A Childhood Promise
Chapter 2

 Between your best friend and your world, where would your loyalties lie?

 Relena plastered on her mask of cool composure and stepped through the doorway, only to see hundred of representatives bowing down to her, Trieze Kushrenada  and his lady, Une. They were the chosen Duke and Duchess of Earth while she, Relena was to move to Mars and watch that certain branch of the solar system with her chosen partner. That was still to be determined.

 "All rise." The words were spoken from Trieze's mouth, so strong and gracious. Une was a lucky woman to have him, being as strong and proud as he was. The man would make a great duke of earth, seeing as how he loved the planet, and only wanted the best. A hundred or so representatives rose, all watching the three at the front.

 Une waved her hand, and the curtain at the back swung open to reveal Quatre, Trowa, and two of their underlings stepped through, one holding a struggling woman over his shoulder. Relena took her place beside Une's throne, as did Sally beside Trieze's. This was yet another Martian, trying to take away their advantage in the war. Une gave her a look between long tendrils of air, noticing the slight tension in her body.

 "Is this the spy?" Trowa and Quatre nodded, and the underling shifted the lithe mass, placing her on her feet, yet still keeping a firm grasp on her wrists. Relena took in a deep breath, her eyes not meeting the Martian's quite yet, knowing all too well that it was going to be yet another one to torture, most likely to death. Trieze looked over at her, catching her gaze and motioned to the five in the crowd.

 "Mistress Dorlain, I trust you to discipline this girl?" Relena nodded, and turned, ready to make her last statement before the spy was taken downstairs to wait for her orders.

 Bright blue eyes met dark navy ones, and fear made Relena lose her composure. She took in the spy's appearance, from the dark eyes to her spiky hair, earning stares as her mouth stood agape. Hilde… a part of her made her want to cry out the name, and she stuttered, not sure what to do.

 "Throw her in a cell and wait for my arrival."

  A flicker of surprise passed through the faces of all present, but Relena turned on her heel and strode right out the room. Murmurs could be heard behind her, everyone expecting a show from this, but the turn of events… it had never happened before.

 Her Chamber door closed behind her, and Relena pulled out the medallion, hoping that her eyes were deceiving her. It glinted in the light, showing a younger version of her face, and the one in the main room. Her long fingers grasped the large medallion, ignoring the pain as it dug into her palm, trying to force back the bitterness that was threatening to launch years' worth of tears from her eyes.

 A light rapping sound came from her door.

 "Yes?" Relena asked hesitantly. She wasn't really up to seeing anyone right now, but there were times in the war where your opinion didn't matter.

 "Relena? It's Sylvia. Let me in." the blonde had a moment's thought of ignoring her guidance counselor, but thought better of it and let her in. Sylvia took one look at the object in Relena's hand and knew exactly what was going on. "It's her." It was a statement, not a question, but the younger of the two still nodded.

 "Relena… it must be difficult, having one of your most beloved against you, isn't it?" Relena nodded again, a few tears of regret nearly escaping. Nearly. "I suggest you go talk to her, Relena." The blonde looked up, forgetting about the conflicting emotions inside of her and stared at the older woman, surprised.

 "What?"

 "Relena, you barely speak, and keep everything inside. I, for one, know that it's going to destroy you unless you tell someone your problems. Imagine what you happen if you were dictating Mars on the very edge of breaking apart. It'd be anarchy within days. Heavens know it's too personal for you to feel comfortable enough to tell me, but the spy, she's the problem, go talk to her. Trust me."

 Relena didn't ask anymore. Sylvia knew these kinds of things, her father was killed with her baby brother a long time ago, and she'd had the time to learn to compensate. She was much wiser than Relena right now, but fragile to rule.

 "Alright. I don't know what I would do without you, Sylvia." With that, the Mistress strode out the door, unknowingly still holding her medallion.

 *~*~*~*~*

 She didn't even grunt as her body hit the solid ground. No, she was too numb from shock to do anything but follow ours. Her ears stung, still but her mind was on other things. Much bigger things.

 Relena. She had gone ahead and joined the Earthlings' forces, and was going to be the ruler of Mars. She was agreeing order by dictatorship! And all these years… Hilde never would've though their promise would be fulfilled, much less like this.

 'Ten years?'

 'No… how about nine? So many people use ten… I just don't want to fell like copying.'

 'You never did…'

 Nine years of waiting, and she and Relena had finally met, but she… she had betrayed her! Hilde sat up and looked at the heavy cell doors defiantly, waiting for a certain girl to walk through.

 Ten minutes passed, then fifteen. Her navy blue eyes narrowed, not knowing if she could do this much longer. There was a terribly aching feeling inside her, making her feel hollow.

 Finally, the door cracked, and Hilde stepped away from the few moonbeams and into the dark shadows. Relena stepped in, her long blonde hair pulled back into a loose ponytail, almost looking like a soldier with her uniform. But no, she would never fight, not at the top.

 The door closed with an audible bang, and Relena looked around before fixing her gaze directly at her. She almost smiled, seeing as how Relena still was able to find her, no matter how hard she hid.

 "So, this is what you've been doing? You joined the top, when you knew I was on Mars? Relena, Relena, Relena, I though you would be beyond betrayal." There was a glint in the blonde's eyes, and Hilde could barely make them out in the dim light. Relena took a step forward, with a sort of determination. "Oh, did I just hurt your pride?"

 There was a loud snapping sound as the young blonde's hand collided with her face, making Hilde's head jerk to the side dangerously. Apparently, she had crossed a line. Relena stepped back, out of reaching distance, and stood, hands clenched and feet apart.

 "How dare you? Hilde, all these years, I have never stopped think about the last days of peace, and how much happier we were, and how much I wanted things to go back to that! I did not choose to do this, but they were going to take my father!"

 "Then let them! What do you care you traitor!" Relena stepped forward again and slapped Hilde's other cheek, tears nearly choking her words.

 "He's dying! That's why? Every day is a day closer to his deathbed, and I'm stuck here, trying to get to Martians to understand what we're doing! What gives you the right to talk like that to me?"

 She had forgotten to step back this time, and Hilde's fist sunk into her stomach, knocking her breath from her lungs. It withdrew, leaving her to fall to her knees, clutching her stomach.

 "I once would've told you, your friends, Mistress Dorlain," Hilde started, stressing the blonde's title, "but today… I'm not so sure." Relena looked up at her, and wiped the bid of blood that had gathered at the corner of her mouth.

 "Oh really now? Why have you joined the army? You knew I was on Earth as well." Hilde glared, then wasted not a second's hesitation on punching Relena again, this time in the face.

 "I'll tell you. You killed my Father, and my two brothers, that's why. Your father's dying, so what? You still have time," Hilde spat out, choking on some words, "but me? I lost them in a blink of an eye!"

 "Really? How is it that much worse? Sooner of later, I'll lose my father too, and I can't even go home to visit him!" She kicked at Hilde, and the raven-haired haired girl caught the blonde's leg, throwing it up and making Relena fall back onto the ground. With the grunt and thud of her body colliding with the cement floor, there was also a small clatter.

 In the moonlight, beside Relena's fanned out hair, was the medallion, the one given to her so many years back. Hilde recognized it instantly, her eyes softening as she looked back at Relena's body. It wasn't moving. What had she done?

 "Relena… Relena!" her slightly larger body was hefted up and Hilde rested her friend's head on her lap, to make sure she was still alive. She was, and pushed Hilde away from her, but not before she had seen the tears.

 "All these years, every single one… I waited, Hilde, and what do I get now?" Hilde stood, blocking the moonlight from hitting Relena's face as she sobbed. Tears came to her eyes as well as Hilde thought back to the last nine years, and for the first time, realized how long they had been apart.

 "Before… before Nine years we said…" the words floated from her mouth before she could stop them her own tears breaking her voice. "we never knew this was how it was going to turn out…"

 Relena contemplated her words and sat up, only few tears still falling from her eyes. All the strain of becoming involved in the war had caught up to her at that one moment, and she was forcibly pushing them down.

 "Relena… join Mars, and then all this can be over…" Hilde stepped forward, offering her hand. This had jerked Relena from her stupor, and caused her to look up. She watched her hand and seriously considered switching sides. But, eventually, Relena looked away.

 "I'm sorry Hilde, but I believe that my way will work, as I'm sure you are too. I can't leave Earth like this… we were all born there, even you." She swallowed a sob and stood up, back turned away from her friend of thirteen years.

 "I guess, we'll just have to leave it to time, won't we?" Hilde watched helplessly as Relena walked to the door. At her words, the blonde stopped, and looked back.

 "I guess we will. It… was good seeing you again, old friend." Relena rushed out of the cell, and Hilde looked down at her feet. There was a slight creaking sound, making her look up and see that the door hadn't been completely shut. Tears threatened to fall again as she silently thanked Relena for this second chance.

*~*~*~*~*

 I have the feeling I rushed here somewhere… sorry if I did. Also, I'm not exactly the best with politics, so sorry if I got anything wrong, but I'm trying! There will be no character bashing in here. Cause, well, I just find it a bit stupid, quite frankly. Next chapter's going to explain more about Mars., R&R appreciated! Thanks to those who have already reviewed!