Chapter Nine—The Dragon Returns
By Azreal (Blight)
pippin_elf@yahoo.com
OR
horde_king@yahoo.ca
Disclaimer: You know the drill already. Bugger off! I don't want to say it!! NO! NOOOOO!!! AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!GW-NO! IS-NO! NOT MINE!!! AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
*blinks* Uh…never mind, people. Ignore that.
Anyway, FINALLY Wufei gets back to his homeland! Read on, read on! I hope you're all enjoying this, cuz I am!!
Warnings: YAOI, AU, swearing, blah, blah…
Chapter Nine—The Dragon Returns
Wufei sneered disdainfully at the city that lay before them, made of gold and silver. It had winding streets packed with vendors and people, along with animals all bustling about, though it was much quieter than he last remembered. The sky was still dark, and the glory of the city was shattered by the thick darkness, creating only an atmosphere of gloom.
Sitting atop Shenlong's dappled back, Wufei easily remembered all the little turns and shortcuts he had learned when he lived there, and even after all those years, he still knew exactly where everything was. He sighed. As much as he despised his father, he still missed his homeland, and now here he was, back again. Things just keep getting more complicated, he thought, frowning.
Closing his eyes for a moment, Wufei reflected in old memories he had buried, scanning the palace in his mind and figuring out the best possible way to reach his father's treasure room without being caught. If they were apprehended, then the only outcome he could see would be death for all of them. While he was not a thief at heart, Wufei knew that the only way to get anything out of his proud and arrogant father would be to steal it from under his nose.
Not to mention the fact that Meiran was probably still in the palace as well. That caused Wufei to shudder inwardly. The woman was as evil as they came, even more so than Dorothy Catalonia, if that could be believed.
That posed a problem for the Chinese boy. Meiran would most certainly try to kill him on sight, as would his father. So how were they going to get into his father's treasury?
EASY. IF THEY DON'T LET YOU IN OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL, KILL THEM ALL.
Wufei made a face. Shinigami, I am not a dishonorable man.
NOR AM I A DISHONORABLE DEMONICORN. BUT YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU MUST TO COMPLETE THIS MISSION.
True, onna, very true. Perhaps you are correct.
BUST IN AND TAKE THEM ALL DOWN. SIMPLE. AND DON'T CALL ME WOMAN!
Wufei chuckled to himself as he turned away from the sight of his city, sliding off of Shenlong's back and walking back to where the others waited, pulling the mare with him.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Duo made a face at the demonicorn. "You told him that?!" he demanded. Shinigami nickered softly, giving the braided boy a strange look. Duo frowned. "Jeeze, woman, you like busting in on people a little too much." The demonicorn only whinnied loudly, a sound echoed by the other steeds. Trowa rolled his eyes.
'It does not matter how we get the weapon, only that we get it,' he said mentally. Heero nodded in agreement and looked at Wufei.
"If you are so sure that our reception will be unpleasant, then perhaps we should 'bust in'," he said, smirking slightly. Wufei sighed.
"I know that some of the people in there are still loyal to me," he said. "I was not friendless when I left. But my father, and Meiran…" he trailed off, shaking his head. "What you suggest seems like the only option."
"But you still don't like it," Duo said, looking at Wufei strangely. He nodded.
"No, I don't."
"Wufei, what we're doing will save the world. Breaking and entering isn't as high on the 'dishonorable thing to do' list, compared to sitting on our butts and letting everyone and everything go straight to the underworld."
Wufei smirked. "You sure know how to make sense of something that seems senseless, Maxwell."
Duo grinned. "I know."
Heero rolled his eyes. "Let's go, then."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Sneaking into Wufei's former home was easier done than said. Mostly because Wufei was an excellent guide who knew his territory, but also because the few guards they had passed were loyal to the Chinese boy. They bowed, groveled, worshiped and basically kissed his ass when they saw him, exclaiming, "The Prince! The Prince has returned! Your Highness, how may we serve you?"
Wufei was obviously uncomfortable, ordering them to speak to no one about his return. They bobbed their heads wildly, though one said that all those loyal to him should know because they would be overjoyed to hear of his return. Wufei, attempting to ignore the snickering going on behind him from both mount and friends, was adamant.
"No one knows I am here," he said, and they groveled again.
As they came upon the gates that led to the treasury without any mishaps, Duo snorted. "That was too easy," he growled, frowning.
"Not quite," a female voice sneered from behind them. Shinigami growled and turned her head, spreading her wings wide to guard the boys from sight.
Before them stood a young, and rather pretty girl with raven black hair and slanted eyes, dressed in traditional Chinese clothing. She was glaring at the boys and their steeds with hate in her eyes, but when her gaze fell on Wufei, the look on her face changed to one of utter hatred beyond anything they had seen before.
"Chang," she hissed, drawing a sword from…somewhere. None of them knew where she yanked it from, but out it came, held in her delicate but strong hand. Quatre blinked.
"Whoa…"
Wufei sneered back at her. "Meiran," he hissed back, drawing his own sword. Their eyes crackled with hate and their lips were curled up in sneers. The air seemed to crackle with tension, and, if it were possible, lightning would have been shooting out of their eyes at each other, charring the stone walls around them black. There was a long moment of silence, before Duo spoke.
"What the hell?"
Meiran glared at the braided boy. "You were not told to speak, now shut up!"
Duo gawked, then glared. "Make me, bitch!"
"What are you doing here, Meiran?" Wufei interrupted, putting himself between Duo and the enraged woman. Meiran snarled.
"I live here, Chang. Unlike you." Smirking, she said, "Guarding your little play-toy?" Wufei snarled but Duo laughed.
"Yep!"
The Chinese girl snarled again. "Shut up, you imbecile!"
"Don't talk to him like that!" Heero growled, joining Wufei, his sword also drawn.
"What do you want, Meiran?" Wufei growled. Meiran sneered contemptuously at them.
"I felt you coming from a mile away, Chang," she said. "And I know what you're after." Wufei's eyes widened, then narrowed.
"And what is that, exactly?"
'We have no time for this, everyone,' Trowa said to all of them in their minds. 'Time is running out.' Quatre swallowed.
"But what do we do?" he whispered to the taller boy, leaning close to his ear. "She's probably summoned guards already, if she knew we were here."
"On the contrary, blondie," the girl said, looking at Quatre. "I need no guards to eliminate all of you pathetic mortals."
Duo raised an eyebrow, smirking as he stepped forward, pulling out his scythe. He grinned wickedly as his eyes flashed. "Mortals?" he purred, leaning the scythe on his shoulder as he took a nonchalant stance, eyeing the girl distastefully. "I'm no mortal." At the incredulous stares he got from the others, Duo shrugged. "Hey, I told you how long I was alive, didn't I? That should have been a clue."
"I have no time for this shit!" Meiran said suddenly, raising her sword and taking a fighting stance, eyes blazing with fury. "My master has ordered me to stop you, and I will do his bidding."
"Who the hell is this master guy we keep hearing about?" Heero asked, annoyed.
Ignoring the young prince, Meiran ran forward, screaming a battle cry. Stepping around Wufei and into the girl's path, Duo's scythe came up and blocked her first swing, sending a shower of sparks flying everywhere. Turning only slightly as the two of them wrestled with their weapons, each trying to gain the advantage, Duo yelled, "Wufei! Go and get your weapon! I'll hold her off as long as I can!"
At the Chinese boy's hesitation, Duo threw Meiran backward, pointing a long, slim finger at the other boy, eyes glowing a bright green. "GO! NOW!"
Realizing that the braided boy wasn't about to take no for an answer, Wufei nodded curtly, turned, and ran towards the gate to the treasury. Shoving on them with all his might, he realized that h couldn't open them by himself. He wasn't strong enough.
Without hesitation, Heero, Quatre and Trowa joined him, all of them pushing against the heavy gates with all of their strength. They were joined by Shinigami and the other steeds, the mounts lending their weight to the shoving. As the gates began to give, the sounds of fighting and yells of fury could be heard from behind them.
"BITCH!"
The weapons clashed, and more sparks flew.
"BASTARD!!"
Duo's scythe began to glow an eerie green as Meiran's eyes blazed fiery red in her fury.
"KISS MY ASS!!"
"DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S BEEN!"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Upon entering the treasury, the four boys expected to have to search wildly for the weapon they were after. As things happen, though, they didn't. Resting on a pedestal at the very back of the room was a large triton. The three spikes on the end of the pole were made of the purest silver, and the staff was made of the same. It seemed to glow of its own light, and Wufei found himself awed by the sight of it.
Shaking his head, the Chinese boy ran toward the weapon, silently thanking his gods that his father was so careless with it. He climbed the mound of gold and jewels, nearly falling several times in his haste. From behind him he could hear the cries and shouts of Duo and Meiran as they battled. He knew from experience that the girl was a great fighter, and while Duo was skilled in battle (having been alive for as long as he had), he couldn't last long against the warrior woman.
Grabbing the triton in his fist, Wufei began to slide down the pile of gold. The weapons sparked and glowed brightly in his hand, causing the treasure in the room to light up and reflect the glow coming from it in a blinding way. Squinting his eyes against the bright light, Wufei began to run back towards the gates. Shenlong galloped up beside him and he hopped up onto her back, never noticing that the glow of the weapon was getting brighter by the moment…
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Duo grunted as he was thrown back, hitting the ground with a painful thump. He yelled as Meiran came at him again, bringing his scythe up to block her swing. The weapon glowed and hummed as though it were alive, and heat emanated from it, seeping into the braided boy's hand as he rolled away from the girl's next attack.
He barely registered the cries and shouts of the others as a bright light burst forth from the treasury, blinding both combatants. Meiran cried out, bringing up her arm to shield her eyes as Duo rolled over, burying his face into his cloak.
There was a great stomping, and the ground shuddered as a horrific cry split the air, followed by a burst of heat. Curling up into a ball, Duo tucked his face into his arms as Meiran screamed in terror, rage and pain. A blast of hot air washed over the braided boy, and as he rolled over once more to see where the hell it had come from, his jaw dropped open and his eyes went as wide as saucers.
An enormous, silvery-white dragon loomed above him, its slim muzzle pulled back in a feral snarl, exposing jagged and sharp fangs. Its tongue flicked out to taste the air, and its eyes blazed a deep red. Muscles moved smoothly beneath thick, shimmering scales, and two large, transparent wings flared out from the creature's back. Spikes on its head matched the ones going down its back, all the way to the long, sinewy tail, which twitched and flicked as it came forward.
What surprised him most, though, was not the creature itself. He had seen many dragons in his time, but he had never seen a human riding one.
Staring, jaw hanging open in shock, he watched as Wufei raised his triton above his head, lightning flashing from it as he roared. "ONNA! YOU WILL PAY FOR CORRUPTING MY LAND!!"
Roaring, the dragon's mouth shot forth a burst of flame at Meiran, who screeched and ducked out the way, barely in time. Snarling, the girl waved her sword at Wufei and his dragon as she began to disappear in a cloud of black mist. She new she was beaten. For the moment.
"I'll get you one day, Chang!" she screeched. "I'll be back for you!"
"And your little dog Toto, too!" Quatre said in a high pitched, cackling voice. Trowa laughed. Meiran vanished, leaving behind only a wisp of black smoke in her wake. Heero helped Duo to his feet as Wufei remained on top of the dragon, glaring angrily at where the girl had once been.
"Damn bitch," he finally said, snorting. The dragon roared in agreement.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"WOW, Wufei! That was like…awesome!" Duo crowed as the Chinese boy slid off the dragon's back and onto the ground. Duo looked around, confused. "But what happened to Shenlong?"
Wufei smirked. "That IS Shenlong," he said, pointing to the dragon, who snorted at them. It then proceeded to look itself over, snorting and growling to its (no, HER) self. Duo raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Yes. I saw her change myself," Quatre said proudly, as though it was Sandrock who had undergone such a wicked transformation. Trowa nodded too, and so did Heero. Duo grinned.
"Bitchin'," was his only comment as he gazed wonderingly at the now-transformed mare that had carried Wufei faithfully through the jungles.
'The question is, how do we hide her now?' Trowa said thoughtfully. Shenlong snorted at him as a sparkly mist surrounded her, transforming her into a miniature version of herself. To the boy's surprise, she flew down and wrapped herself around Wufei's neck, purring contentedly. Shinigami let out a horse's equivalent of a laugh. Quatre frowned.
"But how can you ride her like that?" he asked.
"He doesn't have to," Duo declared, wrapping an arm around the other boy and grinning. "He can ride Shinigami with me!"
Giving the demonicorn a horrified look, Wufei winced as the mare growled at him. "Gods help me," he moaned.
To be continued…
So, how was it? Sorry it took so long, just working on a few other fics and stuff. Now, we go on to Quatre's weapon! Yahoo!!