Every senior cadet was excited because it was the graduation. It seemed that all senior cadets were very well trained and they all could become pilots. As everyone expected, Noin and Zechs gained the first two places. Zechs was the first and Noin was the second. Although there were rumours among the cadets, only Noin knew that Zechs beat her fairly and she was so glad that Zechs could gain the first place and get the honour he longed for. As the graduation ceremony was approaching, Zechs seemed to become more silent. He was busy preparing for his new life as a pilot and a warrior. He even didn’t have time to have his meals with Noin. As for Noin, she has tasted the war and did not want to participate in the war anymore. She chose to become a trainer.
It was still the time for the graduation ball. Noin did not like balls. She felt that everyone was trying one’s best to hide behind the masks they made. Everyone was pretending to be smart, clever and nice. She hated this and so she chose to leave the ball early. Noin went to the roof of the Academy main building, when she could see the stars. She immediately recognized Hercules. She made a wish, “Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight.” “So, you’re making a wish.” A familiar voice was heard. It was Zechs. He slowly walked towards her. “So, you leave the ball early too.” Noin answered. Zechs smiled seriously, “Tell me, Noin, what kind of wish did you made?” Noin shook her head and did not answer. She looked at the sky; she wanted Zechs to enjoy the sight, too. He was always busy and if he had free time, he would hide himself in his private dormitory. Both were silent for awhile. Suddenly, Zechs took Noin’s arm and began to pull her away. Noin wanted to protest but Zechs was firm in his will, so Noin followed Zechs, puzzling what Zechs thought at that time.
They passed the playground and some buildings and went to Zechs’ private dormitory. It was dark inside; the curtains were drawn, blocking all the lights from the outside. Zechs guided Noin to sit on his bed. He seemed to be very good at feeling his way in the room and he pressed Noin down on his bed. Noin did not know what to do. She never expected him to do such things. She asked, “Zechs, are you trying to tell me something?” She heard the sound of the mask knocking against the table. “Noin, I will leave tomorrow.” Zechs’ voice was heard again. “You can’t be my friend anymore.” Noin did not understand and she waited. “I am going to be a different person.” His voice shook. “So different that you will not want to be my friend anymore.” “What’s happening, Zechs? Are you without your mask now?” “Noin, can I confess to you?” Noin answered simply, “Yes.” Zechs began, “I don’t know how to start. I am still not clear about the whole thing. It was so confused, but I have to take up the responsibility. I have no choice, but to go forward and fight my way out. Yes, fighting and struggling, the only to things I’ve done for more than ten years. I don’t really care what things I have to do, I have just one goal—revenge.” He paused, Noin dared not make a noise. “I sneaked my way back. Oh! Should I do this? Or should I just go away, leaving my parents behind? There was blood everywhere, on the walls, on the floor. I ran and ran, from room to room to find my parents. At last, I found my father. Someone was pointing a gun to his head. He asked my father something angrily, but my father refused to answer. He then kicked my father. I was shocked, I was so shocked that I couldn’t move. The man did this several times. Until my father didn’t stand up anymore, the man sent a bullet into my father’s head.” He plainly said the whole thing, just like telling other people’s story. He continued, “Suddenly, someone gently tapped my shoulder, it was my mother. She gently pulled me to another place. Her graceful face was wetted with tears, but she did not made a sound. Then…then,” He began to sob. “I heard gun shots and we kept running. I didn’t remember how many corridors I ran through. At last, my mother pushed me into a really large box which stored my sister’s clothes previously. I hid there, in endless darkness. Everything was silent, I waited and waited. No sound was heard. I slept… and I woke up. I crept out. I saw strangers in my house and they…said that my mother was…dead.” He stopped, Noin stretched her hands out to reach him. She felt him and moved to sit closer to him. She wanted him to feel his presence. They sat there for half an hour without speaking. Suddenly, the familiar calm voice was heard again, “From that day onward, I was Zechs Marquise, the little boy called Milliando Peacecraft has gone forever. The only thing I have to do now is revenge. You’re right, Noin, I am not wearing my mask. It is the one that you know as a friend talk to you. The another one will come out and take over this one tomorrow.” “So, you mean I’m talking to Milliando Peacecraft, not Zechs Marquise? Zechs, remember, no matter who you’re. I am still your friend. I will be a friend of both Milliando Peacecraft and Zechs Marquise.” Noin said gently. “Do you understand, Noin? Do you know who I actually am?” Zechs asked nervously. “Peacecraft… the surname of the royal family of the Sanc Kingdom. You’re the prince, the heir of the throne, then.” “Do you mean you’ll support me for whatever I do?” Zechs asked. “Only when you’re doing the right thing, the thing that you think is right in the depth of your heart.” She heard Zechs walked across the room, the curtains were drawn again. She could clearly saw her friend wearing the mask and the smile he wore. She simply said good night to her friend and went away. She found Hercules in the sky. She prayed, “Please, please, keep him safe. Make my wish come true one day.”
Although Noin did not know what was going on, she still trusted Zechs. After her graduation, Zechs went to the battlefield to fight for honour. ‘Lightning Baron’ became a legend and the hero of the battlefield. Meanwhile, Noin continued to train herself and her students to fight. She was satisfied with her life there. She was very busy and did not even have time to think of her mother. However, she found herself missing Zechs. The passion was so strong that from time to time, she wanted to see him or to search for his news. Being inexperienced in life, she thought she fell in love with Zechs. “No, it can’t be,” she thought, “How can I tell him? He needs to fulfill his responsibilities and I don’t want to bother him.” So she suppressed the passion and remained loyal to him. She did everything to help him, protecting his sister, Relena and help him out in many ways. But for once and only once, she did not help him.
In the Eve War, Zechs and Noin belonged to different parties. Noin did not understand why, but she held an opposite idea with Zechs. Zechs seemed to fulfill his promise: another one will come out and take over this one tomorrow. She wanted to ask him directly and personally. At last, chances came. She found that Zechs changed into a different person. Before then, she believed that Zechs Marquise and Milliando Peacecraft were the same person, but from that moment, she puzzled. Could she still remain loyal to him? No, he was doing the wrong thing and she had to stop him. That was what she exactly wanted to do when she placed herself between Peacemillion and Epyon. But she couldn’t fire at Zechs; she couldn’t fire at her best friend. No, never, she couldn’t stop him, she cursed herself for being so indecisive. So, she changed her mind, she was willing to exchange the real self of Zechs with her life. She really wanted to know what identity Zechs took. She closed her eyes as she prepared to be slain by Zechs. She found that he did not kill her, she had narrowly escaped the strike and at last, she clearly understood what Zechs was thinking at that time. After she stayed with Zechs, fulfilling her promise until the final battle came.
She witnessed the whole progress of the fighting between Zechs and Heero and also the explosion. Although she understood what Zechs was thinking at that moment, she really wanted to stop the fight. But, she couldn’t because she knew how important the battle was to Zechs. It was Zechs who wanted and treasured the battle, and she respected his will. After the war ended, she repeatedly told herself and the others that she could not see clearly during the explosion and it would be possible for Zechs to escape without notice. However, after the two-month search in the space and the colonies, Zechs was still not found. He was declared dead.
