"Ways"
by ChaosPeacecraft

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, nor any of its characters. It's all property of Sotsu Agency, TV Asashi, Sunrise, and Bandai... So don't sue me!

Prologue

A.C. 182

A young boy giggled as he crawled out from behind a bush.

"OK, Relena, you found me!" he said to his two-year-old sister, a cheerful spark in his eyes. "Now it's my turn."

The boy covered his eyes with his gloved hands and began to count, his platinum-blond bangs swaying in the stormy breeze.

Relena looked around for a good hiding place, and then giggled as she ran to her perfect little spot.

"Ready?"

But their little game of hide-and-seek was interrupted by Senator Darlain, King Peacecraft's most trusted aide. He was watching them for the afternoon-- despite his arguments that the day's strong winds were not good for the children.

"Milliardo! Relena!" Darlain called them, concern in his voice.

The young prince pouted as he and his sister approached. "Do we have to go now?"

Darlain was looking up at the sky, forehead wrinkled with worry.

Milliardo looked up, and made out some figures against the dark grey clouds. They were like the machines his father spoke of in disgust, the ones his father had said were used to fight.

They had been too busy playing to notice them, but now they dropped out of the sky like stinging rain during a storm.

"No." Darlain whispered. "No, not now."

He watched as more Alliance Aries plunged down from the clouds.

And then they began to fire on the palace.

"Mother! Father!" Milliardo cried out. He broke away, too quickly for Darlain to restrain and ran towards the Sanc Kingdom palace.

"Milliardo, come back!" Darlain picked up Relena, who seemed oblivious to what was happening, and tried to follow him, staying within the grounds of the rear garden. "Milliardo!"

Darlain ran after the boy, until he turned a corner around a side column and disappeared.

"Milliardo!" Darlain called again, but in vain. The young prince was on his own, in a palace under attack by people set on exterminating the royal family. And he himself, being a pacifist, could do nothing.

Nothing but save the young toddler he held in his arms, the only Peacecraft he'd been able to keep safe.

If only he could go further and look for Milliardo... But he couldn't endanger Relena. Not when he knew what would happen to Adrian and Katerina Peacecraft, and when all he could do for his king and queen now was keep their daughter safe. Even if it meant having to sacrifice their son.

"Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference."
--Robert Frost