Title: The Little Cinder Boy

Author: Angst Faerie

Rating: T

Disclaimers: I don't own Gundam Wing nor do I own Cinderella written by the Grimm brothers.

Notes: Quatre and Duo discuss Prince Trowa's upcoming birthday. Some minor Relena and Dorothy bashing along with mild Language.

Chapter 1: Best Friends and shopping

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In the little village of Lynnet on the outskirts of the town, past the farms and fields lived some of the upper class families in their extravagant, and quite expensive, mansions. One in particular that rested on an apple tree grove was the Winner Manor.

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Outside on this sunny and nice day in the stables working was Quatre Winner, a young boy with soft blonde hair and eyes that seemed neither blue nor green, but instead they were of a turquoise color. He was quite a beautiful boy, even though he was covered in soot and dirt or that he frankly was way too thin his beauty seemed to shine through. He was slightly short for a boy his age, but not very much for someone his weight.

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"Quatre, hey Quatre where the hell are you?"

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Duo yelled as he ran frantically around the Winner estate trying to find the young man. Duo Maxwell was a boy around the same age and height as Quatre with waist length chestnut brown hair that was kept in a braid and eyes that were a violet color. As an orphan he was hired as a servant for the Winner Manor about two years ago while his older brother, Solo, continued to work with the village tailor Kristopher. Ever since Duo arrived, he and Quatre had become the best of friends and were inseparable.

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"Duo whatever is the matter with you?" asked Quatre as he walked out of the stables.

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"Guess what I just found out?" asked Duo excitedly, as Quatre looked over at his exasperated friend and wondered what had gotten him so wound up.

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"I wish I had the time to Duo, but I have to finish the stables by dinner time." Duo as usual didn't listen and just kept on talking.

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"Okay. Well the Prince's eighteenth birthday is coming up and there will be a festival going on for the whole week. All of Lynnet is celebrating. Can you believe that? It's time to have some fun and party." Quatre smiled softly. That was Duo for you always trying to find a way to have a good time.

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"Yeah, fun getting Dorothy and Relena ready so they can go to balls and extravagant dinners while I stay home cleaning. Then I will have to listen to them brag about what a good time they had while I did nothing." Quatre sadly replied.

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Duo forgot Quatre wasn't a common servant, but the lady of the household's stepchild. Quatre's step mother usually wouldn't let him attend such things, he wasn't even allowed outside at night. Probably out of fear that he would run away or out do her own blood children. After all Quatre was way more beautiful than both of his stepsisters.

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"Well then we'll just have to help you sneak out. Then we go down to the village to help you live a little." This made Quatre a little nervous because when Duo had a plan, things always tend to get dangerous for the poor blonde. A few months back Quatre almost broke his neck from one of Duo's crazy ideas.

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"Thanks Duo, but I think I'll pass on this." Quatre replied nervously.

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"Oh come on now don't be like that, besides it's a gift and it's rude to turn down gifts."

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"A gift?" This wasn't looking good Duo wasn't backing down and Quatre just knew he was being pushed into a trap that would end with him having no choice but to go.

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"Yes a gift. Let's see your birthday was about a month ago and you just turned 15 so consider this your present." Duo did it now, and Quatre had to go. That and Duo had been nice enough to wait and give Quatre his present a month after his birthday since the actual day was used for morning his deceased mother.

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"Fine Duo, I'll go, but I still have a bad feeling about this." Quatre said nervously.

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"Relax Quatre all we will be doing is hanging out in the village square getting drunk while all the rich people are at the royal ball. After all, in the celebration of the prince, all the alcohol will be free and we shouldn't miss such a great opportunity. Une will never find out because she'll be at the ball too. What's better than that?" Quatre didn't care much for alcohol but he was glad Duo wouldn't waste any of his hard earned money on him.

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Quatre had decided he would try to have fun, he definitely needed it. "Well thanks Duo, I appreciate . . . "

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"QUATRE GET IN HERE NOW. WE HAVE SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO DISCUSS." Someone yelled from the main house, interrupting Quatre.

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Quatre and Duo both flinched, it was Dorothy's voice. Duo really hated her the most ever since she always seemed out to get Quatre. Once Quatre got severely burnt when he was younger when she had accidently tripped him and he fell in the hot ashes of a recently burning fire pit. He still had the burn marks on his left leg from it.

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"Listen Duo I have got to go, we can finish talking later." Quatre quickly said as he turned to leave.

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"QUATRE" Dorothy called out again. "HURRY UP. . .NOW." She was getting impatient and it wasn't a good thing to piss her off.

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"Bye and good luck. You'll need it." Was all Duo could whisper to the spot where Quatre was just recently standing. Duo turned around to head off to finish his own chores before he got in trouble too.

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Quatre ran into the house's lobby using the mirror in the hall to straighten himself up before entering the parlor. His stepmother Baroness Une and her two daughters Dorothy and Relena were having their noon time tea and the sisters looked especially excited about something. Une looked annoyed as she eyed Quatre.

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"Quatre I assume you heard of the festival being thrown by the King in honor of his son's birthday," Quatre nodded in agreement as she continued. "Well it seems that there is a masquerade for the young Prince tomorrow night. I believe it's for him to choose a bride to bare him an heir, and I want to make sure it's one of my daughters he chooses. So would you kindly go get your friend with the braid? We must go shopping for our costumes immediately." Quatre winced at the thought of hauling their packages around all day.

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"As you wish my Lady." Quatre said with a slight bow.

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"Oh and before I forget the Ball's for the Prince to choose a bride so I hope you understand why you needn't go. Hm?" Une leered.

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"Of course my Lady no harm done." Quatre turned around to go find Duo for a fabulous day of shopping with his so called loving family.

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They arrived at Lynnet's market and the central square of the village was even more crowded then it usually was in the noon time. Everyone must have been gathering to celebrate. Une took the girls to a costume shop to choose their outfits for the masquerade and then they went to an exclusive jeweler to buy any sort of matching jewelry. As luck would have it Duo and Quatre weren't allowed inside simply because they were of the servant class giving them a much needed break from the girls.

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So they were forced to wait outside loading packages into the carriage. All of a sudden there was a loud commotion from the main street as a Royal carriage that was making its way to the palace had been stopped and a middle-aged man had stepped out looking extremely annoyed. Duo urged Quatre to get closer a better look. From what Duo could see it appeared that a little girl tripped and fell in the path of the carriage and the man, whom Duo believed to be royalty, was about to punish the girl for delaying him.

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"Quatre, this isn't right. I don't even think she realizes what she's done wrong." The man than grabbed the girl by the collar of her dress and threw her to the side of the street demanding to be told who her parents were. When a young woman came forward which seemed to be the young girl's mother the older man demanded they both get on their knees and beg for forgiveness for making him late. He was obviously enjoying tormenting the girls. Duo was mad, "I had enough of this I'm going to put this to an end right now." Before Quatre had a chance to stop him, he had already lost Duo in the crowd.

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"That's enough can't you see it was an accident and that they're sorry." Quatre heard Duo yell through the crowd.

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"Do you even know to whom you speak boy? I am the Duke Dekim so I'd watch that tongue of yours especially if you wish to keep it." The man said turning to stare at Duo.

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"I really don't care if you're the King himself you have no right to treat other human beings like dirt." This was starting to get ugly, Quatre had to get to Duo fast and make him shut his mouth before they got in serious trouble.

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"That's it you urchin! I have had enough of your smart ass remarks. Guards seize him now." Quatre was afraid this would happen. "You sick bastard." Duo yelled at Dekim as two of the guards grabbed him. 'Great' Quatre thought 'he did it now, why can't Duo learn to just control his temper.' Just then a strange man pushed Quatre out of the way.

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"That's enough. Would you like to inform me of what the hell is going on out here? Hm, Captain Rasid?" Duo looked up and saw a boy around his age with short brown hair and cobalt blue eyes standing before him. The boy had a stoic expression plastered on his face. He was quite an impressive sight, not to mention very good looking Duo thought.

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One the royal guards, the biggest one that seemed to be the Captain, pulled the boy to the side and started whispering to him after a few minutes the boy nodded then he looked over to Duo and smiled. Duo realized he had been holding his breath, but couldn't remember if it was the fear of being arrested or the appearance of the expressionless boy now smiling at him. The boy then turned and approached Dekim.

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"Ah, Sir Yuy, what a pleasant surprise. I thought all guard dogs had to stay by their master's side." Dekim sneered. The boy seemed unfazed by the insult almost like he didn't even hear it.

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"It's a pleasure to see you also, your highness, as for Trowa he needed some time alone. He's a big boy he'll be fine on his own for a while. Now Dekim let us leave this boy alone. I see no harm has been done." Dekim seemed quite angry now.

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"But Yuy this child has made a fool of me, something must be done imm . . . " Yuy Spoke up interrupting the Duke.

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"And I'm sure the King would love to hear about you disrupting his loyal citizens for such a travail thing." 'This boy's good,' thought Duo. 'Looks like I'm not going to the dungeon after all.'

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"Ah, you are quite right Yuy. I will see you at the palace then." Dekim then got back inside the carriage only to be followed by the boy.

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"I hope you don't mind if I escort you then." Yuy added.

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"Of course not." Dekim gave him an unpleasant smile before sitting down and commanding the driver to continue.

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The guards released Duo then continued on their way. Quatre was finally able to get through the crowd and reach Duo and was about to say something before they both were hit on the head. What they saw when turned around terrified them, there stood a very pissed off Une.

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"When we get home, I want both of you to go to your sleeping chambers immediately and stay there till tomorrow morning I don't want to see or hear either of you till then. Do I make myself clear?"

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"Yes my Lady" replied Quatre and Duo together.

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"You're lucky I'm not going to fire you Duo, but if you ever do something this stupid again you can guarantee I will." Duo nodded for a reply, but seemed strangely out of it.

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"Good. Now I want you both to go stand by the horses and don't you say a single word got it. You've already embarrassed me enough for today." As Quatre approached the horses, he could see Dorothy smiling sadistically at them.

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Duo lived in the servant quarters, a small building set aside and away from the main house. Every servant had a room that they shared with their family and Duo had his room all to himself being an orphan and all. As for Quatre since he was part of Une's family he slept in the main house. That was in the kitchen on a mat on the floor in front of the fireplace. He hadn't always had the mat, but Duo had gotten him it last Christmas. Quatre was so thankful for having Duo as a friend. He also had a little wooden chair his dad made many years ago. Une let Quatre have it since she didn't find it luxurious enough for any other room. When Quatre wasn't busy working, he enjoyed sitting in it reading or looking out the kitchen window, and watching the other servants or the butterflies on the windowsill flowers.

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Quatre had finished cleaning up around the kitchen, and sat down in his chair to read a book that he stole from the library. He knew none of the sisters read very often so no one would probably miss it. Eventually he fell asleep and dreamt of all the day's excitement.

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Quatre woke with a start when someone suddenly grabbed his arm. To his relief it was only a very excited Duo. After a while of siting in silence Duo finally spoke up.

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"Quatre change of plans, tomorrow we're going to the masquerade." This startled Quatre.

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"Duo we can't. There's no way Une would let us. Besides it's only for nobles." This didn't seem to bother Duo at all.

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"It's simple I can easily sneak us in and it's a masquerade silly, no one will even recognize us." Duo seemed like he wasn't going to back out, but then again neither was Quatre.

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"First of all Duo, we can't go to the ball simply because we don't have costumes. Also, why are you so determined to go?" Duo looked away, but couldn't hide the blush that covered his face.

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"I have to see Sir Yuy again and thank him. I didn't even get his first name. Please Quatre, help me out just this once. I promise I can get us the costumes and Une will never know." Quatre couldn't turn Duo down after all the times when he needed help, Duo was there.

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"All right Duo, I will go. However, I'm leaving everything up to you." Duo looked up and gently smiled at him.

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"Thanks Kat! I know you wouldn't let me down. Now I have to go meet my friend Solo after all he does owe me a favor. I'll be back tomorrow after Une and her brats leave. So wait for me, got it?" Quatre still wasn't sure this would end well, but he would just have to trust Duo.

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"All right I'll see you then." Duo crawled back out the kitchen window and disappeared into the nights shadows. Quatre couldn't understand way but whenever he thought about tomorrow his heart would start beating pretty fast. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.

o.o.o.o.o

Next chapter will be in Prince Trowa's point of view and there will be a little time lapsing. Remember R&R and be nice this is my first chapter story. Also let it be known that criticism is allowed and helpful.

-Angst Faerie