Treasure Found
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Rating: mature to be safe (I have no idea what is going to happen)
Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 6x5
Warnings: mpreg, language, ooc, AU (well duh if its mpreg) bad grammar and syntax
Summery: AU The Gundam boys are wolfeans (they have a wolf form and a human one) in of world of Mercia that contains elves, fairies, and other fantastical creatures. Prince Heero is searching his lands for his mate. Will he find him before the Picts find the enchanted Jewel of Ludeca and seize war on all of Mercia?
Chapter One: Mission Accepted
Blank expression firmly planted on his face, Prince Heero listened to his father the king. He had been ordered to attend breakfast with both of his fathers to hear on the matters of the kingdom. His sire, King Odin, droned on upon his meeting with the elves from the Sank kingdom. Obliged to listen, the prince only listened with half a mind. He was intimate with how his father liked to ramble on different subjects. Nodding his chocolate colored head in response to his father, Heero quickly paused, eyeing his father and replied.
"Pardon, did you just say I have to find my mate now." The prince asked becoming irritated.
"Yes, well, not right now. But you must before your twenty fifth birthday" the king absently countered back while nibbling on a piece of bacon.
"Why father? To my knowledge there is no such law stipulating a timeframe for marriage."
Looking thoughtfully to his only son the King explained "I am allowing you six months to find a mate because I know how you want to marry for love. If you do not locate a mate before your next birthday, I have arranged a marriage to the Elf princess of Sank, Princess Relena."
Dark blue eye practically popped out of their sockets learning that information. Heero had met the princess before and found her lacking in several qualities in a mate. He could not believe his father would organize a marriage to an Elf. "What, how could you do that to me? You, who complained about your first marriage, an arranged one, all the time."
"Boy, be grateful I am allowing you a chance to find love." Odin spat out.
"Hn." The blue eyed boy grunted and turned to his birth father. "Have you agreed to this travesty also?"
"I support your father." At the prince's harsh glare, he quickly added, "I want you also to find love as I have, but with the Picts terrorizing the lands we also need an alliance with the elves."
"In view of the fact that you both have already decided this I accept this mission to find my mate." After spitting out a retort to his parents, the young prince rose from his seat and stormed out of the castle.
Hesitating at the entryway, the young wolfean considered going back and begging his fathers to give him more time. Shaking his head, he quickly dismissed that idea not wanted to appear weak and child like. Glancing around for his personal guard and not seeing him, Heero decided to relish in some quiet time outside the castle.
Walking to the stable to cool his head, Heero entered his horse's stall. Haltering him and guiding him to the cross ties, the prince whispered his new mission to the grey gelding. As he began grooming, he contemplated ways to find a mate, telling each one to his mount.
"Let's see, I could hold a ball like the elves," the boy whispered getting a negative stomp from the horse. "Your right, I would hate that and anyone who attends. Hmmm, I could send out notice and have those eligible come for an interview." Another negative stomp added with a head shake. "I could just send Trowa to choose someone." This time the horse snorted and did a full body shake bumping the chocolate haired prince.
"Your right, those ideas reek. I suppose I'll have to travel myself to find someone. The gods know that only those already living here in the capitol or the wealthy would only attend interviews." The gelding nodded its head. "And as much as I respect Trowa's decisions, I can not leave affairs of my heart to him."
A course of action decided, the wolfean quietly finished brushing down his steed. He fetched a carrot from the feed room to treat the animal for his aid and lead the horse back to his stall. Making sure the stall was secured and the door latched properly, for the grey had a tendency to escape, Heero headed out in search of his advisor, Trowa.
Approaching his room, the prince discovered his childhood friend and advisor along with his personal guard. "Good morning Trowa, Wufei" he greeted each with a nod.
"Good day to you as well my Prince" the black haired guard stiffly replied. "I did not find you at breakfast as planned sire, where have you been?" the guard demanded.
Glaring back at Wufei as he entered his room, Heero returned, "After learning what my father has planned for my mate, I went to the stables to contemplate what actions to take."
"What do you mean planned for your mate? You do not have one yet." Trowa quietly asked his head angled down with his large bangs hiding his left green eye.
Indicating for the men to sit in the two wingbacks by the fireplace, Heero casually laid himself on the sofa between the two chairs. He looked each man, who he considered close friends, in turn and gruffly explained what his father said at breakfast.
"So you only have six months? That is unjust to place a time frame on finding love. Matters of the heart require time spent with the individual to decide if love is involved. It is preposterous to think you can find someone, court them and both of you fall in love." Wufei stated indignantly turning to stare at the fire.
"I take it you are not a follower of love at first sight them?" Trowa asked with a raise eyebrow, the only eyebrow visible. He received a short snort as reply.
"Well, at least you are free to choose. Your father did not set any stipulations did he? Like finding a solid color wolf, or harder yet a black one." Wufei asked. At Heero's negative nod, the guard continued, "What is the reason for a sealed treaty. We are already united with the elves, they have our allegiances already?"
"The elves informed my father that the Picts are marching to war against the fairies. Granted it would take awhile before they reach our borders or the elves' if they defeat the fairies. But, the elves are not warriors and want to have our armies supporting them. According to King Peacecraft, the Picts are after a powerful jewel supposed to control the hearts of all true warriors, the Jewel of Ludeca." Heero slowly explained from what he had listened to before his father's announcement. The shaggy haired prince studied his friends as they absorbed the information.
"It does not matter. I have to follow my fathers' orders and find a mate or marry that shrew." The prince sighed and looked over to Trowa," I need you to organized a time frame to visit each city, town and village in the land, leaving at least a months leeway for time to "court" my chosen mate." Trowa nodded in return. Heero then turned to his head guard "I'll need you to select a few men to accompany us" Then sternly added "But no more than three others." Pausing for a rebuttal from Wufei and not receiving one he leaned back and stared at the ceiling before continuing. "Trowa, once the timetable is set, send out notices to each place and tell them that every, and I stress every, eligible beta wolfean is to be present for inspection."
"You can not announce ahead of time your visits. That is like sending out an invitation to come and kill you." The black haired guard angrily retorted.
"Fine, you handle that detail." Glaring at his friend Heero added "You and Trowa handle it all. Just make sure everyone is present at the towns and that I have my month leeway." With that stated the prince rose and began undressing while heading to his washroom.
Taking the prince's actions as the dismissal the two friends quickly headed out with Wufei muttering about insufferable royalty and their pushy ways.
Two days later, the courtyard held six saddled horses and two laded with supplies. As the prince approached the horses, he noticed Wufei followed directions in not choosing a large entourage. Already mounted were three palace guards that Heero recognized. The first was Maddox, who was a talkative young man from the capital city. The next was Galen, who was the oldest among the guards traveling at 229 years old. The last was Xerxes, a large burly alpha who refused to take a mate claiming he was too special to be with only one other.
After appraising his guard, Heero raised an eyebrow to Wufei, questioning his selection.
"I first asked for volunteers on who would be willing to leave home for five months. Only six men volunteered. Of those, I found only these three acceptable." Still receiving the eyebrow Wufei confidently continued "Don't worry my Prince; these men are capable to handle any problem that may arise."
The chocolate haired prince snorted in reply and mounted his horse. Settling into the saddle, he turned asking his head guard where Trowa was and if he knew what town they were to first visit.
"Aye sire, Trowa and I went over the details last night. We will first visit Essex followed by Anglea. Letters have already been sent and they should be prepared to receive you at the appropriate time."
Heero gave him a rare small smile. "I did not expect to be waiting for Trowa this morning; it was you who I thought would be holding us up."
Wufei glared at his prince before haltingly replying "Just because I have a mate does not mean I slack on my responsibilities."
Chuckling a little the prince replied, "I only meant I thought you would try to cram as much time with Milliardo as you could. It will be along time before you see him again." He paused to study his friend who still had not mounted yet. "Or did you wear him out last night?" The prince watched as his guard's eyes narrowed to him before continuing "Is that why you haven't mounted yet, your nighttime activities leave you sore?"
Turning bright red, Wufei turned to glare at his laughing men "Quiet you three before I make you walk the whole distance in your other form." Spinning on his heals, the black haired wolfean lead his horse to the gate to wait for the last member of the traveling party.
As the prince's advisor walked to the waiting horses, he gave a puzzling look to the prince who only shrugged his shoulders in reply. Trowa then looked to Wufei who was over a hundred feet away and still bright right. Seeing his companion's complexion, the green eyed wolfean shook his head and mounted his horse with a slight smile. He nodded to the prince to indicate he was set.
Heero quickly glanced at each member of the party before spurring his horse to canter out the front gates. Knowing the general direction needed to head to Essex from the capitol city, the group quickly left the city on an easterly direction. Once they reached the countryside and the open roads, Heero slowed his horse to find out how long till they reached their first city.
"We will reach Essex a little afternoon sire. I wrote yesterday to the mayor that he should have all the people ready for your scrutiny by supper time." Trowa answered.
"Hn" was his reply.
Upon reaching Essex as Trowa timed, the group quickly dismounted. Wufei sent Galen and Xerxes ahead to check out the hotels rooms they would be occupying for the following days. The prince meanwhile handed the reins to his green eyed friend and ordered him to see to the horses with Maddox. He then proceeded to roam the city.
The city of Essex was fairly large, especially if compared to all the other places in the kingdom of Danes. The blue eyed prince quickly glanced back to see if his loyal shadow was with him. Sure enough, the black eyed guard was five paces back and gaining. Briefly Heero considered changing form and loping through the city, but decided it would cause more trouble.
Unlike the grey tones of most wolfeans, when Heero transformed to his wolf appearance he was a solid Bistre brown. Even his two friends were unique in that aspect. Trowa was a solid seal brown and Wufei was auburn that appeared flaming red in the sun. Every time one of them was seen people flocked to get a better look at the unusual coloring. The only time the prince changed to his wolf shape was inside the castle. The novelty of having solid colored or unusually marked wolves wore out when the prince was still a babe.
"Wufei, how long until we meet the prospective mates?" The prince asked gruffly as his guard matched his stride.
"About two hours. Why?"
The chocolate haired wolfean only responded with an evil smirk before sprinting down the next lane. He zig and zagged stretching his sore muscles. It was such a relief to be out of the saddle. Inhaling deeply, he perceived his shadow was still there and no one else around. Lengthening his stride even more Heero quickly approached the forested edge of Essex. As he leapt into the trees, he released a howl and changed forms.
"You're lucky I followed you instead of sending one of the others" Wufei grumbled
"Hn, and why is that?" Heero asked with a smirk on his face.
"You know damn well why. Only a limited few of us can change to wolf forms then back to human and manage to retain our clothes."
"I still don't see how that makes me lucky" the prince stressed trying to antagonize his friend.
"Humph, well if you really want to see Galen in the buff, then by all means transform with him as your guard."
"Alright, point taken." Heero winced as he pictured his older guard nude.
As they continued towards the town hall at a leisurely pace, both boys glanced around cataloguing their surroundings. Taking a sniff, they surmised that most of the town must be early at the town hall.
"Looks like everyone will be in attendance for your inspection."
"I think you're right. Aren't you going to inspect the meeting hall?"
"No, I told Maddox and Galen to check it. Xerxes is to remain with the rooms and Trowa I no doubt also checked the hall." Wufei replied without breaking his stride.
Once at the building, the two were met by Trowa. The brown haired youth led them to the side entrance and into the crowded hall. Heero was shown to the head table and sat in the middle overlooking the gathered crowd. He turned to his left side were sat who he assumed to be the city's mayor and nodded to the man. The mayor took his gavel and pounded three times. Once the room was quiet he instructed the bachelors to form inline in alphabetical order.
As soon as the announcement was made, the room broke out in a cacophony of noise. There was yelling, pushing, pulling, and arguments abound. Everyone was claiming to be eligible and that they should be the first to meet the prince. Seeing the raucous that broke out, Heero turned to Trowa on his right side and raised a chocolate eyebrow. The advisor in return sighed, shrugged and then shook his head.
Slowly, Trowa rose from his seat and looked out into the crowd. He took a deep breath and then bellowed "ATTENTION." The whole room stopped to stare at him. Even his friends were shocked at the loud attention grabbing voice. Once he had the room focused on him he continued in a more subtle fashion. "You have three minutes to get into order, if not the prince will retire for the night and may see some of you tomorrow." He paused as again people bust out into shouts, then added "Quietly."
After three minutes, the hall was calm again and had an orderly line of prospective mates. The prince looked at the first man and waved him off. He continued to do that for the first fourteen before he turned to his brown haired advisor.
"Trowa, didn't you set up some restrictions on age? So far they have all been older than my fathers."
Hiding behind his bangs, the advisor blushed as he replied a quiet no. Heero couldn't help the loud moan. He just turned and proceeded to examine and wave off the next few hundred of perspective mates.
Entering their hotel rooms, the tired royal party flopped down into their beds. Well, bed in Heero's case, the others either had one of the two sofas or the floor.
"Trowa, next time, stipulate that no one is to be younger than 18 or older than 28 years old. That would have saved us three hours at least." the grouchy prince complained.
"Well sorry, I did not think everyone would apply. Its not like I play match maker every day." Bang boy sarcastically retorted.
"Hnn. Well you know for next time. Speaking of which, when do we head out tomorrow?"
Trowa didn't reply. Instead, he looked away and acted like the wallpaper was the most interesting thing he had ever seen. Narrowing his dark blue eyes Heero repeated his question. Yet again he was ignored. Not liking what he speculated was the problem he turned to his black haired friend and asked. At least there he received a reply.
"We don't. Trowa planed for us to spend three nights here."
This time it was Heero's turn to bellow. "What?! What do you mean three nights here? Trowa, what the hell were you thinking?" He stood up to give his friend his harshest glare.
Also rising to defend himself Trowa answered "Hey, don't blame me. If you had found someone, you would be using that time to decide if that person was a prospect or not. Don't tell me you're making your choose on looks alone." the usually quiet wolfean roared as everyone in the room gawked at him.
The prince snorted, opened his mouth, thought about it and then conceded. "You're right. I would want more time with someone. Please forgive me for losing my temper." He then striped down to his under garments and bonelessly fell back into the bed.