Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Legend of Knights of Destiny ❯ Part 1 - Uncertain Futures ( Chapter 2 )

Part 1 - Uncertain Futures

Five years later…

"Come in!" Relena called over her shoulder, at the knock at her door.

She was expecting one of her servants to come and help her with her hair, but was surprised when her brother entered the chamber, still dressed casually like he had just come from a ride through the countryside.

"Milliardo, shouldn't you get ready for the reception? I don't think Father will appreciate the crown prince looking like a commoner when the guests arrive."

The blond prince smiled charmingly at his sister. "Princess, aren't we looking lovely today."

Immediately Relena's eyes darkened with suspicion. "What do you want, your Highness?"

The prince feigned surprise. "What do you mean? Can't I simply give my little sister a compliment?"

"You could," the young girl retorted. "But usually you don't, not unless you are about to ask me for a favor."

Milliardo laughed as he sat down in one of the exquisite looking leather chairs near the window. "How did you get so smart, little Sister?" he asked, his hand reaching for the fruit bowl on the small side table. He picked up a grape, threw it into the air and caught it in his mouth.

"Growing up around you and Heero I had to be smart if I didn't want to get the short end of the stick all the time." Relena said defensively, going back to brushing her hair. "So, are you going to tell me why you came?"

Milliardo ate a few more grapes before he answered: "I need you to cover for me tonight."

The girl turned to him. "You are not going to leave the castle by yourself again, are you?"
"Just for a while. There are Gypsies in town, it will be a lot of fun."
"Milliardo, if you want to see the traveling folk, all you have to do is ask Father and he will arrange a performance right here at the palace."

"It's not the same, Relena. I like being outside the castle, amongst the people. If I will be their king some day I would like to know them. Besides, don't worry, Heero will be with me."

"But I am worried, Milliardo." Relena gave her brother a concerned look. "You are the crown prince and with all the enemies the Sanc Kingdom has there is no telling what they would do to you if any of them would get their hands on you." But of course she knew only too well that her brother had already made up his mind and short of telling their father there was nothing she could do to stop him.
The prince smiled at her reassuringly, popping another grape into his mouth. "I'll be fine. We'll be back before Father goes to bed."
"You think you won't be missed tonight at the reception? And if Father finds out you are in so much trouble…"
Milliardo grinned grimly. "He won't find out. Duke Dermail will keep him busy with his usual flatteries. Gods, I hate that man. I believe he is the slimiest and most hypocritical person I have ever known."
"I think Father would agree with you on that, however the duke is still one of his nobles." Relena replied.
"Not to mention his niece… Relena, how can you stand that girl?"
"Actually," Relena said. "Dorothy is very intelligent and I do enjoy talking to her. Just because we don't have the same point of view about things doesn't mean we have to be enemies. Something the future king might take into consideration. So, what will I be telling people when they ask about you tonight?"

"I'm not well and in my quarters. Heero will be keeping me company." The prince smirked. "I think I'm already starting to feel ill. Do I look pale to you?"
Relena couldn't help but smile. She walked over to her brother, giving him a big hug as he got up from his chair. "Be careful, Milliardo." She urged him.

***

In appearance the two riders looked as different as can be. One of them, a man in his early twenties, with creamy white skin, piercing blue eyes and ginger colored hair. The other a boy still, about 12 or 13 summers old with golden tanned skin and slightly slanted obsidian eyes. His hair, as black as the feathers of a raven, was pulled together into a ponytail. One of them of noble blood, a knight loyal to the ruler of the Sanc Kingdom the other a mere slave. Yet in spite of those differences, in heart and soul the two were more alike than anybody would have imagined.

The man looked back over his shoulder to see how his companion was holding up. It had been a long and arduous trip, and they both were worn out and tired. But the boy's pride would never allow him to show any sign of weakness. Although it had been more than six months since Treize had acquired him, the boy had only recently started to open up a little. During their trip Treize had learned little bids and pieces of his slave's past, but he still he had no idea how Wufei had been taken from his home and ended up at a slave market half a world away from the place he was born.
"Is everything all right, Wufei? You are very quiet," Treize said.

"Just tired."
The Captain nodded understandingly.
They rode on, silently; each of them absorbed in their own thoughts. As darkness started to fall over the countryside they could make out the lights of the town ahead of them.

Almost there! Tonight we will be finally sleeping in a real bed again. The tall, ginger-blond man sighed in relief. Once they reached the town, the royal palace was not far anymore. It's been more than three years that I left this place, but it still feels like coming home.
Treize Khushrenada had started his military career at the Royal Palace, and like his father and father's father he had expected to be put in command of the king's personal guards some day. But as a young lieutenant he had been assigned to an outpost near the border to the Romefeller Empire. His actions and the way he handled several incidents had gotten him promoted to captain rather fast. Somehow he had feared that he would be doomed to spend the rest of his career at this post. But very much to his surprise a messenger sent by the king informed him that he was to return to the Royal Palace as soon as possible. And here he was, still wondering why he had been called back so suddenly, but at the same time glad about it.

***

"Trowa?" the braided boy called out once more. He had been looking for the crown prince for quite a while now.
Ruling King Dekim and his nephew had returned from a trip earlier that day. Since Duo didn't find his friend in his chambers he assumed that Trowa was outside in the yard.
"Up here," came a voice from above.
Duo looked up and gasped. The prince was balancing on the narrow battlement ledge atop of the castle's outer wall.
"Are you trying to break your neck?" the braided boy scolded

The prince just snorted as he jumped onto one of the lower rooftops used a tree branch to swing to another roof, and after a graceful flip landed right next to Duo.

"Cats always land on their feet, remember."
Yes, but only when they are cats, the braided boy thought. Aloud he said: "Sometimes I have the feeling you do these things only to shock me."

Trowa gave a tiny smirk at the remark as he sat down in the grass. With his usual cheerful smile Duo settled down next to him. "Come on tell," he demanded.

"Tell what?"

"You have been gone for five days. There has to be something to tell about."
Trowa just sighed.

Dropping his cheerful mask, the braided boy looked at his friend in concern. "Is something wrong? You know you can tell me."

"I know. It is just… Duo, things are so bad. The people are suffering and we live our lavish life and don not even realize it. Our dogs would probably starve on the food a peasant has to survive on. It is the wars. They are killing this kingdom. With most of the men fighting or dead only women and children are left to work the fields. Uncle will not lower the taxes because he says that the war is costing us as well. Duo, why do we have to fight anyway?"

"I don't know," the braided boy answered, his voice barely above a whisper. Being a war orphan he had asked himself the same question many times. He had been very small, almost too young to remember the day when his village was attacked and burned down. He had been taken to Crownwood castle along with other prisoners of war, and somehow King Trinton had taken a liking on him and kept him in the castle as a servant and companion for his son, sparing him from a life of slavery. Technically of course he still was a war slave, but neither the king nor Trowa had ever treated him like one. In fact he had been granted almost the same privileges as Trowa.

"Father was on the right path when he tried to work out a peace treaty with the Sanc Kingdom. If he was still alive things would look a lot different now."

Trowa seemed angry and frustrated. Duo couldn't remember having seen him like this in a long time. After the death of his father the prince had started to hide his emotions from most people. But he never was able to fool Duo. The braided boy could read him like a book.

"Try to remember it's only a matter of time. When you become king you can follow your father's path and finish what he started." Duo tried to be encouraging and uplifting. Trowa just looked up, his emerald green eyes fixing on his friend.
"Duo, I don't think is it is as much a question of when I become king as if I become king."
"What do you mean?" The braided boy frowned. "You are the crown prince and your uncle is only the temporary ruler of this country. Once you come of age you will be crowned."
"Yes, that's how it ought to be," Trowa agreed. "But I have the feeling my uncle has no intention of giving up the power that he has now."

"But…But what can he do? I mean he can't just kill you, right? …Right?" Duo asked, looking at his friend concerned. "I mean there is still that curse…"

Trowa laughed sadly. "You mean the prediction that any member of the royal family who spills the blood of another family member will die as well? I'm somehow starting to believe that this was something made up to keep overly eager heirs to the throne from killing each other. Besides Duo..." He looked at his friend, about to reveal something he had never told anybody before. "…Duo, I believe my father's dead was more than a mere accident. I think my uncle had something to do with it."

Duo's eye's widened at the accusation. "What are you going to do?"

Trowa shrugged. "What can I do? I have no proof. I can only wait."

***

The marketplace was filled with people, sounds and a mixture of different smells that made the experience so unique.
Sure, father could have those traveling people perform at the palace, but you just can't replicate this atmosphere, Milliardo thought, taking a deep breath, as he and Heero strolled around. Wearing a hooded cloak to hide his long, telltale hair, the prince took his companion by the arm and pulled him deeper into the crowd. Heero followed without resisting. It seemed that since the day he had come to live at the palace Milliardo had always been the one taking the lead and he was the one to follow.
For a while they stopped and watched a black-haired gypsy perform "magic" - making small items disappear into thin air. The crowd gasped in awe every time he performed his little trick.
Prussian blue eyes watched attentively. Heero knew it was all just a illusion, but he wasn't able yet to figure out how the man did it. Suddenly he was nudged in the rips.

"You know I wonder if you only tag along to do me a favor?" the prince asked.

"I'm having fun," Heero insisted.

"Good, because you are doing a hell of a job hiding it."
As the two teens shoved their way through the crowd again there was suddenly a hand on the prince's arm. Milliardo tensed a little, but relaxed as he turned to see a old woman in gypsy clothes.
"Do you want to know what the future holds for you, my young lords? I can tell you, and it will cost you only two gold coins for the both of you."
No fortuneteller needed for that, Milliardo thought sarcastically, but nevertheless followed the woman into a small tent, before the younger boy could stop him. The flickering candles and the aroma of incense created a somewhat mysterious atmosphere. In the dim light he could barley make out a small table with a crystal ball on it.
The old woman sat down at the table and gestured to the chair across from her.

"Shall we?"
"You first." Milliardo pushed Heero toward the table, and at the other boy's reluctant grunt he added. "Come on, it will be fun." The young prince pulled two coins from his pocket and threw them into a dish on the table. Heero played along as usually and took his seat. The older teen watched as the woman began to move her hands over the crystal ball, creating a display of sparkling colors within the globe. Suddenly she stopped, her face taking on a surprised look. She repeated her actions and then stopped again, her look somewhat concerned.

"What is it?" Heero asked flatly.
Milliardo swallowed hard. Suddenly he wasn't sure anymore if this had been a good idea. What if she really can tell the future? Do I really want to know?

"I can't see anything," the old woman admitted. "Nothing at all." She looked up; her wise eyes meeting Heero's blue orbs. "It's like your future hasn't been written yet, child."
Realizing that it would look bad when he backed out now, Milliardo changed places with his friend and the old gypsy woman began doing, whatever it was that she had to do to see his future. But again she seemed surprised at the result.

"What, no future for me either?" Milliardo tried to sound sarcastic.

"Oh no. I can see your future clearly. Great powers will be bestowed on you…sooner than you might expect…and with those powers also comes great responsibility, not only for yourself. But I also see another path here. That of a warrior, a masked man with a sword, a soldier perhaps…If I wouldn't know better I would say you have two different futures ahead of yourself."

Now the prince really smirked. A soldier…like that could ever happen? Maybe I ought to take her to Father and have her tell him…
Nevertheless, he thanked the old woman with a polite nod before they left. If nothing else at least they had gotten some amusement out of her little show. The two teens stepped back into the street, still deciding what to do next, when Heero nudged Milliardo's shoulder.
"I think I can do better than that old gypsy. Our immediate future will be rather unpleasant if we don't get out of here."
Looking into the direction his friend pointed Milliardo froze. "Royal Guards? Are they looking for us?"
"It doesn't seem like it. They don't appear to be looking for anybody particular. Maybe just a routine patrol. Nevertheless, we should not take the chance to be seen."

"Yes, we might be able to fool the people, but the guards will definitely recognize us," Milliardo agreed. Making sure his hood was pulled up all the way and turning his head as one of the guards looked in their direction, he followed Heero.

***

The two riders reached the town long after dawn, but the streets were still filled with people. Music and laughter was coming from the marketplace, were some kind of festivities appeared to be going on.

Wufei watched his surroundings curiously, while trying hard to ignore the looks he was getting from people around him. Most of them had probably never seen a person of eastern descent before. So, he couldn't blame them for staring really, but he felt uncomfortable nevertheless.

I should be used to that by now, shouldn't I?

Treize must have felt his slave's unease, because he held back his horse till he rode right beside him.
"So many people." Wufei looked at Treize. "What is the reason for the celebration?"

His master shrugged. "I don't think there is a reason. The people are just trying to enjoy themselves and relax after a hard week's work. The king pays the traveling folk a small fee for performing here in town. It keeps the subjects happy. And happy subjects usually are loyal subjects."

"Hmmm…" Wufei was surprised. "Your king appears to be a wise man." Then there was a long moment of silence before the boy suddenly asked: "Does your king know about me?"

"He knows that I'm bringing a slave with me" Treize answered, but realizing that was not what Wufei was talking about, he added. "No, I didn't get around to letting him know that you are a sorcerer. But you shouldn't worry about it."

Perhaps I shouldn't, Wufei thought. But I just can't help it. What will happen to me if the king doesn't agree with having a sorcerer living in his castle? Will I be sold again?
The thought made Wufei shiver. Most people he had come across since he had been captured had been afraid of magic. In fact his recent master was the only person that seemed impressed and not scared by his powers. Treize was different than most people in many aspects. And most of all, the captain had never lied to him. So perhaps when Treize said there was nothing to worry about he should just trust him.

***

After riding patrol for several years vigilance had become second nature to Treize. So it was no surprise that the captain was instantly suspicious when he noticed two cloaked figures sneaking away from the market. The way they were hiding themselves in the shadows caught his attention, especially when he noticed that they seemed to be hiding from a group of royal guards patrolling the market place and surrounding area.

"Stay here!" he ordered Wufei as he dismounted his horse and handed the boy the reins. "I'll be back in a moment."

Moving quickly through the small alleys and around a few buildings the captain was able to close in on the two figures without being noticed by them. Since it was hard to tell what kind of weapons, were hidden beneath those long cloaks Treize decided to err on the side of caution and reached for his own sword.
A sudden gust of wind blew the hood off the taller of the two figures, and the young man readjusted it quickly, but not before the captain was able to catch a glimpse at long, pale-blond hair. It was all it took for Treize to recognize the youth. And he also had a pretty good idea of who the second boy was. The captain smirked and removed his hand from his sword.

The two boys, completely fixated on the patrol, never even noticed him sneaking up from behind until Treize grabbed the smaller youth by his arm.

The boy jerked around with a snarl. "Take your hands of me, or I'll kill you."

The captain raised one eyebrow in amusement. "You and what army, Lord Yuy?"
"Hn." The dark-haired boy snorted, giving him a glare that would have made a lesser man cringe.
"Treize!" the prince exclaimed in a mixture of shock and surprise.
"Your Highness." Treize gave him a polite nod then added. "Somehow I doubt the king knows that the two of you are out here playing a game of hide and go seek with his guards?"
"Are you going to tell him?" Milliardo asked quietly.

Treize shook his head. "I don't believe it is my place to tell. Unless of course I'm being asked, then I will not lie."

The prince nodded understandingly. "Thank you."

"However," Treize added. "I do expect you to return to the royal palace immediately. Understood?"

"Understood." Milliardo confirmed and Heero just nodded.

"I'll take your word for it, your Highness." The ginger blond man gave them a firm look.

***

Wufei gave his master a questioning look when he returned. But Treize didn't seem inclined to give him any kind of explanation and just mounted his horse.

"Lets go!" he said. "I can't wait to reach the palace, get out of these clothes and take a long hot bath."

A few moments later the two riders came across a group of the royal guards. Treize smiled and reined his mount to a stop next to the patrol.

"Lieutenant Otto, it's been a while."

"It sure has, Captain," the other man replied. "Welcome home. I heard that you were coming back but didn't expect it to be so soon. I'm looking forward to having you back in the ranks. Or will you be taking over command?"
The captain shrugged. "That I don't know yet, Lieutenant. His Highness has not given me his reasons for calling me back. We should find out soon I suppose."
The dark-haired lieutenant turned his attention toward Wufei. "This must be your slave I've heard people talk about? They also say that you paid a good part of your annual commission for him. I can see why."
Wufei glanced at his master. Treize had never mentioned how much he had paid for him.
The captain gave an exasperated huff.

"People tend to talk a lot when the day is long. You shouldn't believe everything you hear."

"That's true," Otto confirmed.

"What else have they been talking about?"

"Not much really. Except last summer when there had been talk about a wedding. Care to enlighten me with some more information?"
The smile fell out of the captain's face and his expression darkened in the blink of an eye.
"I think, Lieutenant, we should be moving on. It's been a long trip. And I believe you are still on duty. We will have time to talk some more later on." He nodded and spurred his horse into a light trot.

What just happened? Wufei' brows furrowed in confusion, as he followed Treize. He was curious to what the lieutenant's had been talking about, but considering the way that his master had reacted, he didn't dare to ask about it.

***

The boy hurried through the woods, looking up at the dark clouds that covered the night sky in worry, hoping that he would make it home before the rain started. No such luck… The sky opened up and rain started pouring down, soaking his shabby clothes in moments.
The castle was too far, but the boy knew of a cave nearby where he could find shelter. He was running now. Occasionally bolts of lightning traveled across the sky and illuminated the way for him.
He had left the castle at dusk, after finishing his chores in the stable, to collect some herbs. The boy remembered sitting down to take a rest, but didn't realize that he had fallen asleep till the first lightning bolt and the rolling of thunder woke him.

Finally he reached the cave. Shivering in the cold night air, he shook his head like a dog in an attempt to get some of the water out of his blond hair. He looked around, his eyes slowly adjusting to the dim light, and smiled when he saw the remains of a makeshift fireplace and some pieces of wood in the depth of the cave. Everything seemed just like he left it. He came here quite often, not just to find shelter from the elements, but because he felt save here. Whenever he managed to sneak out of the castle he could come here and find a few hours of peace.

Still shivering he dropped down to his knees next to the fireplace. He put some new pieces of wood onto the charred remains of an earlier fire, then placed his hands above the wood, closed his eyes and concentrated intensely. After only a few moments a soft glow radiated from his hands, heating and igniting the wood beneath them. The boy smiled softly as the warmth of the fire started to spread. He had never told anybody about his special abilities and he hoped that nobody, especially his master Duke Dermail, would ever find out about them.

The Duke was a wicked man, and Quatre was sure that if he were ever to find out he would force him to use his powers for evil.

I could never, the boy thought. I would rather die than bringing harm on anybody.

When the fire started to generate enough heat Quatre began to undress, slipping out of his wet shirt and pants and laying them out to dry. He settled down close to the fire, legs drawn to his chest and chin on his knees, stared into the flame and listened to the soft noise of the rain. He knew from experience that downpours like this usually lasted for a couple hours. With the Duke away for a few days nobody was going to miss him at the castle before dawn when he had to feed the horses, so he could just give in to his exhaustion and get a few hours of sleep.

Quatre sighed as he closed his eyes, his hair shimmering like gold in the light of the flickering flames.

Sometimes he wondered what he had done to deserve a life like this, but then he told himself that it could be worst. At least he loved what he was doing and was good at it. He took a lot of pride in the fact that he was considered one of the best stable hands amongst many nobles. But this of course meant that he was probably stuck with his current master forever. He had overheard Dermail tell another noble that he considered him too valuable to sell him at any price. Running away was out of question as well. He had tried more than once, unsuccessfully, and the punishments had been brutal. Even though the Duke considered Quatre too valuable to sell, it didn't stop him from having the boy almost beaten to death.

***

As soon as the sorceress entered the dining room, Emperor Tubarov could tell that something was wrong. An aura of wrath surrounded her like a dark cloud. Yes, she was definitely in a bad mood.

"What seems to be the problem, Lady Catorce?" he asked.

"No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to get my hands on them."
"Are you still trying to find those legendary knights?" Tubarov asked, leaning back in his seat. "You have been on this for nearly 10 years now. Perhaps, Milady, you should consider the possibility that you are chasing ghosts."

One of the servants pulled a chair out for her and the black-haired woman sat down across from the Emperor.

"I'm not chasing ghosts. And if those incompetent fools of yours wouldn't have messed up 10 years ago, they would be either dead by now or in our hands," she growled.

"My men would not have failed if Odin Lowe and his troops wouldn't have interfered." Tubarov gestured for the servants to start serving the meal.

"I suppose it wasn't their fault either that they let Lowe kill himself before I could make him reveal where he hid that boy." She snarled, her eyes sparkling in anger. "That boy would have made all the difference. Once I have one of them finding the others will be no problem. - Tubarov, I don't think you realize the seriousness of our situation. We are running out of time. You might think you are very powerful, but believe me not even our combined powers are enough to stop the Knights of Destiny once they have found each other and have access to all their abilities. Nobody has ever been able to destroy them. However if we can get our hands on them and make them work for us we could rule the world." She smiled at the thought of that. Yvonne Catorce, Empress of the world… It certainly had a nice ring to it.

"What about your friend Quinze? I thought you said he had found one of the whelps for you?" the Emperor retorted. He hated it when she acted like she was the only smart one around here. If he wouldn't need her magic powers so desperately…

"Quinze contacted me after he captured the boy, but that's the last I heard of him. Something must have gotten wrong," the sorceress admitted.

" I hope you are not spending all your energy searching for those phantom knights," Tubarov said.

Yvonne gave him a thin smile. "Don't worry, I have not neglected your little "pet project". Those dark warriors of yours are coming along quite nicely."

"When will be able to use them?"
She smiled again. "Patience, your Highness, patience. Magic like that takes time. You wouldn't want me to make a mistake and loose your army in the midst of a battle, would you?"

Of course he wouldn't want that to happen. But he was not sure now much more patient he could be.