Disclaimer: Gundam Wing belongs to me. No, it really doesn't. But Episode Zero does, at least in paperback, and I am using it as a reference for this piece, though it is not entirely historically accurate. Actually, it's not historically accurate at all, because this is fanfiction, and an alternate universe at that. So I can do what I want.

A Fish Out of Water- Chapter Six

The seagull gaped at Trowa, and shuddered from the chill of his last few words. He'd had his feelings, yes, as did others of his kind (whatever kind they might be), but for not only one, perhaps two, merwomen to predict her own death was a power he never dreamed of. And if he had, they would certainly have been nightmares. But he'd only been blessed with the ability to sense the emotions and feelings of others, not really the future. For, if Trowa could've asked him how he was feeling before they met the kraken, and before he started worrying, he would've honestly replied "Hungry," despite the fact that they'd eaten only a few minutes before. In the creature's tentacles, that same hunger felt stronger and more intense, and the bird had a strange desire to pluck out all his feathers and swallow himself whole. This was the curse of his own power, but he would almost rather feel that carnal desire for raw meat than the hollowness and hurt inside the boy who cuddled him in his arms. It was so potent that it overpowered any other feelings inside his being, whether it was care, devotion, or even love of any variety.

He pecked at Trowa's bangs to peer at his other eye. If the animal had to create an argument for why they were so, he would've said at that moment it was only to hide, or maybe even absorb, the sorrow Trowa refused to let anyone see within him. And then he thought that while the merman Triton Bloom may have worn a mask only for workdays, Trowa Barton wore one for all occasions. But, as much as he hurt to see his master, his friend, suffer so, it would never break if he didn't let it out.

The dish was just the first interruption. A lamp was the next thing to go (Fortunately, lamps are safer underwater than on land). But that time, we could actually sense the ground trembling and feel the water getting rougher than normally. Mrs. Une nearly fell out of her chair, unable to grab onto it with her tail like the rest of us did. After a moment, the tremor subsided. But we knew it was just the beginning.

"Triton, go to the palace and check on the king," my mother instructed. Middie held one of her mother's arms and she supported the other.

I nodded and headed to the door swiftly. The last thing I heard my mother say was a command telling the fathers to go next door and find out what was going on. She would take care of things at home, she said.

"Triton, wait!" I paused just outside. Middie had followed me. "I'll come with you."

I shook my head. "No, your mother needs you. I'll be okay, don't worry." I smiled at her, even though it really wasn't the most appropriate time. It was a special smile, one that I only let her see. I kissed her on the cheek for reassurance, not worrying if our parents saw us. "I'll be back soon."

"Well, if you're sure-" she hesitated. I turned to leave again. "Hold on!" She grabbed my hand. "Take this, for luck." She pressed her engagement ring into my palm. "It'll protect you."
At first I protested, but she was adamant about it. She looked so frightened, I couldn't say no, though I tried to tell her things would be OK. I guess I was wrong. Maybe it sounds superstitious of me, but that ring saved my life. Middie saved my life.

The seagull pecked at Trowa's fingers, as if he were searching for something.

Trowa shook his head sadly. "It isn't there anymore. I gave it back to her, when she-" His voice trailed off, and the bird was afraid he would cry. But his mask proved true and he didn't. "But I'm getting ahead of myself," he said.

"Hello?" The palace was quiet when I got there; most of the screaming merpeople were already outside, fleeing for their lives. There was smoke; and ash was flying everywhere. Three more tremors had occurred since then, each more powerful than the one before it and the explosions outside were deafening. "Your highness? Prince Trowa? Where are you?"

I swam down the empty corridor that led to the throne room. It was elegant, lightly furnished but classy, with columns that looked like they belonged in ancient Atlantis. The throne was made of white coral, once a brilliant red, but now rickety with age. I'd always thought of it as old, but then it felt dead. It was as if the blood had poured out of it, and it felt so real, I could smell it. But it wasn't the blood of a chair that I smelled, it belonged to the corpse of our rotting king. His son, too, was bleeding profusely from a gash on his head. His eyes were half closed, but he wasn't dead yet. I would've have taken him for it, though, if he hadn't spoken to me.

"Triton? Is that you?" he asked weakly.

I hurried over to him. "Yes, your majesty." I touched him on the head, examining his wounds. The blood got on my hands, staining them; and for a moment I felt as though I had killed him. A crashed pillar with a missing chuck of it seemed to be the culprit, however, and a piece of coral at the prince's feet confirmed it.

"I'm a mess," he said with a chuckle. I stared at him blankly; the situation didn't seem very funny. "The pride of the Barton family, ending up like this." He pressed his father's hand to his cheek. "There's none of us left, with Mariemaia gone." He coughed from the exertion of speaking. "Take care of the kingdom for me, don't let it fall. And if it does, bring it back again."

"But, sir…" I protested, unwilling to accept the responsibility he would bestow upon me.

"Please," he said, and drew his last breath. His head collapsed into my chest. I jerked away, letting his body fall to the floor. It was a cruel way to treat a prince, but I had never seen an unnatural death before then. I should've gotten used to it.

I won't deny that I was a coward that day. When the next quake started, I didn't hesitate to leave the prince and get the hell out of there. But the palace was falling apart, and I could barely see in front of me. The smoke was so terrible; it filled my lungs and gills till I could barely breath. I could feel the sweltering heat radiating from the ocean floor. It seemed to be coming from the mountains, though I couldn't see through the windows to find out what was going on. I felt dizzy, and thought I was hallucinating. I could hear a voice calling me, and that was the last thing I heard before I passed out.

The seagull shook with fear and sympathy. The rain had subsided somewhat, but Trowa was too engrossed in his tale to notice. It was even easier to tell than he thought it would be. It was almost as if he was telling another person's story, and that all his sadness was flowing to someone else. It seemed like the creature, curious to know, but unwilling to let his master suffer, had sucked in some of his emotions like a sponge, being the psychic and empath he was. Only that, and the immense love and trust Trowa had for him, could keep the merman strong enough to finish.

The next thing I knew, I was lying in a corner of the palace, amidst the rubble that was once the kingdom's glorious center. My head was propped up against cold scales, and I could see Middie hovering above me.

"Are you okay?" she whispered, hoarse from all the smoke. But I could still hear the worry in her voice. I rubbed my forehead, but nodded. "Let's get out of here." I took her hand and she pulled me up into a standing position. We started to feel our way towards the door. Only when my hand touched clammy, cold flesh did I realize we were back in the throne room. I jerked away, pulling Middie with me.

"What's the matter?" she started to say, but suddenly there was an explosion, like someone had just popped the cork out of a gigantic bottle of champagne. The water hit with such for that it knocked down the walls in front of us. "Watch out!" Middie pushed me out of the way as one of the last pillars standing came crashing down on top of me.

The poor creature felt faint, so overcome was he by the grief that had come over his friend. He squawked in frustration, feeling helpless in his small body. He could do nothing for him, nothing to stop the images that flowed from Trowa's memories to his. All he could do was peck at his hair in a sweet gesture of affection.

"Stop that!" Trowa shouted, his voice suddenly hard, and cold. "I told you not to do that." He shuddered and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled at you. But understand that that was one of the last things she-" He took a deep breath, like an ordinary man gasping for air.

I felt Middie's weight heavy on top of me, her hair falling into half of my face, the other half being in the dirt. "Are you all right?" she asked weakly. I lifted my face to see her and something dripped from her face to mine. At first I thought she was crying, but when I reached my hand up to touch it, it was red. With more strength than I thought I had, I pushed her and the structure on top of us off me. She fell to the floor on her back with a thud. Her eyes were closed, and I could see blood pooling behind her head, from where the stone had crushed her skull. I couldn't believe she had any life left in her after that.

"Triton?" she murmured. I rushed to her side.

"I'm here," I said, my voice emptied of any feeling by the shock I'd just had.

She smiled at me thinly. "I told you that ring would protect you." She closed her eyes.

"I'll go get help," I said, starting to stand. She grabbed my hand.

"No, stay with me, until-" Her voice broke off and she coughed. Blood trickled down the corners of her mouth.

I settled down next to her. "Don't worry, I won't leave you." I felt her ring pressed into my palm, where I still held it, and slipped it onto her finger. "You don't leave me."

She shook her head, her face glowing serenely, as if she weren't just moments away from death. I rested my head next to her, not caring anymore about the dirt. "I'm sorry," she told me softly. "I can't make promises like that. But don't forget yours."

"What?" I raised my eyes, unsure of what she was referring to.

Middie smiled. "You're the prince now. Don't forget that. You have to take care of the kingdom." It was then I realized she'd been following me all along. I should have known she would never listen to me. She stretched her hand to brush my bangs out of my face. "You should take better care of yourself," she said, half-complaining. "I'd like to see both of your eyes at the same time for once."

I pushed my bangs off my face as she desired. She smiled again, trying to look like the strong Middie I knew. "Much better," she sighed and closed her eyes again. Those were the last words she ever spoke. My face was the last thing she ever saw.

* * * End Flashback * * *

A small flood of tears poured down the bird's cheek, soaking Trowa's chest, though the merman brushed it off as simply rain.

"After that, whatever it was that happened stopped, but I didn't move. Catherine showed up, maybe an hour later. I lost track of time. We buried her, and the royal family. Our parents were already buried; most of the kingdom in fact was covered with some odd substance that burned when Cathy tried to touch it. I couldn't stay there anymore. I didn't want to. I swam away, without waiting for my sister. She followed me though, and we ended up in the Sanc Kingdom. I gave Prince Milliardo Trowa's name as my own, making him think that I was a prince as well, and Catherine just an illegitimate sister. Changing my name didn't so much make me forget as it did make me an entirely different person. One focused on the responsibilities of a kingdom, and not tied down by the memories of one girl." Trowa sighed. "It did make me forget for a while, but I'm still the same Triton Bloom inside. And I won't ever forget her. I'll never love another woman again."

Trowa hugged the seagull to his chest. "Maybe I should've let Catherine come. I needed to tell her this. I will, as soon as we get back," he resolved. The bird nodded in firm agreement. "That is, if we get back," he remarked. He felt strangely relieved, as if the weight of that pillar was finally off of his own chest. He looked up at the heavens, thinking, believing that for perhaps the first time that Middie was there.

"I wonder if she sent you, little one," he mused. The nickname brought him back to a topic he'd meant to discuss ever since they met the kraken. "You know, we need a name for you."

The bird nodded enthusiastically and let out a loud caw that sounded like "KAAAA!"

Trowa raised his eyebrow. "Ka? Is that your name? You know I can't understand your speech well, even when you're trying to speak my language." The bird persisted. "Okay, okay. Is that it, or just the first syllable?" He nodded. "What's next then?" The bird thought on it for a moment, than poked Trowa in the chest with his beak.

"Chest? Heart? What?" He shook his head and did it again. "Ouch, why are you doing that to me?" The bird flew up away from him, and angled himself so that his wing was pointing at Trowa.

"Me? Something in my name?" Trowa looked at him curiously when he pecked at his ear. "Sounds like my name? Maybe you're not that bad at charades after all. Okay. Ka- Trowa. Katro-a. Is there another spelling change? Let's see, Catroa, Cater, Quarter, Quatre?" The bird flew up and down excitedly. "Is that it? Quatre?" Trowa felt his lips curve into a small smile, feeling almost happy despite what he'd went through before.

"Quatre it is, then, whether you're a guardian angel, magician, or whatever the hell you are. No mortal bird, that's for sure." He beckoned to him and Quatre perched himself on his shoulder.

"So, now that I know what to call you if we're in danger, let's going. We have to find the princess." Caught up so much in his story, Trowa had nearly forgotten about Relena. She was another person he could perhaps trust with his story as well, though he never considered it before. She could help him tell Cathy, for he wasn't so sure how his sister would react if she found out he kept this from her for so long. But, he would have to find the princess first. Feeling better than he ever had since Middie's death, he, and Quatre, began the final and most challenging stretch of their journey, closer than they ever were before.

To be continued…