Oh dear...ahem, there seem to be a need for another OOC warning in here. I know, I know, it's baaaad, but at least it's not Quatre this time. That's good, right? Right?!
Anyway, something happened to the normally quiet Trowa. I think I somehow mixed his personality up with Duo in this chapter...you'll see what I mean towards the end of the chapter...
Oh, and most of this chapter consists of story-telling, so if it's boring...gomen!
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Chapter Six
Creator
"Sooo...what'll we do now?" Hilde asked the others after their meal.
"Go back and look for survivors!" Quatre said immediately.
"Okay, that was idea number one, which was bad I might add. Do we have another?"
"It's obvious what our next move should be," Trowa voiced calmly, casually covering Quatre's mouth with his hand before the blond could object. "The horde that conquered Giliand will most likely turn their attention towards Vael next, in order to completely wipe out all of Lanit's resistance. They must be warned, or they'll undoubtedly meet the same fate as Giliand did." Smiling graciously at his fuming protégé, he removed his hand.
"The City of Dawn and Dusk?" Hilde barely suppressed a gulp. "The high seat of the Order?"
"Yeah. Maybe the Guardians can turn the tide in Lanit's favor," Quatre said enthusiastically, eyes shining. "But," he paused, looking torn. "We can't just leave our friends back there..."
"Quatre," Trowa interrupted. "Let's be realistic. Giliand is overrun and any survivors are long gone by now."
"I suppose," Quatre sighed. "But I do hate the thought of just leaving."
"Me too," Hilde said gently. "Believe me, I want nothing more than to run straight back to Giliand and kick their behinds, hard, but that's...well, dumb."
"You don't say?" The blond smiled, his voice edged with sarcasm. "All right." He threw out his arms. "It was a stupid idea. Are you all satisfied now that I've said it?"
"Yep," Hilde grinned. "Wait..." she frowned. "'All' of us?" She paused, a look of worry flashing over her features. "Where's Marie?"
"Demra damn her!" Trowa swore, flying to his feet. "She's still gone?"
"I haven't seen her since I fetched sleeping beauty here."
"Why did she leave in the first place?" Quatre questioned his Sword.
"She refused to eat the rabbits, and stormed off when I teased her for it. Damn! The girl is a stubborn as a mule with a toothache!"
"What now?" Hilde crossed her arms. "She could be practically anywhere!" The words had barely left her lips when they heard a scream born out of pure terror. The three of them froze for one or two seconds, before they turned as one and ran in that direction.
An all too familiar roar could be heard throughout the Iljus forest.
"Damn it all!" Zechs cursed. "I thought Iljus would be safe! What could bring them here?"
"Maybe they've caught our scent?" Relena suggested, surprising herself by not worrying. She felt...secure in this peculiar man's company.
"I surely hope otherwise. If we have a Haran'kar pursuing us..." He trailed off, staring into the distance.
"Do we stand a chance fighting it?" She asked, receiving a slight smile from Zechs.
"'We'?"
"Well...perhaps 'you' would be more accurate," she admitted. "Well?"
"Fighting it here would be most foolish. I suggest we attempt to escape it, and only resorting to fighting if no other choice is given." He patted Shadow's neck, whispering something in the horse's ear. "Hold on now, Relena," he advised her.
"Wha...?" The rest of her sentence died out as she buried her face in Shadow's mane when the large horse broke into a gallop.
Quatre stared. They stood at the outskirt of a large clearing with Mariemaia only a couple of meters away, eyes wide in terror. And in front of her, its jaw wide open to reveal all of its white fangs, stood a...
"Wing-beast," Trowa hissed, his hand slowly reaching for the quiver on his back. The gargantuan creature threw back its head and roared, causing the surrounding tree's to rustle, dropping some of their yellow and red leaves. Quatre couldn't help but to feel awe at its beauty; its jade scales and ebony horns reflecting the sunlight, making the whole wing-beast glow.
The dry sound of Trowa's bow being drawn reached his ears through the terrified chirping and rustling that had followed in the roar's wake. The lanky boy had his lips drawn back in a snarl, his arrow pointing straight towards the beast's chest. The creature tilted its massive head to one side, staring down at them.
'I would appreciate if you pointed that somewhere else, human.' Quatre jumped in surprise, as did the two girls. Trowa didn't budge an inch, but kept his gaze locked upon the wing-beast.
'Who said that? There's nobody here except us and...' Quatre felt his eyes widen.
'I'll ask you again, my friend, with the best of intentions, put that miserable, bent stick away.' The voice continued kindly.
"Maybe," Trowa said calmly. "After my arrow have pierced your black heart."
'I seriously doubt the use of those...what did you call them? Arrows? Hah! The craftsmanship of manlings has certainly worsened during the last millenary if that's the finest your smiths can shape.'
"T-trowa?" Hilde stammered. "Are...are you doing what I think you're doing?"
Twang went Trowa's bow as he released the string, sending the arrow flying, only to split in two as it hit the creature's trunk.
'I wonder...is it customary among your people not to listen to advice?' The wing-beast actually sounded curious. The green-eyed youth growled in response, reaching for another arrow.
"Trowa, don't." The Sword's head jerked to his right, staring disbelievingly at his protégé. "If he'd been an enemy he would've attacked us long ago," Quatre added, looking straight into the beast's eyes. Their golden shade was...alluring was the word he would chose. The beast grunted, lowering its great head closer to Quatre's, looking him over as if sizing him up.
'So I've found one of you, after all.' He sounded pleased.'I was beginning to believe my instincts had lead me wrong.'
"You were looking for me, then?" Quatre asked, ignoring the stares he received from the others.
'Quite right.' He paused. 'You are a creator, are you not?'
"A what?" The blond boy blinked, his confusion clear on his features.
'You are able to bend the flows with the strength of your will, true?'
"The flows?"
The wing-beast sighed; 'Your people tends to call them the 'Spirals'.'
"Oh...well, yes, I can use them, though 'bend' isn't the word I would use..."
'What do you know of them?'
"The spirals?" Quatre asked, and the great head nodded. "Well...I know only a few people are able to see them, and even fewer that can actually use them. They're unable to think as we denote it, but they do have some sort of consciousness, since they are able to understand and teach us..."
'I did not mean that.' The wing-beast sounded slightly annoyed. 'Do you know how they came to be? Do you know their history?'
"How they were created?" Quatre frowned, berating his mind. "Erhm...no. I don't."
'Oh for the light of...don't you know anything about the creation of this world?'
"The creation of this world?"
'...It appears I will have to tell you the whole story myself.' The wing-beast sighed. 'Prepare yourself, as this might take quite some time...'
"Now hold on here just one damned minute!" Trowa interrupted. "Quatre, what in the seven hells are you thinking? He's one of the creatures that attacked Giliand! And you're chatting, chatting, with it!"
'I don't hide the fact that I contributed in your city's destruction. However, it wasn't by my own free will, but rather it was a decision made by my elders. I give you my word that you're safe in my presence.'
"Who the hell are you, and why are you telling us this?"
'I'm called 'White Fang' among your people, and as for the reasons I'm telling you this, it's none of your concern, human.'
"White Fang, eh? That's really a reassuring name, wouldn't you say?" Trowa all but sneered at the wing-beast.
'You're questioning my honor?' The voice was edged with anger. 'I gave you my word!'
"Would you trust the word given by a murderer?"
'Human,' the wing-beast snarled quietly. 'You are treading very thin ice! My patience isn't limitless.'
"Neither is mine," Trowa replied coolly.
"Both of you, please, stop," Quatre said tiredly. "Trowa, I think we should hear him out."
"Quatre..."
"I agree with blondie. The bat-lizard, I think, can tell us quite a lot," Hilde piped up.
'Bat-lizard?'
"I don't believe you actually trust him!" Trowa threw the wing-beast a venomous glare.
"Trowa," Quatre's eyes widened slightly in a pleading look. "Please?"
The Sword's face immediately softened. "That was below the belt, Quatre."
"Well, it worked, didn't it?" The blond smirked.
"It certainly did," Trowa sighed, giving in. "All right, spit it out, then."
'Bat-lizard, indeed!' The beast muttered. 'Well then, let me tell you about the prime powers and the creation of this world...'
Countless eons ago, before the first dawn of worlds, there were three powers; Time, Light and Darkness. These would later be known as the 'Prime powers', and they are the beginning, as well as the end, to all things. Their names, given to them by the firstborns, were Riou, Thalaeth and Kaum. When they awakened, answering the call of fate, there was nothing but an endless void surrounding them, and a desire to fill this void rose within them. Thalaeth filled it with her light, Kaum with darkness and Riou poured his entire being into it, thus giving birth to change. This was the dawn of time. But now the powers were at loss; the desire still lingered within them, but they could not do more than they had already done. Their work, they felt, was still unfinished, yet they were powerless to continue. But change, this capricious force that Riou had brought to be, offered a solution to their dilemma. Out of Thalaeth's light and Kaum's darkness came new powers into being; the children of light and dark. These are nowadays known as 'Gods'.
"The gods?" Hilde quirked one eyebrow questioningly.
'I hope you're jesting with me, woman. Surely even you must know of the beings that created our world!'
"It's not that," Quatre said. "We'd been told that there's only one god, or rather, goddess, Demra."
'One?' Fang echoed. 'You are truly misguided is that's what you believe. No one knows for certain how many there are.'
"The Order will certainly throw a fit hearing that," Hilde muttered under her breath, allowing Fang to continue his tale.
The gods were soon filled with the same longing for creation, and they took up their predecessors' work without delay. I won't tell you about all of them, though, but rather about the three that shaped this world; Demra, Ephilat and Zerak. Demra, the oldest of the children, and Ephilat were both born out of Thalaeth's light, while Zerak, the youngest, was born out of Kaum's darkness. I won't tire you by telling you how they wrought to shape our world, mostly since I do not know it myself, so I will jump ahead to the day when the firstborns opened their eyes and marveled at the beauty of the result of the three sibling's efforts; the only world created by both light and darkness. The Gods, in turn, marveled at the creatures they had brought to be, much like they themselves had been born from the prime powers.
A long time passed, but neither the firstborns nor the Gods stood idly by. The latter never seized to fill their creation with life, and many a creature saw daylight for the first time during this era. The firstborns, in the meantime, discovered more and more about themselves, and the world around them. Aided by their creators, they soon abandoned their trees and caves and built cities, first simple ones made of timber and later of stone like the ones you humans now dwell inside. They were also the first ones given the gift of speech, as well as a creative mind. They called themselves the Ialni, children in your language.
During this peaceful chapter of our history, the Ialni made several discoveries, and among these was the unearthing of the flows...
"The spirals?" Quatre interrupted the wing-beast's tale.
'Whatever you wish to call them!' Fang's voice had an unmistakable tingle of annoyance in it. 'Could you perhaps allow me to finish this before you ask your questions?'
"Sorry," Quatre replied sheepishly.
'Hmph...where was I...Ah, yes...'
It was soon discovered that only a precious few could see the flo...spirals, and those who did were held in high esteem among the Ialni. But the Gods were troubled; the spirals weren't their creation, and it frightened them. But despite numerous attempts to destroy them, the spirals remained, much to the Gods' dismay. But it didn't take long before the spirals attracted the attention of even older beings. The prime powers had noted the existence of spirals, as they hadn't only manifested themselves in our world, but in all worlds. However, it couldn't be denied that of them all, this one had attracted the largest number. The prime powers were fascinated by the discovery, and decided to remain in this world to observe them. They took on the shape as stones, and have since then dwelled in this world, deep beneath the earth we're walking...
"Are you telling us that these 'prime powers' are underneath us?" Trowa gave Fang a skeptical look.
'Indeed they are, but no one knows precisely were. This is not a small world by any means. Three gods worked to create it together, if you remember. And there has also been indicated that the stones may be placed separately from each other. Now, if you would be so I continue this without further interruptions?'
"Sure, go ahead." Trowa smiled evilly before adding; "Bat-lizard."
'You are a very infuriating human if I ever met one...Now let's see...'
After the prime power's change, the era of peace continued, with the Ialni uncovering more and more about the spirals, and it didn't take long before they discovered that certain individuals were able to bend and shape them, using them to perform wonders. The ability seemed to be inborn, though it varied greatly in strength, and those who possessed it became important members of the Ialni society. But, sadly, the peaceful time was nearing its end. It began with the fall of the Ialni who, in their folly, believed that they now held the power of the Gods in their hands, and they sought to use it. Creating life was, in their eyes, the ultimate power, and perhaps they were right. Many attempts were made, but all met with failure. Then, at last, they harvested success. They had created a weapon, a being more powerful than any of the gods' creations.
Fang paused, staring at his audience with large, unblinking eyes.
'We were their creation. We, the Haran'kar il Numel, the Wings of Darkness and Flame.'
"Did...did they create you using the spirals?" Hilde managed to say, gawking at the great creature.
'Create...is the wrong word to use.' Fang's voice sounded bitter. 'They...changed us.'
"What do you mean, 'change'?" Quatre asked.
"Were you once different animals?" Trowa inquired.
'Animals? If you call us animals, you'll have to call yourself that as well.' Fang snorted a laugh. 'But then again, we are all animals.'
"You mean..." Quatre trailed off, eyes growing wide.
'We were once part of the Ialni.'
Silence roamed the glade as four pairs of eyes stared at the large beast.
'We were the closest they ever came to creation,' Fang continued. 'And they always sought to find new ways in which to...improve us.' He laughed hoarsely. 'They gave us many abilities, such as speaking telepathically and breathing fire...'
"Can you really breathe fire?" Mariemaia asked, her voice filled with awe.
'Do you want me to give you an demonstration?'
"In a forest?" Hilde shook her head. "Thanks, but no thanks."
'As you wish.' Fang chuckled before continuing with his tale; 'Even though the Ialni were unable to achieve their ultimate goal, they managed to fool themselves into believing that they had, and that we had never been their peers. They forced us to call them Léthan, creators...'
"That's what you called me!" Quatre interrupted, brows puckering.
'Yes, since you humans are the descendants of the Ialni.' Fang snorted. 'Though I must say that your evolving seemed to have worked backwards...'
Hilde angrily opened her mouth at the insult, but Quatre forestalled her; "You mentioned the fall of the Ialni. Was it your kin that destroyed them?"
'Nay. Let me continue...'
The three Gods had silently observed their children's experiments, and especially Zerak angered at their, in his eyes, disobedience. He felt that they had to be punished for harboring such heathen beliefs, but neither Ephilat nor Demra supported his idea. This only furthered his fury, and in his anger he raised his hand with the intent to utterly obliterate the Ialni. But Ephilat rushed to their defense, and prevented their doom.
What followed was undoubtedly the most tragic chapter in our entire history, when the Gods themselves battled each other. When it was over, Ephilat had been robbed of his power, doomed to forever walk this earth as a shadow of what he once was. Zerak went into hiding, afraid of his sister's vengeance, and Demra took on the task to mend the world's injuries. And healing it needed. Mountains had crumbled, seas had flooded and forests had burned down to the last leaf. Many creatures paid the price for the Ialni's arrogance. But they themselves undoubtedly suffered the worst consequences. Their great cities and towers were gone, with the exception of a few like the castle in Giliand, and the survivors fled back into the wilderness from where they had once emerged. And we, their 'creation', were put to sleep, sentenced to rest forever in caves below the surface.
In time, you humans returned to your ancestors' grounds, rebuilding your lost civilization. And you've rediscovered the spirals, though your knowledge regarding them is limited compared to what the Ialni knew.
"An...incredible story." Trowa rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I'm almost inclined to believe you."
'You still doubt me?' Fang asked incredulously.
"Don't take it to your heart," Quatre said. "It's in his nature to be distrustful."
"Really?" Trowa cocked one eyebrow questioning, receiving a sweet smile in reply.
"Hey, you, Fangy!" Hilde tapped her foot impatiently. "That's a nice story, but what in the blazes does that have to do with everything's that going on here?"
'Fangy?' Fang sounded outraged. 'Watch your tongue, woman! I've been patient with you, but one disrespectful word more and I'll teach you some manners myself.'
"Oh, you will, will you?" Hilde put a fist on hip.
'If it's necessary, yes. Females should know their place.'
"Excuse me?"
'Not again...' Quatre sighed. 'First Trowa and Fang, and now Hilde...' "Look, could we maybe let Fang finish before we go for one another's throats?"
"All right, but expect payback later, Fangy," Hilde growled darkly.
'Are you sure these two are humans?' Fang asked the blond Guardian. 'I swear, they behave as netherworld creatures.'
"And this I hear from a flying, fire-spitting lizard?" Trowa asked, crossing his arms.
'If I were as puny as you, human, I would be more careful with my words.'
"Who do you think..."
"Okay, that's enough!" Quatre threw out his arms in sheer exasperation. "Could everyone, please, behave for one or two moments so that Fang can finish?"
"Well, he started it!" Hilde pouted.
'I did not! But I will certainly end it if you don't keep your tongue behind your teeth!'
'I don't believe this...' Quatre tiredly rested his forehead against his fist.
'Zerak has returned.'
"What?" Quatre's head shot up to stare into the large, golden eyes.
'You wanted to know what was happening. Well, that is your answer. Zerak has returned from the shadows where he has been hiding since the fall of the Ialni. He no longer fears his sister's anger...'
"Wait! Wait, wait, wait!" Hilde raised her hands to silence him. "Are you telling us a god is behind all this trouble?"
'You're catching on quickly.'
"But...that's...this is...oh my..."
'He has drawn many followers to him during the past centuries, as I'm sure you're aware of by now. Even humans capable of handling the spirals have answered his call.' Fang paused before grimly adding; 'And so have we.'
"How come your peers follow him?" Quatre asked.
'He woke us from our slumber, and granted us the sight of the sunlight once more. He also offered us revenge on the descendants to the Ialni. For my elders, that was enough.' Fang laughed bitterly. 'They don't care for such things as honor or justice anymore. They will obey all of his commands without question, as long as they get to taste manflesh.'
"Uh-huh." Hilde nervously backed away from the large creature, drawing out another laugh from him.
'Don't worry; I wouldn't dream of eating someone like you...'
"Well, that's reassuring to hear..."
'...since I don't know where you have been.'
"Don't start, please," Quatre pleaded before she had a chance to snap back.
"...Fine," she grumbled. "But only because it's you." Quatre gave her a grateful smile before turning back to the Haran'kar. Before he could open his mouth, though, Fang said;
'I want to join you.'
"You what?" Quatre blinked, completely forgetting his original question.
'You strive to defeat Zerak's army, do you not? We're after the same goal.'
"You mean you want to accompany us on our way to Vael?"
'Do you have any issues with that?'
"You bet!" Trowa exclaimed angrily. "There is absolutely no way..."
"Trowa..."
"You stay out of this, Quatre! How do we know he's not a spy of some sort? Dammit, he even admitted that he was searching for you! How you can trust him I can't even begin to fathom!"
'Human...' Fang began warningly, but was cut of by Trowa;
"Don't 'human' me! From what I can gather, you were once human yourself, or at least as close to so that it doesn't matter. So you should just shut...the hell...up!"
The Haran'kar growled, barring his fangs.
'Creator!' He hissed, his tail violently swinging from side to side. 'How fond are you of this human?'
"He's closer than a brother to me," Quatre replied earnestly, watching the furious being a bit nervously.
'Then I cannot take his life.' Fang seemed to calm down, turning away from Trowa. 'I ask you again, will you allow me to join you?'
"No!" Trowa replied furiously at the same as Quatre said; "Yes."
"What?" Trowa stared at his protégé. "How can you...?"
"Trowa, you must trust me, or rather, you must trust him. I know he's sincere. I just feel it."
"Oh, right! You feel he's sincere," Trowa muttered. "Then he can't be anything else. What was I thinking?"
"Oh, you're just drowning in sarcasm here!" Hilde chirped brightly.
'So, it's decided then?'
"Yeah," Quatre said, ignoring Trowa's disapproving glower. "You're welcomed to join us."
"Oh, whatever," Hilde sighed. "The more the merrier, I guess." Her face brightened. "Hey, I just got this great idea! Why can't Fangy prove his use by carrying us to Vael?"
'Begging your pardon?'
"That actually sounds great!" Quatre's eyes shone at the prospect, ignoring Hilde's; "Hey, what do you mean, 'actually'?"
"Is that all right with you, Fang?" He continued.
'Absolutely not!' Fang fumed. 'The whole idea is preposterous! Carry you?'
"Hey, you have wings, you're big, we're in a hurry..." Hilde crossed her arms. "I don't see the problem."
'I will not reduce myself to that level!'
"Oh no!" She groaned. "He's haughty, too!"
'Don't you humans have any pride? How would you react if someone thought of you as some simple mean of transportation?'
"We didn't mean to insult you, Fang, but you must understand that you can't cross the nation by foot! It would be impossible to hide you!" Quatre said, pleading to the beast's common sense.
'I have a perfect solution to that problem.' Fang replied. 'Don't be shocked by what I'm about to do; it's just one of the many abilities that the Ialni granted us.' As he spoke, his body changed, a bright glow surrounding him, causing the four humans to shield their eyes from its intensity. As the light faded, they carefully opened them and stared. Fang was gone, vanished without leaving a trace. And in his place, in the middle of the clearing stood...a boy, seemingly not a day older than Quatre, with raven black hair that reached down to his shoulders. Quatre felt himself inhale sharply at the sight of the youth's eyes; they were as black as his hair, like dark pools surrounded by whiteness. And the other shocking thing about him was...the complete absence of clothes to cover his almost honey-colored skin.
Hilde whistled in appreciation, before quickly covering Mariemaia's eyes.
"That's not a sight you should see before you're at least thirteen," she admonished, ignoring the girl's protests.
"Oh dear..." Quatre felt a slight blush spreading across his face. Clearing his throat, he turned to his smirking Sword. "Umm...Trowa? We don't happen to have any extra clothes with us?"
"I'm afraid not." Trowa replied.
"Well, he'll not walk around like that!" Hilde waved her hand towards Fang.
"Clothes are just material things." Fang shrugged. "And what is the point in hiding behind garments? Why be ashamed of your body?"
"Well, you shouldn't be ashamed of a body like that," Hilde muttered, openly admiring his muscular appearance. "But that's not the point. We can't have you walking around like the day you were born. You'll nearly draw as much attention to yourself as if you kept being a wing-beast..."
"Haran'kar, woman."
"Whatever. You..." she pointed at Trowa. "...Will lend him some of your clothes, as will Quatre."
"What?" They exclaimed in union.
"You heard me! Better to have three half-clothed men than one that's completely naked!"
"Somehow I fail to see the logic in that," Quatre muttered, reluctantly undressing himself, hearing Trowa grumble under his breath as the Sword did the same.
"Hmm..." Hilde mused, eyeing them. "I think I've changed my mind...maybe I should let you all remain nude..."
"Hilde!" They both hissed, glaring at the offending woman.
"Okay, okay! Geez, it was just a joke..."
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Again, sorry if that was bad. I'll try to do better next time. And those of you who's starting to tire of Trowa and Quatre, well, the next chapter will focus on our favorite homicidal soldier and the boisterous Shinigami.
