Title: The Beautiful Art of War
Author: Mirakuru Romansu
Keywords: Dorothy/Quatre Romance,Angst
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, but I did write the story.
Notes: This is just a little fic in this big archive of Gundam
Wing stories ... I'm working on the sequel to my other fic, "I'm
Only Heero Yuy", but I really haven't had time to work on it
properly with school and everything taking up my hours ...
Okay, now this is a Dorothy/Quatre pairing story. If you hate
Dorothy, Quatre, or the idea of the liking each other...
Please find another story to read! ^.~ Thankies.
[
Title: The Beautiful Art of War
By: Mirakuru Romansu
"I object!" Dorothy Catalonia blazed, rising from her honored seat
at the Earth Council meeting. She pounded her fist on the polished tabletop.
"The notion that peace can be achieved through complete
and utter submission to pacifism is a childish notion! Lady," She nodded
to Relena Peacecraft at the head of the table, "And gentlemen, I refuse
to vote yeah to pacifism. Also, I respectfully decline to attend
any further meetings until the council has come to its senses."
"As you wish, Miss Catalonia." Relena nodded in return as Dorothy
strode from the council hall.
Outside the Peacecraft Mansion, Dorothy gracefully stepped into her
gleaming candy-apple red sports car. "Damn pacifists...Weak fools."
Muttering, she buckled her seatbelt. The tires bit into the
loose gravel of the driveway as she pressed the gas pedal. Her
well-manicured fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly as
she drove from the Peacecraft Mansion. Disillusioned fools,
she shook her head in disgust. War was the ultimate competition of
mortals which distinguished the weak from the strong. Peace meant
strong people would be considered *equals* to weak people.
"Never." Dorothy promised herself, unconsciously speeding faster
down the winding road. In her angered daze, she almost didn't see
the navy and silver BMW in time to avoid a collision. Heart pounding,
Dorothy jerked the steering wheel sideways and smelled burnt rubber
as her tires scorched skid marks on the stark gray pavement. The
BMW shrieked to a halt while Dorothy's small sports car plunged into
a roadside ditch speckled with buttercups.
Unharmed, Dorothy slumped in her seat. She took several calming
breaths, allowing the long curtain of her hair to cover her paled
face.
"Ms...Are you injured? Oh dear... Ms!?" Half dead with panic, Quatre
tapped on the driver's side window. "Miss Dorothy?" Shock pinched
his cheeks a brighter shade of distressed pink. Inside the car,
Dorothy made an annoyed gurgling sound in the back of her throat.
Quatre Raberba Winner was the 22 year old billionaire who owned
virtually all of the L4 and L1 space colonies. The strikingly handsome
young gentleman was a prime public supporter for peace and non-aggression
amongst Earth and the Colonies. Off all people she could have
wrecked into, fate chose the Winner wuss...
Ignoring him, Dorothy snapped free from the seatbelt buckle and
opened the door with a kick from a high-heeled, tawny sandal.
"Miss Dorothy... Are you all right? I think you might be in shock."
His voice was soothing like windchimes, but Dorothy wasn't in a mood
for friendliness. She snatched her cellular phone from her shoulder
bag and dialed her chauffer before turning to Quatre. "I'm
sorry. Please allow me to drive you to the Peacecraft Mansion..."
"I'm fine. If anyone is in shock, it should be you. I could have
killed you, Ambassador Winner, and I apologize... My chauffer is
coming in a few minutes. There is no need for you to drive me
anywhere...However, it is considerate of you to ask."
"Then please wait with me in my car. You should sit down,
Miss Dorothy. I refuse to leave you alone on the side of the road."
He urged with mannered aplomb.
"Thank you." Dorothy found herself seated beside Quatre in the
comfortable leather-interior of the BMW. Melodic chords of an upbeat
violin concerto poured from the speakers, creating a relaxing shell of
an atmosphere. Dorothy fought the urge to close her eyes and
sleep. She was like a child who exhausted every spark of a raging
temper tantrum.
---
"Good morning, Miss Relena. Was the council meeting a success?"
Quatre casually sipped honeyed milk tea from a pearl-colored china cup.
"I apologize for my delay. There was a strike at one of the textile
factories, and I had...car troubles."
The meething was a disaster. Dorothy Catalonia and several other
officials believe peace cannot be achieved through pacifism. Their
arguements are shaking the trust in the Peacecraft name and the
United Earth Alliance." Relena replied solemnly, resting her hands in
her lap.
"Miss Dorothy?"
"Yes, she is a powerful woman. Since her father's death three
years ago, she inhertied millions of dollars and took his place as
Earth's Chief National Advisor... It's common knowledge...
Quatre, it seems that we--barely adults ourselves--are responsible
for the future of the world. We must find a peaceful soloution to
our problems." She stated quietly.
"How can I help? Help more, that is... What can *I* do?"
carrying the world's woes in his sympathetic voice, Quatre edged forward in
his chair.
"Invite Dorothy to stay at the Winner Mansion on the L4 Colony.
Show her how pacifism is helping mankind, not hurting it. Please,
Quatre. I would see to the matter personally; however, the Alliance
is accepting nominees for the election of a new District Chairperson
and I must be present to oversee the ordeal..." She smiled apologetically,
implying the formality of the event.
"Yes, Miss Relena." Quatre nodded. "I'd be honored."
"Thank you! The invitation will be sent by messenger tomorrow
morning." Relena bid Quatre goodbye as she walked him from the
personal sitting room to her office.
"I hope Quatre can convince Dorothy to agree to pacifism, or
at least to have her consider it." Relena took in an unsteady breath.
"Isn't it kinda like sending a marshmallow to fight a fire?
I don't think Kitty has a *clue* who and what he is dealing with
here." Duo stretched his arms lazily over his head and yawned.
"He'll get toasted for sure!"
"Just like you to make food metaphors, Maxwell." Wufei remarked
sarcastically.
"Quatre won't fail, he doesn't know how." Heero replied
bluntly. "Mission accepted..."
---
Dorothy's penthouse apartment was a stress-free enviroment to
concentrate and focus on the taxing amount of work which needed to be completed.
No one would bother her. She owned the entire appartment building and
was the only tenant. She kicked off her high-heeled burgundy sandals
and hung her shoulder bag on the ivory coat rack.
Dorothy grudginly accepted the fact that she would never be taller
than her present 5 feet. She wore high-heeled shoes to make heself appear
taller, but it was in vain. Ignorant people labeled Dorothy as "weak"
because they judged her based on her slight stature and fragile appearance.
In truth, Dorothy was a champion fencer, an accomplished horsewoman,
a brilliant strategist, and a sharp businesswoman. Beneath her
elfin beauty a darker, manipulative side was kept hidden from
sight. She sat--legs crossed--on the sofa, sifting through a pile of
memo notes and odd pieces of mail stacked on the livingroom coffee
table.
"What is this?" Opening the gold embossed envelope,
Dorothy discovered it was an invitation. "A diplomatic visit to
the famous Winner Mansion... On the L4 Colony... Heh, what luck."
Dorothy picked up the phone and rang her secretary at the office.
"Russo, accept the Winner invitation."
"Be sure to bring a hat and suntan lotion, Miss Catalonia.
The desert sun can be brutal." Russo, the faithful assistant
warned.
"I've been known to be harsh myself." Dorothy replied, dry humor
in her voice.
---
Carefully descending the slim staircase from the plane to
the welcoming crowd of two people below, Dorothy held her wide-brimmed
hat in place from the wind.
"Madame Advisor, it is an honor and a pleasure to meet you,
and and welcome you to the L4 Colony." A giant of a man firmly shook
her hand. "I'm Rashid Kurama, leader of the Maganacs. Our duty is
to protect the colony and the Winner family." The darkly bearded Rashid
grinned warmly.
"For the sake of our sanity and your comfort, the press has no
knowledge of this visit, Miss Dorothy." Clad in a crisp black
shirt, khaki pants, and Italian loafers, Quatre presented a boquet of
dusk pink roses to Dorothy. She realized he stood about six feet tall.
*The bigger they are, the harder they fall* she told herself.
Dorothy couldn't suppress a bemused quirk of her lips which
blossomed into a full smile.
"They are lovely, Ambassador Winner." A sweet fragrance tickled
her sense of smell as she held the beautiful boquet in her arms.
"They are desert roses called Quatrine's Blush." Quatre explained
dutifully when he and Dorothy were situated in the snow-colored
Winner limosine.
"Quatrine? Wasn't that your mother's name?" Dorothy blinked,
removing her mask-like sunglasses.
"Yes...My father named the roses after my mother. They are
a sturdy little flower yet delicate. An interesting combination."
He chuckled politely.
"My kind of flower." Dorothy quipped lightly, absorbing the golden
world outside the tinted windows. This was the little prince's home
turf, here he was at his best. Against her secretary's suggestion,
Dorothy came to the desert alone. No pompus parade of cabinet members,
assistants, or staff followed her. She was fighting the enemy without
her army, but she could handle the situation by herself. She expected
Quatre to try to sway her vote toward pacifism...He *wasn't* going to
succeed.
The Winner Mansion was the type of homestead written romantically
into fairy tales. The main building, made of glass-smooth marble, was surrounded
bt an oasis of flower gardens, decorative fountains, and a luxuriosly large
swimming pool. The arhitecture was a relfection of the castle-mansions
found in Quatre's native country of Arabia.
Dorothy accepted Quatre's hand as she stepped from the limo
onto a walkway composed of indigo, violet, yellow, and coral
ceramic tiles.
"Welcome to my home." Quatre motioned with a sweep of his
hand. Dorothy smiled mechanically.
---
"Tea, Miss Dorothy?" Quatre offered, taking a silver teapot
from the tray Abdul rolled into the cosy sunroom.
"No thank you, coffee please." Dorothy replied, placing two
scones on a small china plate as Quatre poured her a steaming cup of
rich coffee. "Ambassador Winner... I'll get to the point. What do you
have planned for this visit? What are your intentions?" She asked
bluntly.
"To take you on a tour of the colony this afternoon." Quatre
replied mysertiously.
---
A shy afternoon sun warmed the blindingly clear blue horizon.
Dorothy breathed in a fresh lungful of clean air. She had changed
clothes and was now attractively dressed in a jade cotton calf-length
skirt with a slightly ruffled hem, a white sleeveless top, and beige
high-heeled sandals. Her golden hair was gathered at the back of her
neck in a simple ponytail. Quatre, walking behind her, commented on
the scene infront of them.
"Quadrant 2 was the hardest hit by a recent OZ attack... The
colony refused to sign an alliance charter which would have given
L4 immunity from further OZ attacks and bind us to OZ's iron-fisted
command. I don't submit to bullying tactics." Quatre stated plainly.
"Yes, dear cousin Treize isn't known for any type of approach
other than extravagent. He also believes pacifism is a foolish
notion. I guess the hunger foor power taints our veins." Dorothy
replied, staring at the crumbled mass of stone and wood which once was
a hospital. She pressed her hands against the rementants of a wall
as if touching the force that caused the destruction. "Oh, the
beautiful art of war, the beautifl art of war... Such a complex
structure." She closed her eyes to savor the sensation.
"War? Beautiful??? Men, women, and children DIED during that
attack, Miss Dorothy!" Quatre's nostrils flared with barely composed
anger and disbelief. "I can't comprehend what in the name of
goodness is wonderful about humans killing each other over who
claims the most land or who gets the most money." He scoffed, his heart
felt the pain of every colonist and mecha pilot's death.
"All games, Ambassador. To prove that you are better than
your enemy. Some are satisfied to be the first chair violinist, while
others have to lead the orchestra. " Dorothy hung her head in thought
befrore meeting his eyes. "I was raised to be strong, to be a leader.
Your value depends on how you face your demons--either locking horns or
running away. If you fight and die you are stronger than someone who
runs away and lives."
"That's animalistic!" Quatre accused, blushing an outraged shade
of pink. Dorothy leaned closer, blinking her cat-like sapphire eyes.
She reached a hand and traced her fingers idly along the straight path
of buttons on his shirt. "Beneath these designer clothes..." She
emphasized, "Beneath your trained charm and gentlemanly manners... You
are nothing but a primitive savage. Humans try to hide their animalistic
tendancies, but they can't fight nature." She smiled smugly, amused by
Quatre's sudden loss for words. She had her mouse by the tail.
"The weak must be defended, not defeated. Humans may be glorified
animals, but we have the capacity to reason. To feel emotions like
love, kindness, compassion... You can only truly *live* if you open
your heart to the world. All the power in the universe won't bring you
love or make your life worth living." At his words, Dorothy paled.
She was taken aback since he described her hidden pains.
"Yes...All the power..." Dorothy replied, caught in a moment
of weakness. "I apologize, Ambassador Winner, if my views offend you.
My opinion of peace isn't as rosy as yours. Make no mistake, peace
is the happily ever after ending we all are working for... However,
as long as people such as Treize Kushranada are alive ther can be no
peace. And there will always be some Treize Kushranada in the world."
She shook her head. "So you have to fight to prove your worth and
save yourself." Dorothy crossed her slim arms protectively. Quatre and
Dorothy could only watch each other silently.
"As I said before, Miss Dorothy. I don't submit to bullying
tactics. If you could see the world through my eyes..." He gently
touched her bare shoulder. "Then you could see how important pacifism
is to the future, to the present ..."
After the incident at the crumbled hospital, Dorothy remained
quiet. She kept her fading temper burning at a low simmer. She did not
speak until she and QUatre returned to the Winner Mansion as night
began to fall on the colony.
"Thank you for showing me the flip-side of conflict. I'll consider
what you said." Dorothy said politely
"Yes, Miss Dorothy. Good night." Quatre nodded tightly. He stalked
off in direction of a rose garden, leaving Dorothy with a hollow sense of
loss.
---
'This was the longest day of my life!" Dorothy laughed drily,brushing
her freshly showered waist-length hair until it was tangle free. The
cool, comfortable suite was exquisite. Obviously, Quatre wasn't
stingy with his millions of dollars. Sand-colored carpethugged the
floors, complimenting the sky blue wallpaper which decorated the walls.
Priceless glassware and other ornaments were plaeced on the cherrywood
beside table and dresser. The boquet of Quatrine's Blush roses rested in
a tall crystal vase on the long mirrored vanity. Dorothy glanced
at her relfection. Her eyes were hazy and her eyelids drooped
sleepily. Yet she wasn't tired.
Advesary plagued her for the last two years. It was difficult
to break free into adulthood when chained to a world-renowned family name.
Millions of dollars waited patiently in her savings account, inherited when
her father's life was claimed by a fatal stroke. But what could she buy to
fill painful grieving she carried in her heart? A pair of earrings
couldn't replace the lack of love in her life, not matter how many
karats the gold was.
---
Quatre raked hand through his silky hair. Convincing Dorothy
was proving to be as impossible as squeezing blood from stones. For every
point he made, she made a counterpoint. He stalked the wide pebble path
like a madman searching for his sanity. What could he do? He stopped
to scan the heavens. A luminous silver moon and millions of twinkling stars
dotted the rich ebony sky. It appeared real...Quatre shook his head
in faint sorrow. But the moon, the stars...were artificial. Even the
weather on the colonies was a man-made simulation. Quatre sometimes forgot
since he found the desert night enchantingly beautiful. It was a beauty
worth saving. Why didn't Dorothy understand? Quatre wanted to shout, but
the words wouldn't leave his tongue.
---
Dorothy paced the length of her spacious bedroom and wrapped a long
black silk robe over her matching silk pajama suit. Unease tugged at her
throat, choking her. What was wrong? Dorothy blinked rapidly, unable to think
clearly. The room suddenly felt like a prision. The only image her mind
was the heartbroken face of Quatre Raberba Winner. He had looked at her
with a mixture of pity, compassion, and saddness. She felt...guilty...
for causing him pain by explaining the wonder of war. Since
when did she care for the wimpy brat? Her heart pounded in her ears.
"This is crazy... I must be tired, that's all. How can spending one day
with the peaceful prince of the desert make me unsure of myself and my
ideals of war?" She agonized, talking outloud to herself. "Oh damn it
all." Cursindg under her breath, Dorothy prowled from the room.
The nightime air was an alixir which healedd her frazzled nerves.
Dorothy walked leisurely along the path, the smooth pebbles pressed
ticklishly against the soft soles of fancy slippers. She firlmy decided
to leave L4 in the morning. She...like Quatre. Staying longer would
only break her heart and her well-constructed image of cool uncaring
would shatter.
"Miss Dorothy?" A quiet voice asked hesitantly.
"Hello." Dorothy replied. Quatre stepped from the dark shadowns
of the path moonlight did not touch. They watched each other silently until
Dorothy abruptly turned her hea in the direction of a cluster of Quatrine's
Blush roses. The blooms held a glowing aura in the moonlight. "I'm leaving
tomorrow morning. I have to return to *my* world. I'm an intruder here."
Dorothy whispered softly but finally.
"No!" Quatre said. " I don't want you to leave...so soon.
Please!"
"Quatre, your job here is done. I'm beginning to think peace may
be possible...through some pacifism, but not entire pacifism."
"Peace..." Quatre said, grimacing in sour disgust. "How can you
bring yourself to say that word? I'm a fool for even considering that
pacifism is the answer. You've shown me what a fool I am." Anger pricked
his words. It was an inner self-hate which plagued him. Dorothy was
compelled to argue, to deny his statement. But why? He was a butterfly
snared in a web of her making. She trapped him! Dorothy knew she could
easily crush his now-fragile hope in pacifism...Yet her heart would
break if she did. She loved him. *Traitor* she accused mentally
"You're upset and acting irrarionally. I have that affect on people."
small smile lifted her lips. Hesitantly Dorothy placedher hand lightly
over Quatre's wrist. "We both fight our battles...Though in different
ways. You aren't the type of person to be pro-war... And I'm not
completely anti-war. We're too set in our own opinions to change."
She stated braely, her hand shaking slightly, "But for you, I'm willing
to try." Her head bowed in graceful defeat. "You win, Ambassador.
Dorothy straightened her back and lifted her chin. "Goodnight--"
She turned to walk away dramatically, but a wonderfully wamr hand caught
her elbow.
"Miss Dorothy, please call me Quatre." The angelic blonde young
man grinned down at Dorothy.
"Then goodnight, Quatre." He bent his head forward to kiss her,
but Dorothy tilted her head back, keeping Quatre still. "Only if you
call me Dorothy." She smiled, meeting his soft lips in a kiss as tender
as the finest grains of desert sand. A bud of hope blossomed in her
heart. Maybe Quatre wasn't such a wimp afterall ...
Author: Mirakuru Romansu
Keywords: Dorothy/Quatre Romance,Angst
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters, but I did write the story.
Notes: This is just a little fic in this big archive of Gundam
Wing stories ... I'm working on the sequel to my other fic, "I'm
Only Heero Yuy", but I really haven't had time to work on it
properly with school and everything taking up my hours ...
Okay, now this is a Dorothy/Quatre pairing story. If you hate
Dorothy, Quatre, or the idea of the liking each other...
Please find another story to read! ^.~ Thankies.
[
Title: The Beautiful Art of War
By: Mirakuru Romansu
"I object!" Dorothy Catalonia blazed, rising from her honored seat
at the Earth Council meeting. She pounded her fist on the polished tabletop.
"The notion that peace can be achieved through complete
and utter submission to pacifism is a childish notion! Lady," She nodded
to Relena Peacecraft at the head of the table, "And gentlemen, I refuse
to vote yeah to pacifism. Also, I respectfully decline to attend
any further meetings until the council has come to its senses."
"As you wish, Miss Catalonia." Relena nodded in return as Dorothy
strode from the council hall.
Outside the Peacecraft Mansion, Dorothy gracefully stepped into her
gleaming candy-apple red sports car. "Damn pacifists...Weak fools."
Muttering, she buckled her seatbelt. The tires bit into the
loose gravel of the driveway as she pressed the gas pedal. Her
well-manicured fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly as
she drove from the Peacecraft Mansion. Disillusioned fools,
she shook her head in disgust. War was the ultimate competition of
mortals which distinguished the weak from the strong. Peace meant
strong people would be considered *equals* to weak people.
"Never." Dorothy promised herself, unconsciously speeding faster
down the winding road. In her angered daze, she almost didn't see
the navy and silver BMW in time to avoid a collision. Heart pounding,
Dorothy jerked the steering wheel sideways and smelled burnt rubber
as her tires scorched skid marks on the stark gray pavement. The
BMW shrieked to a halt while Dorothy's small sports car plunged into
a roadside ditch speckled with buttercups.
Unharmed, Dorothy slumped in her seat. She took several calming
breaths, allowing the long curtain of her hair to cover her paled
face.
"Ms...Are you injured? Oh dear... Ms!?" Half dead with panic, Quatre
tapped on the driver's side window. "Miss Dorothy?" Shock pinched
his cheeks a brighter shade of distressed pink. Inside the car,
Dorothy made an annoyed gurgling sound in the back of her throat.
Quatre Raberba Winner was the 22 year old billionaire who owned
virtually all of the L4 and L1 space colonies. The strikingly handsome
young gentleman was a prime public supporter for peace and non-aggression
amongst Earth and the Colonies. Off all people she could have
wrecked into, fate chose the Winner wuss...
Ignoring him, Dorothy snapped free from the seatbelt buckle and
opened the door with a kick from a high-heeled, tawny sandal.
"Miss Dorothy... Are you all right? I think you might be in shock."
His voice was soothing like windchimes, but Dorothy wasn't in a mood
for friendliness. She snatched her cellular phone from her shoulder
bag and dialed her chauffer before turning to Quatre. "I'm
sorry. Please allow me to drive you to the Peacecraft Mansion..."
"I'm fine. If anyone is in shock, it should be you. I could have
killed you, Ambassador Winner, and I apologize... My chauffer is
coming in a few minutes. There is no need for you to drive me
anywhere...However, it is considerate of you to ask."
"Then please wait with me in my car. You should sit down,
Miss Dorothy. I refuse to leave you alone on the side of the road."
He urged with mannered aplomb.
"Thank you." Dorothy found herself seated beside Quatre in the
comfortable leather-interior of the BMW. Melodic chords of an upbeat
violin concerto poured from the speakers, creating a relaxing shell of
an atmosphere. Dorothy fought the urge to close her eyes and
sleep. She was like a child who exhausted every spark of a raging
temper tantrum.
---
"Good morning, Miss Relena. Was the council meeting a success?"
Quatre casually sipped honeyed milk tea from a pearl-colored china cup.
"I apologize for my delay. There was a strike at one of the textile
factories, and I had...car troubles."
The meething was a disaster. Dorothy Catalonia and several other
officials believe peace cannot be achieved through pacifism. Their
arguements are shaking the trust in the Peacecraft name and the
United Earth Alliance." Relena replied solemnly, resting her hands in
her lap.
"Miss Dorothy?"
"Yes, she is a powerful woman. Since her father's death three
years ago, she inhertied millions of dollars and took his place as
Earth's Chief National Advisor... It's common knowledge...
Quatre, it seems that we--barely adults ourselves--are responsible
for the future of the world. We must find a peaceful soloution to
our problems." She stated quietly.
"How can I help? Help more, that is... What can *I* do?"
carrying the world's woes in his sympathetic voice, Quatre edged forward in
his chair.
"Invite Dorothy to stay at the Winner Mansion on the L4 Colony.
Show her how pacifism is helping mankind, not hurting it. Please,
Quatre. I would see to the matter personally; however, the Alliance
is accepting nominees for the election of a new District Chairperson
and I must be present to oversee the ordeal..." She smiled apologetically,
implying the formality of the event.
"Yes, Miss Relena." Quatre nodded. "I'd be honored."
"Thank you! The invitation will be sent by messenger tomorrow
morning." Relena bid Quatre goodbye as she walked him from the
personal sitting room to her office.
"I hope Quatre can convince Dorothy to agree to pacifism, or
at least to have her consider it." Relena took in an unsteady breath.
"Isn't it kinda like sending a marshmallow to fight a fire?
I don't think Kitty has a *clue* who and what he is dealing with
here." Duo stretched his arms lazily over his head and yawned.
"He'll get toasted for sure!"
"Just like you to make food metaphors, Maxwell." Wufei remarked
sarcastically.
"Quatre won't fail, he doesn't know how." Heero replied
bluntly. "Mission accepted..."
---
Dorothy's penthouse apartment was a stress-free enviroment to
concentrate and focus on the taxing amount of work which needed to be completed.
No one would bother her. She owned the entire appartment building and
was the only tenant. She kicked off her high-heeled burgundy sandals
and hung her shoulder bag on the ivory coat rack.
Dorothy grudginly accepted the fact that she would never be taller
than her present 5 feet. She wore high-heeled shoes to make heself appear
taller, but it was in vain. Ignorant people labeled Dorothy as "weak"
because they judged her based on her slight stature and fragile appearance.
In truth, Dorothy was a champion fencer, an accomplished horsewoman,
a brilliant strategist, and a sharp businesswoman. Beneath her
elfin beauty a darker, manipulative side was kept hidden from
sight. She sat--legs crossed--on the sofa, sifting through a pile of
memo notes and odd pieces of mail stacked on the livingroom coffee
table.
"What is this?" Opening the gold embossed envelope,
Dorothy discovered it was an invitation. "A diplomatic visit to
the famous Winner Mansion... On the L4 Colony... Heh, what luck."
Dorothy picked up the phone and rang her secretary at the office.
"Russo, accept the Winner invitation."
"Be sure to bring a hat and suntan lotion, Miss Catalonia.
The desert sun can be brutal." Russo, the faithful assistant
warned.
"I've been known to be harsh myself." Dorothy replied, dry humor
in her voice.
---
Carefully descending the slim staircase from the plane to
the welcoming crowd of two people below, Dorothy held her wide-brimmed
hat in place from the wind.
"Madame Advisor, it is an honor and a pleasure to meet you,
and and welcome you to the L4 Colony." A giant of a man firmly shook
her hand. "I'm Rashid Kurama, leader of the Maganacs. Our duty is
to protect the colony and the Winner family." The darkly bearded Rashid
grinned warmly.
"For the sake of our sanity and your comfort, the press has no
knowledge of this visit, Miss Dorothy." Clad in a crisp black
shirt, khaki pants, and Italian loafers, Quatre presented a boquet of
dusk pink roses to Dorothy. She realized he stood about six feet tall.
*The bigger they are, the harder they fall* she told herself.
Dorothy couldn't suppress a bemused quirk of her lips which
blossomed into a full smile.
"They are lovely, Ambassador Winner." A sweet fragrance tickled
her sense of smell as she held the beautiful boquet in her arms.
"They are desert roses called Quatrine's Blush." Quatre explained
dutifully when he and Dorothy were situated in the snow-colored
Winner limosine.
"Quatrine? Wasn't that your mother's name?" Dorothy blinked,
removing her mask-like sunglasses.
"Yes...My father named the roses after my mother. They are
a sturdy little flower yet delicate. An interesting combination."
He chuckled politely.
"My kind of flower." Dorothy quipped lightly, absorbing the golden
world outside the tinted windows. This was the little prince's home
turf, here he was at his best. Against her secretary's suggestion,
Dorothy came to the desert alone. No pompus parade of cabinet members,
assistants, or staff followed her. She was fighting the enemy without
her army, but she could handle the situation by herself. She expected
Quatre to try to sway her vote toward pacifism...He *wasn't* going to
succeed.
The Winner Mansion was the type of homestead written romantically
into fairy tales. The main building, made of glass-smooth marble, was surrounded
bt an oasis of flower gardens, decorative fountains, and a luxuriosly large
swimming pool. The arhitecture was a relfection of the castle-mansions
found in Quatre's native country of Arabia.
Dorothy accepted Quatre's hand as she stepped from the limo
onto a walkway composed of indigo, violet, yellow, and coral
ceramic tiles.
"Welcome to my home." Quatre motioned with a sweep of his
hand. Dorothy smiled mechanically.
---
"Tea, Miss Dorothy?" Quatre offered, taking a silver teapot
from the tray Abdul rolled into the cosy sunroom.
"No thank you, coffee please." Dorothy replied, placing two
scones on a small china plate as Quatre poured her a steaming cup of
rich coffee. "Ambassador Winner... I'll get to the point. What do you
have planned for this visit? What are your intentions?" She asked
bluntly.
"To take you on a tour of the colony this afternoon." Quatre
replied mysertiously.
---
A shy afternoon sun warmed the blindingly clear blue horizon.
Dorothy breathed in a fresh lungful of clean air. She had changed
clothes and was now attractively dressed in a jade cotton calf-length
skirt with a slightly ruffled hem, a white sleeveless top, and beige
high-heeled sandals. Her golden hair was gathered at the back of her
neck in a simple ponytail. Quatre, walking behind her, commented on
the scene infront of them.
"Quadrant 2 was the hardest hit by a recent OZ attack... The
colony refused to sign an alliance charter which would have given
L4 immunity from further OZ attacks and bind us to OZ's iron-fisted
command. I don't submit to bullying tactics." Quatre stated plainly.
"Yes, dear cousin Treize isn't known for any type of approach
other than extravagent. He also believes pacifism is a foolish
notion. I guess the hunger foor power taints our veins." Dorothy
replied, staring at the crumbled mass of stone and wood which once was
a hospital. She pressed her hands against the rementants of a wall
as if touching the force that caused the destruction. "Oh, the
beautiful art of war, the beautifl art of war... Such a complex
structure." She closed her eyes to savor the sensation.
"War? Beautiful??? Men, women, and children DIED during that
attack, Miss Dorothy!" Quatre's nostrils flared with barely composed
anger and disbelief. "I can't comprehend what in the name of
goodness is wonderful about humans killing each other over who
claims the most land or who gets the most money." He scoffed, his heart
felt the pain of every colonist and mecha pilot's death.
"All games, Ambassador. To prove that you are better than
your enemy. Some are satisfied to be the first chair violinist, while
others have to lead the orchestra. " Dorothy hung her head in thought
befrore meeting his eyes. "I was raised to be strong, to be a leader.
Your value depends on how you face your demons--either locking horns or
running away. If you fight and die you are stronger than someone who
runs away and lives."
"That's animalistic!" Quatre accused, blushing an outraged shade
of pink. Dorothy leaned closer, blinking her cat-like sapphire eyes.
She reached a hand and traced her fingers idly along the straight path
of buttons on his shirt. "Beneath these designer clothes..." She
emphasized, "Beneath your trained charm and gentlemanly manners... You
are nothing but a primitive savage. Humans try to hide their animalistic
tendancies, but they can't fight nature." She smiled smugly, amused by
Quatre's sudden loss for words. She had her mouse by the tail.
"The weak must be defended, not defeated. Humans may be glorified
animals, but we have the capacity to reason. To feel emotions like
love, kindness, compassion... You can only truly *live* if you open
your heart to the world. All the power in the universe won't bring you
love or make your life worth living." At his words, Dorothy paled.
She was taken aback since he described her hidden pains.
"Yes...All the power..." Dorothy replied, caught in a moment
of weakness. "I apologize, Ambassador Winner, if my views offend you.
My opinion of peace isn't as rosy as yours. Make no mistake, peace
is the happily ever after ending we all are working for... However,
as long as people such as Treize Kushranada are alive ther can be no
peace. And there will always be some Treize Kushranada in the world."
She shook her head. "So you have to fight to prove your worth and
save yourself." Dorothy crossed her slim arms protectively. Quatre and
Dorothy could only watch each other silently.
"As I said before, Miss Dorothy. I don't submit to bullying
tactics. If you could see the world through my eyes..." He gently
touched her bare shoulder. "Then you could see how important pacifism
is to the future, to the present ..."
After the incident at the crumbled hospital, Dorothy remained
quiet. She kept her fading temper burning at a low simmer. She did not
speak until she and QUatre returned to the Winner Mansion as night
began to fall on the colony.
"Thank you for showing me the flip-side of conflict. I'll consider
what you said." Dorothy said politely
"Yes, Miss Dorothy. Good night." Quatre nodded tightly. He stalked
off in direction of a rose garden, leaving Dorothy with a hollow sense of
loss.
---
'This was the longest day of my life!" Dorothy laughed drily,brushing
her freshly showered waist-length hair until it was tangle free. The
cool, comfortable suite was exquisite. Obviously, Quatre wasn't
stingy with his millions of dollars. Sand-colored carpethugged the
floors, complimenting the sky blue wallpaper which decorated the walls.
Priceless glassware and other ornaments were plaeced on the cherrywood
beside table and dresser. The boquet of Quatrine's Blush roses rested in
a tall crystal vase on the long mirrored vanity. Dorothy glanced
at her relfection. Her eyes were hazy and her eyelids drooped
sleepily. Yet she wasn't tired.
Advesary plagued her for the last two years. It was difficult
to break free into adulthood when chained to a world-renowned family name.
Millions of dollars waited patiently in her savings account, inherited when
her father's life was claimed by a fatal stroke. But what could she buy to
fill painful grieving she carried in her heart? A pair of earrings
couldn't replace the lack of love in her life, not matter how many
karats the gold was.
---
Quatre raked hand through his silky hair. Convincing Dorothy
was proving to be as impossible as squeezing blood from stones. For every
point he made, she made a counterpoint. He stalked the wide pebble path
like a madman searching for his sanity. What could he do? He stopped
to scan the heavens. A luminous silver moon and millions of twinkling stars
dotted the rich ebony sky. It appeared real...Quatre shook his head
in faint sorrow. But the moon, the stars...were artificial. Even the
weather on the colonies was a man-made simulation. Quatre sometimes forgot
since he found the desert night enchantingly beautiful. It was a beauty
worth saving. Why didn't Dorothy understand? Quatre wanted to shout, but
the words wouldn't leave his tongue.
---
Dorothy paced the length of her spacious bedroom and wrapped a long
black silk robe over her matching silk pajama suit. Unease tugged at her
throat, choking her. What was wrong? Dorothy blinked rapidly, unable to think
clearly. The room suddenly felt like a prision. The only image her mind
was the heartbroken face of Quatre Raberba Winner. He had looked at her
with a mixture of pity, compassion, and saddness. She felt...guilty...
for causing him pain by explaining the wonder of war. Since
when did she care for the wimpy brat? Her heart pounded in her ears.
"This is crazy... I must be tired, that's all. How can spending one day
with the peaceful prince of the desert make me unsure of myself and my
ideals of war?" She agonized, talking outloud to herself. "Oh damn it
all." Cursindg under her breath, Dorothy prowled from the room.
The nightime air was an alixir which healedd her frazzled nerves.
Dorothy walked leisurely along the path, the smooth pebbles pressed
ticklishly against the soft soles of fancy slippers. She firlmy decided
to leave L4 in the morning. She...like Quatre. Staying longer would
only break her heart and her well-constructed image of cool uncaring
would shatter.
"Miss Dorothy?" A quiet voice asked hesitantly.
"Hello." Dorothy replied. Quatre stepped from the dark shadowns
of the path moonlight did not touch. They watched each other silently until
Dorothy abruptly turned her hea in the direction of a cluster of Quatrine's
Blush roses. The blooms held a glowing aura in the moonlight. "I'm leaving
tomorrow morning. I have to return to *my* world. I'm an intruder here."
Dorothy whispered softly but finally.
"No!" Quatre said. " I don't want you to leave...so soon.
Please!"
"Quatre, your job here is done. I'm beginning to think peace may
be possible...through some pacifism, but not entire pacifism."
"Peace..." Quatre said, grimacing in sour disgust. "How can you
bring yourself to say that word? I'm a fool for even considering that
pacifism is the answer. You've shown me what a fool I am." Anger pricked
his words. It was an inner self-hate which plagued him. Dorothy was
compelled to argue, to deny his statement. But why? He was a butterfly
snared in a web of her making. She trapped him! Dorothy knew she could
easily crush his now-fragile hope in pacifism...Yet her heart would
break if she did. She loved him. *Traitor* she accused mentally
"You're upset and acting irrarionally. I have that affect on people."
small smile lifted her lips. Hesitantly Dorothy placedher hand lightly
over Quatre's wrist. "We both fight our battles...Though in different
ways. You aren't the type of person to be pro-war... And I'm not
completely anti-war. We're too set in our own opinions to change."
She stated braely, her hand shaking slightly, "But for you, I'm willing
to try." Her head bowed in graceful defeat. "You win, Ambassador.
Dorothy straightened her back and lifted her chin. "Goodnight--"
She turned to walk away dramatically, but a wonderfully wamr hand caught
her elbow.
"Miss Dorothy, please call me Quatre." The angelic blonde young
man grinned down at Dorothy.
"Then goodnight, Quatre." He bent his head forward to kiss her,
but Dorothy tilted her head back, keeping Quatre still. "Only if you
call me Dorothy." She smiled, meeting his soft lips in a kiss as tender
as the finest grains of desert sand. A bud of hope blossomed in her
heart. Maybe Quatre wasn't such a wimp afterall ...