Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Lost and Found ❯ Chapter VIII ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter VIII

(Sorry about not having a preview for this chapter in the last one guys. My mistake and I'll try not to let it happen again, promise. So anywho… here is Chapter 8!)

Duo and Emmer were laughing as they walked up the steps to the main entrance to the Winner Family mansion, because Mischief kept jumping up and down on Emmer's shoulders. When they made it to the door they both stopped laughing and looked up at the tall man who was Quatre's bodyguard and main adviser.

"Hiya Rashid!" Duo smiled and waved at the stern faced giant.

"I see you two have a new friend." Rashid finally smiled at them and they felt more relieved.

"Yeah!" Emmer began. "Duo got him for me at the bazaar! We named him Mischief!"

Rashid waddled his large finger at the monkey then laughed when it jumped from Emmer's shoulder and climbed up his arm. "Might as well give me the leash too. Master Quatre is waiting for you two in his office. I'll make sure this little guy gets checked out by the doctor alright?"

"Okay!" Emmer gave the leash to Rashid then grabbed onto Duo's hand. With a smile they both bound up the stairs and ran their way to the study and stopped to catch their breath before knocking on the door.

When they did knock, to both of their surprise, it was Relena who opened the door. "Do come in," she said, "we have been waiting for you." She then stepped aside to let the two into the room. Quatre was in his seat at his desk and Trowa was again by the window, but leaning against the sill as he watched the two enter.

"Where are Wufei and Heero?" Emmer asked. "Are they still here or did they feel to overwhelmed by Miss Relena?" She smirked at the blond girl, who glared back.

Quatre smiled as he tried to hold back the chuckles that both Trowa and Duo were sharing, "I am sorry to say that both Heero and Wufei do not find these matters to their liking. If the two of you will please make yourselves comfortable."

Duo made his way over to the desk and sat on the edge with his legs at the knees, leaving Emmer the chair where she would have to sit next to the Vice Foreign Minister. "So!" Duo started, "What's all of this about? It must be something fun. If Heero and Wufei didn't want to be here."

Quatre smiled again, "Oh it is! It's about the One Year Celebration of peace between the colonies and the Earth Sphere Unified Nations."

"I just wish there was peace within the Nations. There is still a mobile suit land war going on in Neo Germany. Who would have thought that it would have lasted this long." Relena spoke up. And both Trowa and Quatre looked at Emma who was glaring at Relena with eye that would kill if she could. Quatre tried to say something but was cut short by Emma who spoke up, in Emmer's voice.

"Maybe the nation is unstable now but just you watch. Once the true ruler decides to show herself, the country will be at peace once again!"

"Are you suggesting that the Princess might still be alive?" Relena looked at Emmer with a face of interest.

"Yes, and I am sure that within the next few days… No… at the Celebration… the Princess of Neo Germany will make herself known." Emma declared and glanced at Quatre who shifted in his chair.

"And what makes you so sure, when you hardly have a memory of who you are?" Relena smirked at Emmer.

"That's quite enough!" Quatre spoke up after he had noticed how much Duo was paying attention. "Let us speak of current events at a later time. We only have a few short days until the celebration. I have already taken the liberty of sending messages to all of the colonies and the nations. We must start thinking of how to go about with the plans."

"Fireworks at midnight!" Duo exclaimed. "And we should have a few of the mobile suits on display on the grounds to remind everyone what this is a celebration for!"

"I don't know why some of you insist on making those suits." Relena spoke up again. "There is no more need for them, and they could be a problem in the future."

Duo smiled, "Ah! But that is where you are wrong!"

"Enlighten me." Relena smiled as she rested her head on the back of her hand as her elbow rested on the arm of the chair.

"Mobile Suit competitions!" Duo exclaimed. "Games!"

"So you are going to use the old forms of war as a means of entertainment?"

"Well why not? It's good technology, so why let it go to waist?"

"And who, may I ask, is sponsoring these mobile suit fights?" she seemed a little interested in this.

"Quatre is our main sponsor and there are many other companies who are in on it too! Though it will take a few years to get away." Duo smiled proudly.

"And who will partake in these fights?"

Trowa spoke up, "Each nation and colony will choose it's strongest fighter to be it's champion. And the main event will take place ever two or four years."

"Can we go back to the celebration now?" Quatre rubbed his head in agitation.

"Well what kind of entertainment should we have besides the MS and the fireworks?" Emmer asked.

"Music from each nation and colony will be good." Trowa said with a slight smile.

"Sounds good, and we'll do the same with the food. Now, what about decorations?" Quatre asked as he jotted down all of the ideas.

"We hang the flags and colors of each colony and nation like banners. As well as having each of their national flowers for decorating the tables." Emmer smiled.

"There should be an area in the middle of the room for dancing and a podium at the head table for any speech you may wish to give, Quatre." Relena said.

Quatre nodded, "I think that takes care of just about everything." He looked over the notes. Then dismissed everyone.

As they were leaving, Quatre asked for Emmer to stay behind. "Emma," he said after she had shut the door. "Please sit down." Quatre gestured to the chairs. She sat and waited in silence for him to speak.

Trowa and I talked to Wufei about this morning, and I am sorry to say that we also talked to Heero as well. I am sorry for breaking my Promice to you. Can you ever forgive me?"

"It's alright, so they both know who I am?" she asked with a smile.

Quatre shook his head, "No, all they do know is that you are female. They didn't even ask questions. Now, on the matter of Duo…"

"No," she knew what he was about to ask. "Don't tell Duo anything… I want him to think me the same until the banquet."

Quatre nodded, "I understand, I will tell the others not to tell Duo or to let on that they know anything at all about you. I'll tell the same to Rashid. The servants do not know and I will not tell them for fear of a loose tongue."

"Thank you." Emma nodded.

"Now! About your presentation… I am sure that you will want to look your best, so all you have to do is say the word and We'll take you to have a dress made, as well as get anything else you may need. Do you wish for me to invite the Barons of Neo Germany to the banquet as well?"

Emma nodded again, "Yes, please do. I want to see their faces when they find out that I have returned. Also invite my Cousin Hansel, the son of Count Benjamin of Munic."

Quatre smiled, "Sure thing. Aren't the Count and his son the ones who have kept the search for you open?"

Emma giggled, "Yes, it is because Hansel and I were so close as children. It will be so nice to see him again."

Both of them looked at the door when they heard a knock. "Come in." Quatre said. The door opened and Duo popped his head in. "Hey! Sorry Quatre, but are you going to be much longer with my partner in crime? I want to take him back to the hangers."

Quatre blinked, "Um… sure Duo. Emmer and I were just finished.." he smiled at Emma as she stood and with a smile she said in Emmer's voice: "See you later Quatre!" And with that, she and Duo left.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

By the time they had gotten back to the hanger, the workers had already attached the head to the body of the Leo suit. Duo and Akee ran a few checks on the head to make sure all of the systems were working properly.

"Alright." Duo said turning to Emmer who had been watching and listening to everything Duo did and said. "I want you to move it."

"Move it?!?" Emmer blinked.

"Sure! I told you what everything in the cockpit does and how to use them and the orders of use. And I'll guide you through the com-screens." Duo smiled at her.

"Are you sure it will be okay for me to do that?" Emmer was rather nervous about working the Leo.

"Sure, I'm sure! And it will be good practice for you!" Duo clapped her on the back and she stumbled forward towards the suit. "Now go on! Get strapped in, and wait for my instructions."

Emmer sighed as she made her way to the raising platform. ~Stars help me not to break anything or harm anyone…~ She stepped onto the platform and hit the switch to make it rise. When it got to where the cockpit hatch was, she stopped the platform and stepped onto the hatch. She turned around and flipped the platform switch to make it go back down, ~No turning back now…~ she gulped. Emmer went into the cockpit and sat in the chair. She buckled the lap safety belt before reaching up and behind her to grab the body-buckle that clicked into place between her legs, going over her chest. She then reached and pushed the button to close the cockpit hatch. It rose slowly and air locked after it was set in place. When it closed, the top part of the hatch, as well as a foot on either side, became one giant screen that showed the part of the hanger that the Leo was facing.

A sub-screen popped up with a ping, in the top right corner of the main screen. Duo was smiling at her and she blushed. "If I break something then you owe me dinner!" She smirked at him.

"Yeah, yeah." He waved his hand up and down, where she could see it, for the screen only showed Duo from the chest up. "Now," he continued, "Do you remember how I told you to start?"

Emmer nodded then started pushing a few buttons." Main power is on… primary busters are go… and sensors are online." She pushed the last button before smiling at Duo. "Now what?"

"The suit is already in standing position. All I want you to do is get it to H-5 for storage. Do you remember how I told you to move it?"

"Sure do!" She gently eased the joystick on the left arm of the chair forward and the suit began to walk towards the open wall that was just ahead of it. "Alright Duo, I need you to tell me exactly which hanger is number 5." She was looking at the main screen that had an image of the two rows of large hangers.

"It's the fourth hanger on the right." Duo said with a grin.

"Right!" Emmer smiled.

"Oh! And Emmer?"

"Yes Duo?" Emmer blinked at the screen with Duo in it.

"Good luck! And you're doing a great job so far! Keep it up!" Duo gave her a wink and a thumbs up. This made Emmer blush. "Thanks Duo, but it shouldn't be too hard.' She smiled sweetly and Duo chuckled, trying to hide his own blush.

Emmer had an easy time of getting the Leo suit to H-5, but she was a little worried about the workers on the ground, who were rushing around the hangers. After she had taken a few steps, the workers gave room down the main roadway for the MS. Once at the hanger, the workers showed her where to station the Leo.

"Alright Duo! I did it! Mission complete!" She smiled at Duo's image on the screen.

"Good job Emmer! I'll be on my way over there shortly, after I check a few last things here."

"Right! See you in a bit Duo. Emmer out!" She pushed a few buttons and turned off the main power after the small screen blinked out. She opened the hatch and walked out onto what was just the big screen. She looked on the side of the hatch where a platform had just been put. She sighed as she stepped on and had it take her down slowly.

Once on the ground, Emmer stepped from the platform and looked up at the giant she had just piloted. She had never felt more proud of herself. She couldn't wait to return to the Winner Mansion and tell Trowa and Quatre. She stayed near the Leo until Duo came for her. While she waited she looked at the other mobile suits that were in the hanger. There were about three Taurus suits, two Serpents, and four Leos, including the one she had just piloted.

"Hey Emmer!!" Duo waved as he made his way towards her.

"Hey Duo!" she smiled and ran to close the distance between them.

"You did really well for your fist time piloting Emmer! Are you sure you weren't a pilot?" Duo asked as he put a friendly arm around her shoulder.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure." She chuckled as they left the hanger.

"Well, it's starting to get dark. What do you say we go home huh?"

"Sure Duo, and while we walk, you can tell me about the skills needed for MS combat!" she smiled.

"Sure thing!"

Before they left, Duo stopped by the main hanger to get a bag and walked with it slung loosely over his right shoulder while holder the pull string. As they walked, Duo talked about skills and Emma listened quietly until Duo started talking about the games.

"Duo?" she asked and looked at him as they walked.

He blinked, "Yeah?"

"You said that you were orphaned as a child. But… what if your family might have been as wealthy as Quatre's?"

Duo looked up at the sky as they walked then shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. It would be cool, but what are the chances of it actually being that way? I would probably use the money on the MS fights and start my own factories." He smiled at her.

"So what's in the bag?" she asked.

"Some manuals on MS for you to study."

"Great!" she chuckled, trying to hide the giggle she had let out.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dinner went by with Emmer telling about what happened at the hangers, and both Duo and her showing Mischief to everyone after Rashid brought the little monkey in. Everyone, including Heero and Wufei, laughed and fed the little thing.

After dinner, Duo suggested that he help Emmer with studying the manuals since she was far to excited about that day's events to sleep right away. So they went to Duo's room. He sat cross legged on his bed while Emmer laid on her stomach on the floor, her legs crossed in the air, and her head propped up on her elbows. She had a manual open in front of her that was about the mechanics of Taurus suits. Mischief was asleep on one of the pillows on the floor.

"The mechanics aren't that different between the Taurus and Leo suits. It'd only a slight change in sensors and weaponry. The most noticeable difference is their outer body frames. The real difference in the mechanics can be seen when comparing them to their space counterparts." Duo explained.

"What is it like on the colonies, Duo? What's it like to be in space?" She looked up at him.

"Well!" Duo fell back and bent up his right leg as the left rested on the bed, his hands behind his head on the pillow. He looked up at the ceiling as he talked about the colonies and outer space.

After talking for a while Duo looked over and smiled when he saw Emmer had fallen asleep, his head resting on his right arm on the open manual/ "Well… you've had a busy day…" Duo said as he got up and covered Emmer with a light blanket and switched a pillow for the manual. He smiled down at the sleeping boy before turning out the lights. Duo crawled into bed and watched the boy through the darkness.

~He's such a cute boy. But sometimes I wonder. I'm not like Trowa and Quatre, yet, I feel drawn to him. And I feel as if I've met him before. But where? I better stay close to him. He could be a link to my past… He's so cute. Just like a little brother~ Duo smiled as he drifted to sleep.