Warning and Author's Note: This is the begining of the end, the final battle is here. And not everyone will make it out alive. I want to warn you that from here to the end there will probably be some 2xH, 3x? --(if you've read any of my other fics you can guess who that will be), 4xC, 6X9 and 5xS. Not much because I will mostly be focused on Heero and Relena. If any thought of these couples disgusts you I would suggest you stop reading now, I would not want you to be offended. This is the last warning I will give and the next few chapters will continue with no interruptions.
Angst, battle, blood, grief, rage, death, sacrifice, and hope ahead. Be prepared.
Chapter Nine: First Sparks
The world was pulsing, events plummeting toward an end he couldn't see. A sense of urgency coursed through his body, speeding his already enhanced pace. The trip to the newly built dungeons was taking too long. Something was happening and he hated the fact that he had no control. Their were just too many factors. First, Relena was taken from him, then his mother had been forced to lie to protect him. Then there was this interest from Kagetsu, Takuya's jealousy, the attack on the rebels, the empress's fevered search for the key, his new found memories....
He shook his head. He couldn't think of those things right now. Regathering his focus, he drew on the ancient power of the A'rateken, the power to tap into any planet's source of energy. He drew in the heat energy radiated from the earth and tampered with the magnetic field in order to shield himself. He would need every advantage when he fought Takuya. Reaching over his back he loosened the twin swords strapped there. With those he would finish what had started three years ago.
He destroyed the prison door before he even got to it, striding determinedly through the splintered remains. It took him only one glance to see that Relena wasn't there, but Takuya was.
The pale-haired mage rounded on him, fury painted across his face, his body tensed with suppressed power.
"What have you done with her?" He snarled, his hands clenching into fists. Heero stopped a few feet away from the Mage, feeling like he was missing something important.
"You took her, didn't you?" Takuya accused, taking a step forward. "Well, you should probably give her this, I won't be needing it anymore." He threw Relena's laser whip and Heero caught it, anger rising in him as he saw it was covered in blood.
"You hurt her?" He asked, his voice dangerously calm. Takuya spat, his fury at being out done making him reckless.
"You should be proud. She tried to hold back her screams but I drew them out of her. I must say she's quite spirited."
Heero lashed out, a massive energy blast exploding against Takuya's shields. The Mage didn't hesitate, he struck back with an ice wall that Heero cut in half with one of his swords. Heero knew he was too angry to see clearly. Three years ago he would have had no problem with closing off his emotions but he was no longer that person and the mental walls wouldn't go up that high. He could no longer seperate himself from what he was doing.
This fight would be personal.
"I always wondered about you, Gharial," Takuya said, one of Heero's blasts skittering off his shield and burning a hole in the prison wall. "So much power and inhibited with the human's need to reason, to justify everything. Too bad, really. Ritara is brilliant but shortsighted. You see, I know she lied to save you, and what do you think the empress will do when she learns of this little infraction?"
Heero hit away one of Takuya's ice blasts with his sword, his cold gaze on his enemy.
"Speak of my mother again and I will destroy you." It wasn't boasting, merely the stating of a fact.
Takuya growled.
"And what about your lovely Rena? What will you do with her now? You will never make it out of here alive."
Heero let a blast reflect off his shield and leapt through the clearing smoke to slice at the Mage's shields with both blades. Sheet lightning arched away from the two combatants as the invisible shield refracted the blows. Around them, the prison was in shambles, the released energy tearing the walls down around them. Heero found himself getting impatient. He didn't have time to mess around with Takuya when he still had to find Relena.
"Stop talking and kill me, Takuya." He said, lowly, baitng the Mage. Takuya responded just as he wanted by lunging forward, teeth bared in a snarl. Heero met him with an energy blast, ready to end this pathetic battle.
"Gharial!"
Heero pivoted smoothly, ducking Takuya's blast and letting his own disappear. He put some distance between himself and the angered Mage before adjusting to put the prison door in his sight.
"Mother, I don't have--"
"Gharial." She said again, and something in her voice stopped him. She walked forward a step, her gaze only on him, looking very young and vulnerable though she was close to two hundred years old. She swallowed and spoke again, a controlled calmness in her voice. "Kagetsu has taken Rena to the empress. I saw the three of them enter the Room of Keys. Gharial,"--her hand fluttered towards him--"you know what this means."
Heero felt his heart twist in his chest."Yes."
"Then go to her, my son." Ritara said, coming to stand beside him, her eyes on the seething Takuya. "She needs you. I will take care of things here."
He was floored, his mind telling him Ritara would be hard pressed to defeat Takuya, his heart telling him that Relena was in danger. He was torn between conflicting duties and the strain must have shown on his face for his mother reached up and touched his cheek briefly.
"Do not worry about me, Gharial. Just take care of that young girl of yours." Her hand dropped and she pushed him towards the door. "Go."
With that one word she cut the strings that bound him to her, releasing him from any obligation he might have felt. He lurched away, his feet carrying him from the room, an anguished look on his face. She felt her heart tremble in her chest as she lost sight of him, a part of her gone forever. She gathered the remnants of her courage and met Takuya's sneer.
~Don't forget me, Gharial.~
She stepped forward, head high, a proud look on her face.
"Come and dance with me, Takuya."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Sank Palace was under attack. The rebel army had swarmed down like falcons for the kill. There were thousands of them, each empowered with knowledge that they were fighting for their planet, their very lives. Hope was the only weapon they needed.
Zechs and Noin led the charge against the A'rateken soldiers. They had succeeded in gathering rebels from other areas, bringing them to join the battle in Sank. Without their soldiers, Duo knew they would have stood little chance of rescuing Rena and Heero. The God of Death watched from afar as the rebel army and the A'rateken soldiers clashes, the sound of steel on steel and the cries of the dying. He watched Zechs and Noin for a few moments, seeing them cut a path through the army. He hoped it would not be the last time he laid eyes on them.
He tapped the communicator in his ear, listening through the sudden burst of static.
"Quatre, come in."
A pause and then--"Quatre here, what is it Duo?"
"Are you in place?"
"Yes, I am right outside the command ship of the A'rateken fleet. They are not well guarded, knowing that none of us can understand the technology they use to pilot them. My mission will not be hard."
"Good. Remember to search them all, Quatre. We can't afford to leave any humans on board."
"Understood."
Duo waited a minute and then called for Sally. "Are you in place to set the explosives?"
"Yes," Came Sally's calm voice. "Wufei and I are just awaiting Quatre's word. Once he is sure the ships are clear we will arm the bombs."
"Good. I'm going in."
Duo leaned down and ran alongside the perimeter wall of the palace, taking out guards as he came to them. His mission was to find Heero and Rena, presuming they were together, and get them out. Hilde had gone to retrieve the secret weapon they had been working on and all of them could be nowhere near the palace when that thing was ready.
Duo gritted his teeth and kicked open the secret doorway Trowa had told him of. Everything about the mission was timed. If someone didn't do their part then the whole thing would crash and burn. It was risky that way, but it was all they had. There would be only one chance to rid themselves of the A'rateken forever and that time was growing nearer. They could not fail.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Trowa slipped through the nearly deserted hallways. Everyone was either off fighting the rebel army or protecting the empress. Anyone who saw him barely gave him a glance, taking him for a servant. He didn't care anyway. His mission was to find Catherine and get her out before Hilde's plan went into action. It was easier said than done. Catherine had handed over all the information she knew about the empress down to her favorite tea. Most importantly she had told them where the empress's rooms were located and other important areas. They now had the information they needed to find and asassinate the empress, and in the midst of war, it would be even simpler. Unfortunately, it was not as simple to find Catherine. He had assumed she would be near the empress but he couldn't seem to find either of them, and the clock was ticking. Even if they failed in eliminating the empress, he still had to get Catherine out. Who knew how Hilde's secret weapon would work?
Trowa quickened his pace, eyes focused on the distance.
~Wait for me, Catherine. I'm coming.~
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Quatre ran through the interior hallways of the A'rateken starship, looking for human faces. It was a shame they were going to destroy the grounded fleet, the technology was marvelous! But it all had to go, if they wanted to end this war forever.
He slowed his pace as he entered a set of rooms, searching for slaves or servants that needed to be freed before the coming Armageddon. The place was empty and he began to feel frustrated. He knew that hundreds of people had been taken, either to serve the empress or for some other unknown purpose. Catherine had been such a one. So where were they? They couldn't all be in the palace.
The click of a safety going off stopped him cold in his tracks, a tingle running up his spine. Sighing to himself, he raised his arms behind his head, regretting that he was going to have to kill whoever this was. Nothing could get in the way of his mission. There was no time.
"Turn slowly, human, and don't do anything stupid. I don't have time to waste on killing idiots."
Quatre stiffened and turned, a retort born of stress on his lips, but it died instantly as he took in the person before him. His heart thumped wildly in his chest, almost painfully. Betrayal was clear in his eyes. He swallowed.
"Dorothy?"
tbc...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Author's Note: One thing about this fic is, don't assume anything. I'm still trying to get everything in so bear with me! *grins* I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and sorry there was no Rena in it. She'll appear next time. Finally got Dorothy in there for all you Dorothy fans. Don't worry, everything will be revealed!! I didn't do as much with the battle scenes as I wanted to so they will be in the next one, too. Several more chapters to go so stay tuned! I love you guys!
A big thankyou and hug to my new friend luvspook who's enthusiasm is inspiring. *hugs*
Next chapter: Foreshadowed
please review! and thanks for reading!
Angst, battle, blood, grief, rage, death, sacrifice, and hope ahead. Be prepared.
Chapter Nine: First Sparks
The world was pulsing, events plummeting toward an end he couldn't see. A sense of urgency coursed through his body, speeding his already enhanced pace. The trip to the newly built dungeons was taking too long. Something was happening and he hated the fact that he had no control. Their were just too many factors. First, Relena was taken from him, then his mother had been forced to lie to protect him. Then there was this interest from Kagetsu, Takuya's jealousy, the attack on the rebels, the empress's fevered search for the key, his new found memories....
He shook his head. He couldn't think of those things right now. Regathering his focus, he drew on the ancient power of the A'rateken, the power to tap into any planet's source of energy. He drew in the heat energy radiated from the earth and tampered with the magnetic field in order to shield himself. He would need every advantage when he fought Takuya. Reaching over his back he loosened the twin swords strapped there. With those he would finish what had started three years ago.
He destroyed the prison door before he even got to it, striding determinedly through the splintered remains. It took him only one glance to see that Relena wasn't there, but Takuya was.
The pale-haired mage rounded on him, fury painted across his face, his body tensed with suppressed power.
"What have you done with her?" He snarled, his hands clenching into fists. Heero stopped a few feet away from the Mage, feeling like he was missing something important.
"You took her, didn't you?" Takuya accused, taking a step forward. "Well, you should probably give her this, I won't be needing it anymore." He threw Relena's laser whip and Heero caught it, anger rising in him as he saw it was covered in blood.
"You hurt her?" He asked, his voice dangerously calm. Takuya spat, his fury at being out done making him reckless.
"You should be proud. She tried to hold back her screams but I drew them out of her. I must say she's quite spirited."
Heero lashed out, a massive energy blast exploding against Takuya's shields. The Mage didn't hesitate, he struck back with an ice wall that Heero cut in half with one of his swords. Heero knew he was too angry to see clearly. Three years ago he would have had no problem with closing off his emotions but he was no longer that person and the mental walls wouldn't go up that high. He could no longer seperate himself from what he was doing.
This fight would be personal.
"I always wondered about you, Gharial," Takuya said, one of Heero's blasts skittering off his shield and burning a hole in the prison wall. "So much power and inhibited with the human's need to reason, to justify everything. Too bad, really. Ritara is brilliant but shortsighted. You see, I know she lied to save you, and what do you think the empress will do when she learns of this little infraction?"
Heero hit away one of Takuya's ice blasts with his sword, his cold gaze on his enemy.
"Speak of my mother again and I will destroy you." It wasn't boasting, merely the stating of a fact.
Takuya growled.
"And what about your lovely Rena? What will you do with her now? You will never make it out of here alive."
Heero let a blast reflect off his shield and leapt through the clearing smoke to slice at the Mage's shields with both blades. Sheet lightning arched away from the two combatants as the invisible shield refracted the blows. Around them, the prison was in shambles, the released energy tearing the walls down around them. Heero found himself getting impatient. He didn't have time to mess around with Takuya when he still had to find Relena.
"Stop talking and kill me, Takuya." He said, lowly, baitng the Mage. Takuya responded just as he wanted by lunging forward, teeth bared in a snarl. Heero met him with an energy blast, ready to end this pathetic battle.
"Gharial!"
Heero pivoted smoothly, ducking Takuya's blast and letting his own disappear. He put some distance between himself and the angered Mage before adjusting to put the prison door in his sight.
"Mother, I don't have--"
"Gharial." She said again, and something in her voice stopped him. She walked forward a step, her gaze only on him, looking very young and vulnerable though she was close to two hundred years old. She swallowed and spoke again, a controlled calmness in her voice. "Kagetsu has taken Rena to the empress. I saw the three of them enter the Room of Keys. Gharial,"--her hand fluttered towards him--"you know what this means."
Heero felt his heart twist in his chest."Yes."
"Then go to her, my son." Ritara said, coming to stand beside him, her eyes on the seething Takuya. "She needs you. I will take care of things here."
He was floored, his mind telling him Ritara would be hard pressed to defeat Takuya, his heart telling him that Relena was in danger. He was torn between conflicting duties and the strain must have shown on his face for his mother reached up and touched his cheek briefly.
"Do not worry about me, Gharial. Just take care of that young girl of yours." Her hand dropped and she pushed him towards the door. "Go."
With that one word she cut the strings that bound him to her, releasing him from any obligation he might have felt. He lurched away, his feet carrying him from the room, an anguished look on his face. She felt her heart tremble in her chest as she lost sight of him, a part of her gone forever. She gathered the remnants of her courage and met Takuya's sneer.
~Don't forget me, Gharial.~
She stepped forward, head high, a proud look on her face.
"Come and dance with me, Takuya."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Sank Palace was under attack. The rebel army had swarmed down like falcons for the kill. There were thousands of them, each empowered with knowledge that they were fighting for their planet, their very lives. Hope was the only weapon they needed.
Zechs and Noin led the charge against the A'rateken soldiers. They had succeeded in gathering rebels from other areas, bringing them to join the battle in Sank. Without their soldiers, Duo knew they would have stood little chance of rescuing Rena and Heero. The God of Death watched from afar as the rebel army and the A'rateken soldiers clashes, the sound of steel on steel and the cries of the dying. He watched Zechs and Noin for a few moments, seeing them cut a path through the army. He hoped it would not be the last time he laid eyes on them.
He tapped the communicator in his ear, listening through the sudden burst of static.
"Quatre, come in."
A pause and then--"Quatre here, what is it Duo?"
"Are you in place?"
"Yes, I am right outside the command ship of the A'rateken fleet. They are not well guarded, knowing that none of us can understand the technology they use to pilot them. My mission will not be hard."
"Good. Remember to search them all, Quatre. We can't afford to leave any humans on board."
"Understood."
Duo waited a minute and then called for Sally. "Are you in place to set the explosives?"
"Yes," Came Sally's calm voice. "Wufei and I are just awaiting Quatre's word. Once he is sure the ships are clear we will arm the bombs."
"Good. I'm going in."
Duo leaned down and ran alongside the perimeter wall of the palace, taking out guards as he came to them. His mission was to find Heero and Rena, presuming they were together, and get them out. Hilde had gone to retrieve the secret weapon they had been working on and all of them could be nowhere near the palace when that thing was ready.
Duo gritted his teeth and kicked open the secret doorway Trowa had told him of. Everything about the mission was timed. If someone didn't do their part then the whole thing would crash and burn. It was risky that way, but it was all they had. There would be only one chance to rid themselves of the A'rateken forever and that time was growing nearer. They could not fail.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Trowa slipped through the nearly deserted hallways. Everyone was either off fighting the rebel army or protecting the empress. Anyone who saw him barely gave him a glance, taking him for a servant. He didn't care anyway. His mission was to find Catherine and get her out before Hilde's plan went into action. It was easier said than done. Catherine had handed over all the information she knew about the empress down to her favorite tea. Most importantly she had told them where the empress's rooms were located and other important areas. They now had the information they needed to find and asassinate the empress, and in the midst of war, it would be even simpler. Unfortunately, it was not as simple to find Catherine. He had assumed she would be near the empress but he couldn't seem to find either of them, and the clock was ticking. Even if they failed in eliminating the empress, he still had to get Catherine out. Who knew how Hilde's secret weapon would work?
Trowa quickened his pace, eyes focused on the distance.
~Wait for me, Catherine. I'm coming.~
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Quatre ran through the interior hallways of the A'rateken starship, looking for human faces. It was a shame they were going to destroy the grounded fleet, the technology was marvelous! But it all had to go, if they wanted to end this war forever.
He slowed his pace as he entered a set of rooms, searching for slaves or servants that needed to be freed before the coming Armageddon. The place was empty and he began to feel frustrated. He knew that hundreds of people had been taken, either to serve the empress or for some other unknown purpose. Catherine had been such a one. So where were they? They couldn't all be in the palace.
The click of a safety going off stopped him cold in his tracks, a tingle running up his spine. Sighing to himself, he raised his arms behind his head, regretting that he was going to have to kill whoever this was. Nothing could get in the way of his mission. There was no time.
"Turn slowly, human, and don't do anything stupid. I don't have time to waste on killing idiots."
Quatre stiffened and turned, a retort born of stress on his lips, but it died instantly as he took in the person before him. His heart thumped wildly in his chest, almost painfully. Betrayal was clear in his eyes. He swallowed.
"Dorothy?"
tbc...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Author's Note: One thing about this fic is, don't assume anything. I'm still trying to get everything in so bear with me! *grins* I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and sorry there was no Rena in it. She'll appear next time. Finally got Dorothy in there for all you Dorothy fans. Don't worry, everything will be revealed!! I didn't do as much with the battle scenes as I wanted to so they will be in the next one, too. Several more chapters to go so stay tuned! I love you guys!
A big thankyou and hug to my new friend luvspook who's enthusiasm is inspiring. *hugs*
Next chapter: Foreshadowed
please review! and thanks for reading!