Chapter 2.- Hopes. Disturbing memories.

"Mom…Dad…so many people died there." Iris murmured to herself as she sat down next to a fountain.

Her reflection revealed to her what she tried so hard to hide: the pain and fear.

"All just because of the greed of some men who wished to rule above us all. They killed anyone who would get in their path, not caring if it was a soldier, a father, a mother, a child… It didn't matter to them, as long as they got what they wanted: power… I'm so tired of war…" she sighed sadly.

"Are you okay?"

Iris was really surprised when she noticed she wasn't alone. King Van Fanel was behind her, and he seemed to be a bit worried.

"Excuse me, I didn't notice I was talking aloud." Iris apologized.

"You lost your family in a war?" Van couldn't help but ask.

"Yes." Iris answered. "I lost my parents, uncles, aunts, and many friends. All the family I have now are Yu, her husband Susumo, and my brother."

"I didn't know you had a brother." Van said as a matter of fact.

"No one knows he's my brother." Iris explained. "He's the second in command of the army, and the Commanding Officer of the Royal Guard. His name is Mamoru."

"I see." Van nodded. "The war you talked about, is it the Great War?"

"No." Iris shook her head for extra emphasis. "That was seven years ago, this one was… afterwards…" she sighed again sadly.

An image of a city in disaster, smoke coming from everywhere as the houses burned, people crying and running away in panic, trying to escape the inevitable… Iris shivered at the thought, as her eyes darkened in pain.

"I'm sorry," Van apologized. "I didn't wish to bring painful memories to you."

"It wasn't your fault." Iris replied calmly. "You had no way of knowing what happened to me or my people."

"I know what it is to lose something because of a war, I know what it is like to see everything before you burn down without you being able to do anything about it. The impotence, the anger of knowing you have to stand back." Van murmured, almost angry with himself again.

"But that's our job isn't it?" Iris asked, a bit of sarcasm in her voice. "To stand back and let our people fight and then just run away, with the excuse of having a country to rule, even if half of it already died."

This seemed to hurt Van, he knew what she spoke about, he knew it perfectly well, he had felt it when he had to fly away from Fanelia while it was being burnt, just after Vargas died.

.---Flashback---.

"Hope…Great Lord give us hope…" some women kept praying in a half-destroyed temple.

A young woman was walking by them, trying to reach home as soon as possible when suddenly she felt it, the danger, dropping the bags she was carrying she immediately jumped over the fence that surrounded the temple and ran inside.

"Danger!" she cried out as she picked up two little kids. "Run! Now! Get out! Quick!"

She said nothing more and ran back outside the temple with both kids under her arms. Being followed immediately by most of the people who had been in the temple. She passed by the bags she had thrown but didn't stop, not until she was behind some trees. The people followed her there.

"What is it girl?" a woman, perhaps the mother of the children asked her puzzled.

"Get down!" she cried out and ducked behind the tree.

The kids, as most of the adults followed her instructions, and a second later there was an explosion, and the land beneath them shook violently. Cries were heard everywhere, from fear, or surprise.

And once the cloud of smoke and dust had settled they could all see nothing more than ruins of what seconds before was a temple.

"How?" the mother asked the girl.

.---End of Flashback---.

"I don't know." Iris continued. "I don't know why things always have to be this way. Wars shouldn't exist."

Van had to say she was right in that.

"For example." Iris continued. "In Bashram they celebrate their victory, that the alliance won above Zaibach in that Great War, but no one wins in a war. Many people died, full cities were destroyed, and those who survived still get nightmares at night."

"I never imagined I would heard anyone speaking like you do, my lady." Van said amazed.

"You get to speak and act this way after you've been through everything I've been." Iris replied. "And I can see in your eyes you too are a troubled person, a past that won't stop haunting you, no matter how hard you try."

Van was really surprised again at her words. How could she know so much? How?

.---.

"Your majesty, Queen Iris Kanza is here." A guard announced to Chid, in his office.

"Let her in, and you are dismissed." Chid told him.

The guard nodded, and after letting the young queen in he closed the door and went down the halls in silence.

"So, I understand you wanted to speak to me." Chid say, going down right to business.

"That's right." Iris nodded. "First of all I would like to apologize for any problems my sudden departure may have caused in last night's dinner."

"Don't worry, I understand perfectly well why you preferred to leave the place my lady." Chid told her sincerely. "Lord Gorth is not a man much liked in any country, but for everyone's sake…"

"I know." Iris nodded. "But it's not about Lord Gorth's attitude that I wanted to talk with you."

"I see. So?" Chid asked, letting her speak.

"I know many people, not just in Bashram have doubts of me and my people, and they have good reasons for it." Iris said. "I was in the Great War, and I know what Zaibach did to everyone."

"If you don't mind the question my lady." Chid interfered slowly. "How come if you were in the Great War, we knew nothing about you and your people until two years later?"

"That's because in that time we had other lives." Iris answered. "It's hard to explain, but in that time we were part of another country, too far away from here for you to know about it anyway."

"Gaea is really big." Chid commented.

"Yeah, big indeed." Iris nodded, not giving much importance to that comment. "The thing is two years afterwards we had another war, and just when we were about to be destroyed, I decided to try and save as much as I could. That's when we got to ask for the lands that once belonged to Zaibach, and our kingdom: Kizanka, was born."

"I see." Chid didn't understand much of what she was saying.

He knew nothing of that second war she spoke about, and anyway in that time he, as almost everyone, had been too occupied with the reconstruction of their own kingdoms, that a war in a far away kingdom had no effect in him at the moment, now however.

"I have to say that something in Lord Gorth's words is true." Iris added. "In a way Zaibach is still alive, some of their survivors asked us for the opportunity to continue living in those lands. And you must understand that we were no one to deny them that favor. We know what it's like to lose everything on a war without having any blame of it, we wanted a second chance as most of them. So now we all live happy, they have done nothing against us, or against anyone. And in fact most of those Zaibach survivors chose to work the land, instead of helping us with the technology. I think that after all they've been through the less they want is to see more machines."

"You also said about some war-technology Bashram has, and has said nothing about." Chid reminded her.

"Yes, but that's off the topic." Iris said casually. "No matter the technology they have, I don't think they would dare to go against Gaea."

Chid nodded, believing it to be that way too.

"The thing is, my lord, that even if nor Bashram nor Zaibach is any longer a threat to Gaea, there is still danger upon this world, and upon us all." Iris tone of voice was suddenly serious, almost fatalist.

And that didn't help Chid ease his thoughts.

"What do you mean my lady?" Chid asked, getting nervous all of a sudden.

"A new danger is approaching, an enemy rising, that I can feel. Having destroyed their own world, they wish nothing more than to reconstruct their society." Iris spoke, as if in trance.

"That shall not be so bad." Chid said, trying to calm himself. "Reconstructing is the same we all do after a war."

"That's true my lord, but they're different, much different." Iris insisted. "They will stop at nothing to get what they desire: land, richness, and power. They'll do whatever they need to get everything they once had again, and no matter what gets in their path, they'll destroy it: objects and lives alike."

"You mean…?" Chid was too nervous to even finish the statement.

"They'll come to conquer Gaea." Iris finished for her.

Chid sighed tiredly. Not a war, not again, not when everything seemed to be going well finally. The previous night they had just been celebrating the peace, and now this.

"Wait." Chid interrupted his own thoughts. "How can you be so sure of that?"

"As I said last night, I have ways of knowing things." Iris said mysteriously. "I can assure you my sources are to be trusted. Gaea is in danger, as are all of us. Unless…"

"Unless what?" Chid asked apprehensively. "The least I want now is to begin a war, when we just celebrated peace last night. To push my people into another confrontation when they're still recovering from the last…"

"I know, and as you I don't wish for a war to begin." Iris nodded.

"Then, what are we going to do?" Chid asked.

"I will go meet them, in the place my sources have told me they'll be in one week." Iris answered. "I hope to be wrong in my reasoning, and that we can dialogue and come to a peaceful solution. If not…we better be prepared."

Chid gulped at that, he knew exactly what she meant.

"That's the reason I came here in the first place." She added. "To prevent you, to tell you to be careful and get ready. If my plan of talking out with them fails, Freyd, along with Asturia, Fanelia, and everyone in Gaea must be ready. I don't wish for another catastrophe to fall upon us all."

Chid immediately nodded to her as she walked to the door. He sighed inwardly; he was barely fifteen, and two wars, too young anyway.

"You're indeed a young king." Iris spoke, without turning around, as if she had heard his thoughts. "But you're also a wonderful governor, and I know you'll be able to pull Freyd through this. With your permission, your majesty."

Chid just nodded as she left, leaving him in deep thought.

.---.

Through the day Queen Iris told Yu they were leaving the next morning; and the lady in waiting nodded and left to give instructions to the few servants that had accompanied them to get everything ready for their departure. They were all surprised by it, but never questioned the decision, notice had gotten to them about the disliking events of the previous night.

"Why have you given instructions to leave already?" a voice suddenly asked as a man entered the room.

He had dark green eyes, and tousled brown hair; wearing the military uniform of the Kizanka kingdom.

"Sister…" Mamoru insisted.

"Because it is time for us to leave." Iris answered as she made sure she packed everything.

"But we barely arrived two days ago." Her brother insisted.

"You were there last night." Iris reminded him. "Leaving is the least we can do after that."

"Yeah but…" Mamoru was still insisting. "We're not leaving just because and old man tried to insult our people, are we?"

"My businesses here are over." Iris said firmly.

"Business?" Mamoru asked. "I thought this was supposed to be a party, not a business meeting."

"Mamoru we must leave this place at once. Get back to Kizanka and prepare everything." Iris told him, facing him seriously.

"Prepare? What for?" Mamoru asked.

"A war." Iris stated, a sad tone in her voice.

"What!" Mamoru cried out. "No! Not a war… Not again…No!"

"I'm sorry…" Iris sighed sadly.

"It's not your fault." Mamoru told her trying to calm down.

"In a way it is." Iris replied. "I knew this was going to happen, I should have done something sooner."

"So that's why we came." Mamoru finally understood.

His sister nodded.

Mamoru just sighed, his sister was like that, so quite and mysterious, she just spoke when she thought it was needed, and he was sure she knew a lot more things than just the ones she said aloud.

"We're going to be the ones to stand against this enemy first." Iris told her brother seriously. "We're the best prepared for something like this."

"That's why you insisted in getting all those machines, all that technology ready?" it was more a statement than a question. "Even after being through a war, that's the reason."

"I told you I knew this was going to happen since some time ago now." Iris repeated. "We're going to be the first to stand to that enemy, but I'm not sure if we'll be able to defeat it. And in case the worst happens, the rest of the kingdoms must be alert. I've talked to King Chid and warned him, the rest will depend on him."

"And on how good our machines are." Mamoru added. "Trust me sister, we'll be alright."

"I hope." Iris murmured.

.---Flashback---.

"It might be our last hope …" she sighed looking at herself in the mirror. "But can I really handle such a responsibility?"

While she was in deep thoughts, the world continue moving around her, which wasn't exactly a relieving thought. The planet was in the bridge of death, it wouldn't be long before it was absolutely destroyed. It had been months already since the World-Evacuation-Plan took effect. A selected group of almost a million persons had been chosen to leave the planet in one of their most greatest and recent inventions. And they hadn't been of the fortunate enough to be chosen.

"What do you mean you refused!" her best friend cried out at her fiancée.

"What I just told you." He replied. "They wanted me in that ship and I said no I'm not going anywhere without you."

"Are you crazy!" Yu cried out at him. "You could have saved yourself. Now you're gonna die!"

"If it's with you, I have no regrets." Susumo assured her, and broke their argument with a passionate kiss.

She saw as both her friends kissed deeply, tears streaming from Yu's eyes, both from the happiness of having Susumo still with him, and the sadness of knowing they were all condemned to irremediable death. Unless…

'My parents died months ago…when that terrible explosion happened downtown…' she sighed sadly. 'If I had just been faster, I could have saved them…'

In that moment the door opened and her brother entered.

"I'm home!" he cried out in a monotone voice.

'Brother…' she murmured to herself.

And then it clicked in her head. If she hadn't had the opportunity to save her parents, at least she would try to do so with her brother and best friends. And whomever might believe and support her.

"Have there had been any news?" the young boy asked the other three.

"Just what we know." Susumo told him seriously. "All boards are closed, and the other country will shot us that missile unless our government surrenders."

"And that will never happen." Yu added.

"So we're dead." The young one sighed.

They weren't sad, nor angry; they had gone as far as to accept they were condemned, they would die in a few months and there was nothing no one could do about it. Unless…

"No." her tone of voice was firm, and it surprised them all, they had believed her to be asleep.

"What?" he asked. "Are you okay sis?"

"We aren't dead yet." She said seriously. "And there's a way for us not to be."

"What?" Susumo and Yu were puzzled.

"Sister, I think you're hallucinating again." His brother was worried for her. "Our country is going to be destroyed. There's no way of saving ourselves."

"Yes there is." She insisted. "We'll leave this place, and go far, far away."

"And how do you plan that we do that." Her brother asked sarcastically. "The ships left since more than a month ago."

"There's another way." She replied. "Maybe you won't believe me. But there's a way, of saving ourselves, and all of those who may believe what I'm about to say."

"Well say it." Yu said.

And so she explained them what she had in mind. It was something crazy, in the bridge f insane, and it was likely that they wouldn't come unharmed out of it; but in their current situation, even such a temerarious plan was worth a try.

"It's our hope…" she murmured looking at the sky. "Our only hope…"

.---End of Flashback---.

.---.

King Van Slanzar de Fanel was really surprised when being informed of what Queen Iris had told King Chid Zar Freid. It wasn't as if he hadn't suspected something was going on since noticing the surprising acceptance of the mentioned queen to the invitation to the Peace Festivities. But what they were telling him now that was going on was beyond anything he might have been imagining; beyond anything anyone might have been imagining.

"She seemed really serious on this Van." Chid told the other king seriously, maybe too serious for a fifteen year old.

Indeed Chid Zar Feid was the youngest King a kingdom in Gaea had ever had. He had been in the need to mature too young, almost to the point where he had no childhood, but everything be for the good of his nation, of his people. He had soon learned to be quiet, calm, intelligent, and sort out any upcoming problem with as much diplomacy as he could, and he did well. But still, it tired him too much.

"Did he say who her informants were?" Allen asked.

As always, right to the point, he always wished he could be of more help to the young king, but there wasn't much he could do except what involved strategies and fighting talents. Sometimes the Caeli Knight wished he could just forget any tact or rules and tell Chid he was his true father, that he would always be there to help him, but such a thing wasn't allowed. So Allen had to remain there, just a loyal knight, helping the young king in material things, and dreaming, of one day holding him as his son, the product of the love he had for the deceased Marlene.

"No." Chid shook his head. "But she believes they're right. And in her way of speaking it also gave me the impression that she knew exactly who the enemy was, and that gave her even more security in having to be her and her people the firsts to fight it."

"But if it's as bad as you're telling us, then she and her kingdom are in great danger!" Selena cried out almost in panic.

She had been one of the most affected by the Great War seven years back. Even now she hadn't forgotten about her 'alter-ego' Dilandou Albatou, whom still caused her nightmares once in a while. Even if after the war she had decided to give a better use to those abilities she had acquired, and became a Heaven Knight, the first woman to ever bear such a title.

"We must help her." Queen Millerna of Asturia, who was also present, said firmly.

Next to her was her husband: King Dryden Fassa, a former-merchant and very wealthy man who had used most of his richness to raise Asturia after the Great War. He who had once been a womanizer and changed for the love of his wife, who at first believed him to be nothing more than a crown-seeker, but ended falling deeply in love with him, asking him to marry her, even after he had accepted to break their compromise so she could be free, to be with the man he had crush with before.

"It's not that easy Millerna." Allen spoke seriously. "This situation, if a war is really going to happen, we'll need men, and weapons, an army. And that means you need to return to Asturia and assemble your army."

"And it would be best if we warned Egzardia, Bashram, and the rest of the small kingdoms too." Selena suggested. "To tell them to be ready for a possible new Great War."

They all sighed at the idea.

"Then Fanelia will be the first to go to fight, in the aid of Kizanka." Van said seriously.

"What do you mean?" Chid asked getting everyone's attention.

"We all know Fanelia's the closer kingdom to Kizanka." Van explained. "And if things were to get out of their hands we're the nearest to them, and thus the best to help them in an emergency. And of course if thing do get to big we will also are the next kingdom those enemies would attack."

The rest had to admit he did have a point.

"Even then." Millerna said uneasily. "It's too dangerous."

"It'll be worst if we just sit and wait." Van retorted. "I won't wait and see how that kingdom falls."

"The kingdom or the queen?" Dryden asked with a strange gleam in the eye.

But Van's look immediately changed his mind, it was obviously there was just one person for him, even if she wasn't even there.

"Anyway." Van continued. "I have my samurai army, even if most of them are young, they're well trained, and I'll wake up Escaflowne. Whatever is needed to stop that enemy."

"Then I'll go to the Castello Fortress and get my men ready. We'll catch up with you in few days." Allen said.

"And I'll be with you." Selena added.

"No." Allen cut her. "You'll go back to Asturia, and lead the Asturian army in my place."

In a way Selena was mad at him for wanting to leave her behind, but in the other she knew her brother just wanted to protect her, like he had swore her after the Great War he would; and besides leading the Asturian army was a great responsibility, and if she was being given that position, it was a great honor. She turned to look at the King and Queen of her kingdom, and they nodded, giving their approval.

"Then we must leave at once." Van said standing up immediately. "Thank you for your hospitality Chid. Lets hope next time we're in a better situation."

"Lets hope." Chid repeated with a nod.

It seemed they were supporting everything in mere hopes. And that wasn't a good thing.

.---.

.---Flashback---.

"But you've got to believe me, all I've said is true!" she said in a high voice, trying to get all the people around her to trust her, which seemed almost impossible.

"You must be really out of your senses girl." One man said. "What you are telling us is impossible. Just as it is impossible for us to save ourselves now. All the ships are gone, that bomb will explode in less than a month and we'll be nothing more than ashes over ruins of what once was our home."

"Why do you have to be so pessimistic?" Yu stepped in.

Her friend turned to her with a thankful gesture, but said nothing to her.

"Is it so hard for you to believe we aren't as lost as you want to believe?" she asked in a lower tone of voice. "Why don't you want to accept that there's still a chance for us to save ourselves?"

"Why do you insist in giving us non-existent hopes?" a man retorted. "You just illusion our children, and once they see that missile above our heads and they understand it was all a lie, they'll feel even more miserable."

"If an illusion, as you call it, may brighten up our last days, I don't see the problem." She said calmly. "And this is no illusion, what I've said is as real as any of us. You just need to believe."

"I believe." A young voice said.

It was a girl, a couple of years younger than Yu, and she was firm in what she had just said.

"Look around." She spoke aloud. "Our home is destroying, what harm does it do to believe there's a chance of surviving this and finding a new home to live on? If it doesn't work, at least it took our thoughts away from our death for some time; but if it does work…"

No one needed her to finish that statement.

"Fine." A woman spoke. "I believe too."

Immediately afterwards more people added to that voice, one by one, some of them still unsure, but they really wanted, with all their forces, to believe there was still a chance.

"Who are you?" a man suddenly asked.

"What?" she was surprised by his sudden question.

"Here you are, talking to us, offering a second chance, trying to convince us we will survive the apocalypses, and we still don't know who you are." The man explained. "I think we would like to know the name of who has taken the responsibility of saving us."

She smiled at him, knowing that she had finally gained their trust. With his words she could feel the great weight she had loaded upon herself, saving them all, but she knew she could do it, she would do it.

"You may call me…" everyone paid attention to her words. "Iris…"

.---End of Flashback---.

So, I hope this chapter clears some minds, the explanation on how Iris and company got to Gaea. I know there are still some doubts, but those will be cleared in the next few chapters.

About the questions and guesses the reviewers have been doing, I can't answer them, it would blow up some surprises. But I can say that Iris herself will answer some of them in the following chapters.

Please if you read this leave a review, I'm losing faith in this story, having so few reviewers. I need you people!

See you in the next chappie.