I don't own Gundam Wing or Escaflowne. These are my interpretations of their characters. I don't want to make any money. Etc........
I did get to the final battle after all. I was wondering for a while there. Exciting chapters ahead so get ready. ~Crazy Tom~
"So their target is Asturia after all," Allen said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin with one hand. Around the table sat all the great leaders of the Gaea Coalition, the name the group of nations which all had signed the Palas Treaty had chosen for each other. The Palas Treaty written and presented by King Dryden as one of his first official acts as ruler, stated, among other things, that in times of great danger to all the nations in the region, their military forces would join together to face it as a unified force. It was named after the capital of Asturia in which it was both created and signed. Now as he gazed at the determined faces of the leaders of Asturia, Egzardia, Fried, Fanelia, and Cesario, he could not help but feel a certain pride that they had come so far in such a relatively short amount of time.
"How long do we have?" asked Lord Ventei, the leader of Egzardia, leaning forward attentively.
"Assuming they approach at full speed and use their flying fortresses to transport troops over the Chatal Mountains, we can assume we have only an hour to prepare," Noin replied, her eyes meeting his for a moment.
"Well then!" Duke Noventa of Cesario exclaimed, "We should begin preparations immediately."
"Before we adjourn," Dryden spoke up, attracting the attention of the entire room, "I think it would be wise to find out a little bit more about what it is we will be facing. Quatre Winner and Trowa Barton are both former members of the Dragon Clan who have defected to our side. Please," Dryden raised a hand, cutting off any murmuring that could start, "hear them out. I have it on the best authority that they are above suspicion. Already they have proven themselves worthy of our trust. I request only that you listen to what they have to say and take from it what you can."
Allen nodded approvingly at Dryden's speech. He had once again proven that Asturia's King could win the faith of not only his people, but that of other kingdoms as well. While his lordship had been speaking, the two young men had entered the room and as the attention turned to them, sat down across from Van and himself. Dryden hunched forward now and began speaking, "You two knew the leaders of the Dragon Clan fairly well, did you not? What do you think their plan of action will be in this situation?"
To Allen's surprise, it was the quiet one that answered the question, "High Lord Heero has shown us that he is capable of using trickery and deception to achieve a goal. However, I doubt that he will do so in this situation. Though he is perfectly willing to use more indirect methods to complete his mission, Heero has a thirst for large scale battles. He believes that human nature is shown at its fullest during a conflict and enjoys mass combat."
Quatre took up the explanation as Trowa's speech slowed, "The only other two people which could be a factor in his decision making are Wufei Chang and Duo Maxwell. Wufei is even less subtle than Heero. It if were up to him the battle would be as straightforward as possible. Duo on the other hand could favor either way. He enjoys fighting but is also quite cunning. However, he is fiercely loyal to Heero and will probably go along with whatever he decides." Quatre paused, then added quickly before any other discussion could start, "Of course, now that the Dragon Clan has joined with Baslam, we don't know who else might be able to influence their decision."
"So in conclusion we really don't know what they are going to do," Trowa finished. As the majority of the room let out a noise of exasperation and regret, Van addressed the room.
"It seems to me that the only thing we can do is fight our hardest. Thought it will be a hard battle, I have confidence in my allies and friends. This war will be won by skill and not numbers. We must be victorious or all of Gaea will fall under hard times. I intend to let that fact give me strength," Van spoke, his voice deadly serious. To his credit, his resolve earned looks which mirrored his own.
"Indeed," Dryden agreed, standing up to signal that the meeting was finished, "The young King of Fanelia speaks well. Let us all remember the countless lives that depend on our victory. This conference is now adjourned. Good luck, gentlemen! I pray fortune is on our side."
Later, as Allen was preparing the Sherazade, he noticed Prince Chid approaching him. Even though it had been a year since he had admitted that the ruler of Freid was in fact his son, it was still not publicly known. His love for Marlene, the eldest daughter of the previous king of Asturia, had been a brief one and shortly after that she had married the Duke of Freid. Very few people knew that Prince Chid, now ruler of Freid, was in fact his son. The boy, already a ruler at the age of six, had only just found out the truth himself less than a year before. Allen visited Freid as much as he could, which was not nearly as much as he would have liked, and occasionally Chid would visit him in Asturia. Though the two weren't as close as Allen would have liked, Chid certainly looked up to him and Allen admired the boy's strength and courage. Their bond was a strong one, if separated much of time by distance.
"What can I do for you, Prince?" Allen asked, smiling as he bent down on one knee to look the other figure in the eye.
Prince Chid's earnest face was filled with concern. "Sir Allen!" he exclaimed, "Why is this happening? Zaibach has already been defeated. Why are we still at war?"
Allen swallowed, suddenly feeling a great regret that his son would have to live in such hard times. "I don't know, your Highness," he replied honestly, looking into the Prince's big blue eyes, "Perhaps it is because people are always trying to make the world a better place. Sometimes they have disagreements on how things should be done. They feel they cannot solve their disagreements with words. But you must always try to find another way besides fighting. You must only chose to fight when you have no other choice. Do you understand?"
Chid nodded, his expression so earnest that Allen's face twisted into a sad smile. "Yes. I understand. But..." the prince paused.
"But what?" Allen prompted, taking the boy's hand in his own.
"But I don't want you to die!" the boy exclaimed, moving forward to embrace his true father.
"I won't," Allen spoke soothingly, though in the corner of his mind he wondered whether he should make promises that he might not be able to keep.
"And I don't want Van or Hitomi or Dryden to die either!" Chid continued. Allen hushed his son by putting one finger to the boy's lips.
Making a soothing noise, he spoke quietly, "I know it is hard to watch people you care about go into danger. However, you must have faith in them. Try to be brave, your Highness."
Looking past the young boy's hair, Allen saw Serena standing at the doorway to the large storehouse, watching them. Gently breaking away, he stood to face her. For a moment neither person said anything. They simply looked at each other in understanding. Then, without saying anything, Serena walked over to them and embrace him. "I will be fine," Allen said in her ear.
Pulling back, the Knight of Caeli saw that his younger sister had tears in her eyes. "I know," she spoke quietly. Then, smiling sadly, she added, "You always are."
Serena reached a hand and took Chid's hand. The young prince looked up at her and smiled. Allen was glad to see the two people he cared about most got along so well. "I will be all right," he declared, his expression mirroring their own, "I promise."
As the two people turned to leave, Allen felt a lump form in his throat. He would come back. As long as those two people needed him, he would be there for them. Finishing the preparations to the Sherazade, Allen took several steps back, admiring his old Guymelef. It was the same as it had always been yet somehow it didn't give him the confidence he always felt while looking at it.
"Van!" Hitomi sprinted to catch up to the young King. The briefing had ended and Van was already headed to where Escaflowne was waiting. All around them the leaders of the Gaea Coalition were swiftly moving to where they needed to be. To her relief, Van slowed and turned to face her.
"What is it, Hitomi?" he asked looking her in the eye as she slowed to a halt directly in front of him. A look of concern was evident on his face and suddenly the teenage girl felt embraced.
"I... uh," she stuttered, her face turning a visible shade of red. What had she wanted to tell him? That she cared for him? Van knew that already. Try not to get hurt? Of course he would try not to get hurt! As if sensing her discomfort, the young King reached and took her hand.
"I know," he reassured her, his tone calm and comforting, "I will be careful."
As Hitomi realized that Van would once again be forced to fight on the battlefield, she could feel a lump forming in her throat. "Van!" she exclaimed, "What if something happens to you?"
Van quickly raised one finger to her lips, "Nothing is going to happen to me. I will be fine. Besides, I have fought on the battlefield before."
"Yes, but..." Hitomi paused and then added more softly, "but this is different." Hitomi remembered her dream with the two dragons soaring through the air in combat and the massacre that had been going on underneath them. Shuddering she continued, "This battle may be even worse than the final clash in the Gaea war. Van, so many people are going to die. Why is this happening again!"
Without warning, Van let go of her hands and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him. She could feel the strength of his embrace and hear his heart beating passionately so close to her own. "Hitomi," he murmured in her ear, "I am sorry I could not prevent this war for you. However, I promise I will end it here so that no more people have to suffer. Believe in me, Hitomi, as I believe in you."
"I do, Van," Hitomi replied, reaching one arm around his back, "You know I do."
"Then I will come back alive," Van told her, letting go and looking into her face. He was smiling and Hitomi suddenly felt better. Didn't her grandmother say that if she believed in someone they would come through? Besides, Van had always prevailed before and with Quatre, Trowa, and Allen all fighting together they could end the fighting quickly.
"Maybe that is what love is," Hitomi thought, "having complete faith in a person and them having faith in you. And being able to make you feel better with nothing but a smile. Our love is stronger than any evil."
"Van," Hitomi suddenly decided to say it. Though they were always affectionate towards each other and they both knew it, she and Van had yet to actually exchange vows of love. Now, with all this danger around them, it seemed appropriate that it should be said. "I l-"
"Master Van!" Merle yelled, cutting off Hitomi mid word. Van looked at her with an expression of adoration and surprise but reluctantly turned away to face his childhood friend. "Master Van!" Merle screamed again, jumping into his arms.
"Merle!" Van exclaimed, "You shouldn't be here. It is too dangerous."
"I had to see you before you went off to fight," Merle exclaimed, "Oh Master Van! Please be careful!"
"I will be," Van promised, "Please don't worry about me and get to someplace safe."
"All right," Merle pouted, dropping to floor, "But only because you told me to."
As Merle began to leave, Van turned back to her, his expression quizzical and apologetic. "What were you saying, Hitomi?" he asked.
"Well, I just wanted to tell you..." Hitomi summoned up her courage. With the mood broken it would be much harder to say aloud. Especially with people still walking around. But if she didn't tell him now she might not get the chance. "I just wanted to say that... that..."
"Lord Van!" Quatre called out, walking over to them with Trowa alongside, "There you are! We need to get to our Guymelefs. The enemy is going to near the top of the mountain any time now and Sir Allen said that we should engage them as far away from Asturia as possible."
"All right," Van agreed. Turning back he asked a second time, "What is that you want to tell me, Hitomi?"
The girl from the Mystic Moon glanced over and saw that Quatre and Trowa were still looking at them. With three pairs of eyes on her, Hitomi's courage failed her. "It's not important," she excused herself, "I just wanted to wish you good luck."
"Oh," Van looked somewhat surprised and replied, "Thank you, Hitomi. Please try not to worry too much."
"All right," Hitomi mentally kicked herself. Why couldn't she just say it! It wasn't that big a deal. They'd been a couple for a year now and were both perfectly aware of their feelings so why was it so hard...
"Hurry, Van!" Quatre urged, tugging on his arm.
"All right, I am coming," Van agreed, his eyes lingering on Hitomi's as if he too wanted to say something before they parted. And then the contact was broken and the three young men quickly hustled off to their tools of war and Hitomi was left alone in the corridor.
"Van," she whispered, "please come back alive."
Une knocked twice on the door to Treize's personal quarters. "Sir?" she called out, "we are approaching Asturia and are ready to begin launching Guymelefs on your command."
From inside came the muffled but unmistakable sound of Treize's voice, "Thank you, lady. I am almost ready. Please come in."
"Come into his Excellency Treize's quarters?" Une murmured and then immediately scolded herself at the indecent thought. Of course his Excellency did not mean to imply anything like that. With a quick breath and a tuck of her plum uniform, she entered the room. Treize's quarters on the Baslam Flying Fortress were much as she had expected. They were roomy but with a distinct personal touch. The walls were filled with artwork and the room was well decorated with furniture as well. What she hadn't expected was that it was a mess. A very organized man at the office, it seemed surprising that Treize was such a bad housekeeper. And yet, the more she thought about it, the less astonishing it seemed.
As she looked past the mess she could see that the door to the bathroom was open. Though Sir Treize was behind the wall and thus, hid from view, the door to the bathroom had a full body mirror attached to it. To her embarrassment, Une realized that she could see that through the reflection she could see his Excellency. To her relief, Treize was at least a decent state of dress, having his breeches on though he lacked a shirt. Lady Une could not help but stare admiringly at the man's physique. Treize was well built but not overly muscular. He was obviously in the process of shaving, as his face was still covered in white lather. As he flicked the razor deftly with one hand, allowing the foam to slip off, the Colonel noted how graceful and smooth the man's movements were. "Stop it!" Une ordered herself, frowning, "He is your superior officer." Still, as Treize finished and slipped a clean white shirt over his head, a part of Une could not help but feel a pang of disappointment.
In the year or so that they had worked together Une could not deny that she had grown to respect and admire the Duke. It was more than that however. Recently she had started to feel an affection for his Excellency that went beyond mere associates. She felt as though she knew Treize better than she had known anyone in her entire life. Even now as she looked about the messy room, she felt an urge to take care of him. To have him need her as she had come to need him. "Une, you fool," she thought, "There is no way Sir Treize feels the same as you. You may be a woman but first you are a Baslam officer. You have fought to hard to overcome the prejudice against your gender to lose it all now."
"Lady Une," Treize addressed her in his usual calm and confident tone, "Could you assist me?"
"Of course your Excellency!" Une quickly complied, pushing her emotions to the farthest corner of her mind. Carefully walking over the clothes which littered the floor, Une stepped over to where Treize was standing just outside the doorway to the washroom. The Duke had put on his blue jacket and was having difficulties lacing it. Keeping her smile hidden, Une quickly began her work, her graceful fingers quickly making the necessary adjustments.
As she finished, Une looked up at Treize, smiling. To her surprise, she saw that he was already staring at her, his pale blue eyes fixed on her face with a captivated look. To her further shock, as her hands froze at the top of his chest, he reached up and took them in his own. "Your- your Excellency," Une stuttered, hardly believing what was happening.
"My dear Colonel. For all your attitude, you are a truly delicate and gentle person," Treize murmured, his eyes staring into hers.
"Mr. Treize," Une murmured, suddenly feeling as if she were in a dream. Could this really be happening?
"If my advances are unwanted please forgive me," Treize spoke, his voice quiet and gentle, "But I feel with this battle drawing near I have to let my true feelings be known. My lady, since the moment we first met I have respected you as an equal. I have always considered you a comrade and friend. However, during the past few months I have found myself wishing for more than a friendship, even one as good as our own. If you do not feel the same then I completely understand, however I felt that I had to let the truth be known before we engaged in this battle."
"Treize," Une whispered, "You know I feel the same. I always have."
Treize leaned forward and Une felt his arms slowly encompass her. As they drew closer, Une could not help but think that things could not have been more perfect. Finally, there lips brushed against each other and Une inhaled, smelling Treize's after shave. It aroma was that of her love. Finally, the two lovers kissed in full, their arms circling around each other. For a moment, Une thought that maybe they could remain in that moment forever, untouched by the war that was beginning around them. And then... the moment was over, and Treize pulled back. Une blinked, staring into his face, that noble face which had won her heart.
"My lady," Treize said softly, "I must leave you now. For battle draws near and we both have great parts to play. However, know that my feelings remain the same as they do now, as they always will. When this war is over I hope that you and I can live a new life together in the future we will create. My dear lady Une, I..."
"Shh!" Une raised a hand to silence him, "Don't tell me now. Please, Treize, don't finish that sentence. I want you to promise me you will say it when this is over. Promise that you will declare your love when we come back. When the fighting is over."
"My dear Une," Treize began but she stopped him a second time, gently touching his face.
"Promise me..." she told him.
"All right," Treize agreed, smiling at her. That wonderful, amazing smile. "I promise."
Une let out a breath and straightened. And the moment was over. But she could still see it in his eyes. That love that she knew would never die. Just like hers. "Thank you for assisting me, Colonel," he expressed his gratitude.
"It was my pleasure, sir," she replied back, saluting him with a smile. He followed suit and his happy expression made her fill with warmth. As the two soldiers began to shift their attention to the battle ahead, Une was left with one fleeting thought which made her chuckle to herself. Treize had worn the exact same uniform every day and had never had problems with the laces.
Wufei was inside Nataku, helmet open so he could see all the soldiers who would follow them to their deaths if the need arose. He was standing on a platform which had been extended from the Libra. Stretched out below him were the Dragon Clan and Baslam troops, filling his vision with the new future. They were preparing to charge and he had chosen to give one final speech to the men who would give their lives to fulfill the Dragon Clan's dream and mark the Draconian people's return to power. The utter silence of the men and vast emptiness of the mountainside allowed his voice to project so that every soldier under their flag could hear him.
"Today marks the beginning of the final stage of the Draconian people's return to power. Fate has selected us as the rulers of a new age in Gaea's history. Victory here will guarantee achievement of all that we have worked so hard to accomplish. I know that you will make us all proud. Give no mercy! Take no prisoners! Today we are started on the road to glory!"
Wufei let out a yell which had no words yet carried a power which no speech could ever contain. It was a cry which was soon taken up until it was a roar which shook the very mountainside. "Like a swarm of dragons on the stampede," Wufei thought proudly. Waving his spear in the air, he launched himself forward off the platform: the signal to charge. With the thundering of twenty thousand feet all running at once, the Dragon Clan and Baslam forces began to rush down the mountain towards the Asturian Army which was already assembling below. The battle had begun.
I did get to the final battle after all. I was wondering for a while there. Exciting chapters ahead so get ready. ~Crazy Tom~
"So their target is Asturia after all," Allen said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin with one hand. Around the table sat all the great leaders of the Gaea Coalition, the name the group of nations which all had signed the Palas Treaty had chosen for each other. The Palas Treaty written and presented by King Dryden as one of his first official acts as ruler, stated, among other things, that in times of great danger to all the nations in the region, their military forces would join together to face it as a unified force. It was named after the capital of Asturia in which it was both created and signed. Now as he gazed at the determined faces of the leaders of Asturia, Egzardia, Fried, Fanelia, and Cesario, he could not help but feel a certain pride that they had come so far in such a relatively short amount of time.
"How long do we have?" asked Lord Ventei, the leader of Egzardia, leaning forward attentively.
"Assuming they approach at full speed and use their flying fortresses to transport troops over the Chatal Mountains, we can assume we have only an hour to prepare," Noin replied, her eyes meeting his for a moment.
"Well then!" Duke Noventa of Cesario exclaimed, "We should begin preparations immediately."
"Before we adjourn," Dryden spoke up, attracting the attention of the entire room, "I think it would be wise to find out a little bit more about what it is we will be facing. Quatre Winner and Trowa Barton are both former members of the Dragon Clan who have defected to our side. Please," Dryden raised a hand, cutting off any murmuring that could start, "hear them out. I have it on the best authority that they are above suspicion. Already they have proven themselves worthy of our trust. I request only that you listen to what they have to say and take from it what you can."
Allen nodded approvingly at Dryden's speech. He had once again proven that Asturia's King could win the faith of not only his people, but that of other kingdoms as well. While his lordship had been speaking, the two young men had entered the room and as the attention turned to them, sat down across from Van and himself. Dryden hunched forward now and began speaking, "You two knew the leaders of the Dragon Clan fairly well, did you not? What do you think their plan of action will be in this situation?"
To Allen's surprise, it was the quiet one that answered the question, "High Lord Heero has shown us that he is capable of using trickery and deception to achieve a goal. However, I doubt that he will do so in this situation. Though he is perfectly willing to use more indirect methods to complete his mission, Heero has a thirst for large scale battles. He believes that human nature is shown at its fullest during a conflict and enjoys mass combat."
Quatre took up the explanation as Trowa's speech slowed, "The only other two people which could be a factor in his decision making are Wufei Chang and Duo Maxwell. Wufei is even less subtle than Heero. It if were up to him the battle would be as straightforward as possible. Duo on the other hand could favor either way. He enjoys fighting but is also quite cunning. However, he is fiercely loyal to Heero and will probably go along with whatever he decides." Quatre paused, then added quickly before any other discussion could start, "Of course, now that the Dragon Clan has joined with Baslam, we don't know who else might be able to influence their decision."
"So in conclusion we really don't know what they are going to do," Trowa finished. As the majority of the room let out a noise of exasperation and regret, Van addressed the room.
"It seems to me that the only thing we can do is fight our hardest. Thought it will be a hard battle, I have confidence in my allies and friends. This war will be won by skill and not numbers. We must be victorious or all of Gaea will fall under hard times. I intend to let that fact give me strength," Van spoke, his voice deadly serious. To his credit, his resolve earned looks which mirrored his own.
"Indeed," Dryden agreed, standing up to signal that the meeting was finished, "The young King of Fanelia speaks well. Let us all remember the countless lives that depend on our victory. This conference is now adjourned. Good luck, gentlemen! I pray fortune is on our side."
Later, as Allen was preparing the Sherazade, he noticed Prince Chid approaching him. Even though it had been a year since he had admitted that the ruler of Freid was in fact his son, it was still not publicly known. His love for Marlene, the eldest daughter of the previous king of Asturia, had been a brief one and shortly after that she had married the Duke of Freid. Very few people knew that Prince Chid, now ruler of Freid, was in fact his son. The boy, already a ruler at the age of six, had only just found out the truth himself less than a year before. Allen visited Freid as much as he could, which was not nearly as much as he would have liked, and occasionally Chid would visit him in Asturia. Though the two weren't as close as Allen would have liked, Chid certainly looked up to him and Allen admired the boy's strength and courage. Their bond was a strong one, if separated much of time by distance.
"What can I do for you, Prince?" Allen asked, smiling as he bent down on one knee to look the other figure in the eye.
Prince Chid's earnest face was filled with concern. "Sir Allen!" he exclaimed, "Why is this happening? Zaibach has already been defeated. Why are we still at war?"
Allen swallowed, suddenly feeling a great regret that his son would have to live in such hard times. "I don't know, your Highness," he replied honestly, looking into the Prince's big blue eyes, "Perhaps it is because people are always trying to make the world a better place. Sometimes they have disagreements on how things should be done. They feel they cannot solve their disagreements with words. But you must always try to find another way besides fighting. You must only chose to fight when you have no other choice. Do you understand?"
Chid nodded, his expression so earnest that Allen's face twisted into a sad smile. "Yes. I understand. But..." the prince paused.
"But what?" Allen prompted, taking the boy's hand in his own.
"But I don't want you to die!" the boy exclaimed, moving forward to embrace his true father.
"I won't," Allen spoke soothingly, though in the corner of his mind he wondered whether he should make promises that he might not be able to keep.
"And I don't want Van or Hitomi or Dryden to die either!" Chid continued. Allen hushed his son by putting one finger to the boy's lips.
Making a soothing noise, he spoke quietly, "I know it is hard to watch people you care about go into danger. However, you must have faith in them. Try to be brave, your Highness."
Looking past the young boy's hair, Allen saw Serena standing at the doorway to the large storehouse, watching them. Gently breaking away, he stood to face her. For a moment neither person said anything. They simply looked at each other in understanding. Then, without saying anything, Serena walked over to them and embrace him. "I will be fine," Allen said in her ear.
Pulling back, the Knight of Caeli saw that his younger sister had tears in her eyes. "I know," she spoke quietly. Then, smiling sadly, she added, "You always are."
Serena reached a hand and took Chid's hand. The young prince looked up at her and smiled. Allen was glad to see the two people he cared about most got along so well. "I will be all right," he declared, his expression mirroring their own, "I promise."
As the two people turned to leave, Allen felt a lump form in his throat. He would come back. As long as those two people needed him, he would be there for them. Finishing the preparations to the Sherazade, Allen took several steps back, admiring his old Guymelef. It was the same as it had always been yet somehow it didn't give him the confidence he always felt while looking at it.
"Van!" Hitomi sprinted to catch up to the young King. The briefing had ended and Van was already headed to where Escaflowne was waiting. All around them the leaders of the Gaea Coalition were swiftly moving to where they needed to be. To her relief, Van slowed and turned to face her.
"What is it, Hitomi?" he asked looking her in the eye as she slowed to a halt directly in front of him. A look of concern was evident on his face and suddenly the teenage girl felt embraced.
"I... uh," she stuttered, her face turning a visible shade of red. What had she wanted to tell him? That she cared for him? Van knew that already. Try not to get hurt? Of course he would try not to get hurt! As if sensing her discomfort, the young King reached and took her hand.
"I know," he reassured her, his tone calm and comforting, "I will be careful."
As Hitomi realized that Van would once again be forced to fight on the battlefield, she could feel a lump forming in her throat. "Van!" she exclaimed, "What if something happens to you?"
Van quickly raised one finger to her lips, "Nothing is going to happen to me. I will be fine. Besides, I have fought on the battlefield before."
"Yes, but..." Hitomi paused and then added more softly, "but this is different." Hitomi remembered her dream with the two dragons soaring through the air in combat and the massacre that had been going on underneath them. Shuddering she continued, "This battle may be even worse than the final clash in the Gaea war. Van, so many people are going to die. Why is this happening again!"
Without warning, Van let go of her hands and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him. She could feel the strength of his embrace and hear his heart beating passionately so close to her own. "Hitomi," he murmured in her ear, "I am sorry I could not prevent this war for you. However, I promise I will end it here so that no more people have to suffer. Believe in me, Hitomi, as I believe in you."
"I do, Van," Hitomi replied, reaching one arm around his back, "You know I do."
"Then I will come back alive," Van told her, letting go and looking into her face. He was smiling and Hitomi suddenly felt better. Didn't her grandmother say that if she believed in someone they would come through? Besides, Van had always prevailed before and with Quatre, Trowa, and Allen all fighting together they could end the fighting quickly.
"Maybe that is what love is," Hitomi thought, "having complete faith in a person and them having faith in you. And being able to make you feel better with nothing but a smile. Our love is stronger than any evil."
"Van," Hitomi suddenly decided to say it. Though they were always affectionate towards each other and they both knew it, she and Van had yet to actually exchange vows of love. Now, with all this danger around them, it seemed appropriate that it should be said. "I l-"
"Master Van!" Merle yelled, cutting off Hitomi mid word. Van looked at her with an expression of adoration and surprise but reluctantly turned away to face his childhood friend. "Master Van!" Merle screamed again, jumping into his arms.
"Merle!" Van exclaimed, "You shouldn't be here. It is too dangerous."
"I had to see you before you went off to fight," Merle exclaimed, "Oh Master Van! Please be careful!"
"I will be," Van promised, "Please don't worry about me and get to someplace safe."
"All right," Merle pouted, dropping to floor, "But only because you told me to."
As Merle began to leave, Van turned back to her, his expression quizzical and apologetic. "What were you saying, Hitomi?" he asked.
"Well, I just wanted to tell you..." Hitomi summoned up her courage. With the mood broken it would be much harder to say aloud. Especially with people still walking around. But if she didn't tell him now she might not get the chance. "I just wanted to say that... that..."
"Lord Van!" Quatre called out, walking over to them with Trowa alongside, "There you are! We need to get to our Guymelefs. The enemy is going to near the top of the mountain any time now and Sir Allen said that we should engage them as far away from Asturia as possible."
"All right," Van agreed. Turning back he asked a second time, "What is that you want to tell me, Hitomi?"
The girl from the Mystic Moon glanced over and saw that Quatre and Trowa were still looking at them. With three pairs of eyes on her, Hitomi's courage failed her. "It's not important," she excused herself, "I just wanted to wish you good luck."
"Oh," Van looked somewhat surprised and replied, "Thank you, Hitomi. Please try not to worry too much."
"All right," Hitomi mentally kicked herself. Why couldn't she just say it! It wasn't that big a deal. They'd been a couple for a year now and were both perfectly aware of their feelings so why was it so hard...
"Hurry, Van!" Quatre urged, tugging on his arm.
"All right, I am coming," Van agreed, his eyes lingering on Hitomi's as if he too wanted to say something before they parted. And then the contact was broken and the three young men quickly hustled off to their tools of war and Hitomi was left alone in the corridor.
"Van," she whispered, "please come back alive."
Une knocked twice on the door to Treize's personal quarters. "Sir?" she called out, "we are approaching Asturia and are ready to begin launching Guymelefs on your command."
From inside came the muffled but unmistakable sound of Treize's voice, "Thank you, lady. I am almost ready. Please come in."
"Come into his Excellency Treize's quarters?" Une murmured and then immediately scolded herself at the indecent thought. Of course his Excellency did not mean to imply anything like that. With a quick breath and a tuck of her plum uniform, she entered the room. Treize's quarters on the Baslam Flying Fortress were much as she had expected. They were roomy but with a distinct personal touch. The walls were filled with artwork and the room was well decorated with furniture as well. What she hadn't expected was that it was a mess. A very organized man at the office, it seemed surprising that Treize was such a bad housekeeper. And yet, the more she thought about it, the less astonishing it seemed.
As she looked past the mess she could see that the door to the bathroom was open. Though Sir Treize was behind the wall and thus, hid from view, the door to the bathroom had a full body mirror attached to it. To her embarrassment, Une realized that she could see that through the reflection she could see his Excellency. To her relief, Treize was at least a decent state of dress, having his breeches on though he lacked a shirt. Lady Une could not help but stare admiringly at the man's physique. Treize was well built but not overly muscular. He was obviously in the process of shaving, as his face was still covered in white lather. As he flicked the razor deftly with one hand, allowing the foam to slip off, the Colonel noted how graceful and smooth the man's movements were. "Stop it!" Une ordered herself, frowning, "He is your superior officer." Still, as Treize finished and slipped a clean white shirt over his head, a part of Une could not help but feel a pang of disappointment.
In the year or so that they had worked together Une could not deny that she had grown to respect and admire the Duke. It was more than that however. Recently she had started to feel an affection for his Excellency that went beyond mere associates. She felt as though she knew Treize better than she had known anyone in her entire life. Even now as she looked about the messy room, she felt an urge to take care of him. To have him need her as she had come to need him. "Une, you fool," she thought, "There is no way Sir Treize feels the same as you. You may be a woman but first you are a Baslam officer. You have fought to hard to overcome the prejudice against your gender to lose it all now."
"Lady Une," Treize addressed her in his usual calm and confident tone, "Could you assist me?"
"Of course your Excellency!" Une quickly complied, pushing her emotions to the farthest corner of her mind. Carefully walking over the clothes which littered the floor, Une stepped over to where Treize was standing just outside the doorway to the washroom. The Duke had put on his blue jacket and was having difficulties lacing it. Keeping her smile hidden, Une quickly began her work, her graceful fingers quickly making the necessary adjustments.
As she finished, Une looked up at Treize, smiling. To her surprise, she saw that he was already staring at her, his pale blue eyes fixed on her face with a captivated look. To her further shock, as her hands froze at the top of his chest, he reached up and took them in his own. "Your- your Excellency," Une stuttered, hardly believing what was happening.
"My dear Colonel. For all your attitude, you are a truly delicate and gentle person," Treize murmured, his eyes staring into hers.
"Mr. Treize," Une murmured, suddenly feeling as if she were in a dream. Could this really be happening?
"If my advances are unwanted please forgive me," Treize spoke, his voice quiet and gentle, "But I feel with this battle drawing near I have to let my true feelings be known. My lady, since the moment we first met I have respected you as an equal. I have always considered you a comrade and friend. However, during the past few months I have found myself wishing for more than a friendship, even one as good as our own. If you do not feel the same then I completely understand, however I felt that I had to let the truth be known before we engaged in this battle."
"Treize," Une whispered, "You know I feel the same. I always have."
Treize leaned forward and Une felt his arms slowly encompass her. As they drew closer, Une could not help but think that things could not have been more perfect. Finally, there lips brushed against each other and Une inhaled, smelling Treize's after shave. It aroma was that of her love. Finally, the two lovers kissed in full, their arms circling around each other. For a moment, Une thought that maybe they could remain in that moment forever, untouched by the war that was beginning around them. And then... the moment was over, and Treize pulled back. Une blinked, staring into his face, that noble face which had won her heart.
"My lady," Treize said softly, "I must leave you now. For battle draws near and we both have great parts to play. However, know that my feelings remain the same as they do now, as they always will. When this war is over I hope that you and I can live a new life together in the future we will create. My dear lady Une, I..."
"Shh!" Une raised a hand to silence him, "Don't tell me now. Please, Treize, don't finish that sentence. I want you to promise me you will say it when this is over. Promise that you will declare your love when we come back. When the fighting is over."
"My dear Une," Treize began but she stopped him a second time, gently touching his face.
"Promise me..." she told him.
"All right," Treize agreed, smiling at her. That wonderful, amazing smile. "I promise."
Une let out a breath and straightened. And the moment was over. But she could still see it in his eyes. That love that she knew would never die. Just like hers. "Thank you for assisting me, Colonel," he expressed his gratitude.
"It was my pleasure, sir," she replied back, saluting him with a smile. He followed suit and his happy expression made her fill with warmth. As the two soldiers began to shift their attention to the battle ahead, Une was left with one fleeting thought which made her chuckle to herself. Treize had worn the exact same uniform every day and had never had problems with the laces.
Wufei was inside Nataku, helmet open so he could see all the soldiers who would follow them to their deaths if the need arose. He was standing on a platform which had been extended from the Libra. Stretched out below him were the Dragon Clan and Baslam troops, filling his vision with the new future. They were preparing to charge and he had chosen to give one final speech to the men who would give their lives to fulfill the Dragon Clan's dream and mark the Draconian people's return to power. The utter silence of the men and vast emptiness of the mountainside allowed his voice to project so that every soldier under their flag could hear him.
"Today marks the beginning of the final stage of the Draconian people's return to power. Fate has selected us as the rulers of a new age in Gaea's history. Victory here will guarantee achievement of all that we have worked so hard to accomplish. I know that you will make us all proud. Give no mercy! Take no prisoners! Today we are started on the road to glory!"
Wufei let out a yell which had no words yet carried a power which no speech could ever contain. It was a cry which was soon taken up until it was a roar which shook the very mountainside. "Like a swarm of dragons on the stampede," Wufei thought proudly. Waving his spear in the air, he launched himself forward off the platform: the signal to charge. With the thundering of twenty thousand feet all running at once, the Dragon Clan and Baslam forces began to rush down the mountain towards the Asturian Army which was already assembling below. The battle had begun.