Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Endless Waltz : Truth of Tommorow ❯ Chapter 4

 

“Are…Are they gone?” Elva panted.

 

“I…I think so...” Anaoi stared nervously out of the alley way as the two tried to hide their friend behind some trash cans.

 

“Just who is this Nyverna person anyway?” Elva muttered.

 

“What strikes me as truly odd is what they asked about her parents. `What do you say to those who thought you were dead?' and `What has it been like to have had your parents coop you up in their manor for two years?'. What kind of questions are those?” Anaoi asked in a low voice.

 

“Do you think its safe to leave?”

 

“Maybe…but lets keep her here a bit longer Elva.” Both turned and stared at Nyloc who had fallen asleep against Elva's shoulder, exhaustion eminent in every feature.

 

“All of this stressing her out far too much…and that's saying something for her.” Elva smiled softly at her own comment and watched her friend sleep.

 

“How are we going to get back to palace? They're going to be scouring all over this area, and we don't have any money to rent a hotel or anything. Stupid reporters.” Anaoi grumbled in annoyance.

 

“We don't have a coat or hat to cover her with…but…do you want to try taking turns carrying her on our back?”

 

“No…it'll cause to much attention, and then people'll think she's Nyverna again…we best wait till she wakes up. The only thing we can do…is wait.” Anaoi slumped down the wall until she fell on her butt

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Anaoi! Elva! Nyloc! Where are you?” Sifir dashed down another corridor. The sun was just beginning to set below the palace walls.

 

“Any luck?” Zecen called from down the hall.

 

“Nada, and its been hours since that jackass Seben said he saw them. Is he even looking for them?” Sifir muttered.

 

“Well he did say he saw them jump the wall, so I wouldn't expect them to be in here…” Zecen supplied.

 

“Damn it all! Why did they assign me to search the palace! Two of them are my cousins!” Sifir growled.

 

“Because of your probable reaction…” He supplied and Sifir stormed off.

 

 

 

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The crickets chirped softly from their hiding places as three girls walked up their silent streets, all very exhausted. “We really shouldn't have left the palace.” Nyloc mumbled as she struggled to drag one foot in front of the other.

 

“Mm.” Both of her companion's nodded as the palace came into view.

 

“I really do not have the strength to scale that wall right now.” Anaoi grumbled and leaned her body against the buzzer until Elva shoved her off, tired of listening to the consistent beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. A camera on the palace wall adjusted itself to look down at the three girls, and two men appeared to open the gates.

 

“Where have you been all day!” All three girls looked up to see a very angry Sifir charging towards them, followed by Zechs, Zecen, and Seben.

 

Nyloc groaned and looked at Seben. “When I…wake up.” She yawned. “You are explaining to me…this whole…story of Nyverna.” And the brunette promptly passed out into Sifir's arms. Everyone looked to Anaoi and Elva for an explanation and both groaned before heading towards the main steps.

 

“Watch the news, I'm sure you'll find out about our `wonderful' day there.”

 

 

 

 

 

“…Several sources verify that it was Nyverna Vaulken, daughter of the recently deceased Prime Minster Vaulken, who apprehended the criminal. No one could identify her two companions, nor explain why she is in Sanq, but witnesses say, shortly after the police arrested the criminal, Vaulken and her companions left the scene. We have some live footage to show you now…”

 

A severely shocked Nyloc flashed on the screen, flashbulbs going off and lights in her face. Questions tossed at her left and right, her in too dazed of a stupor to answer. Quickly Anaoi and Elva entered the camera's view and grabbed her by the arms, pulling her through the crowd. There was a mass shouting of yells and questions when a very distinct “Run!” was heard and the three girls dashed down the street, reporters on there heels. The footage cut off.

 

“…And now onto Will with your news, Will?”

 

Zechs glared in anger at the television reporter for another moment, before she had the opportunity to escape from his rage filled gaze by handing the news over to the weatherman.

 

“There's no way we're going to get out of explaining this to her.” Noin whispered.

 

“What are we going to tell the press?” Quatre asked.

 

“I'm more worried about what we have to tell those five kids.” Duo sighed.

 

“What are we going to do with her? No one's going to believe us if we tell them she's not Nyverna Vaulken.” Heero stared at Zech's gaze, that clearly symbolized he was fascinated by something else than the evening news.

 

“Zechs…what are you thinking?” Noin asked worriedly.

 

“She becomes her.” He said outright.

 

“What?” Hilde exclaimed.

 

“She becomes Nyverna Vaulken…no one will be the wiser…and it will eliminate half the shit we'd have to clean up if we said she wasn't.”

 

“But what about Seben?” Quatre asked, not liking where this was going.

 

“He's going to have to deal with it Quatre. He needs to get over it sometime. I sound like a horrible father saying that…but if he needs to play his part in this as well.” Zechs said.

 

All the adults stood in the room in complete silence, unwilling to accept what he said was true.

 

Wufei broke the silence. “You sure put a lot of faith in him Zechs, I just hope he can live

up to it.”

 

 

 

 

 

Nyloc sat between her two cousins at a large circular table with Elva and Zecen on either side of them. The Gundam pilots, their wives, Seben , a Chinese girl, and boy who strongly resembled Duo also sat at the table, everyone delicately eating their breakfasts. Nyloc shivered, even in her robe. `I'll never get used to sudden drafts in Europe…no matterhow many times I visit it.' She thought.

 

The breakfast continued, not in silence, but not in a highly talkative mood either. The tension from last night's news report still hung in the air. Nyloc felt like she wanted to shrivel up in a corner and disappear. Whenever anyone thought she wasn't looking, they'd steal the occasional glance at her, their eyes full of worry…all except the Chinese girl and the Duo look alike. The Chinese girl seemed very content to do nothing but glare at her all through breakfast, not afraid to show it, and not afraid of Sifir's glares back at her. The Duo look alike, obviously had nothing to do with the situation, and was laughing and talking animatedly with Seben, who on the other hand didn't look half as amused as his friend.

 

 

“Who is she?” Nyloc whispered.

 

The boy talking with Seben dropped his spoon on the table and joined in with everyone who stared fixedly at the young woman who looked down at her lap, in which she was fisting her hands.

 

“I want…to know…who is she?”

 

Noin sighed and put down her knife. “Nyverna…was the daughter of Prime Minister Vaulken, he had been the Prime Minister of Germany for years, since before the war involving the Gundams. Her father wasn't terribly happy about this new found peace…if anything he yearned for a new war. She would be your age now actually-“

 

“What do you mean would be?” Anaoi frowned.

 

It was Seben's turn to enter the conversation. “What you think it means.” His eyes moved from the table to stare at Nyloc's blue ones. “She and I had been dating for two years, and her parents still didn't know, which was better considering the circumstances of our families…We decided to marry without her parents knowing…two years ago…just after she had turned seventeen.”

 

Zechs spoke when his son had stopped, his brow creasing in pain. “Someone informed her parents of the impending marriage, and they quite literally dragged her off the altar… Her father beat her to death and burned her body, claiming to the public that she was being cooped up in their mansion to focus on politics, as it would be her future career.”

 

Noin spoke again. “It was one was of her friends who sent us the letter, telling us of her death. `Strangely' enough, that friend ended up mysteriously `disappearing' less than a month later. No one ever found her body.”

 

Elva, Anaoi, Zecen, and Sifir stared at the other occupants of the table in utter horror.

 

Nyloc looked up from the table, her eyes telling that she had suspected something of the sort from the beginning.” My only love sprung from my only hate…”* she whispered. “Except Seben didn't kill himself…or at least succeed anyway.”

 

Seben looked at her, challenging her to say more, in a look that no one else interpreted. She moved to stand, but Zechs commanded her attention once more. “No one but us knows of Nyverna's death…that is why the people reacted so.” He sighed and rubbed his temples. “There's…there's something I must explain to you before this goes any further. People now think you are Nyverna Vaulken, so it would be wise to pretend to be her as the current situation plays out. News like that won't keep quite for long. Preventors may be able to put out fires, but rumors are something that no one will ever have control over.” The five stared at him puzzled wondering what he meant by “Preventors putting out fires”, but listened intently anyway. “In order for this too work properly along with the Epyon, you will have to adopt a second Alias.”

 

“So you wish me to play a dead girl and a masked fighter?” Nyloc leaned forward, her face portraying little emotion, compared to that of Seben who stared in outrage at his father, obviously having no prior knowledge of the plan.

 

“Precisely.” Zechs murmured.

 

“Well I've gotten the over view of the play, now where's my script?”

 

 

 

 

“How COULD you?! What were you thinking?!” Seben's voice thundered throughout the east wing.

 

“The only thing we can do in a situation like this.” Zechs told his son calmly. “This isn't about you Seben. Don't confuse that.”

 

“I'd say it very much has to do with me!” He retorted. “Not only do you want to put an imitation of her in my life, you want us to go through and announce our `relationship' to the public? Like some cattle at auction?! This may be some `play' for her, but its not so impersonal for me!” Seben was thoroughly outraged. Zechs stared at his son, anger burning behind is crystal blue eyes, waiting to be unleashed.

 

“She agreed to it…so why can't you?” He questioned softly.

 

“How can you even ask a question like that?” Seben whispered. Zechs waited for an answer, the silence making it painfully clear. Seben leaned against a bookcase and sighed angrily, looking out the window. “Because she won't have to carry the painful memories with her, and she won't have to be reminded of something she can never have every day.”

 

The silence stood for a few moments, Zechs staring at some papers on his desk over his closed knuckles, that his head currently leaned on. “But she will.” Seben turned ant looked at his father questioningly, one arm still on the book case. “She's not a heartless person Seben. The reason she's trying to treat it as an acting role and remain so impersonal, is because she thinks it will be easier on you. Easier for you to believe when you're not in the public, that it really is all just a mirage. She will have to cope with you and your memories, just as much, if not more…and she will have to withstand your ridicule when she fails.”

 

“Ridicule?” Seben turned and stared at his father, who chuckled softly.

 

“Don't tell me that at least once you won't tell her `Nyverna wouldn't do this, or Nyverna wouldn't have done that, or something along those lines? Above all else you, more than likely will be the greatest person to expect her too hold up to the perfect persona of a politicians daughter.”

 

Seben scoffed. “You're joking, that girl could never hold a candle to the real thing. People will see through her in an instant.”

 

“Which is why you and others will be so quick to judge…as it seem you all ready are. She's trying her hardest to be in the same room as you, but you're making it difficult. You're going to have to pretend to be a love struck couple in the public's eyes, so you had best get used to it.” Zechs stood and left his son standing in the palace library alone.

 

 

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Elva's teach chattered. Screw Europe's year round chilly temperatures, she made a mental note never to complain about the weather back home in the US ever again. She drew the blanket tighter around her and stared out at Nyloc sitting quietly in the garden. She had known her for almost half of their lives, and yet she had never seen her like this. She had turned from a bright vivacious and outspoken girl, to a quiet and withdrawn lithe young woman. She hardly ate, slept, nor talked to anyone for the good part of the last two days. Her mind was racked with inner turmoil, and it showed. Nyloc refused to talk to anyone about it, and often retreated to the courtyard garden that they had once sat happily eating lunch in. Elva sighed and sadly wondered if she would ever return to normal. She looked up at the large grandfather clock and doubted it. Shortly after sunset, many of Nyverna's belongings - including her diary, or Nyloc's background work…as she called it - were due to arrive, and she seriously doubted that would help ease the girl's inner battles.

 

“You're really close…aren't you?”

 

Elva looked up in shock at the young man with a long brown braid and violet eyes. He had appeared from the shadows and beside her, without her noticing.

 

“Mm.” She nodded once.

 

“I'm Tio*…Duo's son.” He supplied.

 

“I figured as much…I'm Elva Maize.” Elva leaned against the window sill, her back to Nyloc now and she closed her eyes.

 

“You'll have to forgive Seben…I've known him almost my entire life and I've never seen him act this bad.”

 

“Its not me who needs to forgive him.” Elva whispered. “He's killing her…slowly from the inside out he will eventually be the death of her spirit. In only two days she's taken a drastically different persona, one that frightens me because its so unlike her. I don't think I'd be able to bear the kind of things she's tossing over in her mind, but…she's strong…and I have faith in her. It's Seben's treatment of her that worries me. She'll act strong…and tough…so I don't really know how far her limits can go…but something tells me…that in the time we're here…she'll breach them.” Elva's blonde hair whipped around her face as window drifted through the window and she shivered again, pulling the blanket around her as far as it would go. Tio laughed.

 

“Well maybe you shouldn't be standing by the window huh? Earth's weather is really unpredictable…can't stand it really…give me a good ol' colony with government controlled weather any day.”

 

“But then where is the beauty in that?” The blonde smiled softly and Tio stared at her confused. “What makes the weather changes to beautiful and amazing, is its unexpectedness. The first snow fall wouldn't be as beautiful if you knew exactly when it was to start or how heavy. It's the joy of being in the middle of class when suddenly you see the first snowflakes start to bloom. Or you're walking down the street and you suddenly realize all the flowers that are popping up around you, telling you spring is on its way.” Her eyes shown with passion, clearly believing every word she was saying, then she laughed. “I've never been on a colony, so I suppose I wouldn't know…but…from what I know of earth…well…that's what I think.”

 

“Ya know…you might be right…”

 

The two smiled at each other, not noticing the small singular snowflake that drifted past the window.

 

 

 

April 14th, AC 214

 

How intriguing…another political ball. Sometimes I wish Mother and Father would never die so I won't have to take over their positions. I have no interests in politics as it stands…with them anyway…and by their cabinet's policies…I'd be expected to. I need to find a way out of this…but I'm not seeing one as of yet. I really do hate these “balls” that they drag me to. The ministers and important figures just spend the night talking, pretending to like each other, while they treat their children like cattle at an auction, waiting to be bought and make them a new political match. It's disgusting really, and it's sad to think that most of their children haven't caught up on it yet. I think Father is trying to persuade the Prime Minister of Italy's son that I'm his `perfect match' and that he should woo me…but I'd never consent to marry him. To Father…everything is politics…he's told me several times when he's been drunk (which is often) , even my birth was a political investment…giving him the `perfect father' imagery and securing him more voters for his position of Prime Minister. He's been in an awful mood all day, seeing as this ball is held at the Sanq Kingdom…I don't really know why, and it's never been explained to me, but he's always had a personal vendetta against King Marquise and Vice-Foreign Minister Dorlain. I've never met them, but who knows if I will tonight. I think I'll spend most of the balls like I normally do…hiding in the garden.

 

Nyverna Vaulken

 

Nyloc sighed and shut the diary, taking a sip of her hot cocoa, watching the snow fall from outside the window. She sat in one of the many studies, heavily engrossed in Nyverna Vaulken's diaries, starting at the age of 5, up until her death, taking notes for `background information' of her character. She drew her robe around her and sighed. This girl had hit the nail hard on the head about politics, and apparently, it hadn't changed one bit over time. She pitied the girl indeed, and silently wondered how she had not gone insane over 17 years. Well…then again not so much, considering how often she said in her diaries that her parents weren't around…and more often than not when they were they were drunk, or fighting. The typical rich girl troubles, except her parents didn't try and buy her off, they knocked her off. She heard a noise at the door and quickly, the brunette's head shot up.

 

“Seben?” The single word was both question and statement. He entered the room, two cups in his hands and sat beside her. He moved her emptied cocoa cup to another table and set down another before, while he sipped some coffee. “Thanks…how did you kn-?”

 

“Your cousin and friend never shut up…the way they talk about you, you'd think you were the best thing since sliced bread…” He smirked at her question to how he knew she didn't like coffee. “I now have blackmail.”

 

She wrinkled her brow and starred at him confused. “Blackmail?”

 

“Oh…I just know a few embarrassing moments from diapers days now…” He sighed offhandedly.

 

“Well who is there to tell? Elva will just have a few good laughs over it, Zecen won't give a damn, and Sifir probably knows. Other than that there's no one here that I'd really care about.” She shrugged. Seben sipped his coffee idly and stared at Nyverna's diary sitting on the study table. Nyloc picked it up, and read a few more pages, staring at Seben from time to time out of the corner of her eye. She abruptly closed the book, stood up walked to Seben, and straddled his lap, her elbows, locked and hands pressing against the arm rests. He stared at her in a tad bit of shock until she firmly claimed his lips with hers, her hands moving up to hold his face as she arched her back, causing her to tower over him. His hands clenched angrily at his sides before moving around her waist, rubbing patterns on the part of her lower back that was now exposed, and pulled her farther onto his lap. He tongue ran circles over his lips before he opened them, and in turn ravaged her mouth. She let go of his face and pulled back, disengaging herself from his body. He stared at her for a moment, wondering what had come over her, and why he had let himself react.

 

“A little research and rehearsal.” Was all she said before she placed the diary on the table beside him and left, leaving Seben fascinated to find all his turn ons listed in one of the entries.

 

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” My only love sprung from my only hate…” = A very famous line from Romeo and Juliet. Juliet whispers this in Act 1 Scene 5, just after Romeo has left the ball and the Nurse informs her that the man who has just stolen her heart is the son of her father's most hated Enemy, thus saying the true love is also supposed to be the enemy

Tio = Rhyme's with trio, English word for three (people)