Disclaimer: I don't own Escaflowne! So there!!

Chapter one.

(A lost dream, and an unspoken promise.)

Moonlight spilled down from the night sky, illuminating her room with a soft gentle light. Hitomi sat on her bed, arms wrapped around bent knees, waiting for a sign. Her eyes drifted down to the small box beside her, and she heaved a sigh before slowly reaching for it.

Inside a round solitary diamond came to life in the moonlight, and danced with the rays that filtered in from her bedroom window. She stared at it dully before placing the box back down, and reaching for the white feather that sat beside it. Hitomi brought the feather up to her lips, slowly running it across them and looked back up at the stars.

A few years back life had seemed so simple; Finish school, fall in love, marry and live happily ever after. But nothing is ever so simple. Especially not when the boy who held your heart, lived on another world so far from here.

He had told her they could see each other whenever they wanted, and Hitomi had believed that she would eventually find her way back if she wished hard enough for it. Because if you believe in the power of your wishes then your wishes will come true … right?

That was what she believed back then and so she had wished for him with all her heart. She wished for him to come to her, she wished that she could go to him. How many nights had she sat just like this and wished upon the stars.

But he never came. No matter how hard she wished for him it never happened. He had disappeared from her life, and now all she had left to remember him by was a single white feather and her memories of a time that seemed more like a dream than a reality.

It's funny how a dream can die, leaving you with nothing but a hollowness in your heart. Five years had passed since she had seen that boy with the sad eyes and the wings of an angel. Her Angel. 'Van…'

She clenched her jaw trying to force the flood of tears to stop. Her eyes squeezed shut as she raggedly dragged in a breath trying to calm the overwhelming sadness that always hit her when she thought of him. But despite her best efforts the tears came forth and spilled down her pale cheeks. Choking on a sob she gave in and once again let the pain sweep through her.

Her dreams now dying, she once again looked at the box that held the diamond ring. She had dreamed long enough and nothing had come of it. That ring was her chance to start over. To accept another's offer of marriage meant that she would have to stop dreaming of her angel, and learn to live with the knowledge that her love for him had to be buried along with her dreams.

A soft breeze blew in lifting light brown strands of hair off her tear-streaked face. She reached up and slowly tucked her shoulder length hair behind her ears. Quickly she wiped the tears from her face and drew in a deep breath.

He had never said he loved her, he never admitted to having any feelings for her. And did he know?? Did he hear her thoughts when she came to realize how much he meant to her?? All he had ever told her was that he would protect her and that he would somehow find a way for her to go back home.

Had there ever been more to it than that? Had she wasted all these years waiting for a boy who never returned her feelings? Sadness overtook her and she reached for the ring in the box to bring it before her. Glancing back at the heavens she wished one last time for a sign. But all was silent in the heavens, and all was still in the night.

Numbly she placed the ring on her left hand and brought it to rest on the mattress beside her. Looking down at it she knew that the time for dreams and wishes had passed. It was time to begin anew, and she no longer had any choice but to try and forget about the one thing she wanted most.

Picking up the white feather once again she looked at it with longing before reaching her arm out of the window. The wind blew quickly past her hand causing the feather to shiver in her grasp. Smiling sadly she loosened her hold and allowed the sharp wind to carry her dreams, along with her last hope somewhere out into the night.

Sighing sadly she settled back down into her bed, and prayed that sleep would claim her soon. She did not want to think anymore, she simply wanted to sleep and no longer feel this emptiness. She welcomed the comforting blanket of sleep, as her eyes slowly closed.

The next day would come soon enough, and bring with it the end of her wishes. Fore tomorrow was the first day of her lost dreams and new beginnings.

~ 0 ~

Van of Fanelia stood quietly, his shoulder propped against the door leading out into his private balcony. Night enveloped his kingdom in a gentle embrace, holding his people within her sweet lullaby. Everything looked so peaceful. The scars of war could no longer be seen and where now replaced with a city that was strong and whole again.

An excitement slowly took over causing a restlessness to stir within him. Pulling his shoulder away from the doorframe he turned back to his room and began to pace beside the bed. His eyes turned to a clock across the room; its smooth surface gleaming in the light of the candles. Noting the time he drew a deep breath and continued to pace muttering to him self 'It must be broken...'

Just then noises from the hallway drew his attention to the front of his room where the doors suddenly swung open with a loud bang. Van watched in amusement as an energetic ball of pink fluff sped towards him. He let out a soft grunt as a cat girl launched herself forward and attached herself around his waist.

"LORD VAN!"

Chuckling he gave the cat girl a quick squeeze before bringing his left hand to rest on her shoulder.

"Hey Merle, back so soon?" he smiled. Merle hugged him tightly then sprang back to grin up at him in delight.

"Piece of cake!" She laughed. "I've sent out all the messages, and the preparations should all be done by the time you return."

"Good job Merle!" Still smiling down at the cat girl he affectionately patted her head. The excitement spread within, leaving him with a sense of giddiness.

'It's almost time' he thought.

"I shouldn't be gone any longer than a week, and by then we should all be gathered and ready for the ceremony."

Merle quickly clapped her hands and jumped up to give Van a quick lick before bounding back towards the door.

"This is going to be so much fun!" She cheered as she twirled around grabbing hold of the handle.

"I can't wait till everyone gets here!" Giggling she quickly closed the door behind her.

Van grinned as he turned back towards the balcony and gazed out over his kingdom once more. A sense of pride filled him as he looked upon the city that he had helped rebuild.

'Fanelia.'

For the past five years he had stood here almost every night, watching as the city was slowly rebuilt till it now shone like the jewel it had once been. His people and his country had come a long way since those dark days. And so had he.

His eyes traveled to the heavens and came to rest on the mystic moon above him.

A small smile touched his lips as his thoughts wandered back to the past, and to a girl who played such a large role in the peace that now encompassed all of Gaea.

Her soft green eyes and her words of love often haunted his dreams at night. Soft brown hair and a warm gentle smile, her image was what pushed him to bring his kingdom back to what it was. While his days were filled with hard work, his nights often brought about a pang of loneliness, and it was sheer force of will that kept him from going to her at those times.

She said she had wanted to stay, but at the time he had had no choice in the matter. He had promised to return her home but everything in him had rebelled, and it was only his sense of honor that kept him from breaking his word to her. He knew she had a life back there; she had friends and family waiting.

He also knew that while she might have enjoyed staying for the moment, she would have regretted it eventually. Now thinking back he knew how close he had been to keeping her with him. Had she stayed a moment longer he would not have been able to let her go.

Closing his eyes he once again recalled what he had felt after she had faded far from sight. A feeling of emptiness had risen up, claiming him. And he had stood under the stars looking up at the night sky long after she had gone, Escaflowne's heart cradled in one hand and her pendent clutched in the other.

Letting out a sigh he turned his gaze to the blue moon above. "Hitomi…"

Five years had passed since that night, since the night he had stood alone. He had fulfilled his promise to her but the cost had been high. Left with only his honor to console him he had watched as the night faded into day bringing with it a new hope for him.

That night he had fulfilled one promise, but as the sun rose brighter taking with it the dark, he made another. This time the promise was made to himself, and while he still wished for her presence at his side he was content to know that his promise wouldn't be broken.

Van drew in a deep breath then let it out slowly as he listened to the sounds of the night letting them lull him in a blanket of serenity. The pain of past conflicts having long since faded he now looked upon his future with anticipation.

Shaking off his thoughts he brought his eyes back to the clock across the room.

'It's Time.' A grin quickly spread across his face as he eagerly stepped further out onto the balcony. Reaching inside his soft black shirt with his right hand he slowly pulled out a round pink stone. He held it out to the light and brought his left hand up to clasp a small pink pendent that circled his neck, his eyes coming to rest on the moon above.

'Soon…' He thought. 'Just a few more days and Fanelia shall have a new queen…or a new king…'

Hope everyone liked it, and please don't forget to R&R!!! (Be gentle, I am so fragile)!