A/N: I got some Reviews!!! YaY!!! Thanks a lot! Glad to see someone's reading it. The fic moves pretty quickly for the first few chapters, so if you're a little confused because of Chapter.5 everything will be explained as the fic continues! Ok? Ok. Now READ!!!



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"Memories"



Ch.4 - Destinies Maze



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"This way!" I yelled, waving my arm towards the open hatch. My voice was barley audible above the yells of the people and the cackling of fire. "Head for the safe grounds!"



It had been just over ten years since Raudin had been attacked. I had hidden in Fanallia. Fenellias lord and lady had protected me for a year or so. But now all of Geae was in mass panic. A world war had broke our. Allied countries were now enemies. No one was safe.



"Jade!" Yelled Van. Running to me, holding his daughter tightly in his arms. "Get Hitomi to - " An explosion was heard. I spun around.



"No..." They had destroyed our passage to safety. The underground tunnel. Van quickly handed his daughter to me and ran towards where the main attack was taking place.



I looked down at the crying child. She wasn't even a year old. I ran, forgetting about the people I had doomed to death by sending them into the tunnels. I wouldn't let Hitomi die.



I held the child close to my chest shielding her from the flames. I jumped over the burning pieces of wood that had fallen from buildings on the verge of collapsing.



I skidded to a stop. Considering my options. The Fanellian Gates were to my left. To my right was the wall that supposedly protected the capital city. And straight ahead, the wall again. Either way I would meet the enemy. Either way there was at least 5 - 10 km to cover before I would reach my destination. I couldn't go back to the castle.



The heat irritated my skin. Sweat dripped from my forehead, making my hair stick to my face.



"Left." I panted. Beginning to run again.



"Lady Jade! Lady Jade!" I ignored the voice and kept running.



"Lady Jade!" someone grabbed my shoulder and I lost my balance, tumbling forward. I quickly gained my footing. "Forgive me Lady Jade, but I need your help."



I looked at the woman who had grabbed me. "What." I demanded, my tone much harsher than intended.



She spoke, with tears stained cheeks and her face blistered and burned from the fire. "It's my husband... He's trapped. You have to help him."



"I have no time for this." I replied without thought. Turning away from her I resuming my escape. A wave of heat hit my back as the house collapsed.



I slowed to a cautious walk. I was nearing the gates, and could see our attackers. They wore the Austurian crest across their chest. My eyes narrowed, and hatred filled me. "What ever happened to the enemy of my enemy was my friend?" I hissed.



The alliance between the countries had finally been broken. Not that it was surprising. Fanellia's alliance with Austuria had been in turmoil long before. It had only been a matter of time before one had attacked the other.



I saw the white dragon approaching. The stunningly magnificent creature swooped low, and transformed to the ever famous gymelf' Escaflowne. The child had ceased her crying. I shifted her body so that most of her weight was on my right arm.



"Lets go..." I whispered. Running into the open area. Van fought with skill. I could see him out of the corner of my eye.



He had been forced to activate Escaflowne after the first year of battle. It was the only way Fanellia was to survive. But even that wasn't enough.



Hitomi began to sob again. Her tiny hand grabbed my shirt and a few stray strands of hair. 'Straight for the gates' I told my self. Glancing down at the brown haired child in my arms. 'No. Zig-zag.' I started weaving around the fighters. Just incase someone decided to attack me. I would be harder to catch.



'Ten feet... And... we're... out!' My mind yelled as I flew over and past what was left of the stone gate. It had been trampled. Torn down by the Austurian forces. 'Your not out of danger yet.' warned the voice at the back of my mind.



Thats when I noticed it. The levi ship, floating in the distance. "Why?" I panted, still running. "Why cant this just go my way? Just this once." I sighed. Stopping and kneeling. Resting for a moment. Thinking about my next move.



'If Austuria knew about the tunnels. They must know about the safe grounds also. So where do I go? Travel to Freid. Hide amongst the other peasants until I can find the remaining Fanillian forces. Yes. That will have to do for now.'



I got up and ran towards the forest.



"NO!" I heard the vicious scream. His voice was unmistakable.



"Lord Van." I whispered. I turned for a split second, and everything changed. Every thing changed drastically.



I stared wide eyed.



"Lady Jade, I'll take the princess to safety." said a pained voice.



I spun around to face the woman I'd left behind earlier. She was now a widow, and I'd been cruel enough to leave without even attempting to help. I felt the knot in my stomach grow. I nodded. Placing the child the woman's arms.



I looked up at the sky. "Why!" I yelled in frustration. I ran back towards the city.



I saw their swords clashing. Silver against silver. Sparks flew. Deep grey gashes littered the surface of Escaflowne.



I held my sword firmly, waiting for someone to attack. A nearby soldier was the first to attempt unarming me. Swinging around I caught him in his mid-section. Dropping his sword he clasped his side and fell.



"Allen stop this! We shouldn't be fighting against each other!" Yelled Van.



So this was Allen Shazard. I had heard Van mention him every now and then.



"I'm sorry it had to be this way Van!" came the reply.



Allen's sword flew towards Escaflowne, Cutting deep into it's shoulder.



Van screamed. Escaflowne dropped to it's knees and the hatch opened.



"Lord Van!" I ran up to Escaflowne just as Van hit the ground. The ruby red energist started to dim. I slid to my knees rolling Van onto his back. He stared up at me absently.



"Save Hitomi." he breathed. His eyes fluttering closed. "Save..." his life away faded as the energist turned to a coal black.



"Farewell Your majesty." I said. Standing to face the melf' towering over me. I could see the man inside. He was older than most warriors. Probably in his late forties. Wrinkles were clearly appearing on his forehead and around his eyes. His eyes... They looked so tired. Tired of the fighting. He nodded slightly. I felt a hand grasp my neck.



"We can do this the easy way... Or the hard way." whispered a voice. Their light breath against my neck made my body shiver involuntarily.



"I choose my way." I whispered back. Pushing my shoulder into his jaw. I spun in the same direction and raised my knee. It hit his hip just hard enough to make him stager. Quickly I raised my sword, and let the blade slice through his back, I felt resistance at first but it eventually gave way. I turned back to the blond hiding beneath the shielding of his melf'. The look of surprise on his face was almost satisfaction enough.



I nodded my head back, motioning for him to come out. "Face me." I said.



The hatch opened and Allen slowly made his way to ground level. I moved into a defense stance.



"I do not wish to fight you." he said. Placing a hand on the hilt of his sword.



I heard it. It was faint but I heard it. A child crying. "Isa." I turned looking over my shoulder. "No!" They were to far away. To far. "HITOMI!" I screamed. Attempting to run towards her. But stopped after my first step. My eyes stung. Tears? No I wouldn't cry. I shook with rage. It was too late. The three men, And the woman, she was there as well. I clenched my free hand into a fist.



"Hitomi?" came the quiet voice behind me.



I turned on my heal, holding my sword directly in the center of my view. "You will pay." I growled.



"That... The child... Was Vans... Daughter?" asked Allen.



'A child... she was defenseless... Cowards.' I remained silent. Every sound faded, except for the beating of my heart. It was fast, faster then it should be. I was angry. No not angry. Guilty? I couldn't quite place the emotion.



I charged, he blocked my attack easily.



"I know you." he breathed, as our swords locked. "Raudin... We found you in Raudin."



I pushed back and charged at him again, he attempted to block my sword, my momentum made him lean back, I took the opportunity to kick him, a cloud of dust rose as he hit the ground. With my foot on his sword, I pointed the tip of my own at his neck. Drawing a very small amount of blood.



His eyes pleaded with me. Begging me to kill him. I could see it. He didn't have to say anything for me to know he wanted everything to end.



"Van was a good man." he said. "I didn't want to harm him." he whispered. His eyes were now lined with tears. "But I'm just like any other man. I had orders. I had responsibilities. I'm sorry."



I shook my head. "Sorry." I stated harshly. "I 'am' from Raudin." I said, confirming his previous statement. "I was to be Queen actually..."I added, staring past him, at a few Austurian soldiers had stopped to watch us. "What ever happened to the alliance? Fanallia fought with you against Zibach... And then you do this. Kill her King. And murder her heir... Hmph." a short laugh escaped me. "You dear Knight... Don't deserve to live..."



He closed his eyes. Swallowing, causing the point of my sword to dig into his neck further.



"But... Death isn't something I want to allow you..." I sneered. Kicking away his sword. I drew

my own away from his neck. He remained where he was lying on the ground. I swiftly ran my sword through his legs. He screamed in agony. I smiled in the blissfulness of revenge. But what I felt changed from pleasure to disgusts in seconds. I couldn't leave him like this. I'd left the woman's husband to die, and look what had happened in return. I couldn't let him suffer. Like the knight had said, he had orders. It was inevitable. I didn't waste any time, quickly I beheaded him, leaving behind a decapitate body. I started to run again, first towards the gate, until I realized that the Austurian forces wouldn't allow me passage, so I turned and ran in the opposite direction.



What had happened to me? Once, long ago in a distant past I was innocent. My hands... free of blood. That was a past that had been long forgotten.



I could see more gymelf's approaching the city, they had just flew over what was left of Fanallias wall.



I let my mind drift, not wanting to think about the people chasing after me, or the gymelfs' that were landing in front of me.



I had changed. More than I'd realized. What would Isa think of me now? I was no longer the older sister that watched over her. Now... you could almost call me ruthless... almost... I'd become desensitized to everything the war brought with it. Death, destruction, chaos, all the blood shed. The only one's I'd actually cared for were the people who had earned my trust.

Like Lord Van. And I had failed him. I was unable to save his daughter. Unable to fulfil his dying wish. I didn't save Hitomi. Just like I didn't save Isa.



I tripped. Sliding into ash and rocks.



"Bitch." spat someone. Kicking my back. Every muscle in my body seized up. I couldn't move. The tension in my body turned to pain.



'Not good.' I thought, while trying to get up. I thought myself dead. It was the logical assumption. But death never came. I was on my hands and knees. I could hear voices around me.



"Can you walk?" asked the voice.



I looked up. Squinting at the crest. A crest I hadn't seen in a very long time. "Zibach?" I questioned. Accepting the hand held out to help me up.



"Come with us, some of your remaining soldiers and civilians are stationed at our camp." said the man.



I examined the mans face, a scar ran down his cheek. I looked around. I was surrounded by Zibach forces. "Do I have a choice?" I asked. Looking at the gymelfs that were guarding the area.



"Yes. You can come with us, or we can leave you here to fend for yourself. Just so you know. Austuria has taken over the fortress, and it will be very difficult to escape without assistance." he replied.



I nodded. "Fine. Take me to your camp." If this was a trap, I didn't care. If I stayed here, I was doomed to death. It wasn't like I had anything left to loose.



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A/N: Just so no one's confused Hitomi is not Jade's child. You'll find out who the mother is in the next chapter. You wanna know a secret... I wrote another version of this fic, one where Van and the others are more involved in the fic (Meaning they don't die... @ the beginning of the fic...) But I liked this version better. Am I cruel? Seriously... I mean, I've killed off every original Escaflowne we've encountered so far... erm... *Hides from angry mob of readers* ... Until next time!!! Au Revoir!



Coming soon - 'Chapter 5 - Geae'



- Chaos -