Title : Wind and Water

Pairings : Pairings in this story are as obscure as the reliability of each president in the face of mortal peril and the workings of the cosmos...If I did this right.

Summary : Athrun was made an orphan at age 6 due to a pirate attack. When he meets a pirate unlike any he's met before, what will his choice be? AU

Author's Notes : To somewhat keep in the path is setting upon us...I will only answer reviews that I think need to be answered. I'll still thank everyone who reviewed, but I wont be making personal ones unless I feel compelled to...-looks to the side- I think I get lazier every day...

The first two chapters are short. They are Prologs so they're supposed to be short. Starting in Chapter 3, at the beginning of each chapter there will be a little italisized section. These will be further explained in chapter 3. Thank You and I hope you enjoy the story.

Chapter 1 - Prolog : Part One

"Athrun!" a woman called. The 6 year old turned, smiled, and ran up to her.

"Hi Mommy!" he hugged her, smiling.

"It's time for dinner Athrun." she said softly, kindly. "Come on, let's go." she smiled.

"Mommy, what's that you're wearing?" Athrun asked, pointing to a necklace as they walked, hand in hand. She held the necklace with her free hand.

"This is our family jewel. It's a jaded necklace. Known as the Royal Jade. See the green color? That's where the name comes from." she smiled as they entered the dining room. The...large...dining room.

-

It was 8 pm and Athrun lay in his large bed. Bigger than any 6 year old really needed or wanted. He was snoozing soundly when all of a sudden there was a shot, and an explosion. He shot out of bed and ran to his window.

Half the city was on fire! He noticed a large black ship in the port. Or maybe it was just a dark color and looked black in the lack of light? Oh well. He had no time to contemplate it as his mother ran in moments later.

"Athrun! There you are!" she asked after finding him at the window instead of in bed. "Come, we have to hurry!"

"What's wrong mommy?" he asked as she took his hand and hurried from the room.

"Pirates are attacking the city. They're making their way here. We must flee." She said. "Your father is out fighting them, to give us time to run away." she added sadly. "He will...run when he has the chance."

"Mm..." Athrun didn't like the situation.

As they reached the back door, the front door burst open. His mom picked him up and ran out the door and down the road. She managed to avoid any pirates and they made it to the docks. She ran past the docks and Athrun got a good look at the pirate ship as she did.

It wasn't black. It was a deep grey color that reminded him of death from stories he'd heard. He blinked as they rounded a corner and looked back as the ship went out of sight. No one. Strange.

He furrowed his eyebrows. He knew he'd seen someone in the porthole of that ship! And they looked no older than him! But...that was unreasonable, so he might've imagined it...agh, confusing. He let his brain rest and leaned against his mother's shoulder.

He heard his mom gasp and looked up. The pirates had found them. Mrs. Zala turned and ran away, through the burning houses. She tripped slightly and Athrun fell to the ground, his mom knelt next to him.

"Athrun, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." he muttered, standing up.

"Athrun. You have to run. I can't walk anymore so-"

"Why not?" Athrun asked in confusion.

"I hurt my ankle." she explained. "Listen to me Athrun...Run, and don't stop. Don't let them catch you or see you. I'll come find you if I can. I promise." she held him close and kissed his hair, then pulled away. "Now go!"

"Yes mommy." he turned and ran off.

There was an explosion and Athrun turned around. The building his mom had been next to had just fallen down. Right on top of his mom.

"Mommy!" he yelled.

Athrun heard men coming and started running again, crying as he did. He got to the edge of town when he tripped on some rubble and rolled down a slight hill into a dark ditch. His head hit the ground with a 'thud' and he was knocked out. Flames roaring around him.

-

"Mommy?"

"He's coming to." a male voice said, far away.

"Daddy?"

"Can you hear me boy?" another man asked.

Athrun's vision cleared and he saw three men standing around him. One had blonde hair and a mustache. The other two were brunettes and had on soldier outfits. He was lying in a white bed in a hospital-like area.

"Where's mommy and daddy?" Athrun asked, sitting up. He winced when his head throbbed.

"Athrun...I'm sorry." the blonde said softly, laying him back down. "Your mother...she was crushed by a burning house. And your father...he was stabbed through with a sword, protecting the city." he said sadly. Athrun blinked as it sunk in.

"What?...So...they're..." his eyes welled up with tears and he began to cry. "Mommy!"

"Don't cry. It'll be alright." a sweet voice said as a hand was placed on his. He looked at the pink haired girl next to him. "Hi, I'm Lacus. And according to my dad, we're to be married some day. I don't really know what that means, but it sounds nice!" Lacus smiled.

"I'm...Athrun...Athrun Zala." Athrun managed to choke out. He then passed out again from the pain in his head and the pain in his heart.

End!