Disclaimer:  Blah blah blah, I don't own any of the characters of plot line of Escaflowne… I do own anything not belong to the story line… so it's mine and ask before you borrow. Three Girls

This story is dedicated to the only person I know who has a heart of gold and a talent for the art of story telling.  CrimsonFire my friend, you've been there for me when I've needed you and you're always willing to help me out no matter what situation I'm in.  So this one is done for you!

Chapter 7: One, Two, Three, Four, I Declare a War

At dawn the next morning, Van's troops were positioned around the Vione.  "I can definitely sense her aura," Nicole told Alex and Van.  They were set up in small pavilion just yards away from the awaiting soldiers.  Van, who was dressed in black boots, khaki pants and a red shirt with a sword at his side nodded. 

He knew that Alex and Nicole had the powers to sense each other's auras.  It's a good thing too.  It'll make the job go quicker, he thought.  "Ok, which one of us shall go in?" Alex asked.

"I'll go since I'm the one who is better at sensing Kat's aura," Nicole replied. 

Alex nodded. 

Nicole took a step back from the group and closed her eyes, concentrating on the life energy of Earth.  Pink ribbons shot out of thin air and formed a pink bubble around her, totally hiding her from the outside eye.  Within 5 seconds the pink bubble shattered, revealing Nicole in her outfit.  "We're lucky we figured out how to change in and out of our costumes without a problem," Alex commented as she too began to transform.

Green branches shot out of the ground and intertwined together to make a cocoon for her.  Like Nicole, within 5 seconds the branches shattered revealing Alex in her dark green costume.  "Ok, Nicole you go ahead and slip into the Vione," Alex said.  "We'll give you about 5 minute's head start.  Then we attack and hope to attract their attention.  Ready?  Go!"

Nicole nodded and ran out of the pavilion, heading towards the Vione. Thank God the ground is mostly flat.  I have a problem with cross-country, Nicole thought as she easily gained on the Vione.  As she ran she made sure to keep track of the time.  She was only a few feet away from the now landing Vione when the first cannon was shot.

It hit the Vione dead on, giving Nicole the advantage of the smoke as a cover.  She ran up to the Vione and made a hole in the thick outer layer with her ribbons.  She then slipped in and began to run down the all-too familiar corridors.  Hang in there, Kat. I'm comin', she thought as she ran up the all too familiar staircase.

Kat was roaming the halls when the first shot came.  It rocked the Vione causing Kat to loose her balance and fall to the ground.  She quickly got to her feet and without reason ran to the hanger.  Maybe it's the help I've been waiting for, she thought as she ran. 

Upon reaching the hanger she found it was in chaos with Slayers running around and Dilandau shouting orders.   "What's happening?"  She demanded as she ran up to Dilandau.

He looked at her for a second before replying, "we're under attack."

"Duh!  I mean what's happening?"  Kat shot back.  She was not in the mood for games with him.  She just wanted to know what was happening and how she could help them by escaping.

"We're under attack by a small army of Fanellian soldiers," he replied, "now go get to safety!"

Kat looked at him, surprised.  She would have thought he would be yelling at her to get ready for battle.  But she quickly regained her posture and ran for the huge doors that led to the outside of the Vione.  She was very aware of the fact that she was wearing black boots with black pants and a dark blue tank top; the Dragon Slayer clothes.

She didn't care.  For some reason she had the uncontrollable urge to kill some people.  It was like a huge hunger pain that she couldn't control anymore-never in her life had she ever wanted to see blood spill!  No!  That's not what I want to do!  This is my chance to escape!  She told herself sternly.

Come on just give in already.  You know that the urge is in your nature.  After all, it had saved your ass in the past, hasn't it?  A small voice pointed out.

Kat ignored it and continued to run.  By now she was outside with some of the other Slayers.  She quickly counted the troops.  25 against 13 damn, not good odds, she thought.

She suddenly whirled around, grabbing a dagger from her boot and driving it into the Fanellian soldier that was about to knock her out.  She withdrew her dagger, thankful for however had left it on her nightstand last night then turned back to the battle and went to the aid of Gatti, who was currently battling 2 soldiers with a 3rd sneaking up behind him.

As if another person had totally replaced her, she rushed the soldier and stabbed him in the back.  "It's not nice to sneak up on people," she told him just before she ripped out her dagger from his back.

Nicole had searched the whole Vione lucky enough not to get caught.  However, Kat wasn't anywhere to be found on the fortress.  Which means only one thing, she's out on the battlefield, Nicole thought as she headed for the hanger.

She was glad that Van had insisted on making her and Alex run over the lay out of the Vione before heading into battle.  Even though they knew some of the halls, the extra information had helped a lot in her search.  Kat's definitely on the battlefield, Nicole thought as she entered the hanger and sensed Kat's presence.

Half way into the hanger she realized her mistake.  There were about 3 other Slayers with Dilandau still in the hanger.  She had thought they'd all be out on the battlefield.  Shit!  Out numbered and outmatched, she thought.  She quickly slipped into the shadows and hoped to God that no one noticed her.

But her hope was short lived.  Dilandau and sniffed the air like a bloodhound searching for a scent.  He paused and then turned around and pointed at the spot where she was hiding.  "Get her!"  He ordered. 

Nicole bolted from the shadows and ran like hell towards the hanger doors.  Just like last time, only I don't have Kat to save my ass, she thought as she pumped her legs harder.  She could hear the perusing Slayer's footsteps right behind her.  "Damn!"  She hissed.  She was so close to the door, if only....

Suddenly something exploded behind Nicole.  This surprised her, which made her run faster.  She exited the Vione safely and ran straight onto the battlefield.  Yet the sight that greeted her was more then horrifying. 

Kat, covered in blood with a few cuts, was standing in the middle of a circle of dead Fanellian soldiers.  It was like they had all been slaughtered in a fury of movement, their swords frozen in their hands and the last look on their faces still there.  She was fighting Van at the moment, and Nicole saw Alex sneaking up behind her.  But Kat sensed Alex's presence behind her, so she whirled around and elbowed her in the side.

Alex stumbled backwards just as a familiar scream sounded.  "NO!"  Kat's head jerked up as she spotted Nicole, her eyes were wide with fear, horror and anger. 

Kat bit her lip hard and as if waking from a dream she looked around her.  The dead bodies of Fanellian soldiers were all around her, the ground bloody, and the form of Alex standing up next to Nicole.  She knew that Van was getting ready to attack her if she showed any hint of attacking but she didn't much care at that moment.  Kat stared at Nicole, the horror of what she had done dawning on her.  How could I do this?

Suddenly Kat caught sight of the Slayer sneaking up behind Nicole, ready to behead her.  "NO!"  She screamed as she quickly let loose a ball of energy from her hand.  Everything seemed to slow down as the ball of energy flew past Nicole, barely millimeters from her ear, and hit the Slayer, sending him flying back.  At the same time Van brought the sword down as Kat jerked forward trying to dodge it.

She felt the cold blade slice her back open as she hit the ground.  Pain registered with her brain and the many cuts began to burn, her back swelling with pain and burning like someone had it on fire.  Slowly Kat felt her brain start to shut down.  She was suddenly exhausted, both mentally and physically, and her body screamed for sleep. 

So this is what it's like to die by the blade of a sword?  She wondered absentmindedly as darkness began to close in.  Just before the darkness won her over, she glanced at Nicole, who was being quickly led away by Alex.  Kat shot them "I'm sorry" look and then fainted.

"What can we do for her?"  Nicole asked Alex in fright.  It was close to midnight, the same day of the battle, and Alex had just finishing telling Nicole, and Nicole Alex, about what they had seen in Kat.

"I don't know…  the look in her eyes, it was almost like she was born to kill.  That totally lost savage look.  But then I noticed that she didn't just go up to a guy and kill him.  She had a strategy, she would help the people that couldn't handle the battle, whether Fanellian or Slayer. 

"Unfortunately it was mostly Slayers that needed the help.  That's when she killed.  To tell you the truth, Nicole, I don't know how to help her-if we even could," Alex confessed.

Nicole regarded her friend with careful eyes.  She knew that Alex was feeling bad.  They both felt like it was their fault that Kat was still in Zaibach, forced to kill innocent people-she had been the one who saved them from Zaibach.  "She once told me that when she was little, her dad beat her," Nicole whispered, reminiscing.  "She said she had to defend herself and her mother from him and she said that since then she had an urge to fight for the innocent and defend herself."

Alex looked at Nicole with surprise.  So that's why Kat didn't want her past known to us.  But, if that was all, it's not so bad.  Something else must've happened that she doesn't want known, she thought.   Oh Kat, why do you insist in hiding things from us?  "I think that we both always knew Kat was different from the way she poured herself into her martial arts training.  But that doesn't mean we abandon her.  She might have killed but we're best friends, we've been together forever; and we owe it to her, as many times as she's saved our asses, to help her out," Alex pointed out.

Nicole nodded and leaned back in her bed.  "We'll keep trying to get her back, no matter what.  She's important to us," she said as she fell asleep.

"Hear that, Kat?  You're important to us, so don't give up," Alex whispered to the dark as she fell asleep.

AN:  YAY!  Chapter seven is up!   Okay, so Kat's prison to Zaibach again?  But what's with the killing spree?  What's happening to our Destroyer?  When is she going to be saved… or can she be saved?  CLIFFHANGER people!  Put your hands in the air and wave them all around… okay, too much caffeine… going away now…  R+R!

~ShadowKat