Escaflowne: The Fantasy Continues

Chapter 3~ The Festival

ONE YEAR LATER~~~~~~~~~~~(just to say that both twins never knew that Van was their dad)

    Vron ran into the little house...or shack if you want....it was a shabby little house built with scraps of wood and mud. It was located in a clearing by the big pond where the pendent guided Hitomi a year ago. Even though they had to walk long and far to the town to get supplies, they were all glad for the isolated place to occasionally spread out their wings to relieve stress (I just assume it might relieve stress..hehe). Hitomi had worked hard to build this masterpiece and she was ever so glad that she actually took that architecture class as an elective in High School. She now had a job with a farmer's wife, helping her clean her house and just help around. The money she made was just enough for clothing and food for herself and her children.

    She never did go and seek out Van, having heard of him having a wife already. Still she really didn't belong in her world anymore, so staying in the Fanalian forest wasn't that bad of an idea. She missed him though, often at night she walks to where Folken and Queen Varie was buried. She talked, even though it was like talking to thin air, it really relieved stress. She still was sad that her children weren't able to live a life with a father. The first few weeks after she had settled down in the clearing and finished building her little house, she had come to the Queen and Folken's grave everyday. Occasionally hiding in a undetectable spot on a tree, looking at Van when he came to sit and just space out. OH! How she wanted to go down there and just hug him and smother him with kisses. Still, she never did dare to and she never really knew how to face him, turning him down like that when he had wanted her ever so badly for her to go back with him to Fanalia. But then after two months, he hardly ever came to pay tribute the the graves of his family anymore. Hitomi really wondered what has come up but all she could do was wonder.

    "Mom! This big festival is coming up tomorrow! Tommy told me!" Vron shouted excitedly. Yes, Hitomi had also heard of the big festival this morning while scrubbing the pots and pans for the farmer's wife. She didn't really know what was it for either, nor did the farmer'swife or any other neighbors of the farmer's wife. It was suppose to be a big secret and only revealed at the procession of the festival. Anyhow, she frowned at hearing 'Tommy' giving this information to Vron. She didn't like Tommy who was a scrawny 10 year old child of the farmer's wife. Anyhow....

    "Yep, I've heard of it Vron, Mom did too." Varie replied to Vron for Hitomi. They are both 5 years old now, and Hitomi herself is now 20. She felt ashamed sometimes, when people called out to her saying that she had really cute twin 'brother and sisters'. She never did corrected them though, not wanting people to gossip about her. So fine, she will live as a older sister taking care of her two twin siblings because their parents died giving birth to the two young ones. Fine, she will go with that. It was just the perfect cover story. When she went to the market place, there were a few occasions when some young handsome strong guy comes up to her, trying to flirt, but only turned down by her coldly. So basically she had a reputation of turning perfect guys down all the time. It was funny too, because occasionally Vron will jump in saying, "Leave my mom alone!" Those guys will just chuckle away..."Mom! yeah right!" Vron's deathglare did help though, the ever little cutie pie.    

    "What about the festival?" Hitomi asked Vron.

    "We ARE going right?" Vron asked.

    "What makes you think we aren't? Of course, we will all go. This is the first festivle to ever be held after 7 years! I really wonder what got into King Van. It is good, I'm glad he is happy... but I think I might come home early, so you two just come home by yourself." Hitomi looked at Vron and Varie, for some reason, they had a face that expected her to say something more.....OH! How could she have forgotten! There were candy and many things to buy at the festival, since this was the first festivle to happen in 7 years! "......Um....Oh! I forgot! I will give you both some money to buy stuff okay?! Gosh! Don't give me that look!" Hitomi giggled to herself at the sight of Varie jumping up and down with the idea of candy and Vron joinin in.

Next morning............

    The trio (Hitomi, Vron, and Varie) were walking down the path in the forest to the town center where the festivle takes place. Fanalia was a safe place with many good people so she never was worried about her children running off. When they arrived at the colorfully decorated scene the two scampered off with enough money for quite some toys and candy. They deserved it.....having gone through some much with out complaining...they deserved it...

    Hititomi herself walked along the market place, buying this and that. Things were cheaper since it was an extremely special day. She hoped a glimpse of the Queen and Van, she has never seen the Queen. She hoped...."I wonder....." she thought.

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    Was he suppose to be happy? Surly everyone was. He sat on his throne...drumming his fingers on the armrest (is that how it's called? anyhow....). Actually, it was quite annoying, yadiyadiya! I know I have a baby girl and that she is beautiful and that I am a very fortunate king....yadiyadiyadi! When will they stop! Still, Van thought it best to make this day as good and enjoyable as possible. For his new born daughter. Allen and Millerna were all there, talking and enjoying the festival atmosphere themselves. Celena was there too, accompanied by Merel who has grown a lot over the years and already been married into a nice wealthy cat family in Fanalia. How he envied everyone's love they received that he knew he would never feel, ever again. He wanted to smack himself, such a great day shouldn't be ruined by just his thoughts of her. In a way, he had started to hate her, making his life so miserable and empty. But no, he will overcome that for he has a newborn child....though the little baby princess didn't even seem to have any traits that shows it is his child, inheriting only his pair of wings but everything else looked exactly like from Mya's side of the family.

    "Your Majesty! Yo! Van!" Allen was nudging him in the shoulder, he had taken his place by Van's throne. Apparently the King was spacing out when the procession has started.

    Van looked towards the door to see Queen Mya in a beautiful flowing gold stylish gown followed by her maid holding the sleeping baby. He wasn't exactly happy, he was just relieved that he had someone who will inherit his throne, that is, if she will grow up to be worthy of it. Anyhow, he will make sure of that. Even if it meant literally smacking her.

    In the carrige with his wife smiling and daughter sleeping (this is an open roofed carrige...you know what i mean right?), Van thought that he should be happy but no, he wasn't, he just couldn't help wishing that it is Hitomi smiling at him and it is Hitomi and his daughter sleeping beside Mya. People were cheering, Van decided to smile and wave. He threw some candy out to the kids who were running with the carrige. As he was getting ready to throw the next handful, he saw two kids, identical yet one was a girl and the other a boy. They both had black hair and the boy had an outfit exactly like his outfit when he was younger! It must've been some parent who wanted to dress up their child, Van thought. Still he looked at the young boy, about the age of 5 or 6 popping a piece of candy into his mouth. Van looked at the sister, apparently that was the largest piece of candy they found and the brother just took it, the sister was shouting "Vron Vron! I'm telling mom!!!!" ....wow, thought Van, someone must really adore me to name his child after me, how flattering. He smiled and threw the largest piece of candy at the little girl who joined the other kids chasing the carrige. She stopped when she got the piece of candy that was threw directly at her and smiled at its size, then looked up at the King and gave a bow. Van looked at her, she had a familar eyes..........

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    'Am I dissapointed? Why should I be? Why am I feeling jealousy?" Hitomi asked herself these questions as she walked the path leading back to her home. She, like every other citizen in Fanalia found out that King Van and Queen Mya finally had a child, a girl. She caught sight of Van, waving and smiling. He must be happy.....still Hitomi now totally lost hope of ever restoring her children to their rightful places, they will be like 'bastards', she wouldn't like to end up like Bloody Mary's mother. Nope, it's better for her children to grow up a normal life...ha! Like they have one...

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    Allen was walking around the market place with Millerna, and Van. The trio were chatting, or more like only Allen and Millerna. People bowed as they walked by and Millerna occassionally giving out candy to some kid. Suddenly Allen caught sight of two kids running about buying toys and candy. A little boy who really really resembled Van was holding a fake metal sword and the girl who somehow really really resembled someone...that he couldn't name at the moment but he knows that he could think of later was arguing with her sibling.

    "Vron! That is SO UNFAIR! You just go off buying some stupid metal thing! I was hoping to use that money to buy mom a nice scarf! It's all YOUR fault! Did you know that that money she gave us was suppose to be part of the money to be for our schooling? I was hoping to buy a nice scarf for her and here you go off ruining everything!" The little girl seemed very very furious. Show now also got Millerna and Van's attention.

    "Fine! You know-it-all! Sorry! But too bad! I bought it already so just chill! It's not like she's going to get angry or anything! She gave us the money so we had a right to spend it! Plus Tommy's mom did give her a bonus so what's the big deal!?" The little boy retorted though he did look somewhat guilty.

    Allen decided to step in at this point. "Hey, excuse me, both of you..." The twins looked up at him with awe and respect, "You are Allen the Knight! Mom told us everything about you!" Vron said in wonder. "Yep, guilty, I'm him, anyhow, I overheard your little conversation here...." With that, Vron bowed his head and Varie kicked his shins, "anyhow....here i got some money that I think you guys might be able to use to give your mother a nice scarf!" Varie and Vron smiled while Allen went through his pockets only to remember that he gave Celena all his money that he had with him that morning, he smiled nervously and turned to Millerna who was already holding two packages...

    "Ahem...um...VAN!" Allen walked over to where Van was sitting with his eyes closed, resting Allen guessed. Van opened his eyes, "what?" "Help here please Van! I just promised to give the those twins money to buy a nice scarf for their mother but...hehe..i forgot that I gave all my money that I had with me this morning to Celena....hey, you won't mind helping out would you? They're your people after all...." Allen trailed off as Van stood up and walked over to the twins, placing a gold coin in the palms of each kid. Even though Van didn't even know who these two kids belonged to, he really liked how Vron was dressed, it really flattered him. Allen must've realized it and smiled.

    "Oh my gosh! THANK YOU THANK YOU!" Varie jumped up and down and literally jumped two feet up into the air and gave Van a big hug. Van on the other hand ruffled Vron's hair. "What is your name?" He asked the twins. "I'm Varie." said the girl, "I'm Vron" said the boy. This flattered him even more to realize that the girl was also named after someone of his family, but, he also wondered who dared to name unroyal kids after the royal family.......

    Millerna walked over to join them, looking at the two kids she smiled. The boy really looked like Van and the girl...like someone she knew.....anyhow. They were so cute! She started to swoon over both of them to all of their annoyance. Anyhow, Van couldn't stand it any longer so he said, "Run a long and buy your mother a nice scarf." The twins bowed and ran off, Van couldn't help feeling something about the two.

    "Van! How did that little girl literally jump 2 feet?" Allen asked...."I don't know...." was his reply. He was wondering too......