[A.N.] Hello everyone! Sorry this has taken so long to post. I have been busy with my job and with family stuff but I won't bore you with details. Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the development of this story. I hate how Heero is feeling OOC but given the situation I think it's warranted. I don't know how I'd be if I'd been reunited with my true love after years of feeling an unexplained emptiness in my heart. Without further ado, I leave you to it! ENJOY!
~Serene
Heero entered the glade later than usual, hoping beyond hope to find her in her true form. The week had passed; he'd counted each hour as it ticked by, spurred by the desire to bring her good news. His digging had surfaced nothing by way of enlightening information, but his dream had spurred him forward, rushing to her side. He felt slightly silly. It was so unlike him becoming so emotional and yet it now all made sense. She was his Relena: his childhood sweetheart that he pledged to protect. Knowing that she had suffered alone; lost to the world and to him, made him angry beyond words. He gritted his teeth as he urged his horse to go faster. The soon her arrived, the sooner he could tell her that he knew. That he remembered everything… everything except how they were separated.
That was the final piece of the puzzle. Somehow she ended up in the custody of a magic-wielding maniac and until he knew the exact details he felt their time together would continue to be hindered by feathers and moonlight. He followed the path through the forest noticing how silent and still it was. The sparkling lights were scarcely noticeable and the loss of the usual chatter of the woodland creatures made it seem more eerie than ethereal.
"Something's wrong." He muttered aloud to no one. Spurring his horse as fast as the beast dare go, he finally reached the clearing and the sight that greeted him broke his heart.
Relena, more pale and frail than he'd ever seen her before lay on the ground, her back leaning against a large boulder and her friends surrounding her protectively, attending to her. She raised her head upon hearing his approach and the small movement seemed to take all the energy she possessed. Yet, despite the pain she seemed to be in, she smiled at him; a genuine smile that somehow reached her aqua eyes.
Before he even realized he'd done it, he was off his horse and kneeling by her side, taking her cold hand into his.
"Relena…"
"You shouldn't have come.
"What happened to you?" She shook her head, unwilling to tell him.
"The transformation into a human after the week of being a swan was painful for her. It took all of her strength just to stand and face him." The one called Hilde stepped forward. It was true. He could see the pain in her eyes and feel the shallowness of her breathing.
"You knew he could be here tonight."
"Let him be." He heard the threat in his tone and saw concern for him swirl in her eyes.
"Heero…" He brought her hand to his lips and placed a chaste kiss on her knuckles.
"I remember, Relena." A look of confusion, and then one of understanding dawned on her features.
"I see."
"Why did you not tell me?" She paused and looked down, staring at their joined hands for a long moment before she explained.
"I wanted to keep you safe." She raised her eyes to meet his and the sadness there made a lump form in his throat. "The spell made you forget and I thought that if you knew it would put you in danger." She looked down again. "I couldn't lose you again." He reached up and gently caressed the side of her face.
"Relena…" He leaned in, his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling. "You will never lose me."
"As sweet as this is," the sudden voice behind them made Relena stiffen. "Your presence here tonight isn't wise, dear prince."
"Dorothy." Relena said. Heero backed away from Relena just enough to take a protective position in front of her.
"I had a wonderful chat with my grandfather. It seems there are a few ways to break this little spell. None of which will be easy."
"And what do you want for this piece of crucial information?" Heero almost growled this. He didn't trust this blonde she-demon.
"My, my; why the distrust? Have I not already told you I wished to help?"
"Only for your own twisted entertainment."
"Well, if you don't want the information I uncovered, I suppose I know when I'm not wanted." He watched her stroke her forked eyebrow.
"Dorothy, please… he's just being protective."
"I am well aware." He watched the older girl smirk as she waved her hand and created another chair out of nothing before arranging her dress to seat herself. "Very well then. Where shall I begin?" As she filled them in on the possible solutions to the magical problem, Heero found himself considering their options. An act of undeniable love would be tricky on the scale Dorothy had mentioned, yet it seemed the most likely option.
"In the spirit of full-disclosure, I think you should know that my grandfather has no issue with your eventual death if you continue to refuse him. That being the case, I should let you know that if the act of love is found unworthy or lacking the conviction only truth can provide, it will be a death sentence for the princess." The woman smirked, leaning forward to look him in the eyes. "You do love one another… don't you?" He looked at Relena, her eyes locking with his and he saw it: all of the love, the hopes, and the dreams she had for him shining in those aqua orbs.
"Yes." He heard himself say without a second thought. And he realized it was true. He had always loved her from the moment their parents introduced them almost a lifetime ago.
"Heero…"
"I love you, Relena…"
"And she loves you!" Dorothy pressed. "Don't waste time exchanging common-knowledge pleasantries. Instead, let us focus on how and where you plan on breaking the curse. Honestly, you both are quite hopeless."
The sudden sound of hooves colliding against the ground brought their attention to the entrance into the glade. His friends had followed him; he hadn't exactly made it hard for them to figure out where he was going.
"Heero, buddy! What's the deal running off on us?"
'This was irresponsible, Yuy." Wufei grumbled.
"Now, now, you two. Heero had his reasons." Quatre defended him.
"Damn his reasons! Two weeks before the coronation ball and he is still running off like a stable boy on a summer's day!" Wufei continued.
"He has a point," Trowa interjected. "Running off like this doesn't exactly reassure the kingdom that their future king is dependable."
"The ball…" Heero grinned.
"Is it just me, or is he kind of scary when he grins?" Duo muttered, earning him an elbow in the gut.
"Heero, maybe they're right." Relena said sadly.
"No, Relena. Listen: the ball."
"What about it?"
"All of the kings and queens from every land will be there. It's the perfect time."
"For what?" He took her hands in his and smiled, a smile meant only for her and let his feelings show through his eyes.
"The act of true unconditional love…" He vaguely heard Duo make a noise of exclamation before being silenced by one of the other men.
"You're going to declare your love for her in front of the whole world! That's positively romantic!" Dorothy clasped her hands together in a dramatic display of approval. "I suppose a marriage proposal would follow soon after?" Heero looked at Relena, the hint of a blush forming on her face.
"A proposal? A love declaration? What the hell is going on?" Wufei almost shouted.
"Heero, J would never approve." Trowa stated.
"He will when he remembers who she is."
"What?" Duo asked.
"Allow me, gentlemen, if you will, to reintroduce to you her Royal Highness, Princess Relena Peacecraft of the Cinq Kingdom and your Prince's childhood sweetheart." Dorothy declared. The men stared in shock, unsure how to take this new news which immediately demanded a summarized version of the story of how Relena came to be in her current predicament.
"So some wacko wizard magicked our memories and made us forget she existed?" Duo asked.
"You are a bright one, aren't you?" Dorothy quipped.
"Thank you… hey!" Duo began to want to rant at the older blonde girl but he was stopped by Trowa.
"And what if this sorcerer decides to return while all of this is happening?"
"I shall deal with my grandfather, rest assured. All you need to do is make sure they succeed in making their public confessions." Dorothy smiled and turned to leave.
"And we should trust you?" Wufei asked.
"I trust her." Heero was surprised by Relena's intervention. "If she wanted to out Heero and I she would have done so already. I will take whatever help she is willing to offer if it means this whole ordeal is over." Heero squeezed her hands a little tighter in support.
"Then I guess it's settled. We can plan out the details later. Right now, we need to get going. The sun is about to rise and J will be around any moment to check on your progress with your royal pre-coronation duties." Quatre stated. "I promise to do all that I can to ensure the success of this endeavor, Princess."
"As do I." Trowa promised, kneeling.
"Count me in too, good lookin'!" Duo winked.
"I still think this is an act of folly, but I cannot stand injustice going unchallenged."
"He means he's in." Duo elaborated.
"Thank you all." Heero saw Relena smile and for the first time since their reunion he could see the same spark and spirit in her that she had when they were children.
"Now that that's settled, I will be off. There are many more things that I must see to. Do remain cautious, you two. I cannot protect you against your own carelessness should impatience take its toll." With those words, Dorothy turned into her bird form and flew off into the distance.
"I don't care if she is on our side. That woman and her eyebrows give me the creeps!" Duo said, shuddering. The mood in the glen lightened at the newly formed band of friends began to hatch their plans for the coming weeks.
