Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy 4/Gundam Wing ❯ The Sand Ruby ( Chapter 4 )

Tellah took of straight for the castle in a run. The other two running behind him until they reached the castle gates. The three looked up at the ruined castle in disbelief, their minds racing.

"Baron....how could they..."Trowa muttered in disgust to him home kingdom."It's like they never think of the lives that have been taken due to their thurst for power. They'll never change. I've seen what its like."

"The Baron soldiers are already gone right...so were free to look throughout the castle without being attacked. Let's go look for Anna!" Quatre spoke up trying to change the mood of the two with him.

"Anna..."Tellah muttered.

The three explored the ruins of the castle and only to find what Tellah had feared most...soldiers were killed or nearly fataly wounded, the previously beautiful statues distroyed, the treasures stolen, they never even had a chance...

They soon arrived to the third floor only to find...

"Anna!"Tellah yelled pushing by the Trowa and Quatre looking at his daughter on the floor battered and bleeding on the floor. He walked over to her side in shock.

Suddenly a young man appeared from the shadows and staggered over to them.

Tellah brought his attention to the man and frowned with disgust."You! You're that Bard!"He yelled in anger, his voice shaky and unsure and rose his staff to the young madn for a battle.

The man protested against fighting."No! Wait!"

"DIE!" Tellah stuck the man with the staff which backed away.

"N-no please listen!"

"SHUT UP!"

"Please forgive me!"

"Take this!" Tellah struck him again.

"Ugh!"

"Father stop!"a girls voice cried from behind.

Tellah lowered his staff and turned to see his daughter struggling to sit up but fell back to the floor."Anna!"he exclaimed going back over to her side and holding her in his arms.

"Father, Edward is...the prince of Damcyan. Forgive me, father, for running away...but I love Edward. Strill, I knew I couldn't find happiness...without your concent. I was going to come home, but..."she gasped and coughed.

"Baron's Red Wings, led by Golbez, blitzed us."Edward added finishing Annas statement.

Trowa looked confused."...I've never heard of Golbez. Who is he?"

"I don't know. His powers are beyond words."

"But why did he attack Damcyan?"

"They wanted the Crystal, and they spared noone to get it. My mother, my father, Anna shielded me from their arrows.."

Tellah looked down at his daughter."You love him that much..?"

"Father...forgive me. Edward..I love you.."She uttered then her body went limp.

Edward fell to his knees. "Anna! Wake up!"

"Anna!!"Tellah yelled then placed his daughter to the floor gently and stood up."Golbez, is dead."

"Anna!Anna, open your eyes. Anna, please!"Edward sobbed.

Tellah turned to him."SHUT UP!!Crying won't bring her back!"

Tellah went to leave but Trowa stopped him."Tellah wait!"

Tellah pushed Trowa aside."I will kill Golbez! I don't need you!I don't need anyone!"

He left...

"Anna!"Edward still cried out, tears running freely down the price's cheeks.

Quatre went over to him."Stop crying!"

Edward looked at him.

"You're an adult! Adults don't cry! I lost my mom...but I'm not gonna cry anymore."

"Quatre..."muttered Trowa.

"I don't care. Leave me alone!I'm staying here with Anna. I will never leave her side."Edward said to him in reply.

Trowa couldn't stand how this prince was acting, so he walked over to him and punched him firmly in the face.

"That's enough!You're the rightful ruler of Damcyan so start acting like it!"Trowa yelled."You owe it to your people, and most of all, you owe it to Anna. King of Damcyan, my name is Trowa, and I need your help."

"Huh?"

"My friend is suffering from desert fever in Kaipo. I need to get the Sand Ruby to save him. Can you help me?"asked Trowa.

"What is his name?"

"Duo. He's really close to my best friend and if anything would happen to him...It would be my fault."

"So he's dear to your best friend, yes? Like Anna was to me.."he muttered looking at Anna then back at Trowa."You can find the Sand Ruby in the Antlion cave, which lies to the east. The Ruby forms from the fluid that the antlion secretes when it lays eggs. We must cross the shallows to reach Kaipo. Let's get going."

"Thank you, King of Damcyan." Trowa replied.

"Oh, and please don't call me a king"

Trowa and Quatre nodded and they went to leave , Edward took one more look back at Anna."Goodbye, Anna..."he muttered then left.

The three left to the Antlion Cave which lie east of Damcyan to get the Sand Ruby and save Duo from the desert fever illness.

The hover craft rose from the earth and Edward piloted it excellently across the shallows.

"It's a wonder they didn't take this hovercraft on their raid to get the Crystal."said Trowa.

Edward shook his head."No, no. They have no need for this old thing when they have their airships."replied Edward.

"Well...when I was in command we were ordered to usually take every last thing."

"Things must be changeing, Trowa...I now see that we have no hope for the future, with the Crystals being stolen by Baron....we'll have nothing left."

"I guess you're right..."

"Hey!!Trowa, this is sooo cool! What fun!!"laughed Quatre, watching over the side as they crossed the shallows.

Edward laughed slightly." This boy's so full of spirit.."

Trowa smiled at Quatre."Yeah...I know, innocent and pure. It's a shame...I made him go through so much pain....I was so blind..." Trowa sighed.

"What did you do?"

Trowa fell silent.

"....I see. You don't have to talk about it then."said Edward."Ah, here we are the Antlion cave. Everyone ready?"

"You betcha!"Quatre giggled and jumped out of the hovercraft after it landed.

Trowa nodded.

"Okay. Good. Prepare yourself."said Edward as they walked into the dark, red ,stoned cavern.

They looked around a bit confused wondering which way to turn first.

"WOW!"Quatre gasped, rubbing the back of his head."Which way? There's so many stair ways!"

"I've been here before. But with the increase in monsters...well..Nevermind that. What matters is that I know the way."explained Edward.

Quatre gave him a swift pat on the back."Well lead the way!-----huh? EW!!!"Quatre exclaimed as a gooey, yellow slime fell straight on top of his head.

"What the hell?"muttered Trowa pulling his sword from his belt.

"Huh?"wondered Edward looking upwards.

Suddenly a big yellow glop and gooey slime fell over Quatre engulfing Quatres body inside itself.

"Dammit!"Trowa yelled backing away.

"Those things are called creams! They suck the life right out of you!"exclaimed Edward.

"WHAT!? But Quatre!"Trowa immediatly pulled his sword back to swing but Edward stopped him.

"NO! You musn't! You'll hit, Quatre!"

"...Dammit! Well how're we gonna get him out!?"

"...I-I don't know!"

Anger poured from every inch of Trowas body."What do you mean you don't know!He's gonna die if I don't do something!! I promised...I'd..."but Trowa stopped seeing the slime bubble and snap fiercly.

"...What the..."muttered Edward.

The slime exploded and Quatre emerged from the glob and fell to the ground gagging and coughing.

"Oh my God...Quatre..."Trowa went instantly to his side and helped him up.

"Is he alright?"asked Edward worried.

Quatre stood up wobbily with Trowas support and made a disgusted face."What does it look like!?"he repleid sarcastically."...and...WHY THE HELL DO I ALWAYS GET STUCK WITH THE MONSTERS!?"

Trowa began to laugh slightly.

"It's not funny, you know.What if I wouldn't of been able to cast any spells, you wouldn't be laughing now would you?"asked Quatre placeing his hands firmly on his hips.

"No. No. Quatre I'm sorry."replied Trowa.

"Thought so. Now let's go before something else happens. I'm like some monster magnet! Now i'm gonna be covered in slime the whole time and its so disgusting and I smell like monster goo EW!"Quatre rambled walking ahead of them.

You shouldn't worry Quatre you know I'll protect you. Trowa followed behind Quatre and Edawrd went up ahead to lead them.

After going down several staircases and many doors, they found themselves in a large circular room with a shining object in the middle. They walked to it.

"This is where the antlion lays its eggs."said Edward as he took a step forward, but suddenly the antlion emerged from the ground.

"Ahhh...."muttered Quatre nervously.

"It's okay. Antlions are quite tame. They don't attack people."explained Edward."Here, let me demonstrate by getting the Sand Ruby." He went to get the Ruby but suddenly the Antlion attacked him and Edward backed off in shock.

"Ah!"

"Let's go Quatre!"

"Yeah! Let's get that Sand Ruby!"

The antlion lunged forward with it's two deadly fangs as Trowa swung with his sword but the Antlion got ahold of it and slung Trowa across the room and into the cave wall.

"Trowa!"Quatre yelled."Are you alright?!"

Trowa groaned and supported himself up a bit by leaning on his sword."Quatre use your magic and Edward you attack and distract it so I can get a desent blow!"Trowa ordered.

"Right Trowa!"replied Quatre starting to chant a spell, as Edward also got ready to fight using his magical harp.

The Antlion swung at them, missing Quatre but knocking Edward to the ground.

Edward gasped in pain and ran off to hide.

"COWARD!!"yelled Quatre trying to defend himself."Come back here and fight!I need your help here or we'll--"Quatre was stopped as the Antlion knocked Quatre to the ground and was now facing his way hungrily.

Trowa went to run over to stop it but the Antlions back claws knocked him back again.

"EDWARD!!"Quatre screamed, as the Antlion leared closer.

Edward you Bastard do something!"yelled Trowa.

Suddenly a flash of light hit into the Antlion blinding it.

Quatre looked back to see Edward."Edward!"

Quatre got up and chanted a spell."HOLD!!" The Antlion went numb and couldn't move.

"Trowa we've held it!"Edward called.

"I don't know how long I can hold on Trowa hurry!"yelled Quatre struggling to hold the antlion down with the spell.

Trowa lept onto the Antlions back and shoved his sword blade right through the Antlion making it roar in pain, it's now limp body covered in blood.

Quatre and Edward let out a sigh of relief, and Edward sadly took the Sand Ruby.

"How could this happen? they've always been so harmless."he muttered.

"Monstres are rapidly multiplying these days, and their behavior is changing as well. I just don't know why..."muttered Trowa.

"...Come on, let's go help Duo!"said Quatre.

"Yea."replied Trowa.

They made their way out of the Cavern quickly and back to the hovercraft.

***

The three made their way back to Kaipo and to the elderly couples house where Duo was, they quickly exposed the Sand Ruby light to him.

"..Oh.."Duo muttered opening his eyes and turning his head to see Trowa."Trowa. Your alive!"

"How do you feel?"asked Trowa.

"I'm fine.I thought I had lost you and Heero...weren't you two in Mist when the earthquake struck?Huh? Heero?"

"....Heero...is....um....Duo who is Golbez?"

"He's the new captain of the Red Wings appointed by the King himself. The King has not been himself lately. I believe Golbez is manipulating him to collect the Crystals for himself, with Mysidias Water Crystal in hand, he'll surely go after the other three--the Fire Crystal of Damcyan, the Wind Crytal of Fabul, and the Earth Crystal of Troia."

"The Fire Crystal has already fallen into his hands..."muttered Edward.

"Edward is the prince of Damcyan. And Quatre is summoner of the Mist. I couldn't have gotten the Sand Ruby to cure your fever without their help."explained Trowa.

"Hi."said Quatre.

"Hello Quatre."replied Duo."Thank you both so much. Trowa, after Damcyan, their next target must be Fabul.We must--urgh!"

"You must rest now. Don't worry. We'll go to Fabul."

"But to reach Fabul, we must travel through Mt. Hobs, and the trail is blocked by thick ice."Edward explained.

Duo turned to Quatre."Quatre, can you cast fire?"

"....No."he replied sternly.

"Fire is the most elementary of Black Magic spells. As a summoner, I'm sure you can --ugh!"coughed Duo.

"Duo stop!You're definitely not coming with us...Not in this condition."

"...Hmph. I see that Heeros not here and I know he'll find you so I'll go with you. I won't stop til I find him. I won't be a burden."

"Trowa...Duo only wishes to help...and find the one he cares about.."explained Edward.

"...Alright. We'll go together. Make sure you get alot of rest tonight."

"Trowa...thanks."replied Duo.

***

That night....

Edward walked out of the house full of pain and sorrow, longing to see his beloved Anna again..."Anna, I miss you so much.."he muttered.

He walked over to the water and began to play his harp, but suddenly a monster appeared from the water and attacked him. But no matter how hard Edward faught he could not fight, but suddenly he heard a familiar voice and a vague figure appeared.

"Edward!" "Anna!"

"You must fight Edward!"

Edward tried even harder and it seemed to be taking affect on the monster.

"Believe in yourself..."

"Anna..."

Edward swiftly faught off the monster and killed it.

"Anna!This can't be true!This is a dream!"

"Yes, it is, and now you must go on. Goodbye, Edward."

"No!Don't go!I love you!Please Anna!Don't go!"

Anna floated away further her final words drifting into the night air."You must not let Golbez have the Crystals. Fight for your people, Edward, and give them the same love you shared with me."

"Anna...I'll fight. I'll fight for you!But what am I to do without.....I don't know...."he muttered.

*tbc*