In this fun and lively Arabian tale told by Quatre everyone is a prince. In the time honored tradition of 'A Thousand and One Arabian Nights,' the Princes Trowa and Quatre spend a night regally the tale of Princes Zechs, Heero, Duo and Wufei. Prince Zechs is the baddie but he's still oh so good. Rated M to be on the safe side. There is some standard and non-standard pairing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing other more talented people do and they would never want them to be in such pathetic tales. Please don't sue me, this is just a fan fiction written in the spirit of fun not profit.

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Quatre Tales

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Trowa lounged across from Quatre with a shocked look on his face. Quatre realized that he had actually surprised him. Maybe he never thought a thief could be so rude and daring to someone high above him. Or maybe…

"I heard about this," Trowa gasped breaking into Quatre's thoughts.

He suddenly heard the crunch of footsteps in the rocky sand as the guards to his father's camp probably went in search of the noise they just heard. Quatre felt his face blush red and was glad for the concealing darkness of the tent. They wouldn't barge into the prince's tent without provocation yet he wasn't sure if his father hadn't arranged this too.

Just as the approaching guards' silhouettes darkened the tent Trowa called out. He didn't even turn his head. Yet Quatre could see him watching him by the gleam in one dark green eye.

"Who dares disturb my rest?" He called sharply.

The guards immediately stopped and just a quickly Quatre saw them retreat. Trowa's eyes narrowed on Quatre heavy in thought. Quatre tried not to squirm under the appraising glaze even though it wasn't a pleasant look.

"It was said that Prince Heero had purposely started the trouble in the royal market place," Trowa stated.

Quatre wonder if he actually had stopped the guards only because they would have interrupted his story. He doubted the northern prince realized he would have been in just as much trouble, guest or no guest.

"I guess, it could have been interrupted that way."

Quatre knew better than to completely contradict Trowa's resources even though they were incorrect. Trowa seemed to be thinking about what he had heard and Quatre knew he had finally gotten to a point in his story where Trowa was convinced that Quatre was not just spinning lies.

"Continue," Trowa commanded.

Quatre kept his small feeling a satisfaction to himself. At this point he was now in complete control of the story and he knew better than to give that up.

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An Enchanted Sword

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"Who dares," Berker yelled while pandemonium broke out in the square.

Heero grabbed the furious thief and tried to drag him away. At the moment Duo was still so angry that he didn't realized that they were now almost standing alone. Heero could see people pointing in their direction.

"Duo," Heero said too late.

Several people pointed in Duo and Heero's direction as just then a panicked civilian crashed into Heero knocking back his cowl. Zechs and the royal party stared shocked to see the foreign prince standing in the middle of the melee.

"Prince Heero Yui!" Zechs cried out.

"Prince Heero Yui!" Duo repeated dumbfounded while looking at the stranger next to him.

"Guards arrest them," Zechs shouted pointing at Heero and Duo.

Heero stood his ground a snarl on his face but Duo had recovered his wits enough to know they better run. He grabbed Heero and dragged him into the fleeing mass.

"Here," Duo said throwing a cloth over Heero's head as he shoved him into a group huddling in a doorway.

The group in the door was too busy cowering to realize who had just joined them. Heero stumbled under Duo's weight and a moment later he heard a group of horses thunder by. Just as quick Duo pulled him up and pushed him into another group of people fleeing. Again, Heero heard horses thundering pass.

Duo seemed to keep repeating the pattern and soon Heero had no idea where they were or the enemy. Duo finally stopped. As soon as he did Heero pulled the cloth from around his head. He saw that Duo had wrapped his head with a feminine scarf. He looked at Duo and saw that he too had a woman's headscarf.

In the mixing of the crowd the guards had rode right passed them only it wouldn't be long before they realize their error. It wouldn't be long before they blocked the streets and started searching among the populace. In fact, Heero was sure they were already doing just that.

"We'll take the rooftops back to the warehouse," Duo told him.

Heero watched Duo scramble up the side of one of the larger houses. He used window ledges to pull himself to the next level. Heero followed slowly behind surprised that he never thought of doing such a simple feat. He was out of breath when he reached the top letting him know, he was still weak and not back in full health.

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Queen Une was furious, she should have guessed Prince Heero was in the city especially after knowing that Sir Berker had let the sword slip out of his grasp. The winged sword would not have come to her. Her magic commanded an element oppose the wing sword's.

Well you are not going to get away so easily, Queen Une thought to herself. Her guards had surrounded her making it impossible for her to use any magic. Her niece, Dorothy was equally hampered.

"Sir Berker make sure no one leaves the city, I want my sword," Zechs threatened.

Queen Une pushed her guards aside and came upon the two with a smug smile on her face. Berker blanched and Zechs didn't look happy to see her either yet both bowed, Berker far lower than the Prince.

"It seems that our beaches are very much neglected," Queen Une told the magistrate and the prince.

Berker looked confused. He glanced between the prince and the queen noticing that something unspoken passed between them. Although he was wishing he was somewhere else he decided plunge ahead and ask.

"Our beaches, your majesty?" Berker asked. "Or the docks my queen?"

"The docks?" Une repeated.

She looked thoughtful but Berker wasn't fooled. Queen Une was angry that he had interrupted her. She was also annoyed about something else but Berker wasn't sure what.

"You're right Sir Berker the docks too," Queen answer with a bland smile. "Now go ready your men. Prince Zechs, would you be so kind as to accompany him?"

It wasn't really a request and Berker noticed that even Prince Zechs wouldn't challenge the queen. As Berker left he saw that Prince lingered just a moment behind. He couldn't hear what words his queen and the prince exchanged but he was sure it had something to do with this sword that the prince was claiming as his own.

"Twice something as come up on shore we should have been aware of," Queen Une said to Zechs.

"I'll check the docks first," Zechs said nodding slightly in agreement. "That's the only place the prince could have been without being discovered. Do you think he has the sword?"

"I'm not sure," the queen confessed. "I only sensed its presence, when the one holding it died. It was powerful."

"I want that sword," Zechs exclaimed.

"Yes, however will you be able to use it?" Une taunted.

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While in another part of the city the thief and the prince reached their hiding place. As they passed into the lower quarters they left the small parties of searchers behind. It was a small reprieve but they now had a few hours till the searchers reached this area.

"And I thought I was the most wanted man in this town. You sure had me fooled," Duo said to his quiet partner. Heero just shrugged.

"So your majesty what's it like being a prince and all?" Duo asked a little peeved at the lack of response.

"That's highness and in this city it's the same as being a wanted street rat," Heero replied only slightly indignant at Duo's tone.

I must be getting used to his saucy mouth, he thought looking at the smirking face. He should have been mad about what Duo had done but somehow he wasn't.

"Street rat? Prince of thieves," Duo boasted then at Heero's incredulous look amended, "well at least that's what my other cohorts call me."

"I have to admit you're good, I've never seen you take anything." Heero said dropping the woman's scarf to the floor. "The sword that Prince Zechs is after, you said you found it?"

"On the beach," Duo answered with a quick nod. "I don't know why he wants it. I'm sure a prince could afford better. The gold winged hilt isn't that valuable."

"The hilt had wings of gold?" Heero asked carefully.

Duo took one look at Heero and realized what must have happened. That explained why they were after him and the sword. It might be very valuable to Heero or his people.

"You know, it's strange it was exactly were I found you. You wouldn't happen to know who it belong to," Duo asked a twinkle in his eyes.

"You knew it was mine?" Heero asked suspiciously.

"Only just," Duo said.

Duo was slightly hurt that the prince didn't trust him. He knew he was a thief but he had never given any indication to Heero that he couldn't be trusted.

"Thank you, Duo," Heero said clapping Duo on the shoulder. "So where did you hide it?"

Heero asked while looking around the room for a good hiding place. He knew the thief could not have sold it nor even traded it. He was also sure Duo would never have wanted Prince Zechs to have it.

"Back down by the beach. There's a set of caves only accessible during low tide, we can get it but first we need to concentrate on getting out of the city."

"If you can get me to the sword," Heero said with a secretive smile. "I am sure I can get us out of the city."

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TBC