Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Dragon's Prince ❯ Chapter 2

Treize couldn't last recall being so grateful to reach a destination. They'd reached the city in a day's time (though the journey only took a half a day when the journey was pixie-free) and now were resting comfortably in the Bell and Basin Inn and Tavern. Heero was tired from chasing Duo all over the place on the way there, and now slept peacefully in his bed. Duo, however, was sitting up and staring out the window at the great expanse of city they had yet to explore, as well as the castle itself.

"Do you like what you see, Duo?" the lord asked thoughtfully when he stumbled upon the pixie. He'd had to see to the horses and his luggage before retiring himself; otherwise, he'd be in Heero's predicament by now. "I would think after all of your adventures today, you would be snoring up a storm and keeping Heero awake. Does something trouble you?"

Duo shook his head and smiled. "No, Lord Treize. I've never seen such a structure is all. I'm so used to my birch tree back home, and of course the Kushrenada Manor. Quatre's told me about his home at the palace a few times, but I've never actually seen it, or been inside it. Seeing this human's castle is…I mean…"

Treize chuckled and shooed Duo out the chair he stood on, allowing him to sit down in it and hoist Duo into his lap. "It's magnificent, truly," he said, holding Duo up to allow him full view of the OZ palace. "I have seen it a few times, but it is most spectacular at night. That is when all the lamps and torches are lit, and the castle's windows glow with a merry golden light. The castle looks as though it were constructed of spun sugar, on nights such as this, and with the backdrop of the stars… well, it is an image of dreams."

"I want to see!" said Duo eagerly. "Can we go now, Lord Treize? Will you transform with me so we can see it?"

"You know better than that, Duo," Treize said firmly. "I cannot transform in front of humans, and you most certainly don't need Heero chasing after you and adding to your punishment. We will see it, Duo, I promise. You'll just have to be patient and obedient until then." Duo pouted adorably upon hearing that, but his pout held no effect on Treize. The ginger-haired noble chuckled softly and picked Duo up to lay him in bed, settling him beside Heero and resting the pixie's head on Heero's chest. "Goodnight, now. In the morning, you and Heero will accompany me to the palace so we may formally sign up for the contests. After we have had our lunch, we will explore this city a little more. All right?"

Duo stifled a yawn and agreed rather indifferently. "If you say so," he murmured, then realized his mistake and piped up again. "I mean, yes, Lord Treize. Thank you Lord Treize. Goodnight to you, Lord Treize."

Treize only laughed softly and retired to his own bed, but found his inability to sleep the instant his head hit the pillow. In the next room, his traveling companions were fast asleep, their snores mingling into the mellow tunes of the night. He sighed and re-lit his bedside's candle carefully, being at least thankful that Duo and Heero now slept after such a journey. He would rather someone sleep than the three of them get no rest at all. His winged coach to Slumberland would arrive in due time, he supposed. He'd simply have to be patient until then.

The Kushrenada noble contented himself to stare at his own hands for a bit, pondering Duo's words and his lot in life. Physically he could transform himself in public, but he felt it improper to do so. He tried to limit his transformations for times of emergency, though none had yet arisen unless one counted that time Quatre had gotten himself trapped in an abandoned cave. A rock fall closed off any hope of escape or air for the little pixie prince, but thankfully Treize had been able to dig him out in record time after transforming. Trowa and Heero did not leave as Treize had feared; the boys were familiar with magic, and knew better than to blab such things all over the countryside.

That was all well and good for them, but Treize deeply feared discovery. He lived alone for that soul purpose; to evade discovery. He would have stayed alone and miserable for the rest of his life if it hadn't been for Duo and his curiosity. Treize smiled broadly whenever he thought of little Duo; he owed that little imp the world and so much more. When he'd first met the orphaned pixie, he cursed himself and his compassion when he offered Duo a home at the manor. Two years passed, and then the pixie prince Quatre arrived with a warrant for Duo's arrest. Somehow the warrant was botched, and Quatre ended up living at the manor as well. And after Quatre came Heero, a young man from a far away village on a dragon hunt. After Heero came Heero's older cousin, Trowa. Trowa had gone in search of Heero after he hadn't returned in five years.

They all lived on Kushrenada Manor since then, and Treize couldn't help but think `who next?' <Perhaps this Dragon will join us,> he joked, though he couldn't bring himself to laugh. He seemed eager to meet this self-proclaimed Dragon. Perhaps in this Dragon, he could find a suitable mate, or even a life-partner with which to pass his time on this earth. Then perhaps they could raise their own little clutch of fledglings together, and then finish out their time in peace.

But there was also that nagging possibility that this road only led to disappointment. What if it was all a lie? What if this one was actually a dragon slayer? Or worse… what if he was in league with the one who had cursed him in the first place?! That whore of an enchantress who sabotaged his ancestors so long ago! She would cook something of this caliber up to destroy him before he got to her!

A noise in the next room broke his concentration. In seconds, Heero stumbled in, wearing only his breeches and his sword. "My lord," he said with a swift bow of his head. "I heard growling. Does something trouble you?"

Treize sat up and shook his head. "No, Heero, but thank you. I had not meant to wake you."

Heero only re-sheathed his sword and reached around behind him. "Trust me, Lord Treize; you did not wake me." A suspicious little noise sounded from behind Heero's legs, and Duo's tear-filled eyes peeked up guiltily. "One of us had a nightmare is all."

"It was not!" Duo almost shouted, but quickly fell quiet and scurried to Treize's bed. "My lord, I have foreseen terrible heartache and tragedy! Oh Lord Treize, it was terrible! I cannot possibly put into words the terrible suffering I have seen!"

"Did Heero go bald in your dream again?" Treize asked gently.

"YES! WAAAAAAAAHAAAAHAAAAAAH! MY HEE-CHAN'S HAIR FELL OUT AGAIN!" Duo blatantly ignored Treize's soft laughter and sobbed wildly into the bedsheets, all while Heero sweatdropped and gnawed on his lower lip to keep from bursting out angrily.

Having had enough, the teen picked up his pixie charge and slung him over one shoulder like a sack of grain. "I'm not Hee-chan," he murmured firstly, "and I'm not going to go bald unless you worry me to a point where my hair would fall out! We're going back to bed! Goodnight, Lord Treize."

"Goodnight, Heero." When the door slammed shut, Treize blew out his candle and lay back in his bed. He owed so much to Duo.

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Aww! All sappy! ^-^