The Heart of a Dragon

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing

Chapter 3

Millardo paced the floor of the small cottage. Relena hadn't been home when he had gotten there, which was extremely unusual. At first he had figured she was off somewhere and would be back soon, but as time passed his worry grew. Not able to take it anymore, he grabbed his sword and headed towards the door. He had a sinking feeling something was wrong.

Just as he was about to leave, there was a knock on the front door. Letting out a sigh of relief he walked over to the door and found his sister. He took in a breath ready to scold her when his eye caught a second figure in the door with her as well. His anger doubled, but before he could go off, Relena interrupted him.

"Millardo could you please help me get him inside, he's heavy and needs help."

Millardo held his tongue and helped her carry in the man she had with him. He didn't like the look of him; he was scratched from head to toe, and his hair was a mess of twigs and brush. Millardo was surprised the man was even still breathing, he had seen soldiers die from injuries much less severe then what this kid had now. They set him down on the small rug by the fire. Relena ran into the kitchen to get some hot water before Millardo could scold her. Millardo watched her leave and grabbed his sword, satting in a chair in the corner of the room. Relena came back in and began to tend to his wounds. He didn't like the scene before him, but he knew there was no way to convince Relena to throw the man out. She was too kind and soft hearted to turn someone away that was in need of help. Tightening his grip on his sword he watched with a wary eye as Relena bandaged and cleaned the man's wounds.

He was asleep again, but this time was different. Instead of the dark empty space, there was a light shining before his eyes. He got up and started to follow the light, as if he was being pulled by it. He walked forward, and for the first time in his life. He felt like he had a path to follow.

The light grew brighter and stronger and he started to feel the warmth emanate from the light. He continued to follow, his efforts redoubled. Soon he was engulfed by it; he didn't feel alone anymore, for the first time in his life, he felt content. He stood in the light basking in its brilliance never wanting it to fade.

Relena too found herself in a world of darkness that night as she slept. She had finished tending the stranger's wounds, and fell asleep soon after. In her dream the boy was once again holding out his hand to her. The darkness was so thick around them; all Relena could see what the boy before her. She tried to move towards him, but the faster she ran, the further away he was.

Like so many times before she called out to him, "What is your name?"

This time however, he replied to her, "All will be clear soon."

And then the boy disappeared from her view completely.

Relena woke up in a cold sweat, the dream still vivid in her mind. She sat up and groaned, finding she was sore from her ventures of the previous night. She looked out her door at the figure by the fireplace, he was in bad shape, it frightened Relena just how messed up he was. She got out of bed and walked back into the main room to check on him. He still lay by the fire place. She sighed in relief to see he was still breathing, and to see his pale complexion was starting to improve. She glanced over at Millardo who sat in a chair in the corner of the room lightly sleeping. He still held his sword in his hand ready. Relena went over to him and he stirred. He looked up at her groggily, but managed to give her a small smile. Standing up he groaned, placing his sword beside him, and got up to go wash his face. Relena followed, knowing he wanted to talk to her about the events that had expired the previous night. She waited patiently as he washed his face, finally turning around to meet her gaze.

"I found him in the woods last night when I was strolling around the outskirts of town." Relena began not waiting for Millardo to ask. "He needs our help Millardo, we can't just throw him out in the condition he's in. He'll die.

"He may stay until he awakens, but I don't want you here alone with him all day." Millardo finally said.

Relena smiled gratefully at him. "I will have my friend Hilde stay here with me during the day."

Millardo looked at her surprised, "Hilde? I didn't know you two were acquainted, her father is one of my best captains."

"We met yesterday, I'm sure she wouldn't mind staying here the day with me"

"Very well, but as soon as he awakens I want you to come for me. I don't trust him." Millardo said looking sternly at her. "I also want you to keep a dagger handy; a scout reported that he saw an enemy scout a few days ago. They could very well be in this area. Your little friend in there might be with them, so be cautious of him," Millardo said pulling a dagger from his belt and handing it to her.

"I doubt I will need it" Relena said trying to deny the dagger, "I trust him he looks very kind."

"Looks can be deceiving Relena; please for the comfort of your brother take it."

Reluctantly she took the dagger from him, praying she wouldn't have to use it.

Hilde had been thrilled by the idea of spending the day with Relena. Millardo was still reluctant, but with some help from Hilde, they managed to get him out of the house. Hilde spent the day talking to both Relena, and the stranger as if they had been lifelong friends. Relena laughed at the one sided conversation Hilde had with the stranger pretending like he was talking to her, as she danced around the house.

When Hilde left to go check on the chickens in the back, Relena walked over to lifeless man and knelt by his side. She felt nervous and ridiculous, trying to form the words in her mind. Even though she had no idea whether or not he could hear her.

"When will you wake up?" She said finally, feeling foolish. "My name is Relena Peacecraft. I pray you will wake up soon, I've done everything I can to help with your wounds and injuries. How did you get in that state to begin with? My brother thinks you might be an enemy, but I know your not. I could see it in your eyes when I found you last night. I think you're a very kind person."

Relena spoke to him for a while, telling him about her new life in town. She told him about how her both her parents had died in a war long ago, and how she and her brother had made a life of their own. She talked about her dreams and her hopes, and then she talked to him about the castle and about the strange feeling she had to go see what was inside. Just when she was about to tell him about how she found him, Hilde walked in. Relena blushed feeling foolish for going off for so long but smiled at him, thanking him for listening. Even if he didn't really have a choice in the matter.

The rest of the day Relena spent laughing with Hilde. She had never met someone so free spirited and fun. Hilde could talk for hours about everything and nothing at all, all at the same time. When Millardo had come home, Hilde had talked his ear off all through dinner and even managed to get Millardo to smirk a few times, which was quite an accomplishment in her books. After dinner Hilde said her goodbyes and made Relena promise to invite her over the following day. Relena had smiled, giving her a hug. Millardo took his spot in the chair in the corner once again. Relena, wished Millardo goodnight, and then went to bed, completely worn out and exhausted. Right before she went to sleep she looked out at the night sky at the millions of stars and smiled to herself. Looking once more out her bedroom door at the motionless person still fast asleep by the fireplace, she smiled, falling fast asleep.

The three continued this pattern for the next few days. Hilde and Relena began talking more and more with the lifeless man, as if he were awake and just sitting there listening to the two of them. Relena found herself enjoying the one sided talks she had with him more and more. Even Millardo became more lax about the situation, even going as far as to rest his sword next to him, instead of hold it in a death grip all night. The three enjoyed the company of the strange companion. They were able to feed him and give him water, all the while he would keep his steady breathing. They all hoped for the day that he would awaken.

Relena's dreams continued, but always ended at the same place. Every night she would try harder and harder to reach the boy, but it was in vain. Every night when she called out to him he would give her the same answer.

"All will be clear soon"

She talked to the mysterious man about it, wondering what he would think of the whole situation. As always he just lay asleep.

He still stood in the light, feeling content and at one with himself. He heard voices sounding around him, but they were too far off and distant to make out. He tried to listen more closely. One voice rang out through the distance, so clear and sweet, it felt like it surrounded him.

"When will you wake up?" The voice had asked.

He looked around confused. Was he asleep? If he was he never wanted to awaken, but the voice continued on, not waiting for his reply.

"My name is Relena Peacecraft."

"Relena." He repeated to himself.

He listened to her speak to him. She told him everything about herself, about her life, the tragic loss of her parents, and about his castle. He listened intently taking in everything, hanging onto every word. But she was suddenly cut off by another voice, this one was distant and he couldn't make out what they were saying. The voice was gone after that. He walked around trying to figure out where he was, and where the voice was coming from. Finding nothing he sat and lost himself in his thoughts. This pattern continued for some time and he found himself looking forward to hearing the voice talk to him.

Until one night, he sat lost in his thoughts once again, going over the conversation he had had with the voice. Suddenly a familiar pain shot through him, and instantly the light vanished. He heard a chime that he knew all too well. It couldn't happen here, wasn't he safe from the beast within him here? The light started to fade from him, everything falling to pieces around him. He felt his body tense and awaken, and his perfect world collapsed.

He opened his eyes waking in a cold sweat. He looked around him at an unfamiliar room. Sitting in the corner was a man asleep in a chair, a sword resting next to him. The church bells rang out again; it was beginning; he needed to get out of here now. Frantically, and as silently as he could he ran through the room and towards the door. The door thankfully, didn't make much noise as he open and closed it. The cool night air blasted him in the face and he could feel the familiar pain shooting up his back once again. He needed to move fast if he were to lose himself here, everyone would be in danger.

He ran through the town as fast as his legs would carry him. He knew time was almost up. He reached the outskirts of town and ran into the woods. Only seconds remained before he would be lost, and then it happened.

He screamed out in pain as two large black wings sprung from his back, his skin began to burn as it was replaced with thick black scales. His body began to stretch out and his hands turned into sharp deadly talons. A tail sprung from his back and his teeth grew five times their size, coming to a sharp point. His hair disappeared completely, replaced with sharp spikes running all the way from the base of its head to the base of its neck, and then, the transformation was over.

In place of what he once was, was a fierce, black dragon. He roared into the night and launched himself into the air. He tried to grab hold of what little control he had, steering the beast away from the town.

Author's Note: There you go that's the big secret! I never realized that you can get a ton done in the early hours of the morning. I'll stop for tonight but I'll probably have the next chapter of this story edited by tomorrow. I'll see from there if i want to add onto it or not, but either way I should be done with the whole story pretty soon. Please read and review!

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