GUNDAM WING: New Beginnings

GUNDAM WING: New Beginnings

~CHAPTER ONE~

Another lengthy conference between Earth and the colonies had just come to a conclusion and a mass of delegates and politicians spilled out of the lecture hall. As the crowd dispersed, only a few were left lingering in the hallway as they held a fervent discussion amongst themselves. In the center of the small party was a dignified young lady who stood patiently and yet looked wary of the talks going around her. Suddenly, the hum of voices died down and everyone's attention fell to her. Softly sighing, she turned her striking blue eyes at her associates, her eyes unfaltering and filled with calm assurance.

"I thoroughly understand each of your worries of the rumors concerning a possible threat to our peace, but as it stands, it is exactly that, a rumor that has no established grounds to be considered true. However, this issue is not being overlooked and is currently being investigated by the Preventer Agency. So please, as everything that can be done is being carried out, try not to make the situation at hand seem greater than what it is." She gave a polite smile, continuing, "Now let's all go home to rest –it's late and we're all tired. Of course, unless you want to stay behind and work, then by all means…" She left her sentence hanging with a sly tone in her voice while her eyes sparkled with a trace of humor.

Having had lightened the mood, the aforementioned topic was dropped and everyone left in higher spirits. As the young lady said her good-byes and approached the exit, she stopped and remembered some papers she had forgotten to take with her. Turning around, she made her way back to the conference rooms.

A small frown marred her flawless face as she fell deep in thought. During the last couple of days, a few small riots had arisen in both the colonies and on Earth, but they had been easily put down. Yet, these were the first signs of public unease that had appeared among the people in half a decade and its presence was making everyone edgy – the colonies were beginning to suspect Earth for these new found troubles and the Earth in turn also suspected the colonies… there was distrust among all the people and the cause of all these disturbances were still unknown. In addition, Lady Une had also reported unusual activities going on in the far boundaries of the colonized space territory…and with the grim expression Lady Une had on her face when she delivered her report, she knew there was something more that Une wasn't sharing…. Was this somehow connected with the commotion on Earth and the colonies? Was there something more dangerous and threatening behind all these small riots … something that may jeopardize their hard won peace?

A surprised cry tore from her lips as she felt herself collide into someone. Teetering backwards, she felt a strong hand reach out for her to steady her balance.

"Relena?"

Looking up, Relena Darlian Peacecraft met the gaze of deep blue eyes. For a moment, the image of a dark-haired boy who had promised to always protect her flitted through her mind.

Heero….

She shook her head as if to clear it and found herself looking at a tall stranger.

No, of course not…

"Are you okay, Relena?"

She gave the stranger a gracious smile, "Yes, thank you. I'm so sorry for having walked into you like that, … I guess my mind was elsewhere…" Heero's image was still clearly imprinted in her mind, but she quickly brushed the pained feeling of disappointment aside.

Relena then gave a quick look over of the stranger that stood before her. She noted that he had addressed her by her first name only… a privilege she gave solely to her friends… did she know this tall man? He was a bit over 6 feet, and his dark, wild good looks were only marginally tamed by an impeccably cut gray suit and perfectly knotted silk tie. His hair was black as ink and gloriously wavy. His skin was dusky gold, taut over strong bones, and marred intriguingly by a small crescent-shaped scar at the far tip of his left eyebrow. His eyes held hers and were a dark, intense blue.

He looks familiar, … and that scar, I've seen it somewhere before…

The man grinned with amusement as he watched Relena study him.

So, she doesn't recognize me…

It suddenly dawned on Relena that she had been staring at the man. She blushed with embarrassment as she realized her rudeness.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was staring … it's just that you look so familiar…"

"Relena, don't you recognize me? It's me … Li-Shang…"

**Flashback**

Cheerful laughter filled a small meadow as two small girls ran through a green field spotted with the hues of red, yellow, and white flowers. A boy of thirteen sat under a tree with his head bent over a book. Ebony locks spilled over his eyes, and as he brushed them aside he paused to watch his nine-year old sister and her friend pick flowers. The two of them, he noted, were as different as night and day. His sister had short, dark violet hair that curled around a small chubby face. Her friend, the nine-year old daughter of their father's close friend, was like a bright golden cherub with long, dark blond hair that fell past her shoulders. Smiling, he got up and began to walk over to them. As he came closer, the golden child looked up and smiled in return. The boy frowned as he saw her take a step back… the ground gave way under the small girl, and she was thrown backwards… the boy dove at her and managed to tuck her in his embrace as they both tumbled down a rocky slope. When they finally came to a stop, the blond girl shakily glanced up from the boy's tight hold. He had shielded her from the worst of the fall and was covered with cuts and bruises. Blood trickled down his face from a small gash on the corner of his left eyebrow…

**End of Flashback**

Relena's eyes widened as she remembered.

"Shang…"

~o~o~o~o~

A lone silhouette stood on top of a small hill facing the colony city below. His mind raced back to the last five years, remembering how he had just wandered aimlessly not knowing where he was going or what he was searching for… All he knew was that he hadn't felt that he belonged anywhere. Instead, he had felt confused, lost… and empty. Then an invoice message had come from Lady Une, and for the first time since he had left on his own, a sense of hope flooded him. He had a mission in life once more—he was needed to protect the peace and … something more … something that evaded his mind but resided in his heart. In the back of his consciousness the face of a golden-hair girl with sky blue eyes appeared and his heart seemly started to beat a bit faster … Relena…. But the rest of him hurriedly hushed up the heart to keep the secret hidden, as if frightened at what might happen if the truth was revealed. So Heero remained none the wiser. He walked away still wondering what was missing in his life while his heart pounded softly with the secret it held.

Not too far from where Heero had stood on the hilltop, two figures stood observing the young man walking away.

"You think he's alright, Quatre?" Duo asked in concern for his friend.

"I don't know … it's been more than four years since we last saw him, and lately he seems somewhat troubled about something…."

"Yeah, I know… but…?"

"But there's not much we can do to help unless he asks us to … after all, this is Heero we are talking about."

"Yeah, I guess…"

"Yeah…"

Uncomfortable silence filled the air as they continued to watch Heero silently make his way back to the conference building.

~o~o~o~o~

Inside a cozy little room sat a honey blonde woman and a dark-haired man. They were smiling and talking over tea.

"I still can't believe it! After all these years and all that has happened… I just can't believe that I'm seeing you again! How is everything? What have you been up to over the years? How is Troth? Where is she now? Where have the two of you been all this time…" Relena was overfilled with joy in her reunion with her old friend as she poured out a continuous number of questions.

Li-Shang just sat there smiling while watching Relena continue with her lively chatter. If he hadn't known better, he would have said that the young woman in front of him was still the same spirited little girl he had known years ago. However, Li-Shang, along with the rest of world, had also seen how this same cheerful girl had effectively taken on the role of a world leader and figurehead, as well as successfully lead the world into a reign of peace. She had blossomed into a beautiful young lady —he noted— but unlike most others her age, she carried a great deal of responsibilities, and her eyes, which had once held so much happiness and laughter, had seemingly lost much of its brightness. The gleam in her sky blue eyes were replaced with scars of sadness from past suffering and weighed with knowledge beyond her years. No—she wasn't the same carefree girl from years ago, but a grown woman with the responsibilities of the world's well fare and peace... Bemused, he idly wondered what the world would be like without their well-loved Vice Foreign Minister.

"… So how is Troth doing… I've missed her quite a bit," Relena asked again.

Shang was brought out of his reflection as he heard his sister's name mentioned.

For a few moments, Relena thought she had seen Shang's eyes grow hard and cold, as if some unpleasant memory was brought upon mentioning his sister's name… but she shook her head and told herself it was probably just her imagination.

Shang smiled and responded pleasantly, "Troth? Oh, she's visiting the colonies at the moment, but she'll be joining us on Earth soon… there was some business she had to take care of first."

"Troth's coming? When?" Her eyes widening with surprised excitement.

However, as Shang opened his mouth to reply, an explosion went off in the building.

The ground shook and heaved the two out of their seats. Another explosion, and the ceiling began to crumble. Bulks of rubble began to rain on them… suddenly a metal beam came crashing towards –

"Relena!!"

Shang jumped at the young woman and pushed her out of harm's way. He shoved her towards the ground and shielded her with his body… more rubble continued to fall and then the entire room gave way. Knocked unconscious, his world was turned dark.

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KEY:

~o~o~o~o~ [this means a different setting]

Author: ChibiLing

Disclaimer: Nope… GW, not mine… =b

Note: Well, here's the first chapter… hope you enjoyed it! Read and Review to let me know what you think…