Notes: Since this is AU I decided to make Quatre's dad an OC (non GW character) so that I could make him evil. Other than that his mom and sister (Iria) are like they are in the GW universe.

Other Notes: see Forward

Chapter One

An Outcast is Born

The woman shrieked and cried with pain that seemed would never end. This childbirth was different from the others. This time there was much more blood. Too much. The man at her side looked at her not knowing why the pain was so great, but only trying to find a way to ease it. The lady had a grip like death on her husband's hand. It seemed as if she were willing the pain to leave her through that grip, and he was trying just as hard to see that agony go.

Finally, the shrieks of the new babe could be heard. The woman gave a great sigh, the pain etched on her face, and lay still.

"No, no it can't be! Quatrina! Don't leave me!" sobbed the nearly hysterical husband.

The maids rushed forward trying to pull him from the dead woman. Several little girls came in at that moment. The oldest looked at her father, and at the form of her dead mother and shrieked.

"Get those children out of here!" Bellowed the birthing nurse, still clutching the new born child to her bosom. The other maids herded the girls out while the birthing nurse tried to comfort the distraught father.

"It is a fine young son. See? It will grow into a healthy child, small as the poor motherless thing is."

But the father had only a look of contempt and hatred for his new son.

"Get that...that thing away from me! It has taken the most precious thing in my life away! Leave me now. Leave me!

The birthing nurse turned and walked out the door. She held up the child, now asleep, and looked it over carefully.

"Now, my child. Even though the lady is dead, you shall live and be the most beautiful child there was. You need a name though. I will call you...Quatre. There, that seems to fit."

The baby began to stir and opened his wide eyes.

"Sea-green eyes just like your mother Quatrina," muttered the old woman," how fitting, but you'll have Kuatron's blonde hair. Mmmm...you shall have an interesting future you will, full of hard times and bitter thoughts, but you'll be a kind child, you will."

The baby smiled up at her and closed his eyes.

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The small island of Cailon was ruled by an old and prosperous family. The family had radiated both peace and harmony to the people that lived on that island. The Winner family, had come to that island long before anyone could remember and had set up a pacifist government for the people who soon came to live there. The Winners supported the peoples' ideas of peace and the people likewise supported the Winners.

Most of the time, because they were so isolated, the people of the island had no idea of what was happening in the world around them. The only real messages they ever received were from the trade ships that came into harbor twice a year. The lack of communication didn't really effect anyone though. Why should they bother with the problems of other people in the world when there were enough problems already in the Winner family to keep them entertained? Keeping a close watch on the activities of the ruling family kept the people on the island happy because it gave them something to gossip about.

The newest gossip on Cailon was that the family had finally given birth to a son. After nine girls it was about time, or so they said. But, alas, the mother had died during the birth of her only son. Such a terrible tragedy and so near the spring feast too!

Even though the villagers cared little about the outside world, drastic things were happening. Deaths were being reported all over the world, and no one knew the cause of them. Many said that it was disease, but a few thought it was something much worse than that. They believed that a darkness was returning. A darkness so great and terrible that it would shatter their lives and take everything away from them that they had worked so hard to achieve. That darkness would be caused by two men. They were demons more than men some said, that would kill and destroy everything to quench their thirst for evil. Only two such men had ever existed before, and they had brought about a fear that had only recently been stilled. Those people who had lived through that encounter feared that two such wizards would come again, to finish what they had begun. It seemed as if one of those wizards had now returned.

This tale began to spread, and soon, every person who was known to have special powers was being hunted down and killed. Normal people had always known that some people were born with incredible powers, powers of the mind. Some of these gifted people could make things happen with only a thought. These people had used those powers to help the normal people, but now no one remembered that. The normal people just wanted to destroy that which they feared and didn't understand. These strange abilities of the mind were seen to be evil because the two dark sorcerers had such abilities. It was dangerous times for anyone who had such a rare and powerful gift.

It was at this time when it was dangerous to be different that Quatre was born. The birthing nurse had foretold that Quatre was to have an interesting future. She soon began to realize how right she was when she began to care for the child, his mother being dead.

At first Pertania, or so the birthing nurse's name was, began to see little things happening around Quatre that were very strange indeed. She would find small toys in his cradle when she knew that she hadn't put them there, and she was pretty sure no one else had.

It wasn't until Quatre was one year old that Pertania realized what was causing the strange happenings. She was letting the baby play on the floor when he crawled out of her line of vision and towards the front steps which were quite long and steep. By the time she realized he was no longer in the room and began a search he had already reached the top of the stairs. She let out a startled exclamation, and distracted by the noise, he toppled down the stairs. She let out a shriek and ran to catch him only to realize that he wasn't lying dead at the bottom of the stairs as her heart told her he must be. In fact he wasn't even touching the stairs at all! He was suspended in mid air by what appeared to be little blue tendrils of fog. It was then that Pertania realized that Quatre was one of the rare few who possessed the gift.

Pertania let out a whoop of surprise and scurried forward. She caught the babe in her arms and began to scold him while caressing him and checking to see if he had any injuries. She had heard from the last group of traders who had come to harbor only a few days ago that such people who possessed the innate ability such as Quatre did were being hunted down and killed. It was also rumored on the island now that one of the dark sorcerers had returned to the land. Many people scoffed at the rumor but at the same time kept a wary eye out and talked in whispered tones when they spoke of the matter. Pertania could have cared less about a rumor about a dark wizard, but she was afraid of what the people might think or do if they ever found out that one of the dreaded people that possessed qualities of the dark lords was right on their little island.

She placed Quatre back into his crib and began to sing softly to him. He smiled up at her with his big blue-green eyes and gurgled happily. She smiled at his young ignorance, but her smile betrayed her deep fears for him. It was alright that now he was just a babe, but what would happen when he grew older and people found out about his gift?

"Some 'gift'," she snorted, "when everyone who possessed it was being treated like some hideous disease. Well, I will always love you young Quatre." He looked up at her, closed his eyes and went to sleep. Pertania looked down on the baby and a wave of pity for him came over her. "Not even loved by your own father, for he won't even let you into his house," she whispered."I truly hope that I am not the only one who doesn't treat you like an outcast, my little Quatre."