6 Dragons and The Book of Fate
Author: Moon Princess Serena
Rating: M
Warnings: AU, Angst, OOC, Sap
Pairings: 2+1, 3+4, 13+5
Disclaimer: Don't own anything but the words rattling in my head.
++Chapter 1
The cold white tundra gave way to a lush forest that helped the people survive the ever changing climates. Small villages sprung up all over the forest, providing for the nomad inhabitants. When the climate finally changes into something becoming more tolerable to the population it began to change the region. The civilization changed, giving way to a new order of large cities and markets, the land carved out for several kingdoms, each ruler so very different from the others. Lorinilla was the richest of them all, home to the mage guild while the court and royal family are protected by a special army of mages. Yet with all this power they only try to keep peace among the other nations, always remaining neutral in all matters. Yet today the King knows he has to act or their whole world would be lost.
A young man sits in the beautiful gardens of the King's mistress, his black clothes giving away his position in the castle. He is one of a handful of assassin mages that are used when discretion is required. Shoulder length black hair fell into his face, concealing dark eyes behind the silky strands.
"Wufei, you were called here as well," a deep voice asks drawing the young man's attention.
He turns to see an older man with short ginger hair approach, his black robes shifting as he walks. "This must be more serious than I thought if you're here Treize," Wufei sneers at the knight mage.
"Hey you two now play nice," a young happy voice says stopping whatever Treize might have said in reply. They both bow before the young man in rich blue robes, a long braid folded over his shoulder.
"Duo why did you request this meeting?" Wufei asks using the Prince's first name with ease.
"Gosh you are way too serious anymore Wufei," Duo replies sitting on one of the stone benches around the garden, his personal bodyguard appearing behind him. The silent but deadly young man is never far from the Prince. "But if you're going to give me that look, I will explain now. My father feels an important matter has come forward. He feels we must step in to keep our world from collapsing. An ancient artifact has been thought to have been discovered at some ruins in the haunted forests of Kandrea. He has asked me to send our best to go and recover it, so I have picked you two, our best for sure."
"Is it to be just Wufei and I?" Treize asks.
"If you would like, you can invite your brother but Heero and I will be coming along," Duo answers with a smile.
"We don't need that idiot to just get in the way," Wufei snaps, not wanting Milliardo anywhere near him. Yes he does like Milliardo's older brother, not that he'd ever admit that, but the blonde is just annoying.
"He went to visit our mother, so he won't be able to join us," Treize explains ignoring Wufei's comment. "Why are you accompanying us if I may ask?"
"I've been cooped up in this castle way too long, I need a little adventure, and I'm going to be with two of the best mages on the continent that should give me all the adventure I want," Duo says with a laugh.
"I see, when do we leave then," Treize inquires.
"As soon as possible, this is an urgent matter," Duo answers serious again. "Meet me at the castle gates, with your horses as soon as you possibly can."
"All right, then I will take my leave to prepare," Treize says before looking at Wufei. "I'm sorry you and my brother don't see eye to eye."
Treize leaves, the other three remaining in the gardens. Wufei watches him go the comment taking him by surprise. "Why don't you just tell him?" Duo asks standing up.
"What?" Wufei questions looking at the young Prince.
"How you really feel about him, it is written in your eyes."
"I don't know what you're talking about, I only work with him because I have to," Wufei lies, "I will go now to prepare." With that he disappears into the shadows, melting out of sight.
"I swear, he is just so stubborn, anyone can see he likes Treize," Duo huffs heading back inside to make sure he has everything necessary for the trip. "Don't you think so Heero?"
"I will not pry into another's affairs and neither should you," his bodyguard answers following after Duo.
"What's to pry? He displays it to the whole world, I was just asking what you saw," Duo explains turning to look at the young man who'd been at his side since he hit puberty.
"Yes, I saw how he looked at the knight mage," Heero finally admits, mostly just to appease Duo. He knew the Prince only wants everyone to be happy in this ever changing world, who could fault him that desire. "We should finish getting ready and leave to meet them," Heero advises gently nudging Duo to start walking again.
"I just don't understand why he acts like that around Treize, when he feels something different," Duo says at they enter his chambers, where everything they'd requested is already packed and waiting.
Heero claps his hands drawing a servant from the hall. "Have these taken to the stables and our horses saddled," Heero commands handing the packs to the servant who bows and leaves quickly to complete his task. "You are not going to do anything on this trip?"
"What do you mean?"
"In the way of this relationship you think you see, I have your word you will leave both mages alone," Heero prompts.
"Why do you ask for such things that I will never give?" Duo replies with a smile. "I only want to help Wufei; he's been so sour lately."
Heero shook his head knowing he'd never be able to talk the Prince out of this scheme. "We should go."
"Yes," Dup agrees growing serious again.
Wufei sits atop his chocolate brown stead, Candlemine. The animal is calm as they wait for the rest of their party. Treize canters up a few moments later, his black stead, Thunder, moving just as gracefully as his rider. "I'm not," Wufei says remembering Treize's comment from before.
"You're not what?" Duo asks, his snow white horse, Ezibella, trotting toward them. Behind him Heero rides his silver gray stead, Wing.
"Nothing," Wufei replies easily guiding Candlemine toward the front gates. "Are we ready?"
They leave the palace at an easy trot, the horses walking two by two through the market and past the city gate into the open countryside. Duo pulls up beside Wufei a curious question turning in his mind. "Why do you dislike Milliardo so much?"
"Because he is a pompous ass, who could have gotten so many people killed unnecessarily," Wufei answers with a growl.
"Yes what luck, that thunderstorm moving through," Duo replies, his eyes telling Wufei he knew it hadn't just been luck.
"Yes, I would say we were lucky that day. He has no place in the guild or army. He thinks he is as powerful as his brother yet he is no where near. He is only asking for death if he continues like this, and will probably take many people with him which is totally unnecessary," Wufei explains ignoring Duo's innuendo that it was him who created that storm.
"Maybe you are right, I will agree he is no where near his brother's level," Duo says glancing back at Treize, who seem to be listening to them, "but not many people are. I think you are one of the few."
"I only do what I must to complete the task," Wufei answers looking at his horse.
"Yes but you do it very well," Duo praises the young assassin, "and at such a young age."
"Age is no factor, training and ability is more important," Wufei disagrees looking around them.
"What is it?" Duo asks glancing back to see Treize also glancing around.
"Did you feel anything?" Wufei asks his dark eyes searching.
"Yes, a substantial amount of power was just released," Treize answer remaining calm to keep Thunder calm.
They stop on the path only to be surprised when a gray wolf jumps out from the underbrush. The animal's sudden appearance spooks the horses. Treize feeds Thunder with more calmness while Wufei easily reins Candlemine in. Duo gently tugs Ezibella's reins, regaining control of her, as Heero forces Wing between the wolf and Ezibella.
The animal growls before lunging at Wufei, who calls forth a paralysis spell which freezes it in the air. He moves Candlemine forward out of range of the forest creature. "We should move on," Wufei advises.
"Was that what you felt before?" Duo asks looking at the frozen animal only to be startled by a larger white wolf appears from the same underbrush.
It growls seeing the other smaller creature, frozen in the air, jumping up the wolf takes the smaller by the neck bringing it back close to the ground. Everyone watches the two animals unsure of what to make the whole scene. Suddenly the large wolf bounds from the ground, grabbing Wufei's traveling cloak and yanking him from the horse. He opens his palm out toward the animal as he falls, getting his spell off just as he hits the ground causing his aim to go awry and miss. He quickly starts to recite the spell again when the wolf steps back. Wufei looks over to see the paralysis of the other had been broken.
Treize shoots a lightening bolt near the larger animal causing it to jump away. The large creature grabs the smaller about the neck and quickly disappears back where they came from.
"Are you all right?" Duo asks moving Ezibella closer.
"Fine," Wufei answers closing his hand around the fireball he'd created, dissipating the spell. He pulls himself to his feet, brushing off the dust of the road.
"I believe that was what we felt," Treize comments pulling Thunder alongside Candlemine.
"That creature?" Duo questions as Wufei remount.
"I don't think it was a forest creature at all," Treize clarified his statement.
"You mean a druid? But why would they attack us?" Wufei wonders.
"Not attack, he wanted to break the spell you were holding. Why didn't you just release it?"
Wufei looks at him before turning Candlemine in the direction they had been going. "We should get going," he says instead of any kind of response to Treize's question.
"Okay now I'm confused," Duo pipes up looking between the two.
"It is nothing to concern about," Wufei replies not looking back. "Are we going to stop in the coming village?"
"I don't-" Duo starts to say before Treize interrupt him.
"Yes, you need to rest." Treize's voice is firm as he speaks his eyes following Wufei.
"What are you talking about? You don't know what I need, I am fine, they were simple spells," Wufei growls looking at the older mage.
"Not when you hold it like that, feeding it more of your power to sustain it," Treize replies. "And I do know what you need; now we are going to stop."
"You have no authority to make such a decision," Wufei challenges.
"I trust Treize's judgment, so we will stop in town," Duo cuts in causing Wufei's head to snap around and look at him.
"He's wrong, we don't need to stop," Wufei explains grumpily.
"Tell me honestly, is he wrong?" Duo requests, "As your Prince I am asking."
Wufei sighs turning back to face the way they are heading. He feels a little tired but they didn't need to stop. He also can't figure out how Treize knew he had been sustaining the spell instead of releasing it to run its course.
He nudges Candlemine forward, deciding it didn't matter. The man isn't really concerned for him, just their task, that is all, Wufei told himself leaning forward a bit on Candlemine's neck. He shouldn't feel so tired; it had only been a small wolf that had been fighting the spell the whole time he'd been holding it. Maybe that is why it had been broken so easily by his fall. Wufei shakes his head; he doesn't even understand why he is thinking about it.
They come upon the village Wufei mentioned earlier as the sun sits heavily in the western sky. They dismount in front of a large inn, not needing to tie their horses. The animals are well trained and linked to their masters.
"Heero why don't you go get us some rooms, I feel like a nice drink," Duo says before moving closer to his bodyguard, "We'll only need two."
"Duo…"
"I'm the one paying here," Duo interrupts smiling.
"All right," Heero caves going into the inn while Treize and Wufei follow Duo to the tavern across the dusty street.
"What was that all about?" Wufei asks as they enter the establishment.
Every eye turn to the newcomers, only to linger until they realized just what the robes Treize and Wufei wore under their traveling cloaks meant. Duo sat down at one of the empty tables flanked by Treize and Wufei. Heero joins them a few minutes later dropping two keys on the table.
"Move it," he growls looking at Wufei.
The assassin glares back but decides it just wasn't worth the energy. He moves to the seat between the one Heero wants and Treize's. "Aren't you the bossy one," he comments as he sits back down in his new chair.
"This is my rightful place," Heero replies sitting down in the now vacated seat.
"Only two keys?" Treize questions changing the subject.
"Only had two rooms left," Heero replies allowing himself to glance at Duo who is smiling.
"Wait... that means," Wufei says leaning forward, "no way, I'm not sharing a room with him!"
"Sorry Wufei, if that's all they had," Duo cut in picking up one of the keys.
"Damn it, why do I feel like I've been plotted against here?" Wufei asks glaring at Duo.
"He got them, not me," Duo replies holding his hands up.
"Yeah, but we all know he's wrapped around your little finger," Wufei sneers, suddenly dreading their stay in this village.
"Wufei that is enough," Treize cuts in startling the young mage.
"Excuse me," a short young blonde says grabbing their attention and killing whatever response Wufei might have made. "Would you like anything to drink?"
"Yes, please," Duo pipes up smiling. After receiving their drinks Duo stops the quiet young man. "Can I ask you something?"
"Um, sure," the blonde slowly answers shuffling his feet.
"Are there any Druid clans around here?"
"Druid clans? No... although there is Trowa, but he is the protector of our forests just south of here. Why?"
"Well we were attacked on the road a few miles back."
"That seems odd. You weren't hurting one of the animals or plants?" the blonde questions perplexed.
"No, a young wolf attacked us not the other way around."
"Well Trowa should be returning soon, you can speak with him," the blond suggests before smiling when a tall young man enters the tavern. He waves him over seemingly glowing. "Trowa, these people were asking me-"
"Oh, you were the travelers on the road," the young man known as Trowa interrupts the blonde. "What were they asking about Quatre?"
"They claim you attacked them," Quatre explains.
"Well, I'm sorry if you were hurt in some way," Trowa replies looking at Wufei. "I was only trying to break the spell you were holding over that wolf cub. She hadn't known better."
"How did you know it was Wufei?" Duo asks curious.
"The power signatures, all people who wield magic of any kind have their own signature. Thank you for the warning," Trowa explains before looking at Treize, "but it was never my intention to hurt him."
"I know, that is why I missed," Treize replies calmly.
Wufei suddenly stood from his seat, surprising them all. He snatches up the single key left on the table. "If you'll excuse me," he says before turning and leaving.
"Wow is he upset," Quatre comments watching the dark haired youth leave.
"What do you mean?" Duo asks surprised by the comment.
"Oh, well I can read people's emotions and usually what is causing them," Quatre replies looking down.
"An underdeveloped telepath," Treize assesses looking at the blonde. "Ever thought about improving your skills by joining the guild?"
"I couldn't, I have to provide for my mother and sisters," Quatre answers regret lacing his voice.
"If you did come and train there, your family would be compensated," Treize explains.
"What do you mean?" Quatre questions a spark of hope lighting his aquamarine eyes.
"As the only providing male in your family, by going to the guild your family would be given money every month by what they lose by your joining," Treize explains.
"I've never heard that before, thank you-" Quatre trails off unsure what to call the man.
"Treize is fine," the knight mage answers smiling.
"Thank you, Treize," Quatre says brightly smiling before excusing himself to go help some other customer.
"May I join you?" Trowa asks indicating the chair Wufei had left.
"Certainly," Duo answers with a nod.
"Thank you for giving him some hope, but I wanted to ask something of you."
"What?"
"You seem to be on a journey and I was wondering if you would consider taking him along. He has to get out of here, this is not the place he should be," Trowa explains.
Duo thought a moment glancing at Treize. "What do you think?"
"My only concern is that he will withdraw, being in a group of strangers," Treize replies.
"Hmm, all right," Duo starts to say, "He can join us on the condition that you do as well. That way he won't be in a group of total strangers."
Trowa looks over at the blonde before nodding, "All right then, I can handle that. I will speak with him tonight. Where shall we meet tomorrow?"
"In front of the inn, with horses," Treize answers.
"All right, then we will see you tomorrow and thank you again," Trowa says before standing up and leaving their table.
"Our little group seems to be growing," Duo comments with a smile. "Maybe we should turn in and check on Wufei?"
"Yes," Treize and Heero agree the three leaving some coins on the table before slipping from the tavern and heading back to the inn.
Heero precedes Duo into their room while Treize finds the door to the room he and Wufei would be sharing unlocked. As he steps into the dimly lit room he notices Wufei huddled in the corner, his traveling cloak pulled tight around him.
"Wufei," Treize calls softly seeing the mass move, "you shouldn't be sleeping on the floor like that, your energy will not recharge in such a restless state."
"So get out," Wufei replies not lifting his head, "if you have a problem. I'm fine; we didn't even need to stop."
"Stop with this, I could easily see in your eyes how much energy you expended, they become so dull," Treize explains sitting in one of the chairs near a small table.
Wufei's head snaps up at the comment, his eyes strangely wide. Treize had looked that hard, noticed such a fine detail? Why had he looked so hard? Wufei brushes the thoughts off with a shake of his head only to be surprised when Treize speaks again.
"You take the bed, I will sleep on the floor," the older man practically orders, looking at him.
Wufei blinks his mind slow to comprehend. "What about what you just said?"
"I don't need the rest like you do, you're still young, it takes your body more time," Treize answers.
"I'm not that young," Wufei growls.
"Yes you are, now take the bed," Treize disagrees his voice becoming firm. Wufei slowly stood up glancing at the bed then back at Treize. "Get some sleep."
Wufei climbs into the bed finding himself nodding off almost instantly as his body demands the rest. Treize uses the blanket he'd brought in from his pack as bedding on the floor, lightly dozing. His senses remain awake to make sure they are left alone and that Wufei sleeps properly.