They had no idea how they got there. They just did. All they can remember was that...Heck, now they can't even remember what had happened before they got sucked into that hole that lead to this strange land.

This strange, beautiful land...

It was the American boy who was first snapped out of it and ask, "Where the hell are we?!" Of course, the tone was exactly horrified or anything - it was a mixture of surprised, shocked and confused feelings, and the boy didn't quite know how he felt at that moment. He was scared, of course. He WAS in a strange land. Who knows, even with its beauty, if it is a dangerous land they're in.

"I-I don't know..." a gentler voice replied. The boy looked to his left and saw a fine-looking boy of his age - obviously, he came from a rich family: white long-sleeved shirt under a dark gray vest and tucked neatly in his kakhi pants. His hair was far from his, short blond hair, groomed and all. His was a long braid of brown wavy tresses. "This is weird." He said as he stood up from his kneeling position, then brushing the dirt of his covered knees. "I was in my study saw this great light - then I got sucked in..."

"Yeah, happened to me, too." The American boy nodded. "I was on my way to the grocery. I was running an errand for my mom, and I passed through this alley for a short-cut but there was this swirly portal..." then he paused and frowned, "Mom could be quite worried now..."

"I bet she is. I don't know what my father will do if he knew I was missing..." the blond boy said softly, "This is a beautiful place, really. But I don't think I would want to stay here..."

"Hey, like they always say, 'there's no place like home'!"

The boy grinned at the long-haired youth, "And you have the audacity to joke at a time like this." He commented with a small laugh. "By the way, I'm Quatre Raberba Winner." He said, reaching out to the boy with his right hand.

"I'm Duo Maxwell."

The boy called Quatre nodded. "It's nice to meet you."

"Yeah, same goes to you, too."

"Great place you two found for a getting-to-know." A low voice commented with a chuckle. The two spun around and saw a three other boys standing there with them. "Who said that?" Duo asked.

"I did." Replied the one in the middle in the green tank top and spandex shorts, and spiky brown hair. "I'm Heero Yuy. Since we're all in this together, I figure that we might as well identify each other."

"And I'm Trowa Barton." The boy in dark green long-sleeved turtle-neck. He had the strangest of hairstyle Duo had ever seen. He had short brown hair but the right half of his face is obscured by his long spiky bangs.

The last boy, left of Heero, scowled, yet introduced himself, "I'm Wufei. Chang Wufei."

"Well, then, hello, you all. My, you three look too serious." Duo said, grinning.

"What do you want us to do? Cheer?" the one called Wufei snapped, "For crying out loud, we're in an alien land!"

"Well, you could at least smile - even just a little, you know."

Wufei looked at him incredulously and shook his head. Muttering, "This guy's wacko."

"What did you say?!" Duo snapped angrily. "Duo, please calm down. This is no place to pick a fight." Quatre advised as he pulled on Duo's black sleeves.

"I said you're a wacko." Wufei repeated.

"What the - !" Duo growled and was already on the verge of hitting the Chinese boy when...

"ENOUGH!"

They spun around in surprise. The five of them...

Infront of them stood a beautiful, tall woman in white and red clothing, edges lined with gold and complex embroideries. It was an outfit fit for a battle. In her right shoulder was a golden shield, joined with a thin chain of gold that extended to the left of her chest, attached to a bright round, red jewel in gold, holding in place her cape. She looked nothing like the women they've seen before. Her beauty was exotic and she had the fairest of skin...Flawless and radiant... She had short raven hair and wavy bangs that covered the right half of her face. Her eyes were the darkest of blue...like the endless depths of the oceans...and her lips so lush...

Duo had felt his heart beat fast at once.

But not only that. She carried with her a majestic sword, gold and lined with precious little jewels, beautifully crafted to fit a skilled warrior's need. She was a fighter. "At last, you came." She said, then she raised her right hand, and a silverish falcon that could have resembled what they call a peregrine falcon in Earth swooped down and rested its talons on the shield on her shoulder.

"Who are you?" Heero asked, standing perfectly still. Composed and calm.

The woman smiled and walked up to him, "I was ordered to bring the five of you to the palace at once upon your arrival."

"Who ordered you?" Heero asked once again.

"You ask too many questions." She said as she smiled, "I shall answer whatever it is that you want to ask to my limit. But for now, we have to go."

"You expect us to trust you?" Wufei asked.

"In a land unknown to you, you just have to take the risk." She replied, then laughed softly, "Don't worry, you can trust me." She said, then raised her right hand, to her heart, "I promise."

"Well, we have no options." Trowa muttered. He walked towards the woman and said, "Please, lead the way."

The woman nodded and started to walk back into the forest where she had passed through and they started to follow - with quite hesitance.

"Oh, and by the way," she started, "my name's Noin."

* * *

They walked through the thick forest. The leaves of the trees in their land was absolutely stunning...Bright, rich colors of the rainbow...delicious-looking fruits hung from their branches and twigs...A variety of birds nesting there...

This place was far from their land.

"So, um, Noin," Duo started, trying to act casual, "you never told us the name of this place. Mind telling us?"

Noin looked down at him and raised a perfectly arched eyebrow, "Cinq. You're in the land of Cinq."

"As in S-A-N-K?" Duo asked.

Noin looked at him again, "No. As in C-I-N-Q."

Duo nodded and muttered to himself, "Wow. That's different."

"So, um, Miss Noin, how far from here is that palace you were talking about?" Quatre asked politely, catching up with her fast strides, "And why the rush?"

Noin smiled at the boy and replied softly, "It's not very far from here. We should get there in," she paused, "in your time, that would be a good twenty minutes."

"Oh, I see."

"And as for your second question, young man," she paused again and glanced over at her shoulder and stroked her pet's neck, "there's danger lurking everywhere outside the palace. Even if it is our grounds."

"But why?"

"You'll know when we get there."

They walked further for about ten minutes, until they have to come across a clear crystalline stream. "We're nearing our destination." She announced.

"Oh, good." They heard Duo sigh, "I'm hungry already."

Noin laughed softly and told him that he could go and pick a fruit from the trees there. He could have told her earlier. "Hey, great!" Duo had exclaimed as he jumped up and took a pink fruit from the short tree in his left. "Hey, looks delicious." He mused as he rubbed it clean against his shirt.

The others shook their heads.

Then all of a sudden, the falcon let out a sharp cry.

"What's wrong, Ilia?" she asked.

"Wha-what's go-going on?" Quatre asked.

"Oh no....Please let it not be..." she prayed in a very worried tone that it scared the boys.

"Would you mind telling us what the freakin' hell's wrong?" Wufei demanded.

Noin looked at him and frowned. It won't be long until he gets the answer for his question.

END OF CHAPTER 1

TO BE CONTINUED