I don't own Gundam Wing or Escaflowne. These are my interpretations of their characters. I don't want to make any money. Etc........
OK, so I didn't quite make it to the final battle during this chapter. I don't want to say why because it'll ruin the chapter but let's just say that this one scene took a lot longer than I thought. However, next chapter will almost undoubtably see the beginning of the final battle. ^_^ ~Crazy Tom~
Relena felt her heart begin to beat more rapidly. After a horse ride that had lasted several hours they had finally reached their homeland of the Sanc Kingdom. As she and Dorothy slowed to a trot, Relena could already see the damage caused by the battle that had taken place a few days before. As they had entered the city, she had noticed that the outer wall was in ruins in several places. Many of the lookout towers had been totally burned to the ground and the air still contained the faint aroma of smoke.
As they proceeded deeper into the city, Relena noticed to her relief that the most of the residential areas had remained relatively unscathed. As the pair of well known delegates continued along the street, several people called to them. "Miss Relena!" one more familiar voice cried out louder than the others. Turning her head to look behind her, the young woman saw Pagan running along the somewhat crowded streets, trying to catch up to the two ladies on horseback.
"Pagan!" Relena called back joyfully, happy to see her loyal butler and confidant. The old man had been a friend to her since she was first adopted by the Darlian family so long ago. Since she had no memory of any time before that, Pagan seemed to have always been there to help her through anything. In fact, it had taken a lot of convincing to let her go to Fanelia without him.
"Miss Relena," he yelled again, obviously trying to tell her something, "I've got a message from the Baslam official who is currently residing in the old Zaibach headquarters. He told me to ask you for an audience with him as soon as you returned."
Relena inhaled sharply. What could the person in charge of Baslam's peculiar invasion want with her? Her initial inclination was to think it was definitely not a positive. After all, what could a Duke or Baron possibly want with a diplomat from the country they had just conquered that was virtuous. Still, the other government had been unusually regardful of the Sanc Kingdom's interests and people. According to that member of the Crusade's crew, she thought his name might have been Kio, they had recalled their troops immediately after taking power from Zaibach. Additionally, there was no visible oppression or harm to the residents of the peaceful country. The very fact that there weren't soldiers roaming the streets and abusing the inhabitants was a change from the former dictators.
Before he fell out of sight, Relena gave a visible nod to her old attendant. When she turned back, the diplomat saw Dorothy looking at her intently. "What do you intend to do, Miss Relena?" the other young woman asked.
Taking a deep breath, the gentlewoman replied, "I will grant the Baslam representative's request. There is no point in refusing the ruling power now. If they are intent on finding me, they will do so no matter how much I might resist. Besides," she added with a smile, "It is possible that they really do intend to simply speak with me."
"I admire your bravery, Miss Relena," Dorothy replied, turning back to face the old Peacecraft mansion that was slowly filling their range of view as they approached, "However, I must respectfully maintain my beliefs that there will be a time when it will become necessary to resist force with force."
"And when that time comes I will continue to make the decisions I believe will lead to a greater peace," Relena responded, ending the discussion as they reached the stairs that lead up to the main entrance. Dismounting, she began to walk forward when a young man wearing a Baslam uniform walked briskly over to her.
"Are either of you Relena Darlian?" he asked her pointedly, glancing between the two ladies.
"I am," Relena replied, her voice strong and unwavering.
The man, who appeared to be in his early twenties, nodded at her and explained, "I have orders to take you to Lord Merquise as soon as possible, Miss Relena. If you will come with me, please?"
Relena turned but Dorothy was already aware of her wishes, "I will take care of the horses. Do not worry about me, Miss Relena. Just be careful and remember what I told you."
"Thank you, Dorothy," Relena replied. Turning to the soldier, she addressed him, "Please show me the way."
Several minutes later, the young woman found herself walking through the halls of the old mansion which had belonged to the ruling family before the Zaibach invasion. Though she had only been in the more private portions of the palace a few times, it all seemed vaguely familiar as she was lead down the twisting hallways. Her father had told her that these halls had once been covered with old pictures of the Peacecraft family. Every generation a new portrait of the family was created and added to the walls. When Zaibach took control, the pictures were destroyed along with countless other Peacecraft heirlooms. The Darlians too were a well bred family and she had been told that the two clans had been close friends and allies for generations. It was a pity that the Peacecrafts had been destroyed by the invasion, her father had always said.
Suddenly, Relena came to a halt, almost as if by instinct. Looking in front of her, she saw that the officer had done the same and was now looking at her. Turning, Relena saw that they were standing in front of a large wooden door. "I wonder how I knew that we were at our destination," Relena thought as the officer reached out a hand and slowly pushed the heavy door open.
Inside, Relena saw a well furnished room with bookshelves almost wall to wall. In the center of the room was a large chess set and, beside it, a globe of Gaea. On the opposite wall from the door there stood a desk which gave her a haunting sense of deja vu. Behind the desk, sat an elegant looking man in a high ranking Baslam dress uniform. Relena quickly sized up the foreign official. The man had a noble face with long white hair spilling down the back. When she met his eyes, she noticed that they were a startling shade of icy blue. "Sir Merquise," she addressed him, "How can I assi-" Relena stopped mid word when she looked closer at the man. To her shock she noticed that the quill that he held in his right hand was shaking, splattering drops of black ink all over the report he had been writing. As her eyes moved upwards, Relena saw that the young officer's hands were trembling. What was going on here?
Milliardo stared at his little sister, transfixed by the sight of the sibling he hadn't seen in ten years. How she had grown! Of course he had expected her to be older than when he had last seen her but he hadn't been prepared for the shock. What he had last seen was a toddler, young and full of childish wonder. What he gazed upon now was a determined and very capable young woman. She had changed so much, almost as if she was a different person. For a brief moment Zechs wondered whether he had made a mistake coming back to his homeland to find the last of his kin. Then the lady took several steps forward and asked in a rushed and concerned tone, "Are you all right? Should I get a doctor?"
Milli exhaled fully, his efforts had not been in vain. Yes she was different now, but she was still the same kindhearted girl he had always known her to be. If she could show such concern to a complete stranger and a possible enemy on that, then could she not find it in heart to forgive a foolish brother who had only tried to do what was best for her. "Relena," he spoke and to his embarrassment he noticed that his voice nearly choked with emotion. Then, taking a quick breath and regaining his composure, he stood and addressed the guard who was still standing at the door, "Please leave us now."
"Sir!" the soldier saluted before closing the heavy door and leaving them alone in the room.
Milliardo gazed at his long lost sister, his eyes taking in every detail. There was no mistaking it, she was definitely Relena Peacecraft. "Are you sure you are all right?" Relena asked again, her voice still betraying evident worry.
"I have never felt better," the Peacecraft heir replied honestly. Then, taking a deep breath he waved a hand at the chair across from him, "Please sit down, Miss Relena."
To his joy, his little sister complied and he quickly followed his own advice. "How can I help you, Sir Merquise?" Relena asked.
Zechs swallowed at the direct question. After all this time planning his return he had never thought about what he was going to say once he had actually done it. How did one tell a complete stranger that they were actually part of a different family and that you were their sibling? Milliardo pushed back his chair and stood up, beginning to pace back and forth behind his desk. The young aristocrat decided to approach the subject using a general approach. "Where did you grow up, Miss Relena?" he asked, "If you wouldn't mind saying."
The lady seemed only slightly frazzled by the unexpected change in topic. "She was, after all, a Peacecraft and not easily startled," Milliardo noted with pride.
"I grew up in a large house not too far from here by the Darlian family. I was an only child brought up to help manage the family business which was controlling a large merchant industry. Before Zaibach took control, we helped the ruling family govern the Sanc Kingdom and our family often served as advisors. After the invasion, Zaibach allowed our nation small amounts of political freedom which the Darlian family exercised as much as possible. I am sure you are aware of my position as a diplomat."
"So little sister," Milliardo smiled, "You have continued the family traditions after all. You, like the rest of our clan, are a maintainer of the peace and a great speaker." Out loud he replied, "I was not, actually."
Relena frowned now, her puzzlement finally showing on her face, "If you did not know that I was an ambassador then why did you call me here?"
Zechs took a deep breath. So it was finally time to tell her the truth. He had never been one to hold back, but then again, the stakes had never been this high. Her reaction obviously meant more to him than he had realized. "Miss Relena, let me be frank with you. You believe yourself to be a member of the Darlian family, born and raised. In all honesty, this is only half true. You are in fact a member of the Peacecraft family. Your true name is Relena Peacecraft. Your real father's name is Stefan Peacecraft and your mother's is Katrina. When Zaibach invaded, your mother had time to thrust you into your older brother's arms before she and her husband were executed. He, along with yourself, managed to escape out of the palace and into the woods. Later he brought you to a nunnery in the nearby area. Eventually, you were adopted by a kind family which had been old friends of the Peacecrafts. Your foster parents had always wanted a daughter but had been unable to have children of their own. They raised you as their own and helped keep the secret of your true identity."
Zechs watched Relena's expression intently. Her eyes were staring off into the distance, out the window behind his desk. For a moment, he wondered whether she was in shock. Then she murmured, so quietly he could barely hear her, "That is a lie. They would have told me."
"Don't you see?" Milliardo asked, his voice earnest, pleading, "They could not risk your identity being discovered. Telling anyone, even you, would could cause you great danger. They loved you too much for that. Just as your brother loved you so much that he knew it would be better to give you up to another family where you could be raised according to your true family's beliefs."
Relena's eyes came into focus and she stared into his face as intently as he gazed into hers, "Who are you?" she whispered.
For a moment, Milliardo found he could not speak. Then he replied, so quietly that she had to strain to hear him, "I am Milliardo Peacecraft, your brother who gave you up all those years ago."
For several minutes no one said anything. Outside, Zechs could hear the birds chirping and the sound of the grass gently blowing in the wind. As the silence continued to lengthen, Milliardo began to fear that she didn't believe him. What will I do if she completely rejects the truth. What if I can't convince her? Then, a small sound came from the girl's lips. Milliardo quickly looked over at her face. Relena was staring at the desk with a disconnected expression on her face. Her eyebrows were furrowed in concentration and her lips were slowly moving to form words. "Mil... Milli?" she asked, looking up into his face.
Milliardo's face broke into a smile of relief, "Yes!" he exclaimed, "Milli! That was what you used to call me because you couldn't say Milliardo."
Relena leaned back, her expression a mix of emotions all flickering across her face. "Milliardo Peacecraft," she spoke aloud, "My older brother." After a brief pause she looked up with a look of realization on her face, "That was why Baslam pull back its Guymelefs. Because your purpose wasn't to claim the Sanc Kingdom as part of another nation, it was free it from Zaibach. And it was your influence that allowed for this to happen."
"Yes," Zechs admitted, waiting for her to reach the obvious conclusion. That he, a member of the Peacecraft family, had taken up arms and allowed his hands to be stained with blood. Though it had been more than a day since he had taken his vengeance, Milliardo could still see the body on the floor and the growing pool of blood slowly spreading out around the corpse. How could he call himself a Peacecraft after all that he had done? Cursing his weakness, Zechs looked away, listening as Relena continued speaking.
"That is why you waited all these years to return. You were preparing until you were strong enough to free your people. And that is why you are speaking to me now. You wanted to tell me the truth before you publicly admit your lineage. You are going to declare yourself king of the Sanc Kingdom and you want my support," his younger sister finished with a note of triumph in her voice.
Zechs stared at the young lady before him in surprise. Had she not realized? He, a member of the Peacecraft family, known all over Gaea for their firm policies toward pacifism, was the direct cause of hundreds of individuals. He had taken life with his own two hands! Quickly, he looked back and corrected her, "No, no! I am afraid you misunderstand. I cannot rule the Sanc Kingdom."
"But," Relena's voice was full of confusion, "Why not? If what you say is true then you are the sole surviving male heir of the kingdom. It is your right to rule, your privilege. You have already done so much for our country. Why are you rejecting your responsibilities?"
Milliardo leaned over now, grasping her hands in his and forced her to look him in the eye, "Do you not understand, little sister?" he asked, his voice coming out more threatening than he intended, "These hands which are now holding yours have taken blood. I have shamed myself and my family. Relena, I have killed. With these hands I have taken the lives of hundreds of men. I cannot rule the Sanc Kingdom in good conscience knowing that I have disobeyed my father's wishes."
To his shock even as he averted his eyes, Relena began to defend him, "You were thrust into a situation which you had no way out. You were only doing what you had to in order to survive. You were trying to do the right thing."
Zechs looked back now, his words spilling out faster and faster, admitting the guilt he had contained for so long, "My father- our father- was forced to make many even more difficult decisions. Even when a knife was pressed against his throat and that of his wife, he held strong. He found the strength to maintain his convictions even though he knew it would cost him his own life! Don't you see, Relena! I cannot be king as long as my hands on stained with blood. As long as I feel a need to continue fighting, I will withdraw from my inheritance."
Milliardo stared at the ink spotted paper in front of him, avoiding Relena's eyes. "That is why you must take on that responsibility. Relena, you have grown up with the beliefs that our parents would want you to have. You have a compassionate heart and the kind of strength that our kingdom needs right now. You must lead our people to this new independent future. You have to restore the old traditions and reestablish peace and happiness in the Sanc Kingdom. You alone have the power to do this, I am sure of it. I am... sorry, little sister. I just..."
Zechs trailed off, allowing his words to fade well into silence before daring to look Relena in the eye. It was the moment he had been dreading for all these years. The look of revulsion and contempt that she would surely have for him. And he deserved every bit of it. Even after all he had been through, he was unwilling to bear the responsibilities of kingship. He was pitiful. To his shock, however, her expression contained none of these feelings. Instead, he eyes held only pity and tenderness for the brother she had never known. "It is all right, Milli," she finally whispered, "I forgive you. And I am positive that our parents, wherever they are, forgive you as well. And I am equally certain that they are proud of you. As am I."
Then, for the first time, Milliardo allowed himself to grieve. In one swift motion, he stood up and walked around the desk to embrace his little sister. As his arms wrapped around her, he began to sob. It was a long overdo cry, if not a loud one. They remained in that position for several minutes as little Milli released his grief and regret with tears waiting years to fall.
Then, when he was finished, Zechs released the young lady and took a deep breath. "I think I am finally ready to choose between them," he said aloud. Then, addressing the girl beside him, he spoke, "Relena. I know it will take you a while to get used to the idea that you have an older brother and I am prepared to give you as much time as you need..." Milliardo paused, his voice struggling to get past the lump which was slowly fading in his throat, "thank you. I think I am finally ready to move on with my life... I have to leave, Relena. There are still things I need to take care of before I can settle down and help you. I truly believe that you will make a great queen. When I return we can have an official ceremony. In the mean time I have a document here which officially grants you full authority over the Sanc Kingdom. I know I can trust you to make the right decisions."
Milliardo scanned over the paper had been finishing as Relena entered. Luckily, the inkblots did not interfere with its clarity. Dipping his quill into the ink, he quickly signed at the bottom and handed her the paper. "Where are you going?" Relena asked as began to walk over to the door.
Zechs looked over his shoulder and replied, "To the battlefield. As much as I regret it, I know I still have a part to play in the upcoming battle. When this war is over, perhaps I can return. Until then."
Relena continued to stare at the doorway long after Milliardo had left. Finally, taking a deep breath, she stepped over to the table and signed her name on the parchment. As she prepared to head back to her father's mansion to talk about the events that had just transpired, she wondered whether she would ever see her brother again.
Heero sat at his throne, gazing out the main window on the bridge of Libra, the central Flying Fortress. In front of him, the countryside stretched onward into the horizon. It was as if the essence of Gaea was laid out for him to see. It was almost like seeing the trophy before the match, Heero decided. "Soon it will all be mine," Heero thought, "and the Draconian's fate will have gone in a full cycle." It was as if destiny were laying his path in front of him. All he had to do now was follow it. In this case the road to Asturia would also lead to his fate and that of his people. It was time. "Emperor Wufei!" he snapped, standing up and taking several steps towards the main view screen.
"Yes, High Lord!" his willing servant replied dutifully. Heero smiled savagely, his eyes glowing dangerously, as if they held some greater power that was just waiting to be released.
"Onward to Asturia!" he commanded, wringing his gloved hands together, "Onward to destiny!"
OK, so I didn't quite make it to the final battle during this chapter. I don't want to say why because it'll ruin the chapter but let's just say that this one scene took a lot longer than I thought. However, next chapter will almost undoubtably see the beginning of the final battle. ^_^ ~Crazy Tom~
Relena felt her heart begin to beat more rapidly. After a horse ride that had lasted several hours they had finally reached their homeland of the Sanc Kingdom. As she and Dorothy slowed to a trot, Relena could already see the damage caused by the battle that had taken place a few days before. As they had entered the city, she had noticed that the outer wall was in ruins in several places. Many of the lookout towers had been totally burned to the ground and the air still contained the faint aroma of smoke.
As they proceeded deeper into the city, Relena noticed to her relief that the most of the residential areas had remained relatively unscathed. As the pair of well known delegates continued along the street, several people called to them. "Miss Relena!" one more familiar voice cried out louder than the others. Turning her head to look behind her, the young woman saw Pagan running along the somewhat crowded streets, trying to catch up to the two ladies on horseback.
"Pagan!" Relena called back joyfully, happy to see her loyal butler and confidant. The old man had been a friend to her since she was first adopted by the Darlian family so long ago. Since she had no memory of any time before that, Pagan seemed to have always been there to help her through anything. In fact, it had taken a lot of convincing to let her go to Fanelia without him.
"Miss Relena," he yelled again, obviously trying to tell her something, "I've got a message from the Baslam official who is currently residing in the old Zaibach headquarters. He told me to ask you for an audience with him as soon as you returned."
Relena inhaled sharply. What could the person in charge of Baslam's peculiar invasion want with her? Her initial inclination was to think it was definitely not a positive. After all, what could a Duke or Baron possibly want with a diplomat from the country they had just conquered that was virtuous. Still, the other government had been unusually regardful of the Sanc Kingdom's interests and people. According to that member of the Crusade's crew, she thought his name might have been Kio, they had recalled their troops immediately after taking power from Zaibach. Additionally, there was no visible oppression or harm to the residents of the peaceful country. The very fact that there weren't soldiers roaming the streets and abusing the inhabitants was a change from the former dictators.
Before he fell out of sight, Relena gave a visible nod to her old attendant. When she turned back, the diplomat saw Dorothy looking at her intently. "What do you intend to do, Miss Relena?" the other young woman asked.
Taking a deep breath, the gentlewoman replied, "I will grant the Baslam representative's request. There is no point in refusing the ruling power now. If they are intent on finding me, they will do so no matter how much I might resist. Besides," she added with a smile, "It is possible that they really do intend to simply speak with me."
"I admire your bravery, Miss Relena," Dorothy replied, turning back to face the old Peacecraft mansion that was slowly filling their range of view as they approached, "However, I must respectfully maintain my beliefs that there will be a time when it will become necessary to resist force with force."
"And when that time comes I will continue to make the decisions I believe will lead to a greater peace," Relena responded, ending the discussion as they reached the stairs that lead up to the main entrance. Dismounting, she began to walk forward when a young man wearing a Baslam uniform walked briskly over to her.
"Are either of you Relena Darlian?" he asked her pointedly, glancing between the two ladies.
"I am," Relena replied, her voice strong and unwavering.
The man, who appeared to be in his early twenties, nodded at her and explained, "I have orders to take you to Lord Merquise as soon as possible, Miss Relena. If you will come with me, please?"
Relena turned but Dorothy was already aware of her wishes, "I will take care of the horses. Do not worry about me, Miss Relena. Just be careful and remember what I told you."
"Thank you, Dorothy," Relena replied. Turning to the soldier, she addressed him, "Please show me the way."
Several minutes later, the young woman found herself walking through the halls of the old mansion which had belonged to the ruling family before the Zaibach invasion. Though she had only been in the more private portions of the palace a few times, it all seemed vaguely familiar as she was lead down the twisting hallways. Her father had told her that these halls had once been covered with old pictures of the Peacecraft family. Every generation a new portrait of the family was created and added to the walls. When Zaibach took control, the pictures were destroyed along with countless other Peacecraft heirlooms. The Darlians too were a well bred family and she had been told that the two clans had been close friends and allies for generations. It was a pity that the Peacecrafts had been destroyed by the invasion, her father had always said.
Suddenly, Relena came to a halt, almost as if by instinct. Looking in front of her, she saw that the officer had done the same and was now looking at her. Turning, Relena saw that they were standing in front of a large wooden door. "I wonder how I knew that we were at our destination," Relena thought as the officer reached out a hand and slowly pushed the heavy door open.
Inside, Relena saw a well furnished room with bookshelves almost wall to wall. In the center of the room was a large chess set and, beside it, a globe of Gaea. On the opposite wall from the door there stood a desk which gave her a haunting sense of deja vu. Behind the desk, sat an elegant looking man in a high ranking Baslam dress uniform. Relena quickly sized up the foreign official. The man had a noble face with long white hair spilling down the back. When she met his eyes, she noticed that they were a startling shade of icy blue. "Sir Merquise," she addressed him, "How can I assi-" Relena stopped mid word when she looked closer at the man. To her shock she noticed that the quill that he held in his right hand was shaking, splattering drops of black ink all over the report he had been writing. As her eyes moved upwards, Relena saw that the young officer's hands were trembling. What was going on here?
Milliardo stared at his little sister, transfixed by the sight of the sibling he hadn't seen in ten years. How she had grown! Of course he had expected her to be older than when he had last seen her but he hadn't been prepared for the shock. What he had last seen was a toddler, young and full of childish wonder. What he gazed upon now was a determined and very capable young woman. She had changed so much, almost as if she was a different person. For a brief moment Zechs wondered whether he had made a mistake coming back to his homeland to find the last of his kin. Then the lady took several steps forward and asked in a rushed and concerned tone, "Are you all right? Should I get a doctor?"
Milli exhaled fully, his efforts had not been in vain. Yes she was different now, but she was still the same kindhearted girl he had always known her to be. If she could show such concern to a complete stranger and a possible enemy on that, then could she not find it in heart to forgive a foolish brother who had only tried to do what was best for her. "Relena," he spoke and to his embarrassment he noticed that his voice nearly choked with emotion. Then, taking a quick breath and regaining his composure, he stood and addressed the guard who was still standing at the door, "Please leave us now."
"Sir!" the soldier saluted before closing the heavy door and leaving them alone in the room.
Milliardo gazed at his long lost sister, his eyes taking in every detail. There was no mistaking it, she was definitely Relena Peacecraft. "Are you sure you are all right?" Relena asked again, her voice still betraying evident worry.
"I have never felt better," the Peacecraft heir replied honestly. Then, taking a deep breath he waved a hand at the chair across from him, "Please sit down, Miss Relena."
To his joy, his little sister complied and he quickly followed his own advice. "How can I help you, Sir Merquise?" Relena asked.
Zechs swallowed at the direct question. After all this time planning his return he had never thought about what he was going to say once he had actually done it. How did one tell a complete stranger that they were actually part of a different family and that you were their sibling? Milliardo pushed back his chair and stood up, beginning to pace back and forth behind his desk. The young aristocrat decided to approach the subject using a general approach. "Where did you grow up, Miss Relena?" he asked, "If you wouldn't mind saying."
The lady seemed only slightly frazzled by the unexpected change in topic. "She was, after all, a Peacecraft and not easily startled," Milliardo noted with pride.
"I grew up in a large house not too far from here by the Darlian family. I was an only child brought up to help manage the family business which was controlling a large merchant industry. Before Zaibach took control, we helped the ruling family govern the Sanc Kingdom and our family often served as advisors. After the invasion, Zaibach allowed our nation small amounts of political freedom which the Darlian family exercised as much as possible. I am sure you are aware of my position as a diplomat."
"So little sister," Milliardo smiled, "You have continued the family traditions after all. You, like the rest of our clan, are a maintainer of the peace and a great speaker." Out loud he replied, "I was not, actually."
Relena frowned now, her puzzlement finally showing on her face, "If you did not know that I was an ambassador then why did you call me here?"
Zechs took a deep breath. So it was finally time to tell her the truth. He had never been one to hold back, but then again, the stakes had never been this high. Her reaction obviously meant more to him than he had realized. "Miss Relena, let me be frank with you. You believe yourself to be a member of the Darlian family, born and raised. In all honesty, this is only half true. You are in fact a member of the Peacecraft family. Your true name is Relena Peacecraft. Your real father's name is Stefan Peacecraft and your mother's is Katrina. When Zaibach invaded, your mother had time to thrust you into your older brother's arms before she and her husband were executed. He, along with yourself, managed to escape out of the palace and into the woods. Later he brought you to a nunnery in the nearby area. Eventually, you were adopted by a kind family which had been old friends of the Peacecrafts. Your foster parents had always wanted a daughter but had been unable to have children of their own. They raised you as their own and helped keep the secret of your true identity."
Zechs watched Relena's expression intently. Her eyes were staring off into the distance, out the window behind his desk. For a moment, he wondered whether she was in shock. Then she murmured, so quietly he could barely hear her, "That is a lie. They would have told me."
"Don't you see?" Milliardo asked, his voice earnest, pleading, "They could not risk your identity being discovered. Telling anyone, even you, would could cause you great danger. They loved you too much for that. Just as your brother loved you so much that he knew it would be better to give you up to another family where you could be raised according to your true family's beliefs."
Relena's eyes came into focus and she stared into his face as intently as he gazed into hers, "Who are you?" she whispered.
For a moment, Milliardo found he could not speak. Then he replied, so quietly that she had to strain to hear him, "I am Milliardo Peacecraft, your brother who gave you up all those years ago."
For several minutes no one said anything. Outside, Zechs could hear the birds chirping and the sound of the grass gently blowing in the wind. As the silence continued to lengthen, Milliardo began to fear that she didn't believe him. What will I do if she completely rejects the truth. What if I can't convince her? Then, a small sound came from the girl's lips. Milliardo quickly looked over at her face. Relena was staring at the desk with a disconnected expression on her face. Her eyebrows were furrowed in concentration and her lips were slowly moving to form words. "Mil... Milli?" she asked, looking up into his face.
Milliardo's face broke into a smile of relief, "Yes!" he exclaimed, "Milli! That was what you used to call me because you couldn't say Milliardo."
Relena leaned back, her expression a mix of emotions all flickering across her face. "Milliardo Peacecraft," she spoke aloud, "My older brother." After a brief pause she looked up with a look of realization on her face, "That was why Baslam pull back its Guymelefs. Because your purpose wasn't to claim the Sanc Kingdom as part of another nation, it was free it from Zaibach. And it was your influence that allowed for this to happen."
"Yes," Zechs admitted, waiting for her to reach the obvious conclusion. That he, a member of the Peacecraft family, had taken up arms and allowed his hands to be stained with blood. Though it had been more than a day since he had taken his vengeance, Milliardo could still see the body on the floor and the growing pool of blood slowly spreading out around the corpse. How could he call himself a Peacecraft after all that he had done? Cursing his weakness, Zechs looked away, listening as Relena continued speaking.
"That is why you waited all these years to return. You were preparing until you were strong enough to free your people. And that is why you are speaking to me now. You wanted to tell me the truth before you publicly admit your lineage. You are going to declare yourself king of the Sanc Kingdom and you want my support," his younger sister finished with a note of triumph in her voice.
Zechs stared at the young lady before him in surprise. Had she not realized? He, a member of the Peacecraft family, known all over Gaea for their firm policies toward pacifism, was the direct cause of hundreds of individuals. He had taken life with his own two hands! Quickly, he looked back and corrected her, "No, no! I am afraid you misunderstand. I cannot rule the Sanc Kingdom."
"But," Relena's voice was full of confusion, "Why not? If what you say is true then you are the sole surviving male heir of the kingdom. It is your right to rule, your privilege. You have already done so much for our country. Why are you rejecting your responsibilities?"
Milliardo leaned over now, grasping her hands in his and forced her to look him in the eye, "Do you not understand, little sister?" he asked, his voice coming out more threatening than he intended, "These hands which are now holding yours have taken blood. I have shamed myself and my family. Relena, I have killed. With these hands I have taken the lives of hundreds of men. I cannot rule the Sanc Kingdom in good conscience knowing that I have disobeyed my father's wishes."
To his shock even as he averted his eyes, Relena began to defend him, "You were thrust into a situation which you had no way out. You were only doing what you had to in order to survive. You were trying to do the right thing."
Zechs looked back now, his words spilling out faster and faster, admitting the guilt he had contained for so long, "My father- our father- was forced to make many even more difficult decisions. Even when a knife was pressed against his throat and that of his wife, he held strong. He found the strength to maintain his convictions even though he knew it would cost him his own life! Don't you see, Relena! I cannot be king as long as my hands on stained with blood. As long as I feel a need to continue fighting, I will withdraw from my inheritance."
Milliardo stared at the ink spotted paper in front of him, avoiding Relena's eyes. "That is why you must take on that responsibility. Relena, you have grown up with the beliefs that our parents would want you to have. You have a compassionate heart and the kind of strength that our kingdom needs right now. You must lead our people to this new independent future. You have to restore the old traditions and reestablish peace and happiness in the Sanc Kingdom. You alone have the power to do this, I am sure of it. I am... sorry, little sister. I just..."
Zechs trailed off, allowing his words to fade well into silence before daring to look Relena in the eye. It was the moment he had been dreading for all these years. The look of revulsion and contempt that she would surely have for him. And he deserved every bit of it. Even after all he had been through, he was unwilling to bear the responsibilities of kingship. He was pitiful. To his shock, however, her expression contained none of these feelings. Instead, he eyes held only pity and tenderness for the brother she had never known. "It is all right, Milli," she finally whispered, "I forgive you. And I am positive that our parents, wherever they are, forgive you as well. And I am equally certain that they are proud of you. As am I."
Then, for the first time, Milliardo allowed himself to grieve. In one swift motion, he stood up and walked around the desk to embrace his little sister. As his arms wrapped around her, he began to sob. It was a long overdo cry, if not a loud one. They remained in that position for several minutes as little Milli released his grief and regret with tears waiting years to fall.
Then, when he was finished, Zechs released the young lady and took a deep breath. "I think I am finally ready to choose between them," he said aloud. Then, addressing the girl beside him, he spoke, "Relena. I know it will take you a while to get used to the idea that you have an older brother and I am prepared to give you as much time as you need..." Milliardo paused, his voice struggling to get past the lump which was slowly fading in his throat, "thank you. I think I am finally ready to move on with my life... I have to leave, Relena. There are still things I need to take care of before I can settle down and help you. I truly believe that you will make a great queen. When I return we can have an official ceremony. In the mean time I have a document here which officially grants you full authority over the Sanc Kingdom. I know I can trust you to make the right decisions."
Milliardo scanned over the paper had been finishing as Relena entered. Luckily, the inkblots did not interfere with its clarity. Dipping his quill into the ink, he quickly signed at the bottom and handed her the paper. "Where are you going?" Relena asked as began to walk over to the door.
Zechs looked over his shoulder and replied, "To the battlefield. As much as I regret it, I know I still have a part to play in the upcoming battle. When this war is over, perhaps I can return. Until then."
Relena continued to stare at the doorway long after Milliardo had left. Finally, taking a deep breath, she stepped over to the table and signed her name on the parchment. As she prepared to head back to her father's mansion to talk about the events that had just transpired, she wondered whether she would ever see her brother again.
Heero sat at his throne, gazing out the main window on the bridge of Libra, the central Flying Fortress. In front of him, the countryside stretched onward into the horizon. It was as if the essence of Gaea was laid out for him to see. It was almost like seeing the trophy before the match, Heero decided. "Soon it will all be mine," Heero thought, "and the Draconian's fate will have gone in a full cycle." It was as if destiny were laying his path in front of him. All he had to do now was follow it. In this case the road to Asturia would also lead to his fate and that of his people. It was time. "Emperor Wufei!" he snapped, standing up and taking several steps towards the main view screen.
"Yes, High Lord!" his willing servant replied dutifully. Heero smiled savagely, his eyes glowing dangerously, as if they held some greater power that was just waiting to be released.
"Onward to Asturia!" he commanded, wringing his gloved hands together, "Onward to destiny!"