The music flowed though the spacious ball room as people from all across the world drank, danced and laughed. Dukes and Dutchesses, Lords and their ladies, Kings and Queens had all made it a point to show up for the gala. One by one, the enormous names with elaborate titles were sounded throughout the room and each one made him even more hopeful that the next one called would be hers. As the last name on the guest list was called, however, the merriment commenced and he felt his heart grow heavy.

The veritable cornucopia of merriment did nothing to ease his nerves. He had downed his third glass of wine. It was already well past sun down and Relena was nowhere to be seen. The moon was definitely out, which ruled out lunar interference. Had something gone wrong? What if Dorothy turned on them? What if the sorcerer had found her and stopped her in the worst way possible. Dorothy did inform them that Relena's life was no longer a factor in the old man's plans. His hand went to the hilt of his ceremonial sword. If anything happened to her there would be nowhere on the Earth that could save the sorcerer from his wrath.

"You look tense buddy." Duo came up behind him and offered him another glass of wine.

"Shouldn't you be off seducing some unsuspecting lady?"

"That one hurt, buddy." Duo grinned but it slowly faded. "I'm sure she's fine, Heero."

"I should have gone to escort her."

"Heero, she'll be here." As if in answer to his statement the trumpet sounded cracking the barrier of mind-numbing dullness and worry he'd been suffering from.

"Announcing the arrival of Princess Relena Peacecraft of Cinq Kingdom!"

Heero looked up and saw his breath caught in his throat. She was there, standing at the top of the stairs. Her honey-colored hair was pulled into a twisted half-updo with black ivy vines braided into it. Her dress was black with silver and blue embellishments that resembled a mix of ivy and feathers. She was every bit was breath taking as he imagined she would be.

She made her way down the stairs and he swore her feet never touched the aged marble. She was a vision as he had never seen before. She found him; their eyes met and remained locked together as she neared him. They were almost unreadable. He knew she probably had her guard up due to the circumstances but the aqua orbs lacked the distinct twinkle they usually possessed. She offered him a smile, beautiful and serene, but it lacked the warmth that usually stirred him.

"Told ya." Duo smiled and winked letting out an appreciative whistle before walking away as she made it to him.

"You're here." The words came out before he even realized he'd said them.

"Of course I am. I told you nothing would stop me." He reached out his hands and took her in his… and it felt odd. Perhaps it was the overall situation putting a damper on things. Either way, he linked arms with her and offered a warm smile. They were together now and no amount of pressure would ruin this moment.


"Don't be reckless, you overgrown dove!" Drorothy snapped at her. "You won't accomplish anything if you kill yourself now!" Relena flapped her wings in irritation an action she immediately regretted as the cut on her had had turned to an abrasion on her wing. Freeing

Dorothy hadn't been hard. Dermail had spelled the door against Dorothy with no contingencies of someone else freeing her. Apparently he hadn't planned on the captive maidens to aid his granddaughter. His lack of foresight had been just the trick needed to spring the sorceress and put the escape plan into action. It had taken the winged maidens flying in through an open window and rummaging around for a specific potion to be thrown at the outside of the door but it had worked.

"If you try to take on the barrier alone then you will die. I, for one, am not fond of having fried swan for dinner!" Dorothy quipped.

Relena wanted to counter her words but all that came out were a few angry honks. She hated this.

"The spell guards against any one of you trying to escape in any direction. Should you try, you will receive painful shocks from magic lightning. However, therein lies the trick. If I concentrate my magic on the barrier and all of your fellow swans push against it in tandem, you might be able to make it through." Relena looked at her friends that now surrounded her; each shared the same look: apprehension. Could she ask this of them knowing they could parish? Could she ask them to risk their own lives on the smallest chance that the foolhardy plan might work?

"Don't worry about us, Relena."

"Yeah, if this works, we'll all be free!"

"Anything is better living this way the rest of our lives!" a chorus of nods and sounds of affirmation were her answer.

*Thank you… All of you.*

"Well, now that you birds of a feather will flock together, shall we get started? Grandfather and his golem would be there by now." Dorothy waved her hand and all of the maidens transformed into their Cygnet forms. Each took flight as high as they could, Relena taking the lead. This had to work. There was no other option. It was either break the barrier and get to the ball, or Heero would die.

It did not take long before she felt the immediate piercing pain of colliding with the barrier. She could feel the pain surge through her friends simultaneously, strengthening her determination. The bright flashes of Dorothy's magic sizzled and popped against the barrier like melting lightning. The pain seared through her like lava, coursing through every muscle and vein but still she pushed harder. As if feeling her drive, she sensed her friends pushing even harder. She felt her wings burning from the exertion and the moist warmth of the blood from her cut slid down her ivory feathers.

Finally, with a last hard push the barrier sizzled as a deafening crack rang out through the night. Relena pushed herself through and felt the cool air of the natural climate hit her. The temperature difference caused her only a momentary feeling of displacement before her senses returned. She was tired. She was sore. Every muscle and sinew in her body cried out in protest but she had to press on. She had to get to Heero before it was too late! Usuing the updraft to give her wind-speed, she flew as fast as her wings could carry her praying to God above that she would make it in time.


Dermail felt the disruption to his spell hit him like a migraine in the back of his skull. He knew the princess might try something reckless but had not planned on his granddaughter escaping and aiding in Relena's flight.

He cursed under his breath. He couldn't leave to chase after her, not now. The golem needed his constant guidance and concentration. If he could kill the prince than his worries would be over. Relena's spirit would be broken and he and his magic would be safe from any and all threats. He chuckled low in his throat as he felt her slip past the barrier. She was wounded and exhausted. The chances of her making it to her prince before his death were slim at best.

He smiled and felt the expression being mimicked on the golem's face as the music continued to play.