After Colony 200

A limousine pulled up before a large mansion. An elderly man opened the car door, and a little boy about five years of age hopped out. He bolted towards the mansion.

"Milliardo!" His mother called after him.

The little boy, Milliardo, ignored his mother. To his disappointment, the mansion door was locked. He tried unlock it himself, but no avail. He gave up on the door and turned his attention towards the window. His mother wanted to stop him before he could hurt himself.

"Let him be," a young man said, stepping out of the car.

Milliardo found the windows sealed too. Fearlessly, he climbed up the wall to the second floor balcony like a pro. It was not surprising at all, for his father and maternal uncle were soldiers and pilots. Watching her son at a place where she called home, the young woman had mixed emotions.

"Ms Relena," the elderly man, Pagan, spoke. "I think the young master need some help."

Indeed, Milliardo found himself stuck on the balcony. He looked down and realized that getting down is much harder than climbing up.

His father walked up to him.

"Heero," Relena muttered her husband's name. It wasn't his real name, but it was the name he goes by.

Heero opened his arms and little Milliardo, after a hesitation, jumped into his father's arms from the second floor balcony.

Watching her husband and son, Relena remembered that last time she was here, where she was home.

After Colony 195 (Five Years Earlier)

It was her sixteenth birthday.

For girls who are born and raised in normal families, sixteenth birthday is celebrated with cakes and birthday candles. Some are even introduced to boys of their age.

But not Relena Peacecraft.

At the breakfast table, her mother, Queen Katrina, presented her a small cake. Her father, King Marticus, presented her a book.

"Letters of Leo Tolstoy?" Relena ran her fingers over the book title.

"Read it, and you will understand why," King Marticus said to her. "You are to be Queen of Sanc Kingdom and must know your duty and what you represent. As Queen, you will be the mother figure to your people. You must guide them in the right path, Relena."

"I am to be queen?" Relena was surprised. "But father, what about Milliardo?"

"Relena," Queen Katrina interrupted. "You heard your father."

Relena spoke no more. She cared for her older brother Milliardo very much. She had not seen him since he left to attend military academy and was lost contact ever since. Her parents had been furious with his choice. From their prespective, a prince of Sanc Kingdom - a country that believed in pacifism - should not under any circumstance become a military officer. Relena wasn't too surprised with her brother's choice since Milliardo had argued against the pacifism since his childhood.

"You will be queen, Relena," King Maticus said. "You will be a symbol of pacifism and peace."

Watching her daughter from side angle, Queen Katrina realized how much her daughter resembled her. At sixteen, Relena was beautiful. It wouldn't be long before she'd need to find a suitor. Whoever it'd be, he would be King of Sanc Kingdom. She then looked at her husband. Although he held the title of King, Katrina herself was the actual Queen Regnant. Before their marriage, King Marticus was a soldier at rank of a captain. He had gave up his past and ruled Sanc Kingdom with her, promoting peace and pacifism. Their son, Milliardo, apparently inherited the war genes from his father's side.

When time comes for Relena to wed, Queen Katrina quietly promised to herself. She will not marry a soldier.

After nightfall, Relena was in her room, reading the book her father had given her.

In the other wing of the palace, Queen Katrina was ready for bed.

"What is on your mind?" King Marticus asked.

"I remembered at a conference years ago, where I met Mr. Zayeed Winner," Queen Katrina replied.

"The head of Winner Corporation?" King Marticus immediately knew what Queen Katrina is thinking.

"Mr. Winner has a son about Relena's age," Queen Katrina continued. "And he believes in absolute pacifism."

"But he lives in the Space Colony."

"His son can divide his time between here and the colony. In addition, it can symbolize peace and alliance between Earth and Space Colony."

Under the sunny sky, Relena ran into the garden. It was a secret garden of her mother's, but Relena knew where to find the key. She opened the garden door, and admired the beautiful white roses. Her mother loved roses.

She sensed she isn't alone.

Within seconds, a boy about her age emerged. He seemed to be strong, though he wasn't too muscular. He had brown hair and icy Prussian blue eyes.

"What did you see?" He asked her.

"See what?" Relena was confused, though she is attracted to him.

Then they heard sound of siren.

"They are coming," he said under his breath. He hopped over the garden wall and disappeared in the air.

His presence had an impact on Relena.

"My name is Relena Peacecraft," she said slowly, as if the boy were still before her. "What is yours?"

She was still mumbling those words when her mother stormed into her bedroom.

"Relena! Wake up!" She literally dragged Relena out of the bed. "We are under invasion!" A woman of strength, mentally and physically, Queen Katrina protectively took Relena to the palace's secret route. "Stay with Pagan!"

The palace was surrounded by armies. It was Earth Sphere Alliance.

"I knew this day will come," King Marticus said. "These fools...they will never understand pacifism and humanity. They will pay for their foolishness." He then turned to Queen Katrina. "Why are you still here? Go with Relena."

"No, I stay here," Queen Katrina insisted. "I am the Queen of Sanc Kingdom. I am not going anywhere else."

After a long hesitation, the King said almost painfully, "We must fight."

"We can't," Queen Katrina said. "We are Peacecrafts, and our hands cannot be stained with anyone's blood, not even an enemy's."

"Not even under this circumstance? What about the life of our daughter?" King Marticus was stunned by his wife's extreme in her belief.

"We don't have any army," Queen Katrina said. "How are we going to fight?"

"We do have-"

"I disbanded them," Queen Katrina said. "No military under reign of Peacecraft. We must negotiate."

"Katrina! These fools will not negotiate! The only way they negotiate is through bloodshed!"

With no other choice, King Marticus went to grab the only weapon available to him - the old sword hanging on the wall. They stood side by side, listening to the damage Earth Sphere Alliance doing to their land.

Soon, they could hear their enemy entering the palace. Gun shots were everywhere. Screams where everywhere.

With grace, a general appeared before them. He dressed well, like a nobleman. Yet, each step he made left a bloody foot print behind him.

"General Septum," King Marticus recognized him.

"Marticus," General Septum greeted coldly. "It has been a long time." Eyeing the sword in Marticus' hand, he mocked, "Once a soldier, always a soldier."

"What do you want?" Queen Katrina asked, holding her pride.

"We meant you no harm," General Septum said. "We only want to save the earth."

"I don't believe you," Queen Katrina said. "How can you save anyone with bloodshed?"

"You think we are fools," General Septum said. "But we are realists. It is you who are the fools, fantasizing in your dreams with world peace." He looked at the couple and asked, "Where are your children?"

Harsh light flashed in King Marticus' eyes. "You will not harm them."

"I heard Prince Milliardo had joined the military," General Septum said. "He is your son, Marticus. He has a stronger sense of reality. You are never a Peacecraft. Come to our side, and join your son."

"No!" Queen Katrina yelled. "Marticus, you are a Peacecraft! You are the King of this kingdom! You-"

She was still speaking with General Septum shot her in the heart.

"Katrina!" King Marticus screamed. He watched as his wife sank on the floor in pool of blood. "Why you-" He was to attack General Septum with his sword, only to be shot in the stomach.

"Sword is no match to bullets," General Septum said slowly. "I thought you'd knew that."

With Pegan, Relena was in hiding.

"What's happening Pagan? Is there a war?"

"I don't know, your highness."

"You don't have to address me as thus, anymore, Pegan," Relena said.

A loud explosion broke down the walls. Showing no fear, Relena faced the intruder. Surprisingly, the intruder was rather friendly. He was tall, with short brown hair. He lent out his hand.

"It is alright, Princess Relena," he said gently. "I am a friend."

"Who are you?" Relena questioned. "I will not go with you, unless I know who you are."

"You can call me Treize Krushrenada," he answered. "You must come with me, if you want to live."

"I'll come with you," Relena said. "But under the agreement you will not harm anyone in Sanc Kingdom."

"Your words came to late, Princess," Treize said with regret. "I will do what I can, however."

Relena was not moving.

"You can have my words," Treize added, and handed her a pistol. "Take this, I trust that you will use it to protect yourself but not shooting me even though you can. Will you trust me as well?"

Relena did not take the pistol.

Quietly, she stepped forward and nodded at Treize.

Like a knight of chivalry, Treize removed his cloak and placed it on Relena's shoulders.