Greetings an falicitaions, fanfiction readers! OK so Onyxhime is super excited to be posting this and even more excited that you want to read this. I won't go on forever cause y'all clicked in here for some Gundam wing action and not author commentary. But just a few notes before we begin.

This story is rated T flat out. This is also one of the author's first attempts at writing so my apologies if it's amateurish. I Also need to give credit where credit is due. About a bazillion years ago I read a really short fiction on the Web and it inspired this little brain child of mine. I have no idea who the author is and I can't find the fiction anywhere. So, because I have no name to credit, I tip my hat to the unknown author who gave me my muse.

This fiction TOTALLY discounts that blasphemous heresy called episode zero and blatantly ignores the equally blasphemous frozen teardrop. If ya like 'em so sorry.

Reviews are ALWAYS appreciated but be kind. We are all growing and learning and flames don't do anything for confidence building.

Without further ado: In honor of Bandai and the Gundam franchise (who own this stuff BTW... bummer...) and for your reading enjoyment, Onyxhime humbly presents "Dragon's Heart"

Please enjoy it alot!

AC 199

Zurich, Switzerland

The cabin was dark and rather rustic in its grandiose settings. The view of the Alps from the front window was astounding- as it was meant to be, for this was a tourist's cabin. But the occupants inside the cabin took no notice of the view. At least one of them, an arrogant Chinese with a chauvinistic outlook on life, did not.

The other, an American with a terminally social disposition, was busy gazing rapturously out the window and doing his best to push his friends buttons.

"Geeze, Wuffie. Lighten up! It was just a suggestion!" Duo grinned and tossed his long chestnut braid over his shoulder. "I mean, c'mon, who wouldn't think it was fun to roll a snowball down the mountainside?"

Wufei leaned against the doorframe and snorted derisively as he folded his arms across his chest. "Probably the person it landed on, idiot." Wufei's black slanted eyes narrowed as he leaned foreword to emphasize his next point. "We are here to find this terrorist cell, destroy them, and get out, Maxwell. We are not to do anything that might draw attention to ourselves and compromise the mission. That includes: getting into a snowball fight, making snowmen, and rolling snowballs down mountains to land on some poor unsuspecting sap's head! If I hear one more suggestion that isn't mission oriented, that braid is mine. And I'll lop it off at the neck!"

Duo's shoulders slumped as he sat down on one of the two cots with a SQUEAK. "Then I can't…?"

"No!"

"Not even a little?"

Wufei just glared.

"Spoil Sport." Duo threw his hands up defeat. "I knew I shoulda' taken Quatre up on his offer of a vacation at his desert oasis." He lay back on the bed, deflated. Then he stuck his tongue out at Wufei "'Spose since the party's been nixed by the parents, we might as well get some shut eye."

"Our contact should be here some time before dawn." Wufei blithely ignored the American's comment about his stodgy-ness. "I'll take the first watch."

Duo shrugged and yawned. "G/night, Wu-man."

Wufei just growled.

Soon the soft sounds of Duo's snoring filled the room. Wufei glanced at his colleague in annoyance. Not for the first time on this mission, he missed his partner. He shook his head. It was plain irritating to have to work with someone other than Sally Po.

Wufei remembered his reaction when Une informed him that he was needed for this mission.

He had taken the data report from her and read through it, noting the mission parameters. They were to meet an informant and investigate an alleged terrorist faction. If need be the mission called for the destruction of the base and the apprehension of the head guy, a man by the name of Al-Arish. And the initial meet called for a Preventer team.

Wufei's dark eyes narrowed. "Preventer Water doesn't get back from her vacation for another three days." He pointed out accusingly.

Catching the insinuation in his tone, Une's serene brow wrinkled slightly in apology. "I know, Chang. However, our informant was quite adamant about the urgency of the situation. It's now or never."

Wufei had growled under his breath but said nothing, accepting the inevitable. After all, it was only one mission and whoever they had gotten to replace her could not be that bad…

Wufei shifted his weight slightly and winced as Duo emitted a particularly loud snore.

Blast Une for assigning Duo to this mission. It was going to be difficult enough gaining the information they required without Wufei constantly having to squelch his adolescent behavior.

He had argued vehemently against using Maxwell, claiming that he could do it well enough on his own. But Une had stubbornly insisted. He was going to have a partner for this mission, like it or not.

He leaned against the doorway folding his arms across his chest. He did not want a different partner. The only partner he ever wanted- past, present, or future- was Sally.

His head snapped back and his eyes filled with annoyance. Just when had he started holding that particular opinion? And why did he feel that way?

Should he not be overjoyed at the prospect of working with a man (even Duo Maxwell) over having to work with someone only good for housework and bearing sons? Should he not despise her? After all, she's nothing but a woman. Easily replaced by any man… Wufei glanced at Duo who had begun to drool. Let me amend that…Almost any man.

All women are weak and would never be anything else. And they definitely didn't belong on the battlefield. He had had that drilled into him since he was a small boy.

Wufei sighed. And yet he knew the moment he thought those things that he did not really believe them.

Not about Sally. They had built for each other a mutual admiration even if they did fight like cats and dogs…

Setting aside the fact for a moment that she was a woman; Sally knew Wufei … the types of tactics he favored… she knew how predict his actions. They had both learned to anticipate how the other thought. He had seen her poise under fire and her spirit and strength of will. They had been a team since 197 and a dang good one too.

It should have been Sally sleeping on that cot waiting to relieve him on watch.

Blast it, woman! Why did you have to take your vacation this week? Wufei glanced at his watch and wandered over to the bunk and shook Duo. "Maxwell…"

Duo snorted and rolled over but remained blissfully unaware. How he survived Operation Meteor boggles my mind. Wufei growled and grabbed him by his shoulder and shook him harder. "Get up now!"

Maxwell mumbled something unintelligible still held firmly in the sandman's insidious clutches. Wufei quirked a slanted eyebrow at the Gundam pilot and then the door of the cottage. He grinned wolfishly.

Poor Duo never stood a chance. One moment he was in a warm fuzzy world where Hilde was serving a nine-course meal of all his favorites and the next he was sailing through freezing air and landing neck-deep in a snow drift.

"Oi, You're cruel, Wu-man!" Duo sputtered his way out of the snow bank.

Wufei stood in the door of the cabin grinning. He wished he had had a camera. The look on Maxwell's face was priceless.

"Are we awake now?"

It was Duo's turn to growl as he stumbled back into the cottage. He yanked the tie that held his long hair captive and started picking the snow from his braid.

Wufei slipped into his own cot. "Wake me in three hours."

Duo sat there grumbling as Wufei adopted an attitude of casual nonchalance. "I'm gonna send Sally some flowers when we get back. Anyone who can put up with your rot for four years and stay sane deserves something for their trouble."

"Idiot, weve only been partners for two years." Wufei fixed Maxwell with a glare.

Duo wrung his hair and water dripped from it. "She's known you for four. Any person who's known you that long is entitled to sympathy... And probably a psych evaluation…" The last Duo mumbled under his breath.

Grumbling, Chang crossed his arms behind his head and settled himself in for some sleep. His eyes slid shut of their own volition as he allowed exhaustion to wash over him. Again for a moment he thought of Sally. If I'd tried tossing her in the snow like that, she would have made sure that she took me down with her. And for half a moment, he thought that it just might be fun to try it. It might be… enjoyable… to tumble into the snow with Sally…

His eyes snapped wide open as he mentally shook himself hard. Enough of that kind of thinking! He forcibly derailed that particular train of thought. He was just overly tired that was all. Babysitting Maxwell must have really taken it out of him. Wufei sent his mind trailing down other paths in an attempt to keep from thinking of his erstwhile partner.

And for a time he succeeded. Into his sleep riddled mind came the image of someone Wufei had long since relegated to the foggy mists of the past. Wufei's eyelids grew heavy, and, as sleep overtook him, a pair of sparkling blue eyes came laughing back to him. And then he dreamed.

"Little Dragon! Little Dragon, come back!"

But Little Dragon would have none of it. The six-year-old Chang Wufei pushed away from his tutor and headed for the center of the commotion. His black slanted eyes revealed his above average intelligence, already several years ahead of his age.

No one noticed the small child who pushed through the crowd, seeking further information. If the men in the crowd had an inkling of this youth's capabilities, they might have paid closer attention to him. But as it was… No one had any idea of this child's intelligence…no one had any idea of the extent of this child's training (even at his tender age)… And no one had an inkling of this child's destiny. Least of all the child himself.

Huge numbers of men were gathered, and there was only one topic of conversation on everyones' lips: Po Chen had arrived and made a formal request to meet with the colony elders.

"-You heard?"

"No."

"They say that Po Chen himself is here seeking warriors to assist his militia. Rumor has it that the Earth is planning an attack on one of the colonies in the L3 cluster and that he has allied himself with the UESA."

Several men raised their voices in disbelief. "Would he do something so dishonorable?"

One old man huffed and thumped his cane on the ground. "It does not surprise me. I have seen the shameful way he treats his women."

Wufei's eyes narrowed. He had to find a way into the council chamber. He scanned the façade of the chamber and decided that the window was his best option. He scurried to the outer column.

Wufei slipped in through the wooden windows and slid silently to the floor, making sure that his blue katana sheath made no sound as he landed. Absently his fingers traced the silver dragons that were encrusted on his sword's hilt as he did a visual scan of the area.

The chamber was widely and lavishly decorated in carvings of dragons both great and small. Red jade columns were placed every so many feet on the perimeter of the chamber and red silk hung caressingly around each.

A small smirk formed at the corner of his lips. The shadows in the alcoves were deep and provided the perfect cover for the small intruder. As he expertly weaved in and out of shadows, he observed a group of men surrounding one surprisingly tall dignified Chinese gentleman.

From his vantage point, Wufei was able to observe the man unseen and unnoticed. The boy's face hardened. If the eyes were truly the measure of a man as his masters had taught, then this man was the coldest, cruelest man the young boy had ever seen. An enemy, dishonorable in all his dealings and definitely not to be trusted. His instincts fairly screamed at him. A man to remember for a future date.

"Master Long." Po Chen's deep baritone carried across the chamber. The group of men broke up and the evil looking man stepped foreword. He bowed, demonstrating his respect. "Honorable members of the council. I am deeply gratified that you agreed to hear my proposal in such a prestigious manner."

Chang growled in frustration as one of those members stepped into his line of sight . He sidled along the outer wall seeking a place where he could see plainly without showing himself. He doubted anything untoward would happen to him if he was caught, but he was not about to take chances. The hall was not the place for children. Or so he had been told by Master O.

Master Long bowed his ancient head slightly in acknowledgement of Po's courtesy. "We are most curious, Po Chen, as to the nature of this proposal. It must be quite important if it required you to come all this way to deliver it in person."

"My masters, I wish to hire some of your able-bodied warriors. I need men who can fight honorably and who are unafraid of death."

Murmurs rose around the room as Po made his purpose known. Master Long raised his hand and slowly quiet descended on the room. "You wish to hire our warriors to fight- not for honor but for money?"

"Master, I would not suggest that your warriors do anything so unjust. Still I do not see the problem with taking the opportunity to fight for both."

Wufei slowly made his way around the room all the while listening to Po Chen's proposal. He shook his head disdainfully. Only dishonorable men fought for profit. A true warrior fought for justice and honor. What this man was proposing was preposterous.

"I see." Master Long glanced at the council members standing in the room. A silent nod of agreement passed between them and Master Long. "Po Chen, if you will permit the council some time to discuss this matter…"

Po bowed. "Of course. But I must have my answer before I leave today. I apologize for my forwardness in this." Po Chen withdrew to his advisors and began to speak in low tones.

Hoping to make out what Po was saying, Wufei edged silently around until he was close to the giant red jade pillars by the door of the hall.

Gemstone dragons carved in relief frisked their way up and down the pillars under the watchful gaze of the Great Dragon. Wufei glanced up and into the eyes of the carved stone effigy and shuddered. Master Long had told him that the dragon was the guardian of the Chang family, and of the Dragon clan.

Wufei stood there staring into the cold lifeless eyes of the Great Dragon far longer than he should have. Every instinct he had was yelling at him for standing there, reminding him of the mission and the need to gather intel. He wanted to hear what the council was saying… But try as he might, the young boy could not tear his eyes away. It was as if some invisible force had a hold of him, and Wufei could not resist it or fight it.

Wufei jerked back in surprise. Those eyes… They flashed… Wufei shook his head as the analytical side of his training took hold. It was impossible for stone to wink. He must have imagined the whole thing.

Suddenly ,Wufei froze. He cocked his head as he listened, certain that he had heard something… There it was again. Gripping the hilt of his katana firmly in his hand, he noiselessly made his way around the pillar. What he saw when he peeked around the pillar surprised him.

A girl! But who was she? A servant? No, She cant be. Her clothes were shoddy and worn. And even the servants in the hall were better dressed…

She sat against the pillar with her knees pulled up to her chest, her head buried in her arms. Her thin frame shook in stifled sobs. Sniffing dejectedly she lifted her head and wiped away the tears. The girl appeared older than him by about four years, give-or-take a few. But what was most shocking was her silky golden hair and bright blue eyes, red-rimmed from crying. Wufei cocked his head intrigued. There was definite Chinese in this girl. Her slanted eyes gave that much away. But her hair and eye color? Wufei had never seen anyone with quite that combination before. It was oddly…entrancing.

Another quiet sob escaped her. His heart went out to her and suddenly the urge to make her smile became overpowering.

Glancing around to make certain no one had seen him or the girl. He whispered "Hello."

Gasping and startled, she whipped around wide-eyed. Obviously the girl had no idea that she was no longer alone. A terrified expression descended over her features and she drew back into the shadows almost instinctively.

Wufei studied her face in surprise. Directly below her right eye was the blackest bluest bruise he had ever seen. How did she get that? He could only imagine how painful something like that was.

"What do you want?" Her haunted eyes took on a spirited defensiveness as if daring the smaller boy to do something hurtful to her.

Wufei's eyes widened at the tone she had used. No-one had ever spoken to him in that way. It irritated. After all everybody had told him that he was Lord Chang Wufei, and everyone he had ever met had bowed low before him. I am the last lord of the Dragon clan… That was what Master Long had said after Wufei's father had died. And now a girl came along and treated him not as a lord but as an equal.

He bit back the irritation as he eyed the bruise on her face. She had obviously had a hard time of it. Still determined to win a smile, he pressed onward. "What's your name?"

She turned her back to him pulling her knees up against her chest again. "Just go away."

The words were muffled, but he clearly heard the tears in her voice. She had begun to cry again.

He really wanted to do something to comfort her. Why…? He did not know. After all it was none of his business. He glanced towards the center of the council chamber. He had bigger fish to fry. She was only an emotional and irrational girl. Why should he bother with her when there were more interesting things going on?

Still…He glanced back down at the pitiful picture her shaking frame painted and sighed. He could not live with himself if he did not do something. Besides his curiosity had been piqued. What could make anyone cry like that?

"What's wrong?" He knelt down next to her his young brow wrinkling with concern.

"What do you care?" She moaned and sniffed turning her back to him. "Leave me alone."

He looked at the pathetic form she made. Her quiet weeping touched a chord deep within his heart. Wufei had never seen anyone so unhappy in his short six years of life in this world.

At a loss to do something the young boy instinctively reached down to his side and touched the pommel of his katana. The katana that had belonged to his father before he died….He sighed as he remembered Master O bringing Wufei word of his father's death.

Wufei traced the dragons on the hilt of his sword. The thing that had comforted him in the long nights after his father's death had been that sword…

And quite suddenly the boy had an idea.

Wufei glanced around the column to gauge the situation. As of yet nothing had been decided. I have a little more time then.

He touched the girl's shoulder to get her attention. The girl jerked back while throwing her hands up as if to ward off a blow. An involuntary cry escaped her lips only to be stifled as quickly as it had begun. Wide eyed, Wufei drew away sharply, startled by her sudden movement. He blinked at the girl and knew with an awful certainty that she was waiting for. She thinks I'm going to hit her…

He gazed at her his anger kindling. Who would do something like that? Women were the weaker vessel, it was true. They were only good for running a household and bearing sons. At least that was what Master O had taught him. But only dishonorable men would do such a cowardly thing as strike one. Even at the age of six Wufei knew this. He had never hit a woman in his short life and then and there he vowed he never would.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm not going to hit you."

Slowly the girl lowered her hands but still eyed him dubiously. "What part of go away don't you understand!?"

He ignored her brusque tone and assumed what he hoped was a friendly expression. "Can I show you something?"

After a moment of silence, she nodded hesitantly drying her tears. The boy quietly drew the katana and held it out to the girl smiling at her shyly. Her eyes lit up as she looked at it. "Is it yours?"

He nodded and motioned for her to take the sword.

Her sky hued eyes were wide with wonder as if she could not believe it. She unconsciously lifted a hand to touch it. Then jerked her hand back like the object she wanted to touch was scalding hot. Her face clouded over and she took a small step backwards as her fingers subconsciously touched the bruise on her face.

The gesture was not lost on the boy. He was willing to bet that that she got that bruise while trying to handle a weapon like his sword. Wufei fairly burned up with righteous indignation, and he resolved even more firmly to make her smile. "No one's going to hit you for touching it. Here." Wufei took the sword and affected a fighter's stance. "You hold it this way." He held the sword out to her. "Now you try…"

Hesitantly she licked her lips and reached out. Then she drew her hand back apprehensively.

"Go on…" Wufei reached out and gently took her hand, placing the hilt of his katana in it. His dark eyes met her clear ones. "Try it…"

She looked down at the weapon in her hand for a moment disbelievingly. Then glancing at him shyly she imitated his stance. She held the weapon with grace and balance like she was born to hold a sword. "Am I doing this right?"

He cocked his head. "Hold the tip of the blade up… like that. Perfect." He grinned at her.

Then he was rewarded with what he wanted all along. She smiled at him. "It's so beautiful…" She handed the blade back to him.

"This sword belonged to my father. He and my mother died last year."

She looked at him with deep sadness in her blue eyes. "I'm sorry they're dead. I…I just lost my mother."

Wufeis face fell. No wonder she was so sad. "What about your father?"

The girl's face clouded over once again. "My father…"

Before the girl could finish her sentence, a loud uproar washed over them. Both children jumped and the girl hurriedly stepped away from Wufei.

"I advise this council to reconsider. I have until next week to hear your final answer."

Master Long stood in front of the partition that led into the inner chamber. "We will take a vote Po Chen. But I would not advise raising your hopes. The colony elders are most adamant about remaining neutral in conflicts between the current ruling body on Earth and the colonies. That may change at a later date but for now things will be the way they will be." With that the remainder of the elders proceeded into the inner chamber, leaving an angry and fuming Po standing in front of the doors like a common petitioner.

The furious man whirled around seeking someone to release his pent up anger on. When he saw no one his mind latched on to his favorite target. "Sai Lien!"

The girl closed her eyes against the coarse yell. When she opened them again Wufei could see the horror in her eyes. But he could also see the fight and flash of spirit. She might be afraid but she would not go down without a fight.

"Sai Lien!"

Glancing in Wufei's direction, she squared her shoulders and without a second's hesitation stepped out from behind the pillar. "Here."

Wufei shuddered as he watched the poised Sai Lien face down none other than Po Chen with a bravery and defiance worthy of any warrior.

The cruel man walked over to the girl and grabbed her arm causing her to wince. "Insolent wench! Wheres your respect? Am I not your father?" Po was silent for a moment obviously wanting an answer. "Well?!"

The girl remained stubbornly silent refusing to give in only escalating her father's anger.

So she's the daughter of Po Chen…Wufeis eyes narrowed. He now knew who had left those bruises on her face. And young Wufei secretly applauded her spunk. Although she would probably end up paying for it before the day was out.

"Have I not fed and clothed you? And is this the gratitude you show? You are even more useless than your mother was."

Sai Lien's eyes flashed in defiant anger as she wrenched her arm away from her father. "Say what you will about me but you will not malign my mother's memory." She drew herself up to her full height and glared at him, her eyes blazing. "My mother's worth was a hundred times what your's will ever be-"

Po struck her, cutting her off in mid statement by knocking her down.

Silence descended on the council chamber as the girl slowly began to move. It was all Wufei could do to sit on himself. He wanted to rush out there and to fight that coward… He glanced back up at first the few remaining men in the vicinity then their malicious visitor. Would no one raise a hand to help her?

It was then he made the decision for himself. Though only six, he was incredibly skilled in the art of war, and Wufei determined that those skills would serve him today. He would not allow that evil man to lay another hand on her. Wufei's slanted black eyes narrowed as he calculated the timing of the sprint that he knew he would have to make it from one side of the pillared arch to the other.

Po Chen circled the defenseless girl who was still lying in a crumpled heap on the ground. But before he could do anything more, he was confronted by a six-year-old boy holding a katana.

Wufei stood directly in between Po and Sai Lien, just hoping the old man would try something.

Po's slanted eyebrow quirked as a sardonic smile played at his lips. "What's this? Be careful, boy. You don't want to cut yourself."

Wufei's face went deadpan and his black eyes sparkled menacingly. The smile on Chen's face slowly disappeared. He swallowed. He had only seen that particular expression on the faces of his veteran warriors. Seeing that look on the face of a six-year-old child might have been ludicrous if it was not for the look in his eyes. It was the look of one who knew who he was and what he was fighting for. It was the look of absolute hatred.

"Harm her again, coward, and I will personally deal with you."

It was dead silent in the chamber. The child and Po made eye contact and there was no denying the hate that smoldered there.

Master Long spoke up from the door of the inner chamber. "You have your answer, Po Chen, and so eloquently delivered. Even our children find your behavior reprehensible. If I had my way you would not leave with your daughter today. As it stands…We will have nothing to do with one so dishonorable as to beat a defenseless woman."

Then Master O walked over to the six-year-old child and put a hand on his shoulder pulling him away from Sai Lien. "Well done, Little Dragon."

Po Chen stood silent and fuming. He had lost. And he knew it. It was time to retreat. "Sai Lien, come." Turning abruptly he stormed out of the Chamber.

Wufei watched as a wide-eyed Sai Lien sat up and dusted herself off. The girl held her head high and there was a distinct lack of tears on her face. Her grace and poise in the face of her trouble caused a deep sense of pride to run through the young boy.

She walked behind her father and as she reached the crimson arch, carved with the effigy of a dragon, she looked back and met the eyes of the boy who stood between her tormenter and her. She smiled at him, her blue eyes sparkling. And then she was gone.

Wufei suddenly looked up at the face of the dragon and into its eyes He could have sworn hed seen them flash…

Wufei's eyes popped open with a start. The fire in the hearth was dying down and He could barely make out Maxwell's silhouette. Judging by the coals in the fireplace, Wufei had been asleep for only an hour and a half. He sighed and rolled to his side.

He had been dreaming of her again. Sai Lien …

He had not thought about her in some years since that day. That had been just before the United Earth Sphere Alliance attacked L3 over thirteen years ago. He had never known what had become of her. Often times he had wondered where she was and if she was even still alive. Wufei had thought about that girl on and off but as his training had intensified and as Operation Meteor drew closer, the girl had fallen to the recesses of his mind. Soon she had become nothing but a memory.

Until about four years ago.

Since then, he had dreamed about that day over and over. And in his dreams he remembered her as she was that day. Sometimes he called her by her given name and sometimes he called her by another. But no matter how hard he tried he could never remember that name.

Finally fed up with it, he had purposed to find her. Shortly after he had come to work for Preventers, he had made an attempt to trace the girl. And at first he had marked success. For three years following the sacking of L3, reports of her and her father were fairly consistent.

Then, suddenly, all sources of information had dried up. Wufei had double and triple checked the dates on the reports, but it was simply no use. One moment Sai Lien was her father's constant shadow and the next she had vanished without a trace. And no amount of digging would bring her fate to light.

For all Wufei knew she was dead. But somehow he doubted that she was. That girl possessed a fighter's spirit. If anyone could have survived she could.

Maybe that was why he did not mind being around Sally so much. She reminded him of Sai Lien. She had the same iron will, the same fire…

A sudden hissing sound came from the darkened doorway. "Visitors, Wufei."

A sharp movement from Duo's direction followed by the click of a safety being removed pulled Wufei from his thoughts. And from his bunk. He clicked the safety on his own weapon as he hit the floor.

Duo made eye contact with the Chinese Preventer. "Our contact just arrived."