Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Return of the Gundam ❯ Parting Ways ( Chapter 1 )

This story is number eleven in my Gundam Wing adventure series. The previous stories are, in chronological order: Gundam Wing and the Knights of the Round Table; Gundam Wing and the Quest for the Holy Grail; The Magicians of Gundam Wing; Gundam Wing and the Men of Sherwood Forest; Gundam Wing and the Gods of Thunder; Gundam Wing on Mount Olympus; Gundam Wing in the Wild, Wild West; Gundam Wing goes to Hogwarts, The Fellowship of The Gundam and The Two Gundams. The latter two stories are the first and second installments in my classic re-telling of the classic Lord of the Rings trilogy. If you read this story without reading the others first, or at least the last two, you might be very confused.

Disclaimer: This is an original work of fiction, but the characters of Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Wu-Fei Chang, Trowa Barton, Quatre Reberba Winner, Zechs Merquise and Treize Kushranada are borrowed from Gundam Wing AC by Hajime Yatate and Yoshiyuki Tomino and produced by Sunrise. Roku, on the other hand, is totally my creation, as are Alexa, Hadeya and Jett. Other Gundam Wing characters, like Sally Po and Lucretzia Noin, who might appear or be mentioned are also borrowed from Gundam Wing by Yatate-sama and Tomino-sama. Everyone else is made up by me, the author.

Additional Disclaimer: All the characters from The Lord of the Rings were created by J.R.R. Tolkien and produced by various publishers.

Warnings: This is a comedy, but you'll have to watch out for implied yaoi, not-so-implied yaoi, sexual innuendo, adult situations, occasional swearing, a general lack of respect for “decent” behavior and a noticeable tendency toward mayhem and destruction.

Addendum: This is the final installment of my cross-over with the boys and Lord of the Rings. I think I'm going to have a lot of fun with this. There are just so many exciting bits to completely mess up.

I'm a bad woman: Is it bad that every time I see a pair of really handsome brothers, I imagine them in incestuous concourse?

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

Chapter 1: Parting Ways

“Now that we have defeated Saruman,” Gandalf said gravely, “we can expect Sauron to move quickly against Minas Tirith. If he destroys that fabled city, the rest of Middle Earth will quickly fall.”

“You cannot be sure of that,” Théoden said. “After such an unexpected defeat, he may choose to retreat and regroup.”

“Not if he thinks he knows where the ring is,” Aragorn said. “He will put all his effort into recovering it. Most importantly, he will do whatever he can to keep the ring from falling into the hands of his most hated enemies. It behooves us to lend whatever support we can to the Steward of Gondor.”

Théoden frowned. “We have just come through a brutal fight. Would you ask us to immediately enter another?”

“The war isn't over, King Théoden,” Gandalf said.

“That's right,” Duo interrupted. “Do I need to remind you that I was in contact with that wretched Sauron's mind? It was chockfull of battle plans. He's coming out of his stronghold like a hammer and he's planning to fall on a city of white stone. I saw it.”

“How much of his plan did you see?” Aragorn asked, suddenly all interest.

“Not much that would help. Mostly it involved sending so many forces into the field that the soldiers of Gondor can't counter it.”

“That is exactly my concern,” Gandalf said. “I will take this news to Gondor so they can prepare for the battle, but they will need help. Rohan must come to their aid.”

“Did they come to mine?” Théoden demanded.

“He sounds a little whiny,” Heero muttered. “Did he even ask for help? Oh, wait, I forgot. He was too busy being possessed and letting his enemy's agent run his kingdom.”

“Be nice,” Trowa murmured. “That could happen to anyone.”

“Has it happened to you?”

“Well, no, but...”

“Hush, Heero!” Quatre whispered. “Handling a zero system can lead to similar problems.”

“I didn't have any problems,” Heero said pointedly.

“Are you implying that I did?” Quatre growled.

“You did blow up a colony.”

“They had it coming! And anyway, you blew one up, too!”

“I set off a bomb. That's different. And the colony didn't disappear in a spectacular explosion that could be seen from Earth.”

“My solution was more efficient,” Quatre said archly.

“I'm sure your zero system would agree.”

“Hominus...” Quatre began under his breath.

Trowa elbowed him in the ribs. “Quatre, pay attention to the main discussion.”

“King Théoden,” Treize was saying, “I must agree with Gandalf and Aragorn. There is still a very powerful enemy to be faced. It makes no sense to allow that enemy to destroy his opponents piecemeal. There is a reason for the old saying that the enemy of my enemy is my friend. You need to present a united front.”

Théoden frowned. “I will consider it. But I must ensure that my people are protected. That is my highest responsibility as their king.”

“Very well,” Gandalf said. He gave Aragorn a long look. “But in the meantime, I must go to Gondor.” His hand fell heavily onto Pippin's shoulder. “And this young hobbit will go with me.”

Pippin flinched.

“We're going, too,” Duo said immediately. He draped his arms around Heero and Wu-Fei's shoulders. “We can help. We've been through a battle or two.”

Gandalf nodded. “In that case, there is no reason to delay. Let us organize supplies for the journey.”

It didn't take long to get ready, so by early afternoon, everyone was in the stable helping the travelers saddle horses and load up a pack horse.

“You know,” Roku said, “if I was going, they wouldn't need the packhorse.”

“You're not going,” Quatre said flatly.

“But Mama...”

“I'm not letting you go off alone with Duo,” Quatre said. “He is a bad influence.”

“Hey!”

“I'm not a cub, anymore!” Roku complained. “I teach a class at the university.”

“That's not the point.”

“How does a tiger teach a class?” Pippin asked curiously.

“I'm not a tiger when I'm teaching.”

“Ah.”

“Anyway,” Roku continued, “I don't think it's fair that they get to go off and fight and I don't. Slaughtering orcs is fun.”

“You see?” Quatre said. “That's exactly what I'm talking about. Only someone influenced by Heero and Duo would say something like that.”

“This from the person who just said blowing up a whole colony was efficient,” Wu-Fei murmured.

“I heard that!”

“Don't worry about it, Roku,” Treize said. “I'm sure we'll all be there by the time the real fighting starts.”

“Time to go,” Gandalf said. He picked up Pippin and plopped him onto Shadowfax's back.

Looking wistful, Merry passed Pippin a packet of tobacco. “I know you've finished yours,” he said. “Try not to smoke this all at once.”

“Thanks, Merry.” The two young hobbits regarded each other with sad, worried expressions.

“Mommy and Daddy always kiss when they look at each other like that,” Alexa remarked.

“Didn't we have a discussion about such comments?” Zechs said sternly.

“Sorry.”

Duo picked up Jett and hugged her tightly. “I'm going to miss you, pumpkin. Be a good girl and try not to shatter anything.”

“Ok, Momma,” Jett sniffed. “Be careful.”

“I'm always careful.” He kissed her on the cheek and handed her to Heero.

“You be careful, too, Papa,” Jett said. “And make sure Momma doesn't do anything stupid.”

“As usual,” Heero replied. He gave Jett a kiss.

Wu-Fei put an arm around her and kissed her other cheek. “We'll resume your lessons after the war is over.”

“Ok, Papa.”

Heero handed Jett to Trowa and he, Duo and Wu-Fei mounted their horses. Heero grasped the reins of the packhorse.

Gandalf swung up behind Pippin and then leaned down to grasp Aragorn by the forearm. “Keep watch for the beacons. You must convince Théoden to respond if Gondor calls for aid.”

“I will,” Aragorn said.

They shook hands and Gandalf gripped his reins. “Let's be off!”

With Gandalf in the lead, they galloped out of the stable and down the twisting road to the gates of Edoras. Merry ran up to the battlements with Jett on his heels and watched them ride away.

“I hope Pippin will be all right,” Merry said.

“Don't worry, Merry,” Jett said. “My mom and dads always win their fights.”

“But Pippin can be so impulsive!”

Aragorn came up behind them and put his hands on their shoulders. “We can only hope for the best,” he said. “But we are not facing these dark times alone. The men of Gondor have faced this evil for generations. We must trust them to hold until we can come to their aid.”

Galloping full speed across open country, the object of their conversation was not looking back, although in Pippin's case it was probably just because he couldn't see around Gandalf's bulk.

“How long will it take to reach this city in Gondor?” Heero asked.

“Some few days, if we can avoid unnecessary stops,” Gandalf replied.

“Does unnecessary mean stops for meals?” Pippin asked fearfully.

“There will be time to eat when we reach Minas Tirith.”

Pippin paled.

“We're not wizards, Gandalf,” Wu-Fei remarked. “We can't survive on air and determination. We will have to stop for food and water, briefly at least.”

“And the horses will need to rest,” Duo added. “Shadowfax may be descended from gods or whatever, but the other horses are normal animals and will need rest, food and water.”

Shadowfax tossed his head and snorted.

“Did that horse just insult me?” Duo demanded. He stared suspiciously at the white horse.

“Shadowfax was merely concurring with your assessment of the capabilities of your horses,” Gandalf said, but his lips twitched as he spoke.

Duo frowned. “I can read wizard minds, too, you know.”

“My apologies,” Gandalf said, but he didn't sound apologetic.

They galloped steadily across the rolling grasslands of Rohan, stopping only twice each day: once in the late afternoon to eat and rest, and again several hours after sunset to eat and sleep. Then they would get up before dawn each morning and resume their journey.

But late in the morning of the second day, Duo began craning his neck, examining the countryside around them.

“What's bothering you, Duo?” Heero demanded. “Is someone trying to sneak up on us?”

“Well, yeah, but it's someone with enough sense to try to hide his thoughts. But I can still feel something. It's familiar, though... Ow!”

“Got you, Papa Duo!” Roku shouted. He bounded to his feet from underneath several tufts of grass.

Caught by surprise by the abrupt appearance of a large predator, every horse but Shadowfax bolted away in sudden panic, pitching the unprepared Gundam pilots to the ground.

“Dammit, Roku!” Heero shouted, “What were you thinking?!”

“Well, I was thinking that I'd surprise you,” Roku replied. “But now I'm thinking that horses are mighty damned skittish.”

“Oh, that's helpful.” Heero put his hands on his hips and glared after the fleeing horses. “Would you turn into a human for the moment until we can get these stupid animals under control?”

“Ok.”

Nevertheless, it took Gandalf and Shadowfax nearly an hour to convince the frightened horses to come back, time that Gandalf was loath to lose. He shook a stern finger at Roku. “I thought you were told to remain behind.”

Roku shrugged. “Mama will get over it.”

Duo, Heero and Wu-Fei exchanged a frightened look. “He doesn't know you left?”

“I snuck off. Anyway, there's nothing to worry about. I'm pretty sure he can't cast any of the really bad spells over this distance.”

“Just pretty sure?” Duo asked nervously. “What if he starts thinking at me in Latin?”

“I doubt that would have any lasting effect.”

“What?!”

“Anyway, just block him out. I'm sure he'll have gotten over it by the time he sees you.”

Duo put a hand over his face. “He's going to turn me into an insect or something.”

Wu-Fei put a sympathetic arm around his shoulders. “We'll still love you, even if you're a chitinous little bug with mandibles.”

“That doesn't help, you know.”

“Quatre is not going to turn you into a bug,” Heero said. “A rat, maybe. Worst case, a mouse.”

“I want to go back to Mars.”

Roku licked Duo's hand. “Don't worry, Papa. I'll turn you back.”

“Thank you, Roku. By the way, teenage boys usually don't lick people's hands when showing sympathy, even young ones.”

“Can I be a tiger, then?”

“Let's wait until after we stop for the night,” Duo said. “The horses will be too tired to run away, then. You can ride with me.”

“Ok.”

They resumed their journey and after five days rounded the shoulder of the mountains and started south, with the mountains on their right and a vast, flat plain on their left.

As the sun was setting on the fifth day, Gandalf reined Shadowfax to a halt. “There lies the heart of Gondor,” he said and pointed to a city built into the side of the mountain. Constructed of white stone, with a jutting vertical ridge splitting it down the middle, the city was protected from the plain by towering battlements. Circular walls punctuated with watch towers divided the city into levels.

Heero nodded appreciatively. “Good design. They have defensive points all the way to the top. I assume the keep is at the top of that ridge?”

“That is correct,” Gandalf said.

“Nice. I approve.”

They resumed riding and arrived at the gate as the light was fading. Not surprisingly, the gate was closed up tight. Gandalf knocked on it with his staff.

“Gandalf the White has grave news for the Steward of Gondor!” he bellowed. “Admit us at once!”

Several heads peeked over the battlements at them and then shouts of “Open the gate!” echoed from the inside. Moments later, with much creaking and groaning, the massive gates swung open just enough to allow them to squeeze through. At Gandalf's suggestion, Roku was once again in human form and riding behind Duo.

“What news, Gandalf?” dozens of voices cried out as they entered, but Gandalf ignored them. He nudged Shadowfax to a trot and they rode up the flagstone streets, climbing steadily higher as the road wound up the face of the cliff, plunging through tunnels with gates at both ends every time they came up against the massive ridge bisecting the heart of the city. But at last they came out on top, riding up a steep ramp and into a wide courtyard that extended to the very edge of the cliff. At the back of the courtyard, built into the face of the mountain, was a great palace, and in front of it was a small pond with a leafless tree growing at its edge.

“Behold the White Tree!” Gandalf intoned. “Though it looks dead, it is not. It will flower when the rightful king once again sits on the throne of Gondor.”

“So who is this steward, then?” Wu-Fei asked.

“The Steward of Gondor served the king in times past, but when Isuldur was lost, it fell to the king's steward to govern the land of Gondor, and so it has been in all the centuries since.” Gandalf hopped down from Shadowfax's back and lifted Pippin down.

“And they've never claimed the throne for themselves?”

“No. But Denethor is still a ruler, so you would all do well to watch your tongues with him.” Gandalf frowned. “He's not an easy man to deal with.” He led the way inside.

Surprisingly, for such a big palace, they saw no one as they entered the great hall, except for a single man sitting on a carved chair at the foot of a set of steps leading up to an ornate throne.

“Denethor, I bring grave tidings!” Gandalf began.

“Will your tidings explain this?” Denethor held up the broken halves of Boromir's great horn. “I dreamed that my son was dead! Explain that, if you will!”

“He's not dead,” Duo said quickly before Gandalf could answer. “He suffered a personal setback and decided to go on a spiritual journey. I'm sure he'll turn up.”

“What?” Denethor frowned at him. “I don't understand.”

Pippin abruptly stepped forward and bowed. “Boromir fell defending me and my kinsman, sir. We are in his debt. If my meager service could in some way repay you for his loss, I beg you to accept me!”

“Pippin!” Gandalf snapped, but his admonition was drowned out by the simultaneously slapping of four hands against four foreheads, and all three Gundam pilots and Roku groaned aloud.

“Indeed?” Denethor looked Pippin up and down, and he straightened slightly. “Though your stature is small, I sense in you a great heart. Very well, I accept your service. But as for you,” Denethor turned a dark glower on Gandalf, “I wonder what tidings you bring except perhaps the news that you would put some upstart, elven-raised brat on the once mighty throne of Gondor.”

Gandalf matched him glower for glower. “The tidings I bring are in regard to our dreaded enemy in Mordor. He will soon move against you. Are your defenses prepared? You have little time.”

“I am not blind, Gandalf!” Denethor sneered. “While you flit about the countryside fighting skirmishes, I have sent a host to meet the enemy in Osgiliath. When I have turned them back, they will think twice before coming this way again.”

“What host?” Gandalf fumed. “You cannot defend Osgiliath! You will waste forces needed to defend your walls. Recall these men and prepare your siege engines! Send for help! Light the beacons! Rohan will come to your aid!”

Denethor pushed angrily to his feet. “I will not be instructed on how to defend my city! I have protected Minas Tirith all these years, not you, Gandalf! I need no help!” He stalked past them furiously and left the hall.”

Gandalf stamped his foot. “The fool! Will he continue to insist he is right when the city is burning around him?” Then he rounded on Pippin. “And what were you thinking?! Do you plan to strap on a sword and join those doomed men in Osgiliath?”

Pippin flinched away. “I didn't think!” he admitted. “He just looked so unhappy, so I thought…”

“No, you were right the first time,” Gandalf interrupted. “You didn't think.” He glared at Pippin for a moment longer and then turned to the others. “Well, if Denethor will do nothing, it is up to us to prepare. I will tend to the forces on the lower battlements and at the gate, if you will check on the siege engines on the upper battlements.”

Heero nodded. “I'll take care of it.”

“What about these beacons?” Wu-Fei asked.

“We must find a way to light the first beacon,” Gandalf said. “It is above the palace on the cliff and the only way up will be guarded.” He made a face. “I'm sure Denethor is right now giving orders denying us access.”

“That's not a problem,” Roku said. “I'll just fly up there.”

“Not as a dragon,” Wu-Fei ordered.

“Of course not. I can go as an owl. Nobody hears owls flying.”

“Good.”

“What about me?” Pippin said. “What should I do?”

“Stay out of trouble!” everyone answered in unison.

Pippin flinched and looked unhappy.

Roku sidled up beside him as they left to look for somebody to assign them rooms. “Don't feel bad, Pippin. I'll take you with me. If you don't mind being a mouse for a little while, I can carry you up to the beacon.”

Pippin eyed him. “But if you're an owl and I'm a mouse…”

“I wouldn't eat you,” Roku chuckled. “Mouse bones get stuck in my throat.”