Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Shadow Lands ❯ Chapter Six ( Chapter 6 )

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Chapter Six

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It had been days since Lily had gotten the necklace from Heero and their picnic together. The Sultan Quatre, his son, Akeem, and their group of soldiers called the Maganacs. The Maganacs were rather built, tough looking people, often dressed in reds and tans. They had a tough appearance, but were really kind at heart to people that didn't pose a threat.

Jia and Lily had both taken to sneaking off during the day after Lessons. They traveled to the villages and cities, sometimes. They had gotten to know Solo very well and were quite fond of him. They spent time running through the dark alleys with Solo always having a watchful eye on the two.

The excitement of the upcoming weekend had caused Jia and Lily to sneak around the palace, which now brought them hiding in one of the palace's many secret passages. Their dull colored clothes would of caused Relena to scream if she had seen her daughter dressed in "servant attire", but fortunately, the brisk October air had caused Relena to retire in her chamber.

"Ouch, that's my foot," Lily whispered.

"Sorry," Jia apologized, shifting her foot. They for crouched behind a statue of one of the late Emperors. He was a tall, bulky man with a busy beard that was etched into his stone gray face.

"Shhh, someone's coming." Lily pulled her mask tighter over her face, making sure it wouldn't fall off. The two girls were rather odd masks. The faces of them were twisted into looks of despair and had a grotesque theme to it. They had been bought years ago at a festival. The Gypsies had said they were to warn off bad luck as the masks had belonged to the creatures that were known foes of Goblins. But in the girls' case, it brought only fun and mirth as they used them to spook people.

"BOO!" The shuffling of feet had stopped and a small shriek escaped someone's lips as the girls had jumped out of their hiding place.

Heero merely blinked at the girls. Wufei peered over the edge of the papers he was holding at his daughter and the princess. The poor Sultan Quatre had grabbed the clothes over his heart, trying to steady himself. The girls went into a fit of giggles.

"Why don't you two go outside," Wufei suggested. The girls merely shrugged.

"Can we go outside of the gates?" Lily asked, balancing on the balls of her feet.

"Yes," Heero replied.

"Do you really think it's safe?" Quatre had finally gotten over the attack and was straitening the folds of his shirt as he spoke, smiling at the girls. Quatre was a kind hearted man. He peered as an innocent boy, unable to defend himself, but those who had judged him too quickly, often met their downfall. He was a great Sultan and was known for his kind heart and purity wherever he went and was often admired.

"It's perfectly safe," Heero replied, looking at his friend. "Remember we use to find ourselves further from the gates when we were young." Quatre smiled.

Wufei stared uneasily, debating with himself. "Just make sure that Jin is with you."

"All right," Jia said. The two ran down the corridor that the three old friends had come from, disappearing from sight, their laughter singing off the walls.

"Too be young again," Quatre reminiscence, remembering the times the friends had taken to sneaking out of the safe walls of the palace and often getting into trouble.

"But we're old now," Wufei quoted his children.

"How are the plans going with the festival," Heero tried to steer the subject from their childhood, remembering his violet-eyed lover. Wufei began to inform them of the plans for Lily's party.

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"This forest has always made me feel uneasy," a lanky, bushy haired man known as Muller, said to the group. Muller looked at the Night Wing group, they were all seated at various places, some sitting or sleeping, each one consumed in their own musings. Muller stood, his steps long and brisk, the slits of his eyes widening as he sat closer next to the fire, he was a werewolf.

The forest, which was known as the Shadow Lands, had many mysteries and stories that sprung from it's roots. Magical creatures were hidden in it's depths and posed a threat to humans. It was the perfect hideout for thieves, bandits, and merchants for the fear it struck in people's cores. Not many who entered it's depths came out alive. Although the true mystery of the forest was unknown.

"It does give that hair-raising feel," Solo stated, handing Muller a bowl of broth. A murmur went around the group, each person voicing their opinion.

Trowa remained silent as each person spoke their own view on the forest. Trowa was an elfin wizard. His mother was an elf while his father had been a mage from a distant land. Trowa knew the true story of the forest, but bonded by an ancient magic, he was never able to tell the true story.

Duo rummaged through the wooden cart that they had managed to steal. Food supplies were getting low, and deciding now that it would be the best time to end the conversation, for a few men were getting creped out.

"We're nearing a food shortage," Duo nearly had to yell over the group. The voices ceased, awaiting Duo's commands on how to get more food.

"Muller, you'll take a few of the women and two others into the village to buy whatever is necessary for two weeks supply of food," Duo through a bag laden with coins to Muller.

"Solo, Alex, Markus, and I will be hunting. I need the fire built hire so we can preserve meat from whatever we catch."

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Relena stirred the bubbling mass in the cauldron burning nicely over the green flamed fire.

"Now add the gargoyle's fingernail," Dorothy read from the gigantic book of Black Magic, adding a long black nail to the substance. The cauldron's mixture immediately gave off a foul smelling odor before turning clear.

"Good," Relena said, allowing the mixture to simmer.

"Are you sure your plan will work?" A mirror on the wall spoke, soon Milliardo's face appeared, gazing upon his sister and Dorothy.

"Oh course," Relena replied, flicking a long strand of hair from her face. "Haven't they always?" A grim expression developed on Milliardo's face. Relena glared at her brother's reflection.

"You know, Relena," Milliardo was quick to cover up his mistake, "I find it not very wise to poison your daug¾ "

"She's not my daughter!" Relena screamed, stomping her foot. A few birds in the rafters flew out of the widow.

"You're forgetting very well that she is!"

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"What is that?" Jia asked, gesturing to the odd object in the sky. It was triangular in shape with a long string attached to it that Akeem was holding.

"A kite," Jin told his sister as she and Lily approached. Akeem handed the end of the string to Jia.

"Here, hold it like this," Akeem said, adjusting the stick that had the string tied to it, "It's easier to control it." The kite, painted a deep red color, twisted and spun in the October wind.

"It's a popular toy for children at home," Akeem said, watching as Jia struggled to keep hold of the kite in a sudden gust of wind.

"Opps." The wind had picked up speed and had soon broke Jia's grasp of the kite. The kite soared in the wind. The four teens immediately ran after it, hollering joyfully at their new game. Soon the wind tied down and fell. They had stopped and watched the bright red kite fall into the trees.

"I'm so sorry, Akeem," Jia apologized. The kite had entered forbidden territory to them, a place they weren't allowed to tread ¾ the Shadow Lands.

"I'll get it," Lily said, quickly running out of their grasps, disappearing into the brush of the forest.

"No, it's not worth it!" Akeem's voice echoed, but Lily continued.

Making your way through the thick underbrush of the forest Lily found was not that easy. Branches reached out, snaring her dress, ripping it in various places. At one point she had gotten lost and had to back track. As she was looking towards the sky for the sign of the kite in the tree, she had fallen over a protruding root, her face and front now dirty.

"There it is," Lily said to no one. The red stood out against the green and brown background. The tree stood high, about thirty feet. Branches and limbs stretched out, forming a giant canopy ¾ the perfect climbing tree.

"What was that?" Solo asked Duo, quickly stringing his bow as loud screams drifted on the wind.

"Sounds like people," Duo glanced back in the direction of camp.

"I'm gonna check it out," Solo said, carefully walking in the direction the voices came from, his bow at ready.

"Okay, whatever. Don't get lost."

Solo walked away. He made no sound as his feet traveled over the twigs and mossy ground. The voices were getting closer, and he distinguished two male voices and a woman's.

"Where are you?" one of the male voices came. Solo could hear stamping, they were coming closer.

"I'm over here!" A voice called above him. Solo looked, his arrow ready to fly…

SNAP!

"Ugh."

"Ouch!"

"I'm so sorry, sir!" That voice was familiar, a soft feminine voice. The two untangled themselves from each other and the limbs that had fallen. Solo's pulled his hood from his eyes.

"Lily?" Lily looked at him. Her dress was dirty and ripped in places. Twigs and leaves had woven themselves in her braid and dirt was plastered on her face cutely. Solo couldn't help but laugh.

"What?" Lily asked, looking offend. This made Solo laugh harder.

"Lily?!"

"Where are you?"

"Lil-ee-ann!"

"Princess Lillian?"

Hoping that Solo hadn't heard the last call, she grabbed his hand, pulling him behind the thick trunk of the tree.

"What are you doing here?" Solo asked as he overcame his laughter. "It's too dangerous and you could get in worse shape than you are now."

"Shhh." Solo watched as two men and a woman, who he recognized as Jia and the two men he saw in the square one day. Jia stopped and called again.

"Lily, where are you?"

"Shhh," Lily told Solo as she held a small pebble in her hand and threw it at the back of the black haired man. The man quickly spun around, peering into the forest. Lily sniggered.

"Follow me," Solo said, gesturing for Lily to follow. The moved around the trunk of the tree. Soon the three were in front of Lily and Solo, their backs exposed.

"Who are they?" Solo asked Lily.

"Friends," Lily said, smiling. "On the count of three lets jump out."

Solo nodded. He wasn't use to such childish games but he'd do anything to make his crush laugh.

"One…" One finger was held up.

"Two…" two fingers

"Three…" The two jumped from their hiding places.

"Boo!" Jia screamed, Akeem jumped, Jin unsheathed his sword, Lily laughed and Solo held no visible facial expression.

"I'm going to kill you!" Jia threatened, clutching at her heart, taking deep breaths.

Lily laughed harder.

"What is your father going to say?" Jin asked.

"Lily, it wasn't worth it. It's just a kite," Akeem stated, looking up at the kite still waving in the tree. Lily opened her mouth, but stopped when she noticed that Akeem and Jin were looking at Solo, then back to Lily, then to Solo.

"Er…You two, this is Solo," Lily made introductions. "Solo this is Akeem and Jin."

"How do you two know each other?" Jin asked, his face screwed up with anger.

"You know you look like your father when you do that," Lily said, trying to stay away from the subject that she'd been sneaking out.

"Don't procrastinate, Lillian," Jin had a threatening tone in his voice.

"Well, I met him in the village. When I went with Mother to get new gowns…" An uneasy silence well upon the five. It was a small lie, but it would prevent her status from being revealed, and it would probably be safer.

"Well, thank you, Solo," Akeem said, holding out his hand. Solo took his hand and they shook. "But, we really must be going. Thank you once again for seeing that Lily was safe and I hope to see you soon."

"All right," Solo was kind of in a stupor. It was quite obvious they were hiding something from him.

"Bye Solo," Lily said as she was led away.

================================================================ < p class="c11">:::Flashback:::

It had been three years since that day when Heero had found that his love was dead. He fulfilled his father's dying wish and had married what his lover, Duo, had always called 'The Pink Harpy'. Peace was restored across the land. Magical creatures and humans were finally getting along, which brought the great presence of the fairies to visit Heero.

The fairies had been pleased with the great accomplishments with the new Emperor and was bestowing a gift upon him. Heero sat in the throne now that his father had sat in, his wife now lurking in the shadows. Heero knew that Relena despised the fairies and loathed that they were here. It was also known that the fairies loathed Relena, as black magic was to follow in her wake.

"Milord," the Queen of Faries said. She had transformed from her usual twelve inch height to now stand at six feet. She had long silver hair that changed color in the light that fell beyond her knees. Her long dragon fly styled wings shimmered and glittered as they fluttered every so often. Her eyes, a soft green, twinkled merrily as her pointed ears wiggled at the smallest sound. She was the most beautiful out of the fairies that had traveled with her from the depths of the Shadow Lands.

"We come bearing gifts," she said, her voice was soft and whimsical. "But the greatest of these gifts have yet to be given." She paused, her soft gaze falling upon Heero.

"It is written in the stars that you would never be able to produce a proper heir that wasn't born from the evilness of your spouse," the King of Fairies spoke. He like his wife, transformed to stand at human height, but towered over the rest of them. He had short black hair and stone gray eyes. He was well built and lithe and had the same dragon fly styled wings that shifted colors in the light.

It was true. If Heero were to have a heir with Relena, the child would be spoiled to her liking and would be raised to bring evil and disturb the peace that they had obtained.

"We bring a child," the Queen continued. "But not some ordinary child. A child born untainted by evil." the Queen sneered at Relena. "This child has been blessed by every magical creature within our forests and will always be protected by the Ancient Magic that runs through the child's vein."

The Queen waved her hand and a small bundle of cloths appeared in her wrapped arms, cradling a child. The king spoke.

"Emperor Heero, your daughter is a pure blood heir of yourself, born from your blood inside a water lily. Although the blessings of magical creatures will always flow stronger through her veins and even though she is of your blood, she will be forever known as the Child of the Fae."

The Queen and King stepped forward and walked side-by-side to Heero who stood. Bowing her head, the Queen gave the small bundle to Heero. Beneath the cozy folds of the blanket, a small pale skinned girl gazed with wide Cobalt blue eyes at her father. Soft locks of chestnut hair curled and framed her tender face. A small pointed nose above soft red lips smiled at her new Father. Her small pointed ears wiggling with delight. Heero couldn't help but smile.

"You and your child will always be protected by our kind and by the long gone magic that flows through your veins," the King said.

"You and your child shall always find comfort in our forests and among our kind," the Queen said, her eyes glazing over as she foresaw the future. "This might be your greatest ally, for in years to come. Evil shall rise and try to taint what is pure causing great despair across the lands. Your Empire may fall, Heero, if you don't find what you have long lost…" With a small smile, the Queen and King, along with the other fairies and magical creatures that came, disappeared, becoming one with the wind.

:::Flashback Over:::

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Relena scowled at the memory. Angry that the prophecy that the Fairies had foreseen would interfere…not if she couldn't help it.

Dorothy watched as her lover got an evil smirk across her face. Relena turned, smiling even bigger at Dorothy.

"Dorothy, love, do you happen to know anything that Lillian prizes so dear?"

"No, but I have seen her quite often wearing a necklace," Dorothy began, running her fingers through her blonde hair. "I asked her once where she got it and she replied it was a gift from Heero…"

"Perfect," Relena sniggered, "We need to find some way we can get a hold of it." The two worked out a plan into the heart of the night, each idea coming more and more gruesome…

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Author's Note:

Thank you to those who reviewed…well, to only one person. Thank you Ink2. I appreciate it.

I'm sorry for not updating sooner, and I have a really good excuse too. I've been sick the past week and on Wednesday my mom took me to the doctor and the doctor though I had strep throat, tonsillitis, bladder infection, and though I was anorexic for losing 3 pounds in the past week and admitted me to the hospital. I got out the next day and they had run all sorts of blood tests and what not on me. I now know that I have mono, a kidney infection, and I'm hypoglycemic. Joy. So I'm finally home with this new diet and they want me try and weigh back to the weight she first saw me as (118) so that's real fun. Quite sad that I can't gain weight the way I want too (chocolate, snacks, and more chocolate).

So I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I tried to make it long enough for my absence. Enjoy!

Read and Review Please!!