Authors Notes: Here is chapter three you guys. Thanks so much to those who have reviewed so far I appreciate it so much. When you see this it is people talking mind to mind. Just wanted to clear that up!
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing though how I wish I did. I do however own the story line so don't steal it. Not only is it against the law but I will find out.
Want to know when I update when ffn is down?
Send a blank email to,
Then respond to the email that is sent you!
~~~
"Hilde." Relena's voice rang out into the quiet morning. "Hilde where are you?" Shaking her head she sighs. Where had that girl gotten to, she had promised her that she would go shopping with her today and find some appropriate clothing for the ball next week. "Oh that girl she is always disappearing on me." Crossing her arms and tapping her foot she sighed with a characteristic pout before shaking her head and laughing at her own childishness. Sometimes she wondered if she was completely sane. Other times she wondered if Milli was. Their lives were so different from so many people. She had found a friend in Hilde and was not letting go. Which was why she was looking for the girl, and had been for the last hour. She was going to town with Hilde or she wasn't going at all.
"Hilde where are you?"
~~~
Smiling to herself Hilde walked quietly along the path that she had chosen for her thinking spot. She loved going off by herself and doing absolutely nothing. Her lady mother said that it was unhealthy and that the day air in great quantites was unhealthy. She disagreed it wasn't customary for stuff like to bother her but it did today.
Her life had never been peaches and roses and it never would be. Of that she was sure she wasn't asking for it either. She never had all she wanted to do was to grow old with her plants and chickens. That was all she had ever wanted in fact. Ever since she had gotten here in this no mans land her mother had insisted on being called Lady Mother. It had infuriated her but what was she to do? With the King or Queen around she had no choice but to fall along with her mothers wishes. So she was now her Lady Mother and nothing was changing that. A wicked smile spreading across her face laughs. But then again that could mean two things.
A lady mother could either mean a woman of high esteem in her family and household. Or it could mean that she was a wore no better than the common street rat. So while her mother thought that she was showing her the highest respect possible she was actually not. Chuckling she shook her head.
A few minutes later her silence was ruined when Relena's voice was heard yelling for her in main area. They country house was set into three squares of land. The main area with cultivated and peaceful while the outer area was much like a forest. A Chinese forest anyway when questioned the royal's they just smiled mysteriously at her. The final area was a forest…it was great and beautiful with towering trees. It had a brook that ran in the middle of it and she had often found deer and small animals drinking from it when she had been able to sneak away to it. It brought her a since of comfort that nothing else had so far and she cherished it. It wasn't often that she had peace in her life and Goliath loved it as well. Which told her that it had to be a good spot. Anything that her horse liked generally meant good. He had an uncanny since of good and bad and she relied on it desperately. She only had so many links in life that she had that luxury with.
"Hilde" Relena yelled walking next to the brook before smiling. "There you are I was looking every where for you."
"Oh I was thinking."
Shaking her head Relena giggles. "Well it's to late to go shopping so do you want to go for a ride."
"Sure!" Her entire demeanor lighting up she grinned at the girl. "But where would we ride? This place isn't made for riding much. I should know I tried." Grinning up at her huge horse she chuckles slightly his whole body posture was disgruntled in the face of he couldn't transport his mistress where she wanted to go.
"There is a path that goes deep into the woods." Relena explains her expression amused. "If you had asked earlier I would have told you about it or if you had asked someone else they would have told you about it as well."
Blushing slightly Hilde bit her lip in embarrassment. Before breaking into a grin. "Oh and why didn't you say anything about it before uh?"
Waving her hand in a dismissing manner Relena put on her 'poker face'. "Oh well I never thought of it really."
Looking at the suddenly emotion less expression on her friends face Hilde almost gaped at the girl. How did she do it?
"Oh really?" Giggling the two girls walked arm in arm back to the castle to change into their riding castle they were followed by one large horse. A horse that almost seemed like it was trying to protect them from something. Something they couldn't see.
"Are we there yet?" Charlotte whined. Her voice was almost nasal to Hilde's tender ears.
"Where not going anywhere." Relena replies patiently. "Where just riding around to see where we end up."
"Well we had better hurry cause it looks like a storm is approaching.
Looking up Hilde blinked at the graying sky. Perhaps for once in her life her sister had been rain. It was about then that the first warning drops pelted her face.
"We need to find shelter." She heard her voice saying almost as if it was detached from her. "We don't have time to get back before the storm breaks."
"Come on then this way." Relena yelled over the wind that was rapidly picking up.
Following the girl's lead Hilde groans as the rain starts to pelt her back. This was going to be a bad storm she could feel it.
After what seemed like and eternity Hilde blinked through the haze of rain. There was something ahead. She could just make it out in fact it seemed to be gray and they were fast approaching it.
"Hurry." She yelled as lighting crackled around her, dangerously close.
"I see it." Relena yells back.
"See what?" Her sister wails her once proud curls were in a soggy mess down her back and she looked like a drowned rat.
Arriving at the gates Hilde quickly dismounted not bothering to answer her sister's question. Pushing on the gates she groaned at how heavy they were. Goliath as if sensing her need lent his own shoulder to the gate. Once it was open however he screamed almost as if in a challenge his feet coming down hard to the ground. Jolting her, glaring up at the horse Hilde frowned. "Behave Goliath." She orders taking his bridle and leading him through the mud and into the gate. "Come on." She yells over her shoulder to the other girls.
Nodding her head Relena follows Hilde's lead and dismounts as she leads her horse after her. Realizing that she was being left behind Charlotte awkwardly dismounts and follows them. She wasn't going to be left out in the cold if she could find somewhere dry to sit.
Leading Goliath and the rest of the horses to a safer place under the trees she sighs before walking up to the main door. Pulling on it to see if it would open she almost screams, something was jerking her pulling her and yet it wasn't her that it was pulling. It was almost like it was trying to pull the very essence from her soul. Reaching out mentally she pulled with all of her might…at what she was pulling she wasn't sure all she knew was she could not let it take whatever it was pulling at. Hanging on she vaguely heard someone panting. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity it was over and the door was standing wide open. Only then did she realize that the person panting was herself and that Relena and Charlotte were staring at her in shock.
"H…Hilde are you okay?" Charlotte questions her eyes wide in fear.
Nodding Hilde blinks as if in a daze as she looked around. "Yes, um…come on I think that we should go in now."
"Is it safe?" Relena asks just as a bolt of lightning rips through the night air illuminating her pale features.
"I really don't think that we have a choice." Hilde replies. Taking a deep breath she motions for them to follow her in.
~~~
"Hey guys take a look at that!" A blond headed man says softly as to not to attract any attention to himself. Not that they could see him anyway, he and the rest of knights were invisible. Well, except for one and it probably would have been better for them all if he had been made invisible as well.
A slight sigh behind him made him look behind him smiling up at the tall figure he motioned towards the girls who were slowly making there way through the place.
"This means we can't rescue Heero though Quatre."
"How did Duo get close to him when he was in that rose form?" The blond questions him shaking his head.
"I am not sure…something happened he can be saved but we need to get to him quick."
"Oh no they discovered Wufei." Quatre murmurs.
They could all become innate objects if they wished. Trowa became a mirror, while their fellows each became a rose, a candle and while he became a clock. He hated being the clock though because he ticked all the time and had no peace. Out of all of them Heero was the only one who became a live object…and he could on will change color. On day he was a red rose the next he was black.
Duo was death, and so if Heero was in a rose form when Duo was around then the life was just sucked right out of him. That was one of the main reasons they had to be careful it was also the reason why nothing lived in the castle for very long.
"They just lit Wufei." Trowa murmurs as they walk past them…Wufei's unmistakable glow showing the way. Wufei had been scouting when they had walked in. To hide his presence he must have become the candle.
"Oh dear." Quatre replies his voice just as soft. "Perhaps we should follow them." Looking around he frowns slightly. "Duo is asleep right now so it would be best if we could keep them away from there."
Nodding his head Trowa follows his friend Heero, wouldn't last much longer in that rose and desperate times called for desperate measures.
~~~
"What is this place." Relena whispers to Hilde as they walk.
"I don't know." Was the smaller girl's only reply. Looking up at Relena though Hilde frowned. That girl was way to composed for her liking sneaking a glance at her sister she shook her head and returned to studying Relena. Charlotte was a mess and was practically in tears and her fear was written on all of her features.
"Oh what a pretty rose." Charlotte murmurs before frowning. "Hey it's wilted what is a wilted flower doing here?" Looking at the vase that oddly enough had water in it reaching down she scoops it up and places it in the water.
Choking, choking. Heero mentally sent to the others, as the water revived him partially.
This is just great. He growls to himself. First death boy decides to practically eat me. But no I can't just die I have to CHOKE TO DEATH. Of all the ways to go why can't I die how I want to die? Perfect solider going down choking to death. I will not die like this not this dishonorable death.
"Poor thing." Hilde murmurs as she walks by. Never noticing the way it seemed to transform into a bloom as she past it.
I am alive! Choking, choking.
"That is funny." Charlotte says astonishment written on her face. "It just bloomed."
"How odd." Relena murmurs studying the rose confusion written on her face.
Bringing the candle closer she frowns softly. "Definitely odd." Picking the rose up she examines it better.
Air I have air.
Shrugging she places the rose back into the vase.
No not again. Will someone get me out of here?
Just then a roar ripped through the small room.
Like now before he comes back in here. Heero was feeling panicky he had barely lived the last time he had come in contact with Duo in a rage and he was in the rose form…and he was definitely mad.
Grabbing Relena and Charlotte, Hilde threw them behind her just as the doors busted open and a figure from a nightmare seemed to jump into the room.
Looking at him in shock Hilde almost started choking as something started pulling at her again. Pushing the feeling aside she studied the figure in the room.
It was tall standing about 9 feet tall on his hind legs. It was covered in light brown shaggy fur and he had enormous claws on its hand and feet. It's eyes though his eyes were a strange violet color that screamed of pain and fury.
"WHO ARE YOU AND WHY HAVE YOU ENTERED MY DOMAIN." It bellowed.
"I am…" Relena started only to be interrupted.
"I AM NOT TALKING TO YOU."
Feeling her temper flare Hilde tried to keep from screaming back at this thing. It could probably snap her with a twist of one of those hands. "We were looking for shelter from the storm and found this place." She supplied softly her eyes narrowed at him. "If we have offended you we are sorry."
"OFFENDED ME? OFFENDED ME WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU DID?"
"WOULD YOU STOP SCREAMING AT ME?" Hilde yells back finally snapping. She hated getting yelled at for any reason and normally returned the favor when she was yelled at. This was no different it was just like taking down a very large, furry mouse that had claws and fangs.
"ARE YOU YELLING AT ME?" His voice boomed across the hall.
"YES I AM NOW STOP ACTING LIKE A SPOILED CHILD AND TALK PROPERLY OR I WILL CONTINUE TO YELL." She snarled back at him, her arms were crossed over her chest and she was tapping her foot as her eyes snapped blue fire.
Frowning when no reply was given she turns to Relena and Charlotte. "Are you guys okay?" She questions, feeling the thing's eyes on her she frowns darkly.
"Fine." Relena replies never taking her eyes off of the pacing creature.
"W…W….What is going on?" Charlotte wails tears streaking down her face.
"I don't know Charlotte just don't start crying okay? Here," Grabbing the rose out of the vase she placed it behind her ear.
First life being sucked from body, then choking, now bad PERFUME. QUATRE WHERE ARE YOU!
Coming Heero but those girls are there…and do you think you would survive two seconds away from that dark headed girl?
What are you talking about?"
I am not sure…but I think she is gifted with life…and she is keeping you alive right
now.
WHAT?
"What do you want?" Relena questions the beast her light eyes more questioning than condemning.
Turning, the thing seemed to be evaluating them before letting a slight growl emit from his mouth.
"For trespassing on my land one of you will stay here until the day you die."
"WHAT?" Three female voices rang as one only their reactions were very different. Charlotte promptly fainted while Relena's eyes bugged. Hilde just stared at the creature in shock.
"DON'T MAKE ME REPEATE MYSELF."
"WOULD YOU STOP SCREAMING." Hilde snaps before taking a deep breath and saying in a softer voice. "This will take a moment to decide."
"What do you mean," Relena says once more regaining her composure.
"One of you will stay here with me and my servants for the remainder of her life. However long that is and you may never leave this place."
"And if we refuse?" Hilde questions while desperately trying to revive Charlotte.
"YOU ALL DIE." He roars throwing his head back and letting lose of an un-earthly howl.
Wincing at the sounds Hilde looks at Relena regret in her eyes.
"I am sorry I got you into this."
"Who wanted to go riding?" Relena says shaking her head. "It is my fault I will stay."
"NO!" Hilde yelps shock on her features. "Your people need you they wont miss me I am just a simpleton girl."
"But I can't just leave you here." She protests her own eyes wide.
"You have no choice I wont let you two die. Take care of Charlotte please."
Nodding her head Relena frowned. "I don't like it…" She admitted. "I can not leave you here Hilde how will they believe us back home." Shaking her head rapidly she looked at the pacing creature again. "You're the first true friend I have ever had…I don't want to lose you after finding you."
"I am sorry Rena." Hilde whispers using the pet name she had given the princess. "Here take this and remember me always." Reaching down into her boot she pulled out a knife. Reaching up she cut the braid and the base of her neck before she could think twice about it. Instantly hair cascaded around her face and neck.
"Why?" Relena breathed looking at the gorgeous hair that she had always admired. It was now sitting in a long braid in her hand looking up she frowns. "Why?" her voice was almost pleading for understanding!
They had better hurry. Quatre muses He is losing his temper again
I know. Wufei grumbles And I am melting.
You know it will grow back over night Wufei, Trowa chides. One of these women is going to spend the rest of her life here…be patient… that or they all die.
Patience will keep us all alive a little bit longer. Heero cautioned.
"I will stay." Hilde says turning towards him. "But only if you give your word they are not to be harmed in any way size shape or form."
"You have my word." Turning the creature left the room as quickly as he came.
"You should leave now while you can." Hilde says turning back around. "The storm has broke." She didn't know how she knew but knew she did. She also suddenly could tell where every living thing was in that castle…including where that thing was. Something was pulling at her constantly, wondering what it was she gasped when it suddenly dissipated.
"What are you okay?"
"Yes, Rena I am fine…come on I will help you with her."
Twenty minutes, a tearful farewell and a promise to never forget each other, later. Hilde found herself turning grabbing Goliath's neck as she furiously hugged the huge creature she gave into her fear and cried. After what seemed like eternity she turned and faced the castle. Taking a deep breath she began her walk back towards it. Throwing back her shoulders she desperately tries to keep her trembling from being noticeable she would not be a foolish female she had been raised to be. She would be herself and face this thing even if it meant her death.
She has spunk. Trowa noted.
Yes…but will it be enough Heero found himself asking. She is not the first to arrive with spunk…time is running out….will this one be the one? Will her spunk be enough to save us? I think not…only time will tell if she has all that it will take…only time.