Title: The Prince and the Phoenix
Author: Atarashii <golden_kitsune@hotmail.com
Rating: PG; AU (definately), Angst (sort of)
Pairing: 1+2 (established), 3+4 (later on)

Disclaimer: Gundamwing Characters aren't mine. The plot and any original characters are. ^_^

Warning: ...

Rambling: *cough* Ahem. Welcome to Chapter One of 'The Prince and the Phoenix'. I know that you've been waiting quite a bit for this installment but I kind of was stuck at a point where I just had no idea what to write. ^^; But patience is rewarded as I present to you...(and please pardon any spelling or grammatical errors; I tried to catch them all, but not everyone's perfect >_<)


***

The Prince and the Phoenix (Chapter One)

***


"This is bad," the youth muttered as he stared solemly at the crowd assembled in the courtyard. Cries of anger filled the air, sparked on by the fear of ruin. His three companions merely stood by in silence, wordless testimony that they were on his side to support him.

A few moments passed, before a hand clapped on the first's shoulder, causing him to crane his neck to see him. Emerald green met troubled violet as the shapeshifter finally spoke, voice low and hushed, "Ignore them, Tro. It's better that we let your father handle them, and go see if there's any way in which we can stop this suffering."

Nodding absently in consent, Trowa followed the three into the castle, and down to the vast library. Making sure the doors were locked securely behind them, Heero headed over to one of the many bookshelves, eyes scanning the titles and volumes as he searched for a specific one. "What'cha looking for, Heero?" Duo queried, tilting his head to one side.

"There's this prophecy which was written down by my grandfather," the sorcerer replied, eyes resting on a certain, almost hidden book. Carefully pulling it out, prussian eyes scanned the cover, before opening it. Inside, tucked away between the middle pages, was a fragile looking, piece of pamphlet. Taking it gingerly, Heero handed it over to Trowa. "Read it," he commanded simply.

Clearing his throat, Trowa started to read aloud the contents, stopping at the last sentence. "'Who is your human incarnate.'" He looked around at the other three, then back down at the document he held in his hands. "That's all...what happened to the rest?"

"That's a rewritten version of the original," Heero replied lightly, "The original was lost long ago, even before my father was born. The ending was somewhat destroyed, and that's all they have. But it's enough to help out Star. That I'm certain of; if I wasn't, I never would've shown you even that."

"True," the prince admitted, "Then I guess we should start out in search of this phoenix's incarnate."

"It'll be like looking for a needle in a haystack with as little information as we have," Wufei pointed out. "All we know is that the incarnate is someone like us. So it could be *anyone*."

"He does have a point there," Duo nodded, ignoring the looks Heero and Trowa both gave him.

"I don't care exactly how hopeless it may seem," Trowa started slowly, "All I know is that this phoenix needs to be found so that Star will be restored to its previous state."

"Tro-"

"Enough. We might as well start getting ready." Gaze hardening, he straightened up to his full height, staring the three down. "I don't care how slim our chances of actually discovering its[1] incarnate might be. For the sake of Star, the journey's worth it." He smirked, nodding at Wufei, "And besides, it was *your* great grandfather who drove the beast away. This is the least you can do to conpensate for that action, being that you're one of his relatives; his only living relative."

"Hrm." The Dragonkin[2] huffed, "Fine then, *Prince* Trowa. I shall get ready. When do you wish to leave?"

"By nightfall."


***


He forced himself onto his feet, looking at the now red and orange streaked sky. Nightfall was coming quickly, and he still had to find his way back home before Iria[3] and Father worried about him. *If* they worried about him...they probably were too busy arguing again to even realise his absence. He took one step forward, almost immediately crumpling back onto the ground, biting back a cry of pain as a stronger wave of pain hit him.

Head spinning, and feeling sick, Quatre leaned forward, clutching his stomach. His back throbbed, even as a strange sensation took over his body, tingles flickering down his spine.

"What is....going on?" he whispered hoarsely, struggling to keep his breathing in check and trying not to cry out as something pushed against his skin, between his shoulder blades. His efforts were wasted when his skin started to rip as two, brilliant, golden wings freed themselves after sixteen years of imprisonment.

Oh gods, it hurt.

His lips parted as the wings unfurled, spreading to their full glory, his scream piercing the air.

::Don't fret, Quatre. Everything will be explained soon.:: the low, monotonous voice[4] rumbled throughout his mind, his eyes rolling to the back of his head as he slumped forward, unconscious.


***


Only a couple of hours later Trowa, Heero, Duo and Wufei were nearing the outskirts of another kingdom. Turning to his dark-haired, blue-eyed companion, Trowa asked, "Do you know which kingdom this is, Heero?"

"I believe this is the Kingdom of Enutpen[5]." the sorcerer replied, "And if that is so, the kingdom right after this one should be the Kingdom of Nrutas[6]."

Looking up, absently pushing aside the fall of hair which hid one of his eyes at all times, Trowa intently gazed at the gates they now stopped at. Banners of turquoise and light blue adorned the wall on either side of the entrance, guarded by two soldiers. As Trowa proceeded his horse further, the two guards stepped forward, barring his way.

"Any who wish to enter Enutpen must state their name and business for coming here," one of the two stated firmly, locking the four with her piercing gaze.

Shifting in his saddle, Trowa cleared his throat, before replying to the inquiries with authority lacing his voice, "Trowa Barton, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Star." He didn't bother continuing as the woman started at the name, her companion looking equally as shocked.

"P-Prince Trowa? Son of Tritonia Barton, who in turn is son of Triton Barton?"

Trowa nodded briefly, and watched in surprise as the two before him suddenly looked hostile, the first to speak being the one who questioned them, "Noin Lucretia, Prince Trowa. And my companion over there is Dorothy Catalonia," she said in a clipped, toneless voice, "It was your kingdom which drove the Golden Phoenix away, wasn't it?" Blue eyes stared directly at him, searching.

"It was," Duo finally pitched in, minutes after the question had been asked and Trowa hadn't given a response himself.

"How could you do that?!" the other guard spoke sharply, clear blue eyes flashing with anger.

"It wasn't Star's fault..." Trowa started, but the blonde broke in abruptly.

"It was *your* kingdom who killed it!" Dorothy sputtered, "Do you know how Enutpen suffered long after? How Nrutas did as well? Drought, mind you, wasn't bad enough, but famine also struck. We were barely able to survive last year, but luckily the rains have decided to be merciful and spare us all." Bitterly, she added almost as an afterthought, "We lived, although we suffered for over a hundred years after the phoenix died."[7]


***


[1] its = the phoenix's

[2] Dragonkin = 'dragon human'...aka...in this situation, its used to indicate that Wufei can turn into a dragon at will...^^;;;

[3] Iria's going to be the only sister of Quatre's which appears in this fic.

[4] Guess who the voice belongs to. ^_- Yep, the phoenix itself.

[5] Enutpen = 'Neptune' backwards

[6] Nrutas = 'Saturn' backwards

[7] ...And the plot thickens. ^_^

*dances happily* I finished it! Yay! Finally...after how long? Over a couple of months, I believe. ^^; But it finally got written! I hope everyone enjoyed it and all comments can be directed to golden_kitsune@hotmail.com.