Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Escape
A.C. 182
It had been 2 years since the birth of Ara. Another Peacecraft was born, the king's daughter, named Relena, who was born 2 weeks after Ara.
After the incident in space, the press and the public had many questions. No answers were given. King Peacecraft had pestered Trinity about who the 'woman' was. Trinity would only answer by saying, ''She saved our lives.'' The king even wanted the woman to be found. But Vesta covered her tracks well.
From time to time, Vesta would secretly visit Ara. She would also take the child to the same lab Ara was born in for examinations. After a year, spies of the organization that attacked the Peacecrafts had found out about the operation. Vesta, and the 5 scientists that were her colleagues, destroyed their base letting the organization think they were gone. Vesta and the scientists went into hiding. But Vesta still watched over Lana and Ara while hidden in the shadows.
Just a year after she was born, Ara was beginning to talk like she was a 3 year old. Everyone thought she just matures faster, for Relena was still learning how to pronounce simple words. Not once did Trinity cut Ara's hair. She wanted to know what colour her hair would be. Since Lana's was blue, she wondered if her second child would also have totally different features. Ara definitely did. Her hair was a fiery red at first. But when it began to grow a little longer, it started to become orange near the bottom, and then yellow at the tips. Trinity was quite surprised and afraid. She was afraid that people would be asking too many questions. Ara's eyes were a different colour as well. They were emerald green which none of her parents had. They weren't a problem, the hair was. It didn't show that much, but it had to be covered somehow. Trinity would always use a washable colouring solvent and reapply it whenever Ara's hair was washed. The hair dye Vesta gave was not chemically threatening to the child.
Life at the Cinq Kingdom was progressing as usual. It was a normal day in the castle. The halls were quiet. Except on the fourth floor. There were the thumps of little feet running through the halls and in and out of rooms. There were also playful shrieks and laughter heard as four children played.
Ara peeked out of a door. She looked up and down the hallway. After she thought the coast was clear, Ara tiptoed down the hall to another room.
"Gotcha!" a voice said as two arms wrapped around Ara's body. She tried to struggle out of her captor's hold. She looked behind her and found her cousin, Milliardo. Ara kept wriggling out of Milliardo's grip. He found it hard to keep his cousin in position. She was amazingly strong for her age. Milliardo gave up. He let Ara go. Ara looked at him confused.
"Milliardo, you don't usually give up like that," she said. Milliardo smiled at her. She smiled back. He then shrugged saying that he was a tough boy.
"Lana! Relena! Time to come out. The game is over," Milliardo called out. After a few minutes, Lana and Relena came to view. Lana was now 9, Milliardo was 7, and both Ara and Relena were 3. They were playing hide and go seek. The children decided to go to the kitchen to get some food. When they arrived there, they all watched Pagan bustling about. At first, he didn't notice the children. When he turned around, the children all smiled.
"Well, what have we here?" Pagan asked in light tone, "You kids are so lucky that you caught me at this time. Have a cookie." Pagan extended a tray of an assortment of cookies before the children. All took one. Pagan put the tray on the counter and left to do something else. Milliardo snuck back and stole a few more cookies.
Trinity walked down a hallway towards her brother's study. She stopped in front of the door. Trinity could hear him talking to a few men as they were in a meeting. Ever since the king had suspicions about the organization, he held meetings all the time to find out who they were and what their purposes were. The meeting ended. Trinity waited for all the men to leave. When they did, Trinity entered the study and stood in front of the King's desk. The king was reading a document and was deep in thought. Trinity made a throat noise. The king looked up from the sheet of paper. Trinity smiled.
"Brother, I want to take Lana and Ara with me to visit their father," she said. The king leaned back in his chair.
"I suppose you can," said the king, "But why not tell your husband to come here?" Trinity sighed.
"You are too overprotected brother," Trinity snapped, "You can't keep us locked up in this forsaken castle to keep us safe." The king watched his sister's expression change. She was a very stubborn person.
"Because Trinity, there are possibly spies everywhere," the king said.
"Possibly!" Trinity exclaimed, "You don't even know for sure." The king rubbed his temple.
"Please sister, I need to make sure that everyone is safe," the King replied, "I don't want to take any chances." Trinity couldn't persuade her brother. She gave up. Trinity left the room and walked to her daughters' rooms.
It was night and the children were in Relena's room. They were all sitting on the floor and playing with toys. The queen, Milliardo's and Relena's mother, came in.
"Children, time for bed," she said. The kids got up and began to leave. Lana and Ara returned to their rooms, which were joined, by a bathroom. Ara walked into her room and found her mother sitting on the bed. Trinity smiled at her daughter and motioned for her to sit next to her. Ara crawled onto the bed and sat on her mother's lap. Trinity began to brush Ara's hair.
"Mommy? When are we going to see daddy?" Ara asked. Trinity sighed.
"I don't know," she replied, "Your uncle won't let us leave the palace. But we will be able to see him soon." Ara nodded. Trinity tucked Ara in bed, kissed her good night, and left.
The next morning, everyone in the Cinq Kingdom went through his or her daily routines. Later on in the afternoon, Lana and Ara's father arrived for a short visit. The girls were excited to see their father. As the family spent their time together, Vesta was watching. She watched Lana and Ara run around the gardens with their father and having fun. Vesta kept a good watch on Ara. The young girl was exactly what Vesta wanted for her project. And Lana was very articulate for her age.
For the rest of the day, things were going well until near midnight. An explosion was heard. The whole household was in shock. Outside the palace, there were men with guns and other heavy artillery. The castle was practically surrounded. The children were frightened. Relena was the only one who didn't understand. Trinity, the queen, the king, and Pagan tried to find a way to get out of the castle safely. They ran down to the basement of the building. When they reached the very bottom, Vesta was there. She had no idea that there would be an attack, but she hid in the castle to keep her eye on Trinity's daughters. Vesta was hiding in the shadows. Pagan led the group to the back of a large room and opened a hidden door. It led to a secret passageway leading to the woods outside the castle grounds. By this time, the attackers made their way in the castle. They began to burn the whole place. The passageway was very narrow and the group wouldn't be able to escape at the same time.
"We'll let the children go," the king said, "They are the next generation. They are the heirs." Trinity and the queen looked at each other. The king was suggesting that they sacrifice their lives to save the Peacecraft heirs. Pagan asked what would happen to him.
"Pagan, I want you to go with the children," the king replied, "Someone must be there to tell the children of who they are and what happened." Pagan nodded. He bowed and then led the children through the narrow passageway. The king, queen, and Trinity ran back up the stairs so that when they were caught, it would buy Pagan and the children time to escape. When they were caught, they were shot.
Vesta ran into the passageway. When she reached the group, Pagan turned around and flashed a pocket flashlight at her.
"Pagan, it's me," said Vesta. Pagan sighed in relief. "Let me take the lead," she continued. The group continued on following Vesta. Milliardo tripped. Pagan carried him while Lana carried Relena. They ran on for a while until they came to a dead end. Vesta and Pagan looked around trying to find an opening to outside. Lana and Ara looked around. Lana spotted a wooden ladder that was hidden by dirt.
"Mr. Pagan, over here!" Lana called out. Pagan and Vesta removed some of the dirt and opened the top. It was a sort of manhole. Pagan climbed the ladder first. Then the children. Vesta was the last. When everyone was safely out, they found themselves in the woods. Vesta was relieved that they made it out in time. They were close enough to see the castle. It was completely on fire. Vesta looked at the four Peacecrafts. Surely whoever attacked the Cinq kingdom would try to look for the children. They would have to be split up. The group headed out and came to a small building that had a few people waiting. The children were put into a room with food. Vesta and Pagan had a meeting with the people. They agreed to split the children up. Relena would be adopted and cared for by Darlien. Milliardo was given to Pagan to be sent to a military school. Vesta suggested that Lana and Ara were to be adopted by her. Pagan wondered if the sisters should also be separated. Vesta refused and said she had her reasons to keep them. Everyone parted his or her separate ways. Little did they know, they would all meet again in 14 years.
To those who have been waiting for an eternity for this chapter, I apologize from the bottom of my heart! This chapter was hard to do cuz I at first didn't know how the Cinq Kingdom was destroyed and how Zechs and Relena got out. Had to ask around for it. If any of you out there know how it all happened, plz contact me so I can correct my stuff. Thanx.