Scarlet lay asleep in her bedroom in what was once the OZ Headquarters, but was now the home of the famed Treize Kushrenada, and his mysterious, alluring granddaughter with the fiery spirit. The grandsons of those of the Treize Faction of OZ who had survived now stood in as Honor Guards, and tonight there was to be a special ball…
Treize smirked slightly as he looked in on his "granddaughter", seeing she was asleep. She had been horseback riding all day, and well into the sunset. It was dark when she arrived at home.
Treize smiled, and slowly shut the door, walking to his office, the blue room where Scarlet, a few days before, had asked him if he really had any grandchildren.
"I don't know…" he had answered. He had leaned back in his chair, and looked at the redhead.
"But I'm sure I would not want any as daring as you, Scarlet. Though you've quieted down a lot."
She had smirked at this, and walked out. Later, he learned she had tried to set fire to the boathouse because she had seen a rat. Quiet… indeed.
Treize now sighed as he entered the room, and walked to the largest window, overlooking where the guests were now arriving.
"Mr. Kushrenada, who's coming to this here she-bang?" He heard Scarlet ask. He looked over his shoulder at the young girl, who was smoothing out the huge skirt of the fancy ball dress; she wore a small, silver circlet, and a pair of contacts. The circlet suspended a teardrop pearl to a little above the middle of her eyes, her freckles showing plainly. The dress itself was white, empire waist draping down. It was almost long enough to touch the floor, but like magic it never did. Her hair, which had been trimmed about a foot, hung down her calves in waves of crimson curls and crimps. Her bright green eyes shone like emerald stars.
Treize smiled
"I thought you were sleeping, Nicole." He said softly as he motioned for her to come to the window.
"Nicole" walked to the window, as it upon glass, and looked out, hoping… hoping for someone she knew.
She didn't hear Treize name people as she saw one long, pink limousine pull up… she didn't hear him remark about the Queen of Earth as an old man opened the door, and helped and equally old woman out of the car, followed by a variety of people.
The old man had dark gray hair, and she knew from there that his left leg was injuring long ago from the use of a cane. The woman had lighter gray hair, worn around her head in a crown-like style.
She smiled as she saw the man close the door and walk in… it would not be hard to avoid two people.
"Shall we go down to the party, Nicole? There's a few people I would like you to meet."
"Certainly, Grandfather." Scarlet/Nicole said, and together they walked out of the room.
*~*
Basim looked a little nervous as he stood near Kiyoshi, in the grand hall where the ball was taking place. It was decorated… everywhere… with red roses.
The blonde pilot sneezed, and drew a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping his nose.
"Ill, Basim?" Heero said, looking down at the young pilot.
"Uh… no sir… dust."
Heero nodded.
"They should be coming down the main stairwell… Scarlet would probably recognize one of us… let's split up. Kiyoshi, you and Basim flank opposite sides of the stairwell, Quatre, you and Dorothy take an outward position, make sure you can see the stairwell to the left, I will take Relena and take the outward position on the right. Be careful, Treize may have something planned."
"Oh, a reunion and we weren't invited to join you? Heero Yuy, how rude."
Heero looked over his shoulder as an old woman, not yet bent with age and still with a red tint to her hair walked in, accompanied by a woman whose stiff military background gave her an equally stiff backbone. Standing strait and without the use of a cane, she was garbed in a red uniform similar to the one she wore in the service of OZ.
"Mariemaia Kushrenada and Lady Une." He said softly… Relena turned, narrowing her eyes at Mariemaia.
It had been years since this grouping had seen each other, and everyone felt the tension in the air.
"I came here to see my Father's new little stooge, if she is indeed his granddaughter than will have a few words with him!"
Lady Une sighed "I have come from orders of "his Excellency" the Scorpion. Ever since the Preventers were disbanded, many of us were recruited into the service of Scorpio."
Heero nodded, then turned as the trumpets sounded.
"Damnit!" he swore softly.
*~*
Scarlet kept her gaze steadily ahead, not wanting to see any of the people around the staircase, she knew that Heero would be there… she didn't want him to recognize her. Her hand was gently looped around Treize's elbow; her grip faltered a moment.
"Are you all right, Nicole?" her Grandfather asked, his gloved hand going to hers.
"I'll be fine, grandfather, a bit of nerves, that's all…"
He nodded, and continued down the staircase.
The pair reached the bottom, in the midst all the clapping dimmed by thick cotton gloves, Scarlet could feel herself getting dizzy
Pull up Scarlet, pull up!
I can't this time, Mr. Maxwell… help me! Help me Mr. Max…
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to present to you my granddaughter, Nicole Kushrenada."
People clapped more, Scarlet felt her consciousness straiten out, and she curtsied courtly to the people
"It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, everyone." She said prissily.
Kiyoshi looked stunned, that could NOT be Scarlet… yes she had freckles, but her face was thinner, she wore no glasses, she was wearing a gown - not a dress but a gown, and she wasn't insulting anyone!
Basim blinked in disbelief
"If that's Scarlet I'm a camel's father." He said
"Well then, Mr. Kushrenada, good form. Coming public with an exotic liaison and bringing back a daughter. Well, tell me, where are the child's parents?"
Every head turned suddenly at the thin, wicked voice… a thin, pale man stood there, flanked by his two commanding officers, Nicholas Catalonia and Milliardo Peacecraft the Third. They were dressed in the Scorpio red and black, and his eyes narrowed cruelly at the young redheaded woman.
Nicole stepped forward, her eyes cold and hard as diamonds.
"My parents are dead, thank-you-very-much, they died in a canoe accident at sea when they were fishing! How dare you challenge my grandfather's words!"
"And how dare you challenge that of your emperor! Get down upon your knees, Woman, before I make you!"
"Excuse her, your Excellency, she has recently returned from a dismal ordeal, her parents died recently and she is still not over their deaths. Please, this is a momentous occasion, our return to the civilized world. Nicole, apologize to your emperor."
Nicole winced, then nodded, she curtsied
"I apologize, I did not mean to offend you, sir."
"Hn." The skinny man replied, and with a wave of his hand dismissed the two officers by him. They grinned at each other, and walked away calmly from their trainer… towards Nicole.
Nicole rolled her eyes as they approached; Grandfather Treize had left to talk to someone, and she was left defenseless.
"So, Scarlet, how you been?" Zechs asked as he drew near with a toss of his blue hair
"I… I beg your pardon?" Nicole blinked a few times, and backed away "I… I don't know what you're talking about? Who is Scarlet?"
"Aw c'mon Red, cut it out. You know you can't play around us… you are wanted as a criminal, you know. Gundam Pilot and all… why don't you tell us where your mobile suit is so we can just destroy it?"
The redheaded teenager blinked, confused a moment.
"Mobile Suit? I've never even seen one - save in a history book." Nicole looked distraught as the music began to play.
Nicholas Catalonia smiled
"My friend, that is no way to treat a lady." He drew a rose from one of the bouquets at the side and offered it to the lady in the white dress.
"A rose, for a beauty as yourself. It would be an honor to have this dance, m'lady." He bowed… Nicole smiled, pleased, and nodded. Nicholas took her hand and began to dance with her, pulling her to the side.
"So, do you like living here, Nicole?" he asked softly, his eyes full of concern for her well being.
"Yes, Grandfather is very kind to me, and the guards around have become my friends." She said softly answering him…
"And how is your dog, Bran?"
"I… don't have a dog named Bran." She said… she felt Nick squeeze her hand tightly
"Now, let's not be a liar, "Nicole", or else we'll have to make a visit to Scorpio…"
*~*
"Yes… she is my daughter." Mariemaia said softly, gazing at Nicole Kushrenada dancing with Nicholas Catalonia.
"How do you know, Mariemaia?" Heero said, turning to her.
"Many years ago, to ensure the continuation of the Kushrenada line, Dekem Barton secured an egg from me, and invitrofertilized it. My guess is it went into embryo storage, and was given to a surrogate mother. The mother abandoned her, and somehow she found her way to my father. She obviously has the Kushrenada traits. Her eyes are the same as mine, and her nose bares much semblance to Dorothy's, don't you think?"
"Duo, are you getting all of this… Duo?" Quatre asked, speaking softly into the microphone worn on his collar.
*~*
Lyla sighed as she ran a hand through her hair, and picked up the mic on her end.
"We got that Quatre, I don't know where Miss Kushrenada got the idea that Scarlet is HER daughter, but I don't think it's true."
"Why not?"
"Easy. Scarlet wouldn't have Dorothy's nose, Dorothy's only related through marriage to the Kushrenada line - unless she's saying one of Dorothy's children is her father."
"Got it… that would be a scary thought…"
"Yeah, then she'd be related to you."
Duo chortled
"THAT would be a laugh!"
*~*
The Scorpion smirked… he could still hear those words over fifty years ago that Lyla Moore had said to him…
It's over, Dr. Malcolm. You can not manipulate me any more; I refuse to work for you.
But my dear, it will be a very, very long time before I will need anyone else… all I needed was your mother, now all I need is you.
No woman of the Lyons family would ever bow down to you! And a woman of the Scorpion Hierarchy line of the Moore would succumb to you!
"How wrong you are… Lyla… how very, very wrong." He mused to himself… then chuckled.
He looked up and into a pair of Prussian blue eyes… Heero's eyes.
"Emperor Scorpion, I was not expecting you to attend this evening." He heard the aged Relena say.
"Well this is Treize's coming out party, it certainly merits some attention from me… after all he may be trying to take over the world again."
There was a cry of pain, and every head turned to the redhead, the two blonde boys and the skinny one with the moss green hair, who had knocked one of the blondes to the floor.
"Kiyoshi!" Relena called harshly… then realized what had happened.
The redhead, Scarlet/Nicole was holding her wrist, her eyes wide with fright. One of the blonde boys, Basim was comforting her slightly as Kiyoshi stood with a battle-ready stance - a little difficult in a tuxedo.
Nick stood, growling at him…
"Don't you know it's rude to interrupt a dance?" he asked him through clenched teeth.
Kiyoshi looked at him calmly, regarding him coolly.
"Don't you know it's rude to injure ladies you dance with?" he asked him, his intense blue eyes focussing in on him in particular, narrowing out any distractions.
"Kiyoshi, let's not fight, we don't want to attract too much attention…"
"Little too late for that Basim." Nick answered his cousin.
Zechs, along with the original Milliardo Peacecraft and Lucretzia Noin Peacecraft walked over
Treize walked over, a scowl on his face followed by the Scorpion who had a nasty grin.
Nicole ran to Treize, leaning against him, crying out
"GRANDFATHER!"
Mariemaia walked over, regarding Scorpion and his two soldiers angrily.
"I did not see your names on the guest lists, and it is rude to invite yourselves." Treize said, his eyes showing a quiet fury behind them. The three Kushrenada family members stood close, Nicole behind both Treize and his daughter.
Scorpion scowled,
"You will regret this, Treize Kushrenada! You will regret returning to civilization!"
Nicole closed her eyes… and calmed herself. She walked out from between Treize and Mariemaia Kushrenada and walked right up to Scorpion; she could smell the wretched smell of death and decay upon him. She could feel the blackened heart beat inside his chest… because she may be known as Nicole Kushrenada… she may be known as Scarlet Erin… but in truth she was the daughter of Shinigami... she was Shi no Megami-Hime. Her eyes flashed dangerous, the usually peaceful and happy orbs full of emerald lightning. It took a lot to get her angry… and she was pissed! Royally!
"You know what Scorpion? I don't like you, and I may be a woman but I believe in the freedom of speech, and I'm gonna use that freedom right now!
"You wanna know what I think of you? You're some rotten old geezer who can't get a woman because he…"
"Nicole!" Treize looked horrified at what his granddaughter was saying.
"And… if you EVER come near ANY of my family… well, let's just hope you have a will signed to these two cronies right here. There won't be enough left of ya to have a funeral after I'm finished…" Scarlet lowered her head, and mummered just soft enough that no one else around could hear… Scorpion couldn't tell if it was her voice in his ear or her thoughts in his head
"And that, my friend, is a Maxwell promise!"
