I don't own Gundam Wing, Cowboy Bebop, or Escaflowne. These are my interpretations of their characters. I don't want to make any money. Etc........
Personally I think this story is shaping up to be even better than the first one. Vicious is going to be a more mysterious and yes, even more evil villain than Heero. I've had a chance to bring Sally Po in which is the one character from Gundam Wing I felt was missing from the last story. Plus I like the way Wufei's character is going to develop during the coarse of this story. As far as I can see this series is going to end up a trilogy. Heero is the main villain in the first one, Vicious in the second, and Wufei in the third. (Yes our little Chang Wufei is going to grow increasingly more important.) Oh, and don't worry, Allen is going to make an appearance shortly along with Lady Une (you didn't forget about her did you? *evil laugh*) Quatre and Trowa probably will become less important in this story. The focus is going to shift more towards Duo (who I thought deserved a more important role in Emperors), Van, Hitomi, and Wufei plus some of the Bebop characters. Oh and Zechs, Heero, Allen, Noin, Dorothy, Sally, Lady Une and Relena will be fairly important too. So many characters to keep track of!
Gaea.
Red, 2nd Moon.
Fanelia.
"So when you say that Heero is gone you mean...?" Van asked quietly. The two young men were walking through the woods that surrounded Fanelia. After hearing Duo's distressing message, the Fanelian King had suggested that they step outside and talk in the open air. The main reason, of course, was that the problematic news had made Van restless and he needed to move in order to maintain his composure.
The woods were as reassuring as always and the king couldn't help but let a small smile slip onto his face as he admired his country. The landscape was particularly stunning that time of year and the fall air was crisp and refreshing. The sunlight filtered through the upper foliage, casting strange and majestic patterns on the path in front of them. Duo's response jerked his thoughts back to the present and Van realized that the other boy had taken so long to answer that he had almost forgotten that he had asked a question. "When I say that he is gone, I mean exactly that. One day he was happily staying in his room, going to the scheduled meetings without complaint and proceeding nicely with his recovery, and the next quarters are abandoned, there are three dead palace guards and one of the horses is missing from the stables."
Van frowned, unsure of what to say. He knew how much Duo cared about his friend but still, he had to ask. "Are you sure that he wasn't planning this the entire time and he was just waiting for a good opportunity to escape?" the seventeen-year-old asked as diplomatically as possible.
Duo shook his head, "I don't think so. For one thing there were plenty of other chances for him to get away. Security got pretty relaxed after the first four months and we both know how strong Heero is. At the time he vanished he had an appointment with me only a short while later and I was already on my way there when we think it happened. There were much better times for him to make his escape. For another thing..." Duo shifted uncomfortably and Van could tell he was having trouble finding the right words. Finally, he turned and looked Van in the eye. "I know Heero," Duo spoke plainly, "probably better than anyone else. He would not have left without saying something. Not so far along in his recovery."
"All right," Van sighed, not doubting the truth behind Duo's words but frustrated that the answer was more complex then he had initially hoped. "So Heero wouldn't have left without something triggering a sudden change. But what?"
"There's something else," Duo mentioned suddenly, "The three guards that were killed. They had their throats slit by some sort of blade. The odd thing is, that while I don't doubt Heero's ability to get his hands on some sort of weapon, none of the soldiers were able to sound the alarm and two of them were posted right outside his door. I find it hard to believe that Allen's soldiers could be taken out so quickly and without any kind of noise. Heero would have had to break down the door and kill them before they could have time to yell. And I don't think even Heero is capable of doing that- not without his own sword in his hands. And the weapon he would have been able to steal would be more along the lines of a kitchen knife."
"You're right," Van agreed, "It seems unlikely that Heero would be able to do it all on his own. That means he must have had outside help. But-"
"Who?" Duo finished. "You see my problem. Allen doesn't want this matter to become too public. He is afraid it might cause a panic and Dryden's meetings with the Gaea Coalition are right on the edge of something great. If there's a disturbance now it throw everything into chaos. That's why I am here. I was hoping you could help me track down Heero and find the truth behind what happened."
As Duo spoke, Van noticed that the trail ahead of them had been damaged. Speeding up his pace, he quickly moved forward to see what had happened. On either side of the path a large portion of the forest had been disturbed, as if something massive had gone rushing through it. Trees had been torn down and much of the foliage was severely trampled. "Look!" Duo exclaimed pointing. Looking down, Van saw the vague outline of footprints in the ground.
"Those are dragon prints!" Van asserted, getting down on one knee to examine the impressions. They were undoubtedly left by one of the large fire-breathing creatures which inhabited the forest. But it was unusual for them to come so close to the city. "And look there," his companion said again, gesturing. Van quickly got to his feet and made his way over to where the tracks had been leading. Next to the footprints of the creature was a trail of thick blood. To Van's surprise, it was blue.
"The dragon was injured!" Van exclaimed, "Come on, let's find out what the trail leads to."
"All right," Duo readily agreed. The two young men set off at a slow jog, trying not to trip on the numerous collapsed plants and trees. After less than two minutes of walking, the path abruptly ended in a small clearing. Duo frowned, looking around in surprise. "What? If the trail stops so abruptly then the dragon must have been killed but there's no sign of a corpse."
"Not exactly," Van explained, slowly, examining the scene carefully, "You see if a dragon's energist is removed then the body quickly dissolves into fine ash like component. If you look carefully you can see a faint layer of it still here."
"So that means whoever killed the Earth Dragon was after its energist," Duo said slowly, "Unless..." The king straightened and looked his friend in the eye.
"Van," Duo asked in a serious tone, "is there anything in your forest capable of taking down an Earth Dragon?"
The King of Fanelia slowly shook his head. "No," he murmured, "The Earth Dragons have no natural predators, at least not in Fanelia. The only reason their population remains so low is because they only lay three eggs in their entire lifetime and because they require so much prey to stay alive."
"Well then we can assume whoever did this was human or at least humanoid," Duo decided, "They were probably after the energist. But who would be foolish enough to voluntarily attack an Earth Dragon and strong enough to pull it off?"
"Whoever it is," Van spoke, slowly turning around to face the way they had come, "They must be very desperate to get their hands on some energists."
"I don't like this, Van," Duo told him as the pair made their way back towards the trail. "I don't like this one bit."
"No Duo," the king replied slowly, "neither do I."
Gaea.
Red, 3rd Moon.
Peacecraft Mansion, Sanc Kingdom.
A gentle knock at the door startled Milliardo and he quickly got to his feet. "Enter," the noblemen commanded. To his relief it was his fiancé who quietly opened the door and entered the room. The sole male heir of the Peacecraft family was in his office and had just finished filling out his weekly report. After returning from Asturia, the heir had chosen to become the leader of the Sanc Kingdom's newly established police force. The small peace-keeping guard had become known as the Watch and the majority of its officers were made up of former soldiers much like himself who were struggling to find a place in the recent times of peace. So far there had been no major incidents and Milliardo found his position to be more political than he would have hoped. Relena had always been one for the politics while her older brother tried to avoid the public affairs as much as possible. Still, things were going well and though Relena had been appointed Queen upon the Sanc Kingdom's independence, she had insisted on that an election be held. However, Milliardo had made sure that the former queen ran for office and not surprisingly Relena won the polls almost unanimously.
As for Milliardo and his bride to be, they were living happily in the Peacecraft Mansion which had been almost completely restored to its original state in the days before Zaibach's invasion. He and Noin were as happy as they ever had been and their mutual trust both in their jobs and at home was greater than ever before. Life, the Peacecraft heir mused, was good.
"Zechs," Noin spoke softly, "Relena told me to ask you whether you would please come to her room. Dorothy has returned from her undercover mission and your sister wants you to be there for her report." Milliardo had almost completely changed his identity to that of a member of the Peacecraft family but he had insisted that Noin continue to call him by the name she had met him by. It was the name of the man she had fallen in love with and it set her apart from the rest of his colleagues and friends.
"Tell her I will be there momentarily," he replied with a smile which was quickly returned. After Noin left, Milliardo's face hardened as he thought back to several months earlier when Dorothy had first set out. The young woman had the heart of a warrior, there was no denying it. She had insisted that the Gaea Coalition was lettings its guard down too quickly after the war. She had then proceeded to requested permission to investigate the rumors which had begun to circulate as to the location of the Dragon Clan's stronghold. Seeing that Dorothy wouldn't take no for an answer and with her older brother's approval, Relena had agreed and several days later the determined young woman set out in travelers clothes and hadn't been seen since. Now she had returned and with important news. Milliardo could feel his fighting spirit beginning to rise and he took several deep, calming breaths before exiting his room and making his way towards Relena's office.
Several minutes later, the leader of the Watch found himself sitting in a red cushioned chair inside his sister's private office. The scene was exactly as he had expected. Relena, the Sanc Kingdom's politically instated Queen, was sitting at her desk calmly. She was dressed in her usual white dress which was both plain and yet seemed to suit her. Noin, dressed in her blue Watch uniform, stood near the door in case of trouble. Milliardo smiled inwardly, knowing perfectly well how much his fiancé prided herself on always being ready and alert. She had taken her role as second in command of the Sanc Kingdom's police force very seriously and, indeed, she did a fine job in keeping the streets safe and clean.
Dorothy was sitting facing Relena parallel to Milliardo. The Peacecraft gentlemen noticed to some amusement that she was still wearing her traveling outfit, similar to the one she had set out in. How typical of Dorothy to be so eager to get to business when it related to possible conflict. Yet even in her street clothes, she managed to look proper and collected as she crossed her legs and sipped the tea Relena had no doubt insisted on providing for the returned explorer.
"Well, Dorothy," Relena spoke, "now that we are all here why don't you tell us exactly what you discovered during your travels."
"Of course, Miss Relena," Dorothy obliged, more than happy to tell of her experiences. Milliardo leaned back in his chair and listened attentively as the young woman spoke of her four month journey.
"When I originally left the Sanc Kingdom, I was trying to discover if there was any truth behind the rumor that the Dragon Clan members were actually allied with the Isapo, the ancient race which originally built Escaflowne. Because the Isapo are so hard to find and like to remain as isolated as possible, I was forced to travel from town to town asking if anyone knew more than simple gossip. I was frustrated when my search continued to come up fruitless. I was preparing to return, frustrated and without any more knowledge than when I originally set out, when I overheard a small group of people in a bar discussing a small group of rebels in the outskirts of one of the farther neighboring cities. I later investigated and discovered that supposedly, a small group had taken up arms with a band of primitives and had been committing acts of terrorism against the power nearby. According to the man I spoke to, the small government had been established many years ago and had built a massive fortress in the midst of the thick forest which surrounded the towns in the area. However, its people rarely had any contact with the townspeople around it except the occasional representative which came into the town for food and supplies. Since the people rarely saw it, and those who knew about it didn't want any more contact than necessary, the castle and its inhabitants had for the most part been forgotten and until recently many assumed that it had been abandoned. However, obviously the militia was still there because the rebels had originated from the fortress."
Dorothy paused to sip her tea before continuing. "It was then that I realized I had undoubtedly found the Dragon Clan's base of operations. The town I was in was one of several on the small land bridge connecting the Asgard continent to that of the main land mass in which kingdoms of the Gaea Coalition are located. The Dragon Clan's base is located on the far side of this land bridge, on the dark continent itself. That is why no one had ever had contact with them prior to the sudden invasion which led to the Battle of Chatal. I had hoped to prove my assumption but the risk was high and by then my money and provisions were running low and I was forced to begin my long journey back."
Dorothy finished her story just as she emptied her cup with a final taste. Setting down the empty cup, she looked Relena in the eye. "Miss Relena, if what the residents of the town say is true, we could be looking at a second invasion. According to the little bits and pieces of information I was able to pick up, the power in that fortress has been growing increasingly large and the traders which get the supplies have been visiting more and more frequently. We can assume that since the Dragon Clan has access to multiple Energist Mines, undoubtedly on the undeveloped Asgard continent, their manpower must be increasing. Thus the only conclusion we can draw is that their army has been spending these months rebuilding and will soon be ready for a second attack."
"I see," Relena's voice was steady but Milliardo could sense his sister's uncertainty. Because she was such a firm believer in pacifism, Relena would be hesitant to build up any sort of military power, no matter what the situation. In these times it would be easy for the smaller nations to rely on Asturia for defense. Though Milliardo had only the highest respect for Sir Allen and his military, he wondered the wisdom in depending too much on any one kingdom's power. If he were ruler of the Sanc Kingdom... But no, he had made his decision seven months ago. Relena was the elected leader and he would support her choice and trust her judgment. Besides, he had also given up fighting and his resolve would not be shaken by the mere possibility of danger.
"Miss Relena," Dorothy leaned closer, her voice staying calm but her eyes betraying her eagerness, "If the Dragon Clan strikes now the Gaea Coalition will be helpless to defend against it. The last two wars have left a gap in Gaea's population. There are relatively few people between the ages of seventeen and thirty able to fight, especially in Asturia. If we do not form some sort of army to defend ourselves, we will get conquered a second time. We must take action, Queen Relena."
"No," Relena shook her head firmly, "I refuse to abandon my principles of peace. The Sanc Kingdom must set an example for the other nations. If we go to arms now it will be sending the wrong message to the other kingdoms."
"Miss Relena," Noin spoke up from near the doorway, "what if we established a program to train anyone who wished to learn how to fight. It would be completely voluntary so it wouldn't force anyone to take action if they didn't wish to. We would include a brief tutorial on Guymelef combat but we wouldn't actually use them as weapons of destruction. This way it would not threaten our position towards peace but still prepare us in case there is a dire need for competent fighters."
Relena leaned back in her chair and pursed her lips thoughtfully. "What do you think, older brother," she asked after several moments had gone by.
Milliardo sighed and glanced out the large window behind his sister's desk. The sunlight was streaking into the room and the grassy slope on which the house was situated stretched out before him. "It is a difficult decision to make. War will always exist among kingdoms and each leader must make their own choice on how to deal with it. Most people agree that it is wrong to fight and kill. However, those same people will often act differently when confronted with a situation in which their life is in danger. It is wrong to go to war and kill people in battles. However, is it not also wrong to sit back and do nothing as people are conquered and oppressed?" The male heir to the Peacecraft family shifted his vision and looked Relena in the eye. "Ultimately it is up to you, the chosen representative of the people, to decide what coarse of action the Sanc Kingdom will take."
Queen Relena was nodding slowly as Milliardo once again lapsed into a stony silence. "It is an important decision for her," he thought, "what she chooses now may come back to haunt her later. However, it was inevitable that she would be forced to face this situation."
"I think I finally understand the hardship you must have faced, father," Relena spoke softly and almost to herself, "and I have new respect for you and the Peacecraft family." Then, her vision refocusing, she seemed to readdress her comrades in the room. "I have decided to create a program for recruiting those who wish to fight to defend our nation. No one will be forced to join and only people who are fit and able will be accepted. Brother, will you work with Noin to train this generation of knights?"
Milliardo only had to pause for a single heartbeat before he made his decision, "I accept this privilege, my Queen, and recognize the responsibilities that come with it. As always, I will take it upon myself to insure the future safety of your peaceful kingdom."
"As do I," Zechs's fiancé added, causing him to smile and look over at her with adoration in his eyes.
"Very well," Relena consented, "I leave this in your capable hands. Please contact Sir Allen as soon as possible to update him on the situation. Dorothy, when you have a chance please let us know where the Dragon Clan headquarters are located."
"Yes, Miss Relena," Dorothy agreed. As Milliardo stood up to leave and began to make his way towards his beloved to exit, she turned and addressed him. "Sir Milliardo!"
Zechs glanced behind him and turned to face the younger woman. Dorothy's long blond hair, which was almost as white as his own, was a mess and her clothes were in tatters but her expression was one of regal pride and strength. "Milliardo, sir," she said his name a second time and for the first time the gentleman realized the degree of respect which was evident in her tone. "Consider me to be your first volunteer. Please train me in the art of war, sir."
Milliardo shouldn't have been surprised by Dorothy's request. He had half expected it, but somehow hearing it he was caught off guard. The young woman before him was requesting he make her into a warrior. He glanced over at Noin to find her staring at him expectantly. Yes, Zechs smiled, he had fought alongside quite capable fighters before who were women. Noin and Lady Une were just two examples. And then, looking into Dorothy's determined eyes, his doubts were put aside and somehow he knew she would become a fearsome soldier indeed. "Very well, Miss Catalonia," Milliardo's voice was as serious as the request he was about to grant, "I will train you."
"Thank you sir," Dorothy replied, looking him in the eye before walking past him towards her own room in the large Peacecraft mansion.
"Zechs," Noin spoke softly.
"I know," her boyfriend replied with a sigh, "Allen isn't going to like this. Still, we'd better contact him and let him know about this threat as soon as possible."
"I know," the young woman spoke, "but unfortunately Dorothy was right on several accounts. With the exception of Daedalus, Asturia took the most damage from the last attack. We won't be able to depend on them nearly as much as we did last time."
"This could be bad," Zechs observed, "if the Dragon Clan launches a second assault now the Gaea Coalition will be virtually powerless to stop them."
Noin gently reached out a hand and Milliardo took it gratefully, reassured by the touch of his beloved. "All we can do now is send out the message and pray we're not too late."
Personally I think this story is shaping up to be even better than the first one. Vicious is going to be a more mysterious and yes, even more evil villain than Heero. I've had a chance to bring Sally Po in which is the one character from Gundam Wing I felt was missing from the last story. Plus I like the way Wufei's character is going to develop during the coarse of this story. As far as I can see this series is going to end up a trilogy. Heero is the main villain in the first one, Vicious in the second, and Wufei in the third. (Yes our little Chang Wufei is going to grow increasingly more important.) Oh, and don't worry, Allen is going to make an appearance shortly along with Lady Une (you didn't forget about her did you? *evil laugh*) Quatre and Trowa probably will become less important in this story. The focus is going to shift more towards Duo (who I thought deserved a more important role in Emperors), Van, Hitomi, and Wufei plus some of the Bebop characters. Oh and Zechs, Heero, Allen, Noin, Dorothy, Sally, Lady Une and Relena will be fairly important too. So many characters to keep track of!
Gaea.
Red, 2nd Moon.
Fanelia.
"So when you say that Heero is gone you mean...?" Van asked quietly. The two young men were walking through the woods that surrounded Fanelia. After hearing Duo's distressing message, the Fanelian King had suggested that they step outside and talk in the open air. The main reason, of course, was that the problematic news had made Van restless and he needed to move in order to maintain his composure.
The woods were as reassuring as always and the king couldn't help but let a small smile slip onto his face as he admired his country. The landscape was particularly stunning that time of year and the fall air was crisp and refreshing. The sunlight filtered through the upper foliage, casting strange and majestic patterns on the path in front of them. Duo's response jerked his thoughts back to the present and Van realized that the other boy had taken so long to answer that he had almost forgotten that he had asked a question. "When I say that he is gone, I mean exactly that. One day he was happily staying in his room, going to the scheduled meetings without complaint and proceeding nicely with his recovery, and the next quarters are abandoned, there are three dead palace guards and one of the horses is missing from the stables."
Van frowned, unsure of what to say. He knew how much Duo cared about his friend but still, he had to ask. "Are you sure that he wasn't planning this the entire time and he was just waiting for a good opportunity to escape?" the seventeen-year-old asked as diplomatically as possible.
Duo shook his head, "I don't think so. For one thing there were plenty of other chances for him to get away. Security got pretty relaxed after the first four months and we both know how strong Heero is. At the time he vanished he had an appointment with me only a short while later and I was already on my way there when we think it happened. There were much better times for him to make his escape. For another thing..." Duo shifted uncomfortably and Van could tell he was having trouble finding the right words. Finally, he turned and looked Van in the eye. "I know Heero," Duo spoke plainly, "probably better than anyone else. He would not have left without saying something. Not so far along in his recovery."
"All right," Van sighed, not doubting the truth behind Duo's words but frustrated that the answer was more complex then he had initially hoped. "So Heero wouldn't have left without something triggering a sudden change. But what?"
"There's something else," Duo mentioned suddenly, "The three guards that were killed. They had their throats slit by some sort of blade. The odd thing is, that while I don't doubt Heero's ability to get his hands on some sort of weapon, none of the soldiers were able to sound the alarm and two of them were posted right outside his door. I find it hard to believe that Allen's soldiers could be taken out so quickly and without any kind of noise. Heero would have had to break down the door and kill them before they could have time to yell. And I don't think even Heero is capable of doing that- not without his own sword in his hands. And the weapon he would have been able to steal would be more along the lines of a kitchen knife."
"You're right," Van agreed, "It seems unlikely that Heero would be able to do it all on his own. That means he must have had outside help. But-"
"Who?" Duo finished. "You see my problem. Allen doesn't want this matter to become too public. He is afraid it might cause a panic and Dryden's meetings with the Gaea Coalition are right on the edge of something great. If there's a disturbance now it throw everything into chaos. That's why I am here. I was hoping you could help me track down Heero and find the truth behind what happened."
As Duo spoke, Van noticed that the trail ahead of them had been damaged. Speeding up his pace, he quickly moved forward to see what had happened. On either side of the path a large portion of the forest had been disturbed, as if something massive had gone rushing through it. Trees had been torn down and much of the foliage was severely trampled. "Look!" Duo exclaimed pointing. Looking down, Van saw the vague outline of footprints in the ground.
"Those are dragon prints!" Van asserted, getting down on one knee to examine the impressions. They were undoubtedly left by one of the large fire-breathing creatures which inhabited the forest. But it was unusual for them to come so close to the city. "And look there," his companion said again, gesturing. Van quickly got to his feet and made his way over to where the tracks had been leading. Next to the footprints of the creature was a trail of thick blood. To Van's surprise, it was blue.
"The dragon was injured!" Van exclaimed, "Come on, let's find out what the trail leads to."
"All right," Duo readily agreed. The two young men set off at a slow jog, trying not to trip on the numerous collapsed plants and trees. After less than two minutes of walking, the path abruptly ended in a small clearing. Duo frowned, looking around in surprise. "What? If the trail stops so abruptly then the dragon must have been killed but there's no sign of a corpse."
"Not exactly," Van explained, slowly, examining the scene carefully, "You see if a dragon's energist is removed then the body quickly dissolves into fine ash like component. If you look carefully you can see a faint layer of it still here."
"So that means whoever killed the Earth Dragon was after its energist," Duo said slowly, "Unless..." The king straightened and looked his friend in the eye.
"Van," Duo asked in a serious tone, "is there anything in your forest capable of taking down an Earth Dragon?"
The King of Fanelia slowly shook his head. "No," he murmured, "The Earth Dragons have no natural predators, at least not in Fanelia. The only reason their population remains so low is because they only lay three eggs in their entire lifetime and because they require so much prey to stay alive."
"Well then we can assume whoever did this was human or at least humanoid," Duo decided, "They were probably after the energist. But who would be foolish enough to voluntarily attack an Earth Dragon and strong enough to pull it off?"
"Whoever it is," Van spoke, slowly turning around to face the way they had come, "They must be very desperate to get their hands on some energists."
"I don't like this, Van," Duo told him as the pair made their way back towards the trail. "I don't like this one bit."
"No Duo," the king replied slowly, "neither do I."
Gaea.
Red, 3rd Moon.
Peacecraft Mansion, Sanc Kingdom.
A gentle knock at the door startled Milliardo and he quickly got to his feet. "Enter," the noblemen commanded. To his relief it was his fiancé who quietly opened the door and entered the room. The sole male heir of the Peacecraft family was in his office and had just finished filling out his weekly report. After returning from Asturia, the heir had chosen to become the leader of the Sanc Kingdom's newly established police force. The small peace-keeping guard had become known as the Watch and the majority of its officers were made up of former soldiers much like himself who were struggling to find a place in the recent times of peace. So far there had been no major incidents and Milliardo found his position to be more political than he would have hoped. Relena had always been one for the politics while her older brother tried to avoid the public affairs as much as possible. Still, things were going well and though Relena had been appointed Queen upon the Sanc Kingdom's independence, she had insisted on that an election be held. However, Milliardo had made sure that the former queen ran for office and not surprisingly Relena won the polls almost unanimously.
As for Milliardo and his bride to be, they were living happily in the Peacecraft Mansion which had been almost completely restored to its original state in the days before Zaibach's invasion. He and Noin were as happy as they ever had been and their mutual trust both in their jobs and at home was greater than ever before. Life, the Peacecraft heir mused, was good.
"Zechs," Noin spoke softly, "Relena told me to ask you whether you would please come to her room. Dorothy has returned from her undercover mission and your sister wants you to be there for her report." Milliardo had almost completely changed his identity to that of a member of the Peacecraft family but he had insisted that Noin continue to call him by the name she had met him by. It was the name of the man she had fallen in love with and it set her apart from the rest of his colleagues and friends.
"Tell her I will be there momentarily," he replied with a smile which was quickly returned. After Noin left, Milliardo's face hardened as he thought back to several months earlier when Dorothy had first set out. The young woman had the heart of a warrior, there was no denying it. She had insisted that the Gaea Coalition was lettings its guard down too quickly after the war. She had then proceeded to requested permission to investigate the rumors which had begun to circulate as to the location of the Dragon Clan's stronghold. Seeing that Dorothy wouldn't take no for an answer and with her older brother's approval, Relena had agreed and several days later the determined young woman set out in travelers clothes and hadn't been seen since. Now she had returned and with important news. Milliardo could feel his fighting spirit beginning to rise and he took several deep, calming breaths before exiting his room and making his way towards Relena's office.
Several minutes later, the leader of the Watch found himself sitting in a red cushioned chair inside his sister's private office. The scene was exactly as he had expected. Relena, the Sanc Kingdom's politically instated Queen, was sitting at her desk calmly. She was dressed in her usual white dress which was both plain and yet seemed to suit her. Noin, dressed in her blue Watch uniform, stood near the door in case of trouble. Milliardo smiled inwardly, knowing perfectly well how much his fiancé prided herself on always being ready and alert. She had taken her role as second in command of the Sanc Kingdom's police force very seriously and, indeed, she did a fine job in keeping the streets safe and clean.
Dorothy was sitting facing Relena parallel to Milliardo. The Peacecraft gentlemen noticed to some amusement that she was still wearing her traveling outfit, similar to the one she had set out in. How typical of Dorothy to be so eager to get to business when it related to possible conflict. Yet even in her street clothes, she managed to look proper and collected as she crossed her legs and sipped the tea Relena had no doubt insisted on providing for the returned explorer.
"Well, Dorothy," Relena spoke, "now that we are all here why don't you tell us exactly what you discovered during your travels."
"Of course, Miss Relena," Dorothy obliged, more than happy to tell of her experiences. Milliardo leaned back in his chair and listened attentively as the young woman spoke of her four month journey.
"When I originally left the Sanc Kingdom, I was trying to discover if there was any truth behind the rumor that the Dragon Clan members were actually allied with the Isapo, the ancient race which originally built Escaflowne. Because the Isapo are so hard to find and like to remain as isolated as possible, I was forced to travel from town to town asking if anyone knew more than simple gossip. I was frustrated when my search continued to come up fruitless. I was preparing to return, frustrated and without any more knowledge than when I originally set out, when I overheard a small group of people in a bar discussing a small group of rebels in the outskirts of one of the farther neighboring cities. I later investigated and discovered that supposedly, a small group had taken up arms with a band of primitives and had been committing acts of terrorism against the power nearby. According to the man I spoke to, the small government had been established many years ago and had built a massive fortress in the midst of the thick forest which surrounded the towns in the area. However, its people rarely had any contact with the townspeople around it except the occasional representative which came into the town for food and supplies. Since the people rarely saw it, and those who knew about it didn't want any more contact than necessary, the castle and its inhabitants had for the most part been forgotten and until recently many assumed that it had been abandoned. However, obviously the militia was still there because the rebels had originated from the fortress."
Dorothy paused to sip her tea before continuing. "It was then that I realized I had undoubtedly found the Dragon Clan's base of operations. The town I was in was one of several on the small land bridge connecting the Asgard continent to that of the main land mass in which kingdoms of the Gaea Coalition are located. The Dragon Clan's base is located on the far side of this land bridge, on the dark continent itself. That is why no one had ever had contact with them prior to the sudden invasion which led to the Battle of Chatal. I had hoped to prove my assumption but the risk was high and by then my money and provisions were running low and I was forced to begin my long journey back."
Dorothy finished her story just as she emptied her cup with a final taste. Setting down the empty cup, she looked Relena in the eye. "Miss Relena, if what the residents of the town say is true, we could be looking at a second invasion. According to the little bits and pieces of information I was able to pick up, the power in that fortress has been growing increasingly large and the traders which get the supplies have been visiting more and more frequently. We can assume that since the Dragon Clan has access to multiple Energist Mines, undoubtedly on the undeveloped Asgard continent, their manpower must be increasing. Thus the only conclusion we can draw is that their army has been spending these months rebuilding and will soon be ready for a second attack."
"I see," Relena's voice was steady but Milliardo could sense his sister's uncertainty. Because she was such a firm believer in pacifism, Relena would be hesitant to build up any sort of military power, no matter what the situation. In these times it would be easy for the smaller nations to rely on Asturia for defense. Though Milliardo had only the highest respect for Sir Allen and his military, he wondered the wisdom in depending too much on any one kingdom's power. If he were ruler of the Sanc Kingdom... But no, he had made his decision seven months ago. Relena was the elected leader and he would support her choice and trust her judgment. Besides, he had also given up fighting and his resolve would not be shaken by the mere possibility of danger.
"Miss Relena," Dorothy leaned closer, her voice staying calm but her eyes betraying her eagerness, "If the Dragon Clan strikes now the Gaea Coalition will be helpless to defend against it. The last two wars have left a gap in Gaea's population. There are relatively few people between the ages of seventeen and thirty able to fight, especially in Asturia. If we do not form some sort of army to defend ourselves, we will get conquered a second time. We must take action, Queen Relena."
"No," Relena shook her head firmly, "I refuse to abandon my principles of peace. The Sanc Kingdom must set an example for the other nations. If we go to arms now it will be sending the wrong message to the other kingdoms."
"Miss Relena," Noin spoke up from near the doorway, "what if we established a program to train anyone who wished to learn how to fight. It would be completely voluntary so it wouldn't force anyone to take action if they didn't wish to. We would include a brief tutorial on Guymelef combat but we wouldn't actually use them as weapons of destruction. This way it would not threaten our position towards peace but still prepare us in case there is a dire need for competent fighters."
Relena leaned back in her chair and pursed her lips thoughtfully. "What do you think, older brother," she asked after several moments had gone by.
Milliardo sighed and glanced out the large window behind his sister's desk. The sunlight was streaking into the room and the grassy slope on which the house was situated stretched out before him. "It is a difficult decision to make. War will always exist among kingdoms and each leader must make their own choice on how to deal with it. Most people agree that it is wrong to fight and kill. However, those same people will often act differently when confronted with a situation in which their life is in danger. It is wrong to go to war and kill people in battles. However, is it not also wrong to sit back and do nothing as people are conquered and oppressed?" The male heir to the Peacecraft family shifted his vision and looked Relena in the eye. "Ultimately it is up to you, the chosen representative of the people, to decide what coarse of action the Sanc Kingdom will take."
Queen Relena was nodding slowly as Milliardo once again lapsed into a stony silence. "It is an important decision for her," he thought, "what she chooses now may come back to haunt her later. However, it was inevitable that she would be forced to face this situation."
"I think I finally understand the hardship you must have faced, father," Relena spoke softly and almost to herself, "and I have new respect for you and the Peacecraft family." Then, her vision refocusing, she seemed to readdress her comrades in the room. "I have decided to create a program for recruiting those who wish to fight to defend our nation. No one will be forced to join and only people who are fit and able will be accepted. Brother, will you work with Noin to train this generation of knights?"
Milliardo only had to pause for a single heartbeat before he made his decision, "I accept this privilege, my Queen, and recognize the responsibilities that come with it. As always, I will take it upon myself to insure the future safety of your peaceful kingdom."
"As do I," Zechs's fiancé added, causing him to smile and look over at her with adoration in his eyes.
"Very well," Relena consented, "I leave this in your capable hands. Please contact Sir Allen as soon as possible to update him on the situation. Dorothy, when you have a chance please let us know where the Dragon Clan headquarters are located."
"Yes, Miss Relena," Dorothy agreed. As Milliardo stood up to leave and began to make his way towards his beloved to exit, she turned and addressed him. "Sir Milliardo!"
Zechs glanced behind him and turned to face the younger woman. Dorothy's long blond hair, which was almost as white as his own, was a mess and her clothes were in tatters but her expression was one of regal pride and strength. "Milliardo, sir," she said his name a second time and for the first time the gentleman realized the degree of respect which was evident in her tone. "Consider me to be your first volunteer. Please train me in the art of war, sir."
Milliardo shouldn't have been surprised by Dorothy's request. He had half expected it, but somehow hearing it he was caught off guard. The young woman before him was requesting he make her into a warrior. He glanced over at Noin to find her staring at him expectantly. Yes, Zechs smiled, he had fought alongside quite capable fighters before who were women. Noin and Lady Une were just two examples. And then, looking into Dorothy's determined eyes, his doubts were put aside and somehow he knew she would become a fearsome soldier indeed. "Very well, Miss Catalonia," Milliardo's voice was as serious as the request he was about to grant, "I will train you."
"Thank you sir," Dorothy replied, looking him in the eye before walking past him towards her own room in the large Peacecraft mansion.
"Zechs," Noin spoke softly.
"I know," her boyfriend replied with a sigh, "Allen isn't going to like this. Still, we'd better contact him and let him know about this threat as soon as possible."
"I know," the young woman spoke, "but unfortunately Dorothy was right on several accounts. With the exception of Daedalus, Asturia took the most damage from the last attack. We won't be able to depend on them nearly as much as we did last time."
"This could be bad," Zechs observed, "if the Dragon Clan launches a second assault now the Gaea Coalition will be virtually powerless to stop them."
Noin gently reached out a hand and Milliardo took it gratefully, reassured by the touch of his beloved. "All we can do now is send out the message and pray we're not too late."
