Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ DragonLance - the Shinigami Rewrites ❯ Forestmaster ( Chapter 4 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: kenderlyn 
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Adventure | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 08.31.2001 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.5K | Visits: 305 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Adventure | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 08.31.2001 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.5K | Visits: 305 | Status: Work In Progress
The Shinigami rewrites - DragonLance Chronicles.
Gundam Wing isn't mine. DragonLance isn't mine. Nothing is mine, not even my hair colour.
I thought that with all the descriptions of Duo, it would be funny to see Heero interact with a kender. Then I thought of this. Yaoi, X-over, AU. Duo as a kender... scary. Be afraid. Be very, very afraid.
UGH!! I absolutely HATE the way the centaurs MANGLE the English language!!!!! I'm extremely tempted to change the words so they don't set my teeth on edge so much...
/thoughts/
Part 4: Forestmaster
Heero looked around, and cursed again that he didn't have a proper weapon, even though the kender had been giving him an alarming amount of daggers. /I don't really want to think about where he gets them from./ Heero looked closer at them. The same voice called out.
"Put thy puny weapons down, ye be surrounded and have not a chance."
"A trick." Sturm growled. /He's wrong. There's a lot of them,/ the former pilot thought. As the man stepped forward, Heero only just managed to keep the shock from his face. /Figures. Kender, dwarves, elves, mages, goblins, invisible white stags, spectral minions, a glowing blue crystal staff, and now centaurs. If I see much more I'll probably end up crazier than Une was./ He heard Flint sneeze.
"Thee must come with us."
"My brother is ill, he can't go anywhere." Guess who.
"Place him upon my back. In fact if any of you be tired, thee may ride to where we go."
"Where are you taking us?"
"Thee is in no position to ask questions. We travel far and fast. I suggest thee ride. But fear not. Harm will not come to thee this night."
"Can I ride, Tanis, please?" begged Tasslehoff.
"Don't trust them!" Flint sneezed violently.
"I don't trust them, but we don't seem to have a lot of choice in the matter - Raistlin can't walk. Go on Tas, the rest of you, too." Heero watched Tas climbing up excitedly. /damn fool kender.../ He felt a slight touch on his shoulder. A centaur stood ready to carry him. Heero hesitated, he didn't really need the ride. /My training saw to that./ But he didn't really want the others to realise the differences yet. /Bad enough that Tas saw me jump out the window in Solace./
"Where are you taking us?" Tanis asked.
"To the Forestmaster."
"The Forestmaster" Who is he, one like yourselves?"
"She is the Forestmaster." Heero frowned. /The Forestmaster. I wonder if the Forestmaster is as 'mythical' as all the other beings I've seen since landing here./
When they reached the end, and dismounted, Heero listened dispassionately to the others getting nervous about the fact that their weapons had vanished. /Hn. At least I don't really need a weapon. Training again./
"I have my staff." Heero raised an eyebrow at Goldmoon's statement.
"And a formidable weapon that is, daughter of Que-Shu. A weapon for good, intended to combat illness and injury and disease. In these times it will also be used as a weapon against the evil creatures who seek to find and banish it from the world."
"Who are you? Show yourself." Tanis called out.
"We will not harm you." Caramon was bluffing.
"Of course you won't, you have no weapons. I will return them to you when the time is propitious. No one brings weapons into Darken Wood, not even a knight of Solamnia. Do not fear, noble knight. I recognise your blade as ancient and most valuable! I will keep it safe. Forgive this apparent lack of trust, but even the great Huma laid the DragonLance at my feet."
"Huma!" Sturm gasped. "Who are you?"
"I am the Forestmaster." As the darkness fled, Heero saw the Forestmaster. /A unicorn. I don't think I can take much more of this./ Inwardly, Heero chuckled. /I wonder if the legends about the unicorn are true, the ones about the virgins and all./
"Rest yourselves, you are tired and hungry. Food will be brought and fresh water for cleansing. You may put aside your watchfulness and fears for this evening. Safety exists here, if it exists anywhere in this land tonight." Heero thought about it. As the others discussed amongst themselves, he watched them all. /Can I trust them? I guess I already trust Tas a little. But the others? I can see myself in Flint. I'd put Sturm in Wufei's category, Tas is definitely like Duo, and Riverwind reminds me of Trowa./ He watched the others carefully as they cleansed themselves and then followed their example. /Even after everything since I landed here, I guess I'm still too used to civilisation. And running water./ Again, he watched the others. /they look a little... dismayed by the chairs. I don't know... I wouldn't be too surprised if they fit us nicely. One more illusion shattered won't make much difference to my already fractured sanity./
"Please be seated," said the Forestmaster graciously.
"I can't sit in that! I'll tip over. Besides, the tablecloth is spread on the grass. I'll sit on the grass with it." Heero was close enough to Flint to hear the dwarf's reply to Caramon's complaint.
"Close to the food." Heero hesitated. He watched Goldmoon sit gracefully in one of the chairs.
"Sit at my right hand, warrior," she said formally. Riverwind folded himself into the seemingly fragile chair. "Thank you all for waiting until I was seated. You may all sit now." Heero could hear Caramon still complaining. With a sigh, he carefully sat down. The chair was very comfortable. He noted that Sturm was the next to sit. Heero found himself between Tas and Sturm. Remembering his earlier observation, he wasn't too surprised. /How many times have I had to pull Duo out of Wufei's way? Too many to count./ he watched absently as the centaurs lifted the cloth to the height of a table, and left it there.
"How splendid! How did they do that?" Tasslehoff cried, peering beneath the cloth. "There's nothing under there!" he reported, his eyes wide. The centaurs laughed at Tas' surprise. Heero couldn't hide a little smile himself.
Heero found the meal was better than any he'd had before. /Kami-Sama, I've eaten almost as much as Duo does normally./ He spent time asking Tas about various things. Then Raistlin spoke.
"Forestmaster, today we fought loathsome creatures that we have never seen before on Krynn. Can you tell us of these?" The festive mood of only moments before was cut off instantly. /Trust Raistlin to stop us from relaxing too much./ Heero listened to the ensuing discussion. /Not of Krynn. That means not natural I'd guess. Also explains why Duo knew of elves and kender, but not draconians. Xak Tsaroth? What sort of a name is that?/ The Forestmaster withdrew, allowing them to discuss the situation. Heero listened with half an ear, until he heard his own name.
"What of you Heero? Will you be continuing with us?" Tanis asked. Heero thought for a moment. /Do I go with them?/ Tanis seemed to understand that he needed to think, as he pulled away to talk to Raistlin. When he returned, Tanis made it clear that he would be continuing to Xak Tsaroth. /Do I go? Where else can I go?/ Tanis turned to him. "Well?"
"I'm going." Tanis looked surprised.
"In that case, we'll need to find you some better weapons." Tanis smiled. "We can't leave you just fighting with what ever daggers that Tas can find for you." Heero nodded. Somehow he wasn't surprised that Tanis had known exactly where Heero had gotten all those daggers from. /Hn, some of them were probably his./
/Pegasi. Why am I not surprised? Just one more shock to my system. I don't doubt that the others are looking for me. What I doubt, is if I will be sane when they find me./ Heero looked at the pegasus standing in front of him. He mounted calmly. /Just like riding a horse. Been there, done that./ Heero barely noticed when the magically induced sleep overcame him.
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The sun was setting over the ruins of Que-Shu. Heero looked around him, shivering. /This is awful. And this wasn't even my home. How much worse must Goldmoon and Riverwind feel? And the molten rock. What fire could there be, on a world with almost no technology, that could melt rock?/ He watched as Flint patted Tas gently on the back, the kender in tears. /Who - or what - did this?/
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Heero listened to the others discussing the path that they were about to take.
"I've been here. I can't remember when, but I've been here. I know the way through the swamp. And it leads to-" Riverwind was actually nervous.
"Leads to a broken city of evil?" Tanis asked, voice grim.
"Xak Tsaroth!" Raistlin hissed.
"Of course," Tanis said softly. "It makes sense. Where would we go to find answers about the staff - except to the place where the staff was given you?"
"And we must go now! We must be there by midnight tonight!" Raistlin insisted. They moved on. Shortly after midday, Tanis pulled the kender aside. They spoke for a moment, and Tas pulled out a gleaming flask. He skipped up to Flint merrily, and the pair soon got ahead of the group. Heero decided to catch up.
The two were making jokes about what they would do if they encountered a draconian.
"I'd turn it to stone, all right. Wham! Right in the lizard's gizzard." Flint was swinging an imaginary battleaxe.
"I'll bet Raistlin could turn one to stone with a look!" Tas exclaimed, while mimicking the mages dour expression.
"I'll bet Caramon'd stick a fork in one and eat it!" Flint said. Tas was choking with laughter. Heero hid a smile as he caught up to them. The pair were crossing the bridge. Heero watched the draconians thoughtfully. /Tas is right. They aren't armed. Why wouldn't they be armed in any way? Everyone in our group is armed... except Raistlin! Could they be magic-users?/ As he thought that, he heard Tas cry out.
"Tanis! Ambush!" Heero didn't waste any time. He followed Tas and Flint as they leapt, (Tas) or fell, (Flint) off the bridge.
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Heero looked at Tas, face grim. /So they were mages./
"What do we do now?" Tas asked. Before Heero could answer, Flint groaned.
"What happened?" Tas spoke glibly.
"You fell of the bridge and hit your head on a log."
"I did? I don't remember that. I remember one of those draconian things coming at me and I remember falling into the water-"
"Well you did, so don't argue. Can you walk?" /Hmm, Better remember that. Tas doesn't have Duo's honesty. Tas apparently runs, hides AND lies./ Heero smirked to himself as they went to find the others.
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Heero listened to the dragon's demands for Caramon to be brought to him. He followed Flint to the cages where Tanis and the others were being held. Tanis stared at them.
"Get out of here! There's nothing you can do. Raistlin's dying, and the dragon-" Flint broke in.
"Is Tasslehoff."
"What? Make sense."
"The dragon is Tasslehoff." Heero echoed the dwarf's statement. /I wish I had a camera. That is so funny./
"The dragon's made of wicker, Tasslehoff sneaked behind it and looked inside. It's rigged! Anyone sitting inside the dragon can make the wings flap and speak through a hollow tube. I guess that's how the priests keep order around here. Anyway, Tasslehoff's the one flapping his wings and threatening to eat Caramon."
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"Tasslehoff Burrfoot! You idiotic kender! Where are you?" There was no answer. Flint screamed out again. "Tasslehoff! If you wreck this escape, I'll murder you. So help me-" Heero and Sturm hurried over to the dwarf's side. Heero touched Sturm's shoulder silently. He pointed towards what appeared to be a blue, forked tongue coming from the dragon's mouth. Heero watched as Sturm cut off the wicker creature's head, and moved forward to help the knight to carry the awkward bundle. They made their way back to the rest of the party. /Ugh. I hope I never hear that again. Who would have thought that Raistlin had such an awful laugh./ Tanis called out as soon as he heard that Tas was stuck in the head.
"Tas, are you alright?"
"I think Sturm chopped off my hair." The kender wailed.
"Lucky it wasn't your head." Flint snorted. Heero grinned, Tas was so much like Duo. He watched, almost approvingly, as Caramon tore the wicker dragon head apart. Tanis asked the kender again if he was alright.
"I'm fine, just a little singed. Tanis, my hair?" The kender seemed worried about the state of his long tresses.
"All there." Tanis said, smiling. Tas sighed in relief.
"Tanis, it was the most wonderful thing-flying like that. And the look on Caramon's face-"
"The story will have to wait." Tanis said firmly. We've got to get out of here. Caramon? Can you and your brother make it all right?"
"Yeah, go on." Caramon said. Raistlin still seemed ready to laugh.
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They finally made it to the edge of the ruins. Tas was the one who noticed the obelisk. Raistlin was the one who could read the ancient runes on the aged stone.
"Shirak." The mage said, and his staff flared to life.
"What does it say, Raistlin? Can you read it? The language seems very old." Tas of course. Raistlin paused, then spoke.
"It is old. It dates from before the Cataclysm." The mage paused again, then began to read the runes out loud.
"The great city of Xak Tsaroth, whose beauty surrounds you, speaks to the good of its people and their generous deeds. The gods reward us in the grace of our home."
"How awful." Goldmoon shuddered, looking at the ruin and desolation around her.
"The gods rewarded them indeed." Raistlin said cynically. No one had a response to that. Raistlin spoke once "Dulak" and extinguished the light. Suddenly the night seemed much blacker. "We must keep going. Surely there is more than a fallen monument to mark what this place once stood for."
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Phew. I think this has been the longest chapter. Still with me? The hardest part of this, is changing enough to add the G-boys, but to still have the original story intact. Also, considering that I said that Duo is a kender, we haven't seen much of him... I seem to be focusing on Heero so far. Next chapter will not only be about Xak Tsaroth though. I'll also explain how Duo got from Krynn to L2. (Good question, since I still haven't decided that myself...)
Oops, I realised that I've been through TWO chapters, with NO action from Quatre, Duo and Trowa... Well, not much I can do. I know where they are, so you'll see them a few chapters down the track. Sorry all 3x4 fans, but those two won't be together. Wait and see.
Gundam Wing isn't mine. DragonLance isn't mine. Nothing is mine, not even my hair colour.
I thought that with all the descriptions of Duo, it would be funny to see Heero interact with a kender. Then I thought of this. Yaoi, X-over, AU. Duo as a kender... scary. Be afraid. Be very, very afraid.
UGH!! I absolutely HATE the way the centaurs MANGLE the English language!!!!! I'm extremely tempted to change the words so they don't set my teeth on edge so much...
/thoughts/
Part 4: Forestmaster
Heero looked around, and cursed again that he didn't have a proper weapon, even though the kender had been giving him an alarming amount of daggers. /I don't really want to think about where he gets them from./ Heero looked closer at them. The same voice called out.
"Put thy puny weapons down, ye be surrounded and have not a chance."
"A trick." Sturm growled. /He's wrong. There's a lot of them,/ the former pilot thought. As the man stepped forward, Heero only just managed to keep the shock from his face. /Figures. Kender, dwarves, elves, mages, goblins, invisible white stags, spectral minions, a glowing blue crystal staff, and now centaurs. If I see much more I'll probably end up crazier than Une was./ He heard Flint sneeze.
"Thee must come with us."
"My brother is ill, he can't go anywhere." Guess who.
"Place him upon my back. In fact if any of you be tired, thee may ride to where we go."
"Where are you taking us?"
"Thee is in no position to ask questions. We travel far and fast. I suggest thee ride. But fear not. Harm will not come to thee this night."
"Can I ride, Tanis, please?" begged Tasslehoff.
"Don't trust them!" Flint sneezed violently.
"I don't trust them, but we don't seem to have a lot of choice in the matter - Raistlin can't walk. Go on Tas, the rest of you, too." Heero watched Tas climbing up excitedly. /damn fool kender.../ He felt a slight touch on his shoulder. A centaur stood ready to carry him. Heero hesitated, he didn't really need the ride. /My training saw to that./ But he didn't really want the others to realise the differences yet. /Bad enough that Tas saw me jump out the window in Solace./
"Where are you taking us?" Tanis asked.
"To the Forestmaster."
"The Forestmaster" Who is he, one like yourselves?"
"She is the Forestmaster." Heero frowned. /The Forestmaster. I wonder if the Forestmaster is as 'mythical' as all the other beings I've seen since landing here./
When they reached the end, and dismounted, Heero listened dispassionately to the others getting nervous about the fact that their weapons had vanished. /Hn. At least I don't really need a weapon. Training again./
"I have my staff." Heero raised an eyebrow at Goldmoon's statement.
"And a formidable weapon that is, daughter of Que-Shu. A weapon for good, intended to combat illness and injury and disease. In these times it will also be used as a weapon against the evil creatures who seek to find and banish it from the world."
"Who are you? Show yourself." Tanis called out.
"We will not harm you." Caramon was bluffing.
"Of course you won't, you have no weapons. I will return them to you when the time is propitious. No one brings weapons into Darken Wood, not even a knight of Solamnia. Do not fear, noble knight. I recognise your blade as ancient and most valuable! I will keep it safe. Forgive this apparent lack of trust, but even the great Huma laid the DragonLance at my feet."
"Huma!" Sturm gasped. "Who are you?"
"I am the Forestmaster." As the darkness fled, Heero saw the Forestmaster. /A unicorn. I don't think I can take much more of this./ Inwardly, Heero chuckled. /I wonder if the legends about the unicorn are true, the ones about the virgins and all./
"Rest yourselves, you are tired and hungry. Food will be brought and fresh water for cleansing. You may put aside your watchfulness and fears for this evening. Safety exists here, if it exists anywhere in this land tonight." Heero thought about it. As the others discussed amongst themselves, he watched them all. /Can I trust them? I guess I already trust Tas a little. But the others? I can see myself in Flint. I'd put Sturm in Wufei's category, Tas is definitely like Duo, and Riverwind reminds me of Trowa./ He watched the others carefully as they cleansed themselves and then followed their example. /Even after everything since I landed here, I guess I'm still too used to civilisation. And running water./ Again, he watched the others. /they look a little... dismayed by the chairs. I don't know... I wouldn't be too surprised if they fit us nicely. One more illusion shattered won't make much difference to my already fractured sanity./
"Please be seated," said the Forestmaster graciously.
"I can't sit in that! I'll tip over. Besides, the tablecloth is spread on the grass. I'll sit on the grass with it." Heero was close enough to Flint to hear the dwarf's reply to Caramon's complaint.
"Close to the food." Heero hesitated. He watched Goldmoon sit gracefully in one of the chairs.
"Sit at my right hand, warrior," she said formally. Riverwind folded himself into the seemingly fragile chair. "Thank you all for waiting until I was seated. You may all sit now." Heero could hear Caramon still complaining. With a sigh, he carefully sat down. The chair was very comfortable. He noted that Sturm was the next to sit. Heero found himself between Tas and Sturm. Remembering his earlier observation, he wasn't too surprised. /How many times have I had to pull Duo out of Wufei's way? Too many to count./ he watched absently as the centaurs lifted the cloth to the height of a table, and left it there.
"How splendid! How did they do that?" Tasslehoff cried, peering beneath the cloth. "There's nothing under there!" he reported, his eyes wide. The centaurs laughed at Tas' surprise. Heero couldn't hide a little smile himself.
Heero found the meal was better than any he'd had before. /Kami-Sama, I've eaten almost as much as Duo does normally./ He spent time asking Tas about various things. Then Raistlin spoke.
"Forestmaster, today we fought loathsome creatures that we have never seen before on Krynn. Can you tell us of these?" The festive mood of only moments before was cut off instantly. /Trust Raistlin to stop us from relaxing too much./ Heero listened to the ensuing discussion. /Not of Krynn. That means not natural I'd guess. Also explains why Duo knew of elves and kender, but not draconians. Xak Tsaroth? What sort of a name is that?/ The Forestmaster withdrew, allowing them to discuss the situation. Heero listened with half an ear, until he heard his own name.
"What of you Heero? Will you be continuing with us?" Tanis asked. Heero thought for a moment. /Do I go with them?/ Tanis seemed to understand that he needed to think, as he pulled away to talk to Raistlin. When he returned, Tanis made it clear that he would be continuing to Xak Tsaroth. /Do I go? Where else can I go?/ Tanis turned to him. "Well?"
"I'm going." Tanis looked surprised.
"In that case, we'll need to find you some better weapons." Tanis smiled. "We can't leave you just fighting with what ever daggers that Tas can find for you." Heero nodded. Somehow he wasn't surprised that Tanis had known exactly where Heero had gotten all those daggers from. /Hn, some of them were probably his./
/Pegasi. Why am I not surprised? Just one more shock to my system. I don't doubt that the others are looking for me. What I doubt, is if I will be sane when they find me./ Heero looked at the pegasus standing in front of him. He mounted calmly. /Just like riding a horse. Been there, done that./ Heero barely noticed when the magically induced sleep overcame him.
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The sun was setting over the ruins of Que-Shu. Heero looked around him, shivering. /This is awful. And this wasn't even my home. How much worse must Goldmoon and Riverwind feel? And the molten rock. What fire could there be, on a world with almost no technology, that could melt rock?/ He watched as Flint patted Tas gently on the back, the kender in tears. /Who - or what - did this?/
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Heero listened to the others discussing the path that they were about to take.
"I've been here. I can't remember when, but I've been here. I know the way through the swamp. And it leads to-" Riverwind was actually nervous.
"Leads to a broken city of evil?" Tanis asked, voice grim.
"Xak Tsaroth!" Raistlin hissed.
"Of course," Tanis said softly. "It makes sense. Where would we go to find answers about the staff - except to the place where the staff was given you?"
"And we must go now! We must be there by midnight tonight!" Raistlin insisted. They moved on. Shortly after midday, Tanis pulled the kender aside. They spoke for a moment, and Tas pulled out a gleaming flask. He skipped up to Flint merrily, and the pair soon got ahead of the group. Heero decided to catch up.
The two were making jokes about what they would do if they encountered a draconian.
"I'd turn it to stone, all right. Wham! Right in the lizard's gizzard." Flint was swinging an imaginary battleaxe.
"I'll bet Raistlin could turn one to stone with a look!" Tas exclaimed, while mimicking the mages dour expression.
"I'll bet Caramon'd stick a fork in one and eat it!" Flint said. Tas was choking with laughter. Heero hid a smile as he caught up to them. The pair were crossing the bridge. Heero watched the draconians thoughtfully. /Tas is right. They aren't armed. Why wouldn't they be armed in any way? Everyone in our group is armed... except Raistlin! Could they be magic-users?/ As he thought that, he heard Tas cry out.
"Tanis! Ambush!" Heero didn't waste any time. He followed Tas and Flint as they leapt, (Tas) or fell, (Flint) off the bridge.
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Heero looked at Tas, face grim. /So they were mages./
"What do we do now?" Tas asked. Before Heero could answer, Flint groaned.
"What happened?" Tas spoke glibly.
"You fell of the bridge and hit your head on a log."
"I did? I don't remember that. I remember one of those draconian things coming at me and I remember falling into the water-"
"Well you did, so don't argue. Can you walk?" /Hmm, Better remember that. Tas doesn't have Duo's honesty. Tas apparently runs, hides AND lies./ Heero smirked to himself as they went to find the others.
---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
Heero listened to the dragon's demands for Caramon to be brought to him. He followed Flint to the cages where Tanis and the others were being held. Tanis stared at them.
"Get out of here! There's nothing you can do. Raistlin's dying, and the dragon-" Flint broke in.
"Is Tasslehoff."
"What? Make sense."
"The dragon is Tasslehoff." Heero echoed the dwarf's statement. /I wish I had a camera. That is so funny./
"The dragon's made of wicker, Tasslehoff sneaked behind it and looked inside. It's rigged! Anyone sitting inside the dragon can make the wings flap and speak through a hollow tube. I guess that's how the priests keep order around here. Anyway, Tasslehoff's the one flapping his wings and threatening to eat Caramon."
-------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------
"Tasslehoff Burrfoot! You idiotic kender! Where are you?" There was no answer. Flint screamed out again. "Tasslehoff! If you wreck this escape, I'll murder you. So help me-" Heero and Sturm hurried over to the dwarf's side. Heero touched Sturm's shoulder silently. He pointed towards what appeared to be a blue, forked tongue coming from the dragon's mouth. Heero watched as Sturm cut off the wicker creature's head, and moved forward to help the knight to carry the awkward bundle. They made their way back to the rest of the party. /Ugh. I hope I never hear that again. Who would have thought that Raistlin had such an awful laugh./ Tanis called out as soon as he heard that Tas was stuck in the head.
"Tas, are you alright?"
"I think Sturm chopped off my hair." The kender wailed.
"Lucky it wasn't your head." Flint snorted. Heero grinned, Tas was so much like Duo. He watched, almost approvingly, as Caramon tore the wicker dragon head apart. Tanis asked the kender again if he was alright.
"I'm fine, just a little singed. Tanis, my hair?" The kender seemed worried about the state of his long tresses.
"All there." Tanis said, smiling. Tas sighed in relief.
"Tanis, it was the most wonderful thing-flying like that. And the look on Caramon's face-"
"The story will have to wait." Tanis said firmly. We've got to get out of here. Caramon? Can you and your brother make it all right?"
"Yeah, go on." Caramon said. Raistlin still seemed ready to laugh.
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
They finally made it to the edge of the ruins. Tas was the one who noticed the obelisk. Raistlin was the one who could read the ancient runes on the aged stone.
"Shirak." The mage said, and his staff flared to life.
"What does it say, Raistlin? Can you read it? The language seems very old." Tas of course. Raistlin paused, then spoke.
"It is old. It dates from before the Cataclysm." The mage paused again, then began to read the runes out loud.
"The great city of Xak Tsaroth, whose beauty surrounds you, speaks to the good of its people and their generous deeds. The gods reward us in the grace of our home."
"How awful." Goldmoon shuddered, looking at the ruin and desolation around her.
"The gods rewarded them indeed." Raistlin said cynically. No one had a response to that. Raistlin spoke once "Dulak" and extinguished the light. Suddenly the night seemed much blacker. "We must keep going. Surely there is more than a fallen monument to mark what this place once stood for."
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Phew. I think this has been the longest chapter. Still with me? The hardest part of this, is changing enough to add the G-boys, but to still have the original story intact. Also, considering that I said that Duo is a kender, we haven't seen much of him... I seem to be focusing on Heero so far. Next chapter will not only be about Xak Tsaroth though. I'll also explain how Duo got from Krynn to L2. (Good question, since I still haven't decided that myself...)
Oops, I realised that I've been through TWO chapters, with NO action from Quatre, Duo and Trowa... Well, not much I can do. I know where they are, so you'll see them a few chapters down the track. Sorry all 3x4 fans, but those two won't be together. Wait and see.