Title: Commencement
Theme: #37 – Enigma; #50 – Speakers; #9 – School
Genres: General, Contemplative
Warnings: None.
Characters/Pairings: Friends – Zechs Merquise/Treize Kushrenada
Word Count: 1074
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: The Gundam Wing characters and plot lines do not belong to me but Bandai et al. The themes were taken from the livejournal community Beatofdestiny.

Summary: When rising star of Oz and newest prodigy of the Romefeller Foundation, Treize Kushrenada, is invited to give a commencement speech, he never expected he would find someone who immediately understood the ideals he was striving so hard to instill.

Commencement:

Applaud rippled across the parade ground as the quickly rising commander Treize Kushrenada took the podium. His blue eyes swept the recently graduated Cadets. He could see the pride of accomplishment in every rigid line of their bodies as they stood to attention, parents and personal clapping enthusiastically around them. Invincibility shined in their eyes and eager young faces, but that would die soon as theory was put into practice and the reality of war stripped them of their innocence. He was there to give them the encouragement the rawest recruit needed to pull through those moments of doubt and depression and to lay before them a challenge to grow as officers.

As quiet settled over the gathered, Treize flashed a charming smile. "Greetings to the class of After Colony 189 and congratulations on completing your training." Smiles broke out over the rigid graduates, an acceptable momentary lapse of training.

"A bright future awaits some of you filled with honor and glory. Some will rise to lead armies into battle. To you will fall the responsibility of success and failure. Others will be entrusted to carry out your superior's orders in the heat of battle. You will be the backbone of the military and the ones who will be counted on the most."

Pausing a moment, he inspected each Cadet carefully. Most looked attentive, but a score or so appeared to grasp his hidden meaning. Those few he took note of for later consideration. Intelligence coupled with analytic thought was necessary in a position of note. Without it, battles were lost before they even began.

"Still, with battle comes injury and death. It eventually hits the best of us. All the grief, loss, and even fear can disrupt our ability to act, but to feel emotion is the cornerstone of humanity. However, we are often taught that all emotion should be locked up, that there is no room for emotion on the battlefield. I am here to tell you that ideology is wrong." Confusion flickered through the eyes of many; understanding of only a handful.

"It takes a strong person to feel and harness his emotions in battle, tempering its edge with logic. Without something to fight for and against, battle is meaningless and better left to computers, to ones and zeros. Our humanity separates us from the coldest simulation." Of the handful, only two appeared to follow his logic, a young lady and a man who hid most of his features behind a mask.

"It is a paradox for many, but standing before me today is the best and brightest Earth and the Colonies have to offer. To continue your training, we must all master ourselves before we can master the machines that serve to protect us and those we are sworn to protect." Of those two still left in the running, only one appeared to acknowledge his words with the tiniest nod of his head. It would have been missed if the young commander had not been attentively watching.

"So to you, I give you my thanks for completing this first step in a lifetime of training and discipline. I extend to you the best of luck in your future as a solider of Oz, and look forward to watching your careers grow. Now please, go and greet your families as Second Lieutenants."

Treize stepped back from the podium as cheering erupted from the newly ranked graduates. Pride echoed in his frame as the students broke rank and ran to greet their families. Well, all except for one.

Zechs listened attentively to Kushrenada's speech. His words struck a cord within him, mirroring the ideology he had worked so hard to implement ever since the Sanct Kingdom had gone up in flames. He nearly shuddered. His father was most likely rolling in his grave for the dishonor he brought on the family name, becoming a solider. He would not understand that in order to achieve peace, one must have the means to fight to protect peace. The Sanct Kingdom's lack of military and belief in total pacifism was what brought the family to ruin. All of them died except for himself and his baby sister.

Bringing his attention back to the speaker's words, he felt them echo in his heart. To control one's emotions with logic brought back memories. He had been forced to learn to hide his disgust and shame for petitioning admittance into the Academy, but he did it so he could protect his sister when the time came for her to resume her throne and take up the arms of total pacifism again. Logically, he had no other choice but the one he made, but emotionally he felt like he was becoming the biggest traitor the Peacecraft name had ever known.

Now, standing in a deserted field with murmuring congratulations echoing all around him, he kept Treize Kushrenada keenly locked in his gaze. How was it that a man who lauded the glory of war could understand his motives so well? It was an enigma he was determined to unravel. Stepping forward under the heat of the noon-day sun, he gave the still smiling commander a crisp salute which was returned just as cleanly.

"What may I do for you, Second Lieutenant?" asked Treize almost nonchalantly although curiosity began to eat within him. Unveiling the young man was quickly rising in priority.

"Sir, I wished to discuss with you your commencement speech. It would seem to be an unusual stance for one such as yourself to take considering your ruthlessness in gaining favor with the Romefeller foundation over the years as well as several of your recent battles." Zechs watched as Treize seemed to delight in the question.

Another charming smile flitted across the commander's aristocratic face. "Indeed it would seem so, but I do not wish to distract you from the well wishes of your family Second Lieutenant…"

"Zechs Merquise, Colonel Kushrenada, and I do not have any family to receive congratulations from. I am here by my own choice to serve Oz."

"Interesting," said Treize as he motioned for Merquise to follow him off the sidelines, enthralled by the enigma the solider presented him. "Then I will be happy to discuss ideology with you."

As each followed the other across the parade ground to the more private officer's hall inside the Academy both Treize and Zechs were unaware of the foundation for a lifelong friendship being laid.

Author's Note: I couldn't remember off the top of my head if there were any dates given for the destruction of the Sanct Kingdom and Zech's age in relation to the series, so I kind of made some up. Please let me know if there was anything specific mentioned!