Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and Elf Quest do not belong to me.
Authors Note: I will say this once more, chapter 4 will not come out unless 3 is reviewed. That is the reason 3 took so long to come out, no one would review it.
A Choice for a New Future
Chapter 3
"So Doctor J bought me from some humans that kidnap elves?" asked Heero in a daze
"That is what I believe happened. It sure does fit what that human told me." Replied Duo
"But why would he want an elf for a Gundam pilot?"
"We are lighter than humans, faster, can see better in the dark, we have these big eyes for a reason, and can hear better. We are also very hard to kill."
Heero nodded his head, deep in thought.
"I have a question Duo," said Sally "Why does Heero look human? You already said that you were able to disguise your self as human, but Heero was a child."
"Good question. I was wondered when someone would ask that. I surprised you didn't ask Heero. The answer is simple. All elven children are born with the ability pass themselves off as humans if they are captured by them. The child itself does not know this and it happens over a period of time but it happens. Actually there are many children hidden in this way. There are many adults, like me, who hide themselves as humans looking for such children."
"How can you tell them apart from normal humans?"
"Usually by their smell, how they act, but most importantly by their hands."
"Their hands?"
"Yes, what do notice about my hand that is different from yours?"
Duo raised his hands.
"You only have four fingers."
Heero raised his hand.
"But I have five fingers Duo." Said Heero sounding sad
"Heero, think about Doctor Js arm. He did want you to be perfect."
"It's cybernetic. You think he gave me a cybernetic finger, just so I would be perfect?"
"Its easy to find out. Have Sally take an x-ray of your hand."
All eyes turned to Sally.
"Yes that would do it. Come on every one to the med bay."
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Some time later every one was waiting in the med bay. Sally had taken the x-ray and now every one was waiting for it to get developed. Duo was sitting cross-legged on one of the beds with a puppy lying on his head. Every now and again the puppy, which Duo said its name was Singer, would interrupt the silence with a short puppy howl. Relena was sitting on the floor petting the alpha female. The two had become good friends, her name was Candytuft and she was as sweet as she was blind… which was completely. Heero was sitting on a bed as well and had a wolf puppy asleep on his lap. He petted it absently as he tried to hide his nervousness. The others were either sitting or standing around the room all with their own thoughts.
I don't know if I want Duo's story to be true or not. Heero thought. He looked over at Relena. If it's not true I still have a shot at being with Relena. If it is true, than I have a family that is still alive and I desperately want to see.
"What are you thinking nephew?"
The thoughts came out of now were, and sounded just like Duo.
Huh? What's going on?
It is an elven way of communicating called sending. Humans have no idea about it and I would
like to keep it that way. By the way
you were looking I thought there were some questions you still had unanswered.
…Yes. I do. Do elves ever fall in love with humans?
Depends on what kind of love you mean. Several elves have raised human foundlings.
No. I mean fall in love and have a family.
No, never.
Heero
sighed and looked at Relena wistfully.
Thinking about Relena?
Is
that obvious?
To me, yes.
Oh.
Though an elf has never had a family with a human, many have had families with half humans.
?????? WHAT!?
Didn't you know? Relena's father was an elf. She and Zechs are only half siblings. Same mother different father. I know the guy, he still watches her.
Yes. He is from the artic. A tribe of elves live there, though this will probably mean nothing to you, but they are the decedents of the Go Backs. Very hardy people, great hunters. He has yet to tell her, but he is planning to tell her soon.
But her hands.
Have five fingers I know. But you have to remember, she is not full elf like you are she is only half. She got her hands from her mother, not her father.
With that Duo left Heero with his thoughts. Heero found himself wishing that Duo's tale was true. Ten more minuets passed, then Sally came out holding the x-ray.
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(Should I be mean and stop the story here? Nah, I'm too nice.)
"I didn't believe it. I saw it and I still don't know what to think." Said Sally and she lifted up the x-ray. It clearly showed that Heero had only four fingers and one cybernetic one. "We can take it off if you would like. It is really simple. Really all we have to do is pull it off. The question is really what do you want."
"Take it off."
"As you wish. Could you lot leave while I do this?"
"Sure" Duo answered for them all.
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An hour later Heero was studying his hands. Sally had removed the cybernetics and Heero was still amazed at how his hands looked with four fingers. He and Duo were sitting outside of the base. The rest of the group were inside guessing that Heero had some questions that Duo might not want to answer in front of them.
"What happens now?" asked Heero
"Depends upon what you want to do." Answered Duo "Do you want to stay hear, go see your family, or you could decide what you are going to name that puppy. I would name it soon, before it wags its tail off."
"Huh?" Heero looked behind to see the puppy that he had been petting earlier sitting behind waging his tail. "What do you mean name him? He is yours."
"Sigh. High ones protect me from the stupidity of youth. Heero do you think these wolves hang around me because they just decided to." Heero nodded his head "They didn't. They were bonded to me. The bonding is when a wolf, usually a puppy but not always, chooses an elf to be with. The bonding is complete when the elf gives the wolf a name. Usually elves only have one wolf I am a rare exception. Now I ask again, what are you going to name him?"
Heero picked up the puppy and looked into its deep brown eyes. He is huge for a puppy. I think Mammoth.
"I think I will name him Mammoth." The puppy seemed to like this it gave a yip of joy then started to wash Heero's face.
"It is a good name. It suits him. Now Heero have you thought about what you are going to do now?"
"Yes. Duo… I want to see my parents."
"Ha! I hoped you would say that. They really would like to see you. They will be so surprised. If you want before we leave I can give you back your true shape."
"I'd like that."
"Alright then. You go tell everyone that we are going and I will be right back I have to talk to someone. If we are lucky we can leave tomorrow night."
"Why wait so long?"
"Because there are still human hunter around so traveling by night is safer and Wolf Riders, which is the tribe of elf we are, are nocturnal."
Heero watched Duo hop onto Whitecollar and ride off. He then turned and started to go inside, he felt a surge of excitement run through him. He was going to meet his parents, something he had dreamed about since he was little and his training had first started.
Maybe I can be happy after all. Heero walked into the base to tell everyone his decision.
From within the trees an evil chuckle filled the air. A human was sitting there; he had heard the whole conversation. He smiled evilly and ran his finger along the edge of his blood stained dagger. (Remember from chapter 1?) If he worked quickly and well and with a bit of luck he would have at least one elf hide by the next day. The old one was of no use to him, but if the hidden one (the name given to all elf children who are in human shape and do not remember who they are) was good looking he would keep him alive then torture him and then maybe sell him to an elf slaver. Either way it was a win win situation. Now all he had to do was get his brothers. He laughed again and then quietly walked away.