Last episode was so unbelieveable! Who knew it was going to be so romantic? I sure didn't and I'm the one writing this stuff! Well, as you may have guessed by the title, we're on a new set of visions. I liked the videos and how they were each labeled with different vision numbers. They probably didn't mean anything but tape numbers people could use for reference. I like it so I decided to use it too. But the stories with the same vision numbers kind of go together. Like the three episodes in Vision One were basically to set up and introduce characters. In Vision Two you're going to see, a few old characters coming back, character development of the current ones, and plot development. Yes, you're going to see more of Sapir in Vision Two. Sorry he didn't appear that much in Vision One. Oh well. Well, where are we? Ah! Jared and Shiori are going dragon-slaying. This should be interesting. Ja ne! By the way, I know the original Zaibach 'melefs were blue but I like the idea of them being violet better. *********************************************************************** Escaflowne is not mine and never will be. It belongs to a lot of other companies who's names I can't remember right now. Including Emotion, Sunrise, TV Tokyo, and distributed by AnimeVillage.com etc. *********************************************************************** Author: Hitomi-sama E-mail: Hitomi_sama@hotmail.com Rated: A big PG-13 for violence, curse words, romance, and green squishy dragon blood The Second Vision of Escaflowne Vision Two, Episode Four: Alliance of Honor Shiori stood motionless as she gripped the hilt of the sword in her sweaty hands. She tried to keep herself from trembling as she stood inches away from the cat-like eye of a massive green dragon. The lizard flicked it's eyelid in an odd blink. Her skin glowed with the sweat. Shiori was breathing heavily, due to the fact that she had just narrowly avoided being burned to a crisp by the Dragon's fiery breath. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Jared hissed from behind her. "You look pretty scared." "I'm fine!" Shiori barked over her shoulder. "I have to do this, for Fanelia!" She added. The girl never took her eyes off the massive beast. "Get ready to run . . . again." "Nani?" Jared choked. "Ready?" "Nani?!?" "Now!" Shiori said as she jumped into the air and ran as fast as her legs would carry her. Jared followed close behind, looking over his shoulder to see the dragon clamp his jaws shut quickly, missing Shiori by mere inches. The green lizard took off after them. The blond knight gripped his sword as he saw the monster's shadow swim over him. "Look out!" He shouted as the ground trembled. The green dragon had jumped through the air and landed in front of the surprised girl. "Shimatta!" Shiori growled to herself as she grit her teeth. Not wasting a second, she thrust her sword toward the monster's exposed underside. She yanked the weapon down as hard as she could and then tumbled out of the way to avoid being showered with the lime green blood of the beast or being snapped in half by it's thrashing jaws. Jared heard the dragon screaming in pain-filled anger. It's cat-like eyes searched for the small girl who scrambled to her feet and bolted away from the lizard. The knight dashed after the girl as quick as he could, the dragon not far behind. "There's a grove of trees ahead!" He shouted to Shiori. The raven haired girl ran and dove into the welcome shelter of the trees. Jared followed suit. They saw the dragon, splattering the dirt below him with his green blood, peering through the trees. Shiori wiped the bloodstained blade of her sword on the grass beside her. She then gripped the hilt tightly. "Where's the energist?" "In it's chest." Jared replied. "Are you serious?" Shiori asked in disgust as she continued to stare at the wounded creature who sought to repay her for the massive injury she had caused. "That's not good." "He looks just about dead." The blond knight replied as he saw the lizard's thin drooping tongue no longer flicking back and forth. The dragon let out a pained moan from deep within his throat. "I bet if you got it just above his stomach, where you got him the last time, you'll have him for sure." Shiori nodded in understanding. Before Jared could protest, the raven haired girl positioned her sword so that it was poised, her elbows bent ever so slightly and rushed at the beast. The dragon, who's stomach was exposed as he sniffed the treetops for signs of his foe, wasn't expecting the blade that lodged within his chest. "Got it!" Jared cheered from the protection of the trees as he stood and ran to join the girl. "Good job, Shiori!" The girl removed her sword from the animal with a quick jerk and jumped out of range as it writhed in pain and ultimately crashed to the ground. Shiori wiped her brow that had been splattered with green blood and succeeding only in smudging it on her face and forearm. "You did it!" Jared said with a congratulatory smile. Shiori approached the dead dragon and with a displeased flinch, ran her messy blade along the surface of his flesh. The chest was sliced open and the girl's brown boots were bathed in squishy green blood. She made a rather disgusted face as she reached into the monster's chest cavity to retrieve a red sphere. It glowed for a moment at her touch. The girl held the energist above her head triumphantly. "I did it!" She exclaimed. Magically, the green blood changed into a white vapor and disappeared as if it had been concocted in a dream. Jared approached the girl and embraced her. "Congratulations!" He said as he kissed Shiori. "You were fabulous!" "All that work for this." She replied as she looked quite skeptically at the red sphere. Shiori smiled at the man with the azure eyes. "Let's go awaken Escaflowne." *** Shiori walked proudly into the royal cemetery, holding the trophy of her battle in one hand and Jared's hand in the other. She smiled as she saw a pair of doves waiting for her at the feet of the Ispano Guymelef. They beat their wings wildly and flew away before Shiori could come any closer. "Chichiue . . . ojiue . . ." Shiori whispered, watching the two doves fly through the treetops. She continued to follow their journey until they were no longer in sight. Then she smiled up at Jared who looked at her with proud azure eyes. "What do I do?" Shiori asked as she looked at the energist that she held in her palm. "Where do I put it?" Jared smiled. "That octagon like projection on Escaflowne's chest is where the energist is held." Shiori began to approach the machine but he caught her arm quickly. "First you have to bind the energist to you . . . with blood." "You mean, I have to cut myself?" Shiori asked in anxious fear. She saw her Jared nod and whimpered to herself as she took out the royal sword. Shiori cleaned the blade on the hem of her dress. The knight watched as the girl drew the razor sharp edge along the meaty part of her thumb and flinched in pain. She then pressed her trembling digit to the red sphere which glowed in response. Jared silently watched as Shiori climbed up Escaflowne and put the energist in it's chamber. He saw the Guymelef turn from gray to pure white and it's door open, welcoming Shiori inside. The girl hopped into the seat and settled into the machinery. "Did it work?" Jared asked as he saw the door close. "I'm not sure." Shiori from inside. Tense moments followed. The man held his breath until he saw Escaflowne stand upright, approach him. "It worked!" Jared exclaimed. "I don't believe it. A week ago you were just Shiori Fanel . . . two days ago you were only Shiori-hime . . . now you've managed to learn how to sword fight better than most people I've ever fought, beat me in a duel, slay a dragon, and awaken the Ispano Guymelef, Escaflowne . . ." Shiori's laughter streamed out of the Guymelef's helmet. "Is that amazing or what?" She chuckled. Jared's azure eyes danced as he regarded the massive machine. "It's amazing alright . . . you're one amazing girl, Shiori . . ." He admitted as he sighed. "More amazing than any I've ever met before." Escaflowne's hand was placed palm up on the cemetery grass. "Hop on, Jared!" Shiori exclaimed. "Let's go back to the palace. I've read about the shrine that used to house this Guymelef when chichiue was young. We can keep it there." The blond knight climbed up the machine's white metal arm and perched atop it's shoulder. Escaflowne took slow yet gracefully proud strides as it left the grove where the royal cemetery was and journeyed toward the gates of the Fanelian palace. The rumbling the Guymelef made as it walked caused many people to exit their homes and see what all the commotion was about. "Nani?" "Is that Escaflowne?" "Well I'll be! It's the Ispano Guymelef!" "It's so beautiful! I've heard so many stories about it!" "Look on it's shoulder! It's that knight from Palas!" "Who's inside? Is it Shiori-hime?" "Tenshi-Hime's awakened the Escaflowne?" "Really? Has she completed the rite of dragon-slaying?" "Just like her father!" "Long live Shiori-hime!" "Hurrah, Tenshi-Hime!" The commotion on the streets could be heard all the way inside the helmet of Shiori's Guymelef. She smiled as she walked proudly among the crowd that was cheering her on and chanting her name. They followed Escaflowne all the way to the palace steps where Hitomi stood, silently crying with joy as her daughter powered the magical Guymelef from her youth. "Shiori," Hitomi said as her emerald eyes swam with crystalline tears, "chichiue would be very proud of you . . . just like I am now." Cheers erupted once more as villagers clapped and danced around the white Guymelef. The impromptu party continued as Escaflowne was taken to the shrine where it had first been awakened by her father so many years ago. *** "We, the Samurai Generals of Fanelia, acknowledge that Shiori Tenshi de Fanel has completed the rite of dragon-slaying. We verify this to be true." Said the gray haired commander who's face was pressed to the courtyard floor. Shiori, dressed in the same cloak and oversized helmet as her father had worn at his coronation ceremony, smiled as the troop of samurai warriors bowed at her feet. "Arigato gozaimasu, Faber." Shiori said softly as the samurai rose and held out her father's royal sword. The girl took it slowly and with a triumphant smile trust it into the air. Cheers erupted from the crowd that stood behind the open gates of the palace. Townspeople danced in the streets and threw colorful confetti out the windows of their houses. "Three cheers for Tenshi-Hime!" Shouted some. "Long live Shiori-hime!" Chanted others. Shiori turned around to face the people of Fanelia who cheered and clapped as she smiled at them. "Fanelia . . . my home . . . tadaima!" She exclaimed with proud tears as she regarded the blue sky above her. "Chichiue . . . I'm home . . ." "Welcome home." Jared said as he approached the raven haired girl. Shiori removed the ceremonial helmet from her head and held it in the crook of her arm as she leaned closer to the blond knight. "Arigato." Shiori replied as she looked up into the man's sapphire eyes. She turned around and raised up onto her tiptoes, kissing Jared with sheer joy. "I'm so happy . . ." She said in sheer joy. Faber smiled at the pair as he stood beside Hitomi. "Fanelia is happy you have both returned." He said to the blond woman. "We're glad we've come back." Hitomi replied. "Both of us." The aged samurai smiled wordlessly as his eyes regarded the beautiful sky above them. The sunny blue was almost flawless except for a dark speck far in the distance that became larger with each passing second. "Nani? What is that?" Shiori looked at the flying object with anxious worry as she remembered her vision she had in the cemetery. She gripped Jared's royal blue jacket tightly. "Is that . . . ?" The girl asked in a trembling voice. "Is . . . is that . . . ?" "It's the Crusade!" Jared said as his azure eyes were raised toward the cloudless sky. A red winged machine with two large levi- stones slowly descended from above. "What are those bums doing here?" He asked as he crossed his arms and chuckled to himself. Shiori questioned him wordlessly with her curious brown eyes. "Jared, nani?" She asked. Hitomi approached the pair on the balcony. "Can it be . . . ?" She breathed in disbelief. The blond knight nodded at the woman. "Chichiue had the Crusade rebuilt." He informed. "They must've heard about what's happening here." "Allen? Really?" Hitomi asked, her emerald eyes dancing as she recalled fond memories from the past. She smiled and put her hand on Shiori's shoulder. "I haven't seen him in seventeen years." The three watched the red leviship approach the empty courtyard of the castle. Trees that comprised a nearby forest whipped from the wind the dying propellers generated. The Crusade came to rest on the white tile before them. A red door hissed as it opened and men who looked as if they hadn't seen a shower or the like for weeks emurged. They reminded Shiori of a gang of pirates. "Boss!" The men shouted as they disembarked from the Crusade and ran to where Jared stood with a sly smile playing on his lips. "Ne, boss!" The blond saw the leader of his men calling to him from the threshold of the ship. "Dalton!" Jared shouted as he motioned for the brown haired man to approach him. "Dalton, come here!" The man rubbed his unshaved chin that was bumpy with stubble as he smirked, regarding the slouching men that yelled in happy chaos. "Look alive, dirtbags!" Dalton shouted. "Fall in! Fall in you bunch of ba-" "Dalton," Jared interjected, "there are ladies present." He said with a slight blush as Shiori stood beside him, silent with embarrassment. "I beg your pardon, miss." Dalton apologized with a little bow as he smiled at the girl. "Don't mind us, we all aren't as gentlemanly as the boss here. Quite a smooth talker . . . but . . . nothing like his old man . . ." He laughed. Jared chuckled to himself under his breath at the men, who had currently fallen into lines as if they were apart of an army. "So Dalton, what are you bums doing here? Did chichiue send you?" "Did he send us?" Dalton said sarcastically. "He came with us. Once he heard about Fanelia and Tenshi-Hime . . . he just had to come see for himself. Says he's got a business propsition of some sort but I don't know exactly what it is. I ain't gonna second guess him!" "Did hahaue come too?" Jared questioned. "Iie, she's 'holding down the fort' at home." Dalton informed. The man paused and turned around to regard the men who fidgeted and silently talked amongst themselves. "Ne, Bascom! Go see if Schezar-sama needs anything." "Hai, Dalton-san!" The balding Bascom shouted as he ran into the Crusade. Dalton smiled contently at Jared. He then took Shiori's hand in his own. His large calloused fingers were rough compared to the girl's silky smooth skin. "This must be Tenshi-Hime herself." The man said. "I must say, it's a pleasure to meet you in person. I heard so much about you and your parents from Schezar-sama." "Not a smooth talker, eh?" Jared asked with a cough. "It's nice to meet you, Dalton." Shiori replied. "Please, won't you all come inside? And Schezar-sama too?" She asked. The men nodded and followed her lead into the castle. Jared smiled as he walked a few steps behind the raven haired girl. He felt a jab to his ribs and saw Dalton, winking as he elbowed him playfully. "That's some catch you got there, boss." "She sure is something else." The blond knight replied softly with a sigh. *** "Your majesty, Allen Schezar-sama of Palas." Introduced a servant. She bowed out of the way and a tall man with long silvery streaked blond hair approached the steps that led to the royal throne. The dark blue jacket he wore was fashioned much in the same style his son's was. Allen knelt before the princess, placing his white gloved fist over his heart in loyal salute. "I welcome you to Fanelia, Schezar-sama. I am Shiori Tenshi de Fanel. You've already met my mother, Hitomi." She explained as she motioned to her right. Hitomi smiled at the blue eyed man as she tossed her blond braid behind her shoulder. "Allen . . . it's nice to see you." She said. The man nodded in agreement. "You look well, Hitomi." He replied. "And Tenshi-Hime, you look so much like your father . . . it's astonishing. He would be so very proud . . ." "Arigato gozaimasu, Schezar-sama." Shiori blushed. Allen paused and after a pause adopted a rather official tone. "As to my business proposition . . . Shiori-hime, I have been sent to extend to you an offer of alliance between Fanelia and Palas. Due to the unpredictability of the Zaibach, I think this pact would be in the best interest of both kingdoms." Allen said, his voice drenched in formality. The raven haired girl sat on her father's throne. "I've heard a lot about you from hahaue. I now know that you are the gallant swordsman chichiue spoke of in my bedtime stories. They have impressed upon me a great deal of respect for you, Schezar-sama. I feel that I can trust your decisions. I would be happy to form an alliance between Fanelia and Palas." Allen tossed some of his blond and silver streaked bang out of his blue eyes. He bowed slightly before the girl and smiled. "Arigato gozaimasu, Tenshi-Hime." Shiori's earthen eyes danced. The middle aged man sighed softly as he thought about how much the girl reminded him of his old friend, Van. "Continue the party!" Shiori cried suddenly. "There's much to celebrate! My completion of the rite of dragon slaying . . . the awakening of Escaflowne . . . and now the alliance between Fanelia and Palas!" The group made their way down to the streets of the town. Roadside musicians played familiar folk songs as people danced around large bonfires and sang. Fireworks which were set off by various merchants exploded in the night sky, their color twinkling impressively above. "May I have this dance?" Allen asked Hitomi as he bowed at the waist. She smiled as she took his hands. The pair of old friends pranced wildly around a nearby fire. Jared took Shiori's hand and interlaced his fingers with hers. The girl cheerily began to follow her mother's lead and led the blond knight around the bonfire. They skipped and spun madly, dizziness making them both laugh out loud. Suddenly, Shiori's vision from the cemetery replayed itself in her mind. She ceased her dancing and began to tremble. Jared repeatedly asked if she was alright but got no response. "Daijobu? Shiori! Daijobu? Shiori! Ne, Shiori!" Jared exclaimed. Shiori snapped out of it with a quick intake of air. "The Guymelefs . . ." She muttered. "The Guymelefs . . ." "Nani?" He asked. "Call the samurai!!! We're under attack!!! Hurry!!! We're under attack!!!" Cried a man that ran frantically through the streets. People began to scatter, screaming and scrambling into their houses. "Iie . . ." Shiori said, clutching Jared with fear. "Just like my vision said." The blond man began to run toward the castle, pulling Shiori along by her wrist. "We've got to get to our Guymelefs! You need to get Escaflowne!" Shiori was frantic. "My vision . . ." She mumbled to herself in fear. "It's coming true . . . no matter what I do . . . will it all come true? Will I really . . . really . . . ?" "Everything's going to be okay." Jared reassured. He ran up the platform which lead to the Crusade. "Go get Escaflowne!" The raven haired girl nodded, courage replacing the nervousness she felt with each beat of her heart. She ran to the shrine where the pure white Guymelef was seated, it's energist container pulsing with pink light like a heartbeat. Shiori hopped up onto Escaflowne's knee and opened the hatch by pressing her palm to the shell of the glowing pink container. "We've got to go." The girl said to the Guymelef. She heard the machinery inside hiss and turn as she climbed in and began to guide it out to where the Zaibach soldiers had just reached the steps of the palace. Shiori joined two gray Guymelefs, operated by Jared and his father, Allen. As a lone red Guymelef approached Escaflowne, it's liquid snaking metal claws aimed at her, Shiori unsheathed a large sword. It extended until it was twice it's size. The sword was pointed menacingly at the red Zaibach. Shiori gripped the handles of Escaflowne so hard her knuckles turned white. The Ispano Guymelef swung it's massive sword in front of itself, striking the energist container of one violet machine and scratching the metal shell of another. "I'm not letting Fanelia fall! No one will have it unless it's over my dead body!" She could hear laughter echoing out of the red Guymelef's helmet. "That's the idea!" Lim chuckled darkly. His machine spun around and extended it's claws toward Escaflowne. Shiori guided the sword up to deflect the sharp snaking steel. "Ne! Shiori! Watch out for the red Guymelef!" Jared called from his blue caped machine as he fought off two of Lim's soldiers. The Escaflowne's sword clashed with Lim's blade. Sparks flew through the air. "Shiori! Careful!" Allen warned from inside Scherazade. His gray Guymelef slashed cleanly through a violet machine that hissed with smoke as he rushed to the princess' side. "Stay out of this, Schezar!" Lim snapped. "This doesn't concern you!" The Guymelef's claws snaked toward the Scherazade, who narrowly missed the attack by jumping to the side. "Come on, Tenshi-Hime! Come closer so I can clip those beautiful wings of yours!" "Shiori!" Jared shouted in protest as his sword ripped across the chests of three violet Guymelefs. "Bastard!" Allen cursed through clenched teeth as he raised Scherezade's sword high above his Guymelef's head and ran towards Lim. The red Zaibach machine held out it's massive hand which slammed into the gray Guymelef's stomach. With a yelp of surprise, the Scherezade fell to the ground with a metallic thud. The Isapno Guymelef stood motionless in shock. "Schezar-sama!" Shiori exclaimed. "Shimatta!" She hissed as she began to swing Escaflowne's blade at Lim, who blocked each one of her attacks. Her anger and frustration was clearly getting the best of her. Lim's red Guymelef wrestled with Escaflowne. "You're mine!" The red-haired man exclaimed as his machine began to strike the Ispano Guymelef in the stomach. Shiori cried out as the wind was knocked out of her. Unconsciously, the girl loosened her grip on the mechanical handles, sending Escaflowne's sword crashing to the ground. "Shiori!" Allen exclaimed, scrambling to get the Scherezade back on it's feet. "Iie! Shiori!!!" Jared protested at the top of his lungs as he ran from the group of violet foes that had gathered around him to fight. The red Guymelef brought it's sword up to rest on the white metal of Escaflowne's helmet. Lim's low laughter could be heard from within the Zaibach machine. "Don't come any closer." He warned slowly as he saw Jared's Guymelef approaching. "I'll kill your dear little princess." Jared's Guymelef screeched to a halt, it's large feet kicking up clouds of dust. "Shimatta!" He growled to himself. "Shiori!" "J-J-Jared!" Shiori stammered fearfully, her teeth chattering as she sat unmoving at the mercy of the red Guymelef. Her brown eyes were wide in terror as she gulped down mouthfuls of air. "Come out of the Guymelef, Tenshi-Hime." Lim demanded. Shiori hesitated. "If you do as I say, I won't harm you . . . I won't kill you unless I'm forced to. You're worth more to Sapir-sama if you're alive." "Lim!" Came the booming voice of Sapir from the floating fortress above. "Don't kill her. I want her brought back alive." "Nani?" The man asked himself as he heard his leader's instructions. He shrugged it off and turned his attention back to the Escaflowne. The hatch of the Isapno Guymelef hissed as it opened. Shiori hung her head as she exited the Escaflowne. The red hand of Lim's machine snatched the girl from where she stood. She writhed in pain as the Guymelef's fingers wrapped tightly enough around her waist to cause her discomfort. "Bastard!" Jared cried as Lim's machine transformed into flight mode and began ascending the skies to meet with the Zaibach floating fortress above. "Shiori!!!" "Jared!!!" Shiori screamed as she reached futilly toward the gray Guymelef. "Shiori!!!" He yelled in protest, reaching to touch her fingers with the arm of his machine. "Jared!!!" The girl shrieked with fear, tears streaming down her cheeks as the red Guymelef entered the floating fortress and was gone. To be continued . . . Next Episode: The Fallen Angel © 2000 Hitomi-sama