Nanashi: Uh...a bit gory...^_^ PLEASE review!!!!!!

THE NEXT MORNING

There was a secret passageway to the sultan's hidden chamber. It lied in the throne room as a mere lamp cord. You pull it twice, and type, "open" in morse code onto the wall panel. The door would then slide open, revealing a steep, spiral staircase which led to the upper-most tower of the palace. It was there that the king performed his wicked deeds, searching for the mystical lamp-the key to all his power.

"Well, Zhvagi, I'll say we've outdone ourselves this time."

The monkey nodded its fragile head, and the king laughed so maliciously that it could have rivaled the monsters of the deep. "Dimwits," he choked, "they're so gullible! Now-"

The king ceased his laughing and grew serious. "We need to find that lamp of his and take it. But remember, Zhvagi, that the genie is the most powerful one of all...be careful."

At the king's command, the monkey scurried off.

***

"Sandy! Sandmop! Wake up!"

"Wha-? By Allah, I feel awful."

"Make a wish and I can make it better."

"I wish I were free."

The cuffs that had chained Quatre to the wall suddenly disappeared. However, he couldn't get out of the cell.

"I'm sorry, Sandy. The thing's magic-protected. I can't so anything."

"It's alright, Katona. At least I'm out of those awful chains. I'm tired."

"Sleep well, Sandy."

With a poof, Katona vanished back into the lamp, and Quatre fell asleep on the stone, cold floor, too tired to move.

***

Trowa looked frantically around the colossal palace for his blonde friend.

"Watcha lookin' for?" asked Catherine.

"Quatre. Blonde hair, baby blue eyes, pale-kinda. Have you seen him? Father arrested him."

"Hmm...come to think of it," said Duo, who was obviously eavesdropping, "we got a new prisoner yesterday."

"Where?!" Trowa cried.

"Come."

Duo led Trowa down into the dungeons. The two passed cell after cell, and within each one, were prisoners with mere skin and bones, decaying corpses, and old, dusty skeletons of prisoners from the past. Trowa couldn't bear to watch, and looked away. Duo led him to the last cell. Inside, a sixteen-year-old boy laid on the floor, curled up in a tight ball, sleeping. The manacles were somehow broken.

The figure laid there with bloody strips of cloth hanging on his body. His platinum blonde hair was stained with crusted, dried blood, and scars ran up and down his back and arms, damaging his flawless skin.

Trowa quickly unlocked the door to the horrid cell, and picked up the shivering boy. Carefully, he carried the blonde back into he main hall. Before he and Duo left the dungeons, however, Trowa said, "Duo, get some food and water for these people. Then I want to know why they're here. God, what has that father of mine done?"

***

Quatre woke up to a room with a warm bed, a wide window overlooking the kingdom, and other luxurious items. He himself had been changed out of his bloody clothes and dressed in navy blue pajamas. He also felt someone holding his hand. Pulling himself up, he saw it was Trowa. /The poor thing,/ he thought as he loosened the grip enough for his hand to escape, /he fell asleep on the floor./ Quatre planted a kiss on Trowa's head which was using the side of the bed as a pillow. The blonde threw the covers down and tucked the boy in. With that, he walked over to the window seat and stared out into the horizon.

Trowa awoke a few minutes later finding that Quatre looked beautiful in the morning sunlight. He walked over to him.

"Hey," he said in a soft voice.

"Morning," replied Trowa, "feelin' better?"

"Yeah, I guess." The blonde felt a pair of strong arms wrapping themselves around his shoulders. Quatre tipped his head back, smiling. Together, they watched the sun rise across the horizon.

***

That afternoon, Trowa had another meeting for the "queen tryouts." Quatre urged Trowa to go.

"What kind of prince would leave his visitors in the waiting room? Go on, I'll be fine."

Uneasily, Trowa got up and left through the door.

***

A few minutes after Trowa left, Quatre pulled out the small lamp on the chain.

"You can come out now,: said the blonde, "but you have to be quiet."

Katona emerged only seconds later, stretching and grinning evilly. "Hey Sandmop," she taunted, "looks like someone's hitting on his host!"

Quatre glared at her. "Be quiet. You weren't supposed to be spying."

Katona smiled back innocently. "Who said I was spying? I was eavesdropping!"

She disappeared into the lamp just as a pillow came flying her way.

***