a victim into its coils.

            "You know that you are the most important part of this plan, Youth, while you haven't failed yet, the Master does not appreciate your tarry here."

            "Yes sir."  She answered.

            "Use my name, Youth," he said, "I will tell your mind by the tone in your voice."

            "Yes, Sir Trapan."  She repeated. Her voice was steady, and a greasy smile slithered across his face.

            "That is fine, Youth.  You are doing well.  I assure you the Master is pleased."

            Seguir moved into the light of the audience, two Zaibachian guardsmen leveled their halberds to him in reaction, but Trapan waved a hand.  "Ah, well look who it is!  The Hero!  Seguir Nadeje has arrived at last."

            The girl spun around, her face lit with hope, and at sight of him, joy.  He smiled to her with a trembling lip as he stared into her fourteen-year-old green eyes.

            "Youth!  Pay him no mind!"  Trapan ordered.  She spun quickly away and back to her knee. 

Her voice wasn't nearly as steadfast, and tremored as her heart beat and she repeated.  "Yes, Sir Trapan."  She stared at the floor, but it was obvious that she was struggling to keep her eyes off the man as he stepped up beside her and bowed to Trapan.

            "I have come as ordered, sir.  I am afraid  the strangers are on their way here."

            "You failed, Hero?"  Trapan asked, a hiss of amusement trailing at the end.  "That's not very heroic."

            "It was out of our control, sir," Seguir answered.  "They took a small private ship and managed to evade the security we'd placed on the docks."

            "And where are they now?"  Trapan asked.

            "My party left them headed for Chesario."  Seguir answered.  "They were badly in need of repairs."

            "So there is some delay…" Trapan mused, "…but they will come.  The Youth has foretold it."  Seguir looked to the girl on the floor, her shoulders trembling.  Trapan continued.  "The night before last, Atlantis granted her a vision in a dream.  The castle was being attacked by hundreds of copies of King Van Fanelia, all their wings spread.  She was carried off by them, black wings on her back and the pendant ripped from around her neck.  This vision translated by myself, states that the Lunars will come, and she will lose Atlantis to the Lunars and that the king will be involved.  But, as has been seen, fate can be changed.  We will make sure, that even if they take the king, we will keep Atlantis.  That is what the Master commands of us."  He turned slick and barked to the girl.  "Youth!  Be gone!  Breathe not a word of your visions or your suspicions!  If they come, let them!  But guard that amulet with your life, for when one departs, so too will the other!"

            "Y-Yes Sir Trapan!"  She cried, then fighting tears and obeying her fears, she dashed from the chamber.

            Seguir turned after her.  "Ayen!"  But she was unable to look at him, not with Trapan's sneer still there.  The captain of the guard turned to the cloaked man.  "Ayen is young, Trapan!  Must you demand so much of her!?!  She's a child!"

            "What is the youth here for but to work!?!"  Trapan snapped.  "She is no longer your problem, Hero.  Despite your name, there will be no heroics in your future towards that Youth."

            Seguir took a deep breath to suppress the pain and tremble in his chest.  He straightened up and set his face grimly, trying to hide the hatred he had for the man before him.

            Trapan was pleased with the effect he was having.  "Leave, Hero.  Go and return to Asturia.  Tell my Minion, Haman these words of the Master.  'Find the girl, Hitomi Kanzaki'.  She is the "Eyes".  She will maintain a relationship to the pendant as long as our Youth has it.  We need the Eyes found and held, for she has answers the Master has not yet found for himself.  This is what the Master says."

*                             Escaflowne                                  *

            The boarders of Chesario were encased in mountains.  Except for its outlet to the sea, nearly half the country was covered in the Adynatons.  The result of this was a very moist, rainy, temperate country built mostly of mountain slopes.  Hitomi watched as people worked in rice fields and sloshed through the dampened streets wearing umbrella hats similar to those she'd seen in the pictures of China in her Geography textbook.  The sky was overcast, but it wasn't raining, and the people were wearing their hats down their backs.  Their clothing was heavier and they wore a lot of belts on their chests, legs, arms, and necks.  She and her friends were riding in a wagon with an upraised platform in the center, built for extra cargo, but providing extra seating.  Two Gaean horses, colored gray like the surroundings, pulled them through the water-filled slats of the road.  The driver was a beast man, half ferret it looked like, and rode on the second story with Gadess, Allen, and Millerna.  They'd hired him and his wagon to taxi them to Gadess's cousin's house.  Hitomi noticed a lot of beast men wandering the streets.  A bear man walked by with a load of rice stalks on his back, a mother deer woman walked by with her fawn child by the hand, this country was so different from Fanelia or Asturia.  She didn't recall ever visiting it before.

            The ferret driver reined the horses to stop in front of a modest house with a high-slanted roof.  He turned to Gadess.  "here is the Hroas home, sir."

            "Thank you."  He said, dropping coins into the man's hand.  Allen stood and called to everyone.  "Everyone off!  We're here!"

            "Wow!"  Celena grinned as she and Suru got off together.  "Its so pretty!"

            "I like it here."  Suru announced.  She took Celena's hand and they ran to the gate.  Gadess stepped around them and moved to the door, but a young, thing man with black-brown hair stepped out the front door before he reached it.

            "What's all this?"

            "Philos?" Gadess asked.

            "Gadess!?!"  Philos cried.  "Oh my gosh!  It is you isn't it!?"  They rushed to meet each other and Philos took him in with a quick, reacquainting embrace.  "My gosh, Gadess!  How long has it been!?  Ten years!?!  What brings you to my door so suddenly!?"

            "I'm afraid we need your help."  Gadess answered.  "We've got some serious business to take care of and I thought you could give us a hand."

            "Of course, of course!  Anything!"  Philos answered.  He looked over the other twelve people.  "Please, come in, all of you!"

            "Thanks a lot mister!"  Koneko chirped.

            The Chesarian turned and led them inside, turning swiftly to Gadess.  "You haven't met my wife have you?  You'll have to meet her first.  She's stunning, I promise you."  He called into the house.  "Botheia!  Botheia!?  We've got visitors!"

            Hitomi entered with Jiai and Yosu.  She noted that the interior of the house was very white, contrasting the gray of the world outside, and filled with wooden decorations and furniture.  She heard commotion in the kitchen, and saw as a woman came into the den.  Hitomi was struck dumb at the sight, for this was no ordinary woman.  Besides being strikingly beautiful, the creature was a beast-woman.  Mostly fox: her skin was covered in smooth reddish fur, her ears were long and pointed with white tips at the points, much like her flowing crimson hair.  The end of her hair, bangs, and tail were tipped in white as well.  The tail was very long and floated weightlessly behind her as she entered to meet them.  The 15 year old was captivated by the woman's motions, which had managed to capture the shape and form of a human as well as the grace and poise of a fox.  Everyone was as startled to see her as Hitomi was, and were even more shocked to realize that this was Philos's wife.

            Gadess's cousin stepped forward and took her hand, her golden eyes stunned at the sight of so many people in her house.  "Theia, this is my cousin Gadess.  He and his friends have asked for our help."

            She turned her ears to him to make sure she'd heard right, but seeing the confidence in her husband's face, she relaxed into an air of pleasantry and addressed the group, her voice almost as satin as her fur.  "Well, if that is the case, then I welcome all of you to our home, and I hope that we may be able to give you what you need."

            "Thank you, Miss."  Allen bowed, quickly.  "I am Sir Allen Schezar of Asturia.  And our party is on a very important mission.  With us, predominantly, is Queen Millerna Aston, herself."

            Millerna stepped forward.  Philos bowed and Botheia curtsied to her, moving her great velvet tail as she did.  Millerna smiled.  "No need for formalities.  I thank you for obliging us so kindly despite our sudden intrusion…"

            "No intrusion."  Botheia assured her.  "If there is anything we know, it is the value of hospitality and helping other people."

            "Please tell us what your mission is."  Philos said. "If there's anything we can do, we'd be happy to do it."

            "I'm afraid it's going to be a long and complex story."  Allen said.  "And I wouldn't want to involve you too deeply, for fear of binding you to its consequences."

            "Please tell us all you can."  Botheia finalized.  "We can move into the den and decide the details after becoming better acquainted."

            Allen gave in, but Millerna answered for him.  "Alright, we'll do that.  Thank you."

*                             Escaflowne                                        *

            I was late afternoon when the story had been told in full.  They decided the best way for the Hroases to understand would be to let them know close to everything.  And while the two of them didn't fully understand the finer points, (the concept of cross-planer connections was something Hitomi and company didn't quite comprehend entirely either), they listened with open minds.  Finally, it came time for the plan of infiltration to be laid out. 

            "You see," Allen said, "we will need disguises for Daiji, Jiai, Yukari, Hitomi, Koneko, and especially the Crusade.  This is where we need your help."

            Philos had one hand on his chin, the slack of his sleeves sagging from the belts on his forearms.  "This is complex, you're right, but we will probably be able to get you your disguises.  I'm afraid they'll look very Chesarian…"

            "That's okay."  Yukari assured.  "We can make Daiji a Chesarian Dignitary."

            "And about the ship," Philos continued, "where is the Crusade now?"

            "Docked at Apiobathra."  Gadess answered.  "the rest of the crew is on board."

            "Apiobathra is convenient…" he proceeded to explain, "you see, I am a partner in a small production company.  We have a Levi-ship we use for making shipments into Deidlas and Fanelia that is also docked at Apiobathra.  It could work out that I could take you there in it and the Crusade could stay behind in Chesario."

            Allen didn't seem to like that much.  "But the people who are staying behind…"

            "Her highness, Celena, Suru, Hakai and yourself are more than welcome to stay here."  Botheia smiled.  "And our home might be a perfectly unassuming place for you to hide afterwards."

            "You would be willing to do that for us?"  Hitomi asked.

            The vixen's leaf-golden eyes smiled.  "My clan has always had a very strong tradition I was taught since I was a pup.  Helping a stranger in need is helping a friend.  I have maintained that philosophy all my life.  We will do all we can."

            "If you would prefer, you can move the Crusade further inland while we are going."  Philos suggested.  "There is an air dock just up the slope behind the town called Drapeteyo that is used for Asturian commerce.  Placing the ship there would provide you will a new direction to get away from."

            "That'd throw 'em for a loop."  Daiji grinned.  "I like it."

            "it does sound like a good plan, Allen."  Amano said.  "Admit it."

            "Alright, we'll carry it out as you say."  Allen complied.

            "So where should we start?"  Hitomi asked.  "Costuming?  W should hurry and get going."

            "Please stay the night."  Philos said.  "We can concentrate better if we aren't rushing around."

            "You guys are the nicest people I've ever met!"  Koneko said.  "Are you two for real?"

            "Yes, we're for real."  Botheia answered.  "We don't mean to be superficial, but I am serious in my traditions.  Because I've married out of the clan does not mean I've forsaken it.  If you decline our charity, it will be a personal insult."

            "And I warn you not to get on her bad side…" Philos said. "She can get nasty."

            "Don't tell them that!"  Botheia cried, laughing.  "I'm trying to make a good impression!"

            "Oh, you have."  Daiji assured, obviously noting her looks.  

            "Daiji!"  Jiai cried.  "She's married!"

            "I know.  It was a joke."  Daiji answered in defense.

            "Thank you, Daiji, I'm flattered."  Botheia said.

            Then the voice of a young  girl was heard throughout the house, accompanied by the pounding of little feet.  "Mommy!  Daddy!  I'm home!"  Around the corner came a six-year-old beast-girl.  She had light brownish hair tipped in white like her mother's, her ears were not as long and pointy and lacked the white tips, but there was fine peach fur on her forehead and the tops of her cheeks in triangles.  She paused in shock, seeing all the strangers in her house, her fox tail, which was the same color and pattern as her hair and much thinner and less bushy than Botheia's, sank down as if she'd forgotten to use it.

            Philos turned to her.  "Eythymia!  I'm glad you're home!"

            "Who are they?"  She asked.

            "These are the friends of your cousin Gadess." Botheia told her, motherly.  "Its okay, they've come to visit us for a little while."  Eythymia seemed very timid, but her mother beckoned her to her.  "Come here, sweetie."

            Eythymia walked over with her tail down and her ears back.  She was pulled up into her mother's lap to sit with her.  Philos smiled to everyone sitting around him.  "This is our daughter, Eythymia."

            "Hello, Eythymia."  Millerna smiled.  "It's nice to meet you."

            She smiled smally, "hello."

            "I didn't know you had a daughter."  Gadess said.  "Of course I didn't know you had a wife."

            "We've been out of touch."  Philos agreed.

            "So how did you two meet?"  Yukari asked.  "It seems, I mean, excuse me for saying this, but it seems like an unlikely match."

            Philos smiled to Botheia.  "Well, I moved here from Limari down by the coast to take up my half of my business.  I moved into this house and walked to work every day by way of the main road.  One day I decided to take the outer road and walk along the gully.  There I say my true love for the first time…."

            "Aw, Philos, that's beautiful."  Botheia blew him a kiss, pinned to her seat by her daughter.

            "I'm sorry to break up this moment…" Allen interrupted, "but I know I, at least, am very anxious to get started on the project."

            "But you can't come."  Jiai reminded him.

            "I know that."  Allen answered, tersely, "but I may ride along to make sure it goes well, and the sooner the better, before more Asturian troops get to Urthras."

            "Well, I should make dinner."  Botheia announced.  She set Eythymia on the floor and stood up.  Millerna stood too.

            "I'll help."

            "Oh, no, Your Majesty, I wouldn't have it – "

            "I insist."  Millerna said. "I won't be any use here, besides I want to.  If you refuse my charity, it will be a personal insult."

            Botheia smiled. "Alright."

            "I'll come, too."  Jiai offered, but Yukari caught her.

            "We should stay since we're involved."

            "Suru, why don't you take Celena in to help?"  Hitomi suggested.

            Suru thought it was a god idea and stood, tugging Celena's hand. "Come on, Celena, we can help too."

            "Do you think we should?"  Celena asked.

            "Hitomi said it was okay."  Suru answered.  "We can go watch."

            "Do you want to see my room?"  Eythymia asked, her tail twitching with excitement.

            "Okay."  Celena agreed, and the six-year old took off to lead the 12 and 16 year olds off to explore.

            "My room is really neat!  My grandmother, Narna, gave me all sorts of cool stuff form the clan!"  Eythymia grinned, rushing up the stairs in the corner of the room.

            "Clan?"  Celena asked.

            "Where my mom comes from."  Eythymia answered.  "Narna still lives in the village.  We go to visit her all the time.  The village is cool, I always come home with something to decorate my room with."  She opened the door at the top of the stairs and showed them all inside.  Her walls were covered with wooden fold craft in reds and browns and all the colors of foxes.  There were fox tails painted on wooden decorations and in weavings and carvings.  The girls stopped in the doorway to take it in.  Eythymia ran over, jumped up on her wooden bed, and crawled over the quilt to grab a picture frame from her bedside table, her foxish ears twitching.  She ran the picture over to the other two.  "See?  This is me, and Mommy and Daddy and Narna in the village."

            The three of them sat on the floor to look as she pointed to the people in the folk painting.  Her father, Philos, looked out of place, painted as a white circle with brown lines for eyes and black hair pulled back loose into a knot like he wore it.  The foxes were painted traditionally in the way all the other fox people were portrayed on the walls; two lines branching out from the chin to the ears, hair drawn over the foreheads with white tips and lines painted on the faces in their respective eye colors.  She pointed to a red one next to Philos.  "That's Mommy.  And I'm the tan one, there, and the brown one is Narna."  She looked up.  "Narna's todd is the Silver Chief, Kalos.  I cal him Manel, because  that's what Mommy told me to call him.  Everyone else calls him Silver Chief."

            "Then he's your Grandpa."  Suru said.

            "No, Grandpa's my Daddy's daddy."  Eythymia answered. "In the village, people who are special to you get special names.  Narna's name is Asphaleia, but we call her Narna, and Manel's name is Kalos.  So that's what I call them.  I should show you Narna and Manel's house while you're here!  We can all go out and visit!"

            "I'd like that."  Suru answered

            "Me too."  Celena agreed.  "It sounds like so much fun to go see another way people live."

            "Yeah!  It's real cool!"  Eythymia grinned with brightness.  "I love it there!  Let me show you some of the stuff Narna made me."  She went to the dresser and brought back a wooden doll.  The doll was carved like the folk paintings; with fox ears extending from a sharp chin and lines for eyes.  It had shredded cloth for hair that was dyed crimson with white paint at the end of each strip.  Its tail was made the same way.  She sat down with it.  "This is Leptelepitos."

            "That's a funny name."  Suru said, taking it.

            "Narna named it.  She said she made it to look like me and that the name was important because it means 'delicate' and that was what I was.  I thought it sounded funny, so I call her Leppy.  I think she's the best." 

            "I have a doll."  Suru reached into her jean pocket and took out the three paper doll pieces.  "This is Molly Dolly."

            "Why is she in parts?"  Eythymia asked.

            "Because she wanted to play with everybody."  Suru answered.  "So now everyone can play with her."

            "Does Molly Dolly want to play with Leppy?"  Eythymia asked, hopefully, her brown eyes wide.

            "She wants to play."  Suru answered. She turned to Celena.  "Do you want to play?"  Celena nodded.  Suru handed her a part of the doll.  "Here, you can be her head.  That's my favorite part."

            In the kitchen, Millerna was helping with dinner.  "So, what was it like in your clan?"

            Botheia smiled, her golden-leaf eyes glittering.  "It was nice.  A simple life.  We would spend time honoring our customs and beliefs and making things to sell.  The village where my family lives is not very far away."

            "They must be very generous to let you leave."  Millerna observed.

            Botheia got out a pot to make soup.  "They didn't approve at first.  The village usually scorns the women for leaving, and here as well as there, mixed relationships are uncommon and hard to accept."

            "But they did let you go nicely, right?"  Millerna asked, hoping that she hadn't stepped on sensitive territory, but Botheia was reassuring.

            "Oh, of course.  My father is the Silver Chief, and when he saw how much I loved Philos, and how good a person he was, they adopted him into the clan and let me go with him into town."

            "So you're a princess?"  Millerna said, pleased.  "So we have something in common!"

            "Oh, but I will never lead the village."  Botheia said.  "I have three older brothers to do that."

            "that's right…" Millerna sighed, her spirits sinking down, "I always forget I'm queen…."  She stood still for a minute, then made a decision.  "Botheia, you said that you love Philos."

            "Yes."  She answered, her white tipped bangs moving with a graceful turn of her head.

             The queen had a pressing question she was dying to ask an impartial party.  "How did you know…"

            "That I was in love?"  Botheia finished.  Millerna nodded slowly, locking her blue eyes with the woman's.  Botheia blinked, then returned to her cooking.  "Well, despite my husband's romantics, it was not love at first sight… for me.  He saw me weaving flowers in the glade to sell as jewelry.  Everyone in the village is required to make something for trade money, and I'd found the perfect project.  It was the first cool day of the dryer season, the only time that the marshflowers can spring up without being drowned or battered by raindrops.  He saw me sitting there and hurried over, but I'd been taught for all of my life to beware of strange men and todds, and of course, and of course, I was only eighteen.  I talked to him about how I needed to work and he struck me as being very honest and kind, but he was too good to be true, so I dismissed him and returned home quickly.  I thought about him all that day, and that night, he appeared behind our house and talked to me through the window.  Our house was built high from the ground in case of flood, so I had to lean out to him.  He showed up every night without fail, and we would talk without my parents knowing.  That was when I fell in love."

            "Why did you decide then?"  Millerna asked.

            "Because he cared so much for me that he wanted to get to know me and be near me.  Even when I turned him away he kept coming back.  All along, I knew deep inside that I could trust him, and when I realized that I couldn't stop thinking about him either; that was when I saw that I loved him.  That night, I met him on the ground and told him so.  We had our first kiss by moonlight under my windowsill, and the next day he took me out in daylight through the village and the town without a care in the world.  When we were together nothing else mattered.  That's the bond we have."

            "So you loved him…" Millerna summarized, "when you realized how much he loved you?"

            "That's right."  Botheia answered.  "And when I saw him with my heart and not my tutored mind.  Sometimes what we've come to belief is not what's true.  Lessons parents have drilled into our heads sometimes need to be proven by the heart.  That kind of realization is the truest truth there could be."

            "Proven by the heart…  truest truth…"  Millerna repeated, her eyes moistening, she looked up.  "That was beautiful."

            "Philos tells me I have a mind for words."  Botheia answered with a grin.

            Hitomi appeared in the doorway.  "How is it going in here?  Would you like some more help?"

            "We're doing fine."  Botheia answered.  "But you're welcome to lend a hand if you so desire."

            "I just felt like I needed to volunteer.  There are a lot of people to feed."

            "What are we making?"  Millerna asked.

            "Silverfox Bonfire Stew."  Their hostess answered.  "The dish my ancestors always made to feed visiting clans.  I thought it was appropriate, but don't share the recipe, it's a secret."

            "So I will fly the Thysia out near Urthras…"  Philos finalized.

            "Thysia?"  Jiai asked

            "That's the name of my ship."  He answered.  "Thysia, after my mother."

            "Nice sentiment."  Amano said.

            "Maybe I am a bit of a romantic.." Philos grinned with a shrug.  "But anyway, I fly you all out to Fanelia, land in the forest outside the capital city, and wait for you to return so I may whisk you back to Chesario with King Van."

            "And Merle!"  Koneko cried.  "You can't forget my cat girl!"

            "Of course."  Philos smiled to her.

            "How fast is the Thysia?"  Yosu asked.

            "She's fast enough.  She's a high-atmosphere vessel.  If the Levi-stones are warm enough, I can make it from Apiobathra to Skorosty, Deidlas in half a day."

            "That's impressive."  Gadess whistled.  "We could get the whole thing done in an evening."

            "I'm excited now!"  Jiai smiled.  "But I'm also scared.  I'm afraid that I'll be the one who won't be able to hold it together and will blow our cover."

            "I'll look out for you, Jiai."  Daiji reassured.  "Don't worry about it."

            She blushed a little and smiled at him.

            "We'll work on your costumes tonight."  Philos resolved.  "The girls should be easy enough, but I don't know about you, Daiji.  You're much taller and have a sturdier build than I do.  We'll have to ask around for nice clothes that will fit you.  And Allen," he turned to the knight, "have you decided whether you're coming or not?"

            "I'm still debating."  Allen answered.  "I feel like I should go in case you need me, but then again, there would be no one here to look after the Queen when we leave her.  If Haman sends people out to look for us and no one is here when they arrive, then Millerna and Celena…"  He trailed off into thought.  It was interrupted when suddenly a shrill cry came form up the stairs.  Allen's face blanched, and his eyes sprung wide.  There was no mistake; it was happening again.  He sprung up as his sister's screams ripped through the tranquility of the house.  Hitomi ran in from the kitchen as Allen bolted by.  "Celena!"

            In Eythymia's room, their playing dolls had knocked over a lamp, and the oil and flame were spreading along the wooden floor.  Celena was kneeling over a patch of fire, her hands on her head and horrible screams shaking her frame.  Before her, the face of her paper doll was being decimated by the crackling tongues of destruction.  Eythymia jumped up.  "Celena!?  It's okay, I'll put it out!  Don't scream!  See?  I'll put it out!"  The six year old grabbed a rug off the floor and snuffed the fire with it, smoke trailing up, but he image of a human face being blackened in a consuming veil of orange and red stung in the16-year-old's head, rearranging concepts, bring up strange  memories and stabbing pains.  Her hair began to bristle up as she replayed it over and over in her mind, unable to focus on anything else.  Eythymia was at a loss, but Suru, for some reason, seemed calm.  She took one of Celena's hands and held it in hers, her blue eyes innocent and strangely mature.

            "Don't leave, Celena.  We have to play more."  She said. "Don't worry about my doll.  We can still play anyway.  Come back and play, Celena."

            The girl heard her own voice speaking her name, and the episode subsided.  The screams were less forced, and her hair fell between her fingers.   Just then, Allen barged into the room.  Hitomi and Hakai were right on his tail.  He saw his sister on the floor and fell down beside her to help her, whispering her name and bringing her back fully.  Celena opened up her light blue eyes and peered out through her wispy hair.  She was again in the comfort of her brother's arms, but now she stared into her same eyes on Suru's face.  Her bewilderment and the exhaustion of the attack overtook her and she passed out in Allen's embrace.

            He sighed and picked her up off the floor, laying her on the quilt of the bed.  He kissed her forehead and let her sleep, turning to meet Philos and the others at the door.  "I'm staying."

            "Good." Philos agreed.

            Hitomi clung to the doorpost and stared at the scene.  The arrest itself hadn't frozen her, she was thinking back to what she saw when she'd arrived.  Allen wasn't the only one to save her; Suru had healed her too.  She began to consider the connection again and the screaming she'd heard in Suru's head.  Botheia came in to the room, her brick-red tail hung low in gravity.  She took her daughter's hand.  "Eythy, come along."

            "You too, Suru."  Yukari whispered to the 12-year-old.  "Why don't you let Celena sleep for a while?"

            Suru paused and looked to the redhead with disinterest.  She then resumed her gaze on Celena, sleeping before her.  Yukari was about to enter when the blonde moved.  Suru picked up Leppy, the fox doll, and put it next to Celena on the bed.  "Now you won't be scared.  Eythymia's here with you to be your friend."  Then Suru gathered what was left of her paper doll, but when she removed the mat for the head, there was nothing left of it but ashes and smoke.  Replacing the mat, she left he two other pieces on top and left the room empty handed and apparently burdened with grief.

*                             Escaflowne                                        *

It was night, and the girl, Ayen, was trying to sleep in her room at the palace.  The Atlantican pendant was beside her on the side-table.  She wanted no visions tonight.  She was afraid they'd be of Seguir….

            The very thought of him broke her heard and she started crying again.  He was there, he was in the building, breathing the same air.  His melef was sitting in the docking bay.  Perhaps they could escape together that night….

            Just then, she heard a voice in her room.  It was a slick, greasy voice and hovered in the air like oil separating from water.  She sprung up, her brown-red hair across her shoulders, and the covers pulled up to her chin.  Trapan spoke to her in the dark.  She couldn't see where he was when he began.  "You've  bet your hero again, Youth."

            "Si-Sir Trapan!?!"  She huddled up in fear.

            "I was going to let you see each other…" he said in mock sympathy, "but alas, the Hero failed to stop the Eyes from making their way to Fanelia.  I suppose there will be no happy reunion this time."

            Her green eyes were stuck wide, having realized what he meant.  "But – But Sir Trapan!  You cant!"

            "SILENCE!"

            She flinched, knowing that another shout would wake Van or someone else who didn't know about their faction.  Then everything would be out of the water and Trapan would blame her.

            The man continued at a lower decibel.  "The Eyes are on their way.  They have taken a detour, but they are coming.  If your double makes it into the palace and interferes with anything, whether Atlantis or the Dragon King, you will have no hero."

            "Sir Trapan!?!"  Ayen cried.

            "You heard me…" Trapan hissed, the pleasure gone and dead seriousness replacing it.  "If you fail as well, you will NEVER see your father again."

            The night settled and she knew that he'd left.  She reached over and grabbed the pendant quickly, hiding it in her fist against her chest.  She took a deep breath and pulled the chain over her hair.  If she was to stop her double, she would need every clue, and every vision, she could get.

To Be Continued…