A/N: Hey, people!!!! This is my first vandread fanfic. First I will explain a few things about this fanfic.

Title: The Line.

Synopsis: Dita is the princess of Meger. She ran away from the palace because she’s too bored with her lifestyle. But, she bumps into a                        Talark soldier, Hibiki.

Setting: There’s been a war caused by a country, Earthian, opposing the two countries, Meger and Talark. After 5 years of war, both Meger and Talark decided to merge in order to defeat the enemy. Both country runs a monarchy system and subjects divided into class.

A/N: Okay, that should be enough. Now on with the story!!!!

The Line.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Vandread; I’m just borrowing the characters.

Chapter 1: Too much.

                 High up on the hill, a white modern building, stood high and proud. The building is the largest building in Meger. It is known as ‘White Palace’ by the subjects. The term ‘palace’ is no mere title. This is where, all of Meger know, the royal family of Meger lives. Yes, the royal Liebelys. And leaning on one of the windows on one of the high towers is Dita Liebely, the only one left in the royal family. Dita looked over her country from her windows and sighed. “What’s wrong, Dita-chan?” Dita turned around even though she already knows who it is. “No, everything is fine.” Dita smiled widely to convince Ezra, but Ezra didn’t buy it.

                “Mind telling me what’s wrong?” Ezra walked up to the window and sat next to Dita. “Nothing, really. I’m just having a flash back of what have been happening here lately.” Ezra patted Dita’s head and nodded. “Oh...” That’s all Ezra said. Dita put her head on Ezra’s lap and started thinking what have happen in her life as she closed her eyes.

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                It’s been 5 years since the kingdom war started and Meger lost their leader, King Davit Liebely, 3 years after the war started. His death was grieved by his subjects and he left his only heir, Princess Dita Liebely. But, she was too young to take over the thrown. So, concierge of the throne ruled the country until the heir is aged enough to be a ruler, physically and mentally.

                 Magno Vivan. That’s the name of the concierge. For 2 years she ruled the country and took care of the princess so she can be ready to rule the country. The war affairs, in the other hand was taken care of by Buzam A. Calessa, or known as B.C. She is second in command in the government and the ‘full star’ general. Thus, every war strategy came from her, with the approval of Magno.

                 But after struggling for 5 years, Talark’s ruler decided to call truce and merge to win against the enemy, the Earthian. Magno realized that they will lose if they don’t, after been explained by B.C, agreed to merge.

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                 Dita opened her eyes and felt Ezra’s hands running thru her long hair. “Ezra-kun, I’m feeling very tired.” Ezra looked at Dita. “From the ball last night?” Dita didn’t do anything for a few seconds. But then she nodded. Last night was the merge ball as the celebration on successfully merges with Talark as Talark sends a few fleet of army.

                 The Earthian army was heading more towards Meger than Talark since Meger is almost facing its downfall. But it doesn’t mean that Talark was safe either. As the only one in the royal family and the heir of the throne, Dita was required to be there, to her horror. She never liked all this formalities and diplomatic stuff. But, she didn’t have a choice. Her present was on the behalf of Meger. People really looking up to her.

                 The pressure was too much sometimes. Magno trice a week teaches her how to managed the country. While the other time she would learn language, political science, literature, economies, diplomatic business, etiquette and all those stuff she called crap. And some times she has to learn how to dance and played the piano. The only lesson she like is astronomy. Where the lesson needed her to watch the stars while studying. The only lesson that takes place at night.

                 “Ezra, stop pamper the kid and help me.” Jura entered the room and carrying a few trays of food and looked about to fall. Ezra quickly helped Jura with the trays and put it on the round table next to the queen sized, four-poster bed. They both sighed with relieved. Jura then looked at Dita with a tired face. “Meia is waiting for you for your lesson. After lesson then you can eat.” She said as she pointed to the doors. “Magno-san isn’t eating with me again?” Dita asked sadly since Magno is like a mother to her since her mother died giving birth to her. “Dita-chan, you know Magno-sama is busy. You’ll see her at your next lesson.” Dita startled when she heard Pai’s voice..... coming out of the window.

                 “Pai-chan!!! Get in, now!!!” Shrieked Ezra as she sees the little girl hanging upside down out side the window. She hopped in and unbuckled her wall-climbing safety gears. “Really Pai. We have floors and stairs to go around.” Jura flipped her golden hair as she said that. “Ahh... they’re tiring and this place is too huge for me. Anyway, it’s much fun that way.” The little girl hopped into bed and smiled at everyone. “And dangerous, I may add.” Ezra put one hand on her hip while the other one were waving a finger at their Parfet.

                  Paiway was the youngest worker in the palace. Dita pity her sometimes, having to work at such young age of eleven. But, she’s an orphan founded by Ezra by the streets all alone. She brought her here and with the help of Dita, Parfet now serving her, alongside with Jura and Ezra. The three of them are called ‘The Maidens’ meaning they are Dita’s personal servants. The highest rank among the servants beside the butlers. They can order around other maids being in the high rank among them. But to Dita, they are her closes friends.

                “Anyway, Dita-chan. I’m here to escort you to the strategy room.” Pai hopped of the bed and waited Dita at the door. “Well, see you guys later.” She waved goodbye to Jura and Ezra and exited the room, followed by Pai. “Just try and pay attention this time, okay?” Dita heard Jura shouted.

                Twice a week Meia would come in and teach her military stuff. Meia is Lieutenant General. As a future ruler she needed to know about battles and strategy. Dita didn’t see why she has to learn all those military stuff. Strategies, formation...? Don’t we have Generals to do this? She sighed. After 10 minutes of walking, she finally reached the strategy room.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

                “Please come in, Dita-sama” Hearing the voice from the strategy room, she goes in, leaving Pai. “Bye, Pai-chan.” She waved goodbye to the little girl as Pai bowed a little in return. Dita closed the door and walked to her seat and sat down. “Welcome, Dita-sama. Now, let’s start the lesson.” Meia sais as Dita try to be comfortable.

                 The room is quite impressive actually. If it wasn’t because Dita seen it every week, she would gawk at the sight of the room. There’s a big table that can fit every generals of Meger. The table is in a huge ‘U’ shape. And there’s a big screen at the end of the room. There’s 11 chairs for 9 Generals, 1 for Magno-san and 1 for General B.C. There are a few small tables for putting models, maps and some other stuff Dita like to call crap. At one corner of the room, a small table with a chair. That’s where Dita sit down when they have a meeting. She need to learn by what they say and gained experience from their mistakes.

                Dita took her favourite seat, the nearest to the window, so she can see the outside world. “I hope this time you wouldn’t fall asleep like last time.” Meia as she turns on the slides. Dita only smile wryly and stick out her tongue to no one and rubs the back of her head. “Gomen... he he.” Meia just sighed and start the lesson. “Today we resume on strategy and align. As I already said, strategies are the most important thing in the military. Even with disadvantage, we still could win with an alignment and strategies. This can still be full of risk but can be lessened by a suitable formation-” Meia started as she pointed at the chart that displayed on the screen. Dita once in awhile jot down some notes as Meia continue on giving her lecture.

                 “Now, the soldiers will-” Dita sighed and started to feel sleepy. She always does when her lecturers started to give their lecture. She just can’t stay awake. They all are boring. Except Meia, the other lecturers never get mad at her. Just because she’s a princess. Meia is the only one would dare to get angry at her. This is because Dita known her all her life. Meia is the only child of the former General and after his death, Meia decided to take over his place. From Lady Meia, to General Meia. Magno, seeing this opportunity, put Meia in charge of her military lesson. Much to each other horror.

                 Dita looked outside the window and saw her people doing their usual work and routine. From the window, she could see a blue haired girl, about her age, playing with her friend. Dita smiled wryly as she looked how happy she is. She envied so much the children playing as if there’s no worry in their life. While at the border of the country, people are dying, fighting the enemy from intruding. Girls her age having a lot of fun by shopping with their friends or helped their parents. But, she? She stuck inside this palace, learning all this ever since she was seven.

                 She never set foot outside the palace in 3 years, never show her face in public or even on the television. Therefore, her middle-class subjects never see her face except the palace’s servants. The only people seen her face is the upper-class people, like diplomats, aristocrats, generals and people like that. She sometimes wonders if her subjects even know that she even exists.  

“Dita!”

                 She sighed and wished she could get out of this place. She tried, but Magno-san doesn’t approve. Saying it’s too dangerous. I don’t see the danger.

“DITA!! PAY ATTENTION!!!”

                 Dita snapped out from her reverie and quickly look at Meia, who looked irritated. “Excuse me?” Meia sweat dropped and sighed as she shook her head slowly. “Dita..... please, try to pay attention. This lesson is important. Beside your lesson with Magno-sama, this is more important.” She looked at Dita straight in the eye. “I know. Demo...” Dita stopped as she was hesitated to ask. Afraid that there will be a misunderstanding. “Nani?” Meia cocked her head to one side.

                 “Why do I have to learn all of this?” Dita waited for her answer, it never come. She looked at Meia, who seems to be stammering. “I not really sure why your asking me this when you should already know.” Finally Meia found her voice. Dita feel very angry now, that’s not the answer she wanted. “All this lessons is for you to be ready to take over the throne.” Meia continue.

SLAMM!!!!!!!

                  “That is not what I wanted to know!!!” Dita shouted. Meia surprised to see Dita’s reaction. She already got of her chair and slammed the table while she’s at it. She glared at Meia.

                  “I already know that this is my preparation for the throne!! But I don’t see why I have to learn all those lessons I have been learning for 9 years!!” Dita herself was surprised that she reacted that way. I guess the pressure really taking their toll. “I understand Magno’s, politics and diplomatic lessons are important!! But I don’t see that this lesson and the rest are useful in the future!!! Dancing and piano lessons!?? Literature and military lessons!?? How can all this be useful in the future?!” Her breath was ragged from all that shouting. Meia was speechless.

                   “My, my. What just happened here?” They both were startled when they heard the third voice. They turned their heads towards the voice, only to fine Magno standing in front of the door. “I came here to surprise you and see how you were doing. But it seems that things are the other way around.” She smiled as she walked towards Dita and Meia.

                   “Magno-sama!” Meia quickly bowed at her superior. Dita in the other hand, still in the position she’s been for the past minute. Her glare’s still there, but softened a little bit. “Magno-san...” “My dear child, what’s bothering you?” Magno asked as she caressed Dita’s cheek. “I-I just can see how all this lessons is going to help me in the future.” Dita’s now on the verge of tears. Magno just smiled wryly as she sighed.

                    “Meia’s right. This is all the preparation you need.” Magno answered. “B-but...” Dita was about to say something but Magno stopped her. “No more buts. One day you will understand.” Dita frowned when she heard that. She hate it when people said that to her.

“But, at least let me get out from this place once in a while!! I never get out of this palace since my father’s death!!” Magno glared at her. Making Dita shut her mouth. “I told you already, it’s dangerous out there. You’ll be safer here. And I DON’T want to hear another word.”

                     Magno fixed the tilted tiara on Dita’s head. “Now, go back to your chamber. That’s enough lessons for today.” Dita nodded and walked toward the door with a huff. Her gown sweeping the floor as it made the swishing sound. While she at it, she slammed the door.

                     “The pressure is getting on her.” Meia said as soon as Dita was out. “Yes, it’s too much for girls her age. But we don’t have a choice. Our people are depending on her.” Magno sat down and settled down. “And she needed to be ready before her 17th birthday.” Meia completed the sentence for Magno.

                     “Talking about birthday, when is her 16th birthday?” Magno asked as she looked at her young general. “Tomorrow and there will be a ball tomorrow night.” Magno smiled as she has a great idea. “I’ve just got a perfect birthday present for her.” Meia only looked at Magno with a dumbfounded look. That’s something you don’t see everyday. “What is it, Magno-sama?” She asked. Magno didn’t say anything and just smile as she got out of the room. Leaving Meia dumfounded.

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                       Dita walked fast to her room, leaving poor Pai behind. But Pai didn’t say anything seeing her mistress in a bad mood. When they arrived at Dita’s bedroom chamber, Dita asked Ezra, Jura and Pai, gently, to get out of her room. They did and as soon they got out, she slumped on her bed and cried softly.

Why do I have to be coop up in here? 

                       She misses the time when her father used to walk her around the city and all those picnics they use to have. She got up and wiped away all her tears. She looked at the food that served on her table, but she didn’t have the appetite to eat them. She walked to her window and looked over the beautiful city. She leaned on the window sill, her knees folded beside her. She looked at the city that she owned but never really tastes them. She then looked up at the stars and sighed. The stars always seem to calm her. But a single tear run down on her cheek.

Otousan.... I feel so tired. I can’t take it anymore. It’s too much.

                       She looked down at the city and then looked at her room. Any girl would do anything to be in my shoe, but I do anything to be in theirs. She then spotted something on her floor. Its Pai’s climbing equipment. Ropes, safety gears..., everything. Pai once thought her how to use this stuff but got scolded by Ezra for teaching her what Ezra called ‘crap’.

                       She stared at those stuffs for a few seconds when all the sudden her eyes shined with life as she got an idea. She got down and picked up the rope as she thought over and over again about her idea.

Maybe it might work. But it’s risky.

                         She smiled as she prepared the stuff she needed. She took out a casual clothes (the one she wears in the anime), a white cloak with red triangular pattern on its edges, a bag, some money and Pai’s equipment. She hides all the stuff under the bed and went to her dinner. She got her appetite back. She ate her dinner with a smile on her face. She then went to sleep a little earlier than she usually has.

Tomorrow, everything will be okay again. Just this once and I’m satisfied.

                          She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep with a smile on her face.

Just this once........

A/N: Finish!!! The next chapter will be coming soon. Please review!!! Flames are welcome!!! I hope you guys like it.

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