A/N: I love getting reviews! It's so encouraging!
Sakura Shinguji-Albatou: You hate Van for killing the Ryuugekitai. I guess that's understandable. Yes, Dilandau will be appearing here, but not in a way anyone might expect!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places mentioned, except for Elijah, Mel, and Christina. Well, sorta. Christina is a Mary-Sue of me, Mel is a Mary-Sue of my friend, and while I had the idea of putting a relationship for Mel and someone else, she came up with his cross-dressing, blue hair, and name.
A few hours later, when they arrived in Asturia, Mel was amazed. So many people. It was amazing. It was like a dream city. As they pulled up to the palace, Mel poked Christina awake.
"Hrm? What?"
"We're he-ere."
"Huh? Oh!"
She quickly got up and looked out the window at the palace. It was beautiful, but there was something about the one in Fanelia that was better than this one. She didn't know what. She just liked it better.
The transport stopped, Van stepped out and held his hand out to help Christina get down. Elijah did the same for Mélanie.
Queen Millerna and King Dryden were waiting to greet their guests, and at their sides were knights Allen and Serena. Van remembered the day that happened all too well. Though Serena was a girl, she had such superb fighting skill that Millerna had accepted Allen's request at making her part of the royal guard. Now that Zaibach had loste their grip on her, Van had become good friends with her, and almost felt like she was the sister he never had.
Queen Millerna watched Van approach and was puzzled to see him escorting a short-haired girl by the arm. She leaned toward her husband's ear.
"Dryden, do you think that girl might be from the Mystic Moon?"
"Not all short-haired girls are from the Mystic Moon, Millerna. There could be a number of reasons for her having short hair."
"You're right, just wishfull thinking, I guess. I was so shocked when Hitomi died, she was such a kind girl."
"Yes, but right now, we have to smile and look like we don't have a care in the world."
"Yes, the boring part."
As Van and Elijah walked up the stairs with their 'guests of accompaniement', they bowed and curtsied before their hosts.
"Welcome! Thank you so much for coming to Asturia. We hope you enjoy your stay in Palas."
"It is we who thank you for your gracious invitation. You have already met Elijah Esteban Lowell, from Senik, this is lady, also from Senik, her name is Mélanie. My lady is Michia. She is from the far east, and I will go further into depth on her background later."
As he said that she was from the east, he winked at Allen. Allen understood. He had said that hitomi was from the east when Dilandau had asked about where she was from 3 years ago at Allen's castle. Queen Millerna clearly realised something was going on, so she made haste to invite them inside.
"We shall first go to the study," she said "So we may catch up on old times."
Once in the study(more spacious yet less cosy than the one in Fanelia), she dismissed any guards and ladies of the court, and bade her guests to sit.
"Now, Van. What's going on?"
Allen let loose a small smile.
"The two ladies with him and Elijah are not from here or from Elijah's planet. They are from the Mystic Moon."
"What?"
"Yes." said Van "This is Christina, however this one's name really is Mélanie. They appeared in the lake. Christina nearly drowned. I couldn't just leave them at my castle, and I thought you might like to meet them."
"Well, why didn't you just use the energist to send them back?"
Van figured he might as well voice his concern at last.
"I'm not sure if the energist will work to send them back. Hitomi seemed to be a special case, but I'm not sure if it will apply to them. They could end up anywhere."
"May I make a suggestion?"
Everyone turned to Elijah.
"When I return to my planet, I could take them with me and arrange tranportation to bring them back to earth."
Everyone looked thoughtfull. Allen looked confused.
"Why can't you bring them back before returning to your planet?"
"Well, that's because of our enemy problem. I'm sure you are all aware that though Zaibach has left you pretty much in peace, they haven't been the friendliest people to us. If I go to earth with them before returning home, Zaibach might think we're up to something. However, I could go straight home, get a smaller ship that won't be noticed as much by their sensors, and come in from the part of earth furthest away from gaea. However, earth does have sattelite technology advanced enough that they'd pick us up if we stay in the atmosphere too long. We'd have to wait for a time when gaea is facing the part of the earth furthest away from the girls' country, so that we won't have to stay too long. Well, what do you think?"
"I think it's the best plan we've got." Everyone turned to Mélanie as she spoke.
After a prolonged silence, Queen Millerna spoke up.
"Well, if both the girls are in agreement, then that would close the discussion. Christina?"
Christina nodded. It sounded like a plan that could work.
"We'll just have you shown to your rooms so that you may rest for a bit and freshen up before tonight's ball and dinner." said Millerna at last.
Christina woke up from her nap. Millerna said she would help her and Mélanie pick out perfect outfits for the occasion, so Christina sat on the edge of the bed and waited.
Mélanie was woken up by a knocking on her door, and someone coming in, smiling at her.
"Sorry to wake you, Mélanie-sama. But Queen Millerna says that you and Michia-sama are to go to her room where she will have dresses for you to wear at the ball."
Mélanie's brain was operating in slow as she had just woken up, and she was about to ask who the hell was Michia when she remembered where she was. Michia was Christina's alias, and Queen Millerna obviously found it nescessary not to tell any of her servants the truth about where Christina and Mélanie were from.
"Okay, I'm getting up."
The smiling girl led Mélanie down the hall to Christina's room, knocked, and opened it.
"Michia-sama. Her majesty Millerna requests both you and Mélanie-sama to her room immediately to try on some dresses for the ball tonight."
"On my way."
Christina came out of the room and both girls followed the smiling girl down the hall to a set of stairs. Leading the way upward, the servant brought them to the floor above, and down a hall straight to a pair of large double-doors.
Millerna is at the entrance of a giant walk-in closet, and greets the girls enthusiastically.
"Oh, hello! Come in, come in!"
"Hello, Milady." Mel says back.
"Greetings, Milady" replies Christina with a slight bow.
"Pardon me, milady," Mel says with some uncertainty "but...I have a question."
"Yes? What would it be?"
"Forgive my rudeness, but what's wrong with the dresses we have already?"
Millerna seems to ponder for a moment, then turns to the servant girl.
"Seekya, leave us please."
Seekya turns around and exits the room, closing the doors behind her.
"Well, I went through the dresses you brought with you, and am sorry to say that, considering the fact that we have guests from Zaibach visiting, we will have to find you something better, because the dresses that were made for Hitomi were from two years ago, and fashions have changed slightly. We want to make sure that you're not out of place in the slightest. In fact, Chris- sorry, Michia, we'll have to fix your hair so that it doesn't show to be short."
Christina looked a little startled.
"Oh. Ok. I guess."
"In other words," added Mel "we need better dresses. But I have to present myself as a Senikan like Elijah, correct? Did Hitomi have a Senikan dress?"
Millerna looked thoughtful
"I...do have one that she wore once in a gathering..."
"Senikan dress..." said Mel, seeming to be in a dreamy state "I wonder how it looks?"
Millerna walks into closet, and walks out a minute later with two dresses. One is a silky pink, in the Senikan style, the other a rich, velvety blue in a Gaean style.
"Oh..." Mel grabs takes the pink one "It's... oh, I'm speechless...Elijah will love me in this..."
"Mel and Elijah in a tree," Chris whispers behind Mel's back "k-i-s-s-i-n-g..."
"Actually, it would be F-r-e-n-c-h-k-i-s-s-i-n-g." corrects Mel.
Millerna raises a quizzical brow as she hands the blue dress to Christina, and Chris breaks the awkward silence.
"um, where would I go change?"
"Are you blind," inquires Mel "that you can't see the changing room in your face?"
"Oops." Christina says awkwardly, and blushes "I'll be right back."
"Seekya!" Millerna calls "you may come back now."
Once Seekya re-enters the room, Millerna gestures towards Christina.
"Could you help Michia?"
"Of course, Milady." "Help?" asks Christina "with what?" "With the dress, of course." Christina blushes again.
"Okay." Christina goes into change room followed by Seekya
"Kekeke...Poor you..."
"Mel?" asks Millerna "If you would follow me into the bathroom, I will help you get into your dress."
"Of course...Woah. Are Senikan Princesses that pampered?
Later, both girls are in their new dresses, and Millerna has changed as well. Mélanie looks in a full-length mirror.
"I hope Elijah won't try and do something unprincly to me when I am in this dress..."
"Mind talking a little louder Mel?" inquired Christina telepathically "I'm not sure if Millerna heard you correctly. By the way, in case you couldn't tell, that was sarcasm. Meaning we have to behave like princesses and talk like them too, so cut down on the dirty talk."
Millerna leads the way upstairs to the main hall where Serena, Allen, Van, Elijah and Dryden are waiting. Elijah's eyes widen when he sees Mélanie.
"Milady Mélanie...your presence is as if the planet has stop turning to gaze upon you."
Mélanie surpresses a giggle, then each man offers their arm to their lady (minus Allen, he and Serena are bodyguards), and they walk into the ballroom.
"I see it is a very special occasion today." says Mélanie, trying desperately to start a conversation.
Elijah's face takes on a sombre look and explains.
"The current leader of Zaibach is here tonight as an honoured guest because tomorrow he is going to discuss non-agression treaties with me. I wouldn't trust him though. I wouldn't be surprised if his terms are completely unacceptable."
"Why the treaties?" asks Christina
"The Senikans are in desperate needs of energy to revive the lost King of Senik, Marth. He is Elijah's ancestor."
"Marth?" Mélanie thinks for a moment Haven't I heard of him before?
Elijah makes a semi-grab movement on Mel's butt and explains.
"He helped greatly in the wars of Caelin. I'll tell you all about it later."
"How interesting. I haven't learn about Caelin in years."
Elijah raises an eyebrow.
"You mean you've heard of Caelin?"
"Well, yes. I've read some of the latest technology made in Caelin."
"Oh. I see."
"Well? Shall we dance?"
Elijah smiles.
"I thought you'd never ask."
Elijah takes Mel's right hand in his left, and places his right hand a little lower than he should, while leading her in a revolving dance across the floor.
Mélanie pressed her head on Elijah's chest.
"Elijah...May this dance last a life time!"
Van clears his throat uncomfortably.
"Well...shall we imitate them?"
"Of course." Christina replies.
She places her hand in his, and he gets in a similar position to Elijha, except that he behaves a little more princely and simply has his hand on the small of her back.
"The stars are shining for us, so the dragons may not harm this world." Mel says, as though reciting a poem.
"You did know that Van, being a Draconian, is of the Dragon people, right?" Elijah says in her ear.
"Mamkutes are not like the dragons I speak of. Draconians, half-dragons...they understand humans. Not like the ones I have spoken of."
"Um... let's just dance. You can explain all of this to me later."
"Well...I need some time alone. Just...to get this all together of what is happening right now."
"I can't let you go off on your own. There's the danger of Gecko men." "Huh?" Mel thought she heard something, then she hears it again, more clearly, and saw a brief image of a knight standing on the balcony.
Mélanie...
"Elijah, did you see what I saw?" Mel asks as she forces Elijah to stop revolving.
"What did you see?"
"I saw a knight there! On the balcony...he spoke to me...did you see him?"
Elijah looks at her worriedly.
"I think you're a little stressed. Let's get you a drink to help you unwind."
Saine "I believe you're right. Perhaps I am simply imagining things..."
Elijah leads her to a seat, and grabs her a glass of champagne from a passing caterer.
"Thank you." she says after a sip. "But I must say, that knight reminded me of...you."
"You might wanna talk about this later when we can be alone. People might hear and get the wrong idea."
"Hmmm...perhaps." and she sips her champagne silently, while thinking. Who was he? He was so...dashing. Like a Prince, or a King.
Then, when she looks at Elijah again, she is shocked by what she sees.
"Elijah? You look very pale."
"Just a little tired, I guess." and he grabs another glass of champagne from another caterer and tries to drink it slowly.
"Hmmm..."
I hope she's not refering to Him... thinks Elijah. Marth, my Lord...what do you see in this girl?
"Elijah, excuse me, but I'm going to get some air on the balcony, and I'd rather be alone."
Mélanie rises and goes to the balcony, mercifully devoid of anyone else, and sits on a bench in the far end of it, trying not to be seen by anyone inside the ballroom.
Saine...
"Who are you?" Mélanie asks.
Saine...
"Saine? Is that your name?"
No. Then the image of the knight appears again. I am Marth Lowell.
"Marth...Lowell? Are you Elijah's ancestor?"
Elijah... yes. I am his ancestor.
"You are? ...How can you speak to me?"
You are the Pheonix Guardian. You will aid the Tsubasa no Kami when her strength wavers.
"Phoenix Guardian?" Mélanie's eye begin to glow amber "Is that...Saine?"
Yes.
Marth-sama..." her eyes are now pupilless and red "Where are you?"
In the spirit world.
A/N: The reason these chapters appeared so fast is because I already had them written down somewhere. I just had to seperate them into chapters to post them here. But now you'll have to wait a tad longer for the chapter 5.
OMG! I have a cliff hanger! Mel is the Phoenix Guardian. But how can she help the Tsubasa no Kami? Where/who is the Tsubasa no Kami? I don't know if it's obvious or not. Why does Marth need to be revived? Will Van and/or Elijah and/or any other male character be getting more buckets of cold water from Sakura? Will my brother stop poking me in the back with his toy Zubat? You'll have to wait till next chapter!