[A.N.] Hello everyone! Thank you for following my on my first attempt at an A.U. fic! This has been fun, exciting and challenging all at once. I want to thank those of you who have given me feed back! It helps to hear from you! We are sadly nearing the end of this journey; a few more chapters and we're home free! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this!

~Serene

Relena…

The sound of someone saying her name broke through the nothingness that seemingly consumed her. There was something familiar about the voice: warm and pleading. Who would call her name so tenderly? Was she imagining it? She wanted to answer the voice, reaching out with her whole soul.

'Relena…'

The voice echoed again, this time, stronger, warmer and brighter than before, stabbing a whole in the thick blackness. She knew that voice; firm but gentle, the usual calm was tinged with an unfamiliar sense of panic. She willed her body to respond; focused all she had on trying to reach him.

'Heero…'

Heero walked forward and knelt gently by her side. In the glow of from alter, she looked so ethereal: an enchanting creature from another world. He reached out a cautious hand, afraid to touch as though if he did she would vanish forever.

"Relena…" His voice came out as a broken whisper. She wasn't breathing. He reached out a gentle hand and felt for a pulse, finding none. He felt a lump form in his throat as something strange gripped his heart. He knew what it was: fear. It was fear that he'd never see her smile again, or hear her laugh again.

"Wake up." It was a plea as much as it was a command. "You're too strong for this."

He lowered his head to her chest, listening for any sign of life, her body so cold against him. Sitting up, he lifted her off of the alter and into his arms into a seated cradled position.

"Relena…" He paused and nervously licked his lips. "I don't know if you can hear me, but I know you," he paused again, "and I know you have so much left you want to do. You can't let her win… You have to live… you have to fight this…" Heero felt his eyes begin to sting. She wasn't moving; not a single breath escaped from her nearly colorless lips.

"You have to live." Heero continued. "If you live, there will be peace… but you have to fight…please." Heero whispered, cradling her closer, her head on his shoulder as he buried his face in her neck. "Your people need you…" Heero felt a single drop of moisture slide down his cheek and continue down until it landed on her neck. He pulled back, looked at her, and let out a shaky breath, then leaned in slowly. "Please…" His last word came out as a whisper as his lips neared hers. "I need you…"

"How touching." The venomous voice said from behind him. Heero stiffened. He didn't need to look to know who was behind him.

"You." Heero growled.

"I must say I am impressed that you got this far, almost enough to let you live. Now, do be a dear and put her back on the alter and I might allow you a fighting chance."

"What did you do to her?" He demanded; his voice low.

"What do you care? You're not from this land. What is she to you?" Heero felt the question hit him light a knife to the gut. "Honestly, Heero, I would think that after all the trouble she caused your friends you would be glad to be rid of her." Heero reverently set Relena down and then stood to his feet.

"You don't know anything about me, or about what I feel." He growled.

"I know enough." Une almost purred as she walked to her throne and poured herself a glass of wine. "Would you like some? It's a good vintage, I promise." Heero's death glare intensified. "No? Well, more for me."

"I'm taking Relena." Heero stated; his hand on his sword.

"I don't think so. You see, oh gallant prince, she is a key part of my plan and I simply cannot have you carrying her off."

"I wasn't asking your permission." Heero drew his sword. Une sighed.

"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this. I rather abhor violence, but if you truly insist than I will enjoy making you pay for your insolence."

Zechs Marquise finished tying up the last of the guards. The second stage of the infiltration had gone according to plan. However, he knew that the be able to command his people he needed to be a symbol they could rally behind: he needed his father's battle gear. It didn't take long for him to journey to the armory. As he stood in front of his father's armor, however, he felt a sense of guilt. Did he even have the right to dawn these symbols of their family? He reached for the royal sword with a tentative hand.

"Father… I do not deserve this crown, the sword or any symbol of this family's great name, but, please allow me to use them to free our people." He closed his eyes and picked up the sword, then turned to his crew. "Will you help me take back our castle?"

"We stand behind you, my lord. Lead the way." He couldn't help the small smile that curved on his lips. He wasted no more time. He donned the armor and then he proceeded to lead his crew out to the terrace. Duo met them on their way, Hilde, Catherine and Dorothy in tow.

"So, your majesty, what now?" Duo asked.

"You and your friends have done enough here. Go help Yuy and the others fight off that witch. We'll let the army in."

"You got it your kingly-ness." Duo quipped. "Come on, Ladies! Let's go be the Calvary!" The four of them went up the stairs, following the directions they'd memorized from the map. Zechs had no time to watch them go, however. He steeled his nerve and focused on the task ahead.

"You," he began, "raise the drawbridge." He turned to one of the men behind him, "And you," he said, "signal the crew to the rear of the castle! Tonight, we lead our people to glory!"

Quatre continued to watch the castle wall, waiting for any word. It had seemed like an eternity since Heero, Wufei and Trowa made their way into the castle. Zechs also should have been in there by now. It was well into the night and there was still no word. He paced back and forth.

"Sir! The signal! We see it!" Quatre turned and indeed saw the flag change back to that of the King.

"Alright! Move out! Scale the walls! Attack swiftly and kill as few as you can sparing women and children!" Quatre said as he led his army to a hopefully victorious battle.

Trowa and Wufei stood cornered, back to back, a rock giant on either side. Their swords were chipped and cracked and they had suffered numerous injuries including cracked ribs and several other fractures.

"Any regrets, Wufei?" Trowa said through clenched teeth.

"Do not do us such an injustice talking like this is the end, Barton. We will not be beaten by such weak tricks."

"I suppose your right. Cathy would never forgive me if I died here."

"One last all-out attack then?" Wufei said.

"On the count of three."

"Three!" yelled a voice from behind them.

"Duo!" The two of them had never been happier to see their braided friend. Sally, Hilde, Catherine and Dorothy were also there, armed and ready. Most of their crew had minimal battle experience at best from lessons given out of necessity; however, they were all more than willing to fight to protect one another.

They paired off, taking their stances on either side and stood their ground. There was strength in numbers but given the size of their magical stone adversaries it was still likely to be anything but easy.

"Ya' ready for this, Hilde babe?" Duo asked, grinning.

"You know it." She answered back. As if cued by a group understanding, the friends began their assault on the megaliths, praying that Heero was having better luck than it looked like they would.

Relena felt her body moving, though she knew it was not of her doing. A warmth soon pressed against her and she knew it must be him. She tried to listen; bits and pieces of his pleas breaking through the vast darkness.

'You're too strong for this…"

A warm drop of liquid fell onto her neck. She could feel it sliding slowly down her skin. He was crying…? 'You're wrong' she thought. 'I'm so sorry… I'm just… not strong enough…'

'Please…' She heard his voice once more, his silent pain slicing though her consciousness like a dagger. 'I need you…' Somehow the strength in his please seemed to give her something more to hold onto.

'Heero…'

Without another word, Une sent a flash of black lightning at him. Heero dodged, rolling out of the way. Just as Heero recovered his stance, Une blasted at him again. He moved with an agility that the Gods themselves would envy and struck out again, knocking the lightning back in her direction.

"Well done. I am impressed. I can see why the Princess loves you: handsome, strong and quick on your feet." She took the opportunity to cast a quick spell with a wave of her hand. "Almost a shame I have to kill you."

'She loves me?' the thought had but a moment to register before five magic blades appeared before him.

"You should consider yourself lucky. You are the first and only man to ever have the pleasure of witnessing what my power can truly do." With those words, all five blades began attacking, each with their own pace, rhythm and technique. Heero spun and ducked, parried and thrust, countered and defended but the swords wouldn't quit. The first blade that drew blood turned a crimson color, the second doing the same but each scratch only made him more determined to win. One by one he bested the swords sending flying back into magical oblivion. As he defeated the final one, however, a blast of Une's black lightning struck him from behind; a cowardly attack that sent him sailing through the air back to the alter.

Heero laid there for a moment, stunned. His whole body was on fire as pain surged through his nerves like a paralysis poison. He lifted his head, vision blurring. He could hear the cold clack of Une's heels on the stone floor as she made her approach to finish him.

"Relena…" He whispered.

"Oh, don't worry, lover boy. I'll give you a minute to say goodbye to her. But she'll be joining you in the afterlife soon enough." Une sneered with evil glee.

'Kiss her, Heero…' Treize's voice came from seemingly nowhere. 'Kiss the princess now, or all is lost.'

'A kiss?' Heero had little time to ponder it. He felt his strength leaving him. He had to free Relena from the spell. He couldn't fail her again. Gathering what remained of his energy, he pulled himself to his knees and made his way to her. He leaned down, closed his eyes, whispered her name one last time and then gently pressed his lips to hers in a first, and what he knew was most likely their last kiss. In that instant, something happened. He felt as though some unseen forced passed from him into Relena. He pulled back and looked at her one last time before his world went black.