Author's note: I do not own Gundam Wing or its characters.  I also do not own the song Waist Deep in the Big Muddy.  This story is set while Relena is running the school out of the Sanc Kingdom.

Relena took a deep breath. She was always nervous starting class, and today even more so. Today would be the first day that Noin sat in on class since Dorothy had arrived. Dorothy had something against Noin. What, Relena had no clue, but still Dorothy would be quite willing to make a scene.

She shot a glance at the Royal Guard who sent an encouraging smile back. Noin had basically adopted Relena as her own little sister. It was through Noin that Relena had gotten to know her older brother, his real self, not the mask he wore for the world. Though to tell the truth, Relena felt closer to Noin than to her brother. She hoped that one day Noin would be her older sister in truth.

Which was not all that unlikely. Noin wore a locket that Zechs had given her. It has been Queen Katerina's. According to Noin, when Zechs had given her the locket, he had told her to keep it until he could return to her and stay for ever. That wasn't quite a proposal, but it sounded like Zechs was quite serious about Noin.

Relena took another breath and started class; she could finish musing on all this later.

Class went well up until the end. Then Dorothy decided to join the discussion.

"Miss Noin, you are a soldier. You have been for most for most of your life. Why are you championing pacifism now? Why not have done this from the start?"

Relena braced herself. Noin was a fairly private person, and this could get ugly. Instead, Noin stepped away from the wall she was leaning on. Her eyes swept over the class, and she opened her mouth to reply. Her soft alto voice commanded everyone's attention.

It was back in nineteen forty-two

I was a member of a good platoon

We were on maneuvers in Louisiana

One night by the light of the moon

The Captain told us to ford a river

That's when it all began

We were knee deep in the Big Muddy

The big fool said to push on

The Sargent said

Sir are you sure this is the best way back to the base

Sargent go on I've forded this river about a mile above this place

It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging

We'll soon be on dry ground

We were waist deep in the Big Muddy

The big fool said to push on

The Sargent said

Sir with all this equipment no man will be able to swim

Sargent don't be a Nervous Nellie

The Captain said to him

All we need is a little determination men follow me and I'll lead on

We were neck deep in the Big Muddy

The big fool said to push on

All at once the moon clouded over

We heard a gurgling cry

A few seconds later the Captain's helmet was all that floated by

The Sargent said

Turn around men I'm in charge from now on

And we just made it out of the Big Muddy

With the Captain dead and gone

We stripped and dived and found his body

Stuck in the old quicksand

I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper

Than the place he'd once before been

Another stream had joined the Big Muddy

About a half mile from where he'd gone

We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy

When the big fool said to push on

Well I'm not going to point any morals

I'll leave that for yourself

Maybe you're still walking

You're still talking

You'd like to keep your health

But every time I read the papers

That old feeling comes on

We're waist deep in the Big Muddy

The big fool says to push on

Waist deep in the Big Muddy

And the big fool says to push on

Waist deep in the Big Muddy

And the big fool says to push on

Waist deep

Neck deep

Soon even a tall man'll be over his head

We're waist deep in the Big Muddy

The big fool says to push on

"I never actually intended to become a soldier," Noin's voice cut through the silence that followed. "Though I will admit that my love of space is one of the things that kept me tied to that profession. I became involved with OZ because I actually thought they could make an end to the fighting I'd seen all my life. I was wrong, and after being disillusioned, I left. I honestly believe that pacifism can bring an end to war. I was once told that good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from making mistakes. Mistakes come from bad judgement. This is where my experience has led me."

The class was speechless. Relena smiled, "Does anyone else have questions?"

Owari (the end)