Chapter Five: A Changed Man
Suddenly, Herro opened his eyes, to see his bed's sheets in his hands. He immediately sat up. He was on his bed. He jumped off the bed, surprised. " I'm alive!" Herro exclaimed. " I'm still here." Then, he looked at his clock. It read 7:30 A.M. He ran to his bedroom window and opened it. He stuck his head out, looking for someone. He then saw a young man walking on the sidewalk below him. " Hey, you there!" Herro shouted. The boy stopped and looked up at Herro. "Are you talking to me?" the boy asked.
" Yes!" Herro said. " Tell me, young man, what day is it?"
" Excuse me?" the boy asked. " I said, what day is it?" Herro repeated. " Are you from out of town or something?" the boy asked. " It's Christmas Day!"
" I didn't miss it!" Herro exclaimed, as he came in and closed his window. " I can still change!" Herro then dropped to his knees.
" Oh, thank you spirits! Thank you Doctor J.! I will change! I will be a better man! I will celebrate Christmas now and throughout the year! But now, I must go. I must go and buy presents for everyone I care about. And then, I will go to the party, and, hopefully, I will make amends with everyone there."
So, Herro got on his best clothes, and left his apartment. He then began to go to many stores in town, buying gifts. He even went to a jewelers, where he bought a special gift for Relena.
Then, Herro walked to Relena's mansion. As he stopped, he decided to surprise everyone. He then made his meanest look; basically how he looked before now. He then knocked on the door. It was answered by a cheerful Relena. She nearly said hello, but stopped, shock at whom was standing in front of her. " Herro!" she exclaimed. " Relena." Herro calmly greeted back. " Wh…what are you doing here?" Relena asked. " You invited me to this party, correct?" Herro asked. " Well, yes." Relena answered. " But I thought you-" " And it's customary to come to a party you are invited to, correct?" Herro interrupted. " Well, of course." Relena said. " But didn't you say-" " Then if you'll excuse me," Herro said. " I'm going to join my fellow pilots." He then walked away, carrying a large bag, leaving a shocked Relena at the door.
Herro then walked up to the group of Gundam pilots. He was relieved to see that Quatra was still there. The men starred at Herro, surprised. " Hello everyone." Herro said. " I have come to tell you something." Then, Milliardo walked up to Herro, glaring at him. " Look," he said. " This is a place of happiness and joy. We don't need you to ruin it." " You're overreacting." Herro said.
" You don't know what I am going to say." " Oh, I can guess what you want to say." Milliardo said, in an irritated voice. " You probably want to tell us how useless Christmas is. You know, Relena told me what you said to her, and I'm not about to let you say it to us." " I've not come to give you a lecture." Herro said, in an angry voice. " I've come to say something much more important!" " Then what do you have to say?!" Milliardo asked angrily. " I have come to apologize!" Herro exclaimed. " Well, if you are-"
Milliardo stopped. " A…Apologize?" he stammered. Herro looked at Milliardo, and surprised everyone when he smiled. He then reached into the bag, and pulled out a wrapped present.
" For you." Herro said, handing Milliardo the gift. He looked at the gift, then looked at Herro. " What is this?" he asked. " A gift." Herro answered. " Open it." Milliardo looked at the gift cautiously. Then, he began to slowly unwrap it. He then opened the box the gift was in. His eyes became wide with surprise. He then pulled out an exact replica of the mask that had made him Zechs Marquise.
" Why this?" Milliardo asked. " Think of it as a memorial," Herro explained. " For the days when you were not only my enemy, but also my only rival. But those days are over. Millliardo, I say we start over, but not as enemies, but as friends. What do you say?" Herro then held out his hand. Milliardo looked at the hand, and then looked at Herro. Then, he smiled. " Yes," Milliardo said, shaking Herro's hand. " Let us no longer be enemies, but start over as friends."
Herro then looked at the other pilots. " My friends," he said.
" For the past few years, I have been a horrible person to all of you. But now, I have changed. But now, I have changed. I would like us to also start over, and perhaps become better friends." Herro then began to walk to each pilot, handing them a gift from his bag. Though, he stopped at Quatra. " Quatra," he asked. " Were you about to go looking for me?" " Well, as a matter of fact, yes." Quatra answered, surprised. " But, how did you know?" " That doesn't matter." Herro said. " I just want you to know that I'm here, and I'm not planning on leaving." At that, Quatra smiled.
After all the pilots got their gifts, Herro walked over to the group of ladies. He then handed each of them a gift.
Then, Herro walked back to Relena, who still stood at the door, amazed at what Herro was doing. " Relena," Herro said.
" I'm so sorry for the way I've been, especially yesterday. I had no right to yell at you, let alone did you, of all people, deserve it. I just want to know, can you find it in your heart to forgive me?" Relena looked at Herro, and smiled. " Of course, Herro." She said. " Everyone deserves a second chance; especially when they are willing to admit they were wrong." " Thank you." Herro said.
" Now, I'll give you your two gifts." Relena made a wide smile at that. " First," Herro said, " I give you this." Then, Herro wrapped his arm around Relena, and pulled her into the most passionate kiss a man could give. The two could hear cheers behind them. When he let go of the kiss, Herro starred into Relena's eyes, and said,
" I love you, Relena. I have since the day I met you. I can only hope that you love me too." Relena looked at Herro, and then made the biggest smile of her life. " Oh, Herro, of course I love you!" she exclaimed. " I've always loved you." Herro smiled, knowing he was still not finished. " Those were the two best presents I ever got in my life." Relena sighed. " What do you mean?" Herro asked.
" That was only one gift." Relena looked confused. " Then, what's the other gift?" she asked.
Then, Herro surprised everyone when he got down on one knee, and got a small black box out of his pocket. He then opened it, to reveal a diamond ring. " Relena," Herro said. " I can promise you now, that I will love you for the rest of my life. So now, I ask you this. Relena Peacecraft, will you marry me?" Relena was silent in shock for a moment. Then, tears of joy began to flow down her face. " Yes!" she exclaimed. " Oh God, yes!" She then threw her arms around Herro. Then, Herro made the biggest smile he had made in his life, and also released a few stray tears. Then, he looked at everyone else at the party. They were starring at then, silent in awe. " What are you all doing?" Herro asked. " It's Christmas! Celebrate!" And with that, everyone cheered.
The day went on just as planned. There were games, music, and even some dancing. And, there was the Christmas breakfast and lunch.
Now, everyone sat at a long table for the Christmas dinner. And at the front, sat Herro and Relena. Everyone became silent as Herro stood up. " Hello everyone." Herro greeted. " Thank you for letting me join you in this celebration for the greatest of holidays. I can imagine what you all have thought of me. Yesterday, Relena gave me an example. She called me Ebenezer Scrooge." Everyone laughed, except Relena. She just blushed. " I know I have been a horrible person for the past few years." Herro continued. " But, last night, two men and a young girl showed me that if I didn't change, a horrible future would follow. So now, I've come with a happier soul, and a thankful heart. So now, I call a toast. Merry Christmas, and god bless everyone!"
And so ends A Gundam Christmas Carol. So, as Herro Yuey would say, Merry Christmas, and God bless everyone!
THE END
