Standard Warning: Gundam Belongs to Gundam and any scene or plot similarity to another person's story, movie or anime is purely coincidental. As always I hope you find some enjoyment in this offering.

Tears for the Dragon
By: Amber



It had been months since she had went to the lake, months since Wufei had left. She went back there in the hopes he had changed his mind, all to no avail. If he was there, she never knew it. So now, she haunted the gardens. She didn't want her pleasant memories of those hours at the lake spoiled by regrets and what ifs. She pushed the sheers back and looked towards the lake. Well, wherever you are, Wufei, I hope you are well.

~ ~ ~ ~
He returned home a different person than the one that left and, by his estimation, tomorrow would be a year to the day that he had been changed into a dragon. Tomorrow would decide it one way or the other. Whatever the out come, he could not live this half-life. After saying goodbye to Relena, he hadn't realized how much she grounded him, kept him from dwelling too much on what had happened to him.

She stood in the shadow of the trees. Watching him, she smiled fondly. He had come so far in a year; it was worth his anger and Relena's disappointment. She had given him incentive to stretch to see beyond his narrow perceptions and, as she thought, he surpassed her expectations. He now had all the tools he would require to become what his Fate decreed he must; it was time to see what he would do with the knowledge he had acquired over the last year.

Moving closer, she watched him, respectfully maintaining enough distance to allow him the privacy to finish his meditation before allowing her presence to be known. "Hello, Wufei."

His eyes snapped open, focusing on her. "So,” he growled, “you have returned."

She smiled wryly, "I have returned, the question is: Are you ready to return?"

His eyes narrowed. "I want my body back."

She studied him silently, "Very well then. It begins." She lifted her hand, allowing the circle of energy to grow until it flashed outward engulfing him. Temporarily blinded, it was as he remembered: the tingling through out his body, followed by the sudden numbness, then there was a deafening silence. When his sight finally cleared, he was on the ground on his hands and knees. Pushing himself up, he glared at her fiercely.

"Why did you do this to me? I've never done anything to you."

She shook her head. "You have the potential for great things, but as it stood, your outlook was too rigid, too narrow. Had you been left as you were, all that would have been lost."

"What nonsense."

"Perhaps,” she laughed, “but ask yourself if you're the same man from a year ago and I think you'll see my wisdom. Well, this is goodbye, little dragon."

He crossed his arms and smirked. "One can only hope."

She laughed. Backing away, she started to grow fainter. “I'll give your regards to the Princess.

"What princess? Relena,” he whispered, “No, wait."

Live wisely little dragon echoed softly through his mind...

~ ~ ~ ~

Relena sat on the garden bench and closed her eyes. Tilting her head back, she lost herself in the warm afternoon sun gently caressing her skin. Every so often, a gentle breeze carried the faintest smell of roses, and over all, it was oddly comforting.

"Relena.."

Slowly opening her eyes, she brought the owner of the voice into focus. Relena met her gaze warily. "I've come to say goodbye, little one."

"Goodbye? Did you tell Wufei goodbye as well?"

"Aah,” she smiled, “Wufei and I have successfully concluded our business with one another."

Relena stood cautiously, moving closer. "Did you do it? He said..."

She shook her head, perplexed.

“Why?” she whispered.

She nodded, "Wufei was a young man with infinite possibilities but rigidly unchanging, so it became a choice. The path he was on that was leading nowhere, or one that enabled him to become all those things the gods envisioned for him. Growth, Relena, is not without a price." Themis stepped closer, "My time here is over, Relena, I have to go now, but before I do, I want to tell you knowing you has been one of my greatest pleasures."

Hesitantly, Relena stepped into a hug. "I will miss you."

And I will miss you Relena heard softly in her mind. Leaning back, she saw Themis fade away, leaving her holding nothing but air. Dropping her arms, she looked around the stillness of the garden, but could see no trace of the woman who had been such a significant part of her life. And for the first time, Relena wished she had pushed to find out just who she was.

~ ~ ~ ~
Wufei rushed to the lake and waited for several hours. When it became apparent she wasn't coming, he got worried. In all the time he watched Relena, she always came to the lake. True, there could be a perfectly logical reason why she wasn't there, several for that matter, but with the witch's words ringing in his ears, logic went south and worry took over. Glancing at the castle once more, he made his choice. He would worry about looking foolish later.

He approached the castle wall and walked the perimeter. Finding the lowest point, he leapt, landing on the top. Surveying the gardens below, he crouched, waiting for that familiar head of gold to hopefully make an appearance. Otherwise, that left entering the castle and, frankly, he would rather not explain himself to a hysterical woman, since Relena only knew him in his dragon form. He smirked. Who was he kidding? He was stalling, he didn't see Relena as the screaming type whatever the situation. He was just nervous about her reaction to him now that he was back to normal. Distracted, a flash of something off to the right drew his attention, and with worry riding him, he dropped to the ground to see who it was.

After Themis left, Relena moved deeper into the garden. Ending up at the fountain, she sat on the edge. Trailing her fingers through the water, she watched curious fish gently nibble her fingers. Hearing a sound, she lifted her head. Watching a young man step into view, she tilted her head curiously. Shaking the water off her hand, she stood. Relena frowned, trying to place him. He was a handsome young man. He was lean and at least several inches taller than she. Dressed all in white, his dark hair was drawn back at the nape of his neck. Relena sighed tiredly. Her brother must have sent another one out to make a good impression on her. Relena watched him stride closer. Staring at him quizzically, she thought there was a look about his eyes that reminded her of Wufei, but shook that thought off as wishful thinking. She waited until he stopped in front of her. "Can I help you?"

Wufei studied her intently, looking for any trace of recognition. He found none. Strangely enough, he was disappointed. He bowed. "I hoped to find my friend. Do you know where she is?"

Relena studied him intently. Her eyes widened. "Wufei,” she smiled tremulously. Tears clung lovingly to her lashes. Clasping his hands affectionately, "She's right here…"

~ ~ ~ ~

Themis watched Relena tuck Wufei's hand in her arm, then stroll slowly through the garden. Gently waving her hand, the scene disappeared. Satisfied, she smiled gently before she turned to look across the grounds of Olympus. A tear escaped, in spite of her best efforts. How she would miss those two! But she drew comfort from the knowledge that now, instead of being alone, they had each other.

The End


Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement and constructive suggestions. I so appreciate your receptiveness to the alternative pairing.

And I hope you found something likeable about this one. I borrowed a Beauty and the Beast angle and introduced them to GW characters. I ended it this way to keep with the theme I had through out the story possibilities of what might be. Which is why I chose an Rx5 pairing. Think of the possibilities

Themis in this story actually is not of my making in Greek Mythology she was the Titan of Justice and Order (appropriate I think for my story purpose) and the mother of the Fates and the Seasons. The Titans were the elder gods; they ruled the earth before the Olympians overthrew them.