Takeo – This story just had to be written. I even drew a picture. He looks so suave…
WuFei – I thought that you weren’t going to put me in a dress again.
Takeo – It’s not really a dress, and no panty shots, I promise.
WuFei – I don’t know, but it is silky and shiny…
Takeo – I drew it that way. I wanted you to feel as if you’re in water; watching rippling waves as the music spins around you…
Kento – Go forth and write…
WuFei – Get back to your shrine! Warnings and Disclaimers. Since Takeo doesn’t know how many parts this will develop into, we just pray that she won’t kill us all. There’s not too much angst, which is a first people so congratulate her and of course this is an AU fic. Therefore, we are not Gundam pilots. She doesn’t own us, no matter how hard she tries, and don’t sue her. There’s not a penny to her name so don’t waste your time. This takes place in the GW timeframe except that the whole "Gundam" thing didn’t happen. Thoughts are in italics.
Takeo – I do have a penny, it’s pretty, and shiny, and gold all over. Actually, I coated it with gold…

Desert Rose One: The Arabian Dream.

Speak you weavers of love and time, speak of the tale of the golden haired prince, with the turquoise eyes and a heart so lost, speak of the ebony haired gypsy and the purple eyed keeper of onyx depths. Speak of the Ancient times, of Sandy Arabia, the oasis in a desert that time forgot, trapped between transformations from Ancient to Modern…

Prince Quatre sat on his throne, paying heed to the visitors that had flooded his palace every since the death of his father 12 full moons ago. The prince’s kind smile surveyed his people that he fought and defended, much like the Ancient Arthur. The prince’s trusted assistant, as well as caretaker, observed the King through emerald eyes. He sighed. The prince had said that he had been feeling so lonely lately, watching his friends as they paired off and settled into happy lives under his rule. The Caretaker’s thoughts were interrupted as he heard a shuffle of feet, indicating that the few remaining people had left the palace because of a noise in the marketplace.

" Trowa, what’s going on, an attack?" The Prince shouted as he arose from his seat, sword harnessed to his side. They both peered out the window and looked upon the market place that was a mile from the palace. They could make out gaily-colored flyers and the people sitting in a circle, watching something that they couldn’t see and clapping hands to music that they couldn’t hear.

" I want to go and find out what’s going on." Quatre said as turquoise eyes lit in excitement.

" Then, my King, let us dress for the occasion. I’ll take care of Rashid and the Forty Aries." Trowa said.

Quatre ran into his room and threw off his sword. He took off his golden arrayed clothes and placed on cotton ones, softer and much to his liking. Trowa met him at the door and together, they left the palace for the market place. They reached the marketplace and found the perfect viewing spot through a balcony in a house facing the commotion.

Quatre saw a boy around his age, playing a curious instrument, his cobalt eyes focused so intently on making the perfect music. Beside him, another boy rose to his feet, dressed in the traditional attire of trousers, shirt and a cloak with a sash wrapped around his waist. The boy on the floor had nothing but shorts on. Behind him were a few horses and camels, attached to what looked like a caravan.

" They are entertainers my Lord. They travel from town to town providing music and dance. This however is the strangest assortment of people that I have ever seen." Trowa informed Quatre.

" His eyes are purple, what a nice color." Quatre said. The boy swirled around and his eyes landed on both Quatre and Trowa. He flashed them a smile and returned to the crowd.

" Okay everyone, our star attraction can both sing and dance. I present, Fei!" Duo shouted out and stood by Heero. He picked up a microphone. As he sang the opening lyrics, accompanied by music, a beautiful being emerged, its voice replying to Duo’s words except that it was singing in an entirely different language that was sweet and soft and held the linger of sorrow in it.

~ I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in pain
I dream of love as time runs through my head ~

 " Algerian, I think." Quatre said.

" The music, or the boy? " Trowa asked him amusement.

" That’s a boy?" Quatre asked as he watched Fei slip among the crowd, veil across his face, silk scarves loping around children’s hands for they wished to dance with the beautiful stranger. As Fei danced, the music played.

~I dream of fire
Those dreams are tied to a horse that will never tire
And in the flames
Her shadows play in the shape of a man’s desire
This desert rose
Each of her veils, a secret promise
This desert flower
No sweet perfume ever tortured me more than this ~

Fei peeled off one of his three veils and handed it to a little girl, tossing her a small smile, his skirt, silk and smooth wisping around him, his short top graced with trinkets. Across an exposed caramel torso, a chain held its place, the designs of a twisting fire. Similar ones sat on the dancer’s arms as bare feet with tiny bells shook to the music’s rhythm. Quatre sat enchanted. All he could make out of the dancer’s head were shoulder length black locks that flew on the wind itself, and slanted orbs that were so dark, one would think of them as bottomless.

~ And as she turns
This way she moves in the logic of all my dreams
This fire burns
I realize that nothing’s, as it seems. ~

  Fei raised his head to the balcony, spying a golden haired boy that looked lost in a dream and didn’t want to leave Duo’s words must have really gotten to him, I wander what he dreams of, HIS desert rose? Fei continued his dance, slowly but surely making his way over to Duo.

~I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in pain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand
I dream of rain
I lift my gaze to empty skies above
I close my eyes, this rare perfume
Is the sweet intoxication of her love ~

  Fei reached Duo and wrapped a long purple scarf around him, slender fingers dancing across the braided boy’s face before quickly departing and returning to the crowd. Duo forced his mind to stick to the song before it wandered some place far. Stay calm Duo, don’t let WuFei get to you.

~I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in pain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand
Sweet desert rose
Each of her veils a secret promise
This desert flower
No sweet perfume ever tortured me more like this
Sweet desert rose
This memory of Eden haunts us all
This desert flower, this rare perfume
Is the sweet intoxication of the fall…~

Duo ended as Fei finished the song, sweet voice, fading away. The crowd stood to their feet, thunderous clapping and shouts of "be my wife" echoed through the crowd. WuFei shook his head and took his bow. He tossed his black veil and it landed in Quatre’s hands. Quatre looked at WuFei; turquoise eyes mixed in confusion. WuFei smiled underneath his veil, took his bow and exited.

" My lord, remember the line, "Each of her veils, a secret promise," should we go?" Trowa asked.

" I’m glad that you’re my best and most trusted friend Trowa, you always speak my mind." Quatre said with a smile. The Desert rose…

End of Chapter One.

Takeo – Yes, it is complete. * Evil laughter and thunder rent the air. *
WuFei – Wait, I’m flirting with Duo and Quatre’s after me?!
Takeo – Actually, I haven’t decided yet, but you are not flirting with Duo, it was a part of the act.
Duo – Don’t take Wu-baby away from me!
Quatre – At least you already had him.
Duo – I didn’t do anything. Takeo practically skipped the whole lemon scene!
Takeo – It was a songfic damn it, if I added a lemon it would have lost its sweetness. * BIG sweatdrop * What?