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Wu Fei stared at it and then slowly pointed a finger at Duo. "Death." He reached towards the tapestry and pointed to the image of Quatre. "Healer.." "I'm guessing the others are you guys.."
"Makes sense.." Trowa answered with dulled interest. "Only, the question is why? And what does it all mean?"
"That something's going to happen. Something big." Wu Fei replied, his face completely calm. "And we're in the middle of it." he stared at his two companions. "We need to find Quatre and Heero.. So how do you suggest we go about it?"
"We don't.. They'll come here." Trowa answered. "This is where we're being pulled,"
"I'm hungry."
For just a second, a look of "Did he just say what I think he said?" appeared on both Trowa and Wu Fei's faces. They stared at Duo, who stared back.
"What? Geez.. You guys are getting all stern and 'This is our mission now' tangent and I'm wasting away!"
"Why did we have to meet him first?" Trowa whispered under his breath.
"Because we're cursed." Wu Fei answered.
"How long.." Heero repeated firmly. "Have you been able to do that?"
"Not long." Quatre admitted. "I don't even know how it happens.. I just focus on something.."
"And it happens. Hm." Heero tapped his fingers on the wood. "And you weren't focusing on me at all.."
"No."
Heero quietly pondered all the information, wondering if there was far more going on than he'd first thought. If Quatre hadn't been responsible for the glow around him..
"They're close."
"Yeah.." Heero replied. "I figured as much.." he stepped outside into the cool salty night air and paced towards the crew decks. So far the only irritable thing about being a pirate captain was that he was the only one who could yet fit the reputation.
He noticed the lookout on the front of the deck and made a slight noise in his throat. It was Red, as he was called.. Another thing Heero had noticed was that most of the crew went by nicknames instead of using their formal birth ones.
"Sir!! I didn't see you sneak up!" Red instantly saluted and stood waiting for orders.
"What are we near?"
"Huh?"
"What are we near." Heero repeated.
"Well sir we're on the bank of the Northern Kingdoms.. near the White Castle actually."
"And is this place well guarded?"
"Well.. not exactly. They haven't had any big fights in at least a thousand years.."
"Good. Then we'll go there.."
"But.."
Heero glared slightly. "You do want raiding practice don't you?"
"Yes but.."
"Then tell everyone to start heading for the castle."
"Yessir!" Red saluted again as Heero walked off.
Heero calmly stepped back inside his quaters then noticed Quatre had fallen asleep at the table. For a moment, he hesitated to thinking of moving the blonde to a bed, but then decided it would be easier just to leave him. Yawning, he collapsed on his own bunkbed and stared calmly at the wooden walls, trying to predict what the next day would bring.
Quatre began to slowly revive as the rocking of the boat began to slow down. He blinked a few times then noticed the small bit of food in front of his face.
There was a slight jar and he fell flat on the floor. Quatre let out a sharp cry as the wood hit his burned hands and instantly turned around to avoid the pain.
Waiting a second for the throbbing to stop, he walked outside into the bright sun.
The pirates stared at him tensely for a moment, then began to go back to their duties. Heero was standing at the bow, watching as they began to slowly pack up a few bags and drag them towards the ground.
"The castle's not too far from here, we could get there in a few hours.. according to them." Heero stated.
"Okay." Quatre replied. "Anything else?"
"Don't do anything like you did yesterday." Heero warned.
"I know." Quatre said with a slight scolding I-am-NOT-Duo tone.
"Mm." Heero looked at the group of nervous pirates and went into a commanding tone. "You four come with me, the rest of you stay here.."
"Yessir!" they all announced in unison as they saluted.
Heero jumped off the side of the boat, followed by Quatre. Wading through the shallow water, they pulled up a pack and walked off into the distance.
They approached the large castle, more or less intact and not the least bit tired. Heero took in the sight with an odd acceptance while Quatre just stared in wonder.
"It's huge.."
"Yeah." Heero replied. "Might take us a little while to find them.."
The pirates walked steadily behind him, humming an insanely cheery sea song. The group approached the drawbridge, the guards watching them closely.
"What business have you here?" one asked, gripping tighter to his spear and looking at Heero's sword.
"We just came for the market."
"Hmph. You'll have to leave those here.."
Growling in response, Heero slowly took the sword out of its sheath and held it to the guard. The pirates did the same. Finally, they were allowed entrance to the castle.
Inside, the first thing they noticed was the noise. From every side, there was a loud din of excited voices and fighting over prices. Quatre breathed in a deep sigh, enjoying the surroundings. He was ready to stuff his hands into his pockets when he felt something dry and wrinkly wrap around them.
He let out a loud yelp of surprise and faced his attacker. An old, old woman stared back at him, her face partially covered by a hood. Her long white hair fell against her shoulders, and as she examined his hand a large toothless grin appeared.
"You.. You're one of them!" she cackled almost gleefully. "You're a.."
"Please ma'am.. could you release my hand?" Quatre said with sudden nervousness.
"You may be able to hide it from them but not from me.." the toothy grin returned. "Mage.."
Quatre's face went white. "What.. what did you say?"
"Grandmother!" a scolding voice toned. A woman in a white dress and wearing a small headdress approached. "You know better than to scare newcomers in the market.." she pulled the wizened woman's hand away from Quatre. "You must excuse her.. she's becoming senile.."
"Mage.." she repeated again softly as she was led away. "So the time has finally come.."
Quatre rubbed his wrist, his blue eyes oddly wide.
Against the darkness there were small black patches of tar, the only remains of those who had once lived. For now though, it was time to await the sentencing from the master.
"So you're telling me that he escaped while you were asleep.." she whispered annoyedly.
Yes m'lady but..
"But what.."
He must have used a spell..
"The boy doesn't know spells yet. How could he possibly.."
I don't know.
"That's right." a cold smile appeared on her face. "I wonder, would you like to be turned into nothingness like your comrades, or perhaps I could leave you as a toad. Would you like that?"
The shadow suppressed a shiver. Then again, perhaps a toad was better than this..
Then suddenly it felt a severe pain in its side. Before it could think, it was tossed against the ground and was unable to move.
A cold, darkened fire began to grow in its eyes.
Yes m'lady.. it drifted into a faint ball of air and then into nothingness.
This time, she was certain the job would be done. As she shifted back towards the window, her boots only making the slightest noise, she wondered what kind of magic the boy had been using to change the personality of such a creature. Taking in a deep breath, she felt stronger. Even now, the changes were coming.. she could sense it.
All she needed was the boy for her plans.. for their plans to come into effect.
The cold smile flashed again. That was fine.. she had plenty of backup armies, waiting to be used.
She was aware of the faint movement beside her as the small rush of anticipation came. Yes.. very soon..
Another small pair of eyes watched the scene from far away, a hidden smile appearing on a face. He'd have to meet these five warriors soon.. very soon indeed.
"If anyone can locate them, it will be someone from the royalty." Heero said with calmly. "There's no way that Duo at least hasn't made enough trouble to be noticed."
Quatre let out a soft laugh then turned around. "Where'd the pirates go?"
"They 'raided' and then left to camp out on the beach." Actually, they'd run around buying as many things as possible.
"Okay." Quatre said as they slowly approached a very large cool hallway.
Sitting around a grand dark brown table were Duo, Trowa, Wu Fei, and a girl and an older man. From their clothes, Heero got the idea that it was none other than the king and queen of the land.
Duo jerked his head up and grinned, a piece of some type of animal meat still being eaten. "Mphh! Hmeermph!!" he waved. "Hjih! Yough wansht shtome?!!"
Trowa and Wu Fei glared, then noticed the two. Trowa seemed suddenly relieved while Wu Fei went into regular Wu Fei mode.
"About time you show up.."
The king stared at them calmly. He had short dark grey hair and a calm passive face. Probably has never been in a battle.. Heero thought to himself amusedly. The girl sitting next to him however showed strength, but it was well hidden.
Quatre's eyes drifted around the room, the color of the irises changing very slightly. Slowly, steadily he turned around and stared at a blank wall.
Dark red eyes stared back at him, and he saw the fire burning inside.
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Yes. That was boring and kind of long but I wanted to try and get something out before Thanksgiving. Next time it's going to get more interesting, I assure you.. And yes, I am reading your reviews so watch out.. *evil grin* Some ideas that you've made could appear on here!!
Also, *bows head* I'm sorry about all the red stuff last time. My Escaflowne DVD had come in while I was writing it and well, if you've seen the uncensored version then you'll know why some of it showed up.
Happy Turkey Day everyone!!