[A.N.] We are tantalizingly close to the end of this tale. thank you all for reading along. there will be more to come soon, i just have to finish working out the finer details. please review to tell me what you think! Special shout out to Doot for cheering me on! Enjoy!

The Gate captain walked the palace turrets checking on his men. The Queen had made it quite clear what would happen if anyone breached the walls. The men had been talking about the queen's strange behavior. She had arrived back at the castle recently with something hidden within her carriage and yet, no one had been allowed to look inside. He personally didn't know what to think of their queen. Soon after she'd come to their kingdom the royal family disappeared and the once prosperous land failed. He sighed and tapped his spear on the cold stone. He only continued to serve the woman for his family's sake.

The sound of a wagon rolling down the road caught his attention. Glancing down, he saw that the said wagon was in terrible condition. The wheels looked as though they would fall off and the banners that obviously once hung with pride now were ripped and stained with mud and singed from fire. A woman sat at the front of the wagon behind a disheveled horse that had obviously seen better days. The woman, herself, had a bandaged arm and looked like hell warmed over.

"Who goes there?!" He called down. The woman looked up, relief flooding her eyes. She was a beautiful woman, despite her poor condition, with sandy hair twirling down on either side of her neck.

"Please, help us! We were attacked in the forest by a band of mercenaries!" He had heard of the army forming in the woods to overthrow the kingdom. It was rumored the army was made up of despots and would-be lords hoping to make quick work of their seemingly weakened land. He gave the order for his men to inspect the wagon. Five additional women were in the back of the wagon, each worse off than their driver. It was obvious that they had been a troupe of performers. Their men had most likely been killed in the incursion. His heart went out to them. There was no telling what these women had been through. After a thorough inspection, the wagon was cleared and he allowed it passage behind their great gates. He didn't see the smile on the woman's face turn from one of relief to one of success.

Zechs shifted in the irons clasped around his wrists and ankles. His captors were treating him as cruelly as one would expect to see, but part of him wondered if it was more than just an act. He had wronged many in his time as Une's puppet and now was more than willing to pay whatever penance was due, but he couldn't help but if-when the time came-these men would bail out on the plan and leave him to the mercy of his awfully wedded wife. He just hoped the women would be able to pull through and get the ropes down for Heero and his men to scale the wall. If all did go according to plan then they should have no trouble winning the day.

"Who goes there?" A voice boomed from above. Zechs looked up to see the Gate Captain glowering down at them.

"The fifth Infantry forest patrol. We found this man wondering around. He claims to be the king. We thought our Queen might want a word with this imposter." One of the men grabbed a handful of Zechs's platinum tresses and yanked his head back as if to prove the point. The patrol section of the gate opened and out walked the inspection committee. Zechs felt his heart beat faster. If this failed, not only was his kingdom doomed, but his sister's life was forfeit.

"Everything checks out. Let's get this pretender to the queen. She could use a good laugh to alleviate her grief." Zechs felt his heckles rise. What grief? She had ruined his life and somehow turned it in her favor: an event he fully intended to repay with interest. As they led him through the gates he only hoped that the other achieved their goals.

Sally and Hilde busied themselves distracting the troops that were trying to help get their "injured" companions to a safe place. Duo took the opportunity to slip away, using all his years as a thief to sneak past prying eyes. Shadows were his cover and silence his aid. He once had boasted that even the god of death himself couldn't find him if he really tried to hide. Duo took the rope to the southern turret and made his way up the tower steps. It was there that he encountered three guards, drunk, drinking and playing a game of cards. He mentally rolled his eyes at the stupidity of these men. He leant down to tie off the end of the rope when one of the men came wondering over. Duo quickly secured his veil and prepared for the hardest performance of his life.

"What a little lady like you doing so high up on the wall? Get lonely?" He slurred. Duo inwardly groaned. He pretended not to understand a word. "I heard a group of traveling women arrived. I bet your one of 'em eh? You probably don't understand a word I'm saying?" Duo just made a small non-committal noise. He had to finish tying off the rope of the rescue mission would be shot. "I bet I can show you a thing or two about how we do things in this country."

Duo felt his stomach churn as the lecherous man reached for him. Thinking fast, he played along and let the man lead him to a hidden spot far from the other men. The moment the man's back was turned, Duo knocked him out and watched as the man hit the ground with a dull thud.

"Sick bastard." Duo muttered as he took off his costume. He sized up the guard and realized the armor would fit just well enough to be a better disguise, certainly a more comfortable one. As he shimmied into the final pieces, he ran to the rope, tied it off and did his best impersonation of a local bird as was the signal of his success. As he left the tower to rejoin the girls he silently promised to never again treat any female as anything less than a lady: not that that was a problem. Thanks to Hilde, his womanizing days were well behind him. He smiled at the thought of returning to her side and helping to rescue their mutual friend. All that was left now was the attack and-after what he'd just been through-Duo felt himself more than ready to bash a few more heads in.

The instant Heero saw the rope drop he felt himself itch to run and grab it, but he had to be careful. Now was not the time to give in to recklessness. Relena needed him and he couldn't save her if he was caught. Besides, moving foolishly could ruin the plan and then he really would be on his own. Heero wasn't afraid to face Une's army by himself, but alerting Une to their plan could have dire consequences for the rest of the rescue squad. After making sure the coast was clear, he, Wufei and Trowa made their way to the ropes and began scaling their way to what they hoped beyond hope would be victory.

'I'm coming. Believe in me, Relena.' Heero thought as he continued his journey up the wall.

I'm coming. Believe in me, Relena…

The words drifted into her consciousness. She knew that voice; a golden glow permeated the fog that had settled back in after Treize had left. Relena felt her heart stir. He was coming for her. Dread flooded her mind. Heero was coming. Une was here. She would try to stop him from saving her. She wanted to yell at him; to warn him and tell him not to come get her, but she couldn't get up the strength. All she could do was try to hold on to the warmth from the sound of his voice and believe that he could overcome Une's forces.

"I do believe in you." Relena thought. "Yes, I do."

Une paced back and forth. Something felt wrong. She had been keeping a constant watch on the unconscious body of her captive since their arrival but something felt off. There was… a warmth almost, coming from the girl that made no sense. The princess's body had been sufficiently paralyzed by the spell so how, then, could she be feeling something from her? Une growled under her breath.

"Mirror!" She stalked over to the case on the wall where the mirror rested. "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, come to me now and tell me all." Une all but hissed the last part.

"What is your bidding, Lady?" Treize's silky voice responded. His tone was calm and gentle, void of his usual sarcastic bite. Une felt her suspicion rise.

"Something is happening. Something that's wrong. Tell me, now, mirror, what is going on?" Treize's image frowned slightly.

"Lady, there are many things wrong within the land. And my Lady, I am sorry to say they have happened by your hand." Une seethed with anger at his reply.

"How dare you?" She hissed. "I should smash you right now for your insolence." She wouldn't though. As annoying as he could be, his helpfulness outweighed it by far. "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, I command you to truthfully tell me all."

"All is one and one is all depending on the view. Which truth, my lady, is it that speaks the most to you?"

"You know of what I speak, mirror!"

"My lady, I know many things, yes that is too true, but reading minds is sadly something I never could do."

"Mirror, I am trying to be patient."

"Really? Well, that is new."

"Mirror!" She felt her anger rising. "Tell me, my shining slave, just what I wish to know. From the body of the petrified princess I'm feeling a warmer glow. Something must be happening to cause such an event. Is my rule in danger? That is what I meant!"

"Lady…" The mirror began, "I wish you remembered the treasured days of old; where you and I were once in love and we had such a glow. Now you ask me what if any mischief seeks you out. I tell you true now, without a doubt, Lady, though hurt in truth there will be. Smash me if you wish it, I am through with this slavery."

Une screamed and held up a hand to do exactly as he said, but she couldn't. Her arm wouldn't move. In fact, she felt her arm begin to tremble. Something within her stopped her from striking the fatal blow. His words echoed in her mind. 'You and I were once in love…' With another frustrated yell, she lowered her arm and turned from him.

"Leave me, mirror." He voice came out as a whisper. She could not see the pain in his eyes and hardly noticed the single tear as it slid down her own cheek.

The knock on her door broke her from her reverie.

"Enter"

"My queen." The guard entered and bowed before her.

"Speak."

"We have caught a man claiming to be the late king. He is bound in chains awaiting your judgment in the courtyard. Shall we bring him to you?" Une prickled. She'd wondered what had happened to her huntsman after his encounter with Relena. Apparently the fool had gotten himself lost and decided to come home. Was this what she had sensed? Her spell on him weakening? She smiled.

"No… I shall go to him there. If things do not go as I desire it will be easier with my forces surrounding me."

"As you wish." He bowed again and left. She stood up and checked her reflection noticing now the small wet trail leading down from her eye. "What…?" She paused only for a second before wiping it away. Tears were a foolish waste of energy as were the emotions connected with them. She had no time to considered where the tear had come from or why. She had bigger issues to deal with that would not solve themselves. She smiled. Time for a necessary reunion with her supposedly dearly departed husband.

Quatre stood at the front of their forces, waiting in the woods to attack. Noin had the forces behind the castle that would attack first diverting the attention of Une's men as planned. If all went according to plan-and he really hoped it did-they would take the castle before sunrise. If everything went ideally, Relena would be back with them safe and sound. Quatre worried about the princess. Une couldn't have a very fun reason for wanting to take her. He frowned. It would take everything they had and more to succeed, but the prize from their victory was more than worth the effort. Walking among the troops, he checked the final preparations, praying in his heart that all would, indeed, turn out for the best.