The tidbit at the end is the song 'Live' by Celine Dion, It took me forever to find a song that matched.

Runaway Part 6

The uproar in the capitol had reached even the furthest reaches of the empire. There were whispers that the emperor was invoking ancient rights. The howlers were riding which could only mean one thing. Shinigami had been awoken.

The emperor himself had killed the princess Hilde. The maids who had cleaned up her remains had been sick for days afterwards. The howlers had hunted others down. Princess Une, Hilde's older sister was gone. The news had brought the first genuine smile to Zechs' face that Relena had seen in a while. Hojn, the high Duke of Cortez, Lucrezia the Countess of Realm and Millicent, who use to be the keeper of the Royal harem had also been haunted down by the howlers. But now the nights were silent. With their deaths the howlers had been appeased.

*****

On Wednesday night Heero had retired early, dull eyed and pale skinned. All day he had been fighting against the steadily rising pain. He knew it was time and suddenly he was more frightened then anything. Hand over his heart he focused on the calming feel of the lives he nurtured deeply in his soul. Body suddenly tensing in pain, his last desperate thought was 'Duo'. Before he could even call for help, he went blind, deaf, mute and numb. His mouth locked in a silent scream, as he became nothing more then one tangled mess.

~You shouldn't have done this alone youthling~

A worried voice woke Heero. He opened his eyes and blinked at the too bright sun. He was on a cloud somewhere in the sky above clear and blue, the land glowing below in emerald and sapphire.

~If it had been anyone but you, they would have died~

The voice was in his head but it was not his own, it was too feminine and gentle. The tones softly scolding like a mother speaking to a wayward child.

~There is a reason beyond the political intrigues of court why only the blood empress can carry the Emperor's child. If by chance, the life conceived is a true heir to the throne, the amount of life force and magic drawn by the child to create a body that is capable of withstanding one day wielding the power of the Emperor would kill anyone not connected to the Emperor's limitless supply of power instantly. Usually, during the crowning ceremony, the Emperor and Empress exchange their blood to unite the powers that awaken in both of them. Forever joining in strength. If someone unworthy of carrying the child tried to bare it, the person and the child would die. Leaving the kingdom without an heir.~

~So I am dead.~ He thought regret deeply filling him at the loss of his children more then his life. The figure drew closer, she looked beautiful but was a complete stranger except for her hair. It was exactly like the Emperor's.

~No, you are not dead. But I am.~

~Who are you?~

~When I existed on the mortal plain, I was the third Empress of the Niken empire and the current Emperor's mother~

~... ... ...~

~You were already connected to my son by blood, all you needed to bring these children into your world was the power of the Empress, which you already have in your blood. It is just un-awaken.~

~Why?~

~The Niken Empire has become a perfect world of illusions. The ability to do anything, endless power and strength, its entire foundation is in the Emperor. His will alone can shape their world. But everything requires change. Heero, you have the ability to change the future. I sensed it in you from the beginning. Without change, the Niken Empire will stagnant and fall. Becoming nothing more then legends and fairytales. Our past forgotten by all but a chosen few. Already it's begun. Ask yourself why in all these years you have traveled with my son, you have only seen four Niken children? Why in all these galaxies and all these people have only one hundred Niken children have been born in the last century? It is because normal souls cannot be summoned in a dying world. The Empire needs change to grow; the Emperor needs balance to live. And only you can provide both. Heero Yuy.~

~Then why am I here?~

~You're dying.~

~But I thought you said...~

~You have the power of a true blood empress in you but it's un-awaken. As you are now you had enough power to deliver the children. But you don't have enough power left to live, unless Duo awakens it in you. You are here because I have just enough power to keep you barely alive now.~

*****

Thursday morning Dorothy had gone to wake Heero up and had discovered the boy unconscious and barely breathing. Two babies slept peacefully next to their prone father, chubby little hands clinging to Heero's nightshirt in a futile gesture of protection. Their eyes opened and accessed Dorothy with keen intelligence as she approached, apparently judging Dorothy to not be a threat, they fell easily back into the dreamless sleep that was a staple of Niken childhood.

She could only marvel at how perfectly healthy they seemed. One was a little boy with shaggy chocolate brown hair and violet eyes, the other, a perfect little girl with chestnut hair and cobalt eyes. They had their human father's slanted eyes and high cheekbones, but their Niken father's sharply pointed teeth and ears. Staring benevolently at the sleeping family, Dorothy decided to leave them in peace. She'd bring Heero food later.

But as Thursday passed into Friday, and Friday into Saturday, with no change in the sleeping boy, they knew something was wrong. On closer inspection, Relena pointed out the unnatural paleness of Heero's cheeks, the clamminess of his skin, and the shallow breaths that rattled through his lungs every so often.

*****

"Zechs, I want you to travel to Prince Trowa's castle. Heero is too weak to move, and he needs a healer. It is well known that Prince Trowa's advisor Quatre has that talent." Relena pleaded with her brother, knowing that Dorothy couldn't travel without her, and leaving her brother with an unconscious Heero and two babies would be a bad idea.

"I don't want to go to one of those damn Niken hellholes again!"

"If you don't, Heero will die," Dorothy whispered and watched the look of horror, then determination that settled on Zech's face. Even if he wouldn't admit it, the blonde had come to care for Heero as much as the rest of them in the past few weeks; and he refused to be the one responsible for Heero's death.

"I'll mount up Epyon and leave in the hour...what of the two brats...ow." His question ended in an explanation of pain as Dorothy clocked his head for referring to their future sovereigns so disrespectfully.

"They're fine, sleeping soundly like all newborn Niken."

TBC...

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