Title: The Little Cinder Boy
Author: Angst Faerie
Rating: T
Disclaimers: I don't own Gundam Wing nor do I own Cinderella written by the Grimm brothers. I do own Collette, and few other minor characters in this chapter.
Notes: Quatre's back and is having second thoughts about going to the ball.
Chapter 3: Going to the ball
No matter how hard he tired Quatre just couldn't seem to fall asleep. He kept thinking about what Duo suggested and he, against his better judgment, agreed to. Maybe he would get lucky and Duo would change his mind or maybe he wouldn't be able to get the costumes. Quatre just had to keep thinking positive like that and it might just come true. Smiling with the possibilities that Duo might not be able to do the impossible he rolled over and went to sleep.
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As luck would have it though, when Quatre woke up he found Duo gone. After serving breakfast and cleaning up the dishes, Quatre began to do his morning chores. Dorothy and Relena had to go to their lessons so he didn't have to worry about them bothering him. When lunch ended Duo still hadn't returned. Quatre was becoming worried.
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Hurrying his afternoon chores Quatre finished early and had a little bit of free time till he had to help get the girls ready for the ball. Quatre felt a little sad, he had been to a ball once before with his father a long, long time ago. He couldn't remember much of it but he did know he had fun. Deep down he wished that Duo would succeed and they get to sneak into the dance. He would love to see how beautiful it would be.
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Since he did have the free time and really needed to take a break to think he decided to go for a walk. He loved walking it cleared his mind and always made him feel calmer. The gardens around the Winner estate were especially nice. He continued down the main path only to veer to the left towards the wooded are off to the side.
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Quatre knew this path by heart he continued through the brush avoiding getting caught by a twig. The woods didn't get any thicker but about five minutes in there was a clearing. There was a little brook off to the right and wild flowers growing everywhere and in the center stood a magnificent rose bush standing behind a stone tombstone.
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Quatre picked a couple of the flowers by the brook and headed towards the grave. Sitting them down on top of it Quatre kneeled down next to the grave. Lifting his finger and tracing the name he reread what was on the grave even though he knew it by heart.
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Lady Catherine Raberba-Winner
Born - March 5, 1787 Died –June 25, 1804
Like the delicate angel, kind and gentle she will return to the heavens above.
She gave her life for a life and may she live on through him.
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Quatre's father wasn't buried near his mother. She might have been married to Lord Winner but she came from a poor family. In fact she was a servant working for the Winners when his father meet her and fell in love. Instead his father built this little sanctuary just for her knowing how much she loved these woods. Sadly when Lord Winner died he was put in the family tomb where his first wife was not allowed to be. Une would joke that when Quatre died he'd be put in the garbage to join his mother rather than the tomb next to his father. He always ignored her.
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Smiling softly Quatre sat down and made himself comfortable on the grass.
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"Hello mother." He spoke softly. "It is another beautiful day. I picked some flowers for you. Don't worry Dorothy and Relena have been ignoring me today so they weren't really mean to me. The Prince's birthday is approaching and tonight is the Masquerade Ball. Father used to tell me you loved going to the Balls. Well Duo thinks we should sneak in but I'm a little weary of the idea even though a part of me does want to go." Quatre sighed. "What am I going to do?"
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Looking down he watched the grass move slightly in the wind. What could he do, he did promise Duo he would go so what other choice did he have. The fear of being caught by Une was unbearable though. Quatre knew if she found out he went after deliberately being told not to he would be severally punished, and he hated getting beaten.
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"There you are Quatre I've been looking all over for you." Hearing the voice Quatre looked up.
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Standing before him was none other than Colette. She was also the only other person that knew where his mother's grave was. Colette was dressed nicer than most of the other servants and her graying hair was pulled into a bun on the back of her head. Her face aged from time but there was a light in her blue eyes that made her seem so much younger. She was smiling gently at Quatre as she walked over and sat down next to him.
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Colette was in charge of all the servants here and as long as Quatre could remember she was always with him. All the stories he knew about his mother came from her. Colette was his mother's aunt and the eldest of the two Raberba sisters. When Catherine's mother abandoned her it was Colette that took her in to work at the Winner estate. She was his nanny and even his Godmother. Unfortunately when Lord Winner remarried, Une became Quatre's guardian and Colette wasn't allowed to raise him.
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"I saw Duo early this morning leaving. He seemed pretty excited." She spoke softly.
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"Yes I suppose so. He. . ." He didn't get to finish his sentence before Colette put a hand on his shoulder and stopped him.
"Quatre I think you should go." Quatre looked up startled. Laughing quietly she answered his unspoken question. "Duo told me earlier and I heard you talking. You should go though. It is your right no matter what Une does to you she can't take that away from you."
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"I will but what if Duo can't get the costumes?"
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"Oh he will, knowing Duo, but I might have something that will help. I'll show you when the need arises. Maybe if you're lucky you'll meet the love of your life at the dance." Quatre smiled back. Oh how he would love to be swept away from this life.
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"Colette, can you tell me again about when father first met mother?"
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"Sure dear I believe we have enough time."
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So the two stayed by the little brook till it was almost time for dinner. Then they returned back to the main house to help the girls get ready for the ball.
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It was chaos at the house, people running around trying to get things done, Dorothy and Relena screaming at people for not being fast enough. They were finishing up the last minute changes and checking to make sure the dresses and the girl's make-up were perfect. Une wanted her daughters to look absolutely the best they could she was determined to make one Queen of Lynnet.
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Quatre was exhausted; Relena's ridiculous gown had way too many layers and required the help of him and two other servants just to get it on her. Then the wings that were to be pinned to her back never seemed like they would go on straight. After an hour struggle Relena was done and told not to move tell they left. Dorothy was a little easier to get ready. That's if you didn't count how many times he had to redo her hair till she said it was perfect. She was able to get her dress on by herself. Une won't let anyone touch her so she dressed herself.
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After throwing Quatre's dinner on the kitchen floor and telling him to stay inside tonight, she gathered her girls and out the door they went. They were taking the finest stallions along with the family carriage and Quatre could hear the girl's excited screams as they went down the drive.
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Quatre went and washed up as best as he could. Then he headed to the kitchen, picked up his dinner off of the floor, and moved to sit in his chair to start eating. Now all he had to do was wait for Duo to come back.
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He had finished his dinner and had decided to read a little. Quatre was so into his story that he didn't hear the window slide open and jumped off his chair when an arm suddenly grabbed him. Looking up he saw Duo's amused face, but only for a moment before Duo ran over to the back kitchen door and unlocked it, and in walked two people wrapped in cloaks each carrying a box under their arms.
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Duo then turned back to Quatre. "Are you ready? Cause I got the costumes and now you have to go." He pointed to the boxes that the strangers put on the ground and were now taking off their cloaks.
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"Oh and I forgot." Duo spoke again. "This is my good friend, and older brother, Solo Maxwell and his new wife Winnie. She's the only daughter of Mister Kristopher you know the tailor that owns the clothing store on the corner. Well Solo was Mister Kristopher's apprentice and just got married to Winnie about three months ago. Seeing as he was a tailors apprentice and owed me a favor I got him to get us costumes."
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Solo had the same color hair as Duo but was cropped short and was quiet the contrast to Duo's braid, and while Duo had violet eyes Solo's were more grayish. He was a bit taller than Duo too but pretty slim. His wife Winnie was pale but not in a sickly way. She had light brown hair that went down to her shoulders which she wore down with no ribbons or anything. She was tall for a girl but not as tall as Solo and had a really nice smile.
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Quatre exchanged hellos with the new people before Duo started opening the boxes. "Hey Kat this box is yours. I'll go put mine on. Winnie can you come with to help me lace up the back and everything. No offense Solo, but seeing as you are my brother I would prefer to have Winnie see me naked and not you." He joked.
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Winnie turned to face him and spoke gently. "Sure as long as you let me do your hair. Oh don't give me that look you said I could do it sometime, why not now. It's the perfect time." Duo finally agreed and then the two headed out of the kitchen to go to a different room. Solo just stood there as if waiting for something.
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"Well now, Quatre right?" Solo said and Quatre nodded. "It's time to make you into a princess." That announcement made Quatre a little nervous but not as much as when Solo started stripping him. "Stay there we have to wait for our little guest."
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Just then Duo and Winnie came back in. Duo's gown was beautiful made of black lace at the bottom and a deep purple corset that matched his eyes. His hair as usual was worn in a braid only this time he had black and purple ribbons interwoven in it.
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"Solo is there a problem." Duo asked looking over at Quatre standing in the center of the room with only his underclothes on.
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"Yeah she's not here yet. The boy is smaller than I thought though." Solo stated.
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"It doesn't help that his new evil family starves him." Duo said sourly.
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At that moment Colette walked in through the service door holding something wrapped in a blanket. "Sorry if I'm late I forgot where the key to the trunk was." She put the blanket down and pulled a dress out of it. The gown was white with gold embroidery that made many patterns on it. Like Duo's this one had a corset too but was white like the rest of the gown.
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"It's beautiful!" Quatre whispered. "It was your mothers wedding gown." Colette replied with a smile.
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"Thank God you're a life saver Colette. I was worried you wouldn't be able to find it. Come on let's get this thing on him already."
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While putting on the white gown Quatre felt overwhelmed. His father kept all his mother's belongings locked up but when he died he thought Une destroyed it all. He had never seen the dress before and wondered when Colette had gotten it. Just as he finished putting the gown on Solo pinned a magnificent pair of white silk wings to his back.
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"Don't forget these too." Colette handed him a pair of silk slippers with gold embroidery on them also making it an exact match to his gown. Quatre was also to wear a veil that went down to the back of his neck and away from his face, and white mask that covered the area around his eyes, Duo's was the same only black and minus the veil.
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"So what are we supposed to be?" Quatre asked attentively.
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"It's not obvious to you?" Quatre shook his head and Duo sighed. "You're an angel and I am the God, oh excuse me, Goddess of death." Seeing the strange looks everyone was giving him he said. "I mean a widow . . . that murders her husbands for their wealth then remarries."
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"Um okay," was all Quatre could say, "but that brings me to my other question. Why do we have to go dressed as girls? So Une won't recognize us."
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"Yes that too but if the prince is looking for a bride then any girl is allowed in without question making it easier to sneak in. Well enough with the questions it's time to get on the carriage." Duo turned and walked out the door Quatre was about to follow when Colette pulled him back.
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"Quatre remember if you want to get back before Une then I suggest you leave at the stroke of midnight." Quatre agreed then turned away too.
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Duo's so called carriage was an open wagon with a really old horse pulling it. "It was either him old rusty, or the donkey." Solo said.
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They got in and drove off. Going through town they saw that indeed the whole village was celebrating. "It's sad that a lot of the girls from poorer families are here and not at the ball." Duo stated quietly and Quatre nodded his head in agreement. They continued on the same road till they reached the edge of the village. The gate to the castle was left open with a couple of watch guards standing by. They let them pass and they went into the castle's drive and up to the grand entrance.
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They got out and Duo turned to talk with Solo Quatre decided to look around till he was done. Quatre was stunned by the gardens in the front with a great fountain in the center. He started to walk over to it but Duo had grabbed his arm and was pulling him to the front doors.
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In they went were a couple of servants pointed to the door on top of the staircase. Quatre was fighting back nausea now. On top of the stairs they looked through the door and saw everyone in the ballroom. Quatre immediately spotted Relena (for she wasn't that hard to miss in the awful pink dress) walking around as if looking for someone.
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He couldn't do this he'll be caught for sure. Quatre turned to leave but Duo grabbed his arm and tried to pull him in. Quatre fought desperately to get out of his grasp while whispering "Duo I can't do this."
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Duo let go of his arm and said back in a harsh tone. "If you don't do this, you'll always be afraid and live a life that wasn't meant for you being forced to take orders form Une till you die. Do you want that?" Duo sighed and said in a gentler tone. "However, it is your choice."
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With that Duo let go of him and turned to head into the room. Quatre closed his eyes and took a deep breath then followed Duo in.
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The place was sort of crowed Quatre heard a couple girls scoff and start to talk about him. These girls were ruthless did they truly believe he was their competition. He continued to walk around everyone, there sure were a lot of girls and he had lost sight of Duo. Quatre saw someone in black and headed towards them.
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Just his luck it was not Duo but Dorothy. She had her back towards him and was looking the other way. Quatre turned and ran . . . right into someone. Glancing up his blood ran cold. It was the jerk from the other day Duke Dekim and he was glaring right back at Quatre.
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"I…I-I'm so s-sorry sir!" Quatre stammered and tried to back away. "I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. Now if you'll excuse me." Quatre was about to turn away when he felt an arm wrap around his back. His eyes opened wide in shock as he looked back at Dekim, he was now smiling in a creepy sort of way.
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"It's quite all right dear." Dekim slightly rubbed Quatre's back. 'Just great', thought Quatre 'he's a pervert.' Quatre tried to move away but Dekim's hand quickly moved from his back to his arm. "So what is your name?" Dekim slurred.
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"I'm really sorry but I have got to go." Quatre tried to pull away but the hand on his arm tightened and he was sure it would leave a bruise. Looking into Dekim's eyes he saw the rage that was there. Quatre was scared.
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"Why don't we step outside" Dekim said. Quatre really wished he knew where Duo was.