Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Seeing Past the Surface ❯ Chapter 1

[ A - All Readers ]

Title: Seeing Past The Surface
Author: Pendora
Pairing: 2+1
Warnings: shounen ai, AU, OOC
Disclaimers: Don't own GW and it's characters etc. etc. They own ME!!

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Everyone knew it was going to happen sooner or later. No matter how well Queen Hilde ruled over her people after the death of the king, no matter how prosperous the land flourished under her skillful guidance, and how well her fair judgement was well received among the people of her kingdom, offending a god would not go unpunished. It was Hilde's vanity that was her undoing. Or rather, it was Hilde's boastfulness of her exquisite and only child, Heero.

Heero, unlike his mother, did nothing to attract the attention of others. If anything, he discouraged it as much as he possibly could. As Heero grew older, he was graced with increasing beauty, yet he hated the way people loved him because of it. Most were blinded by his appearance, never seeing anything beyond it, never caring about anything beyond it. It made his heart wary and mistrustful, causing him to speak only when it was required of him. No one much cared that his personality became more and more withdrawn; they adored him, or rather, his looks, all the same. And oh, how the people adored him! His most captivated fans even went so far as to create mini shrines dedicated to his beauty. They adorned the shrines with sapphires, as blue as the prince's eyes, as well as lilies, jewelery and other small treasures.

As time passed, the shrines grew larger and larger, and the gifts multiplied. By the time Heero turned thirteen, news of his beauty had travelled to many other kingdoms. Rumors spread that the young prince's looks surpassed even the Goddess of Love and Beauty, Relena, herself. Royalty came from far and wide, bearing gifts, to catch a glimpse of Hilde's renowned son. Each time, the visitors left enraptured by Heero's radiance and returned to their own kingdom confirming the rumors to be true: Heero's beauty did indeed rival Relena's, if not surpassing it.

Instead of becoming jealous of her son's fame and beauty, as in the old cliche of Snow White, Queen Hilde grew prouder and prouder, while Heero grew more and more sullen. She promoted the attention people showered upon Heero at every opportunity, while the prince remained uncaring of the superficial attention he received. When the queen held extravagant banquets, which was quite often, she never missed a chance to show off her lovely son, much to her guest's delight.

And throughout the years, a Goddess observed these events with green eyes. (1) It was highly displeasing to her and stirred her anger.

"My lady, there is a woman here to see you," a servant whispered as discreetly as possible, not wanting to be too much of an interruption on the present festivities occurring in the extravagant room.

Hilde was currently in the midst of hosting yet another one of her party banquets; this one was dedicated to Heero's eighteenth birthday. The dinner portion of the banquet was over and the guests were now dispersed around the grand dining hall, conversing with one another. They paused now and again to look up and appreciate the music and entertainment provided, as Hilde sat in her seat at the head of the hall, observing the going-ons around her. Heero had, at some point during the celebration, snuck off with a few of his closest friends to a more secluded area for a more private celebration.

"Is she decent?" Hilde asked. (2)

"She is decent, my lady," was the servant's reply.

"Then send her in."

The servant made a hasty exit and returned shortly, accompanied by a middle-aged woman with dark hair. Although the woman wore but simple clothes, she had an aura about her that demanded the attention of those around her. The room quieted down until the conversations of the people sounded like a dull hum. Eyes turned towards the newcomer as Hilde spoke.

"Kindly state your purpose."

"I am Lucrezia, the Oracle of the Northern Mountains. I come bearing a message for the Queen Hilde."

All around the room, the guests buzzed with anticipation and turned to their neighbor, trying to guess what the message could be. Oracles and the messages they bore were highly respected among all people. An Oracle's prediction was always the truth, for an Oracle was the human agent a god or goddess used to convey a message.

The Queen held up a hand for silence.

"Please, continue."

"This is a warning for you, concerning your son, Heero. Although his beauty is great, he will never marry an ordinary human."

The people in the room fell silent with apprehension at the foreboding sense of an ill omen that those words carried for their beloved prince.

"Your son, Heero, is destined to be with a being who flies through the night like a winged demon. One whose power is so great that even Odin himself turns his face away." (3)

Hilde paled visibly. She had good intentions and high hopes for her son, and she was not at all ready to have them fall apart so soon.

"There is more," Lucrezia continued. "Seven moons from tonight, Heero must be taken to the top of the Eastern Mountain and left there, unaccompanied by any other."

A goblet clashed to the floor and rang loudly throughout the spacious dining hall, sounding to many like the toll of death. The room was instantly alive with declarations of anxiety and panic.

"And if we refuse to take him to the mountaintop!!" An anonymous voice shouted out.

Lucrezia turned her head in the direction of the voice and replied, "I would advise against it. Heero's destiny is his destiny. Nothing will be able to change that. If you refuse, the outcome will remain the same and the course Heero must travel towards that outcome will be the only thing that changes. By going against my advice, you choose to put your prince at more of a risk, as even I do not know what dangers the alternative path can hold."

Many of the guests seemed satisfied with Lucrezia's reasoning, whether it was because they understood her explanation, or because Lucrezia was an Oracle and they automatically took her word for it.

Queen Hilde seemed to be in a state of shock as Lucrezia showed herself out the door. Even as the Queen, what could she do but carry out Lucrezia's advice? After all, an Oracle only spoke truth. She then ended the celebration and returned to her chambers with a heavy heart, deciding how best to tell Heero that one week from tonight, he would be abandoned alone on the top of a mountain, left in the hand of fate.

And above these mortal events, a jealous Goddess plotted.





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(1) aka Jealousy!
(2) Meaning, "is she a shady/suspicious-looking character?"
(3) Odin's the Big Guy, King of gods, etc.

Author's notes: So that was my first ever attempt at a fanfic! Don't know if I'll continue it or not! Sorry there wasn't any 2+1 in this chapter >.<