This is problematic, thought Heero as he continued to stare at the tornado. He could try to outrun it. He glanced at the door and immediately felt that the blonde prince would make sure he’d never reach it. He brought his attention back to Prince Quatre. He thought for a moment. If it was magic that made the blonde prince psycho, there had to be a way to snap him back into civility.

Heero’s hand was on the hilt of his sword. He pondered and then decided against it. His last act of violence had sent the blonde crazy so whacking him wouldn’t do any good.

Great. It would have been better if the now deranged prince had gone psycho _outside_. Heero frowned. Duo was going to mouth off for weeks when he saw his room, and he was the type to follow people around as he ranted---

Duo…that was it. His braided, idiot stepbrother had said something useful the last time Quatre was at this castle. It was around that time when they were trying to wake Quatre from his near comatose state. In his head, Heero heard Duo’s obnoxious quip: “Aren’t people usually woken up with kisses?”

Bingo. Heero paused. The way he appeared now the blonde prince looked like a biter. Heero frowned. He liked having a tongue.

But it was either get bitten or get knocked senseless by a storm of furniture.

Heero moved forward.

Quatre followed him with his eyes. His voice was laced with threat as he asked, “What are you doing, Heero?

“Taking you with me. I get hit. You get hit, too.”

“Stay back.”

As the blonde prince tried to move away, Heero grabbed him by his waist coat and used him as a human shield. He wasn’t into saliva swapping with someone who was trying to kill him with furniture. This tactic would have to do.

“Call it off.,” said Heero from behind.

“Make me.” Quatre warped out of his coat and left it hanging in Heero’s hands.

Heero frowned as he held up what was in his grasp. He felt like a matador and the bull was a tornado charging at him.

With the winds whipping, the jacket was disturbed and taken from Heero’s grasp. Something cylindrical, a scroll, slipped from one of the pockets and was carried by the winds. The ribbon containing it came loose and it opened up and flew…right onto Quatre’s face, blinding him. The winds ceased, the room shrunk to its normal proportions, and the furniture fell with a great crash. Quatre peeled the scroll from his face and looked back at Heero. He’d come to his senses, mostly. It had taken getting smacked in the face by a scroll to make him somewhat approachable.

Heero stared back at him.

The blonde prince appeared sheepish. “About the furniture…and trying to kill you…I’m sorry. It was an accident.”

“An accident,” murmured Heero dumbly.

Quatre looked around at the wreck before him. This was bad, very bad.

He stared at the damaged furniture. He thought of what the room had originally looked like and thought of the amount of glue needed to piece everything together. And that’s when he saw movement. The objects were moving under the influence of his worry.

He was slacked-jawed. He then shut his mouth and thought for a moment before saying, “I want everything back the way it was when I first arrived.”

And he watched as it happened, under his urging and under the image his memory supplied.

“You can… reverse time…” murmured Heero while sounding alarmed. It was a delayed response on his part. When he should have feared for his life, he didn’t and now it was hitting him hard.

“No,” responded Quatre. “Space, location, movement and constitution…I think those are the phenomena I can control. If I could influence time, we’d be moving in retrograde--” The blonde prince faltered. Too much effort. This was too much effort. He was a novice dealing with newly found abilities. He felt like his insides were being pulled out and the rest of him was trying to keep his body intact.

Heero watched him. “You’ll pass out.”

Quatre managed a weak, self-effacing smile. “I deserve worse.” He rolled up the scroll that had clocked him in the face. “I can hear someone coming. Return this to Prince Duo. He gave it to me while you had me imprisoned.”

“He did?” Heero looked suspicious. He didn’t want to take it. In fact, he backed away.

The two heard the door click open. Quatre disappeared and the scroll fell out of his grasp and to the ground, unrolled and face-side up.

Heero looked down at it. He mouth went wide with horror. His stomach turned and bowels became agitated. On the scroll was a painting of his stepmother, naked on a bed of grape leaves. No doubt it belonged to his father, something the old man would have taken with him on journeys…to…

Heero made a low noise of disgust and tried to erase from his mind what his eyes had seen.

Earlier, in a random royal courtyard…

Wufei glanced at Duo as the prince walked past him. Something occurred to him as he took in Prince Duo’s attire. “Why aren’t you carrying my sword with you?”

Duo almost appeared gallant as he swung around to face Wufei. “It’s important, right? Why would I take it with me? I put it somewhere safe.”

Wufei had nothing to say. Apparently, the braided prince was taking his predicament more seriously than he had initially thought.

“Besides,” said Duo, “the sword kept reminding Heero of Quatre. “I was tired of him trying to stroke it without me noticing.”

Wufei frowned. He had to get his swords back and the hell away from Wing.

Finally Wufei said, “From now on, I will keep it in my possession.”

“Sure,” said Duo. “But you’re going to have to come and get it.”

“Where is it?”

“In my closet, protected by a wall of stick figures.”

“A wall of…”

Duo sighed. “I’ll explain once we get there.”

When Wufei and Duo reached the braided prince’s bedroom, they found Heero stock still and white at its center.

Duo approached him. “Uhh, Heero, what are you doing in my room and what’s with that pose?”

Duo got his answer as he looked down at Heero’s feet. He did a low whistle as he looked up at his stepbrother. “Let me guess. Quatre showed up, you tried to get him into my bed, and he used this scroll to fend you off. Good boy, he took my advice.”

Heero looked back at him. “You’re responsible for this?”

“…Maybe.” Duo watched as Heero moved forward.

He didn’t look happy as he said, “I need your sword.”

Duo looked back at Heero, who was already taking his sword from him. “Why? You have your own, you know.”

“I don’t want mine contaminated.”

“Contaminated? Hey!” Duo watched as Heero used the tip of his sword to pick up the fallen scroll. Heero walked to the nearest window and in one deft move he flicked the scroll out.

There was a three second interval before a pained noise came from outside.

“Ow…”

It was female… Duo swallowed. Even in that brief noise of pain he recognized the victim. It was his mother. There was another pause before he heard his name screeched from outside.

“Duo Angeline Maxwell!”

Duo’s mouth sagged and his eyes darted around anxiously. He was in serious trouble. Whenever she called someone by his or her full name, it was clear that the fur was going to fly… He started to head for the door, but another screech stopped his retreat.

“You stay right where you are!”

“Thanks a lot, Heero,” griped Duo before bringing his hands to his temples. He rubbed in circles. She’d seen the scroll and immediately knew he was responsible…but how did she know he was trying to escape? Duo groaned. She had his behavior down pat. But Duo was interrupted from his growing panic by Wufei.

“Angeline?” snorted Wufei.

Duo appeared miffed. “Shut up. It’s a good middle name.”

“At least, that’s what his mother says.”

“Shut up, Heero. It’s bad enough she’s on her way here. I don’t need your jabbering as a backdrop.”

It was at that moment that said mother opened the door. She came in with the scroll clutched in her hands, which were trembling. But before she got a word out, Wufei muttered in shock, “_She_ is your mother?”

Wufei blinked back at this woman who appeared to be just as young as he son. His astonished gaze took in her childlike features, the big blue eyes, honey blonde hair, and the annoyed expression ruling her features. She looked like she wanted to snap Duo in two. Wufei frowned. He was quite sure his clan was the last line capable of living across the centuries. His brow furrowed. Regardless of her heritage, there should have been a distinct difference in manifest age between mother and child…unless she wasn’t human.

“They’re the same age,” explained Heero. “He’s adopted.”

Duo’s mother looked at Wufei. “I was told of you but I’m sure you cannot say the same. Those two,” she glanced at Heero and then Duo, who seemed on the verge of shrinking, “are not polite enough to do so. I am Relena, Queen of Wing, at least until Heero fulfills his duty by marrying. Now,” Relena turned her attention back to Duo, “I want to speak to you in private about _this_.” She shook the scroll at him.

“Hey, who said I had anything to do with that…whatever it is.”

“You know what it is and I know you took it. You are the only one who uses my quarters as a playground.” Relena brought her attention to Heero. “Heero couldn’t care less about anything associated with me. Isn’t that right, Heero?”

Heero didn’t spare her a glance. He returned the commandeered sword to Duo, brushed past Relena, and exited the room.

Relena watched him go. She quelled a frown.

Duo turned to Wufei to explain Heero’s recent rebuff. “Yeah…Heero’s still pissed. His father used to let him run wild and then she came along and all that changed. You’d think 4 years would be enough for him to get over it. But then again, she can be quite the ball-buster.”

“Duo…”

Duo looked back at his mother. He’d put his foot his mouth and Relena appeared as though she wanted to put her foot in _him_.

Heero had a reason other than his stepmother’s presence to make a timely exit. It was prudent to get away from the resulting argument Duo’s thievery would naturally cause. Heero went walking and, as he did, he began ruminating over the past hour and the sudden appearance of Prince Quatre and his bout of rage.

Heero snorted. Despite the fact that he’d almost been killed…he’d had a good time. It was probably boredom and a soft lifestyle that had left him inclined to think so. It was ironic. The guy he’d wanted to stick in a dress had enough rage and firepower to lay waste to anything in his path. And it was strange. He, himself, was turned on, immensely. Forget the frills and the lace. He wanted armor. He wanted Prince Quatre in armor. And he wanted an opportunity to beat the crap out of him, to pay him back in spades for his recent homicidal turn.

Heero frowned. There was only one problem: he could not stand on equal footing with Prince Quatre. But he’d work on it. He had a sorceress that was servant to him and she’d have to start earning her keep. He’d see to it.

As usual, Une wasn’t surprised to see Heero. Her cauldron never made anyone’s arrival a surprise.

She snorted as she faced him. “Let me guess, your reappearance has something to do with a deranged blonde prince who’s on the verge of reeking havoc in the countryside?” Une inspected him and his indifferent expression. “Find someone else to fulfill your deviant desires. Use your head.”

“I am,” responded Heero.

“Your other head,” she sighed with disgust. “What do you want, specifically?”

“He needs to be controlled.”

“And you would like to be the means.” Une sneered. “You’ll get yourself killed.” She smirked. “Can I watch?”

“If I die, you’ll be buried alive with me.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No, it’s on the books. A royal decree--”

“By your sadistic, backstabbing father. I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am. Fine. I’ll offer some aid. But I should warn you. Your prince has only broken the surface of his true power and he can barely control what he does have access to. You’re dealing with a berserker in the making. However, there are three things you can do before he goes beyond anyone’s control: One, find the witch who took away the one thing that kept his power in check and get it back. And, yes, I’m referring to his mojo. It’s the only thing that makes him considerate. No desire for hanky panky and there’s no reason for him to be nice. Two, you can attempt to reason with him, but since you have no people skills it’s a suicide mission and I’m not keen on sharing a coffin with you. Three, you can counter his abilities. I’m assuming the last option is the reason you’re here.”

“How can I counter?”

“Magic against magic.”

“I don’t have--”

Une began tapping her foot as though Heero was wasting her time, which he was. Finally she said, “Idiot prince…your family has a not-so-well-kept secret. Talk to your stepmother. I won’t say anymore.”

Heero frowned at her. Right. He was going to talk to his stepmother. His eyes were still recovering from his run in with the scroll. He’d take his chances with the witch even if he had no magic to aid him.

He looked back at Une. Despite her assertion, she’d talk and he knew how to get her to. “Tell me where the sorceress is and I’ll invalidate the decree. We won’t coffin share.”

Une looked back at him. She laughed, snidely. “Fine, but we’re sealing this deal in blood. You break this pact and you’ll be limbless.”

After Duo had relinquished the sword to Wufei, Relena took her braided stepson by the ear and led him to her quarters. She still had a firm grasp on his captured body part as they entered her inner chambers.

She released him and placed the scroll on her bed before seating herself.

She looked up at Duo with a sudden warm expression. “I’m not angry.”

Duo rubbed at his ear. She didn’t have to tug. “Well, you sure fooled me.”

“I just wanted to get you alone and you provided the opportunity.” Her expression changed from forgiving to formal. “I have greater concerns. I received a letter today from a woman who is interested in marrying Heero. She’s heard of his struggles in finding a wife and has shown great confidence in her charms. She guarantees that Heero will marry her.”

Relena retrieved the letter from inside one of the folds of her dress and handed it to Duo.

“Well, that’s good news.” He skimmed the letter. “She seems kind of cocky though. For instance, who says stuff like: ‘Just two seconds after gazing upon me he will rush me to the altar’? Weirdo.” Duo read the signature. “Dorothy Catalonia? You know her?”

Relena took the letter back. She frowned at it after taking in the scrawl of ink looking back at her. “No, I’ve never heard of her. And I am uneasy about her assurance. To guarantee Heero will marry her…with his--”

“Lack of tact, cynical nature, impatience, sick leanings, interesting personal hygiene--”

Relena interrupted him. “I was going to say ‘reputation’.”

Duo snorted. “I thought I’d elaborate.”

Relena sighed. She was going to have to gag her son just to get a word in. “I want to meet this woman. She will not see Heero unless she meets my approval.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

Relena was actually overtaken by laughter. It was short and dark but prissy. “Then, I’ll show her what happens to overzealous women who try to fleece my sons.”