AN: I do not own Gundam Wing or any of its characters.

{-}

Duo stood and looked at his now frozen opponent. Gently, reaching out a finger, the braided boy prodded the soldier. To his surprise, the man stood still as if he were paralyzed in shock. Duo smirked and turned to the wizard.

"Martin, that's some pretty fancy magic there! Why don't you just do that to all of Treize's men? That way, we wouldn't even have to fight a war!"

"Because the spell is only temporary, you fool!" cried Martin. "Get all these men tied up as quickly as possible before the spell runs out!"

While Duo and Trowa began to take care of the enemy, Quatre and Wufei began to help up the wounded. They dug through the debris and slowly people began to emerge and climb to their feet. Wufei threw aside remnants from the ceiling. The entire place was one huge disaster area. He looked around in disgust. So this is what the world was coming to? He frowned. Life should not be lived in such a way. People should not live in fear at every given moment.

Wufei snapped out of his thoughts when a feminine voice broke into them,

"Help me please!"

Wufei turned about to see a young woman with golden hair, braided on either side of her head. She lay on the ground pinned underneath a large stone which had, no doubt, fallen from the ceiling during the explosion.

Without hesitation, Wufei knelt down, grunted and lifted the rock from her body. Much to his surprise, the woman hopped up immediately and faced him without concern of her own injuries.

"Thank you. My name is Sally Po. I am medicine woman and I can help."

Still somewhat astounded, Wufei nodded his head and pointed over to Martin, motioning for the woman to speak with him. Sally rushed over to the wizard.

"I am in charge of the hospital and I can help!" she exclaimed. "We need to get all the wounded out of here and into the hospital at once!"

"Do as you will, my lady," replied the wizard. "I leave the injured in your hands for I have much else to attend to. I will send some soldiers in here to aid you at once!"

The room was in a scurry of behavior. The Five helped to carry out the wounded along with the soldiers Martin had retrieved. They had gained knowledge that the attacks had been restricted to the ballroom and nowhere else in the city had been touched. But the destruction of the ballroom was more than enough for them to handle.

Relena, on the other hand was becoming frantic. As she helped to search for survivors, she failed to see the one face which she so desperately longed to set her eyes upon. It had not been ten minutes when her heart began to beat rapidly and an unknown terror took hold of her. Her father was no where to be found. Where had he gone too? And why was no one concerned for his safety but her? Perhaps amidst all the panic they had forgotten. But the King was no where in the room.

Relena felt the room begin to spin and she panicked. She looked around desperately now and began calling his name. Her efforts drew everyone's attention and soon the entire room began to turn over every bit of rubble and debris inside the ruined ballroom, nothing. Running now, Relena could feel something tear at her chest. Something was wrong, terribly wrong and it was beginning to take hold of her.

Heero sensed her thoughts and ran to her side along with Martin. Relena took one look at the wizard and shook him shouting for an answer,

"You know he is not in here! Where has he gone?" she cried desperately.

Martin looked at her gravely and did not answer. Suddenly, realization dawned on Relena and she fled the room running as fast as her robes would allow her. Heero followed her, along with the others and a rapid pace until they approached the King's study.

Flinging open to doors, Relena rushed into the room but stopped when she let out a blood curdling scream. Quatre grabbed her gently, to steady her, and Heero walked over to the figure lying on the floor. It was King Darlian, lying in a pool of blood with an arrow in his heart. But, surprisingly, the King was not dead, not yet.

"He breathes!" exclaimed Duo.

At his words, Relena rushed over and knelt on the floor, placing her father's head in her delicate arms.

"Father, wake up, hear my voice, it's your Relena."

Slowly, the King fluttered his eyelids open and looked at his daughter. He spoke weakly with pain in his eyes.

"Poison…I've…been…poisoned…"

"The arrow," said Martin gravely. "It belongs to the Oracle, the Lady Une, one of Lord Trieze's assassins. The poison seeps through the body slowly."

Relena gave a small cry but held her composure as she caressed the dying man's head.

Wufei now walked in with Sally beside him. The medicine woman rushed over and began to examine her patient. She tore open his shirt and looked at the wound. Blood was flowing freely and now the skin was beginning to turn black, from the toxic liquid. She bowed her head gravely.

"There is nothing to be done. I am sorry your Highness," she said to Relena with tears in her eyes.

Relena slowly nodded and looked down upon her father with sad eyes.

"I love you father… always know that," she said softly.

The king struggled slightly and moved his lips as if trying to speak. Confused, Relena moved her ear closer to his mouth in order to hear his words. Everyone listened attentively.

"Peacecraft…you are a Peacecraft…Relena."

At his words, her eyes widened and a look of confusion began to cross her young face.

"Father, what do you mean?"

"Lead them…Relena…you are a Peace-…" Darlian's words died on his tongue as he began to gasp for breath. His body grew taut in Relena's arms and he struggled. But, just before he let go, he made one last statement, "I...love…you…"

Relena stared at him as his eyes widened and his spirit passed on into the next world. Tears strolled down her cheeks as she quietly watched his silent form in disbelief. Her father was dead. The man she had loved with all her heart had been taken away from her. Relena bowed her head. Her mind was spinning with confusion over his last words: Peacecraft. He had said she was a Peacecraft, but how?

"Relena," said a voice. The princess turned her head and looked up at the wizard Martin. Her eyes grew sharp and she rose to her feet.

"Tell me all that you know," she demanded.

{-}

Zechs and Noin were breathing heavily. They had literally out run nearly every soldier inside the great city and had finally managed to escape to the forest where they had started. Collapsing to his knees on the forest floor, Zechs pounded with his fists. He screamed angrily, cursing the foolish crusade. All of his men had been slaughtered. He and Noin were lucky to have made it out alive. Noin placed a hand gently on his shoulder to soothe him. He relaxed under her touch but he still could feel his blood boiling.

"There's nothing we can do," she said solemnly.

Zechs merely nodded his head in response and rose to his feet, feeling foolish for showing such emotion. But, then again, it never bothered him to show his true feelings to Noin.

"Lord Treize will be pleased to hear of the King's death," started Noin.

"But he will be less pleased to hear of my sister's life!" said Zechs.

"What do you mean?"

"Relena lives, Lucrezia. As long as she is alive and breathing, Darlian's Kingdom will still pose a threat to Lord Treize. Her death will be next."

"There is nothing you can do Zechs. You buried her with your past years ago. If it is Lord Treize's will that she should die…"

"She cannot!" he cried out.

Noin stared at him in disbelief.

Zechs sighed and turned away, his face was falling, "Lucrezia, there are some bonds that cannot be broken. My sister was the one member of my family that I used to love and still do. She is my family Noin. Although I did not agree with my father's ideals and morals I never once hated Relena. She is the one thing I could never let go of."

"Stop this!" cried Noin. "That was years ago when you left! She was nothing more but a mere child and she has no memory of you whatsoever. When she was taken away into hiding you knew you would have to let go because you may never see her again. You are being foolish!"

"She is my blood!"

"You buried your name long ago. To protect your sister is treason!"

Zechs bowed his head. His anger was growing rapidly. He knew very well that Lucrezia had a solid point in her argument. Should Treize find out he would certainly be forfeiting his life. If there was only a way to protect Relena in secret…

"Zechs open your eyes! You are the Lightning Count! One of the most feared Generals in all of Mythica! You are Lord Treize's right handed man. You have nearly all the power in the world and you would give it up for the sake of a name you cast aside long ago!"

"Not a name Noin, for Relena! For my sister…my sister!"

Noin's face fell at his words, "She is the enemy."

"She is my blood."

"You claimed to have no such blood. Her blood is that of a Peacecraft. You cannot return to the way things once were."

"Perhaps you are right. But, perhaps I am right also. Noin, I believe in Treize's cause and I will die for it. However, I would also die to keep her alive, the one part of my heart that has remained unscathed through all these years of war. Should worse come to worse I would never betray my Lord, but for now…Noin please I am begging you, I must do what I can."

Noin nodded sympathetically. She had never seen him this way before; so distraught over his emotions. His body was trembling and there was a pleading look in his eyes. His eyes melted her heart. Finally she spoke to him,

"What would you have me do, General?"

Zechs looked at her in astonishment. He walked over to her side and drew her close o him in a tight embrace. Pulling away he looked straight into her eyes and spoke,

"Go back to the city and offer yourself to Relena's services as her advisor. Meet with her in private and persuade her to give you her trust. She is too trustworthy and shall give it to you openly if she is anything like my mother was."

"What will you tell the Oracle?"

"That you have fallen in battle. They will suspect nothing."

Noin nodded her head. "I will protect her, Zechs, for your sake, and for no one else's."

"Lucrezia, you must be careful. There is a wizard staying in the castle. His name is Martin and he is powerful. There are others too, warriors. I came across one of them yesterday afternoon. He…"

"Zechs," she interrupted him, "all will go well. I know how to gain her trust. But, you must be the one to allow me to do so."

"What do you mean?"

"She is intelligent. Though she may be trustworthy, she will not welcome me with open arms unless she knows on whose behalf I have come. I must tell her."

Zechs was silent for a moment as he contemplated. Then, he slowly nodded his head.

"Tell her nothing of right now," he said solemnly.

She nodded in agreement. "Zechs, if Lord Trieze should find out, we will both be dead. This is treason."

"I am not taking the side of the enemy!" cried Zechs. He walked away briskly, stopped, and then, turned around to face Noin once more. "If Lord Treize should find out, I will turn her over to him immediately. This, is what I must do right now. Relena poses no threat to us thus far."

"Very well, take care of your self, Zechs," said Noin quietly as she began to make her way towards the city.

"Lucrezia," he called.

She turned around to look as he walked towards her. Grabbing her around the waist, he pulled her in for a kiss.

"Be careful and do not give yourself away. If you can, try to send reports back to me. I am sure you, of all people, could find a way."

She nodded and was about to kiss him once more when the rustling of feet came to her ears.

"The Oracle!" cried Zechs. "You must go!"

Noin nodded and rushed back into the darkness of the forest. Zechs did his best to put on a sorrowful face as the footsteps drew near through the crackling of leaves and bushes. He took out his sword, just in case, and stood ready. Sure enough, it was the Oracle, the Lady Une, who looked as if she had just come from a pleasant stroll in the woods. She smiled wickedly at him,

"General, I am glad to see you are well."

"I have been better," he answered gravely.

"Have nearly all fallen in battle, but you?" she asked. "What of your dear Lucrezia Noin?"

Zechs looked at her sharply. She was mocking him. He face was stone cold and her eyes were wicked. He struggled with his answer,

"I…I saw her fall."

Lady Une looked at him skeptically. She narrowed her eyes and stared hardly at him. Sensing her untrustworthiness, Zechs stared right back at her with his ice blue eyes. After some time the Oracle smiled, mockingly, once more,

"I wish I could say that I am sorry, general, but as you know I have no heart for such things. Death is simply a part of life," she replied simply.

All Zechs could do was nod and bow his head.

"Come; let us report our victory back to Lord Treize. He will be quite pleased to hear of it!" she said as she began to make her way into the darkness once more.

Zechs followed with a cold look set upon his face.

AN: Well that was chapter 11! I know it was shorter than usual, but I promise to have the next chapter up ASAP. Another note: do not think that I will make Zechs as sentimental heart-wrenching character. Some people may accuse me as making him OOC, but trust me, as the story continues, you will thank me. Keep reading and reviewing! Readers: thank you so much for all your wanted support!