Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Weather and Haul Wind ❯ Chapter 9 ( Chapter 9 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Wing Fan Fiction by White Wings

AU Fan Fiction

Rated for language and violence

“By the gods.... HEERO!”

The blue eyed sailor was their in seconds, rounding the corner out of the darkness that enveloped the rest of the house into the dim light provided by the candle that Duo had lit. His yes widened with a mixture of shock and horror from the doorway.

Duo stood frozen in the middle of a large room in which stood a desk and small table. The north wall had a large window that was covered by a thick dark curtain, the south wall held the door, and on the east there were books and charts, a normal enough state to be sure but the west wall made Duo, Heero, and everyone who followed them in sick to their stomachs. For on the west wall there were shelves and shelves of jars and in those jars floated eyes. Crystal blue and clear, the jars held the eyes of Lunar Guardians.

Wufei collapsed against the doorframe and vomited what of his lunch was left in his stomach. Trowa, like Duo, was spell bound by the disgusting sight and though he wished it with all his might he could not look away. Blackwater looked away, unable to continue gazing at the scene any longer or risk becoming violently ill like Wufei. May again had a stoic look about her, her face unchanged in the sour, yet calm appearance. Quatre however broke down crying. He let his grip on Heeros’ pant let loosen and he slid to the floor sobbing hysterically. He babbled something in between his sobs but Heero couldn’t understand him. Heero crouched down and wrapped his arms around Quatre, who flung himself into Heeros chest and cried harder.

“Who could have done this?” Wufei asked after recovering a bit but still shaking from is stomachs vicious uprising.

“The hermit...” Duo growled as he spit on the floor in disgust

Heero stood slowly, giving a still sobbing Quatre to a solemn Trowa.

“Well now we know what happened to the Lunar Guardians.”

May nodded and turned to her captain for a brief moment then turned back to the group.

“This also explains the statue in the shrine. They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, in a Guardians case they are the soul, without a soul they simply turned to stone.”

There was an awkward silence then, no one knew what to say if anything at all. Blackwaters’ whole demeanor perked for a moment and that was their only warning. A crooked figure, thin and gangly with age spun around the corner into the room. A near toothless mouth gapped at the party of seven before bellowing in anger.

“Who are you? How dare you trespass into my house!”

In an instant Heero and his comrades all sprang away from the door and fell into defensive positions. May glowered at the rotting old man; she was the closest to him, the first defense.

“You are the hermit?” Trowas voice all but hissed from where he crouched, holding Quatre protectively.

The eyes of the old man were dilated even in the near black darkness and they flickered from person to person like a wild animal until they landed on the tear-drenched face of little Quatre.

“A Guardian? The last no doubt... yes....Yes, shall have you! Come! Come to me and give me your power!”

The old man lunged, paying no attention whatsoever to the people who blocked his way, there was an earsplitting crack and the ceiling above them burst into a shroud of rubble. Heero and Duo ducked out of the way of a particularly large piece of chard wood and Trowa took a step back, sending Wufei, Quatre and himself stumbling into the fragile window pain that was covered by the dark curtain. Eduard and May both sprang for the hermit but missed, he was shockingly quick on his feet for such an old man and the hermit jumped into Trowa as he and the others fell though the window, becoming tangled in the thick curtain.

Duo shook the soot and ash from his hair and blinked up at the sky that was now visible though the gapping hole in the roof. It was dark and filled with ominous clouds, nothing like the sunny sky they’d left behind when they had entered the house. Heero shook his head too, but because his ears were ringing not because of the charred remnants of the ceiling that clung to his messy brown hair. A call for help brought them to their feet and they dashed to the writhing chaos that was the curtains. Somewhere within the dark folds struggled Wufei, Trowa, Quatre, and the hermit. A frazzled dragon clansman rolled out, his hair slipping out the tight tail in which it was usually confined to ripple over his shoulders. A long gash on his cheek seeped red and his hands were saturated in the color. When the window had shattered many of the tiny shards had found new homes in his palms. Another loud cry erupted from the folds shortly after and a maniacal, half crazed hermit dashed out into the open spread of the meadow with a terrified Quatre clutched in his thin bony arms.

“Quatre!”

The little Guardian trashed about, swinging his thick dolphin like tail and clawing at the arms that held him with his tiger-like hands, his wings flapping furiously, yet uselessly, on his back. Quatre cried out.

“Ro! Ro!”

“Mine! He’s mine! Hahahahaha!” The hermit laughed with a look of crazed delight spread on his wrinkled face.

“You...! Heero growled, reaching for and drawing his sword

“BASTARD!” The curse erupted not from Heero’s throat but Trowas. The green eyed scholar threw the heavy curtain away from himself, blood seeping from cuts and marks that suspiciously resembled bite marks all over his body. His green tunic was torn and the heavy medallion lying against his chest shuddered as its wearer stood, shaking with anger.

“Give me you power, give me your eyes!” The hermit babbled, ignoring the approaching group as he griped Quatres neck with one gaunt hand and the young ones hands with the other.

“Ro!” the Guardian called out franticly, still trying to squirm away from his captor.

Duo moved to dart forward but screeched to a halt when a bolt of lightning struck the ground just before him.

“Yikes!”

“Eduard, move!” Wufei looked up from where he leaned against the ruined house, his useless hands being carefully cared for by May, when the normally composed woman suddenly shouted at her partner. The tall black haired man shifted his feet back in a quick retreat, narrowly escaping the path of another bolt.

With a shake of his head Trowas right hand gripped the egg sized amulet and ripped it forward, snapping the chain and sending it flying into the grass. Another bolt of lightning cracked with an earsplitting noise but this time it was met with and equally deafening roar.

“Quatre!”

The green eyes of Trowa flashed red for an instant before he clamped them shut, gritting his teeth, his fangs. The human form was imposed by another as if one was melting into the other, before long the bulk of a huge creature replaced Trowas’ thin scholarly one. Heero stood frozen in place; his comrades too could find in themselves no strength to move, even the hermits’ menacing laughing faltered at the sight. Before them loomed a beast, a monster. The thick forelegs were scaled with huge claws protruding from shockingly articulate looking hands, the thinner hind legs were willow like in comparison, built more for speed then strength though armed with an equally deadly arsenal. A thick tail with ridged scales protruding from coarse copper colored fur thrashed behind the creature like the tail of an angry cat. Its chest was wide though it melded into a thinner more streamline torso; it was covered with longer fur like that on the tail and the head...

The head of the beast resembled that of a lion, though its snout was longer and not nearly as broad, it held many deadly teeth gleaming white and no doubt as sharp as they appeared. The thick mane ruffed out around the head and merged down the spine into the shorter fur that covered the creatures’ body. The creature with glowing red eyes let a growl rumble in its throat before letting out a deep rumbling howl.

“Omoibuki.” Eduard breathed in awe

“What?” Duos head snapped back to stare at the older man.

“Omoibuki, the heavy armed demon... It’s said to be the bastard child of a dragon and a chimera, I’ve never thought... May!”

“Here.” The slim brunet was at his side in an instant

“This may get out of hand, stand ready.”

“Aye.”

The Omoibuki lunged forward with a shriek of furry, lighting skittered down from the rainless sky and struck at the creatures’ body only to shatter and dissipate like a fragile china plate falling to the floor. The hermit cried out in terror as the Omoibuki barreled toward him, he broke into a run, throwing as shocked Quatre to the ground as he ran.

“No! No! Its my powere! Mine!” The hermit screamed, with each exclamation another bolt of lightning attempted to strike the monster but all failed

It was upon the man quickly and with one last terrified screech the hermits’ voice gargled out as its body was ripped into unrecognizable pieces by both tooth and claw. Soon there was nothing left but blood soaked chunks to stain the grass, and then the monster turned. Its red eyes narrowed in a gruesome smile.

“May.”

“Aye.”

The long haired young woman was a Heeros’ side now where he crouched, holding a sobbing Quatre protectively against his chest.

“You may want to step back Mr. Yuy.” May offered before striding forward to meet the Omoibuki

With an elegant twist of her wrist she caught her ponytail up in one hand and unsheathed a hidden dagger with the other. One quick slice loosed the long hair and it fell in a silver wave to the lay lifelessly about on the ground. The deep brown color of her now short hair seeped out until it was all shimmering silver. Her well tanned skin became beautifully pale and her dark brown eyes became a bright gold. She looked shocking in her white outfit, all light except for the sparkling golden eyes, she stood in great contrast to the dark background of the clouds.

The Omoibuki growled and lunged for her.

“May!” Duo shouted in warning... it was not needed

The huge clawed hand of the monster stopped short of rending the woman to shredded flesh and instead was twisted under with such force that is pulled the Omoibuki off its feet, bringing it crashing to the ground.

“A reverse Samson effect?” Wufei said as he came to stand next to Duo and Eduard

“Dang” Duo whispered

“Not quite...” Eduard smirked

The Omoibuki was back on its feet now and instead of small young woman standing in-between it and the others there stood a huge wolfish dragon. Its long elegant head, neck, and body were covered in white fur and it serpentine body was supported by four, five clawed feet. Its golden eyes sparked laughingly, as if it were enjoying itself. It opened its mouth, reveling rows upon rows of sharp teeth, and it spoke.

“Halt in this madness, ere you cause damage you shall regret for the rest of your short life.” Spoke a strong, demanding, female voice

The demon shrunk back, hissing. Its red eyes full of a strange mixture of anger, fear, and confusion. It took a step back from the dragon.

“A dragon prince?” Wufei stuttered

“Princess.” Eduard corrected with a chuckle

“How... Why?”

Eduard only shrugged and turned back to the pair of enormous creatures in front of them, leaving Wufei to his own conclusions. The Dragon let out a rumbling sound that was almost like a purr. It was comforting in some odd way, the brilliant red eyes of the Omoibuki dimmed and even Quatres’ sobs quieted.

“Return to yourself Trowa, there is no more fighting to be had this day.” The dragons’ voice was much more soothing now, less demanding and more like that of a mother comforting a child. The image of the Omoibuki started to shrink away, melting back into the familiar form of Trowa Barton.

Trowa made a quiet sobbing sound before his legs gave out and he fell forward into unconsciousness, the shimmering white hand of the Dragon reached out and caught him, holding him up in a protective manner. Then it vanished, the body of the dragon exploded into millions of shimmering specks and feathers floating away on the wind. May stood where its hand had been, Trowas unconscious body draped over her as she held him upright until she could safely lower him to the ground without fear of causing his already worn body more damage.

The sky had gotten very dark, very suddenly. It was strange, and the magnetic charge in the air was making his fur stand on end. Shin, the small black and white ball of fluff that he was, sat up from where he stood vigil over the floating wooden craft that was the home of his brother, himself, and all their human (and non human) pets. He mewed in confusion as his brother joined him. Scythe too was feeling the dramatic change in weather but his eyes were trained toward the center of the city where they were harbored instead of at the daunting sky.

The two kittens sat in awe of the sight, for where there had once been a magnificent shrine with a towering statue was now a blazing fire. Cries for help and shrieks of fear could be heard all the way to the docks. But on the wind there was another cry, a faint one that could only be heard by the ears of those who really listened, it was one of sorrow and worry but it was not for the criers self the feelings were presented. It was for the people who cried in fear and for help instead.

Trowa groaned and shifted against May. The woman’s hair was once again its normal length and color, spilling out on the wet green grass around her but it was Trowa that held everyone’s attention. Quatre had stopped crying hysterically by now, but tears still slid down his cheeks every now and again, the little guardian crawled forward on his shaky human legs and sat next to Trowa. The rest of the Wing’s crew stood in a semi-circle around him.

“I cant believe it. Trowa... a monster…” Wufei breathed

“You’ve definitely overlooked the special needs of HIS diet.” said Duo slapping the shorter man on the back and effectively breaking the tense air of silence that held the group.

“Duo. This is no laughing matter!” Wufei scolded as the long haired boy knelt down and shook Trowas’ shoulder.

“Why not? It’s not like Trowa suddenly turned into what he is, he’d been like this all his life right?” Duo looked at May who nodded her heard in agreement. “So why should it be a big deal if nothings changed. He’s still Trowa.”

“But!”

“I agree.” Said Heero, cutting of a flabbergasted Wufei. “Trowa Barton is a member of my crew no mater what shape he holds, he’d no different than Quatre as far as I’m concerned.”

Wufei sigh, he was defeated, and none to soon for at the moment Trowa swam his way back to consciousness and blinked up at the faces that were staring down at him. He groaned and lifted one heavy hand to his face to cover his eyes but not before Quatre caught a glimpse of the tears that were forming in the corners of the mans eyes.

“Owa?” the little guardian mewed, climbing onto the mans chest and wrapping his hands around Trowas much bigger one. “You be okey!” he said in a very definite tone and then he smiled a big toothy grin.

Trowa looked up into Quatres face, and at Heero, Duo, Wufie... Even Eduard and May whos’ expressions were all reflections of Quatres... In varying degrees of course. The same feeling of “acceptance” and “understanding” came from each of his comrades and in that moment Trowa heard his sisters voice resound in his head-

“Trowa, that gift of yours that you’ve locked away, I pray you embrace it now. These people will not rail you for it, they are an odd lot themselves.”

Trowa Barton had finally found true companionship, true understanding, and unquestionable faith in he friendship of his crewmates. And Trowa Barton wept.
Eduard smiled to himself, knowing that wherever his dear old friend rested, wherever his soul resided, that Trowas adopted father was at last a peace. The smile on his face, however, was short lived.

“Heero, look.”

Eduard drew the attention of the crew of the Wing to the sky beyond the mountain all ablaze with the oranges and reds of a fire. The storm that the insane hermit had caused had done damage to the city, and it was burning fiercely.

“We got ta get back!” Duo said, grabbing Trowas’ arm and pulling the green eyed scholar to his feet.

“Aye.” May agreed and with that the group started the race back to the other side of the island.

Heero too raced after May and Eduard but the sight of the old hermits hut out of the corner of his eye stopped him dead in his tracks, no one seamed to notice, they were all to preoccupied with outrunning the destruction of the port. It took only a moment for Heero to reassure himself he was not crazy before he sprinted off, back to the hermits home and in through the broken window his crewmates had fallen though. He looked at the wall, covered with jars of crystal blue eyes for a second before he took up a chair, broke off a leg, and swung it with as much force as he could down each of the rows of jars. All around him the sounds of shattering glass echoed, the stench of distilled water filled his nostrils but still he swung until every last jar was broken and the precious treasures they contained lay strewn about the floor.

Heero breathed heavily for a few moments before sucking as much air back into his lungs as he could in his shock. At his feet each pair of eyes started to glow with an eerie white/blue light. They lifted into the air, swirled around him, and danced free of their prisons. The messy haired young sailor swore he could here singing faintly over the wind outside and before he knew it the hundreds of bright white/blue lights speed off out the window, souls in search of their rightful bodies. Only one pair of eyes stayed, flouting before him in all their blinding radiance. The voice of its soul making itself heard in the back of Heero’s mind.

“Human, you have freed my daughters and myself. You care well for my only son. Now I shall repay to you the enormous debt that I owe. Keep them all safe, human, for the seas will always favor your sails.”

A bright flash of light made Heero cringe away, throwing up his arms to protect his eyes. When he lowered them he stood at the dock before his ship, staring at the two kittens that stared right back from where they perched on the rails of the deck.

“Whoa. What the ‘ell?” Duo’s unrefined voice brought Heeros attention to the small crowd that stood with him on the docks. Duo, Quatre, Trowa, Wufei, Eduard, May... they were all there, standing in bewilderment.

“That was odd.” Eduard said, running his long callused fingers through his long wavy hair.

“What kind of magic was that? I’ve never felt anything like that!” Wufei said

“Guardian magic, but this is the first time I’ve seen it used like that.” May said as she brushed a faint silvery dust off of her shoulders. “But I believe we have more important things to worry about.”

May was right, the city of Daphar was burning, this was no time to be asking questions of miracles. The crew of the Wing set off at a sprint onto the ship, grabbing up buckets and pails, lengths of rope, and knives just in case. Then they joined the citizens and other sailors, who hadn’t left at the first sign of trouble, in bucket lines bringing water from wells and from the sea herself to the fires in an attempt to halt the destruction of the beautiful port city. Most of Blackwateres crew was already mixed in with the fire fighters but after the return of their captain the rest showed up to help as well, adding another thirty or so people to the cause. It was then, while all the people of Daphar, her residence and visitors alike, were of one mind to save the town that the singing was heard.

Over the roar of the flames a soft song of many voices danced into the ears of the people. The singing grew louder and then here and there some one would should in alarm as a pair of white/blue orbs rushed past them, dancing on the wind that had kicked up about the same time as the singing. Soon there were so many dancing orbs of light at it was hard not to notice them and those orbs sought only one thing: the Lunar Guardian statue in the great shrine. Heero, his crew, and all the rest of Daphar watched as one by one each set of shining light found a home in the empty eyes of a statue and then as each statue began to glow, the singing became louder and rain began to fall thick and heavy from the smoky sky, dowsing the fire and stamping out the embers.

As the last remnants of flame hissed its last the statue of the Lunar Guardians burst and hundred of Lunar Guardians soared out and away, dancing on the clearing winds, singing their joy for all the people of Daphar to see. Many people wept for the sear beauty of it all, while others shouted thanks and praise. It was then, with the fire out and the city saved that a Lunar Guardian descended to Heero and his crew who watched the spectacle in respective silence and awe.

“We thank you sons of man and littlest brother. Our freedom has been returned to us, may it be that, like our father, we are in your debt. I shall pay mine.” And then she flew strait
at the Wing were it flouted in the harbor and in a blast of color and light she became its figure head, and the crew of the Wing could only watch, and Quatre cried as his sisters flew far and wide away from Daphar leaving only she who’d become one with their ship and the king, who was the only one not to return to his body, leaving it a magnificent stone statue in the heart of the city, to find safe shores and forests from which they would once again watch and rule the weather.

Heero and his crew busied themselves with preparation to depart the port of Daphar. The people of the chard, but still standing, city had given them more then enough provisions and supplies in thanks for their help with the fire fighting. The governor of the little island had wanted to honor their names with a plaque on the statue of the Lunar Guardian King for saving the race of sea gods but Heero and the others had politely refused. They hadn’t save the Lunar Guardian for a reward, if anything it was only chance that had pulled Heero away from the rest, back into the hermits hut to smash the containers that held the eyes and the souls of Quatres father and sisters.

“Oi!”

Heero looked up from the rigging he was looking over and caught sight of Eduard Blackwater, and in toe his first mate May, waving at them from the dock.

“Eh ther’ ol’ man, wha’ cha want?” Duo called down to the tall Captain of the Aldwin from where he hung upside down on the edge if the crows nest checking the ropes that controlled the sails.

“Yer, never gonna get a girl with an uncivilized tongue like that, boy. Best you come down here so I can nock some manners into ya.” The dark man called back, his eyes a twinkle with laughter

“Try it, ya ol’ codger!” Said Duo, shaking a fist at the older man in a joking manner.

Eduard and May had come to say their goodbyes as they and their crew were ready to set out ahead of schedule, a thing that made May quite happy it seamed.

“If we ever run into each other again, I’ll buy you a drink Yuy. Keep you safe now, your goin’ places you are.” Blackwater said, slapping the shorter man on the back and giving him a quick hug before waving his goodbyes to the rest of the crew. May bowed to Heero, and Wufei who had just emerged from the hold where he’d been organizing their plentiful stock, before turning to follow her captain. She stopped before stepping off onto the portside gangplank and reached inside the pocket of her elaborate white coat.

She turned a small, egg shaped, item in her hands a few times before tossing it into the air, catching it, and then throwing it with a deadly accuracy into Trowas’ chest on the other side of Wings small deck.

“Take better care of that, it was your fathers final gift.” She said, smiled, and then vanished out of their view.

“I think were ready now.” said Wufei, placing a bandaged hand on Heeros’ shoulder

“Aye, so do I.” Heero responded

The young captain of the Wing shouted out the order to depart and for a few furious moments all of the crewmen, Quatre included, were all a twitter with movement as they guided the small vessel out onto the open sea.

Shin and Scythe bounced around after their partner, Duo, as he leapt up the yard and back into the crow’s-nest were he watched the open expanse of the blue water spread out before him, the wind filling their sails whipped his braid around over his shoulder. Trowa sat on an empty barrel with an enthralled Quatre sitting next to him looking over the mans arm at the book the man was reading out loud to the little guardian. Wufei returned below deck with a slight grin spread across his face. And Heero, stood behind the wheel keeping Wing on a strait path a peaceable feeling creeping into his soul. This is how he wanted thing to be for as long as he could keep it so. This was his paradise.

“So it appears we are once again without the information we set out for.” Trowa said, looking up at Heero.

“Aye, so it dose. But we do have our own resident Lunar Guardian, why should we need questions answered?” Heero shrugged

“I quess that makes sense.. But who is going to teach Quatre to control his weather working?”

“I will.” Said a sweet echoing voice and the misty form of a female Lunar Guardian shivered into existence on the decks railing

Quatre warbled happily and Heero soon recognized the ghostly figure as the Lunar Guardian who had taken up residence in the figure head of his ship. Quatre left Trowas side in favor of his sister and the two sat and mewed back and forth in the musical language of the Lunar Guardians. Trowa sat and smiled slightly, content that his little companion was happy. Heero watched, ever the protective figure of strength onboard the good ship Wing.

“Where shall we head now, Trowa?” He called down to the young scholar

Trowa looked up at his captain with unbridled respect behind his eyes and gave a moments thought to the question.

“Favian perhaps? There is a creature native to that place that my father never finished making an entry on. Perhaps we could finish it for him Captain.”

“Favian it is then!” Heero said, turning the wheel to the left with a soft hand.

He had a crew, a ship, and a destination. What else could a sailor want?