Chapter 1: A new girl
She had announced her decision to take a break from anything resembling politics. Although Vice Foreign Minister Darlian had taken her responsability as a symbol for the poeple of Earth and space, she was forced into it in the first place, and didn't want to spend what was left of her youth in an office. She knew she had become the most powerful person in this portion of the universe, but a feeling of total helplessness was taking over the young woman.She knew everything there was to know about foreign relationships, but nothing about the human kind . At 19, she basically had no friends. With her standing, it was impossible to meet anybody under 40.
The last teenagers Relena Darlian ever talked to were the ex-Gundam pilots, years ago. They now were on the PS-I sattelite, working there as Preventers.
"We are finally done. Finally.. ."
Relena stared at the reflection in the mirror and was satisfied. She did not recognize herself, which was the point.
All night, Noin and Relena had been working on the final steps of the extraordinary makeover. That meant cutting her long hair, dying, and perming it. She now had frizzy dark cherry-red hair that came down to her cheekbone. To make herself unrecognisable, she had to go through face surgery. With today's technology, she knew that those cheek and jaw implants could be removed without much damage. To put a finishing touch to the transformation, she now wears brown contact lenses, and, of course, a different kind of clothing. A far cry from her usual classic and elegant working wardrobe, she had on boot-cut dark blue jeans, with a simple white cotton tank top. There was not a trace of makeup on her face anymore and her intensive training of the last few months hadmade her figure change.
"Zechs, honey! You will not believe how Relena's changed!" Noin said.
"She'll always be my little si…"
Zechs had never been of the expressive kind. But the look of surprise on his face as he saw Relena standing on top of the staircase told plenty. "Excellent work girls… But she still looks like Relena"
"What do you mean brother?" Relena asked in disappointment.
He looked at her hands joined in a prayer-like position in front of her, then at her face that showed an angelic gaze.
"Forget it" he replied coldly. Noin jumped in "Oh honey! don't start again! We know you're not enjoying the fact that your sister's putting herself in a dangerous position by going there all by herself. But you should be the first to understand the need she has for getting in the action, instead of only having an outside view" "There is no action! Peace has been obtained, she's done her job, she's now…" "Useless!" Zechs and Noin had forgotten Relena's presence. Only when she spoke did they realized she was still there."Don't say that Relena, you know that's not true. You have a great deal of importance to the…" Noin was cut off by her spouse
"No Noin, Relena's right"
Both girls were shocked by his statement, but were too eager to know what he meant to say anything.
"Relena did make a big difference in making the world we live in today, but that's because people needed a symbol at that time. However, they have learned since then to trust themselves for their decisions. Therefore, what they really need now is a good advisor. Although she has what it takes to become a good politician, he continued, I'm afraid she needs to get a taste of the real world. Someone else can take on her job for now, and the people won't be affected." He turned to his sister "Right now, do with your life as you wish. Do you really want to become a Preventer Relena?"
"More than anything" , she replied with stars in her eyes
"Why?"
"Because, I need to feel like I actually help people. I played a part in helping them obtain peace; I want to help them keep it."
Relena sighed
"I'm tired of talking Milliardo. Making speeches about interior relations or Inter-colonial exchange, or… I want to be part of it. I'd also like to be in contact with people my age, to make friends who don't know how rich or powerful I am, to challenge myself and take risks instead of being overprotected. I can't stand having to watch my every move just to keep up appearances. I don't want to be defined by how the world sees me anymore, I want to know who I am."
Zechs stern face unnoticeably twitched as he watched her sister speak those last words. It took a long time for him to say anything. Meanwhile, Relena just lost hope that her brother would ever understand what she was going through. Then he said: "your hands"
"What?" Relena and Noin asked at the same time
"Your hands, he answered, look at how you place them. And your attitude, you are way too polite for an ordinary 18 year-old. Slack the manners and language, or they will betray your identity"
On that, he turned his heels and walked away. Relena ran and passed in front of him. She jumped to his neck to hug him and whispered a tearful "thank you".
Three months later, Relena was pacing in the living room. Her limo was being packed and would leave for the airport in half an hour. She was psyched! The whole summer had been a preparation for this day.
"Oh crap!" she thought as she ran outside.
"Milliardo, she shouted, MILLIARDO!"
"Something wrong?" he asked.
"Well yes! I cannot arrive in a limo! Even if it's not the old ugly pink one, how many people take a limo to go to the airport huh?"
Zechs laughed. It felt bizarre to see his sister so relaxed and spontaneous. Over the summer, she had stopped herself from being over-mature for her age. He concluded he liked her better that way. She was finally beginning to find herself.
"Ok then, we'll take the jeep. I'll drive you. Is that ok with you, princess?"
"Of course not! I'm driving!"
Zechs laughed again as he watched her sister excitingly pull out her bags from the limousine and run to the garage to get the other car. "That's just how you should be" he thought.