*.....* denotes thought or internal struggle
***** denotes scene breaks
------ denotes flashback
[1, 2, 3, 4...] denotes author's notes at end of fic

Notes: all succeeding chapters from now on will take place in the year before the prologue until I indicate otherwise. Just remember, this is an AU fic. By that in this story I mean that the world is very different from the established GW timelines. There are no gundams in this fic, btw. Oh, and I've changed and altered the characters' ages. Oh, and I know I'm evil to Relena in some of my other fics, so this kind of offsets those. In this fic Relena is nice and not the deranged Heero-clinging harridan she is usually portrayed as... ^_~ oh, and I'm not that familiar with sailing and boat terms... I've only gone sailing twice... so if the descriptions or whatever are a bit rough, please bear with me. Thanks!!!

Society's Mirage Part 2
To Set A Stage

Aboard the Zero

Duo sighed as he flopped down on the massive bed of the sumptuous quarters provided for the royal family aboard the cruiser Zero. The bed was soft and large, his tall, slender frame easily sinking into the mattress. The quality of the bedding was easily the most luxurious found in the world, exquisite to the touch and expensive as hell. However, Duo took no heed of the levels of luxury and wealth apparent in the quarters. His entire life had been filled with the wealth befitting his social status, even back in the days when he had been the spare heir to the sheikdom.

Duo turned his head to the left to gaze out the porthole of his chambers. The clear glass pane did nothing to detract from the quiet beauty of the night sky, alive with the burning stars of heaven. The thick walls of his cabin did help to muffle the sounds of the watch above, but the young sheik could still hear the murmurs of the Zero's night crew.

In his peripheral vision, he could see the sheaves of paper that he had discarded on his dresser. He had already read through the information on the Sank Kingdom twice, effectively memorizing the pertinent details of the foreign land he was heading towards. Although he was only visiting the Sank Kingdom for a preliminary conference, he knew the importance of making a good impression.

Knowing what he did about those that lived in the Sank Kingdom, he was aware that their two cultures were very different. What might be normal for him could perhaps be considered strange or even barbaric by another. He would have to be very careful in his selection of words and mannerisms; something that he was not prone to do.

Duo was aware of his faults. He knew he was impetuous, inclined to act before thinking. He had a propensity for chattering fast and rapidly, his usually cheerful nature getting the better of him. He had done his best to curb those tendencies, though strong traces still lingered even when he was dealing with other nobles and peers. He was grateful that his cousin had enough faith in Duo to carry out this mission and the young sheik was determined to prove his cousin's faith.

Duo had never coveted the sheikdom of Shinigami. He had preferred to spend his days out of the political royal limelight, content to allow his older brother all of the glory. He loved the people in his domain, but he had loved his freedom too. He had always been disgusted with the simpering and boot licking that occurred in the royal circles, yet it had never seemed to bother his older brother. He had definitely been more suited to the royal life than Duo had been, so the fact that he had been the older of the two and the heir had been perfect. He could lead his people in the public, and Duo could continue to help in the quiet obscurity of privacy.

Unfortunately, fate did not seem to be as obliging as fortune and had swept the proverbial mat from underneath Duo's feet.

Duo rolled over to the side of his bed, reaching out and opening the drawer in his bedside stand. In that shallow drawer lay a small framed picture. Duo picked up the picture, holding the frame loosely between his hands as he sat up. The gentle light from his candle fell upon the canvas painting, illuminating the frozen figures captured by an artist's skillful hand.

Captured onto the canvas in a motley arrangement of colors and ink were two young men. Both were standing together, their friendship and comradeship apparent even in the lifeless likeness. One young man had short blond hair, neat and trim in all ways possible. His handsome face held a small but sincere smile, his clothing neat and impeccable. The other young man had a headful of chestnut hair, easily contained in a neat but long braid that fell to his mid-back. The young man's grin was wide and beaming, his natural exuberance apparent even in the creation of ink. His left arm was thrown over the shoulders of his companion as they both looked outwards toward the artist.

Duo ran a slim, tapered finger down the glass barrier of the picture, his voice whispering in a sorrowful tone, "Solo."

A tear fell down Duo's face, leaving a salty trail over his flesh, even as it fell onto the glass with a soft plip. Duo hugged the picture to his chest even as he bowed his head down.

"I miss you so much, brother," he whispered.

His older brother Solo had been presumed and declared dead when his warship, the Taurus, never returned to Manasia. It was assumed he had either met with misfortune due to nature or to a rogue pirate ship since there had been no declared wars at the time of his disappearance.

Small amounts of wreckage from the ship had washed onto the shores of the OZ Kingdom, though no bodies or survivors had made their way to the land. Even in the light of that evidence, Duo had not given up hope. It had taken nine months with no evidence of survivors that had finally driven home the fact that Solo was gone and Duo was left to take the reigns of his sheikdom.

That had been over four years ago and the ache had still not passed. Duo assumed that he would always miss his beloved brother, his best friend.

With one last regretful sigh, Duo replaced the portrait painting back into his beside stand and closed the drawer. Reaching up, he cupped his hand around the candle's flame as he gently blew the light out. Rolling over onto his back, he allowed his gaze to stare unfocused upon the ceiling of his cabin as he adjusted to the swarming darkness.

He forced his body to relax, allowing the gentle rocking of the boat to calm him; to lull him into an easy slumber. If Allah was with him and the sea wind continued to be strong and steady, he would reach the Sank Kingdom's port by noon tomorrow. As he felt sleep creep over his senses, dulling them to the outside world, he briefly wondered what strange, new adventures awaited him in this new, foreign land.

**********************

Sank Kingdom

[The Next Day]

Relena smiled and leaned her face into the wind as she held on tightly to the rigging of the Aries. She allowed her hair to blow freely, a shining flag of blonde silk waving in the wind. Her delighted laughter tinkled down to the crew below her even as they gave rueful grins and shook their heads at the young monarch. Although at this point the young girl did not look like a member of the nobility, rather she appeared to be just a regular young girl hanging off the rigging of a very fast moving ship.

Nothing strange or unusual about that. Perfectly normal.

Clad in a soft pair of breeches and a loose, flowing shirt, Relena could have easily passed for a member of the crew. Dropping down to the deck, she moved over the surface of the ship with an ease that came with a familiarity with sailing. As she headed towards the head of the ship, she passed her faithful manservant, Pargan.

The poor thing was clinging to the side of the ship, his face a nasty green color. Relena shook her head in sympathy as she gave him a friendly pat on the back. He never did have a stomach for sailing. And still, he refused to leave her alone, accompanying her despite his intolerance for sea life.

It was nice to know there were some people in her cynical, back-stabbing world capable of true loyalty and friendship.

Relena lifted her head higher and sniffed the tangy salt smell, enjoying the wind slapping lightly at her cheeks. She laughed delightedly as the bow of her ship sliced through the waves and sent a fine mist of salt spray into her face. Moving over to the port side, she leaned her slim arms on the railing, settling her bright blue gaze on the cloudless horizon.

The endless waters of the sea were before her, fierce and embracing in their offer of boundless adventure and challenge. Being born and bred around the sea, the salty waters were her second home; the fathomless depths calling to the sailor embedded deep within her heart and soul. If not for her noble status, she would have been content to live on the sea for the rest of her natural life.

But that was not to be. She had been born into a life of privilege and circumstances had changed so that the peaceful lives of countless thousands now rested on her slim shoulders. Relena felt a tiny bit of her joy seep out as the weight of her crown reasserted itself in her mind. As much as she loved her people, she also mourned the loss of her freedom, her childish innocence stolen away by the machinations of the royal court.

However, as quickly as the cloud of depression came, it was dispelled. Ruefully shaking her long mane of blonde silk, she firmly stowed her royal duties away and focused on enjoying her brief stint of freedom.

A sharp cry from the eagle's nest above tore her attention away from the sea's waters, her ears perking up as the man's words were carried over the breeze.

"Ahoy! The Wing at starboard!"

A joyful smile curved over her soft face at the words, her mind crowing in exultation. *Heero!*

Rushing over to the right side of her ship, she prepared to greet her childhood friend.

**********************

Crown Prince Heero Yuy caught the thick hemp rope thrown to him by a member of the Aries' crew, using the tether to secure his twenty-foot sloop to the massive yacht at his port side. Once he was satisfied that his precious Wing wouldn't break free and drift off to smash against the rocky Sank shore, he reached up and grabbed hold of the rope ladder dangling from the side of Relena's ship.

Heero made quick work of climbing the swaying ladder, vaulting up and over the railing of the ship. He had barely gotten both feet steadied on the well-maintained deck before he suddenly found himself with an armful of noble blonde.

"Heero! It's so good to see you!"

Heero allowed the young queen to affectionately squeeze the life out of him with a calm acceptance born from friendship and a familiarity of such occurrences. He briefly returned her embrace before addressing his friend in cool, accented tones, "And you, Your Majesty."

Relena ignored the cool address from her friend, too used to his collected and precisely articulated speech patterns to take offense. A result of his tutoring and heritage, Heero often spoke in a quiet, forceful voice that sounded cold and aloof to the unfamiliar. However, Relena had known him since forever and could detect the underlying warmth and friendship.

With a winsome smile, she spoke in dulcet tones as she gently chided him. "Now Heero, you know better. Don't call me that." Her gentle face was pulled into a distasteful frown as she continued, "You know I hate that title outside of the throne room."

If she hadn't been looking at him so closely, she would have almost missed the light twinkle that entered into Heero's deep Prussian blue eyes. Not changing his tone of voice, he answered, "As you wish, Queen Relena."

Deciding to play along with the game, Relena stamped her booted foot on the deck and playfully pouted. "Oi! That's no better!"

A slight smirk made its way across Heero's lips as he teased, "But it would be rude to not address you befitting your station, my lady." With that, Heero swept into a mocking bow.

"Hidoi!"

A rumbling chuckle from behind them reminded the two royals that they had an audience. As Relena's crew laughed around her, the two young adults joined in. The air around the Aries was filled with the laughter of the peaceful and the content. However, the atmosphere was broken with the sounds of a man retching over the side of the ship.

Heero looked around Relena to the port side railing for a brief instant before turning his gaze back to her. With a simple lift of his eyebrow, he said, "Pargan?"

Relena nodded her head ruefully, giving her friend his answer.

She watched as Heero closed his eyes and gave a sympathetic shake of the head, her gaze roaming nonchalantly over his form. At the young age of twenty-one, Heero had matured and grown into a very attractive young man.

As a child, his body had always been wiry, bordering on the line of scrawny. However, as he had blossomed into the rigors of his teens, muscle had slowly invaded his body. His training and other physical activities honed his form into the piece of perfection that stood before her.

Strong, muscled thighs were encased in a tight-fitting pair of breeches, his lower legs encased in highly polished boots. Both were black in color, making his already long legs go on forever. A full-sleeved shirt clung to his upper body, concealing the taut muscles of his arms, shoulders, and chest in the generous white folds. A small vee in the neckline of the shirt gave a brief hint of smooth chest to the wandering eye.

Although his clothing bore no traces of his noble status, the sword belt and hanging weapon that rode low on his hips both indicated his royal position. The belt and the scabbard both bore the insignia of his royal house. Although it was innocently sheathed at his side, Relena knew just how quickly that lethal weapon could be drawn and used in the defense of Heero's life or those around him. As of her knowledge, there were none around who could best the young prince's skill with a sword. He had managed to even humble Wufei, her Minister of Defense, whose skill with the blade was legendary.

His hair, that wonderfully unruly mop of indescribable color, still had a roguish tendency to flop haphazardly in his face; the sea wind teasing the ends, causing silken strands to fly every which way. Against fashionable custom, Heero tended to wear his hair a bit on the long side, though he did contain the length in a short ponytail, neatly tied off with a piece of black silk. Although many never understood why he always kept it contained with the scrap of ribbon, Relena knew it had something to do with his late mother.

Yet, even as attractive as the outside package was, it was Heero's eyes that usually captured his observers' attentions. Dark and deep, his Prussian blue eyes reflected the tempers of the sea. Calm and blank one moment, the orbs could easily become stormy and wild the next. Heero usually managed to quietly intimidate unruly members of the court with just one acidic glare. There were few that could hold his gaze for very long.

Heero tended to exude a touch-me-not attitude, keeping strangers at bay. Wary and distrustful, he usually lashed out at strangers, scaring them away with his unsociable behavior. He, like Relena, hated the machinations of the royal court. Cynical due to past treacheries, he avoided social interactions that might lead to heartache or heartbreak.

However, for those special few who managed to break away at his cold exterior, his sensitive soul and true self often became apparent. If they were strong and capable enough to win his esteem and above all, respect, they managed to earn a fiercely devoted and sincere friend. Relena was lucky enough to be included in this small, elite group and she truly treasured their friendship.

Even though her inclinations did not fall into the romance department, Relena envied the person Heero would eventually choose for his mate. Whoever was special enough to win his heart would find themselves with a true lover, a soulmate who would be willing to move heaven and earth for them. Relena could only hope that she would eventually find someone as faithful and loyal as her dear friend. Although the likelihood seemed impossible. In the world of royalty, a love marriage was often considered a pretty dream, but impossible reality.

Relena could still hear the voice of her royal behavior tutor lecturing, "Affairs of the heart are nice dreams, Princess, but that's all they are. We cannot always trust our hearts to lead us to the most suitable of arrangements. As a princess you have a duty to the throne and your people above everything else."

Heero's hand landing on her slim shoulder shook Relena out of her internal musings. She sheepishly raised her blue gaze to Heero's as she said, "What did you say?"

Heero just smirked as he asked, "Mind somewhere else today, Relena?"

Relena shook her head and said, "Just remembering an unpleasant memory. Something better left forgotten."

Relena briefly looked over the railing at the tethered Wing before turning back to Heero and saying, "How come you're out on the Wing today, Heero? I would have assumed Meiran would have insisted on your arriving on board the Mercurius. I know she doesn't consider the Wing to be befitting enough for your station in life."

Heero made a face as he answered her. "You mean she doesn't think it's ostentatious enough."

"Oh Heero, you know she's just looking out for you. The Wing doesn't have any battlements or gun mounts and the Mercurius is fully equipped. You'd be defenseless in the Wing if you ran into trouble."

"I know. Meiran and I struck a compromise. I would sail on the Mercurius provided I could bring Wing along. I can't sail alone on the Mercurius. Noin and Sally would have conniption fits if I took their precious ship by myself."

Relena giggled as she let her imagination project an image of the elegant captain and competent doctor ranting and raving about their ship. The two women were infamous for their fierce devotion to their aquatic vessel. Still laughing over the mental images, Relena asked her friend about Meiran.

Heero chuckled and an evil glint streaked through his eyes as he answered her. "After Trowa sent me out to look for you, I noticed Meiran rubbing her hands together and muttering about hunting down, and I quote, 'Justice Boy'."

Relena gave full reign to her amusement and fondly commented, "Those two just love to bicker with each other, don't they?"

"Hai. Ever since they met they've been trying to outwit the other."

"What's the current score?"

"I think Wufei's winning right now. Though, judging from Meiran's enthusiasm I think she has something up her sleeve."

Relena and Heero laughed together for a few moments before the young queen managed to get control of herself. Her mind suddenly picked up on something that Heero had said and she asked, "Why did Trowa send you out to find me?"

"Trowa wanted me to find you and inform you that the representative from Manasia has arrived safely at the palace and is awaiting a preliminary audience with you. There were going to wait until you got back on your own, but when I showed up he sent me after you." Heero shrugged as he related the information Relena's Minister of Foreign Affairs had told him.

Relena nodded even as she gave a sigh and said with regret, "Well, I guess break time's over. I can't keep the Manasian ambassador waiting."

Relena nodded to her helmsman who maneuvered the Aries until it was pointed back towards the Sank harbor. She gave Heero a questioning glance that he answered with a simple nod.

As the two walked towards the stern of the ship, Heero asked, "Why is a Manasian ambassador visiting the Sank Kingdom?"

Relena looked out at the growing shoreline of the Sank Kingdom as she said, "To join in the alliance negotiations against the Romefeller Kingdom."

"Really? I didn't think Manasia would be involved with the alliance, considering their kingdom is totally surrounded by water and their navy is more than competent enough to withstand Dermail's attacks."

"I was surprised too. But it seems that Sultan Winner agrees with me that Dermail is becoming too much of a threat to the world. Especially after the last intelligence report I received."

Heero's keen hearing picked up on the new tone in Relena's voice. With a sharp glance at the young ruler, he asked, "What's happened now?"

Relena's lips thinned into a grim line as she said, "I received a report yesterday that Dermail is starting to gather his scattered forces at White Fang. If I didn't know better, I would assume he's planning on making a strategic attack using his naval military."

"White Fang is between Manasia and Sank, isn't it?"

Relena gave one terse nod at Heero's question. Her eyes troubled, she voiced her fears to her friend. Her voice was flat with her undeniable facts. "If Dermail managed to eliminate Sank or Manasia, he would effectively control half of the world. All that would stand against him would be the other, Hane, OZ, and the La Grange colonies in the New World. If he had the naval forces of either Sank or Manasia at his disposal, he would make quick work of the remaining kingdoms."

Heero nodded his agreement. Even though he knew the navy of his kingdom was nothing to shrug at, if it was attacked by Dermail's forces combined with Sank or Manasia, all that would result would be needless violence and pointless deaths. His voice laced with the seriousness of the situation, he asked, "So what are we going to do?"

Relena kept her eyes on the coastline of her kingdom, her mind a thousand miles away. In a soft voice, she answered, "I don't know, Heero. I don't know."

TBC...

 

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