Chapter Fifteen

" Treize! Treize!"

" What is it, Lady Une?"

" Our soldiers were driven out of Mountains of Dream!"

" Is it?"

" Allow me to lead another attack."

" No, no need. Looks like I have underestimated them."

" Why?"

Treize looked at Lady Une. She was furious. She could not believe that OZ has been beaten by the boys. He himself had not expected it. Something stirred in him.

" I have another plan," he answered. " For EverlastVille."

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" You're lying!" Relena accused vehemently at Noin. " How can he be my brother? My brother, if I have a brother, will never be so evil! He even tried to kill me!"

" Believe me, I was as shocked as you are now," Noin said.

" Can we trust this Howard, Noin? What does he have to prove that we are siblings?" Zechs asked. He was as doubtful as Relena. If she is his sister…

God, I tried to kill my own sister.

" I knew you would ask me this. I asked Howard the very same question." Noin took out a photograph from her pocket. It was a little brownish in colour. " This is the evidence. Sorry but Howard dirtied it when he accidentally spilled some coffee on it."

Relena and Zechs grabbed the photograph at the same time. Dorothy peered over their shoulders to take a look. It was a blissful picture of a family – Peacecraft himself, his wife and their children. Little Zechs was standing in front of his parents, dangerously trying to balance his sister on his young shoulders. His sister was laughing, enjoying the fun. Peacecraft had his arms around his wife's shoulders. They were a beautiful family. One that never dreamt about the dark future that lay ahead of them.

Relena recognized herself in the picture. It was strange, but as far as she remembered, she never had a photograph taken before four years old. And so she would not have been able to recognize herself. But she did. She knew that girl was her. You may ask how. But if you see yourself in a photo that you had forgotten about it, don't you think that you can recognize yourself since you yourself is that particular girl? As we often say, " I know myself best. You don't know."

Zechs remembered the day when they had taken that picture. It was one of Father's rare days off in which he would relax with the family. Mother had suggested taking some pictures to celebrate this special day. Zechs himself had jumped for joy, while still cradling his sister. Mother had chided him mildly. Father had laughed.

Father was a tall and understanding man, someone who was always busy, a person who seldom find time to shave. Children then were not named till they were four. So often, they were called by pet names such as " Naughty Lamb," " Bad Kitty," " Rascal," " Crybaby" and so on. To the people of Magic Kingdom, names are sacred, a term that will identity you till you died. But always, parents had long chosen the names of their children and so they only have to wait till their fourth birthday to give them this present. This is to make sure that the child pronounces his or her sacred name correctly. Mother had told him her name once but he had forgot. Now everything came back.

" Relena…Little Lily…that was what Mother used to call you."

And it came back to her. Her parents, no, her adopted parents used to call her " Little Lily" when they were exasperated with her. And she detested it for it sound so childish to her ears. They had used it till she was twelve. The couple in the photograph was her real parents, not them. Now she remembered. The lullabies Mother sang to her; her sweet laughter; how Father had carried her high up with his manly arms; her brother's curious eyes on her. It all came flashing back.

" Yes, yes I remember," she whispered in a choked voice. " But Noin, how did Howard know my name, the name my parents had intended to give me?"

" He didn't know. It was your father's man who told him.  The one who helped him saved the two of you. Howard did not hear from him ever since. He might even be dead now," Noin said.

" Relena," Zechs said. " I'm sorry. I'm sorry I tried to kill you." He tightened his hands and looked down in shame. He could not face her. " I'm not a good brother."

She shook her head. " No. You didn't know I am your sister. Brother…" Her eyes were brimming with tears.

Zechs took her into his arms and Relena cried softly. She was crying for everything that had happened, for him, for her, for their parents and Magic Kingdom. Noin's eyes were moist but she did not cry. She bit her lips in happiness. She had done it. She had found his sister. Dorothy wiped away a tear. She was smiling too. Zechs shut his eyes. He could hardly believe it was true. But it is. He has his sister back.

It felt good to have a family. The feeling was ecstatic and infectious. To be able to witness such an event is heartwarming. But to be able to be part of it is even more joyful. Somehow, Noin knew she would be part of this family. And to see Zechs smile was better than finding a pot of gold.

But the reunion did not last long. Explosions from outside disrupted their mood. An urgent knock on Zechs door came swiftly after that. A soldier hurried in. " Enemies! The enemies have attacked!"

" Guard the prisoner!" Zechs commanded. " Noin, you lead the elite troop."

" Yes!" Noin left the room with the soldier.

" Relena, you come with me."

" Brother, I want to see him," Relena said.

" See who?" he asked.

" The prisoner. Is he Heero?"

Zechs looked into her worried eyes. " No. It's his friend, Duo. Is Heero your boyfriend?"

Relena shook her head, face turning red. " No. We are just friends. Do you know where is he?" She sounded disappointed.

It was Zechs' turn to shake his head. " I don't know." Then he quickly added, " Duo won't know either. I believe someone saved him. Don't worry, I'm sure he's okay. That boy has nine lives. Right now, let's get you to a safe place."

Dorothy spoke, " No need, Mr Peacecraft. Miss Relena and I would like to stay and watch the fight. We won't get in your way. Right?" She turned to Relena and whispered, " Maybe the enemy out there knows where Heero is. Or it could even be Heero."

Relena brightened up, eyes sparkling with rekindled hope. " Right. We won't be of a hindrance, Brother. Please, just let us stay."

Zechs was willing to do anything right now to please his little sister. And he could guess what it was that she wants to do. " Ok. Just don't get in the way."

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" Shield!" Quatre yelled and a round ball of cover protected him and several of the Maganac people from the fire spells.

" Go, Master Quatre!" Rasid said to him. " We'll cover you!"

" Be careful!" he cautioned and dashed towards OZ's base. Rasid and two others ran behind him, firing spells at the OZ soldiers. Quatre generated heat into his Cross Crushers. " Heat Shooter!" He hurled it at an OZ officer. The man cried out in fright but the curved weapons never touched him. It came to a stop just before his nose, forming a huge X. The man sank to his knees, shaking like a newborn lamb.

Quatre took his Cross Crushers and positioned it menacingly at him. " Take me to the prisoner now or else."

" Please, please don't kill me," he begged.

All the guards outside of Duo's cell were killed easily. Quatre broke open the door with a magical force and shoved a soldier to a side. " Duo!"

Duo grinned at him with relief. " Hey Quatre, good to see you. I guess everyone knows I'm stuck here."

" I'll get you out." Quatre cut the ropes and helped him to his feet. Duo stood up unsteadily, staggering a little. He had been tied to the chair for some days now and his legs felt wobbly.

" My legs are numb," Duo said, wincing. Zechs had not tortured him but some of the OZ soldiers had been secretly doing that.

" No problem," Rasid replied airily and proceeded to help Duo from his Master Quatre. He carried the God of Death into the air and placed him gently on his broad shoulder.

Duo was much too astounded to fight back from being treated like a sack of rice. " Hey, where did you get this guy?"

" I'll tell you later. Let's go!" Quatre led the way out.

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Outside, the Maganac troop was busy warding off the MDs. They encouraged one another with shouts and nods.

" Hey Albert, buck up! I'm right behind you!"

" Show these fools our prowess!"

" We must not lose! We cannot! Master Quatre is still inside!"

" Charge!!!"

Noin came out into the battlefield with a fresh group of soldiers. She pointed a finger and the elite ones joined the fight. Noin busied herself with instructions. " Send out more MDs! We cannot risk losing more soldiers."

A flustered soldier dashed to her. " Miss Noin, the prisoner has escaped!"

" What?"

At this moment, Quatre and the others emerged. He soon created a path between the two fighting sides for him to rejoin the Maganac force.

" Master Quatre!" they greeted him with smiles. " Master Quatre is out!"

" Hey Wolverine, you think you can put me down?" Duo asked.

" My name's Rasid." He placed him down.

" Well, you certainly are strong."

" Surrender, rebels," Noin told them.

" The Maganac will never surrender to you!" Rasid shouted and the rest backed him up.

" I know you'll say that."

" Then what are we waiting for?"

The two sides were at each other's throats when Zechs came out. He had been observing the fight from the building. Relena and Dorothy trotted behind him.  Quatre caught sight of them.

" Relena? Dorothy?"

Duo, though weak and injured, was not willing to give up. He fought with ordinary magic and wits. Upon hearing the girls' names, he looked up. " Don't tell me Zechs caught them too?"

" Brother, get them to stop. Too many people have died already," Relena pleaded with him. It wrenched her heart so to see lives wasted because of violence.

But Zechs did not need to do anything. The two sides came to a halt with merely his presence. Noin came up beside him. For a minute, no one spoke. Then, Zechs said, " Sister, ask them what you want before I kill them."

" Sister?!" Duo repeated the word in disbelief. " Relena is his sister? How can that be?"

" No, please don't kill them. Brother, please stop staining your hands with blood. War can never solve anything. Let them go," Relena said.

Right then, Zechs realized the pacifist in her and a surge of feelings washed him over. Father, you have an heir, he thought with happiness but at the same time, he could not help but feel forlorn. He cannot turn back now. Once a person is in OZ, he will stay with it forever, till the end of his life. The only way to escape from its clutches is death.

" Relena, it is too late for me. I want you to take over the throne. It is not for me. It is for our parents," he said.

Quatre and Duo stared at each other, then at them. What is going on?

" No!" Relena protested. " You can turn back!"

" I can't," he said sadly. " OZ will never allow me to leave. Maybe the only way to do that is for you to defeat me." The joyful reunion between them was so transient. Zechs would treasure it forever.

" Let's not talk about it now." Relena tore her eyes away from him. " I just want you to let them go."

Even as an outsider, Noin was touched. She wondered about Zechs. Relena was no ordinary girl. She was a princess. And a princess is different.

Silence hung in the air. Everyone had heard the bizarre conversation between the two. Could it be true? That they are indeed siblings? Zechs took out the Deathscythe tablet from his pocket and threw it at Duo. He caught it.

" I won't take advantage of your injury. When you are well, we'll fight again." It was a way of saving his face and to give in to his sister's wish. He needed time to think it all over again. He had never felt so confused in his life before.

The Maganacs were stunned. They were all in battle positions.

" Retreat!" Quatre ordered. The group moved back, with the exception of the two boys.

" Relena, is it true?" Quatre said. Though his voice was barely audible to her, she understood what he was saying. And nodded firmly.

" Quatre, do you where is Heero?" she asked loudly.

" No, I haven't seen him."

OZ watched them retreat.

" Zechs! We'll be back to fight you!" Duo yelled. " This is to repay you for your kindness!"

Zechs yelled back. " It is not Zechs who had let you go. It is…Milliardo Peacecraft."

" Brother…" Relena began. Noin smiled at him.

" 'Zechs Merquise' was my pet name. It means 'Lightning Count' in the ancient language of the Magic Kingdom."

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" Ouch!!! Easy with the body! Easy!" Duo cried in pain. He cursed under his breath.

" If you want to get well, you got to bear with it. And what was it that you say?" Rasid was anointing medicine to the bruises on Duo's bare back. Quatre could not help but chuckle.

" You can still laugh." His friend pursed his lips at him. " Easy, Rasid. Easy please…" He gritted his teeth. " I can't believe those two are siblings."

" Neither can I. Life can be so unpredictable." Quatre gazed out at the window. The Maganac people were resting, eating and talking at the same time. They were back in the realm Earth, at the home of the Maganac people. They live in tents at the border of a desert. Their daily lives used to be so simple and carefree, but now…

" If I can have one wish. I would wish for peace, even if it means sacrificing my life," Quatre whispered.

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At Magic Town, life was on its way back to normal. More pupils were going back to school; homes were rebuilt; and adults felt safe to let their tykes play in the streets again. An occasional laughter can be heard from somewhere. Though the war was still on, people want to forget about it. They want their normal lives back. And so they pretend, pretend that things were still the same.

Catherine sighed again. Hilde stopped doing her homework and came to her side. " Thinking about your brother again?"

" I'm really worried about him. I wonder how he is. If he's here, I always have to nag at him to do his homework. When that boy's with his animals and friends, he forgets about his homework. He won't admit that he forget about doing his homework. He's a darn good actor, but I can see. Oh! I just wish he was back!" Catherine sobbed. Hilde embraced her friend, squeezing her shoulders.

" I understand, Catherine. Cry, go ahead and have a good cry. You'll feel better."

Before long, Hilde joined Catherine in her tears.