By: Lucrezia Noin-Peacecraft

They kept on running.

Running, until their legs hurt in doing so. They crossed a stream, almost fell in a ditch in the middle of the trail, tripped over some prickly plants...

Damn.

"She said it would only take us about twenty minutes." Wufei grumbled under his breath.

"We were attacked, remember?" Duo chided.

Wufei scowled.

Heero looked back at the path they had come from. He could still see the fire exploding everywhere. ‘What’s happening in this place?’ he asked himself, looking around him, and then back at his view.

"Hey, Heero!" Duo called, nudging the boy slightly on the shoulder, "Come on!"

Heero remained as he was and said softly, "She said they were waiting for us..."

"What are you talking about, Heero?" Trowa said, "We have to go now. Come on!" he tried to pull him his arm, but the boy did not budge.

"We were sent here on purpose." He said again in the same mysterious tone.

"Now, what the hell are you talking about?" Wufei demanded.

"Heero, stop this," Duo said as he tugged on his arm, "let’s go."

Heero nodded reluctantly. "Okay."

* * *

A tall, dark figure sat on a large chair in the middle of the dark, fiery chamber. He watched as five boys of different places of origin run about the forest of Cinq.

"Father?" a small voice called softly. The father looked down from his throne and saw his little red-haired daughter approach him. "What is it, Maia?" he asked, calling her with her nickname. "Father," she repeated, "Who are they?" she pointed out to the large glass ball in which her father watched.

"They are here to rescue the princess." He replied.

The girl frowned, "But I thought you said they won’t be able to rescue her?"

The man grinned. "You have lots more to learn, Maia." He said, stroking her hair, "They won’t be able to do that." He assured, planting a soft kiss on the girl’s forehead. "Don’t worry. Papa will make sure to get rid of them before they do so."

* * *

‘Oh God, please let her be alright.’ Milliardo prayed as he swooped down the thick forest trees in pursuit to get to Lucrezia before anything happens to her. He wouldn’t bear to lose another loved one – not anymore.

So he sped up and tracked her whereabouts.

* * *

"You really haven’t changed, huh?" Noin muttered as she blocked her rival’s attack. Une raised an eyebrow as she swung her lance left, then right, "So did you. You’re still that proud general’s daughter I met in school."

"Well, at least I stand my own ground and speak my own mind." Noin bit dryly, "Tell me, Une, has there been a time that you’ve made a decision for yourself and not Treize’s?"

Une slit her eyes in anger.

"Has there been a time, Une?" the young woman repeated, grinning.

Une did not reply. She growled low in her voice as she charged and struck metal against metal.

As she dodged, the young queen smiled.

* * *

A massive tower that seemed to reach up high above the sky greeted them as soon as they got through from the clearing. It was made of --- ivory. The boys let out a surprised gasp as they neared the ivory and gold gate that stood before them.

"Wow...This must be it..." Duo murmured as he approached the large wooden door. He eyed each detail carefully, and noticed that the wall extends a few more hectares --- perhaps more from what they can see.

"How do we enter?" Quatre asked as he touched the gate carefully, knocking once. And as if on cue, the two enormous doors opened and their breaths were ripped from their bodies.

There it was...a city. Far more civilized than theirs. And there it was...The palace the brave lady was talking about, pure white on top of a hill.

"Wow..." Duo and Quatre gasped as they walked in and looked around.

Heero walked past them, and muttered, "Why are they looking at us?"

"Probably because we’re so handsome." Duo replied without thinking. Then he blinked. "What?" he asked, "Who’re looking at us?"

Heero nodded towards the townspeople. Indeed, they were all looking at them. Eyeing these strange boys who stood before them. These strange boys who had walked into the gate like they belong to their land.

"Who are you?" a man with a rake asked. He was a farmer. From that they can tell. He had a dark skin, probably because he was under the sun, working, a lot. He had green eyes and dark hair, and wore a pheasant’s clothing.

"A woman sent us here. She told us to go to the palace." Trowa replied.

"A woman?" the man asked as he neared them, his rake ready in case they do something. "What’s her name? What does she look like?"

"Oh, she’s pretty." Duo answered, "Tall, short, raven hair, dark blue eyes...Noin. Her name’s Noin."

"You boys are so disrespectful." The farmer said, "How dare you use our lady’s name for your evil plans?"

"But---" Quatre started to protest. How can they possibly not believe them? Didn’t they know? He looked at the others who were staring back at him in puzzlement.

"They must be sent by Treize." A bald, stout man said as he approached.

"Treize who?" Duo asked, now more confused. He scratched his neck and muttered, "Boy, this place IS strange. And now they think we’re somebody’s mail."

"Shut up." Trowa said.

"We always get those excuses, you know." The farmer said, his green eyes looking back at them viciously, "They always pretend. And then what? We find out they’re the enemy. But it’d be too late."

"We don’t know what you’re talking about sir, really." Quatre said, "All we know is we got here, because there’s a reason."

"Yeah, and that’d be to destroy this kingdom." A fat woman chimed in. She looked like to be in her middle age, and she was glaring at them accusingly. "But we’ve learned our lesson." She said, and almost half of the population of the city emerged from their houses, each carrying a weapon of some sort. May it be a kitchen utensil.

"What the hell is going on in here?!" Duo sprang backwards and hid himself behind Heero. "This is crazy!"

"You got it all wrong!" Quatre cried out to them, but they were deaf.

"No use, Quatre. We have to either run or fight." Heero said.

"I say, run!" Duo exclaimed as he started towards the entrance, only to find that it was already locked and it’s impossible for it to open in just a snap. "Oh, my God!! I have been really good..."

"Duo, you’re no help!" Wufei said as he grabbed the boy by the collar. "We know we didn’t do anything. And that we didn’t plan anything ---"

"Stop that guys!" Quatre called out, "They’re closing in on us!"

The three stepped backwards, until their backs are pressed against the wooden gate. The townspeople glared, and grinned viciously. Like they were hungry for blood and revenge.

"Please!" Quatre pleaded, "Listen to us!"

"We don’t have time for that, boy." The farmer said, as he raised his rake. He was about to strike them with it when a voice called out amidst the chaos.

"Stop!"

They all looked back and saw a sandy-blonde lady, with her hair parted and twisted like a braid except that a braid has three knots and she only had two. The crowd parted and saluted as she, on her brown horse, trotted towards the boys. As she neared, they looked closer. She had lavender eyes. And she wore a white and green clothing, embroidered just like Noin’s except that the latter’s was more exquisitely designed.

She got down her horse, "Are you alright?" she asked as she smoothed her silken pants.

"Quite so." Trowa replied.

"By the way, I’m Sally." She said, offering her hand.

"Uh, hi, Sal." Duo replied and shook her hand for them. "Thank God you saved us."

Sally smiled and shook her head. "I am sorry for the people. It’s just that we get phonies most of the time."

"Accepted." Wufei mumbled.

"So, I’ve heard that you we’re sent here by Lady Lucrezia." She said as she took her horse by the reins and started to walk, and motioned for them to follow.

"Lady Lucrezia?" they all repeated in unison. Now who is she?

"Oh!" Sally exclaimed thoughtfully. "She must have introduced herself as Noin."

"So you mean, her name’s not really Noin?" Duo asked.

"No, it’s not that." Sally said as they continued walking. They noticed that some people are still looking at them and at that, Sally just had to scream at them to cut it out. Turning back to them, she said, "Her name’s Lucrezia. Lucrezia Noin."

"But why does she use Noin?"

"Um," Sally started, "why don’t you just ask her yourselves, okay?"

They shrugged.

"Anyway," Sally laughed, "welcome to Cinq."

"We’ve had enough of the welcoming party already." Duo muttered.

"Oh, yeah!" Sally said, rubbing her neck. "Know what? You boys are funny. I think we could get along pretty well."

"Don’t bet on it." Wufei mumbled under his breath.

"Um sorry, did you say anything?" Sally said, cocking her head.

"No." The Chinese boy replied.

"Okay." She whistled as they continue to walk them towards the palace.

END OF CHAPTER 3

TO BE CONTINUED