Episode Zero Act 1: Relena

AC 191 - Darlian Estate

*Relena is going to school, she has a book in hand*

Mother: Take care, Relena.

*Relena bows silently and continues on her way*

Mother: Relena.... I know you're reserved.... but why don't you speak more?

*Image of Sanc Kingdom burning*

Mother: Is it because that incident during your childhood has your heart still trapped?

[St. Gabriel Academy]

*Relena sits at her desk quietly. Two Girls enter*

Girl 1: *giggling* Truly.

Girl 2: Yes. *notices Relena* Oh....

Girl 1: Good morning Relena.....

Girl 2: Good morning.

Relena: .....

Girl 2: Really.... she's always so intense... Relena's so marvelous.

Girl 1: Of course! She is the daughter of the Darlians after all.

*Relena stares at them as they pass*

*A sullen young boy, around 11 years old, stands at the gates. He's ragged and looks INCREDIBLY like Heero*

Relena: *noticing* .....?

Girl 3: What is that child...?

Girl 4: Oh my...

Girl 4: Are they going to take him in, I wonder?

Girl 3: How troublesome...

*Relena stands up and leaves, apparently annoyed*

Relena: *walking* Why... does everyone seem to look down at those who are unfortunate? It's not as if they wanted to turn out like that--

*Relena bumps into someone. Books drop to the ground. She's bumped into the orphan.*

Relena: Oh... He's the one from earlier...

*Boy bends down and picks up his books and continues along his way. Relena watches him go*

Narrator: Years later, she would meet a boy named "Heero Yuy". The question was raised if they might indeed be the same person. Heero, however, had no memories of coming to the earth prior to Operation Meteor.

*Roof of the school*

Relena: *peeking from the doorway* !

Relena: Why is he here of all places? I must apologize to him about earlier... it was my fault...

Relena: ?

*Boy pulls out a pair of binoculars and looks through them*

Relena: What is he doing?

Boy: *speaking into a small transponder* This is Black Alpha. Darlian Estate sighted.

Relena: My... house?

Boy: I think the refuge site for if the mission fails is more suitable than St. Gabriel.

Relena: What are you...?

Teacher: Is the reason why....

*Boy stares out the window*

*Relena watches the boy as he sits outside. Two other girls are talking*

Girl 5: That boy is all alone again.

Girl 6: He refuses to speak to anyone, it can't be helped.

Relena: .....

Relena: *thinking* I wonder why.... I have a feeling we're alike.... I...want to know more about you.

*Boy staring from rooftop watching code being flashed at him.*

Boy: ... Tonight.

*Explosion*

Narrator: This day, terrorists engaged in hostilities against the Earth Sphere Military assaulting a JAP point base in the Pacific Ocean.

*Air carrier above the ocean*

OZ 1: Currently above the JAP point.

OZ 1: We will reach combat air space in 300 seconds.

OZ 2: Why is it that we, the Specials, have been dispatched to quell these dissidents?

Zechs: ....

Treize: The leader of OZ, General Catalonia wishes to test the abilities of mobile suits. And your abilities as well, First Lt. Zechs Merquise.

Zechs: It will be good if I can satisfy such high expectations.

Rebel: Shoot! Shoot them down! All of you die!

*Federation soldiers being shot*

*Two Aries*

Treize: First Lt. Zechs. We should be able to finish this in three minutes.

Zechs: One minute will be sufficient, General Treize.

Zechs: The fighting should be stopped by the time I land.

*Zechs fires, stuff blows up*

*Zechs does a wordless battle cry.*

Treize: Indeed.... so it's not just talk...

*Zechs lands and the fighting's pretty much over with*

Treize: He truly fights like a flash of light
[Note: Treize is making a reference to Zech's fighting style that will eventually earn Zech the nickname of 'Lightning Count']

Rebel: *hmph* *takes off in his Aries*

Zechs: You're not getting away!!

Treize: Zechs!!

Zechs: I'm leaving the rest to you, General!

[Darlian Estate]

Mother: Yes. Understood. *she hangs up phone* That was from general Ventei.

*Relena pauses and listens*

Mother: There's a terrorist piloting a weapon called a mobile suit, escaping towards this area. I must tell my husband immediately...

*Relena walking outside now*

Relena: .... Terrorist.... Mobile suit... Weapon... I don't understand it.

Relena: Why... do people fight so much?

Relena: But... it would seem that that boy has nothing to do with this.

Relena: It's so peaceful...

*Sound of an Aries going down. Flash of light in the hills*

Relena: *small scream* Could it...

*A small cloud of smoke rises from the forest*

Rebel: *kicking MS* *growl* SHIT! It was just a little further!

*Rebel whirls around with a gun in hand*

Rebel: Who's there?!

Rebel: *relieved* W..what... it's just a kid... This girl... could she?

Relena: No!

*Rebel has is arm around her neck, and gun pointed to her head.*

Rebel: Be good. I know you're Darlian's daughter. Who would have believed it... that you'd be here!

Relena: I'm... going to die? Am I going to die here?

*Relena sees something streaking across the sky*

Relena: A shooting star?

Rebel: !

Rebel: Shit! He's caught up already?!

Relena: No! Let go of me please!!

Rebel: *dragging her along* Just c'mon!

Zechs: Don't you think that's enough?

*Rebel freezes. Turns around. Zechs's Aries's cockpit opens*

Rebel: Sh-Shit! Don't move! Got it? One move and this... Darlian's daughter is dead.

Zechs: Darlian? Relena?!

Rebel: Now... get out of that mobile suit, nice and easy...

Zechs: .....

*Zechs gets out*

Rebel: Heh... A new Aries model....What a nice souvenir...

*Zechs whips out a gun and shoots the guy in the hand. Rebel drops gun and goes down to his knees. Relena runs to Zech's side.*

Zechs: I have no desire to kill in front of this child... Get out of here!

Rebel: *Gets the hint and runs* Sh-Shit!

Relena: ......

Zechs: *smiling* How you've grown, Relena....

*Flashback to Relena taking her first steps. She falls flat.*

Woman: Princess. Oh... are you all right, princess?

*Relena stares back at him.*

Zechs: Eh?

Zechs: Oh.... yes... Miliardo. You can't touch this girl... I've thrown away being a Peacecraft.... Taken a weapon into my hands... and chosen the blood-stained path of revenge.

Zechs: *holsters gun* Are you all right, Princess?

Relena: Princess?

Relena: If... I'm a princess.... then you're... a knight astride a fearful dragon?

Zechs: *chuckling* I'm the prince who fell from the stars.

Woman: Miss! Miss Relena!!!!

Zechs: Well then.... If you'll excuse me...

Relena: Oh...

*Relena watches Zechs walk away*

Relena: The prince.... from the stars...

[Next Day]

Girl 1: Did you hear? That boy's disappeared.

Girl 2: Did someone come to pick him up?

Girl 3: It looks like he just fled.

*Relena closes her book. She heads up to the roof*

Relena: He's not here either...

Girl 4: There was an act of terrorism against a military base yesterday... it seems that boy was part of that terrorist group.

Girl 5: How scary.

Girl 4: The teachers seem to think that he infiltrated this place to guide them.

Girl 5: You can't let anyone without some sort of social status into the school...

Relena: That's...

*Relena spots the boy at the gate, staring up at her.*

Relena: !!

Relena: *running down the stairs and towards the gate* That's right! Status shouldn't have to matter! We're all human! We should all get along!

Relena: *panting* He's... gone....

Relena: *looking sad* I wanted to at least ask your name... I should have done that...

Relena: *to nobody* I... I'm Relena Darlian. And you are....?

Relena: And you are....?