Author's Note: Those who've seen the Great Mouse Detective ought to recognize the first scene here but we've added more and made it much for suspenseful and action-packed. We're approaching the climax and everything so strap ya'll selves in and get ready. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: We do not own Gundam Wing.

Warning: language, violence, death

The Monster Shows its Face

Duo groaned as his head pounded with an unceasing headache. Christ, what happened?

He heard a loud clang sound nearby and he jumped, his eyes snapping open involuntary to take in what was going on.

What he found shocked him as well as left him speechless. He was currently resting on a large gear that was slowly turning, completing its rotation with another gear next to it, the teeth of each gear meshed with one another. Around him were several other, enormous sized gears, some that were as big as him and others at least ten times his own size. It was like he was in an oversized clockroom but as he looked up, he could just make out some gears attached to the ceiling above, gears that were moving in a large amount of space, always changing their locations. Undoubtedly, they were underneath the castle and he was witnessing the secret of why the castle was constantly changing.

Not to steal a quote from Ghostbusters, but the guy who build this was either a certifiable genius or a deranged lunatic.

Speaking of lunatics, wasn't there one somewhere around here too?

He pushed himself up onto his hands and knees and crawled over to the edge of the gear he was on, looking around and then finally below at the mess of oversized gears here. He almost missed it but just barely spotted a flash of yellow. Focusing on that yellow, he breathed a sigh of relief that Solo was in one piece and not crushed yet.

Thank Shinigami for small mercies.

His relief became joy as he watched his friend also come to though he couldn't tell if he was moaning due to the sounds of the gears. Solo was so far down there anyway that he had to wonder how he didn't break his skull open.

Remembering just why they were down here, he had to admit that breaking that glass floor hadn't been one of his better ideas. He got up onto his feet, moving counterclockwise with the gear so as to keep Solo in sight at all times, trying to figure out a way to get down there.

That's when he saw a form move out from the gears, slowly approaching Solo from behind. It was Xavien and while he didn't have a good look of the bastard's face, he knew without a doubt what he was planning. He could see the dark green crackling bolts around his hand and he knew that if Solo didn't do anything, he was a sitting duck.

So he did the only thing he could think of.

"SOLO! WATCH OUT!" he bellowed out into the noisy room.

He knew he got Solo's attention as the blond looked straight up at him. Then he quickly spun his blond head around in time to receive a backhanded slap from Xavien. Duo winced in sympathy and gasped as Solo rolled off the gear, reacting just in time to grab hold of the gear's teeth.

He needed to get back on that gear else he'd be crushed by the gear's partner.

Duo noticed a large, taunt chain nearby and he made the split second decision to jump and grab hold of it, marveling for a second that he could fit one of his hands in a chainlink easily. In the next second, he was scurrying down the chain, a vertical gear catching his eye.

He leapt from the chain and landed on the vertical gear's teeth, getting a good vantage point as he saw Xavien stalk towards Solo, proceeding to give the blond another dose of his power.

Duo jumped off his gear, barely reaching the one with Solo and Xavien on it, his legs trembling from the recoil of landing on the metal gear. He gritted his teeth as he allowed his legs to bend and sent himself into a flying shoulder tackle, hitting Xavien right in his back and causing the bastard to fall.

However, Xavien caught himself just before he could fall bodily off the gear, his hands grabbing the gear's teeth while his legs remained flat on the gear itself. Of course, he had to land just beside Solo who saw the incoming interconnected gear and let go, falling off into the darkness below.

"SOLO!" Duo cried out running towards where he had last seen Solo only to get hit by a mild shock from Xavien who had managed to push himself away from the gear's edge.

Xavien was giving him this crazed look, a hand raised with his fingers crooked in front of his face, little dark green bolts of magic flickering from it. Duo tensed his body then threw himself at Xavien, not giving him the chance to throw another spell at him. He tackled the man and the two of them fell off the gear and further down into the large room.

Once again, not one of his better ideas.

He felt the teeth of a gear ram into his back and then feeling another gear slam into his side, at which point he parted from Xavien and continued with his fall, hitting other gears before finally landing in the middle of one.

But that wasn't the only agony he was feeling; the damn collar around his neck was acting up, punishing him for attacking his "owner." He could feel it squeezing and burning his neck and he cried out silently, tears leaking out from the corners of his eyes.

Yes, he was in that much pain.

He suddenly felt a kick in his gut followed by all his nerves alighting in distress. Xavien had zapped him again and it hurt just as much as it had back up there. Well, maybe it was a bit worse, what with the collar double teaming with the bastard and burning the shit out of his neck. He was getting sick of this shit but right now he couldn't do shit about it.

He managed to glance up and catch a glimpse of Xavien; the man was looking batshit crazy but he wasn't moving his mouth, probably knowing he wouldn't be heard over the clangs of all the gears around them and didn't think he was worth the effort to use his vocal cords.

Behind Xavien, the bastard's shadow tensed up and was suddenly forced away, the effect causing Xavien to fall backwards in surprise, landing on his back with a barely heard oomph. Crouched on the edge of the gear was Solo, the blond's green eyes blazing in fury as he glared at Xavien. Xavien twisted his neck so that he could return the glare but that was a mistake as Solo pounced in reaction, swiping the edge of Xavien's trenchcoat and pulling it over to a set of nearby gears that laid slighting on top of the gear they were on. In a swift movement, he snagged the end of the trenchcoat in to the gears' teeth and moved back.

Xavien's eyes widened as he was starting to be slowly dragged to the gears, grabbing onto the lapels of his coat and trying to tug against the gears but being unsuccessful.

Idiot, Duo thought to himself. Why didn't he just take the coat off?

Solo, meanwhile, had gotten over to his side and was heaving him up in his strong arms. Before he could get comfortable in the hold, Solo had him over his shoulder and was leaping off the gear and into the edge of oblivion.

Huh, since when had Solo gone suicidal?

The reason behind this move soon became known as he looked over his shoulder to see Solo grab onto one of the large chains that hung about all over this place.

"Hold on!" he managed to hear Solo shout to him and then he had no time to wonder as the chain they were on lost its taunt and they were flying upwards along with it, back up towards the ceiling.

Despite the air rushing about them, the only thing that Duo could think of was when did Solo start thinking that this was some kind of action flick?

As Xavien struggled against the jaws of the gears, the thought of removing his coat not occurring to him, he watched as the two streetrats rode their way upwards, getting farther and farther away from him.

As the distance between himself and the rat that was the Death Mage increased, he saw everything he had done and worked for slip through his fingers. All rational thought began to leave him, his rage slowly consuming his mind. The only thing he could think of was getting his hands on those fucking streetrats and not letting them upstage him, not now when he was so close…

His power crackled around him and his grip tightened on his coat, straining harder and harder under until the end of his coat erupted into a mess of shredded cloth and he was gone.

The fact that the castle was still standing was in and of itself a miracle. The fact that there were Gundam pilots there piloting Mobile Suits made this fact all the more incredible.

Heero didn't like this waiting, only occasionally firing his Mobile Suit's weapon and always missing the castle to a certain degree while waiting for word that they had Duo back. It was frustrating for him and he had rather he had been in there doing it; he had rescued the other before from Fortress Barge so he had experience here. Sure his intention had been to kill him at first but he had changed his mind and that had to count for something.

That and he had tricked the Mobile Dolls into attacking the operators themselves.

So why were they putting their faith in someone whom they had no real clue as to what he could do other than his word? He didn't like it, didn't like having to stay out here and wait. There was little to no resistance anymore so what reason was there for them not getting out of their cockpits and charging in there; who could possibly stand up against them at this point?

But he was used to following orders and his orders were to standby and intimidate, nothing more. That and Une was checking up periodically to make sure they were all following their "plan."

He was looking at his screen intently, searching for any sign of Duo.

He needed to see that braid and the person to which that braid was attached to. He had to know that the soul of his affections was okay, that he was alive and unharmed. He didn't know if his fragile heart could take it if he lost him.

What was that? His sharp eyes narrowed at the screen in front of him and he zeroed in on the image of the chapel complex of the castle. There was movement; whether it was hostile or not, he did not know but he aimed his weapon at it just in case it was enemy combatants.

Then he got a closer look and his hands gripped on the controls tightly. There he was, there was Duo and he seemed relatively all right but right now he couldn't help but feel an explosion of relief flood him. Oh how he wanted to hold the other pilot and…oh, there was Solo right behind him, his hand rested on Duo's shoulder protectively.

He gritted his teeth as some unlabeled emotion took over and he almost saw red. Even now that adversary of his was standing in his way, preventing him from claiming what he wanted, something that he wanted more than anything in the universe.

With the press of a button, he knew he could put an end to this, this competition and don't think he didn't consider doing so. He couldn't make out any facial expressions from the screen so he couldn't know what exactly was going on between the two.

Then something happened that put his thoughts on hold.

They had climbed up onto the roof of the castle, the starry night sky a ceiling above them, clouded only by the trails of smoke that rose from the wreckage of military equipment. Duo took in a deep breath of the great outdoors, hit by how much he had missed the smell of freedom, even if it was quasi at this point in time.

As soon as he got rid of this collar, he'd really be free.

"What now?" he yelled back at Solo, turning his head just enough to look at the blond right behind him, the other's hand resting on his shoulder.

"Haven't thought this part out," Solo answered. "Think I should send something out to catch their attention and get a Suit ta come pick us up, I think."

"Sounds like a good idea," Duo replied. "Let's get the hell out of here."

Solo flashed him a toothy grin but then that look was replaced by a frown. Duo knew the reason as to why that was; he could feel it, something beneath them rising upwards quickly. He didn't like it, knew Solo didn't like it, and thus was tensing his body up, bracing himself for whatever was coming their way.

Behind Solo, the roof exploded and the blond shielded him from the small pieces of debris. There was now a hole in the roof but right on the edge of it, between them and the hole, was a bent over Xavien who looked like he had lost everything. His face was so contorted that he resembled a wild animal more than a human being but as soon as those different colored eyes landed on him, Xavien's mouth, which was open to allow him to pant, curved upwards and his eyes lit up in ominous joy.

Solo began to form an orb in one of his hands, attempting to fight the madman off but Xavien swiped his hand and Solo suddenly went flying to a side, landing on a slanted surface of the roof and rolling down it. The blond recovered just in time to grab the edge but right now, Duo could see he was straining himself just to hold on.

Next thing he knew, he was hit chest first with a spell and landed on his back, directly behind where he had once stood. Xavien was then in his face, grabbing him by the front of his shirt and pulling him up just enough so that their faces were extremely close to one another.

He could smell Xavien's hot breath on his face as the man continued to pant but there was victory in the bastard's every movement. He could even hear it as Xavien spoke, "No place to hide now, streetrat."

On one of Xavien's hands, magic began to coalesce, the magic encasing his fingers and extending outwards like claws in a pure white color that did not fit with the madman's usual spells. He didn't have more time to ponder over this as Xavien stabbed the white-colored spell into his chest and he felt a burning streak of pain shoot into him.

The white soon changed color, turning purple, while Duo felt as if his very life was being pulled out of him and into Xavien.

"Yes," Xavien hissed. "Yes…"

Violet colored bolts of magic crackled around Xavien, an aura emanating from him as he absorbed the powers of death into him. The flow of power from Duo and into Xavien increased as the man hungered for more and more power, wanting every single shred of it that resided in Duo's body.

"The power…" Xavien laughed. "This magnificent power is MINE!"

Duo fought to retain consciousness, his hand gripping Xavien's wrist but having little to no strength in it as Xavien stole his powers from him. He was only now starting to figure out all the shit the asshole had been saying, how his powers were his and everything.

He was tired of this shit; if Xavien wanted his power, then fine! He could have it.

"You want it?" he gasped out. "Then take it, take it all!"

What had once been a controlled flood of power soon escaped Xavien's power, shattering his grip on it without effort and Xavien suddenly found himself taking in too much in too short amount of time. It was coming in too fast and now he was beginning to feel other effects, the primary one being that the powers he was stealing was rejecting him.

But…but how could this be? He was a goliath compared to this…this…arrrrhhhhhgggg!

Pain consumed every single atom of his being and soon in the place of the streetrat; a different entity had taken its place. His mind couldn't comprehend what it was but the flaming skull that glared its unholy light into him was enough to tell him that he was face to face with Death.

"NO!" he cried out. "Please! Don't!"

I have but one chosen, Death stated, and it is not YOU!

Xavien managed to shove himself away from Duo screaming in agony as his skin began drying up, cracking and wrinkling as the power of Death itself stole his life away from him. Xavien's screams soon became gargled noises as his tongue was reduced to dust, his movements becoming jerky as rigor mortis took over and blood rushed down into his feet as his heart lost its ability to function.

Yet he was still alive as Death's powers prevented him from leaving his mortal shell. Duo couldn't take watching anymore of this and used what was left of his energy to form one last ball of light that he blasted into Xavien, sending his decaying body flying off the roof and into the ground far below.

There wasn't even a splat to be heard; Xavien's body disappeared in a billowing cloud of dust, fragments of body being the only thing left of him.

He who had once dealt death now had death dealt on him.

Duo practically collapsed, his body crying out for rest. So much energy had been robbed from him to the point that he felt like he could sleep for an entire year, yet there was still one last thing to do.

He pushed himself up onto his arms and began scooting his body onto the slanted surface of the roof, making his way to where Solo dangled. He was so fucking tired yet he continued to push himself farther than he ever had before; he had once had Solo die on him, he wasn't going to let it happen again.

He reached where Solo's hands gripped the edge of the roof and he threw his arm out, grabbing the blond's wrist and holding it with everything he had left.

"C'mon Solo," he grunted with a grimace, muscles shrieking at him as he tried to pull the other up. "Don't fuckin' give up on me now."

Solo released one hand from the roof and gripped the braided one's wrist, gritting his teeth as he started to pull himself up. The wall of the castle was too far away for his legs to set against and give him leverage; he had to pull himself using his strength and whatever Duo had left in him.

Duo knew this and gripped Solo tighter, pulling with all he had left and almost crying out at the strain.

But it was worth it, Solo managed to get his chest onto the slanted surface and swing a leg up to help pull himself up and away from certain doom. Duo didn't feel relief though at this accomplishment; he felt so exhausted that he couldn't even feel his own emotions. His eyelids were so heavy and he found he could no longer hold back the waves of unconsciousness.

And for some reason, he didn't want to resist any longer.

Solo was panting for air, glad to be back on some kind of surface where he didn't have to worry too much about falling to his death. He had died once before and he didn't feel like reliving the experience anytime soon.

He sensed movement besides him and he quickly glanced over at Duo, seeing the other weaving side to side before suddenly falling over and he moved quickly to catch him, not wanting Duo to fall off the edge.

Now was not the time to fuck up just when it looked like they were finally safe.

"Man, ya gotta be careful," he said gruffly. When he got no answer, he looked closely at Duo, seeing the other's eyes closed and his breathing shallow.

Alarms blared in his head and he began to slightly shake Duo, trying to get some kind of reaction that would tell him that the small teen in his arms was going to be okay. He really didn't have much of a clue as to what might have caused this seeing as how he had been busy holding on for dear life.

But now he was concerned; Duo wasn't moving and his anxiety began to increase with every second that passed and no response.

"Duo? Kid?" he said aloud, his voice raising with each word that he said. "C'mon Kid, ya gotta wake up now. Don't fucking scare me ta death now."

And still nothing.

"Don't you be fuckin' be playin' a joke on me now," he said warningly, trying to keep up some form of bravado. However, he was beginning to drop it no matter what doing so would do to his rep. Duo wasn't saying a damn thing, not even a damn moan. He liked to think that he didn't seem like that stereotype everyone saw him as but he had gotten used to Duo always making some kind of noise.

And now he was at the point where he was going to tear his own hair out if he didn't get some kind of sign that Duo was okay.

He delved into whatever dregs he had left in him, casting a healing spell on Duo, the green glow of the spell radiating a light onto both of them. But still Duo did not do anything. His breathing remained the same and…hot damn, he was paler than he had ever seen him! And he wasn't getting better!

Help, he needed help! How the fuck was he going to get any fucking help all the way up here? He was still recovering from all the damage that asshole had done to him and who knew what else had been done to Duo to get him like this?

Not for the first time, he felt helpless, absolutely helpless.

Pike Verso gazed at what he could see that was left of Xavien's fortress. The Mobile Suits had converged on it and enemy forces were entering the structure, securing it and taking prisoners.

He only snorted at what was entirely a failure of epic proportions. If Xavien was still alive, which by now he was beginning to doubt since he had not felt out any strong spells being used, then he would have to hunt down what was left of him and get the rest of his money.

It was only luck that he was still here, alive. When the Winner male had reflected his own spell back at him, something he should have taken into consideration before casting it, he had been able to exchange places with a copy of himself, an illusion of sorts. Illusions weren't his specialty but the blond had bought it while he had escaped silently as well as quickly.

It was a good thing that he had a "cure" to his potentially fatal spell. It had blocked most of the spell itself, delaying it and allowing him time to get away so that he could dispel the rest of it in private where no one would interfere.

The result, though, was that his left hand was permanently encased in marble stone; never again would he be able to wield it. Yet he looked on the bright side; he still had his life. That meant he could adjust and adapt to this new change but in the meantime he would have to go into hiding for a while, recover from this loss as best as he could and try and reestablish himself back onto the market.

But, he wanted to make sure he never forgot that boy, the one who had defeated him back at the castle. He had a feeling that he would meet up again but next time, he would come out the victor in their battle.

He turned his back to the ruins and trudged away, disappearing into the foliage.