Note: I'm not putting the place, time, etc. on this chapter, since it takes place in the same area as the previous chapter. At least, the beginning occurs during the time when Duo and Heero finally catch up to Relena and Hilde. We only saw Duo and Hilde's side in the previous chapter; so this one will contain Relena and Heero (as well as Merrick's) conversation. After the second '~*~*~*~', they will be back to being at the same time. This was just to make it less confusing…hopefully…

~*~*~*~

Heero stood outside the conversation, looking between Merrick and Relena in wonder.

Who exactly is this guy? I think I've seen him before, but…

"Heero, this is Merrick. Merrick, Heero," Relena said, finishing introductions. Merrick smiled warmly at Heero, a look of recognition dawning on his face. Heero responded with a short dip with his head, showing he didn't give a damn. He didn't feel like being the third wheel here.

Still, Heero felt that he knew this guy, as if he had seen him in another battle some time ago. Maybe I just heard from him by reputation, he thought, but wasn't quite sure if that was correct. Watching as they talked, his face furrowed with deep thoughts, Heero tried to follow through his memories back to the place where he met Merrick. He tried to ignore how Relena was flirting, flirting, so apparently with him.

What has gotten into that girl? New clothes; new look; new attitude? What is she playing at?

Shaking his head, driving the thoughts out of his mind, he tried to concentrate on the task at hand. Oz…the colonies…Operation Meteor? Suddenly it, metaphorically, 'clicked'. Merrick had been one of the potential Gundam pilots!

Stepping back slightly out of shock, he felt the full weight of the memory at hand. Merrick had been disqualified because he was too headstrong to be a Gundam pilot; he was too aggressive and wouldn't follow orders, even worse than the five of them who were actually chosen.

Looking at Merrick again, he could hardly believe he was the same person. The Merrick of long ago was forceful, demanding; but here he seemed calm and polite. Very different…

"Come on, Heero," Relena said, tapping him slightly on the shoulders.

Heero jumped back slightly at how close she was to him. Faintly blushing, he murmured an apology for dazing out during their conversation.

"Never mind that," she replied, smiling slightly at him, "Come and watch the battles with us! Hilde's going to be participating, plus you worked so hard on the RMSTC, don't you want to be there when it actually starts?"

"Hilde is competing?" he quietly asked himself, but thought no more of it. If she wanted to, that was fine. Nodding in agreement, he followed Merrick and Relena as they walked out the hanger's exit, noticing that Relena had linked her arm through Merrick's.

This is going to be a long day…

~*~*~*~

"Hurry up!" Samantha yelled, glancing into her suits' monitor, making sure Hilde was still following behind. She was, but only barely. Samantha was surprised to see the deadened look in Hilde's normally lively, hazel eyes.

It's as if she's lost the spark of life, just because she's no longer with Duo.

Mentally furrowing her brow, she called back again to Hilde, this time with fierce determination etching her voice. "The past is past, Hilde; you stood by your rights and he broke up with you. He isn't worth crying for if he'd do something like that."

The voice that replied was thick and groggy, the voice only heard while pained tears fell. "I know- but - I – I never wanted that to happen. I love him, and –and he doesn't love me back." Silence proceeded on the communication line, and Samantha knew the raven-haired girl had given in and was crying again. An uncharacteristic feeling of compassion rose inside Samantha, and she almost wished she were beside the girl to comfort her, not in a separate mobile suit.

Before them, a large, steel door creaked open slowly, drawn up by motors on each side of them. The sunlight shining through was enough to momentarily blind Samantha, causing her to blink rapidly to remove the spots now showing in her eyes. Up ahead she saw their opponents; two Leo suits. Not too big of a threat.

"Stay focused, Hilde," Samantha said, smiling, trying to show a bit of good humor, "Remember, if you lose in the first match, it'll all have been in vain."

On the monitor, she saw Hilde nodded slowly, a grim smile set on her face, the rim of her eyes soaked and red. "Of course. We'll win, don't worry," she added, wiping her cheeks off with the back of her sleeve.

They stepped out onto the field, a roar of raucous cheers bursting from the crowds. Moving quickly out to the centre, the girls saw several shocked faces; people amazed to see two female pilots out on the field. By the sidelines she saw Relena sitting between Merrick and Heero; neither showing any bewilderment in the fact two girls were going to fight.

At least some guys here aren't chauvinists.

The remaining seats at the sidelines were empty, and Hilde vaguely wondered where Dorothy and the others could be. Stopping across from her opponents, she drew in a deep, steadying breath. Appearing suddenly on her communication line was Lucrezia Noin, smiling at her from the monitor. "Remember what I taught you kid; you'll do fine," was all she said, disappearing as quickly as she appeared. Hilde smiled lightly, mentally thanking Noin for the confidence booster. She was still trembling emotionally, as if she were standing at the edge of a cliff; where if she lost her balance she would fall to the depths of her sorrow.

I can't let that happen, I can't.

But she still couldn't help thinking about Duo; how they had went to movies every Friday at seven, whether or not a good show was playing. How, on their anniversary, Duo gave her the dainty gold necklace she was wearing around her neck. Unconsciously she clutched at the fine chain, choking back a sob. Now was not the time to break down; she would just have to hold back until after the battle.

~*~*~*~

Sitting down quickly, Relena smiled widely, breathing heavily from the high levels of cheering she had been doing. "This is so exciting! I almost wish I could be a pilot, just so I could join in on this too!"

Heero made a move, as if to speak, but Merrick interrupted. "Well, I for one would be glad to show you how to use a mobile suit, Relena," he said smoothly, not noticing that Heero was glaring slightly in his direction. "Perhaps we should get together one evening so I may show you," he added, clutching Relena's hand lightly.

Blushing obviously, Relena responded, "That would be great, Merrick! When should we meet?"

"Why not tomorrow night, seven o'clock, right here? That is, if it is all right with the RMSTC that we may use the battlefield," he replied, glancing at Heero.

Heero nodded slightly, saying, "I don't see why not. A lot of pilots have been doing extra training here at nights."

"That's great, Heero! Thank you so much!" Relena replied happily, giving Heero a quick hug. It was amazing how the level of excitement in the air could affect someone so much. Normally she wouldn't have even thought of doing something like that.

Replacing her arm inside Merrick's grasp, she returned her gaze to the battlefield. Just as she was going to ask when the fight would commence, an announcement ran through the air again.

~*~*~*~

Checking for any last-minute adjustments, Hilde moved quickly, focusing solely on the settings in her suit. Appearing on her monitor was Wufei, again, giving the go-ahead for the fight to begin. A gunshot rang through the air, and immediately all four suits moved into battle.

"Be my backup, Hilde; I'll be offense, you be defense," Samantha said over the monitor, moving into position in front of Hilde. Locking her sight onto the upcoming Leo suits, she released a torrent of shots at the one on the left.

Dodging as the second Leo veered at her, Hilde tried to turn her suit around in time to get some shots in at the suit. She didn't quite make it in time, though, and the second suit returned beside the first Leo.

"Hilde, I need your help here!"

Realizing her back was open for shooting, not to mention leaving Samantha without backup, Hilde tried to return to her original position. Storming up the field, she placed herself at the back of Sam's suit, that way both could watch from each side.

"I'm gonna take Sparky here; the one with the lightning bolt in the middle of his Leo. You distract No. 2 so I can get some clear shots in on Sparky."

Hilde nodded, and was amazed at the speed Samantha's suit left her side. Apparently, 'Sparky' and 'No. 2' were surprised as well, and were left momentarily confused. Hilde saw her advantage and lunged at No.2, knocking him off his feet. From behind, Samantha blast at Sparky, tearing through the suit's right arm. Deftly moving, she struck with her left arm directly into Sparky's suits' head, knocking out all the suits inside monitors. Sparky was as good as gone.

"The suit belonging to Richard Prixton has been terminated. Suits Samantha Grey and Hilde Schdontexpectmetoknow (^^) on team one remain, and Donald Trout on team two," announced Wufei; a roaring of giant cheers erupting from the crowds. Hilde smiled to herself, for once forgetting about Duo. But it was short-lived.

"Hilde, look out!"

Suddenly realizing she had also forgotten about No. 2 ('Donald Trout'), Hilde was too late to stop his attack. Discharging several rounds of shots at her, Hilde felt an overwhelming wave of defeat beating towards her.

I failed…

~*~*~*~

"Oh my Gosh, this is so exciting! I wish Dorothy was here to see this!" Relena exclaimed, screaming wildly as the remaining suits battled. "Which one is Hilde?"

"She's the one getting shot," Heero responded shortly.

"Is she winning?"

"Take a wild guess."

~*~*~*~

Hilde released a scream of shock as she saw No. 2 lunge at her.

If he lands this hit, I'm through!

Closing her eyes to avoid seeing her defeat, Hilde reflected again on her fight with Duo, still weighing heavily on her mind.

I'd be able to concentrate if I didn't have to think of this too! Now I'm gonna lose and be without Duo. I hate myself!

Realizing the moment of her defeat had come to pass, only without her defeat, Hilde opened her eyes, releasing a small gasp of amazement. Samantha had taken the brunt of the attack!

"Hilde," Samantha said, straining to keep her suit standing, "I won't be able to finish this guy. Hurry and get rid of him while he's not moving!"

She saw that, indeed, No. 2 was almost paralyzed, Samantha's suit trying desperately to keep him from firing again. Moving deftly, Hilde returned in front of the two suits, aiming her cannon at No. 2.

Her skill not lying in quick-witted comments, Hilde settled with a clichéd, "Take this!" and proceeded to fire several rounds at No. 2, rendering him incapacitated.

If she thought the cheers earlier were loud, they were nothing compared to the ones being released now. Adrenaline flowing through her, Hilde released a loud, wild cheer as well, climbing out of her suit into the fresh air. Wiping sweat of her brow, she watched as Samantha's suit finally gave in and fell over. The red head scrambled out of her suit, rushing over to Hilde and sweeping her into a bear hug. Tears of joy running down her face, yelling over the crowd, Samantha shouted, "We won we won! Oh god, don't ever freeze in a battle like that ever again! If you were Merrick, I'd have left you for dead!"

"Why did you defend me?!"

"A girl has to win the full competition; this just betters our odds!"

Laughing and half-carrying each other off the field, Hilde wished the feeling she had right now could carry on forever. Only after the exhilaration evaporated away would she recall what she was so upset about in the first place.

~*~*~*~

Next time: back to Madame Keeri's Karaoke Bar!

I hope Samantha and Merrick aren't turning out to sound like Mary Sue's and male-version-of-Mary Sue (I can't remember ^^). If they are, tell me where to improve please.

Thank you reviewers, and readers who don't review! I'm glad you are reading and enjoying this story