Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets ❯ is this the end or is this the fantasy ( Chapter 24 )

CHAPTER 20: is this the end or is this the fantasy

How can you know if what you think is real- is in fact real? How do you know that what you hear is the truth? Isn’t it all relative? Isn’t it all related? Perhaps the fall is not the first step, but the landing. If that is so- when we wake are we not in fact dreaming?

Duo sat in the pilot seat looking out at the small asteroids that rolled and pitched around their tiny ship. It was in instances like this when he realized how small he really was and how dangerous space could be.

“What’s the reading now?” Orah’s voice cut into his thoughts and shook away the melancholy, forcing him back to the present and their new situation.

“Still nothing. Still blinking.” he sighed and quickly touched a few switches that made no difference in the readings he was looking at. “There’s a power loss somewhere and I’m not even sure that’s it’s in here.”

Orah rolled out from beneath the panel and looked hard at the back of Duo’s head. “Oh, and just where do you think it is- oh mighty one?”

Duo swirled around in the chair and graced the prone body at his feet with a smirk. “I think that one of the panels is bent and that’s causing a feed back which then causes instability in the field - i.e the blinking.”

Orah nudged him with her foot before muttering, “Smart ass.” Pulling herself up, she scowled as her knees popped. “So, in other words, it can’t be fixed without docking.”

“Well, I have to say that the weapons systems on this tub sucks.” Trowa threw a tool into the box next to Duo as he stepped into the cockpit. “They are sub-standard at best and out dated at worse. The timing system is so out dated I’ve had to remove it to enable us manual control.”

“So we got a lemon, huh?” Duo smiled cheeky. “Think we can get our deposit back?”

Trowa frowned but was kept from firing off an uncharacteristic comeback by Quatre stepping in. A frown marred his usually sunny features as his hand rubbed over his heart.

“Cat?” Duo rose from the chair as Orah stepped beside the small blonde, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

“What’s up little man?” She murmured, one hand rubbing slowly along his spine to offer comfort.

“Duo, I hate to ask this but . . .” Quatre hesitated, his eyes dropping to the floor.

Duo leaned forward trying to meet his eyes, but was unsuccessful. “Ask away.”

Quatre sighed heavily before locking eyes with Duo. “How many shadows do you think are out there?”

Duo’s body shook minutely as he turned and looked out the front ports.

“Oh my God.” Orah breathed as the stars began to slowly fade to darkness.

Trowa moved to Duo and wrapped his arms around the braided boy. He could feel the tremors running through the slight frame, but could not make himself move his eyes from the sight before them.

“What the hell!” Wufei’s voice joined the group as he and Heero rushed into the cockpit to see the darkness blank out the stars completely.

From outside the asteroid slowly floated, swaying and rolling to the outside forces. Beside it a small dark formation seemed to fade into it’s dark side becoming shadow until it vanished, the sunlight touching the surface again.

00000000000

(O)(O)(O)

First there was pain. Then the silence was filled with the harsh sound of ragged breathing. He didn’t want to know what had happened. He didn’t want to open his eyes. He didn’t want to look and see the nothing he knew had to be there.

-you are going to live.-

The voice was whispered. It had felt like a cool wind across his face, but it had sounded as if it had come from his own mind. Slowly he opened his eyes only to see the darkness he had feared. Far above him was a small pinpoint of light. A slight indication of from where he had fallen and how far. Closing his eyes again he tried to take a breath only to have pain race through him.

-you must not fear.- the still whispered voice said. >you are going to survive.<

“Who?”

-no words. You will sleep now.-

He felt the warm comfort of numbness come over him as his eyes drifted shut again and the pain faded away.

“It’s going to be all right. I’ve got you.” he heard his father murmur as he moved down a darkened hallway. “This is all just a bad dream and soon you’ll be back in the park where the flowers grow.”

He tried to smile, but he felt his father’s body jerk even as he turned to destroy the dark one following them.

“Almost there.” He felt his father hug him as they entered the ante room. He’d never been allowed in here before, but this was the final destination of all the children of the Order.

His father slammed the door shut, code locking it, and set him on the pad in the center of the room.

He then touched his forehead and met his lavender eyes. “You are who you are, no matter what. You are my son and the true blood of this world. You are a very special child.”

He smiled as his father touched a crystal to the center of his forehead, activating it. The crystal’s glow fell into his eyes and he felt it’s serenity. His young mind filled with pictures, moving too fast for him to grasp, until finally it was all quiet again.

“You will be fine.” His father smiled before moving away.

Loud bangs rang through the room and shook the door. The creatures were trying to come in.

There was nothing but silence in the dark night. It was as if every creature in the forest was waiting for something to happen. Something to come forth and break the silent darkness. And then it did. Lightning struck from the sky and illuminated a small patch of the forest. Inside it a form took shape, arms stretching up to touch the heavens. A body screamed in release as the light faded and it collapsed onto the cold ground. Silence returned as a gentle rain began to fall. The dry earth drank up the water as if fell; the forest returning to normal once again.

The battle was furious and bloody. Men screamed and fought and bled and died, covering the field in red. Women cried as they watched their champions fall one by one; darkness covering the light to still.

“What the hell are they waiting for?” The desperate voice cut through the wailing.

Swords clanged against each other as the battle raged on. The eyes watching were frightened and wide.

“. . . we have the opportunity to save the way of life we have so long fought for. When we activate the final stage, the enemy will shake with fear and we will rise before the system triumphant.”

They think we don’t or can’t think for ourselves. They think that we don’t remember what it was like before. They think that we haven’t put two and two together and come up with the truth. They think we’re mindless. They ‘think’ wrong.

“In the next hour we will step forth and meet the enemy with greatness and defeat them without effort. We will stand on their dying bodies and destroy their cities. We will rise to the height of victory for the people we serve!”

This time they will not win. This time they had miscalculated. This time they chose to take the wrong people.

They say heroes are born, not made. I beg to differ. Heroes are made since it takes an extreme act of utter stupidity to become one. Lets face it, the man who runs into the burning building to save trapped children, while a hero, had to be the dumbest shit standing there. Fire burns- fire kills- and the first rule we’re always taught is get away from it. Then there’s the person who stands in front of the madman and talks him out of blowing up the building, shooting the girl-child- group, or jumping off the roof. This is a person who needs physiatrics because they obviously think they are invincible. I can’t stop a bullet- can you? And besides why would I want to, I’m no hero. At least I don’t think I am.

11

Why is it never as simple as it’s suppose to be. You know- the hero saves the day- the bad guys all get put away- and no one dies. But it’s never like that.

Damn.

2

The bullets flew by him leaving that odd whistling noise. There were
stings of near misses and pings of metallic hits. There were voices- yelling, cursing, shouting, and then. . .

“Drop your weapons!”

“Preventors!”

“Don̵ 7;t move!”

O0O

“Duo? Duo, wake up child. It’s time to wake up, Duo. The dragon and the elfin childe are waiting for you. You have to wake up now. NOW!”

Duo jerked and opened his eyes. There was a strange darkness and his head hurt, but his body felt disconnected. Looking around he tried to find his bearings or at least the person who woke him, but he saw nothing. Absolutely nothing- not even a star to guide himself by.

“So much for Peter Pan.” he quipped, hoping to quell the fear rising within him. He’d never been one to back down from a fight and he sure wasn’t going to let a little darkness scare him. He was a Gundam Pilot for heaven sakes and that meant he was fearless; that meant he was. . .

A small pinpoint of light drew his eyes and he watched, holding his breath, as it grew closer. It seemed to take forever before it was close enough to make out shape and form; however, it had none. At least not one he could determine right away.

“It was like I was seeing everyone for the first time.
I mean, really seeing them.
Heero the great warrior, with sword and shield of glowing gold.
Wufei, the dragon, more healer than warrior but his wife sees to the strength of his battles.
Quatre, the pure soul of immortality.
Trowa, the elf master, speaker to animals and keeper of charms.
Usually pixies have nothing to do with elves, but she follows you wherever you go and does what she can to keep the animals in line.
Heero’s little warrior is so sweet, she looks so innocent but you can tell that she knows so much.
Quatre, our gentle heart, holds all the answers to all the questions but he doesn’t know it yet.
“Wufei’s wife tried to tell him that it was okay to be a healer,
but he wanted so badly to be like the rest of his clan.
He just didn’t understand until it was too late how gifted he truly was.”
Not all of his kind are given this gift, his was a true calling
and he was afraid of it.
Now he uses it but he hasn’t embraced it yet and he needs to.
We all have to seek the other side of ourselves before we can go on.”

.

“Hey! Stop that!” Duo shouted, unnerved by the sound of his own voice filling the dark void.

The light seemed to dive then came up, as a bird would, to ‘land’ in front of him. It was large- twice his own size- and made of fire. So bright it should have blinded him, but instead it felt natural to be able to look upon it. It’s spread wings fluttered for a moment before drawing in and locking it’s shining eyes with Duo’s own.

“We all have to seek the other side of ourselves before we can go on.” It sang.

“Wha. . .?” Duo gasped as the bright bird transformed.

The gentle countenance of the woman before him made him feel strong and small at the same time, as if he should protect and would be protected by her.
Her long white robe graced her body, revealing and hiding all aspects of her, as she step toward him, her white-blonde hair blending in with the robe’s length. Cupping his face, her shining golden eyes stared down at him in such a maternal way that Duo felt like he should crawl into her arms and cry.

Then she smiled and the darkness changed into a small garden with willow trees, a stone bench, butterflies, and a gentle fountain.

“It has been so long, my child.” her voice sang in an accent made him think of old world languages and those spoken before time. “I have wanted so much to see you, but you were not yet ready.”

“Who?” Duo mind jumped to all sorts of things, but the one thing that kept coming forward was that she looked like the Elfin Queen from the Twin

Her smile grew and she inclined her head. “I took that image from those within you. It seemed the best and most comforting.” She took his hand and lead to the bench to sit with her. “I have not been here since before you were born. I had forgotten how peaceful this place was. Nothing on any world can compare to it.”

Duo finally gathered his scattered wits and tried to find a reference for this latest visitation. There was none. Never in his life . . .

“I know and I’m sorry for that.” She looked so sad as she touched his face again. “There are some things that cannot be controlled and your time of being was one of them. I wished for so much, but you were needed when you were needed and not a moment before.”

“Who are you?” Duo finally asked.

She smiled happily and took his hand. “I am that which gave you life.”

Duo jerked his hand away and stood. “What!?” Shaking his head, he tried to make himself understand what she was saying, but couldn’t. “You’re my mother!?”

The ethereal smiled at him. “Not in the sense you think. I give life to all things, though I am not the creator of it.”

Duo frowned. “What are you talking about? Where am I? Where are my friends?”

The ethereal dropped her head for a second before sighing. “You are going to make it all so complicated.” Shaking her head, she straightened her shoulders and locked eyes with him again. “But then again, that is what life is for humans is it not?”

Duo shook his head, trying to clear it. Why was she speaking in riddles all of a sudden. “Look, I just want to know where my friends are.”

She smiled at him in a fashion of a mother to a child before she answered. “There is so much that you don’t understand and so little time for you to learn it.” She sighed and motioned for him to stand with her. “There is a path that all humans must walk. It is, to them, predestined. Some would call it the road of life, set up before that one was born so that they could travel in safety. However, that which they start is not always the same road traveled. Perhaps, you would think, fate has it’s hand upon them; when in truth they merely chose a fork. This is one such fork.”

Duo frowned, his eyes had been scanning the foliage around them as they walked hoping to see a hint of where they were or where is friends may be hidden. It was only with her last words that he stopped at turned to her.

Her smile turned sad as she reached out and touched his face, another gesture he would think akin to a mother. “Choose wisely, my little firebird, for this road must be traveled to the end.”

Before his eyes the forest behind her faded and changed, transforming itself into three different roads- silver, gold, and bronze- and while her visage faded into mist, he knew that she was now behind him - waiting.

Narrowing his eyes, Duo looked hard at the three roads. “Where are my friends?”

He felt her smile as a gentle breeze -her hands- touched his shoulders. “They are all ready on the road you choose.”

Duo smirked at her answer. “Always.” He murmured before releasing his power and spreading his wings. “Let no one say that Shinigami ever chose a single road.”

With a great leap, Duo took flight- choosing neither gold, nor silver, nor bronze, but heading straight into the fading light of the ending sun.