Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gundam Wing and the Knights of the Round Table ❯ Oops! We did it Again! ( Chapter 14 )

To my loyal readers: Does it seem like I'm running out of ideas? No? Well, I'm not, but we're about to make a change. The boys have been a little rough on Arthur's court. So, expect changes by the end of the chapter. But don't throw anything!

 

Chapter 14: Oops! We did it Again!

“Do you suppose we should tell Merlin that Roku shape-shifted?” Trowa asked over lunch.

The six of them were sitting by themselves at a table in the main hall.

“Probably not,” said Quatre. “He's freaked out enough as it is. If he learns Roku has started practicing magic, he'll be convinced that mass destruction of all life as he knows it is not far behind.”

Roku lashed his tail. “I'm not dangerous!”

“Of course not, sweetie!” Quatre assured him. “But Merlin doesn't know you as well as we do.” Quatre patted him and Roku snuggled his head under Quatre's chin. He was not completely sitting in Quatre's lap this time. He just had one paw resting on Quatre's thigh while he ate. “Now try to get more food in your mouth and less on your face.”

“Um-hmm,” Roku mumbled as he gulped down his usual trencher of raw meat.

Quatre shook his head. “You're getting a bath tonight.”

Roku's head popped up. “Really?! Oh, goody!” Then he jammed his face back into his food.

“It's a good thing tiger's like water,” Trowa remarked.

“Isn't it though?” Quatre smiled sweetly at Trowa. “You're helping.”

“I am? I'll lay out a change of clothes, then. It seems like every time I help bathe Roku, I end up with more water on me than he does.”

“He does splash about a bit,” Quatre agreed.

“A bit?”

Quatre just smiled.

There was a commotion in the doorway and several French knights swaggered into the hall, rudely shouldering aside lower ranking castle citizens on their way in to dine. One of the knights spotted Heero and pointed, speaking loudly to his comrades at the same time.

“There eez that English so-called knight, Heero Yuy.”

Duo stood up with a growl. “That's Sir Heero to you, Frenchie!” he shouted. “Show some respect for your superiors!”

“Superiors!” the knight sputtered, his face flushed with outrage. “No English knight eez the equal of the least knight in France!”

“Is that so?” Borridin spoke from behind the Frenchmen in a slow drawl. “Would you be that least knight I'm no better than?” The burly Englishman was calmly trimming his fingernails with his dagger.

The French knight paled slightly and licked his lips. “You misunderstand me, Sir! I was speaking only of that knight.” He gestured toward Heero with a hand that might have been shaking.

Duo grinned. “Well, now, the amusing thing there, my friend, is Sir Heero ain't English. So you've gone and insulted your hosts for no reason.”

Borridin pointed casually with his dagger. “And it seems to me that young Heero defeated you lot fair and square as well, so you're poor losers on top of it.”

Several of the French knights were now flush-faced with anger and embarrassment. One of them whispered something to the others and nodded his head toward the door. Borridin watched with amusement as they retreated out of the hall, then he made his way over to Heero and the others.

“Damned idiots!” he boomed good-naturedly. “They should just go home, but Galvoisin can't travel yet. Seems he cracked his tailbone when Sir Heero dumped him on his ass.” Borridon clapped Heero on the shoulder. “He won't be able to sit a horse for months! He was better off wrestling your little cub as a bunny.” Borridon rubbed Roku's ears.

Roku chuckled.

“However, it might be best if you steer clear of that lot until they leave,” Borridon continued. “Arthur would like to avoid any more trouble.”

“Believe me, I would like nothing better than to never see any of them again,” Heero said with feeling. “I think I'll just stay in the suite until we go into town tomorrow.”

“I'll keep you company,” Duo said with a grin.

Quatre rolled his eyes.

“It looks like we're studying in the hall again, Roku,” Wu-Fei said.

“Are they going to be naughty?”

Quatre glared at Duo. “You are a bad influence!”

“Do we have to study, Papa Wu-Fei? I want to watch Papa Trowa do tumbling.”

“Well, we did get a lot done this morning. I suppose it's all right to take the rest of the day off.”

“Goody!” Roku leaped off the bench. “Let's go before Mama tries to wash my face!” He galloped toward the exit.

Quatre glared at Trowa. “You're not planning to teach him anything, I hope.”

“Of course not.” Trowa tried to look innocent.

Quatre wasn't buying it.

“Don't worry! He'll be fine.” Trowa hurried after Roku.

Wu-Fei glanced at Heero and Duo. “Well now, it seems like I suddenly don't have anything to do.”

“You can help me keep Heero out of trouble,” Duo said. He winked at Borridon. “We'll keep him out of the Frenchies' path.”

Borridin slapped Duo on the back. “There's a good lad!” He lumbered off to get his lunch.

Duo winced and rolled his shoulders. “That man's congratulations are going to cripple me one of these days. Let's get out of here before he comes back to hand out any more praise.”

At breakfast the next morning, Roku demonstrated what he had learned from Trowa the previous afternoon. He walked all the way around their table on a big wooden ball. Then he stopped, rolled backward several turns, rolled forward again, and then balanced on his front paws for several seconds.

Everyone applauded, including Quatre, even though he was frowning pointedly at Trowa.

“I thought you weren't going to teach him anything.”

“Well, I happened to mention that you could stand on a ball in your tiger form and he wanted to try it.”

“I see.”

“It's perfectly safe.”

“Of course.”

Roku bounded into Quatre's lap. “But I did good, didn't I, Mama?”

Quatre hugged him. “Of course you did, sweetie. Now eat your breakfast.”

“Breakfast, dinner, how can you tell the difference?” Duo remarked casually. “It's a pile of raw meat every time.”

“I like raw meat,” Roku said and he jammed his face into his food.

“He's so refined and delicate the way he gulps his meat down without chewing,” Duo noted.

“Yeah, he reminds me of someone,” said Heero.

“Hey!”

Heero stood up. “I'm finished. I think I'll head into town to get my new sword.”

“Hang on, I'll go with you!” Duo shoveled the last of his food into his mouth and stood up.

“Mama, may I go with Papa Heero, too?” Roku asked excitedly. “I've never been to town!”

“We should continue your writing lessons, Roku,” Wu-Fei pointed out.

“But we can have lessons later!” Roku protested. “I'll work twice as hard! Oh, please?”

“All right,” Quatre said, “but you have to promise to stay close to Papa Heero and Papa Duo the whole time.”

“I promise!” Roku licked Quatre's face and leaped off the bench. “Let's go!” He began dashing in little circles around Heero's legs.

“How am I supposed to walk?” Heero growled, but there was a hint of a smile on his face.

Roku giggled and bounded away toward the exit.

Quatre pulled out his handkerchief to wipe off the slobbery mess Roku had left on his cheek. “You better keep a close eye on him!” he warned.

“He'll be fine, Quatre,” Duo said. “We'll take good care of him.”

“Perhaps I'll go with them,” Wu-Fei said, “just to make sure there is at least one sane head in the group.” He rose and followed the other two out of the main hall.

Trowa looked at Quatre. “They seem to have left us alone for the time being.”

Quatre lifted an eyebrow. “I was planning to review a spell I've been working on.”

“You can do that later, can't you?”

“I suppose.”

“Let's go back to my room.” Trowa smiled. “I'll speak French.”

Quatre grinned. “Will you, now? I might enjoy that.”

The two of them returned to the suite.

The others left the castle for town. Roku bounced up and down as he trotted along to keep from racing too far ahead. Nevertheless, every horse they passed looked as if it was about to have a heart attack. They also discovered that at least one local shepherdess could use language that could make Duo blush when Roku inadvertently frightened the herd of sheep she was driving down the road and scattered them in all directions. Feeling responsible, Heero and Duo helped her round them up while Wu-Fei and Roku waited at a discreet distance.

Duo picked Roku up as they got close to town. “There are way too many people and animals here, Roku,” he said. “I think it will be safer if I carry you for now.”

Roku looked indignant. “Safer for whom?”

“For me!” said Duo. “If something happens to you, Quatre will take my skin off!”

“Oh.” Roku looked slightly mollified.

They made their way through town to the blacksmith's shop.

“Greetings, Sir Heero!” the smith called. He was, like most smiths, a burly man with massive arms. “I've completed the work you asked for.” He pointed with his hammer toward a sheathed sword hanging on a hook on the wall.

Heero took it down and examined the leather windings on the handle. He gripped it firmly and drew the blade. The sword gleamed brightly in the sunlight. He stepped clear of the others and swung the sword, making a few slow passes and then half a dozen quick sweeps. He nodded in satisfaction. “This will do. Thank you.”

“You're welcome, sir, and it's a pleasure doing business with you,” the smith replied.

Heero buckled the sword around his waist.

“Let's stop by the market,” Duo said. “Since we came all this way, we might as well see what else there is to buy. Besides, I'm sure Roku would like to see it.”

“Yes, please!” Roku said. “But may I walk?”

“Ok, but you have to walk and you have to stay right next to me. No bounding off.”

“Yes, Papa Duo.”

Heero was not interested in shopping, so he leaned up against a post supporting an awning near the edge of the market. “I'll wait here.”

“Let's see if the cloth merchants have any new silk,” Duo said. “I'm thinking of getting a shirt made.”

“You're nuts, Duo. Cotton is more practical for everyday wear,” Wu-Fei said.

“Maybe so, but it doesn't feel anywhere near as nice.”

Roku obediently stayed right by Duo's legs, but after a while he began to growl softly.

“What's the matter, Roku?” Duo asked.

“I smell the bad men.”

“What do you mean `bad men'?” Duo asked.

“The ones Papa Heero was jousting. I smell them.”

“You mean the French knights? Where?” Duo looked around. Wu-Fei looked, too.

“I see them,” Wu-Fei said suddenly. “They're hassling Heero.” He sprinted away.

“Dammit!” Duo shouted and he took off after Wu-Fei, with Roku at his side.

Fifteen angry French knights were confronting Heero.

Heero looked like he could spit nails. “The joust is over, gentlemen. Why don't you go back to France?”

“We will leave when we have had our revenge,” said one angrily. He seemed to have the best command of English. “You dishonored De Croix Vert! You dishonored us all!”

Heero ground his teeth. “I did no such thing. It was a simple joust. I was just better.”

There were angry cries from the gathered knights.

“Ho!” the first knight cried. “Again you insult us! No mongrel knight is better than the flower of France!”

Wu-Fei skidded to a halt behind the group. “Back off! This is no place to be picking fights!”

Several of the knights turned. A few looked alarmed at seeing Roku standing next to Duo, but when they saw Quatre was not with them, their arrogant confidence returned.

“You are no match for us without your wizard friend!” the knight said. He stepped toward Roku with his hand on his sword. “Your little tiger does not frighten us.”

“You outnumber us,” Wu-Fei replied evenly. “Is that where you get your courage? Or is it because you know Arthur has restrained Heero from kicking your sorry butts all the way back to France?”

The knight bristled. “You could not defeat me were I alone!” he declared. He yanked his sword from its sheath. “I have had enough of your insults!” He swung his heavy blade at Wu-Fei's head.

The knight never saw Wu-Fei draw his kitana, but suddenly he found himself staring down at the red pile of his own guts. The look of utter astonishment remained on his face even as he collapsed to the ground dead.

The other knights stared, momentarily shocked. Then with cries of outrage, they charged at Wu-Fei, drawing their swords.

Duo scooped Roku up with one arm and skipped out of the way.

Heero didn't move at all. He just stood there with his arms crossed, watching the fight.

Wu-Fei sliced his way through the knights with graceful efficiency. The first to reach him lost his head. The second lost his sword arm just below the elbow. The third spilled his guts out onto the ground. And so it went. In less time than it takes to say “What the hell were they thinking?”, Wu-Fei dispatched the fourteen remaining Frenchmen.

Dead silence greeted the spectacle of the blood-spattered Wu-Fei standing in the center of the gory pile of dead knights.

Then there was an explosion of applause and cheers. Townspeople came forward to pound Wu-Fei on the back and congratulate him on a job well done.

Duo strolled over to stand beside Heero. “Seems like those French knights weren't too popular.”

“They were a bunch of assholes.” Heero frowned. “But Arthur's not going to be happy about this.”

“But you didn't do it! He can't be mad at you.”

“That's not the point.”

“Well, look at the bright side; they're not all dead. Jean-Pierre isn't here.”

“Oh, yeah, that makes everything all right!” Heero snarled sarcastically.

“We'd better get back to the castle,” Duo said. “Maybe if we explain to Arthur that we were provoked before he hears the story from anybody else, it won't be so bad.”

“Somehow, I don't think it will make any difference.”

It didn't make any difference. Arthur was terribly upset when he was informed that the entire contingent of French knights, except for Jean-Pierre Galvoisin de Croix Vert, who was still laid up with his injuries from the joust, had been killed in a brawl in the marketplace. The fact that Wu-Fei had done it and not Heero seemed to upset him even more.

“What a double-standard!” Duo whispered to Wu-Fei. “A knight can break a promise and kill other knights, but if a non-knight who hasn't made a promise does it, it's worse?”

Wu-Fei just shrugged.

Quatre glared at Duo. “Shut up, Duo! I'm still pissed at you for letting my baby witness a massacre.”

“I'm not a baby!” Roku growled. He squirmed in Quatre's arms but Quatre clearly had no intention of putting him down.

The five pilots and their son stood before Arthur in the main hall. Arthur looked a little frail sitting on his throne, with his crown canted slightly over to one side.

“Sir Heero,” Arthur said, “while I recognize that you kept your word to do no grievous harm to our French guests, it would have been better if your comrades had held themselves bound by the same oath. I have no idea how I will explain this terrible breach of courtesy to the French court.” Arthur frowned unhappily. “I will have to make some gesture of remorse.”

Merlin, standing beside Arthur, looked very worried. He leaned over and whispered into Arthur's ear, glancing repeatedly at Roku and Quatre. Arthur began to look worried, too. He straightened slightly. “You gentlemen have been guests in our court for some months now. While we have been honored by your presence, perhaps it is time for you to move on.” He licked his lips.

“And go where?” Quatre replied testily.

Merlin paled and Arthur licked his lips again.

“Ahh… well…” Arthur began uncertainly.

“May I make a suggestion, Your Majesty?” said Percival.

“Please!”

“Perhaps these good gentlemen would care to accompany on my upcoming quest. Their many skills might prove useful in this endeavor.”

Arthur brightened immediately. “Why yes! That is a marvelous suggestion, Sir Percival! Your quest would surely benefit from the addition of such fine gentlemen to your party.”

Quatre's eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What kind of a quest? I'm not doing anything that will put my son at risk.”

“The greatest quest on which any man can embark,” Percival stated piously. “The Quest for the Holy Grail.”

Five jaws dropped in unison.

“Are you serious?” Duo exclaimed.

“This is a most serious matter,” Percival replied gravely. “Whether or not a man finds the Holy Grail, the quest itself will surely bring enlightenment. And perhaps, should you choose to join me in this endeavor, you will find the means to return home.”

The five pilots looked at each other.

“Well,” said Heero, “I have been getting a little bored lately.”

“I wouldn't mind seeing more of England,” said Wu-Fei.

“The castle has started to feel kind of small,” said Trowa.

“I've finished all the books in Merlin's study,” said Quatre.

“Road trip!” cried Duo.

“Mama, what's a Holy Grail?” asked Roku.

-o-o--o-o--o-o--o-o--o-o--o-o--o-o--o-o--o-o--o-o--o-o--o-

And thus ends the exciting saga of Gundam Wing and The Knights of the Round Table!

But don't despair!

The story will continue in the all-new, even more exciting sequel:

Gundam Wing and The Quest for the Holy Grail

which I swear I have already started writing!