See all warnings and disclaimers in the first chapter.

A/N: Do you remember the title some chapters back "In the Game of Chess, the Winner Takes the King"? Heh heh . . . heh . . . BUAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAAAAA!

Heero: Okay, she's lost her mind. Readers, please look away from the following gore. (KABLAMMO!)

Jewel: Aww, you shot Relena again. How am I supposed to finish the story now?

Heero: You'll think of something. Perhaps you could dress up as her double.

Jewel: Eeeeeeeww . . .

. . . The Winner . . .

Quatre listened intently as his Bonded finished his long narration, then leaned back with a sigh. "This all gets curiouser and curiouser," he mused. "What are the Telmaran doing now about Dorothy?"

"They're demanding she come to Tel'Mar and explain herself," Trowa said, sounding at once amused and annoyed. "Since when are my people so steeped in politics?"

Quatre had to admit he found it amazing himself. "I have a special request, my love. Relena has a man working for her. His name is Rashid. I doubt he has any real loyalty to her, because I've spent the last many days working on him. I think with a little push he could be persuaded to my side. He's a good man, and she mistreats him. I want you to offer him whatever he wants to work for me and try to figure out what she's got going on."

Trowa blinked. "A spy in her ranks, eh? I don't know how useful he'll be if she doesn't think much of him."

"That's not really the point," Quatre said, smiling faintly. "You still don't think like a human. If Relena is trying to play both ends against the middle here, which I know she is, she will have a lot going on. She won't be able to keep everything hidden from everyone all the time. And if she has recriminating evidence accidentally lying around, Rashid will be in a position to find it."

"I see," Trowa said, nodding. "Yes, I think that could work. That device she used to control Heero, perhaps she managed to make it work in her favor, too. Though I don't see how."

"A good thought," Quatre said. "If she is, Rashid might know." He drummed his fingers on his arm. "This is truly an awful game she's playing. Supposedly, she and Dorothy are lovers now. Did you hear that?"

Trowa blinked. "And now she's stabbing her in the back?"

Quatre shrugged. "I wouldn't put it past Dorothy to try the same thing, but unfortunately her little games from years ago put Relena in the better position. In a way, it serves her right."

"Do you think she poisoned her father?" Trowa asked.

For a moment, Quatre was silent. "The doctors are saying it's old age," he said at length, "but I don't believe them. Dorothy probably paid them off to lie. I think she is behind her father's illness. He has days to live, Dorothy will be crowned empress, and Relena will rule by her side. I think Dorothy has been planning her father's death for a long time. I think Relena found out, so Dorothy had her suddenly disgraced and exiled. No fuss, no investigation. Only, Relena didn't go down without a fight. So they bargained for the throne. Now Relena is stabbing Dorothy in the back, because that's what she does best."

Trowa looked highly amused, now. "It's all very entertaining, when you think about it."

Quatre grinned. "Very. I'm going to go talk with the emperor. He should know the truth. I would like you to come. Do you think Wufei can handle Heero alone?"

"Yes, for now," Trowa said. "Heero seems calmer than he did. They're staying with Treize, who of course never allows nonsense of any kind."

"Good. Because I'm also going to go see Dorothy," Quatre said. "And I want you to be there. I'm betting she doesn't have one of Relena's fancy devices. I should be able to catch her in her lie."

Trowa rose, a predator's glint entering his eye. "When do we leave?"

"Right now," Quatre said, rising as well. "Just let me put on something suitable for the visit to our emperor."

Trowa followed him into the bedroom, and as soon as Quatre slid out of his white robes, pushed him down on the bed. Covering the young human's slim, naked golden body with his own, Trowa at once slipped his hands around to the front of Quatre's pelvis and attacked his neck.

"Okay, but before you get dressed I want to hunt a little."

"Hu-unt?" Quatre repeated, a gasp in the middle of that word drawing it out to two syllables. His thighs spread of their own accord, making room for Trowa's demanding hands. Why could he never say no to his Bonded? "For what?"

"Paradise," Trowa whispered.

He pushed one finger inside Quatre's clenching entrance, making Quatre cry out; he didn't have to hunt very long.

o8o o8o

Heero raised his head, ears perking, when the door swung quietly open. Wufei padded in, his black-striped bulk almost reaching the doorknob. He kept his eyes on the older Telmaran out of politeness, letting him know he would not ignore him or brush him off. Duo, lying with his head pillowed on Heero's flank, half turned his head in the direction of Wufei's almost-silent steps. The clean white bandages over his eyes were only minimally paler than his face.

He was in pain. The first part of the treatment had left both of them in a lot of pain. When they administered the anesthesia to Duo, Heero had forgotten about the new levels of their Bond and had simply collapsed, instantly asleep as his love. He woke to find himself slow-minded and foggy due to the painkillers. He hadn't liked that one bit. The fog of the painkillers only lasted for the first hour or so of their duration. But it was when they faded that he really hated it.

Himself, he could handle the pain. He was a wolf, and wolves weren't highly sensitive to it. But Duo was a fragile human. Heero hated to know he was in pain. Leaning down, he licked Duo's cheek reassuringly.

"How are you two doing?" Wufei asked, stopping beside the bed.

"Not too bad, yet," Heero replied. "It's wearing off again, though."

Wufei radiated sympathy. "It's too soon for another, but not much longer now." He lightly nudged Duo's hand.

Duo stroked his face. Heero sighed and rested his head back on Duo's chest.

"There is one nice thing about your idiot actions," Wufei mused, giving a big cat's grin. "I don't have to concentrate on speaking to you both. Even if I'm only talking to one of you, you both hear me. It's somewhat . . . convenient."

Snorting, Heero closed his eyes. "Glad you approve."

Wufei jumped up on the bed and laid his head alongside Heero's, tucking his body close to Duo. The boy reached up and rested a hand on the tiger's head, idly stroking the soft fur.

"Relena met with the clan O'Daijas," Wufei said, starting to purr deep in his chest. "Trowa and myself are quite suspicious. Trowa's Bonded thinks it might have something to do with that device she used to control you, Heero. He's already got a plan in place to find out everything he can. He's devious, that one."

Heero sighed. "He should be the next emperor. I actually trust him."

"That's not out of the realm of possibility," Duo murmured. "He's next in line after Relena and Zechs."

"Don't talk," Heero scolded, especially conscious of his Bonded's pain. Duo was being brave, but Heero could feel it as clearly as if it was his own.

"Then you two keep talking," Duo said in a failing voice. "Distracts me."

"Distracts both of us," Heero corrected, letting his eyes close again.

o8o o8o

Wufei licked the younger Telmaran's cheek, nuzzling Duo's hand. He felt sorry for Duo, but he had a hard time summoning sympathy for Heero. He'd brought this on himself with his extremely foolish actions. He did feel a measure of pity for the poor wolf, though. In many ways he was still a pup. But then, wildcats did mature much faster than wolves. Wolves were very . . . wolfish. Yes. That was the best way to describe it.

"All right. I'll tell you everything you missed. I can believe Relena was relieved not to see you, though, Heero. She didn't act like it, but she would be insane not to be."

Heero huffed a laugh.

"I think the O'Daijas are inclined to believe her," Wufei went on, continuing purring. It seemed to soothe them both. "They do not know her like we do, though. Like I said, Trowa's Bonded has plans. He is as devious as a snake, that one." He chuckled. "If these two women schemers take each other down, he will be the new emperor and we would all be better off for it."

Duo nodded, but Wufei wasn't sure the boy was really listening. Not that he could blame him. He couldn't feel the pain, but he could sense it. Burning in both their minds. So he continued on, happy to keep them occupied.

"I will be disappointed, however, if our people decide to play this game with her. There was a time when we wouldn't have even considered her request after breaking the Treaty of Tel'Mar."

"I won't go along with it if they decide to spare her," Heero said quietly.

Wufei didn't think anyone or anything would be able to save her.

o8o o8o

Quatre gently took the hand of his uncle, careful not to squeeze the fragile bones too hard. "Can you hear me, Uncle?" he murmured.

Though the emperor's eyes were closed, he still turned his head toward the sound of Quatre's voice. "Quatre?" he quavered. "Is . . . that you?"

"Yes, Uncle," Quatre whispered, smiling as he pressed a kiss to the back of one thin hand. "How are you feeling?"

"Rather poorly, I'm ashamed to admit," came the reedy response.

Quatre's smile turned into a grin. "Nothing to be ashamed of. You're getting old, after all."

"Don't make fun of me, cheeky boy," his uncle said, a hint of a grin tugging at his bluish lips. "Ah, why couldn't you have been my son, eh? Instead I got a conniving daughter determined to see me finished. Quatre my boy, I will miss you. Promise you won't let my memory be tarnished by Dorothy's rule, yes?"

To his surprise, Quatre actually felt tears sting his eyes. He refused to let them fall. "She poisoned you, didn't she?"

"Yes," came the unsurprising answer. "She has passed my illness off as old age, and my accusations as senility. I'm not that old, Quatre. And you are the only one who believes me."

"Now, perhaps," Quatre agreed. "But that will change, Uncle. I will not let Dorothy get away with this. I have plans in place, plans that will . . . well, let's just say she won't win."

Now a weak chuckle issued from the dying man. "You're a good boy. If anyone can do it, it's you. Just promise me you will take care of my empire, eh? It's a good system, kept honorable by good men. And promise me . . . you will be happy . . . in all you do. Live a little . . . love a lot . . . and . . . stay true . . . to yourself, Quatre . . ."

The heart monitor's beep faltered to a continuous wail as the emperor of the Andarian Empire took his last breath and died.