Author's note: I don't own Gundam Wing or its characters. Or the Song From the Ashes. Don't sue me please.

From the Ashes

My right hand holds matches

My left holds my past

I hope the wind catches

And burns it down fast

It all came down to one decision. Yes to her family and no to her dreams, or yes to her dreams and no to her family. Either way, Noin would lose something. And she had always known without her dreams she would not survive.

I'm gonna step into the fire

With my failures and my shame

And wave goodbye to yesterday

As I dance among the flames

She was sick of giving up the things she cared about for her family. Noin hd found a place where people valued her as herself, and they wanted her to give it up. All her family cared about was how they could gain by using her.

Don't try to save me now

Let the walls of my world all burn down

Just stand back and wait til the smoke finally passes

And I will rise

From the ashes

Zechs stood at her side. He was her best friend and her only support in this. When she had told him of her family's demands, he had simply given her his support. They had spent all night discussing the pros and cons of either decision before Noin had made her choice.

For all that I'm losing

Much more will I gain

The hard part is choosing

To change what needs to be changed

Her freedom was at stake. And she would not let it slip through her fingers again. Both she and Zechs were dressed in neatly pressed uniforms. Noin was ready; she could do this.

My step will be much lighter

With these demons off my chest

I'm born a better spirit

And lay the old to rest

There they stood: her mother, one of her sisters, and two cousins. All fashionably dressed; all waiting for her to say, "Yes, I'll do as I'm told."

They were not going to get the answer they expected. She wasn't Lucrezia, the burden to be sent away anymore. She wasn't Lucia who had died with her foster family. She was Noin the woman who had overcome her past to become the person she was. And that's who she wanted to be.

Don't try to save me now

Let the walls of my world all burn down

Just stand back and wait til the smoke finally passes

And I will rise

From the ashes

"Are you ready to go?" her mother asked.

"No."

There was silence. Then, "Very well. Lucrezia Noin is dead. She no longer exists. I do not know you."

Catia Noin turned on her heel and left followed by her family members.

I'll walk away stronger

I will be flying

Higher and truer than I've flown before

Tears streamed down her face. Zechs put his arm around her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" he asked concern obvious in his sky blue eyes.

She smiled up at him, "No, but I will be.

My right hand holds matches

My left holds my past

I hope the wind catches

And burns it down fast

They walked back to the dorms.

"Yes," Noin thought. "It will all be alright."

Owari (the end)