A/N: Well this is Chapter 13... I dedicate this chapter to CrimsonFire, alias FireLord… for all the reviews she has given me… and to Chichirui, for all the reviews yet to come…

Disclaimer: NO!!! Batman has returned the deed I stole from the owners of Escaflowne… HOW DARE HE STEAL SOMETHING I STOLE!!! AND GIVE IT BACK TO ITS RIGHTFUL OWNERS!!!

Chapter Twelve: Battle

"I AM ALLEN SCHEZAR!!!"

BlackMage drew his sword. "You do not stand a chance, Allen…" BlackMage charged, using his sword in a side slash maneuver. Allen, distracted by the words BlackMage had said, barely blocked in time. The swords threw off sparks of gleaming red, as the swords clashed. Allen knew he had to strike the offensive… BlackMage might win otherwise… BlackMage predicted it… He attacked before Allen could think of his attack.

"Look, Allen… Just give me the prisoners. One of them, I must have. The others… Well, I only want to know why you want them. If I have no use for them. You can have them."

"NEVER!!" Allen said. He pulled back. He was about to thrust, when something swooped out of the trees.

Marlon spread out his wings, and jumped. He was afraid of heights, and so didn't like being held by the Tin Man, and then the Tin Man put him high up in a tree. Marlon was going to get away from the evil Tin Man, even if it meant flying.

"MARLON, NO!!!"

"So that's why you wanted him, Allen." BlackMage smiled from within the guymelef. "Marlon! Come here! I will get you out of here!!" He shouted at him"

Marlon landed in a smaller tree. "You promise?" Marlon knew that all promises must be kept. Just then, Allen charged.

BlackMage pushed another button. Allen's guymelef shut down. "I promise, Marlon."

"MARLON!!!" Hitomi yelled. She had to save her son! He was a prince of Fanelia!

Marlon dived down and into BlackMage's guymelef arm. Dilandau jumped from the tree, into the other waiting hand. BlackMage jumped up, and flew away, leaving Hitomi crying in the tree.

"We will land very soon, Lord Marlon, and Lord Dilandau. Just close your eyes, we will not be up here long." BlackMage said, comforting the boy. A prince of Fanelia! If he could groom him well, it would not be hard to conquer the lands of Fanelia… Especially with the rightful king leading the army. Dilandau could easily help him train the boy in the ways of a guymelef. The dragon would soon be crushed.

Once BlackMage had left the immediate vicinity, Allen's unit was able to move. "Hitomi." He groaned. He stood up. He picked her up. "Come we must hurry to Fanelia! We will save him later…"

"But he's my son!"

"Your son?" Allen questioned.

BlackMage landed near the tower of FireLord. "Dilandau, inform FireLord or this new advancement. I will take Lord Marlon to my castle." He looked down at the boy. "Wake, young prince. Let us walk to your new home…"

A/N: I am so cruel… Well… that's all the chapters for this weekend… Nothing for President's day… Well… I hope you enjoyed it!!! JA!!