Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ DragonLance - the Shinigami Rewrites ❯ Xak Tsaroth ( Chapter 5 )
[ 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: 2.0K | Visits: 315 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Adventure | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 08.31.2001 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.0K | Visits: 315 | 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.
This also marks my first ever usage of 'The Perfect Soldier' as a epithet for Heero. I was doing so well too. This is going to be a short one, cause I'll also have Duo's past.
Ooh goody! The Aghar. Who wants to see Heero Death Threat a gully dwarf?? Not in this chapter, sorry.
/thoughts/
Part 5: Xak Tsaroth
Heero dived forward to try to stop the draconian from jumping down the well. They were all near deafened by the sudden shriek coming from it. Then he vaguely heard the others calling for Goldmoon. Heero saw her enter the undamaged temple. /Well, it looks like she'll be safe enough. Now that noise.../ Heero stopped in shock as he saw something black emerge from the well. Then his brain caught up with his eyes. A dragon.
He could hear the dragon, even in this unnatural darkness. He felt the dragonfear overcome him, and he cowered near a wall, unable to move. /Damn! I've faced so many things, I will not give in to this! I am stronger than this!/ Slowly Heero managed to overcome the fear, as his training took over. Blindly he got to his feet, and heard a scream. His numb mind finally processed it. Riverwind. /Damn, what happened? Where is he?/ He backed against the wall. /How can I fight something like this. I really need a Gundam./ When he checked, the unholy darkness had lifted. He made his way to where he had heard Riverwind. He threw up. Finally the 'Perfect Soldier' had found something he couldn't handle. He stayed there, Tas patting his back while he vomited, as the others went to Goldmoon in the temple.
When Tas finally led Heero to the temple, Riverwind was healed. Listening to the discussion about setting watches, Heero sat back. His training suggested that he agree with the men. They did need to keep watch, after all, they were in hostile territory. But deep down, Heero agreed with Tas. He had seen so many strange things, that this temple was minor. /Kender, elves, dwarves, goblins, magic, a blue crystal staff, draconians, invisible white stags, centaurs, unicorns, Pegasi, a dragon... this is negligible./ Heero slumped to the floor. He saw Tas curled up next to him. With a sigh, he wrapped an arm around the kender, and fell asleep.
---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
Heero watched Sturm and Caramon carefully, studying their sword forms. /If I have to get through this world, then I had better learn to fight their way./ He began to mimic their movements, slowly at first, then quicker as he got the hang of fighting with a sword. Then, unexpectedly, Caramon attacked him. Heero didn't even think, he just reacted.
"Good Heero!" the big man laughed, "that is how you fight with a sword." Heero sighed, as Tas came up to him.
"Let's go," the kender said. They descended into Xak Tsaroth.
--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
/Gully Dwarves. How are they different from real dwarves? Well, beyond the obvious. They aren't very bright. But that Bupu.../ Heero sighed, this was losing its appeal fast. Those creatures were really staring to bug him. /Just once more, just once, and omae o korosu! On second thought. They'd be even less scared than Duo, Relena or Tas. They're just too stupid to be scared./
FLASH
"Heero always says 'omae o korosu' but he never follows through."
FLASH
He swallowed a chuckle as he heard Caramon and Tanis trick Flint into coming with them. He felt - was it? - pity for the gully dwarves as he realised that even the street kids on L2 had had it better than this. Bupu had led them to the Highbulp, and he'd given them a map to find the dragon. The map... even the most illegible of Tasslehoff's maps were of better quality than this. Raistlin, however, had worked out something along the way. Bupu knew where the dragon's lair was. Now, the dragon was waiting for them. He could hear Tas talking about the nature of death, from a kender's point of view. It was, almost word for word, the way he had once heard Duo describe it.
FLASH
"I don't fear death. In a way, I look forward to it, the last big adventure."
FLASH
Heero felt the edges of his reality fraying a little more, as the half formed ideas in the back of his head, regarding his best friend, began to firm. /Duo has the same view of death as Tas. They are both accomplished sneak thieves, they both talk a lot. Why did it take me so long to realise that Duo was so much like a kender? Is he a kender? He has the ears, but he's a little tall./
He watched with growing fear as Goldmoon and Sturm approached the dragon. Goldmoon spoke with the dragon. When the creature mocked them, however, Goldmoon's voice rang out.
"We do not choose to surrender!" She struck the staff against the claw poised above Raistlin's body. The following scene was burned into his memory. The sight of the blue fire consuming the dragon and Goldmoon. When it was over, he followed Sturm out of the chamber.
"How are we going to fight all of them?" Flint asked.
"We're not. You're going to stay here with Riverwind and Tanis. Caramon and I can handle this." It sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
"And I, I still have my spells." Raistlin whispered.
"Heero-" Sturm started.
"I'm coming," Heero broke in, "I'm sick of feeling useless." Sturm just nodded. They went to fight the draconians. Heero's mind was a blank. He just couldn't think. This was so different to fighting in a Gundam. He just reacted. The next thing he knew, the enemy had broken, and run. He helped them get Riverwind's bloody body into the lift. Pretending not to notice their strange looks, when they realised that he was stronger than he looked.
They made their way to the temple. Heero had little trouble keeping his balance on the crazily tipping floor. He went inside, to find Goldmoon talking to the others. /So now there is a healer. This is a good thing. Now if only I could get home./
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Duo looked up from the book he had been reading, as a lone figure slipped into the inn. Tika spoke to the cloaked stranger.
"I'm sorry, we're closed at the moment." The figure pulled its hood back. Before he could speak, Duo called out.
"It's alright Tika!" She looked at him.
"Why Shin?" Duo didn't answer her. He turned to the stranger instead.
"Come on in, You're the first to arrive." The boy nodded, and moved towards his braided friend. Tika relaxed slightly, since Shin knew him.
"So you haven't seen the others yet?" Duo shook his head.
"No, apparently Heero was here a while back, but he left with the theocrat on his tail."
"Theocrat?"
"I'll tell you all about it, Trowa." Duo grinned, then told Trowa all that he had learnt in Solace.
---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
Heero watched Raistlin and Bupu out of the corner of his eye. The gully dwarf gave Raistlin something, and then left for the ruined city. He watched more openly as the mage got to his feet, and looked out to the west. He stiffened. And ran to Tanis.
"Tanis wake up!" The half-elf woke and grabbed his dagger.
"What-" Raistlin, in answer, pointed to the west. Heero now looked to the west himself. It wasn't until he heard Tanis' choked denial, that he comprehended what he was seeing.
Solace was burning.
--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
Interlude - Duo's Story
Quivalath watched helplessly as his love went into labour. the midwife felt it was unlikely that the kender maid would survive the birth of her half-elven child. He couldn't help the shudders as the midwife asked who they were to save if it came to a choice. his only answer was both. as he was led into the room, he heard the cries as his love lost strength. /Hold on Lynnette/ he pleaded silently. He ran closer as he heard the remarks. His Lyn was dying. He heard her whisper.
"Now I know what it means." As her child drew his first breath, Lynnette Lockpicker drew her last, whispering the name. "Shinigami." Quivalath was passed his newborn son, as the midwives tried to save his Lyn. but looking at his violet eyed child, he knew it was too late. But he couldn't bring himself to hate the child.
"Then that is your name, my son. Shinigami. Maybe one day we will discover the meaning of your name ourselves."
Nemesis watched her father bouncing her half-kender brother on his knee. She had helped her father raise the child. The five-year-old boy was remarkably placid, considering his mother's race. The near ninety elfmaid smiled. /I will protect you little brother. May the gods keep you and bless you./ She sighed.
"Father, I must speak with you." the elder elf looked at his full elven daughter.
"What is it Nemesis?"
"Trouble. they are talking of all out war. We have to send Shin to safety." Quivalath sighed.
"Very well Nemesis. Could you get a message to the wizard's conclave in Wayreth?"
"Consider it done father." the elfmaid took another look at her violet-eyed half-brother, and left the room.
"NO!" Screamed the small child. "I don't wanna!" Par Salian watched helplessly as the small boy struggled with the mages trying to keep him still. /Slippery as a kender, as the saying goes./ He watched worried as Quivalath tried to placate the boy. Shinigami did not want to be placated. "Daddy! NO! Don't make me go!" the child wailed. The head of the white robes waited. Then he spoke calmly.
"Quivalath, it is time." The elven lord reluctantly placed his only son in the circle. Then Par Salian cast the spell that would send the child to a place far away. To safety. If there was safety anywhere. The stones seemed to sing. There was a flash of light, then Shinigami was gone.
"Hey, kid. You all right?" the street kid asked the strange long-haired boy.
Shinigami looked at him, puzzled. He didn't understand. /Why daddy? Didn't you want me anymore?/ He shook his head as the boy in front of him babbled some more in that strange language. /Nemesis, why didn't you let me stay? I don't wanna be here. I wanna go home!/
"Shit kid, can't ya talk?" the boy continued. As poor Shin tried to make sense of what he was saying, the boy lifted him to his feet carefully. Tears welled up in Shin's eyes, and spilled over. "Hey, boys don't cry." Solo said softly as he wiped away the younger boy's tears. Shin looked at him, and then echoed the strange sounding words.
"B-Boys d-don't c-cry." Solo smiled.
"That's right."
"s'right." Shin echoed once more.
"C'mon kid, gotta get ya to safety, hey? The name's Solo."
"Solo." The boy who was once Shinigami of Qualinesti, followed the strange human boy away. Solo became, in time, as close as a brother to the kid. The kid became a remarkably able thief. But Shinigami never forgot his elven family. Then the plague, then a church, then a massacre, then a scientist, and a war. And Shinigami was reborn.
And, far away, on another plane, an old man smiled.
"And then there were five..."
--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
At last. I thought it would take forever to get to this point. So where are they all? Heero is on his way back to Solace, Duo and Trowa are both *in* Solace, and Quatre and Wufei... who knows? (ME!)
So I want a definite response here. What do you think of Duo's story? I don't need to explain who the old man was, do I?
Kend
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.
This also marks my first ever usage of 'The Perfect Soldier' as a epithet for Heero. I was doing so well too. This is going to be a short one, cause I'll also have Duo's past.
Ooh goody! The Aghar. Who wants to see Heero Death Threat a gully dwarf?? Not in this chapter, sorry.
/thoughts/
Part 5: Xak Tsaroth
Heero dived forward to try to stop the draconian from jumping down the well. They were all near deafened by the sudden shriek coming from it. Then he vaguely heard the others calling for Goldmoon. Heero saw her enter the undamaged temple. /Well, it looks like she'll be safe enough. Now that noise.../ Heero stopped in shock as he saw something black emerge from the well. Then his brain caught up with his eyes. A dragon.
He could hear the dragon, even in this unnatural darkness. He felt the dragonfear overcome him, and he cowered near a wall, unable to move. /Damn! I've faced so many things, I will not give in to this! I am stronger than this!/ Slowly Heero managed to overcome the fear, as his training took over. Blindly he got to his feet, and heard a scream. His numb mind finally processed it. Riverwind. /Damn, what happened? Where is he?/ He backed against the wall. /How can I fight something like this. I really need a Gundam./ When he checked, the unholy darkness had lifted. He made his way to where he had heard Riverwind. He threw up. Finally the 'Perfect Soldier' had found something he couldn't handle. He stayed there, Tas patting his back while he vomited, as the others went to Goldmoon in the temple.
When Tas finally led Heero to the temple, Riverwind was healed. Listening to the discussion about setting watches, Heero sat back. His training suggested that he agree with the men. They did need to keep watch, after all, they were in hostile territory. But deep down, Heero agreed with Tas. He had seen so many strange things, that this temple was minor. /Kender, elves, dwarves, goblins, magic, a blue crystal staff, draconians, invisible white stags, centaurs, unicorns, Pegasi, a dragon... this is negligible./ Heero slumped to the floor. He saw Tas curled up next to him. With a sigh, he wrapped an arm around the kender, and fell asleep.
---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
Heero watched Sturm and Caramon carefully, studying their sword forms. /If I have to get through this world, then I had better learn to fight their way./ He began to mimic their movements, slowly at first, then quicker as he got the hang of fighting with a sword. Then, unexpectedly, Caramon attacked him. Heero didn't even think, he just reacted.
"Good Heero!" the big man laughed, "that is how you fight with a sword." Heero sighed, as Tas came up to him.
"Let's go," the kender said. They descended into Xak Tsaroth.
--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
/Gully Dwarves. How are they different from real dwarves? Well, beyond the obvious. They aren't very bright. But that Bupu.../ Heero sighed, this was losing its appeal fast. Those creatures were really staring to bug him. /Just once more, just once, and omae o korosu! On second thought. They'd be even less scared than Duo, Relena or Tas. They're just too stupid to be scared./
FLASH
"Heero always says 'omae o korosu' but he never follows through."
FLASH
He swallowed a chuckle as he heard Caramon and Tanis trick Flint into coming with them. He felt - was it? - pity for the gully dwarves as he realised that even the street kids on L2 had had it better than this. Bupu had led them to the Highbulp, and he'd given them a map to find the dragon. The map... even the most illegible of Tasslehoff's maps were of better quality than this. Raistlin, however, had worked out something along the way. Bupu knew where the dragon's lair was. Now, the dragon was waiting for them. He could hear Tas talking about the nature of death, from a kender's point of view. It was, almost word for word, the way he had once heard Duo describe it.
FLASH
"I don't fear death. In a way, I look forward to it, the last big adventure."
FLASH
Heero felt the edges of his reality fraying a little more, as the half formed ideas in the back of his head, regarding his best friend, began to firm. /Duo has the same view of death as Tas. They are both accomplished sneak thieves, they both talk a lot. Why did it take me so long to realise that Duo was so much like a kender? Is he a kender? He has the ears, but he's a little tall./
He watched with growing fear as Goldmoon and Sturm approached the dragon. Goldmoon spoke with the dragon. When the creature mocked them, however, Goldmoon's voice rang out.
"We do not choose to surrender!" She struck the staff against the claw poised above Raistlin's body. The following scene was burned into his memory. The sight of the blue fire consuming the dragon and Goldmoon. When it was over, he followed Sturm out of the chamber.
"How are we going to fight all of them?" Flint asked.
"We're not. You're going to stay here with Riverwind and Tanis. Caramon and I can handle this." It sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
"And I, I still have my spells." Raistlin whispered.
"Heero-" Sturm started.
"I'm coming," Heero broke in, "I'm sick of feeling useless." Sturm just nodded. They went to fight the draconians. Heero's mind was a blank. He just couldn't think. This was so different to fighting in a Gundam. He just reacted. The next thing he knew, the enemy had broken, and run. He helped them get Riverwind's bloody body into the lift. Pretending not to notice their strange looks, when they realised that he was stronger than he looked.
They made their way to the temple. Heero had little trouble keeping his balance on the crazily tipping floor. He went inside, to find Goldmoon talking to the others. /So now there is a healer. This is a good thing. Now if only I could get home./
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Duo looked up from the book he had been reading, as a lone figure slipped into the inn. Tika spoke to the cloaked stranger.
"I'm sorry, we're closed at the moment." The figure pulled its hood back. Before he could speak, Duo called out.
"It's alright Tika!" She looked at him.
"Why Shin?" Duo didn't answer her. He turned to the stranger instead.
"Come on in, You're the first to arrive." The boy nodded, and moved towards his braided friend. Tika relaxed slightly, since Shin knew him.
"So you haven't seen the others yet?" Duo shook his head.
"No, apparently Heero was here a while back, but he left with the theocrat on his tail."
"Theocrat?"
"I'll tell you all about it, Trowa." Duo grinned, then told Trowa all that he had learnt in Solace.
---------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
Heero watched Raistlin and Bupu out of the corner of his eye. The gully dwarf gave Raistlin something, and then left for the ruined city. He watched more openly as the mage got to his feet, and looked out to the west. He stiffened. And ran to Tanis.
"Tanis wake up!" The half-elf woke and grabbed his dagger.
"What-" Raistlin, in answer, pointed to the west. Heero now looked to the west himself. It wasn't until he heard Tanis' choked denial, that he comprehended what he was seeing.
Solace was burning.
--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
Interlude - Duo's Story
Quivalath watched helplessly as his love went into labour. the midwife felt it was unlikely that the kender maid would survive the birth of her half-elven child. He couldn't help the shudders as the midwife asked who they were to save if it came to a choice. his only answer was both. as he was led into the room, he heard the cries as his love lost strength. /Hold on Lynnette/ he pleaded silently. He ran closer as he heard the remarks. His Lyn was dying. He heard her whisper.
"Now I know what it means." As her child drew his first breath, Lynnette Lockpicker drew her last, whispering the name. "Shinigami." Quivalath was passed his newborn son, as the midwives tried to save his Lyn. but looking at his violet eyed child, he knew it was too late. But he couldn't bring himself to hate the child.
"Then that is your name, my son. Shinigami. Maybe one day we will discover the meaning of your name ourselves."
Nemesis watched her father bouncing her half-kender brother on his knee. She had helped her father raise the child. The five-year-old boy was remarkably placid, considering his mother's race. The near ninety elfmaid smiled. /I will protect you little brother. May the gods keep you and bless you./ She sighed.
"Father, I must speak with you." the elder elf looked at his full elven daughter.
"What is it Nemesis?"
"Trouble. they are talking of all out war. We have to send Shin to safety." Quivalath sighed.
"Very well Nemesis. Could you get a message to the wizard's conclave in Wayreth?"
"Consider it done father." the elfmaid took another look at her violet-eyed half-brother, and left the room.
"NO!" Screamed the small child. "I don't wanna!" Par Salian watched helplessly as the small boy struggled with the mages trying to keep him still. /Slippery as a kender, as the saying goes./ He watched worried as Quivalath tried to placate the boy. Shinigami did not want to be placated. "Daddy! NO! Don't make me go!" the child wailed. The head of the white robes waited. Then he spoke calmly.
"Quivalath, it is time." The elven lord reluctantly placed his only son in the circle. Then Par Salian cast the spell that would send the child to a place far away. To safety. If there was safety anywhere. The stones seemed to sing. There was a flash of light, then Shinigami was gone.
"Hey, kid. You all right?" the street kid asked the strange long-haired boy.
Shinigami looked at him, puzzled. He didn't understand. /Why daddy? Didn't you want me anymore?/ He shook his head as the boy in front of him babbled some more in that strange language. /Nemesis, why didn't you let me stay? I don't wanna be here. I wanna go home!/
"Shit kid, can't ya talk?" the boy continued. As poor Shin tried to make sense of what he was saying, the boy lifted him to his feet carefully. Tears welled up in Shin's eyes, and spilled over. "Hey, boys don't cry." Solo said softly as he wiped away the younger boy's tears. Shin looked at him, and then echoed the strange sounding words.
"B-Boys d-don't c-cry." Solo smiled.
"That's right."
"s'right." Shin echoed once more.
"C'mon kid, gotta get ya to safety, hey? The name's Solo."
"Solo." The boy who was once Shinigami of Qualinesti, followed the strange human boy away. Solo became, in time, as close as a brother to the kid. The kid became a remarkably able thief. But Shinigami never forgot his elven family. Then the plague, then a church, then a massacre, then a scientist, and a war. And Shinigami was reborn.
And, far away, on another plane, an old man smiled.
"And then there were five..."
--------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
At last. I thought it would take forever to get to this point. So where are they all? Heero is on his way back to Solace, Duo and Trowa are both *in* Solace, and Quatre and Wufei... who knows? (ME!)
So I want a definite response here. What do you think of Duo's story? I don't need to explain who the old man was, do I?
Kend