By: Lucrezia Noin-Peacecraft

The attack was unexpected. Totally catching them off-guard.

It came from the sky, or rather, from a woman's burning hand, her body floating in mid-air. She was wearing a dark, purplish hooded robe, a silver symbol of a creature of a sphinx-like appearance, bearing its sharp claws and teeth, at the back of her clothing. Her face was hidden, but they were sure there, in her lips, was an evil smile that had formed. In her hand purple, airy, flame burned: the one that she used to attack them with.

It came from behind, darting ahead of them, stopping them dead in their tracks for the trail infront of them suddenly went ablaze with purple fire. Despite its dull color, it burned a hundred degrees, and the heat it produced was as the heat in hell or perhaps more. And that boy Duo had cried out that he didn't want to die. "Not yet!" he said, "I'm too young..."

"You're not going to die!" Noin had snapped back at him, and he quieted down. The others were relatively quiet, trying to take in what was happening. Trying to figure out if they're still going to make it alive.

She laughed an evil laugh, bringing her hand up to her mouth in the process as if trying to muffle it. "My, my..."

"Une..." Noin hissed as she registered the familiar voice in her mind. She brought up her mighty sword, holding it firmly, yet in a relaxed manner.

"It's been a long time, your Highness." She said, folding her arms across her chest, noticing the five boys' startled expressions.

"You-you're -" Duo stammered as the others just stared back.

"-- the Queen of Cinq." Une finished for him, with a grin. Then she looked back at Noin, "I wonder what Zechs would do if you ever died - right here, right now."

"You do not mess with my husband." Noin replied warily. "And neither do you with me."

Duo looked at the others and whispered, "She's married?!" Wufei could do nothing but roll his eyes.

Une let out a hollow laugh, "Well then, let's see about that!" and with those words, she grasped her robe and finally revealed herself. Her long brown locks fell in place as the hood went down. She wore a black top, and a long black, slim skirt that had slit extending just up above her knee. In her neck was a silver necklace, the pendant a symbol of something they can't make up because of her distance. She flipped her hair over her shoulders and smiled as the purple smoke materialized again, this time, around her. She lowered herself on the ground, a good fifty feet from them.

"The last time we fought, you won." She said thoughtfully, then added, "But this time you won't."

"Well, then let's see about that!" Noin growled as she brought her sword forward in one quick motion and fire darted out towards Une's direction. The impact was powerful, and the boys felt the hot air against their faces.

But the woman had easily dodged the attack, and she had countered it with her own. Noin countered it, using her sword to shield herself. She yelled at the boys, telling them to run, that Ilia will lead them to the palace.

Ilia screeched and Trowa replied, "But what about you --?"

Noin notice that they were reluctant to leave her behind, "Just go! I can handle this!" as she gave Une another one of her blow. "Go, dammit! Now!"

"Oh, no!" Une said, "No one's leaving - alive." Then her hand spit out fire again, but Noin had blocked it and fired against it, "Oh no, you don't." She smirked and added, "You're fighting me."

Frowning, Une took out her lance and tried to strike Noin with it, but again, the young woman blocked her attack, shoving her, sending her to stagger backwards.

Une growled and attacked her again, and had successfully managed to bruise Noin's left arm. The blood seeped through the young woman's clothing but nonetheless, kept her stance firmly, Une laughed, "Ooh, Zechs is gonna be really angry..."

* * *

In the palace of gold and ivory, a tall, magnificent being paced back and forth, obviously worried about something. He wore regal pair of clothing of white, blue and gold. And on his broad shoulders donned a magnificent cape.

"I'm sure Lady Lucrezia will be alright." An elderly man tried to assure him. The young man looked at his old mentor, Pargan. He did not saying anything, but his cerulean eyes were hopeful. "Please, sir, sit down."

The man shrugged as he turned to face the garden. "How can I do that when my wife's out there, and Treize's minions are lurking everywhere. I've lost my sister, and I cannot bear losing Lucrezia to them."

"The princess will be back soon." Pargan said, "The boys are here. They would help."

The young king sighed, running his hand though his long, flaxen hair. He looked at the sky, then froze as he noticed something in the air.

"Is there any problem, sir?

His eyes widened as something primal registered in his mind. 'No...' He hurriedly ran to the corridor, telling Pargan, "I'm taking Tallgeese III."

* * *

Noin slit her eyes in fury. She can be calm, levelheaded, and cool, but once provoked, she admits that she can pretty much be the most dangerous person one could ever face.

She thrust forward in one swift stroke, wounding Une's side. Une cursed, winced and swung her lance to the right, but Noin blocked it again, shoved her forward.

"DIE!" Une screeched, her brown eyes flaring with anger, lifting her weapon and bringing it as hard as she could down at her...

* * *

"I can't believe this is really happening." Quatre said under his breath as he ran. The five of them were running as fast and as far as they could just like Noin had ordered them. "I feel bad for leaving her."

"It was her choice." Wufei replied, "She wanted us to escape, and obviously, she had thought of the consequence or so..."

"I still can't believe she's married." Duo mumbled, his eyes wide and staring at the ground as he ran.

The four rolled their eyes.

"Duo, what does it matter to you if she's a married woman?" Heero asked, "You just met her."

"She's so pretty." Replied the boy automatically.

They rolled their eyes again.

"It's true! She's so beautiful -"

"We know that, doofus." Trowa replied, "we know a beautiful woman when we meet one."

Duo grinned, "So, that means you got a crush on her, too?"

Trowa glared at him for a moment, then, "No."

It was now Duo's turn to roll his eyes.

"Look, can we just focus on getting to the palace?" Wufei chided, having enough of the others' small talks and silly rantings. The others looked at him and nodded in agreement. "Then perhaps we can get out of this mess." Heero muttered, "Whatever the reason is..."

END OF CHAPTER 2

TO BE CONTINUED