Tranquil Tragedy

By: M o o n M y s t

As I rest against this cold hard wall

Will you pass me by?

Will you criticize me as I sit and cry?

I had fought so hard and thought

That all my battles had been won

Only to find that the war has just begun

- 'Strong Enough', Stacie Orrico

A young man, his platinum blonde hair streaking behind him, ran into the Grand Hall. He was unaccompanied, but his face showed signs of fear and undeniable alarm. His usual calm manner was thrown away in the urgency of the situation. There was definitely something iniquitous about the way he constantly looked behind him, expecting the worst.

Though the hall had been newly decorated, its foreboding presence was still ominously frightening – especially since it was empty – dead empty. Milliardo looked around frantically, hoping for anyone to come rescue him – save him from the things he had just heard. As a mere nine year old boy, he was strong, but still naïve – vulnerably so.

He turned sharply at the footsteps that were moving quickly towards him, their precise sounds filling his ears with intensity. The young man's cerulean eyes widened as he thought, They must have seen me – someone help me! What was he to do?

Then the majestic doors of the Grand Hall burst open, a vivid torrent of people spilled into the room – people that seemed happy and rather content – not people who were looking to pursue him. The eldest Peacecraft child spotted his father in the crowd, multitudes of advisers at his side and a complacent smile upon his face.

Did these people not know that the heir to their kingdom was in mortal peril? Did they not understand that they, too, could be assaulted upon at any moment? From their cheery dispositions and glad tidings that met his unhearing ears with slight condescension, it was obvious that ignorance was the only thing that occupied their substandard minds.

"Father!" he called into the crowd, his meekly panicked voice clashing with the joyous sounds of a party.

The regal king stared in surprise, knowing that the voice belonged to his only son, for it was hardly mistakable with its deep tendencies, even though it was recognizable as that of a youngster's.

"What is it, Milliardo?"

The boy ran towards the paternal man, hateful words still ringing throughout his head, but knowing that his father would make things all right again. Perhaps it was but a misunderstanding. No, no one could say such things in the Cinq Kingdom and be a friend – no, it was obvious that what he had overheard were plans to overthrow the monarchy.

"Father, I think you should come with me." He responded quietly, mindful of the many people that were constantly around them.

"What's wrong?"

But Milliardo just gave Mr. Peacecraft a cock of his head in the direction of the king's office. The tall man agreed with his own nod, and pressed a hand upon his son's shoulder supportively. Steering Milliardo gently to the study, he eyed his guests warily – it was most certain that the heir to the Cinq Kingdom was troubled about something, and so the people about the Hall stared suspiciously, a murmur moving about the crowd as they passed.

By the time they had reached the study, the Hall was quiet with questioning, it clear that something was wrong. A flock of advisers followed the king suggestively, their presence seemed a nuisance to the king and his son, though neither said so.

As the door closed behind the last trusted consultant, Milliardo began to spurt out a lengthy tale of spies, danger, and certain danger. The counselors' eyebrows arching with incredulity at every phrase the young man uttered, even though he was to be the next king, he had yet to gain their confidence and respect.

"Are you done?" asked the king once his son had taken his first breath of air since his story had begun.

"Yes."

Uneasily shifting in their shoes, the people just stared at the young prince, hesitant words suppressed in their minds – would the heir to one of the greatest kingdoms on Earth tell a lie?

~*~

Relena bounced about the corridor in her usual jovial manner, her confrontation with Julia forgotten in the excitement of the delegation that had finally arrived this morning. A slight smile adorned the child's face, a whisper of freedom followed the girl wherever she went, for her mother had no more time to look after her that she did to rest a moment.

However, the beaming smile was bizarrely obliterated from her face as she saw a figure walking down the hall, chestnut hair unusually straight, and brown eyes estranged with coldness. Relena watched in awe, guessing the girl was not much older than eleven winters.

"Ms. Relena?" asked the brunette girl.

The youngest Peacecraft eyed the girl suspiciously, unsure of her reasons for knowing who and where she was – Relena was always skeptical of anyone that could keep up with her. But her trusting nature took precedence and she smiled, deciding that the girl couldn't be anything but companionable, "Yes, I am Relena Peacecraft."

The other girl smiled in return, her brown eyes full of the knowledge that Relena had yet to grasp onto, "Good, I was just about ready to give up searching, but you left your sash in the conservatory, so I knew you had to be in the South Wing."

"What's your name?"

"My name is Morgen," she answered, a tired contempt coming over her face. Morgen hated her name beyond all others things about herself – the name her father had given her. You see, the slim young girl lived with her mother, and only her mother. She was lonely and yet forever feeling bombarded with company – and not the nicest kind. This was probably the reasoning behind her nearly bi-polar nature, and her need for someone to cling to, for feeling the extremes of adolescence was beginning to weigh down upon her, almost to the point that it was consuming. "By the way, what are you doing here?"

The blonde mumbled some half-hearted reply, but was surprised when the other girl laughed at her. "What?" she asked questioningly, it was apparent enough that she was very self-conscious of other feelings – not mention what others thought of her.

"Oh, nothing," she said, a soft chuckle on the tip of her tongue, but her tone changed in an split second, the coldness in her eyes and the bitterness of her words joining to create a display of hate. "Now, go to your room and change, immediately, you're already past late – it's a wonder you're still a princess – if you we're my daughter, I would have disowned you."

Slight droplets of moisture collected in the young girl's eyes. She had never been told such a thing; the threat of such it was almost too much to bear for her – all her dreams lay in the monarchy, taking that away was like snatching the fantasy of imagination from a child. But Relena did not cry, after all, she was a big girl now; so instead, the tiny girl bent her head to look at the floor and walked quietly into another room.

How did Morgen go from nice to mean in one instant? It wasn't as if the princess had deserved it, she was only playing. Somehow the girl reminded her of Julia, the scary lady who had taken her measurements. Perhaps they were related in some way – well, they certainly were both intimidating. Relena sighed, wiping her eyes of the last remnants of tears – things were getting weird, creepy weird.

~*~

"You don't believe me, do you?"

Asked the flaxen haired boy, his usual fair features contorting in anger. Why wouldn't they believe him? He was telling the truth, just as he had been taught to, but then why wouldn't they believe him?

"Of course we do, son," Said Mr. Peacecraft, a loving smile adorned his quiet face. Though the story may seem farfetched, he trusted his son enough to tell the truth – and if he was lying, well, Milliardo would just have to suffer the consequences. Sooner or later he had to start owning up to his actions.

The young man looked around the room, his eyes scanning it for a familiar or supporting gaze, but found none. So he was alone on this one.

Milliardo rushed out of the room – a flurry of voices followed him, but did not pursue. He knew that there was no way that he could accomplish this all single-handedly, no matter how much he might want to. Perhaps, there was someone gullible and naïve enough to actually believe the truth.

The youth ran down the hall, acknowledging it's protective presence, for there were very few things in the worlds that could overcome walls. These things seemed to close him in, a definite defensive feel enclosed his small body, and probably for once in his life, he was happy not to be boundless.

While his careful study of the walls, he did not notice his younger sister walking down the same corridor. The tears had dried from her eyes, but her mood was still that of a glum spoiled child, unused to strange and unpredictable nature. However, you couldn't get more impulsive than a nine year old boy running into you.

"Oww!" she cried angrily, ready to dispute with whomever had dared disturb her sulking session.

Milliardo stood, unhindered by the light impact of his sibling. "Get up." He said, his voice gruff and impatient, for he had little, if no time for a girl's petty problems. He looked down at her face, ready to cry from his disheartening attitude. The big brother groaned slightly, but offered a sympathetic hand.

Relena grabbed it tightly and stood, her hands automatically moving to the peach dress that so endearingly draped off her small body. "What?" she asked edgily, hands now smoothing the mass of tangled blonde hair.

"Have you seen anything strange lately?"

Relena thought for a second, her mind running a quick check for anything peculiar that had happened. The young girl stroked her chin lightly just as her father did when he had a serious quandary to deliberate. Her older brother grunted, he had always know that she was fond of their father, but to imitate his every move? A feeling deep in his stomach told him that for some reason they would have even more in common when she grew up.

"I don't think so." She finally decided.

Milliardo sighed, maybe he had just been hearing things – maybe he was just being silly. But his heart told him something different – his heart told him that the abnormality about the mansion would not stop – that it was only beginning.

He walked away silently, his mind racing with new questions. I should talk to Lucrezia; she always knows what's going on. He thought before he heard his sister call after him.

"What now?" she asked as her turned, annoyed at her continued presence.

"I just remembered something." She stated plainly, knowing his curiosity would reel him in, "And I'm not sure I want to tell you."

Milliardo peered suspiciously at the young girl, whose eyes were alight with mystery. "Really?" he asked, wanting to know for sure if she was telling the truth – that child had a nasty habit of telling the littlest white lies.

"Really. And I'll only tell you if you let me go with you." She said determinedly. Her brother had become practically allergic to her ever since father had named him Crown Heir to the kingdom. And while Relena happened to be a bit on the clingy side, she missed his company.

"Okay, but if you tell mother, I'll – I'll do something you won't want me to do." He said, knowing that she was scared to death of what he might do to her if she did not comply with his wishes.

Relena cocked her head to the side playfully – so he didn't want mother to know where he was going. Maybe it was a secret; maybe it was a deep confidential mission of some sort. "Where are we going?"

"To see Lucrezia – and if you don't keep your mouth clamped shut the whole time we're there, there's no telling how I'll kill you."

"Right." Said Relena happily. She smiled inwardly, a knowing expression in her azure eyes. It was quite obvious of his liking of the dark-haired girl – so obvious Relena never fathomed how she couldn't know. But those are the ways of love.

Suddenly, a loud blast could be heard from a while away, it sounds reverberating throughout the entire building. It was quite apparent to both children that fear was playing with its best friend – death.

A/N- being the dumb person I am, I started another fic, and so have been putting a lot of my time into it (*stupidstupidstupid*) but have no fear, once I format all this, the last part shall be up! (yea!) I urge you to guess what is going on (some people have quite the power of perception and have already grasped the situation, but you will found out soon enough) Thanx two-million to all the lovely people who reviewed! I really appreciate your comments! ^_^ Loves