April 18, 2001
April, 209AC
"Well, Zack, it's been a great morning for a Parade and we've seen some really extraordinary floats this year!"
"That's correct, Linda! But without a doubt, the next three floats are guaranteed to be the best of the Parade."
"No question there, Zack." Linda turned to the camera. "We'll be right back with the Earth Sphere Parade right after these messages."
"THEY'RE ON!!!" little 5-year old Trinity Chang yelled from the TV room.
Twin blond 3-year-old-whirlwinds darted into the room, answering her shout with whoops of their own, followed closely by a tottering 2-year-old, two long black ponytails waving behind her. All three bodies barreled into the couch around Trinity. "HURRY UP!!!" she called again, banging her shoes together.
"We're coming, Trini," Heero answered from the hallway. "Be patient. Daddy can't move that fast."
"Oiya! You saying I'm slow!" Duo's grumbled before turning the corner and appearing in the doorway in all his full-belly-glory.
"Slow isn't the word I would use," Trowa replied, brushing by the pregnant man, handing spill-proof cups to Triton and Tristan.
Duo shot the tall, graceful man a *look*. "I didn't hear you complaining last night," he grumbled, shooing Mara Jade over so he could sit.
"That's because you were too busy screaming your head off," Wufei answered, coming in and sitting behind the braided man on the back of the couch and seizing hold of the braid to run the tip through his fingers.
"Shh! It's back on!" Trinity demanded.
"And We're back with the annual Easter Parade and we're coming up to the last two floats in the Parade-"
"And talk about saving the best for last, Linda-"
"That's right, Zack. Let's go to Carrie and Chris who are down at the grandstand. Chris? Carrie? What's the view from where you are like?"
"Thanks Linda, Zack. Things are very excited down here as the last two floats in the parade come into view, and let me tell you, Relena Peacecraft Dorian has *really* outdone herself this year."
"Isn't that the truth, Chris! Relena Dorian has always been known for her generosity as *well* as her magnificent floats and this year is no different! "Three Worlds, One Nation Under Peace" is definitely something to remember. Three very different floats are connected by a bridge of stars and dreams that symbolizes the connection between Earth, the Colonies, and Mars. The first float has over 3 million multicolored wildflowers hand sewn into the base. Crews have been working for the last four months to construct the revolving earth sphere and the cloud dais on top where Relena Peacecraft Dorian, her wife, Dorothy Catalonia and their little 8-month old daughter, Regina Catalonia Dorian sit waving to the crowd."
"Look at the beautiful representation of rolling hills and blue rivers and lakes."
"Yes, Linda. It truly looks like a Utopia."
"A Utopia that spreads to the next three floats! Take a look on the detail of the second float."
"Right, Carrie. The colony float definitely doesn't let the Earth float overshadow it. Built with space-materials, crews spent months shipping in the material and constructing the colony float. As you can see, each LaGrange point is represented with to-scale models of satellites and colonies drifting in a sea of stars."
"Absolutely stunning, Chris."
"Without a doubt, Zack. And there you can see Quatre Winner and his sister, Colonial Vice-Representative, Ranalyn Winner and her two children."
"We're coming up to the last float in the Parade, and it certainly holds its own against the Earth and Colony floats."
"No argument there, Carrie. This is the second year Mars has participated in the parade and they're certainly not allowing to be overlooked. From the Red Planet, what better than a red float covered with the colony bubbles filled with booming, bustling cities and Terra-formation farmers and miners!"
"That's right, Chris. It's been over ten years since the first colonist arrived on Mars with the dreams of terra-reformation and today, that dream seems more accessibly than every before!"
"Well, that wraps up this year's annual Easter Parade, Zack."
"But what a wonderful parade it was, Linda."
"Carrie? Chris? Thank you for-
The TV went black.
"Auh, Da~ad! Why'd you turn it off?"
"Time to get dressed," Trowa told his sons. "Unless you don't want to go meet Daddy at the port?"
Trowa downplayed the smile he couldn't hide as the two boys darted out of the room and clamored up the steps.
End of Part 8: Easter Parade
Andrea Readwolf
Please send comments to: andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com