Disclaimer: I do not own The Vision of Escaflowne (Tenkuu no Escaflowne) nor its characters and themes. This story is purely fictional and non-profit.

A Different Kind of Fairytale

I wonder... I always wonder. Those curious 'what ifs' and daydreams of what-might've-beens. It's been five years. It didn't end happily but that doesn't mean it has to be for ever after. This time it will be different.

This story takes place five years after the Great War (Escaflowne series). We're in the beginning of Hitomi's third year at university, about April 2008.

Legend:

"..." – speech

'...' (italized) – thoughts

Author's Note: [01.144.09] 7:06 am

Christmas had come and gone. New Year came and went (well, not that literally). My... I'm so ashamed. I promised a before-holidays update. *hangs head* And I still haven't updated Mysteries! I might have to call on the Greek muses for this, obviously my muse is incompetent.

*silence*

No way! No muse? No oh-so-great ideas? Where is the witty banter?!

Writer's rush is at it's official end. I have a goal, plot actually, going on but I just can't seem to bridge it. Erm a lot of things went on so... no excuses here. I cannot apologize enough for how late this is.

No more promises from me, sorry. We'll all have to wait now. I'll make sure it's worth it!

_____

"I just hope she's really okay."

_____

Chapter X: Full Circle Part I

"Have you ever heard the phrase 'It was good of me to ask for three'?" Folken asked his brother of five summers.

"No, Folken. Tell me about it!" Young Van eagerly asked his older brother.

"I heard it just now, from the prospector at the mines," Folken smiled.

"What does it mean? Is it about mining?"

"No actually I think it was a risk strategy. He said that when I asked him for a sample of the things he uses to blow up the mines. He gave me three instead."

"Did he tell you what it means? So you should always have three? Three what? Crowns? Horses? Wings?" Van laughed.

Folken laughed heartily as well. "Erm... not exactly. But if you in the face of a risk, he said, always have three at your hand. One for a trial, one for the surefire and one failsafe."

"Ohh..." Van's face scrunched up at the unfamiliar words.

"It means, little brother, that you should at least know what you're going into. That's what a trial is for: to gain information."

"Okay..." Van nodded, understanding a little.

"And then for the surefire. Once you know your target and the obstacles," Folken imitated drawing a bow and mock-scanned the area, "You strike." He released and the branches suddenly swayed nosily.

"Wow!" Van exclaimed, impressed at the coincidence.

Folken smirked. "Then... when things go wrong. And they're bound to be," he then imitated getting an arrow from an invisible quiver from his back, "You have a backup. And you strike again." This time a strong wind blew over them and broke a small branch.

Folken grunted, like playing at an imaginary bow was some effort. "You strike while your enemy thinks he is winning. That is the almost impeccable law of the good side."

"Wow..." Van almost didn't get the last part for he was staring intently at the fallen branch. Folken smiled.

"Oh but..." Van started as he realized something, "That's not how it is in the stories Mother tells us."

"Oh? How so?" Folken asked.

"The bad guy beats the hero then the hero goes on some quest then attacks and then he wins."

"Little kid's stories do not mention the strategy too much." Folken teased, ruffling Van's already messy hair.

"Hey!"

End Flashback

Van thought of his brother's advice as he faced Emery Picket, one of Asturia's richest and most influential merchants. He already sent an envoy to get their terms. They were demanding more payment for their goods.

"No oil then no grain," Van said firmly.

"You need oil for your machinery and guymelefs. Oil for more grain and a small supply of drag-energists."

Van gritted his teeth. Energists were in high demand and also high in price. It was Fanelia's leading produce with their high supply of dragons around. Of course they don't kill them, rather they wait to them to die at a nearby Dragon's Graveyard. And since the war, many of them are dead already.

Van took a deep breath. "No oil, nothing to gather the energists. Then we stop delivering our supply so far. Then in about a few more moons Gaea will be in total halt as people will want to get the one thing that is low in the market. All of Gaea will want to trade with us and we can get all the oil we need. Asturia would be almost bankrupt by then for the country totally depends on commerce and I know you merchants invest much on goods and then sell largely."

Picket grimaced knowing the truth of that. Then he smirked, "You would treat your friends like that?"

Van frowned, "Who?"

"Why Their Royal Majesties of Asturia of course!" Picket grinned mockingly.

"You forget your place," Allen interceded having been at the exchange from the beginning.

"And you, Sir Knight, aren't you of my country as well? Why do you betray it so?"

"Stop!" Van commanded before anyone drew their swords.

Van glared darkly at Picket and the old man cowered slightly but returned his resolve. "If anyone's doing any betraying it's you, Master Picket. You threaten your people to starve in this negotiation just so you could get some energists and sell them lower than Fanelia? I'm sorry I can't let you monopolize the market like that, by then that 'small supply' would be the only supply. And to answer your question, no. I am willing to trade with Asturia but not you high merchants. I will trade with the small merchants that can keep promises. They can get Asturia around, though not as prosperously."

Picket grimaced again. He knew he lost. "Oil for more grain then," he demanded feebly.

"How about we go back to our original trade. Even oil and grain." Van said firmly.

Picket nodded once, unwillingly. Then bowed slightly without even bending his back. Van nodded as well, it was a dismissal and Picket and his men silently trudged back to their leviship to unload their goods.

"It was good of me to ask for three." Van whispered in relief.

"That was really low. Even Dryden's father wouldn't sink so much," Allen commented, "What's that you said?"

"It was good of me to ask for three," Van said normally now, "A strategy my brother taught me. Always have three strikes. Trial, surefire and failsafe. But damn that failsafe was a bluff.

"What was the bluff?"

Van rubbed his face, totally stressed. "We don't have a reserve of energists and we wouldn't be able to gather without the oil, as Picket said. My threat would be true all-over but we won't have energists to trade once we have countries lining up at our door."

Allen whistled low, "You were really convincing though."

Van stared at him, "Was I?"

"Yeah I was confident we would win the negotiation once he mentioned the energists. Fanelia is the leading supply, you could flex that wherever you want."

"But we wouldn't have anything to flex if we hadn't the supply..." Van frowned, still thinking of the close call.

"Loosen up," Allen said as he put a hand on Van's shoulder supportively, "What made you so convincing though?"

"I was thinking of Folken's advice, as I said. I just subconsciously expected I would win."

"Well that's always good," Allen said, "You want to know a piece of advice from the Caeli?"

"Sure. Any advice is welcome." Van said and turned to him to listen.

"Plan, set, expect, win. Once you know your mind, the Fates suddenly bestow grace." Allen chuckled.

That earned a crackle of laughter from Van. "The Fates? Seriously? I destroyed one of those a while back I think..." Van joked sarcastically.

Allen laughed again, "It's what they call for the unexplainable chain of events going on."

"Yeah," Van agreed immediately thinking of Hitomi but didn't know why. "I think I like those unexplainable events."

"I do too," Allen said grasping his train of thought.

Van nodded. "Let's go back now."

As Allen and Van were about to mount their horses another vassal called for them. "Your Majesty! Sir Allen! A messenger from Freid! It was urgent he said!"

Without thinking Allen took over. "Where? Is it about the Prince?"

"He didn't say, sir, only that he needs to speak to His Majesty and yourself both."

Van and Allen exchanged a quick glance full of understanding. Van nodded and they quickly rode up to the palace thanking the vassal in the process.

_____

"The Lovers," Yuri Kanzaki commented smugly. Beside her was her five-year-old granddaughter.

Little Hitomi's eyes widened, "What does that mean obaa-chan?" (grandma)

"It means... that my little angel will be meeting her own angel soon. Gli Amanti is not just about two people, it is of communication and contact. You will have a very strong connection with someone." Yuri smiled.

"Really?" Hitomi asked, eyes still wide and excited now.

"Really," her grandmother confirmed playing with The Tower card beside The Lovers. It was troubling. "Well not too soon, I hope! I still have a lot to teach you."

Hitomi nodded excitedly, "Another story!"

Yuri laughed that comforting sound only a grandmother can make. "Let's see... well, have I told you about The Angel and the Dreamer?"

"Nope!" Hitomi gave her a wide toothy grin.

"Alrighty then," Yuri said as she placed Hitomi on her lap. "Once upon a time..."

There lived a land full of angels. Their wings were so magnificently white and their voices were like the chiming of bells. They had the ability to live forever so they live their lives completely worry-free. One angel was discontented with this kind of life so he descended to Earth.

He found a way to hide his wings and lived as the mortals do. It was a hard at first because he wasn't used to manual labor but it became easier for he had ten times the senses of normal humans. He could see more clearly even if shrouded in darkness, hear even in the farthest of distances, his smell was keen, his touch sensitive and he spoke just as an angel should. He also longed for that passionate love that the mortals felt.

One day he met a little girl who was very sick. She had lived at the orphanage since she was born. Every night she would gaze at the sky and plead the stars to take her to be with her family.

The Angel pitied her so he took her in as his own. He showed her love and security, providing her with everything she would ever need or want. The years passed by and the girl grew older but the Angel did not. The girl, now a young woman, noticed this.

She asked him about it and the Angel knew he had no choice but to reveal his identity to her. He led her to the forest, away from prying eyes, and showed her his wings.

The girl was shocked but happy. She asked the Angel if he was there to take her to her family. The Angel sadly shook his head and admitted that he never wanted to part with her.

Disappointed, the girl ran. All she ever asked anyone was for her family. She wanted to die right now if that was what it takes to be with them. To see them in more than just dreams. The Angel flew to her and caught her while she shouted her desires.

A great light engulfed them both and the Angel was surprised that they were at his homeland. Three angels greeted them, a man, a woman and a boy and the girl was overjoyed.

But the Angel was heartbroken now that he had to let go of the one he loved most. He knew they could never be if she didn't love him.

The girl asked her family how could she ever be with them. Did she have to die? Her mother, a beautiful woman in her own right, shook her head. She said the only way to be an angel is if he had a strong connection with another angel.

"But you are already angels!" She shouted. "Why can't I be with you?"

Her mother just shook her head sadly. The girl cried.

The Angel now noticed his chance. He embraced the girl and asked her if she could be his angel. If she could ever love him.

(AN: If you want, you can play "Your Guardian Angel" by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus while reading the following part of the story. It doesn't really follow but I think it suits it.)

The girl smiled at him. Even when she cried she was beautiful.

"You have given me everything I can long for, how can I not love you?" she said. The Angel was overjoyed.

Her father then interrupted them. He said that only a bond of life can transcend her into an angel.

"I am already dying so I should be the one to give up my life," the girl said.

"No! If it means I have to sacrifice my life, I shall do it." The Angel declared.

"There is another way," her brother smiled. Her parents smiled too.

"If you conceive a child then the bond of life will be fulfilled," her mother said. "I became an angel when your brother was born. I didn't want to leave but your father convinced me it was your destiny to meet this angel," she said as she gestured to the Angel.

The Angel and the girl were happy at that. They waved farewell and returned back to Earth and live their lives together. They swore that one day they will be reunited again along with another little angel borne from their love.

"Now Hitomi-chan, tell me: who is the angel and who is the dreamer in the story?" Yuri asked her.

Hitomi thought hard, her cheeks puffing up and getting red from her efforts. Yuri chuckled at how cute she looked.

"The Angel was the angel and the girl was the dreamer because she dreamed to be with her family?" Hitomi said tentatively.

"Well, that's true but not what I meant." Yuri smiled.

Hitomi thought again. "Oh...!"

"Oh?" Yuri teased.

"Not "o" obaa-chan! I meant that the angel was the dreamer and the girl was the angel!"

"Quite so many words for one syllable."

"Obaa-chan!"

Yuri laughed heartily this time. "You are right my little angel."

"But how?" Hitomi asked.

"Oh? Did you just guess?" Yuri asked. Hitomi looked sheepish.

"Well then I shall tell you," Yuri said, "The Angel wanted a life different from his own, to feel the love that mortals feel. He found it but he thought the girl didn't love him back so his desires were only in dreams.

"Now the girl, even though she longed for her family, she knew they would meet because she thought that when she died she would be taken to them. She also fulfilled all the Angel's desires, so in turn, she was his angel."

"Ohh. Kinda like I'm you're angel obaa-chan?"

"Well, yes. But you will meet your own angel soon."

"That's what the cards said, right?"

"Right," Yuri said remembering the Tower again. "And you must be very careful too Hitomi-chan. Don't let your heart run too much because it might find the wrong person."

"Ok!" Hitomi agreed, not knowing the magnitude of her grandmother's advice.

Yuri smiled. "Come now it's time for tea."

_____

Someone knocked on her door and Hitomi opened it. The vassal at the other side was shocked that she did.

"Uh... milady, you didn't have to do that," the vassal said.

"Oh I'm sorry but there was no one else to open the door..." Hitomi said, embarrassed.

"No no! I meant that you would only command it and I would come in."

"Oh." Hitomi said, feeling stupid now.

"But no matter milady! No harm done!" the vassal squeaked, having much respect for the Goddess. Hitomi nodded stiffly but relaxed a bit.

"A messenger from Freid milady. He told me he had to speak with you," he reported.

"Me? Are you sure he asked for me? I can't handle any official stuff." Hitomi said, irrationally scared of talking to the messenger.

"The King and Sir Allen Schezar will be there too," the vassal explained.

"Alright..."

_____

Van and Allen raced through the marketplace as people scattered about to make way for them.

"I wonder what's happening," one of the vendors murmured and the gossip mill started to turn.

They arrived and a vassal quickly pointed to the throne room where Allen bumped into Hitomi in his haste.

"Ow!" Hitomi complained and blushed as she saw Allen hovering above her. Van happened to arrive just there.

"Ahem," Van said pointedly.

Allen moved to his side, stood up and offered Hitomi a hand without breaking a stride.

"I'm very sorry Lady Hitomi," Allen said and bowed.

"I—um," Hitomi murmured blushing still. "Um, Van?"

"Let us not make the messenger wait so long," Van said in monotone and proceeded to the throne room.

"Majest, Sir Allen Schezar, Lady Hitomi Kanzaki," the messenger greeted and bowed on one knee.

"What news do you bring, messenger?" Van asked.

"It is the Prince of Freid, Majesty. He is now ten summers old," the messenger announced, "He invites His Majesty, Sir Allen and the Lady Hitomi for the celebration ball and has things of important matters to discuss with. Including his upcoming coronation."

Van and Allen gave Hitomi a quick glance and she blushed at their attentions.

"I'm sure whatever we will discuss will be good news," Hitomi said.

Van nodded. "Is this all your message contains and nothing else?"

"Yes, Majesty." The messenger confirmed.

"Help yourself to some food and drink before you go on your way," Van said generously. The messenger stood up and bowed then left.

"I'm afraid my instincts tell me it's not good news," Allen said, "But thank you for the support, Hitomi."

Hitomi nodded. "Um, do you want me to do a reading?"

"That would be great," Van agreed. "Let's go to my study."

_____

"Mother, don't cry. It's alright, Mother," Young Van coaxed his weeping mother.

She appeared to not have heard him because her sobs became louder.

"I'll be strong. Stronger than Father! I'll be a good ruler so please don't cry Mother..."

She stood up and went into the forest. It was the last Van had seen of her.

_____

The telephone rang in the Kanzaki residence. Reika Kanzaki, heavily pregnant with her second child, was preparing breakfast. Her husband Kaji, already dressed, descended down the stairs while her five-year-old daughter Hitomi was just waking up.

"Anata (Dear or You) could you get that?" asked Reika.

"Hai." (Sure or Yes)

Reika was setting the table while Kaji picked up the phone.

"Kanzaki residence," he greeted the caller. Reika only got snippets of what was the call about.

"Yes, we know her." (pause) "My wife's mother." (pause) "Yes we'll come down right away." Kaji replaced the phone in its cradle. He took a deep breath and faced his wife.

Reika was oblivious as she hummed while setting the table. He deliberated whether telling her the news or not in her condition.

"Who was it?" Reika asked smiling. Kaji's faced was grim.

"Anata, daijoubu desu ka?" (Dear, are you alright?)

"It's your mother, honey. She was found in the Sunrise Shrine. I'm afraid she's not with us anymore." Just then Hitomi came bounding down the stairs oblivious to her mother absorbing the shock of the news.

"Ohayo (Morning) Mama, Papa!" she greeted.

"Mama? Daijoubu?" (What's wrong?) Hitomi asked and came to hug her mother's thigh.

Reika put a gentle hand on her head while the other one caressed her swollen belly. "I'm fine, Hitomi-chan." (-chan: endearment)

"Ok... but Mama, you're crying." Hitomi observed.

"Kaji-san, what did the caller say we should do?" Reika asked her husband almost as if not hearing Hitomi. (-san: honorific)

"We need to go to the morgue." Kaji said. Little Hitomi was confused at the unfamiliar word. It will be a word she will fear ever since.

_____

They entered the King's study and it was what Hitomi had expected. At first glance you will see the large floor length window to your front with its maroon drapes opened to let the sunlight in. The desk, facing the left wall where it was fully covered with shelves of books and a map of Gaea in center-between. Two chairs facing each other on the front of the desk and a large one behind. The crest of Fanelia on a banner hovered over it.

"No decoration whatsoever," Hitomi observed amusedly.

"No room for decorations," Van said.

"It's nice," Allen commented and they laughed.

"Well, let's start."

____

Author's Note:

Ugh. Imagine the length and I had to cut it into two parts! I'm trying to get their histories straight. Big, big project ahead of me. I cannot apologize enough for how late this is but I have no excuses. This one was hard to write! Bear with me through any mistakes.

Mieru