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A Blue Dove for the Princess, subtitled the tale behind the Orion Poplar, is a fairy tale written by Ellinor Graun and illustrated by Arno Bester. A Blue Dove is the origin of the legendary Razgriz and was Kei Nagase's favorite childhood book.

English translation[]

yellow26 at GameFAQs provided the first known English translation of the story.[1] It was later edited by Electrosphere.info members.[2] Both versions have been combined and further edited here for the highest accuracy.

The translations for Chapters 9 and 10, however, were provided through the official website as well as Aces At War: A History.

Chapter 1 - Beginning[]

This is a story about a tiny miracle that came to a certain group of people.

Once upon a time, in a land far away...

There was a dove that lived in a castle in a rural country where warmth and green prevailed. When the dove was a child, it got injured. The Princess discovered it staying motionless in the castle's garden. She looked after it since then.

It was such a bad injury that the dove felt as if its wings were torn off. The pain was all over its body, and it could do nothing but to lay itself on a leaf bed. It was the Princess who saved it then. She carried it into a small cage, which was hanging near a window in the corner of the Princess' room. Despite living inside the birdcage, there was not a thing that made the dove feel frustrated. The Princess always gave him close attention, and it became fond of the scenery through the window. Moreover, it liked watching the Princess lead a life every day. Recovering from the injury, it would hop around in the cage cheerfully.

Chapter 2 - Disease of the Princess[]

The dove was so happy with the days it lived there, and it hoped that such days would last forever. But, one day, things began to change. The Princess, who was always in good shape and made it a habit to visit the dove many times a day, did not show up one day. She did not come up to feed it on that day.

On the following day, early in the morning, the dove saw many noblemen gather around the Princess. They all had an anxious look on their faces. It seemed that the Princess had an illness. They were saying that she might not get well and she might possibly pass away. When they mentioned that the war with the neighboring country had just come to a close and peace was close at hand, one of them abruptly said with a loud voice, "The Demon of Razgriz!!"

"When history witnesses a great change, Razgriz reveals itself, first as a dark demon. As a demon, it uses its power to rain death upon the land, and then it dies. However, after a period of slumber, Razgriz returns."

"Only the Demon of Razgriz can bring about an illness like this to her!"

The more the dove remembered the Princess' complexion of the previous day, and the more it thought about how seriously the men around her bed were talking, the more anxious it felt. At this rate, the Princess might be gone. She might not wake up to come and see me anymore. Those sad feelings lingered on in its mind.

Chapter 3 - Thoughts of the Dove[]

While caring for the Princess and looking back upon the days spent with her, a faint memory flashed across the dove's mind. It was the story told by its mother who died when the dove was still a baby.

"Somewhere in the world is a big magic tree, and its fruits can cure every injury and every disease. It is so far away, deep down in the rocky mountains that no one can ever step foot in."

That magic fruit can get rid of her disease and save her life, the dove thought. She will be well if I can get one.

But, the more the dove thought about it, the less confident it felt. There was no time to be sitting and doing nothing, but it just couldn't make up its mind.

"Can I escape hawks and falcons if they come after me?"

"Can I fly to the mountains so far away and then fly over them?"

"Can I simply fly for such a long time?"

"Can I really carry the fruit with this small beak of mine, even if I'm lucky enough to get there?"

"And above all, can I manage to make it back in one piece?"

These bad feelings would not leave the dove's head. That couldn't be helped because it had been living in the cage since its injury. Having been protected all the time by the Princess since then, all it did was hop around in his tiny birdcage.

In the meantime, the Princess kept becoming worse, day by day.

The next morning, an old nursemaid came to feed the dove on behalf of the Princess. She was about to open the cage just a little to put feed in with her wrinkled hand. The dove was watching her do so with a determined look on its face, waiting for his chance. Then, it took a chance and got out the cage. Flying through the room's door and flying across the castle's walls, the dove was heading for the sky high above. He heard the nursemaid shout "O' dear!" from behind.

Was the dove finally free from the fear of hawks and falcons? Definitely not. Had it the idea of what course to take? Absolutely not. Nevertheless, he took desperate flight just in pursuit of the magic fruit.

Chapter 4 - Lark[]

The dove first reached a forest to the north of the castle.

"Looks like you are in such hurry, but your flying is not smooth," said a lark, which had just flown quickly from behind to the dove's side.

"It can't be helped. I've lived in a cage for a long time. I'm proud that I can somehow manage to fly," the dove responded.

"Cages suck," the lark said abruptly. "We've got wings, right? Flying is wonderful. Your wings can take you anywhere you want at any time you want. That's how it is. Look. The world is so big."

The dove asked the lark, "Don't you think the sky is dangerous? There are hawks and falcons up here. What if they come after you? And on the ground, there are foxes, raccoons, dogs, and cats."

"Let me ask you something. Can you eat anything you wanna eat, if you are confined in a cage?" The lark asked. "Even if some days you feel like eating bugs, sometimes you want rosebuds instead. Suppose you no longer have someone to feed you. There is no point in talking about 'safe' and 'dangerous' then. It's about either 'you' or 'someone else' who is responsible for anything that happens. That's all that counts."

The dove asked in response, "Is it good to know that the world is so big?"

"The world is what your eyes can see, and it is what we live in. So, knowing more about it makes you better. You can count on it." The lark said all of this snobbishly, but seriously.

The dove said to the lark, "I am searching for a magic fruit."

"Ain't got no clue. Why don't you ask that green worm down there? O' how pathetic! I never want to be something like that. It can move, but it can move forward and back only on a single tree. That tree is the entire world to that thing."

The dove looked down and found something green crawling on a tree down below it.

Chapter 5 - Green Worm[]

"I myself can fly. I know I can't fly as high as you can, but I can fly," the green worm suddenly said, perplexing the dove.

"You don't have wings, do you? You cannot fly," the dove responded right away.

"You are wrong," the green worm said. "Whatever you say, I can fly. I will become a pupa and I will have my wings. That's why I can fly."

"But not now," said the dove.

"There is no difference between flying today and flying tomorrow. You couldn't fly either when you were an egg, could you? When I turn into a pupa, my wings start to grow. They will be as big as my memory I'll have obtained until I turn into a pupa. Once my wings have grown, my legs will be small and weak. Then I will not be able to walk all over the tree like this anymore."

"I am searching for a tree that bears magic fruits," the dove asked the green worm.

"A tortoise dropped in here recently. It looked wise. It said it usually hangs around at the lakeside beyond this forest. It probably knows something about it. The tortoise may be wise, but it has to be locked up inside its carapace. How pitiful! It will never have wings either. Its memory will not change into anything. The tortoise gets older. So does its memory."

Far, far away, just beyond the forest, the dove found a lake shining under the light of the sunset.

A Blue Dove for the Princess 02

Chapter 6 - Tortoise[]

On arriving at the lake, the dove came across a tortoise that appeared to be wise. The tortoise said, "It's good to have a carapace. This thing has enabled me to survive a lot of dangers. There are some birds that wear a carapace, aren't there?"

"You mean a cage? It's not like yours. It bans us going outside. Many of us want out of the cages. I was once in a cage too", the dove explained to the tortoise.

"Why in the world did you get out of it and jeopardize yourself? The best way to live long is to keep away from anything dangerous. Hazards can hit you out of nowhere, even if there is nothing to be blamed on your end. When you are in trouble, you need... to be... in your carapace... like this and wait for everything to subside. Don't even think about moving around," the tortoise said with his limbs being folded into his carapace.

"That solves nothing though", said the dove.

"Well!" said the tortoise with a loud voice. "Are you able to solve every problem you encounter? Are you certain you are? Good or bad, everything has its ending. When the sun is shining, you better enjoy as much sunlight as you can. In an ice-cold winter that freezes even your teardrops, you must endure with all your might. The sun will rise again. Mind you, we are mortals, and that's all mortals can do." The tortoise paused.

"Hmm? A strange wind has begun to blow. I have a feeling that something wicked is coming," said the tortoise as it pulled its head into its carapace. "There are rocky mountains far beyond the other end of this lake. Can you see them? The fourth peak from the top of the highest mountain in the middle. Go there."

The dove took a look towards the mountains off in the distance. There was a rugged, blurred silhouette.

"Come what may," the tortoise said, "believe. Believe whatever it may be. I'd rather believe in this impregnable carapace of mine than a magic fruit."

Chapter 7 - Old Tree[]

It was when the dove finally made its way to the rocky mountain that an old tree began to murmur to itself. "An ominous wind is blowing. It is about to reveal itself, I suppose. It doesn't seem I can make it through alive this time around. Demon of Razgriz... Hmm? A hero, this time?"

"What is it?" the dove asked casually.

"When history witnesses a great change, Razgriz reveals itself. First as a dark demon." The old tree began to tell the same story that the dove heard at the castle. "As a demon, it uses its power to rain death upon the land, and then it dies. However, after a period of slumber, Razgriz returns. This time, as a great hero."

"Hero? Demon? What does it do?" The dove asked.

"When I saw it for the first time, I was young and thin. I had fewer branches then. In those days, humans often battled against each other. Razgriz then brought about a storm which kept raging for seventy days and kept scattering huge hailstones from above. Trees and grass perished and nothing was left for the humans and animals to live on. Consequently, this soil became desolate. All living things died, one after another. Friends of my kind, four-legged beasts, humans, and birds like you. Everything in this land was deprived of breath. In the end, Razgriz killed none other than itself. Shortly after, this place became a bare mountain as you see."

"So, it was an evil being, wasn't it?" The dove asked.

"... Nay," the old tree answered as if it was uncertain itself. It breathed out and took a deep breath in.

"This story still continues. After a long, long time passed since the land had died out, a traveler came to this land. The traveler cured those who suffered from disease, resurrected the rotted soil, gathered all those people who sheltered themselves away from here and founded a village and a town. The rivers were refilled with water. The soil became a wheat field. This country once again flourished. Thereupon, the traveler decided to leave the country. The villagers were far from happy about this. At the moment of departure, they heard the traveler say, "I am Razgriz." This marks the end of the story."

"I am here in pursuit of a tree that bears magic fruits," the dove finally said to the old tree.

"... Alright. There are few fruits left for me to give. You can take one though. By the way, have you any idea why this is called magic fruit?" The dove remained silent, gazing at the old tree. "This can become not only a medicine but also a poison. Or rather, this may be no more than an ordinary fruit and this may even turn into a stone."

"What do you mean?" The dove asked.

"This fruit will be what you believe it to be," the old tree answered.

The dove turned around to look at the castle, holding the magic fruit in its beak. Even beyond the furthest hill, the castle was still unseen.

"The ominous wind is starting to blow stronger. Fly carefully home."

A Blue Dove for the Princess 03

Chapter 8 - Demon from Above[]

The dove gave gratitude and said farewell to the old tree, tightly holding the magic fruit in its beak. It then took off and left the rocky mountain. The wind began to blow even stronger, and the dove found itself flying through a storm and hailstones.

But it wanted to get back to the castle as quickly as possible.

With a valiant look on its face, the dove spread out its wings.

Chapter 9 - Magic Fruit[]

This chapter's English text is provided through the image below, from the original book as well as Nagase's notes on the left.

Dragging its numb body upwards, the dove flapped its wings and flew towards the castle where the Princess lived.

It flew up, and up, weaving through the forest, breaking through the clouds, up to where it could catch the wind.

Although the tailwind it was hoping for didn't come, the dove drummed up all of its power and kept flapping, holding the "miracle medicine that can cure any illness" tightly in its beak.

On the horizon, beyond the point where the river below disappeared into the haze, the dove could just make out the forest and castle it knew so well.

Just a little further! Just a little further and I can see the Princess again!
When I do, I will give her this fruit.

And I can enjoy those happy days again!

A Blue Dove for the Princess 04

Chapter 10 - Return[]

Most of this chapter's English text is provided through the image in Chapter 9, from Nagase's notes on the right. The last two lines were provided from Nagase's notes in Aces At War: A History, page 005.

When the dove finally made it to the castle, the Princess' bed was surrounded by a great number of people. They were all weeping. The king, who was among them, was sobbing uniquely in his grief.

The dove was unable to get to the Princess in time. It was so sad to discover that the Princess was gone. However, it still had no regrets.

It had no regrets because it saw how peaceful and calm the Princess looked, lying on her bed.

It knew while it was away, the Princess held on to hope and continued to live in her pure innocence.

The dove, weary after its journey, decided to sleep for a little while.

Chapter 11 - Ending[]

The following morning, upon entering the room, the nursemaid found the dove's body resting in peace beside the Princess. She twisted her face in surprise and said in a very loud voice, "O' my! Is this her little dove? How come? He was injured and couldn't flap since then. These wings were certainly deformed and disabled. How did it set off and even come back? What a surprise!"

The dove was still holding the fresh fruit of Orion Poplar in his beak, even after it passed away. The nursemaid decided to plant it in the middle of the garden right under the window of the Princess' room.

In time, it grew to be a big and thick tree with a lot of branches. It is said that from the top of the tree, the Princess' room and her birdcage can be clearly and closely seen.

This is a tiny miracle story that parent birds have told their babies atop the tree of Orion Poplar.

Original Japanese[]

The original Japanese text can be found on the Ace Combat 5 official website, in the WORLD → WORLD NEWS subsection.

Chapter 1 - はじまり[]

これは、とあるものたちにつたわる、ちいさな奇跡のおはなしです。

あるところ。
緑と暖かさにつつまれたいなかの国のお城に、鳩は住んでいました。
子供のころ、けがをして城の庭に落ちていたところを、お姫様にひろわれたのです。

なにしろちいさな羽根がもげたように痛いほどのひどいけがでした。
体じゅうが痛み、枯葉のベッドに横になっているしかなかったところを、姫に助けてもらったのです。
鳩がいるのは姫の部屋のすみっこ、窓のちかくにつるしてあるちいさな鳥かごの中でした。
鳥かごに入っているといっても、鳩にとってまったく“ふまん”はありません。
姫はいつも鳩を気づかってくれるし、ここから見える景色と、なによりも姫の毎日を見るのが好きでした。

体も元気になり、鳥かごの中をぴょんぴょんと跳ね回っています。

Chapter 2 - 姫の病気[]

鳩は、今の暮らしが好きで、そんな毎日がずっとつづいて欲しかったのですが、
ある日ようすが変わりました。
いつも元気で、鳩のところに日に何度も来てくれる姫なのに、今日は一度も来てくれないのです。
鳩はそのそのひ一日、とうとう食べ物をもらえませんでした。

翌日、朝早くから姫のベッドの周りには偉そうな格好で、深刻な顔をした大勢の人たちがいて、
姫の方を見ていました。
どうやら姫は病気で、治らないかもしれないし、ひょっとしたら死んでしまうかもしれない、というようなことを
しゃべっていました。ようやくついこの間隣の国が戦争をやめてこれからが本当の平和なのにとかいう話に
なったときです。

「ラーズグリーズの悪魔だ!!」

そのうちの一人がふいに大きな声をあげました。

「歴史が大きくかわるとき、ラーズグリーズはその姿を現す。はじめには、漆黒の悪魔として。
悪魔は、その力をもって大地に死を降り注ぎ、やがて死ぬ。」

「しばしの眠りのあと、
ラーズグリーズは再び現れる。
英雄として現れる。」

「こんな病気はラーズグリーズにしか出来ないんだ!」

昨日見た姫の顔色と、ベッドの周りにいる大人たちの深刻な話を思えば思うほど、鳩は心配になりました。
このままでは、姫はいなくなってしまうんじゃないか。

二度と姫と会えないんじゃないか。というようなとてもかなしいことをなんどもなんども考えました。

Chapter 3 - 鳩の思い[]

心配をしたり思い出をたどったりしているうちにふと、鳩はかすかに、
ひな鳥だった頃亡くなった母に聞いた言葉を思い出しました。

“世界のどこかに、どんなけがや病気も治す魔法の木の実を宿す大樹がある”

と。

“決して人の手の届くことのない険しい岩山のさらに奥深くに。”

それはある、と。

魔法の木の実があればきっと姫を助けることが出来る。
その木の実をとってくることができるなら、と鳩は考えました。

けれど考えれば考えるほど、鳩はどうにも落ち着かない気持ちになるのでした。
なんですぐに取りに行かないのかって?
それもしかたないのです。

“危険を冒して外に出て、鷹やハヤブサに狙われないだろうか?”
“はるか遠い岩山のさらにそのてっぺんにまでなどたどりつけるのだろうか?”
“そもそも、そんな遠くに行くことができるのだろうか?”
“運良く魔法の木の実を手に入れたとして、このたよりないくちばしでちゃんと運べるだろうか?”
“ちゃんと無事にここに戻ってこられるのだろうか?”

そんなことを思ってしまうのです。しかたのないことなのです。
だって鳩は、あのけが以来、ずっとかごの中で姫に守られながら、
このせまい鳥かごの中をただぴょんぴょんと跳ね回っていただけなのですから。

いっぽう、姫のようすはどんどん悪くなるばかりのようでした。

翌朝、姫の代わりに召使いのおばあさんが餌をもってやってきました。
おばあさんが、その干し芋のようなしわしわの手で、かごの中に食べ物を入れようとしたとき、
扉が少しだけ開きます。
そのようすを鳩はいたって真面目な顔つきで見つめていました。
そしてその一瞬の“すき”に鳩はかごの外へと勢いよく飛び出したのです。

そのまま、部屋の扉をくぐり、城の胸壁を縫って、空へ向かっていきます。

うしろのほうでおばあさんが
「わあ」
と言ったのが聞こえました。

鷹やハヤブサに狙われる不安はなくなったのでしょうか。決してそんなことはありませんでした。
どこへ行けばいいかわかったのでしょうか。

わかりません。
わからなかったけれど、鳩は夢中で飛び出したのです!

魔法の木の実を求めて!

Chapter 4 - ひばり[]

鳩ははじめに、城の北の森にさしかかりました。すると。
「ずいぶん急いでるようだね。そして君はとてもぎくしゃくしている。」
後ろからきたひばりが肩を並べて言いました。鳩は答えます。
「しょうがないよ。ずっと鳥かごに入ってたんだ。飛べるってだけでも大したもんだよ。」
「とりかごなんてダメさ。」
ひばりは“むげに”答えます。
「俺たちには羽根があるだろう?こいつを使っていつだって飛んでいるのがいいのさ。気の向くままに、
どこへでもいける。それがいいのさ。見てみなよ。世界はこんなに大きいんだ。」
「でも空は危なくない?鷹やハヤブサが狙ってくるんじゃない?地面に降りれば狸や狐や猫もいる。」
「じゃあ聞くけど、かごに入れられたままで、その日食べたい気分のものを食べられるかい?
ハムシが食べたい日もあれば野いばらの実にしたいときだってあるものさ。

ましてや、急に、餌をもらえなくなったらどうだい?
“危険”だとか“安全”だいうことに意味はないのさ。
どうにかなったそのときに、それがほかのやつの“せい”か、自分の“せい”かのちがいでしかないんだよ。」

「世界が大きいことを知っているのはそんなにいいことなのかい?」
「俺たちはその見えている世界の中だけで生きてるんだ。
だから、できるだけ広い世界を知ってるほうがいいに決まってるのさ」
少しすましたような顔で。でもまじめな感じでひばりはそういいました。

「僕は魔法の実のなる木をさがしているんだ」
鳩は、ひばりに聞いてみます。

「さあな。イモムシにでも聞いてみなよ。
見てみなよ。おれはあんなイモムシにはなりたくないな。いつも同じ木のうえを行ったり来たりしてるだけさ。
あいつにとっては、あの木の上だけが世界の全てなのさ。」

鳩は、通り過ぎようとした足元の木に、草色のものがもぞもぞしているのを見つけました。

Chapter 5 - イモムシ[]

「ぼくも、君たちほど高いところへは行けないけど、空を飛べるからね。」
イモムシはとつぜんみょうなことを言い出します。鳩はすぐに言ってやりました。
「きみには羽根がないだろう?だから飛べないんだよ。」
「ちがうね。ぼくは飛べるんだよね。いっぺんさなぎになって、そのあと羽根が生える。だからぼくは飛べる
んだよね。」
「でもいまは飛べないよ。」
「いま飛べるのと明日飛べるのと変わりはないんだよ。
君だって卵のときは飛べなかっただろう?
ぼくはさなぎに入ったらその中で、羽根が生えるんだ。
“羽根の大きさ”は、さなぎになるまでの“思い出の大きさ”と同じなんだよね。
羽根が生えてしまったら、足は貧弱になる。そうしたらこんな風に木のすみずみまで歩き回ることは出来な
いんだ。
だから僕は、今のうちに、木のすみずみまで見ておくんだよね。」

「僕は魔法の実のなる木をさがしているんだ」
鳩は、イモムシに聞いてみます。
「かしこそうな亀がこのあいだここを通りかかったよ。ふだんはこの森を抜けた先の湖のほとりにいるって
言ってた。
何か知ってるんじゃないかな。 かしこそうだけど、あいつは死ぬまでずっとこうらの中だ。羽根も生えてこ
ない。
思い出は思い出のまま、いっしょに年をとるだけだからね。」

ずうっとむこう。下の森が切れてなくなるあたりに、西日に照らされて光る湖が見えました。

A Blue Dove for the Princess 02

Chapter 6 - 亀[]

湖にたどりつくなり、かしこそうな亀にでくわしました。
「こうらはいいぜ。これのおかげで何度危険なめにあっても生きていることが出来るんだ。おまえたち鳥の仲
間もこうらにはいったやつがいるよな。」

「鳥かごのことかい?あれはこうらじゃないよ。
閉じ込められているんだ。でたがっているやつらだっておおいよ。僕もあれに入ってたんだ。」

「何でわざわざ出てきたんだ?危なくてしょうがないぜ。
長生きするコツは、危険には一切近寄らねぇことだ。災難は、自分が悪くなくたって、突然やってくるもんだ。
そんなときゃあ、じっとこう…こうらにはいって、過ぎ去っていくのを待つんだ。ヘタに動き回るな。」
亀はこうらに入るまねをしてそう言いました。

「でもそれじゃあ何も解決しないよ」

「ほう!」
亀は甲高い声を出し、そして言いました。

「おまえは、どんなことでも解決できるのか? そんな自信がおありなのかい?!」
いいことも、悪いことも、かならず終わりがやってくる。
おひさまが出て晴れた日は、おもいきり陽を体に浴びることだ。
なみだも凍るほど寒い冬は、それまでにためた力で耐え忍ぶんだ。またお日さまの出る日まで。
おれたち、命あるものができることは、すべて“そういった”ことなんだぜ。」

おや?なんだかいやな風が吹いてきたぜ。こりゃまたなんかありそうだぞ」
そういって亀は頭をこうらにしまいこみました。

「僕は魔法の実のなる木をさがしているんだ」
鳩はかしこそうな亀に聞いてみます。

「この湖の向こう岸のもっと先に岩山があるだろう、みえるかい?あの真中の一番高い山の、上から4番目の
峰に行ってみな。」

鳩がそっちに目をやると、うすぼんやりとしたぎざぎざの影がたしかにありました。

「何にせよ!」
亀はこうらの奥に頭を引っ込めたまましゃべっています。

「それがどんなことであれ、信じることだ。

 おれは木の実より、こうらの固さを信じるぜ」

Chapter 7 - 老木[]

鳩がやっとの思いで岩山にたどり着いたとき、老木はひとりでつぶやきはじめたところでした。
「悪い風が吹いとるな。奴さんとうとう現れよったか。こんどはいよいよわしももたんかもしれんのう。」
「ラーズグリーズの悪魔じゃよ。…ん、今回は英雄だったか?」

「それはなに?」
鳩はさりげなく聞いてみます。

「歴史が大きくかわるとき、ラーズグリーズはその姿を現す。
はじめには、漆黒の悪魔として。」
老木は、鳩がこないだ城の中で聞いたのと同じようなことを話し始めました。

「悪魔は、その力をもって大地に死を降り注ぎ、やがて死ぬ。

しばしの眠りののち、
ラーズグリーズは再び現れる。
英雄として現れる。」

「英雄?悪魔?何をするの?」
「はじめに見たのはな、わしがまだ細っこくって枝の少ない若木だったころじゃ。
人間同士、さかんに争いあっていた時代じゃな。

やつは、七十日とやまぬ嵐をおこし、おおきなひょうを降らしつづけた。
草木は傷つき、人や獣は食うものがなくなった。

それから、この地は荒れた果てた。命あるものはつぎつぎ息絶える。わしの仲間たちも、4つ足の獣も、人
間達も。おまえさんの仲間たちもじゃ。
あらゆる息吹をこの土地から奪い去ったあげく、あろうことか奴さん自身まで死んじまった。
それから間もなくじゃよ。このあたりがこんなはげ山になってしまったのは。」

「そいつは、ひどいやつだね?」

「…いや。」
老木はわからないふうに首をかしげて、ひとつ息を吐き、また大きく吸ってつづけます。

「この話にはつづきがある。
大地が荒れてそれから随分とたった後、この地にひとりの旅人がやって来た。
そやつは病気で苦しむ者を癒し、腐った地を掘りよみがえらせ、散りぢりの人間達たちをまとめ、村を作
り、街を作った。
川は満たされ、やがて麦が芽生えた。
そうして、この地はふたたび豊かになった。
土地が息を吹き返すと、旅人は国を去ると言いだした。
別れぎわ、旅人はなごり惜しむ村人達に告げたそうだ。

…“我はラーズグリーズなり”…と。」

「僕は魔法の実のなる木をさがしているんだ」
鳩はとうとう老木に告げました。

「いいじゃろう。なけなしの大事な実じゃが一つぐらいなら分けてやろう。
…ところで、どうしてこれが魔法の木の実といわれるか知っておるか?」
鳩はだまって老木を見つめるばかりです。

「こいつは薬にもなるし、毒にもなる。それどころか、なんでもない木の実かもしれんし、ただの石ころかも
しれん」
「どういうこと?」
「それは、これを持つものが信じる“よう”になるからじゃ。」

鳩は城のほうを見ましたが、一番むこうの丘のところにも城はまだ見えませんでした。

「いよいよ風が強くなってきたな。道中気をつけられよ。」

A Blue Dove for the Princess 03

Chapter 8 - 降り注ぐ悪魔[]

鳩は手に入れた木の実をしっかりと口にくわえ、老木にお礼と別れを告げ、岩山をあとにします。
風はますます強くなり、気がつけば、すでにひょうのまじった嵐でした。

けれど、鳩はできるだけ早く城に戻りたいのです。

すこしりりしいような顔つきで鳩は羽を大きく左右に張り出します。

Chapter 9 - 魔法の木の実[]

鳩は次から次へと向きを変える風をじょうずにわたり、姫の住む、あの城をめざして飛んでいきます。
高く、さらに高く。
森を縫い、雲を掻き分けて。
さらに大きな風をつかめる高さまで。

持つものが信じる“よう”になるという不思議な木の実を…

…いいえ!

“どんな病気もたちどころに治す万能の薬”をしっかりとくわえて!

足元の河が消えていく地平線の、そのまたはるか彼方に、見慣れた森や城がかすかに見えてきました。

もう少しだ!
もう少しで姫にあうことが出来るんだ!
そして、この実を姫に捧げるんだ。

そうすれば、またあのすばらしい暮らしが過ごせるんだ!

A Blue Dove for the Princess 04

Chapter 10 - 帰還[]

鳩がようやく城にたどり着いたとき、姫のベッドの周りにはこないだよりもっと深刻な顔をした大勢の人が集
まっていました。
みながみな、すすり泣きをしています。
中でも、王はひときわ大きな、うなるような悲しみの声を上げていました。

鳩は、ついに間にあわなかったのです。
姫がいなくなったことを、鳩はとても悲しく思いました。

けれど、鳩は自分のしたことを悔やんだり、がっかりしたりはしませんでした。

姫の最後の顔がとても安らかだったからです。
さいごまで希望をうしなわず、世界を愛して死んでいったことがわかるような、やさしくおだやかな面持ち
だったからです。

いちかばちかの長旅に疲れ果てた鳩は、悲しくも不思議と落ち着いた気持ちで、まずはそのまま眠りにつ

くことにしました。

Chapter 11 - おわり[]

翌朝、部屋に入った召使いは、姫の骸の隣に一匹の鳩の亡骸を見つけました。

召使いはしわしわな顔を不思議そうにゆがめて、叫ぶように言いました。

「あらまあ!姫様の鳩じゃないかえ?
おかしいねえ!ここへ来た頃からけがをしてて羽根がだめんなってた子なのにねえ。
このぼろぼろの羽根じゃもともと空を飛ぶなんてかなわないのに、いったいどうやってでかけて戻ってくることが
出来たんだろうね?この子は!  …不思議なことさねぇ」

鳩が事切れてもなお大事そうにくわえていた、みずみずしいオリオンポプラの木の実を、召使いは庭の、ちょう
ど姫の部屋の窓の下に埋めることにしました。

やがてこの木は大きくなり、そのたわわなこずえからは、姫の部屋と窓辺の鳥かごがよく見えるのだそうです。


これは、オリオンポプラのこずえの中、枝から枝へ、親鳥から小鳥たちへとつたえられる、

ちいさな奇跡のお話です。

Hardcover version[]

Fans were able to purchase real hardcover copies of A Blue Dove for the Princess along with a Razgriz patch through Bandai Namco's online store.[3] However, this online store no longer sells Ace Combat merchandise.

Trivia[]

  • The castle in the story is believed to be Stier Castle.
  • The lyrics to "The Journey Home" directly reference the story.
  • The book's illustrations, both from the actual tale and from the cutscenes of Ace Combat 5, are included in Aces At War: A History.
    • In pre-release concept art (dated 2003) that appears in the "Men At War" section, the text of the story is replaced by a portion of the Biblical verse Isaiah 40:9 (American Standard Version) as a placeholder, which reads: "Thou that tellest good tiding to Jerusalem / Lift up thy voice with strength, lift up / Be not afraid, say unto the cities of Judah: Behold your God, behold your God".
  • Illustrations from the book can be found on Rainer Altman's desk during his interviews in Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.

References[]

  1. A Blue Dove for the Princess and Chopper *spoilers for the game and book*. GameFAQs. Translated and published on August 6, 2008. Retrieved on January 21, 2017.
  2. A Blue Dove for the Princess. Electrosphere.info. Published and edited by August 26, 2008. Retrieved from the Web Archive's version as of May 30, 2012.
  3. [http://web.archive.org/web/20121104001827/http://lalabitmarket.channel.or.jp/p/118879/ ACE COMBAT THE EMBLEM OF WAPPEN D+
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