The Shinigami rewrites - DragonLance Chronicles.
Gundam Wing isn't mine. DragonLance isn't mine. Nothing is mine, not even my hair colour.
I thought that with all the descriptions of Duo, it would be funny to see Heero interact with a kender. Then I thought of this. Shounen ai, X-over, AU. Duo as a kender... scary. Be afraid. Be very, very afraid.
Ok, this is where the other guys get to Krynn, it's just a series of short pieces, mainly dealing with Duo, and a couple of the others. Also, I've moved Duo's Story into this chapter. As a result, it's shorter than the last chapter.
Thoughts
Flashbacks
Chapter 2
"Hey Wu-chan, got a lock on where Heero's shuttle is?" "Not yet Maxwell. We're still looking for a signal... wait, got it." "Where, where, where?" "just outside of 'known' space. We can set up a recovery mission soon." "I'm in." "I never doubted that Maxwell. Now get out of my way so I can find some coordinates." "OK, Wu-man!" "Maxwell, don't call me.... Never mind." Wufei sighed.
Duo sighed, looking in the mirror. Slowly he pulled his hair from the tops of his ears. Of the other pilots, only Heero had seen his ears properly. He sighed, as he examined one very pointy ear. Half kender, half elf. What a joke hey? Either way I have pointy ears. But I'll get by, I just need to find Heero. Lowering his hair over his ears again, Duo walked out of the bathroom.
"Kender are the childlike thieves of Krynn." Duo grinned. "But don't call them thieves. Mega insult. Call a kender a thief, and you deserve what you get.
Duo looked at the world where Heero had crashed. It couldn't be. But it does look like the map I saw... so long ago. I wish I still had that map. Could it be? He glanced up as Quatre spoke out. "There's no real help for it. We'll have to go in secret. That means several drop offs in several places around where the shuttle is." "I'll drop you all off." Duo volunteered. "That way I'll end up near the shuttle." Wufei nodded. Trowa just looked at him. "Really guys, I'll be fine." They hunched over the view of the land near the crash site. "Alright, he crashed somewhere near this lake, so we'll drop off there, there, and there, and I'll land the shuttle near here, which is the most likely place for Heero to have landed." "Are you sure Duo?" Quatre still looked worried. "It should be about right." Wufei frowned slightly. "Fine then, Maxwell. Start the drop off. I'll go first. Then Barton, then Winner. We'll meet up, where?" "If I read this right, there should be a small town about here. We'll meet there." Trowa nodded. "Alright Duo. Let's go." "Wait." The others turned. "Q-man, are you picking anything up from Heero?" Quatre's eyes widened, then he concentrated. His eyes lit up suddenly. "Good thinking Duo. Yes. He's still within the area you pointed out." "That's good to know Quatre." The boys prepared for their respective drop offs. Could it be? Finally, I'm home.
***
Duo sighed heavily. Then he looked back at his friends. "Look, we don't want to attract attention. This world is low-tech. That means-" "We know what it means Maxwell! Get on with it." "As I was saying. We need to dress in a way that won't draw too much attention to ourselves. This means plain. Homespun. Ordinary. Maybe leather if you're good. OK?" Quatre frowned. "What about your hair Duo? Won't that attract attention?" "No Q-man. I have that all worked out. I won't be noticed at all. I can just blend in with the crowd." "Dressed like that." Duo gave his familiar manic Shinigami grin. "Trust me."
Duo sighed. Again. They're being so difficult. He spoke again. "Trowa, I know what I'm talking about, ok? I'll explain it all when we meet in Solace." Trowa nodded finally. Right. Trowa near the plainsmen. Quatre near Qualinesti. Wufei near Tarsis. Me near Crystalmir Lake. We can do this. Duo grinned again. It wasn't until later, that the other pilots realised Duo had referred to the town by name.
Duo walked into Solace. He saw a pretty red-haired girl walking towards him. Hmm, I could lift her purse easily, but maybe... He spoke up. "Hey!" The girl looked to him. "I'm new to town, would you be able to tell me where I could get a job?" She looked at him. "Well, how do you think you'd go working at the inn?" He smiled. "Why not?" The girl smiled back at him. "My name is Tika Waylan. What's yours?" "I'm..." May as well cover my ass. "Shinigami."
"Hey, Shin!" The new boy was quick on his feet. Tika smiled. He darted faster than almost any kender. well, not surprising really. Poor kid, a half-kender. With enough sense to get a job, but still with all the kender skills. She looked thoughtful. I'm glad though. If he hadn't been able to pick that lock. Those children would be dead now. I just have to get him to stop chatting so much. Her smile reappeared as Shin sidestepped a rather lecherous patron. "Hey! Who are you calling a girl?" Shin snarled, a knife in his hand. The man jumped. Oh yes, He is most definitely a kender. "Shin! Let it go." "But Tika!" Shin was indignant. "Never mind. Just continue serving the other customers." Shin turned from the lecher. But his huge expressive eyes promised retribution later.
***
Duo scowled for a moment, dropping his mask altogether. Sargas[i]' balls, Heero. The things I go through for you. After all this, You'd better be alive still. But that Hederick. Duo shuddered That guy gives me the creeps. It's so hard monitoring what I say. One day I'm gonna slip and mention Earth. No. I won't do that. This is for Heero's sake. I hope the others are alright.
***
Wufei looked around the town thoughtfully. He wasn't sure where he was. He'd asked about Solace, but no-one paid any attention to him. All people looked at him with barely concealed suspicion. He went to a building, that looked like it may have some information. A library. At least they aren't complete morons here. Maybe I can find an atlas or something. Wufei looked around. He picked up a book thoughtfully. a theological book. He was about to put it down, until he saw the title. Kiri-Jolith[ii] - Sword of Justice. Maybe I can wait here for a bit. This looks interesting. Settling down in a corner, Wufei opened the book, and began to read.
***
Duo looked up from the book he had been reading, as a lone figure slipped into the inn. Tika spoke to the cloaked stranger. "I'm sorry, we're closed at the moment." The figure pulled its hood back. Before he could speak, Duo called out. "It's alright Tika!" She looked at him. "Why Shin?" Duo didn't answer her. He turned to the stranger instead. "Come on in, You're the first to arrive." The boy nodded, and moved towards his braided friend. Tika relaxed slightly, since Shin knew him. "So you haven't seen the others yet?" Duo shook his head. "No, apparently Heero was here a while back, but he left with the theocrat on his tail." "Theocrat?" "I'll tell you all about it, Trowa." Duo grinned, then told Trowa all that he had learnt in Solace.
***
Interlude - Duo's Story
Quivalath watched helplessly as his love went into labour. the midwife felt it was unlikely that the kender maid would survive the birth of her half-elven child. He couldn't help the shudders as the midwife asked who they were to save if it came to a choice. his only answer was both. As he was led into the room, he heard the cries as his love lost strength. Hold on Lynnette he pleaded silently. He ran closer as he heard the remarks. His Lyn was dying. He heard her whisper. "Now I know what it means." As her child drew his first breath, Lynnette Lockpicker drew her last, whispering the name. "Shinigami." Quivalath was passed his newborn son, as the midwives tried to save his Lyn. but looking at his violet eyed child, he knew it was too late. But he couldn't bring himself to hate the child. "Then that is your name, my son. Shinigami. Maybe one day we will discover the meaning of your name ourselves."
Nemesis watched her father bouncing her half-kender brother on his knee. She had helped her father raise the child. The five-year-old boy was remarkably placid, considering his mother's race. The near ninety elfmaid smiled. I will protect you little brother. May the gods keep you and bless you. She sighed. "Father, I must speak with you." the elder elf looked at his full elven daughter. "What is it Nemesis?" "Trouble. they are talking of all out war. We have to send Shin to safety." Quivalath sighed. "Very well Nemesis. Could you get a message to the wizard's conclave in Wayreth?" "Consider it done father." the elfmaid took another look at her violet- eyed half-brother, and left the room.
"NO!" Screamed the small child. "I don't wanna!" Par Salian watched helplessly as the small boy struggled with the mages trying to keep him still. Slippery as a kender, as the saying goes. He watched worried as Quivalath tried to placate the boy. Shinigami did not want to be placated. "Daddy! NO! Don't make me go!" the child wailed. The head of the white robes waited. Then he spoke calmly. "Quivalath, it is time." The elven lord reluctantly placed his only son in the circle. Then Par Salian cast the spell that would send the child to a place far away. To safety. If there was safety anywhere. The stones seemed to sing. There was a flash of light, then Shinigami was gone.
"Hey, kid. You all right?" the street kid asked the strange long-haired boy.
Shinigami looked at him, puzzled. He didn't understand. Why daddy? Didn't you want me anymore? He shook his head as the boy in front of him babbled some more in that strange language. Nemesis, why didn't you let me stay? I don't wanna be here. I wanna go home!
"Shit kid, can't ya talk?" the boy continued. As poor Shin tried to make sense of what he was saying, the boy lifted him to his feet carefully. Tears welled up in Shin's eyes, and spilled over. "Hey, boys don't cry." Solo said softly as he wiped away the younger boy's tears. Shin looked at him, and then echoed the strange sounding words. "B-Boys d-don't c-cry." Solo smiled. "That's right." "s'right." Shin echoed once more. "C'mon kid, gotta get ya to safety, hey? The name's Solo." "Solo." The boy who was once Shinigami of Qualinesti, followed the strange human boy away. Solo became, in time, as close as a brother to the kid. The kid became a remarkably able thief. But Shinigami never forgot his elven family. Then the plague, then a church, then a massacre, then a scientist, and a war. And Shinigami was reborn.
And, far away, on another plane, an old man smiled. "And then there were five..."
*******
I don't need to explain who the old man was, do I?
Kend
----------------------- [i] For those of you who aren't familiar with Krynnish deities, Sargas is a more familiar term for Sargonnas, Consort to Takhisis, and the god of Vengeance. [ii] More Krynnish theology - Kiri-Jolith has the head of a bison, and he is the elder son of Paladine
Gundam Wing isn't mine. DragonLance isn't mine. Nothing is mine, not even my hair colour.
I thought that with all the descriptions of Duo, it would be funny to see Heero interact with a kender. Then I thought of this. Shounen ai, X-over, AU. Duo as a kender... scary. Be afraid. Be very, very afraid.
Ok, this is where the other guys get to Krynn, it's just a series of short pieces, mainly dealing with Duo, and a couple of the others. Also, I've moved Duo's Story into this chapter. As a result, it's shorter than the last chapter.
Thoughts
Flashbacks
Chapter 2
"Hey Wu-chan, got a lock on where Heero's shuttle is?" "Not yet Maxwell. We're still looking for a signal... wait, got it." "Where, where, where?" "just outside of 'known' space. We can set up a recovery mission soon." "I'm in." "I never doubted that Maxwell. Now get out of my way so I can find some coordinates." "OK, Wu-man!" "Maxwell, don't call me.... Never mind." Wufei sighed.
Duo sighed, looking in the mirror. Slowly he pulled his hair from the tops of his ears. Of the other pilots, only Heero had seen his ears properly. He sighed, as he examined one very pointy ear. Half kender, half elf. What a joke hey? Either way I have pointy ears. But I'll get by, I just need to find Heero. Lowering his hair over his ears again, Duo walked out of the bathroom.
"Kender are the childlike thieves of Krynn." Duo grinned. "But don't call them thieves. Mega insult. Call a kender a thief, and you deserve what you get.
Duo looked at the world where Heero had crashed. It couldn't be. But it does look like the map I saw... so long ago. I wish I still had that map. Could it be? He glanced up as Quatre spoke out. "There's no real help for it. We'll have to go in secret. That means several drop offs in several places around where the shuttle is." "I'll drop you all off." Duo volunteered. "That way I'll end up near the shuttle." Wufei nodded. Trowa just looked at him. "Really guys, I'll be fine." They hunched over the view of the land near the crash site. "Alright, he crashed somewhere near this lake, so we'll drop off there, there, and there, and I'll land the shuttle near here, which is the most likely place for Heero to have landed." "Are you sure Duo?" Quatre still looked worried. "It should be about right." Wufei frowned slightly. "Fine then, Maxwell. Start the drop off. I'll go first. Then Barton, then Winner. We'll meet up, where?" "If I read this right, there should be a small town about here. We'll meet there." Trowa nodded. "Alright Duo. Let's go." "Wait." The others turned. "Q-man, are you picking anything up from Heero?" Quatre's eyes widened, then he concentrated. His eyes lit up suddenly. "Good thinking Duo. Yes. He's still within the area you pointed out." "That's good to know Quatre." The boys prepared for their respective drop offs. Could it be? Finally, I'm home.
***
Duo sighed heavily. Then he looked back at his friends. "Look, we don't want to attract attention. This world is low-tech. That means-" "We know what it means Maxwell! Get on with it." "As I was saying. We need to dress in a way that won't draw too much attention to ourselves. This means plain. Homespun. Ordinary. Maybe leather if you're good. OK?" Quatre frowned. "What about your hair Duo? Won't that attract attention?" "No Q-man. I have that all worked out. I won't be noticed at all. I can just blend in with the crowd." "Dressed like that." Duo gave his familiar manic Shinigami grin. "Trust me."
Duo sighed. Again. They're being so difficult. He spoke again. "Trowa, I know what I'm talking about, ok? I'll explain it all when we meet in Solace." Trowa nodded finally. Right. Trowa near the plainsmen. Quatre near Qualinesti. Wufei near Tarsis. Me near Crystalmir Lake. We can do this. Duo grinned again. It wasn't until later, that the other pilots realised Duo had referred to the town by name.
Duo walked into Solace. He saw a pretty red-haired girl walking towards him. Hmm, I could lift her purse easily, but maybe... He spoke up. "Hey!" The girl looked to him. "I'm new to town, would you be able to tell me where I could get a job?" She looked at him. "Well, how do you think you'd go working at the inn?" He smiled. "Why not?" The girl smiled back at him. "My name is Tika Waylan. What's yours?" "I'm..." May as well cover my ass. "Shinigami."
"Hey, Shin!" The new boy was quick on his feet. Tika smiled. He darted faster than almost any kender. well, not surprising really. Poor kid, a half-kender. With enough sense to get a job, but still with all the kender skills. She looked thoughtful. I'm glad though. If he hadn't been able to pick that lock. Those children would be dead now. I just have to get him to stop chatting so much. Her smile reappeared as Shin sidestepped a rather lecherous patron. "Hey! Who are you calling a girl?" Shin snarled, a knife in his hand. The man jumped. Oh yes, He is most definitely a kender. "Shin! Let it go." "But Tika!" Shin was indignant. "Never mind. Just continue serving the other customers." Shin turned from the lecher. But his huge expressive eyes promised retribution later.
***
Duo scowled for a moment, dropping his mask altogether. Sargas[i]' balls, Heero. The things I go through for you. After all this, You'd better be alive still. But that Hederick. Duo shuddered That guy gives me the creeps. It's so hard monitoring what I say. One day I'm gonna slip and mention Earth. No. I won't do that. This is for Heero's sake. I hope the others are alright.
***
Wufei looked around the town thoughtfully. He wasn't sure where he was. He'd asked about Solace, but no-one paid any attention to him. All people looked at him with barely concealed suspicion. He went to a building, that looked like it may have some information. A library. At least they aren't complete morons here. Maybe I can find an atlas or something. Wufei looked around. He picked up a book thoughtfully. a theological book. He was about to put it down, until he saw the title. Kiri-Jolith[ii] - Sword of Justice. Maybe I can wait here for a bit. This looks interesting. Settling down in a corner, Wufei opened the book, and began to read.
***
Duo looked up from the book he had been reading, as a lone figure slipped into the inn. Tika spoke to the cloaked stranger. "I'm sorry, we're closed at the moment." The figure pulled its hood back. Before he could speak, Duo called out. "It's alright Tika!" She looked at him. "Why Shin?" Duo didn't answer her. He turned to the stranger instead. "Come on in, You're the first to arrive." The boy nodded, and moved towards his braided friend. Tika relaxed slightly, since Shin knew him. "So you haven't seen the others yet?" Duo shook his head. "No, apparently Heero was here a while back, but he left with the theocrat on his tail." "Theocrat?" "I'll tell you all about it, Trowa." Duo grinned, then told Trowa all that he had learnt in Solace.
***
Interlude - Duo's Story
Quivalath watched helplessly as his love went into labour. the midwife felt it was unlikely that the kender maid would survive the birth of her half-elven child. He couldn't help the shudders as the midwife asked who they were to save if it came to a choice. his only answer was both. As he was led into the room, he heard the cries as his love lost strength. Hold on Lynnette he pleaded silently. He ran closer as he heard the remarks. His Lyn was dying. He heard her whisper. "Now I know what it means." As her child drew his first breath, Lynnette Lockpicker drew her last, whispering the name. "Shinigami." Quivalath was passed his newborn son, as the midwives tried to save his Lyn. but looking at his violet eyed child, he knew it was too late. But he couldn't bring himself to hate the child. "Then that is your name, my son. Shinigami. Maybe one day we will discover the meaning of your name ourselves."
Nemesis watched her father bouncing her half-kender brother on his knee. She had helped her father raise the child. The five-year-old boy was remarkably placid, considering his mother's race. The near ninety elfmaid smiled. I will protect you little brother. May the gods keep you and bless you. She sighed. "Father, I must speak with you." the elder elf looked at his full elven daughter. "What is it Nemesis?" "Trouble. they are talking of all out war. We have to send Shin to safety." Quivalath sighed. "Very well Nemesis. Could you get a message to the wizard's conclave in Wayreth?" "Consider it done father." the elfmaid took another look at her violet- eyed half-brother, and left the room.
"NO!" Screamed the small child. "I don't wanna!" Par Salian watched helplessly as the small boy struggled with the mages trying to keep him still. Slippery as a kender, as the saying goes. He watched worried as Quivalath tried to placate the boy. Shinigami did not want to be placated. "Daddy! NO! Don't make me go!" the child wailed. The head of the white robes waited. Then he spoke calmly. "Quivalath, it is time." The elven lord reluctantly placed his only son in the circle. Then Par Salian cast the spell that would send the child to a place far away. To safety. If there was safety anywhere. The stones seemed to sing. There was a flash of light, then Shinigami was gone.
"Hey, kid. You all right?" the street kid asked the strange long-haired boy.
Shinigami looked at him, puzzled. He didn't understand. Why daddy? Didn't you want me anymore? He shook his head as the boy in front of him babbled some more in that strange language. Nemesis, why didn't you let me stay? I don't wanna be here. I wanna go home!
"Shit kid, can't ya talk?" the boy continued. As poor Shin tried to make sense of what he was saying, the boy lifted him to his feet carefully. Tears welled up in Shin's eyes, and spilled over. "Hey, boys don't cry." Solo said softly as he wiped away the younger boy's tears. Shin looked at him, and then echoed the strange sounding words. "B-Boys d-don't c-cry." Solo smiled. "That's right." "s'right." Shin echoed once more. "C'mon kid, gotta get ya to safety, hey? The name's Solo." "Solo." The boy who was once Shinigami of Qualinesti, followed the strange human boy away. Solo became, in time, as close as a brother to the kid. The kid became a remarkably able thief. But Shinigami never forgot his elven family. Then the plague, then a church, then a massacre, then a scientist, and a war. And Shinigami was reborn.
And, far away, on another plane, an old man smiled. "And then there were five..."
*******
I don't need to explain who the old man was, do I?
Kend
----------------------- [i] For those of you who aren't familiar with Krynnish deities, Sargas is a more familiar term for Sargonnas, Consort to Takhisis, and the god of Vengeance. [ii] More Krynnish theology - Kiri-Jolith has the head of a bison, and he is the elder son of Paladine