Adrina sat in the lavishly decorated room and boredly stared out the window. Folken had left after breakfast, leaving Adrina in the parlor as he met with the generals of Zaibach. When they had arrived the night before, Folken had gone straight to Emperor Dornkirk and Adrina had been taken to a two-room suite where she would be staying while in Zaibach. She had fallen asleep quickly and slept good. The next morning, Folken had awakened her and shared breakfast with her in the parlor of her suite, the same she was in now.

Adrina stretched out on the soft couch and stared up at the ceiling, reflecting on everything that had happened to her in the past month. Her homeland had burned, she'd been kidnapped by Zaibach, reunited with Folken, named a Lady of Zaibach and was now sitting in the capital, waiting to hear what would happen next. It was too much for one woman to handle she would be glad when it was all over.

The sound of the parlor door opening caused her to sit up. She was pleased to see that Folken had returned from him meeting, but was confused by the troubled look on his face.

"Folken?" Adrina questioned, "What's wrong?"

"The generals are growing restless," Folken told her, "they want to eliminate Escaflowne as soon as possible."

"But what about Van?" Adrina asked, her eyes showing her concern.

"Do not worry," Folken comforted, "the generals are not going to attack. I have come up with another plan."

"What plan?" Adrina inquired.

"It's complicated," Folken answered, "and I need to meet with Emperor Dornkirk before I set the plan in motion." He turned and left the room again.

Adrina sighed and laid back down on the couch.

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"Adrina."

Adrina's eyes flew open as Folken called to her. She saw him standing over her and sat up quickly, ashamed she had fallen asleep.

"Yes Folken?"

"Come," Folken held out his left hand to her, "It is time to set my plan into motion."

Adrina took Folken's hand and he helped her to her feet, then hurried out of the parlor with her behind him. She was a little dismayed to see Naria and Eriya waiting for them in the hall. They said nothing and fell into step behind Folken and Adrina.

The four of them went down a series of hallways and finally ended up in a room much like the communication room on the Vione. A screen was set up against the far wall. As they stopped in front of the screen, it flared to life with reddish-orange light. Dornkirk appeared in the glow.

"Folken!" Dornkirk called, "What is the operation status?"

"Majesty," Folken answered, "all preparations are complete."

Adrina still had no idea what Folken's plan was and waited anxiously to hear it.

"The fate alteration engine's power in not yet perfected," Dornkirk reminded, "but I believe it will be able to influence..."

"An easily swayed human heart," Folken finished.

"What?" Dornkirk asked, "a human heart?"

"Yes Majesty," Folken confirmed, "we will insert the gravity of love into the girl from the Mystic Moon, redirecting the vector of her heart to someone other than the dragon."

Adrina's eyes widened and she looked up at Folken. That was Folken's plan? He was going to mess with destiny to keep Hitomi from loving Van? That was insane!

"And fortunate for us, I have obtained the samples we'll need from them," Folken. On his bone hand he held a long blonde strand of hair and a much shorter light brown on. Hitomi's hair was the brown one, but who's was the blonde? Allen. Adrina winced. Folken was going to insert love for Allen into Hitomi's heart. "Am I correct in assuming that those and the fate alteration engine will be all the power that we'll need?"

Dornkirk nodded and Folken turned around to the sisters kneeling behind him.

"To do this, I will need one of you to be my partner," he told them.

"Yes Lord Folken," Naria agreed eagerly, "We will do as you ask."

"Oh Naria," Eriya held up a gold coin, "Let's do this fair and square."

Naria giggled, "Of course, sister."

"Let's see who's luck is stronger." Eriya flicked the coin up into the air. It spun end over end and descended. The twins waited anxiously as the coin hit the ground and bounced a few times, finally coming to rest at Folken's feet. Both sisters eagerly gazed down at the coin. Now only Eriya was smiling. She picked up the coin and handed it to Naria, then stood up.

"I will be your partner," Eriya told him.

"Let's go," Folken ordered. Naria stood and the four of them exited the communication room. Once again they headed down a series of hallways, this time emerging into a huge, cavernous room. In the middle of the room was a large catwalk that stretched from one end to the other. In the middle of the catwalk was a circular area. Around the room were many wires and various tiny machines. About ten feet away and ten feet above the circular area on the catwalk was a long platform with a console at the end. Standing in front of the console was a sorcerer.

Folken and the women walked onto the platform behind the sorcerer.

"Naria, Adrina, the two of you will stay here," Folken ordered, "Eriya, come with me." Folken and Eriya left the platform and made their way along the catwalk to the circular area. The entire floor under the catwalk lit up as they stopped.

"T-minus thirty to activation of fate accelerator!" the sorcerer called in a nasally voice.

"Are you ready, Eriya?" Folken asked, "we will be Allen Schezar and Hitomi Kanzaki."

"Yes Lord Folken," Eriya purred, "I mean, Allen."

"Very well," Folken agreed.

Back on the platform, Naria began to flick and catch the coin they had used to decide who Folken's partner would be. Adrina watched as the jealousy boiled up inside of her.

"T-minus ten!" the sorcerer informed.

"The stage is set," Folken's voice echoed off the walls, "the cast assembled. Now is the time to change the vector of her heart. Now alter fate."

The whirring of gears was heard from below and a pale light encircled Folken and Eriya. He held his hand out to her.

"Hitomi," Folken said.

Eriya lifted her hand also. "Allen." The two of them entwined their fingers and took a step towards each other.

"Now focus your feelings," Folken instructed.

"Allen." Eriya murmured.

"Fate particles accelerating!" the sorcerer called.

Folken and Eriya took another step towards one another. Naria had now stopped flipping the coin and held it in her hand tightly. Adrina didn't want to watch, but she couldn't take her eyes away.

"Target value has been reached," the sorcerer said

Folken pulled Eriya against him and held her close. "Hitomi."

Even though it was just an act, even thought he had called her Hitomi, Adrina wished that she was in Eriya's place. Just the thought of being that close to Folken made her heart skip a beat. Suddenly, the light surrounding Folken and Eriya faded.

"Particle density is decreasing," the sorcerer told.

"Free your mind of worldly thoughts, Eriya," Folken instructed, "now just think of me, with all of your heart."

"Lord Folken, I don't think..."

"Yes, I know it hurts," Folken told her, "but think of me. You can do it!"

"But Lord Folken..." Eriya trailed as the light surrounded them once again. Adrina bit her lip to the point of causing pain to keep from screaming.

"Fate accelerator's elementary particles have reached critical!" the sorcerer reported, "no uniting elements."

"Hitomi," Folken breathed.

"Allen," Eriya whispered.

Adrina watched in horror as Folken began to lower his head towards Eriya's. Adrina looked over and saw Naria's hands were pressed against her mouth and she looked upset. I know how you feel, Adrina thought as she felt like her heart was being squeezed. She turned back just in time to see Folken's and Eriya's lips touch. A strangled cry passed her lips and she turned and fled from the room.

In the hallway, she had no idea where she was going and couldn't concentrate enough to try and remember where her room was. She sprinted down the hallways aimlessly as tears streamed down her face. Miraculously, she somehow ended up back at her suite. She burst into her bedroom and flung herself down on the bed as sob after sob racked her body. Before, Adrina wasn't really sure exactly what her feelings for Folken had been, but now she knew. She loved Folken.

After a few minutes, Adrina's sobs subsided and she wiped her eyes and face angrily. She hated crying. It was a sign of weakness and she didn't want to show weakness. Since her childhood, Adrina had needed to be strong for Van and Merle. Now for no reason she had completely broken down. NO, there was a reason. Folken. Folken was the reason. Now the pain she had felt was replaced by anger. Never again, Adrina vowed, never again will I let him hurt me.

A knock on her door tore her from her thoughts. "Come in!" she called and the anger washed over her again as Folken entered.

"Why did you leave?" Folken asked.

"Because messing with fate is not something I want to be a part of," Adrina answered coolly.

"You seem upset with me," Folken observed.

"Why would I be upset with you?" Adrina avoided his eyes and unconsciously began to stroke the feather on her necklace. Folken walked into the room and stopped in front of her.

"You seem distant towards me," Folken started. He noticed her playing with her necklace. "I can't believe you still have that stupid thing."

Adrina's head snapped up and her eyes blazed with anger. "It is not stupid. It's the only thing I had to remind me of you after you abandoned us."

Anger flared in Folken's eyes as well. "I'm terribly sorry that my arm was ripped off by a dragon."

"And that made you abandon your family and country why?" Adrina questioned.

"How could I come back like this?" Folken held up the mechanical arm, "No one would've accepted me like this!"

"I would've!" Adrina cried, "and Van and your mother would've! We would've welcomed you back no matter what!"

"No," Folken shook his head, "I am a monster. You would've quivered in fear. You would not have welcomed me."

"I waited for you!" Adrina exclaimed near tears, "everyday by the tree. Every time I would go out there, Van and Merle would exchange worried looks but I didn't care because I promised you that I would wait by the tree. I couldn't give up on you because I knew you weren't dead. Seeing you again was all I ever thought about, so don't tell me I wouldn't have accepted you!"

The fire in Folken's eyes died and his face softened. "Adrina, I didn't know. I'm sorry..."

"Don't bother," Adrina snapped, "There's no point. It won't change the fact that you didn't come back and joined Zaibach instead."

"If I'm not mistaken, you joined Zaibach as well," Folken reminded.

"To be with you!" Adrina shouted, "the only reason I even considered staying around such evil is because I couldn't bare to be separated from you again!"

"Adrina..."

"No!" Adrina insisted, "I don't want to hear anymore from you. If your done here, I think you should leave."

"WE are leaving for Palas in twenty minutes," Folken informed, "I was going to get Naria and Eriya, then board the floating fortress. Will you come with me?"

Adrina nodded and they left the room and headed to the training room where Naria and Eriya were. When they saw Folken, they bowed.

"Come," Folken ordered, "We are leaving for Palas."

"Yes, Lord Folken."

The four of them made their way to the loading dock and boarded the Vione. Once in the fortress, Adrina excused herself from Folken and went to her room. She didn't know how much more she could stand of Folken before she either told him off or burst into tears. HE had excused her readily, then informed her that Naria and Eriya were going to undergo a luck intensification process on the way to Palas. Adrina was opposed to it, but said nothing. The sun had just been going down as she retreated to the personal sanctuary of her room.

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Hitomi stared out the window of her room at the Earth. She was trying to sort out the emotions she had had about the events of earlier. She had feelings for Allen, she knew that. The thing she couldn't figure out was why she had felt her heart sink when she had seen Van watching them.

After a few more minutes of frustrating thought, Hitomi decided that she needed to take a walk to clear her mind. She slipped quietly out of her room and down the hall. She reached a servant's entrance and snuck out of the palace.

Once she was in the cold, deserted streets of Palas, her mood brightened. The streets were still glistening from the storm earlier and the scent of rain hung in the air.

Hitomi made her way aimlessly through the streets and found herself on a dirt road that led into the countryside. As she went, she suddenly realized where she was heading. The windmill where Van and Merle were staying was along this road. The last thing she wanted to do was confront Van about what he'd seen, but nonetheless she continued on to the windmill. As she approached, she saw a fire burning through the open door. Van and Merle were sitting beside it.

Hitomi walked up to the door and stopped. "Van?"

Van and Merle looked up and their eyes focused on her. Van looked like he was in some sort of trance but Merle's eyes blazed in anger.

"What do you want?" Merle hissed.

"I just wanted to talk to Van," Hitomi answered.

"He doesn't want to talk to you!" Merle shouted, "so just go away!"

Hitomi nodded and near tears turned around and started to hurry away. She stopped abruptly when she saw three Zaibach guymelefs barring her path.

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Adrina's head snapped up as she heard footsteps running outside her room. Her first thought was that something had gone wrong with the luck intensification process and she jumped off the bed. She ran to the door and opened it. Most of the soldiers had passed, but Adrina managed to stop one.

"What's going on?" Adrina demanded.

"The dragon has been captured!" he exclaimed.

"Where are you going?" Adrina asked.

"To tell Lord Folken."

"No!" Adrina shouted, then more calmly added, "Lord Folken is busy. I will deal with this. Lead me to the prisoner."

"Prisoners," the soldier corrected, "there is also a woman and a cat girl."

Adrina shut her bedroom door and followed the soldiers down the hallway to the interrogation room. She told the soldiers not to bother Folken and demanded to be filled in on the situation.

"The dragon was spotted in Palas," the soldier relayed, "three guymelefs were sent to capture him. After a brief struggle, they did, along with a strange looking woman and a cat girl. Some soldiers were injured while bringing the prisoners here, including me." The soldier held up his hand to reveal four long, red scratches that only could've been made by Merle.

Adrina fought hard not to smile. "Go get that looked at. As for the rest of you, you are dismissed. I can handle this on my own."

"But Lady Adrina..."

"Go," Adrina ordered.

"Lady Adrina," the soldier started, "we have to insist that at least one of us stays with you."

"All right," Adrina agreed, "the rest of you are dismissed." All of the soldiers, except for the one chosen to stay, headed down the hallway and disappeared. "Let's get on with this."

The soldier nodded and opened the door, revealing the interior of the room. Adrina could see Van, Merle and Hitomi sitting in chairs, their hands bound in front of them with rope. Against the back wall was a table that held Van's sword. Another soldier was left in the room to guard the prisoners and he left when the other soldier entered. The prisoners looked up as the door opened.

"Let us out of here!" Van shouted.

"Shut up, prisoner!" the soldier ordered, "Lady Adrina is here to interrogate you."

The soldier stepped aside and Adrina entered the room. She saw the surprise and confusion on their faces. She walked over and stopped in front of them. "On behalf of the Zaibach Empire, let me welcome you to the floating fortress Vione."

"Adrina, what's going on?" Van asked, "Why are you dressed like that?"

"Quiet!" the soldier barked, "Lady Adrina is asking the questions!"

"Lady Adrina," Van repeated coldly, "so you've deserted us too?"

"If that's what you want to call it," Adrina allowed.

"How could you?" Van cried, "after Folken left, we looked to you for strength and courage! Now I realize that you are just as heartless as him."

Adrina's eyes flared. "I won't hear you talk about your brother that way! He loved you! He still loves you!"

"Just like you do, right?" Van spat, "if that is what you consider love, then I'd rather not have it. Just don't expect me to spare you or Folken when I do destroy Zaibach."

Adrina unsheathed her sword and held it threateningly at Van. "I am a Lady of Zaibach and do not tolerate threats from prisoners. If I were you I'd hold my tongue."

"Adrina..." Merle murmured.

Adrina didn't turn toward her sister. She kept her amethyst eyes locked on Van. His brown eyes were burning and she had a feeling that if he got loose right how he'd seriously injure her before he escaped.

"Perhaps you forgot that I am the King of Fanelia and don't listen to threats from Zaibach scum like you!" Van seethed, "and they weren't threats, they were promises."

Adrina smiled and raised her sword.

"NO!" Merle and Hitomi screamed as Adrina brought the sword down. There was a sound of air being sliced and then nothing. Merle and Hitomi stopped screaming to survey the damage. They were surprised to see that Van was perfectly intact but his restraints were severed. Van pushed the ropes aside and stood up.

"What's going on?" The soldier demanded as he pulled his sword. Adrina spun around and attacked. The soldier barely had time to defend himself. He was so stunned by what was going on that he lost his balance. On his way to the ground, Adrina slammed the hilt of her sword into his head, rendering him unconscious. She turned around and saw that Van had retrieved his sword from the table and had freed Hitomi and Merle. Adrina sheathed her sword and hurried to the door. She checked the hallway and finding it empty, turned to the others.

"Come on!" she beckoned and hurried into the hall. Van, Merle and Hitomi followed as Adrina ran down the corridors toward the hangar. Once they reached it, Adrina stopped them.

"Stay out here," Adrina instructed, "I'll check it out and see how many soldiers there are." Van nodded and the three of them hid in the shadows while Adrina hurried into the hangar.

"Hey!" Adrina called, drawing the attention of the soldiers, "the prisoners have escaped and were last seen heading to the control room. If they get control of the fortress, we're all dead! They need to be found NOW!"

All the soldiers ran out of the hangar and down the hall. Once they were out of sight, Adrina got Van and the others. They hurried into the hangar and over to Escaflowne. Van climbed up into the control chamber and activated the guymelef while Adrina opened the hangar.

"Let's go." Van leaned down and laid Escaflowne's hand in front of them. Merle and Hitomi climbed on quickly, but Adrina hesitated.

"Come on Adrina!" Van urged, "We gotta hurry!"

Adrina climbed on and Escaflowne stood up. The guymelef walked over to the hangar door and jumped out, changing into dragon form as it fell. When changed, the four of them were sitting in the passenger area. As they sped away from the fortress, Adrina cast a glance back at it over her shoulder and wondered what Folken would think when he found out what she had done.