"Flawed Reflections (Part 3)
by Mrs Chang
Warnings: Angst, AU, Murder, Shonen-ai, Role Reversing, and slight bastardization of some characters
Pairings: 2x1, 4x3, 6x9, 13x11
Disclaimer: The Author does not own Gundam Wing, nor any characters therein. This is a work of fiction, and is not written for profit.
Author's Notes: I noted that in prior installments, I neglected to credit the inspiration for this fic. The magical aspects of this work are based very much on the Xanth Chronicles, by Piers Anthony. Thank you, Mr. Anthony, for the great books, and the inspiration, as well!
And a thank you to everyone who's given my fic such strong reviews...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The girl smiled. "Meiran."
Wufei's evey widened. "You...?" he asked.
Meiran nodded. "Yes, I am the one who caused all this. I'm the only demon-angel crossbreed in written history."
"So... you are both Trieze and Zechs's half sister?"
"Yes," she said, her eyes darkening momentarilly.
"I'm sorry..." said Wufei, noting her change in mood. "Did I say something to offend you?"
"No," said Meiran. "I simple do not like discussing Zechs."
"Oh... again, I'm sorry."
"I need to go do a few things. I'll return soon. Change your clothing, and get up and around while I'm gone," she said as she rose from her chair and turned to go. "No one should bother you, for now at least."
"May I ask you one more thing?" said Wufei.
"Of course."
"Why don't you have wings?"
"Angels and demon's wings develope over a 3-week period, after our fifteenth birthday. My birthday is a week away." Giving Wufei a final smile, she turned and exited.
When she was gone, Wufei rose from the bed and retrieved the garments left for him. They were similar to what he was wearing now, though black, instead of white.
He changed quickly, but couldn't help but feel a bit odd in the clothing. /Then again,/ he mused, /it seems *everything* here is strange.../
More than strange: it was downright bizare. Everyone he encountered seemed, well, backwards.
Duo, who oft called himself Shinigami, was as quite and stoic as Heero... and an angel, too boot.
Trowa was acting more like *Quatre* than himself... cheerful, talkative.
Trieze seemed... well, Wufei didn't know *that* much about Trieze to begin with...
And as for Meiran... well, she was everything Wufei had *wished* she would have been... And that left him even more unsettled. And she was a princess, no less.
But regardless, these were clearly *not* the people he knew, or they surely would have recognized him. And if they weren't the real thing, who were they?
Better yet, where was he?!
These thoughts ran rampant through Wufei's mind, and the headache that ensued reminded him that he was not fully reconvered. He sat down on the edge of the bed, and massaged his temples in an effort to soothe the dull ache in his head.
Suddenly, a knock on the large wooden door shattered his train of thought. He walked over and opened it, allowing Meiran, now accompanied by angel-Duo, inside.
Duo, looking as grim as ever, stood always respectfully behind Meiran. The black-haired girl smiled. "If you'll come with us, Wufei," she said, "Trieze would like to meet with you."
"Alright," he said, try to erase the hesitance from his mind as he answered. "I'm coming."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the group of three traversed the maze of corridors, Wufei took an opportunity to look around. The halls they traveled were stone, with high, vaulted ceilings. The only source of light were the torches mounted on the walls every few feet. Even then, it was a dark and dismal journey.
Meiran came to a stop in front of a large wooden door. Grabbing the iron handle and giving a good yank, she pulled the door open; the old hinges squeeked a bit.
On the other side of the door was a large room. Rows and rows of shelves lined the walls, and a table in the middle was piled high with more books. The room was better lit than the corridors.
Meiran, casually taking his hand, led him inside. Once he had entered, Wufei saw the large chair in the corner - not to mention its occupant. There, in all his refined finesse, sat Trieze Khushrenada. With the quite noticeable addition of large, black leathery wings. Folded behind him as they were, they could almost be mistaken for an oppulent cape.
Looking up from the large book in his hands, Trieze smiled warmly at the sight of Meiran. "Hello, sister mine," he said in a rich baritone.
"Good morning, Trieze," the young girl said with a smile to match her half brother's.
"And this must be your guest," the winged man said as he rose from his seat, his gaze now on Wufei. "My name is Trieze Khushrenada," he said, offering Wufei his hand.
"My name is Wufei," said the dark haired boy as he took Trieze's hand and shook it.
"An interesting name... You're not from this region, are you?"
Wufei shook his head. "No... I'm not from around here at all."
The warm smile on Trieze's face never faltered. "Well, wherever you may be from, you are welcome here.
"I do, however, fear," he said after a pause, "that this is not the best of times for you to have visited. We are, it seems, on the brink of war..."
"With the angels?" Wufei said, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Trieze chuckled. "I see my sister has taken the liberty of giving you a history lesson of our land."
"Yes, she did..." said Wufei, and as he glanced at Meiran, he noted the slightest blush on her cheeks.
"He was a captive audience, after all," she said in her defense.
Treize nodded. "Of course," he said. And then, turning to Meiran, "The ambassadors from Prince Zechs have arrived. We'll be meeting with them within the hour."
Meiran's face screwed up, but she did not protest. "Very well," she said with a resigned sigh.
"Duo can stay with Wufei," offered Meiran with a glance at the long-haired boy as he stood silently in the doorway.
"Absolutely not," Treize said sharply. "Duo will accompany you."
"But-"
"Wufei may come with us. Or he is free to look around the castle, whichever he prefers."
"Uh... I think I'll stay with you..." said Wufei.
Meiran nodded. "Wufei, if you don't mind, I'd like to speak with Treize for a moment. Privately."
"Oh, uh... sure. I'll be right outside." With that, Wufei exited, closing the door behind him.
Back inside the library, Meiran gestured vaguely at Duo. "You, too," she said. "Get going."
Duo, his expression unchanging, left in silence. Joining Wufei in standing just beyond the door, Duo remained as stoic as ever.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the door...
"Now, what is this all about?" asked Treize.
"Why do I need Duo with me?" Meiran asked. "I mean, I'm almost 15; I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."
"That's just it," Trieze countered, never losing his cool. "You *are* almost 15. And truth be told, my dear, we just don't know what's going to happen when you take wing. If the angelic part of you is dominant, Zechs will claim that you belong in his domain. I think we both know that's something you don't want."
Meiran nodded, a small sneer of disgust marring her typically pretty face.
"I'd prefer to have someone competant keep an eye on - and, if need be, protect - you until you're fully-fledged. Surely you understand my concerns."
Meiran nodded again. "Alright, alright," she said.
A knock on the door interrupted the conversation.
"Come in," said Trieze.
Nanashi entered, and bowed deeply. "Your Excellency, Your Ladyship, the ambassadors are ready to meet," he reported when he was once again upright.
"We'll be there momentarilly," said Trieze, noting Wufei and Duo behind Nanashi.
by Mrs Chang
Warnings: Angst, AU, Murder, Shonen-ai, Role Reversing, and slight bastardization of some characters
Pairings: 2x1, 4x3, 6x9, 13x11
Disclaimer: The Author does not own Gundam Wing, nor any characters therein. This is a work of fiction, and is not written for profit.
Author's Notes: I noted that in prior installments, I neglected to credit the inspiration for this fic. The magical aspects of this work are based very much on the Xanth Chronicles, by Piers Anthony. Thank you, Mr. Anthony, for the great books, and the inspiration, as well!
And a thank you to everyone who's given my fic such strong reviews...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The girl smiled. "Meiran."
Wufei's evey widened. "You...?" he asked.
Meiran nodded. "Yes, I am the one who caused all this. I'm the only demon-angel crossbreed in written history."
"So... you are both Trieze and Zechs's half sister?"
"Yes," she said, her eyes darkening momentarilly.
"I'm sorry..." said Wufei, noting her change in mood. "Did I say something to offend you?"
"No," said Meiran. "I simple do not like discussing Zechs."
"Oh... again, I'm sorry."
"I need to go do a few things. I'll return soon. Change your clothing, and get up and around while I'm gone," she said as she rose from her chair and turned to go. "No one should bother you, for now at least."
"May I ask you one more thing?" said Wufei.
"Of course."
"Why don't you have wings?"
"Angels and demon's wings develope over a 3-week period, after our fifteenth birthday. My birthday is a week away." Giving Wufei a final smile, she turned and exited.
When she was gone, Wufei rose from the bed and retrieved the garments left for him. They were similar to what he was wearing now, though black, instead of white.
He changed quickly, but couldn't help but feel a bit odd in the clothing. /Then again,/ he mused, /it seems *everything* here is strange.../
More than strange: it was downright bizare. Everyone he encountered seemed, well, backwards.
Duo, who oft called himself Shinigami, was as quite and stoic as Heero... and an angel, too boot.
Trowa was acting more like *Quatre* than himself... cheerful, talkative.
Trieze seemed... well, Wufei didn't know *that* much about Trieze to begin with...
And as for Meiran... well, she was everything Wufei had *wished* she would have been... And that left him even more unsettled. And she was a princess, no less.
But regardless, these were clearly *not* the people he knew, or they surely would have recognized him. And if they weren't the real thing, who were they?
Better yet, where was he?!
These thoughts ran rampant through Wufei's mind, and the headache that ensued reminded him that he was not fully reconvered. He sat down on the edge of the bed, and massaged his temples in an effort to soothe the dull ache in his head.
Suddenly, a knock on the large wooden door shattered his train of thought. He walked over and opened it, allowing Meiran, now accompanied by angel-Duo, inside.
Duo, looking as grim as ever, stood always respectfully behind Meiran. The black-haired girl smiled. "If you'll come with us, Wufei," she said, "Trieze would like to meet with you."
"Alright," he said, try to erase the hesitance from his mind as he answered. "I'm coming."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the group of three traversed the maze of corridors, Wufei took an opportunity to look around. The halls they traveled were stone, with high, vaulted ceilings. The only source of light were the torches mounted on the walls every few feet. Even then, it was a dark and dismal journey.
Meiran came to a stop in front of a large wooden door. Grabbing the iron handle and giving a good yank, she pulled the door open; the old hinges squeeked a bit.
On the other side of the door was a large room. Rows and rows of shelves lined the walls, and a table in the middle was piled high with more books. The room was better lit than the corridors.
Meiran, casually taking his hand, led him inside. Once he had entered, Wufei saw the large chair in the corner - not to mention its occupant. There, in all his refined finesse, sat Trieze Khushrenada. With the quite noticeable addition of large, black leathery wings. Folded behind him as they were, they could almost be mistaken for an oppulent cape.
Looking up from the large book in his hands, Trieze smiled warmly at the sight of Meiran. "Hello, sister mine," he said in a rich baritone.
"Good morning, Trieze," the young girl said with a smile to match her half brother's.
"And this must be your guest," the winged man said as he rose from his seat, his gaze now on Wufei. "My name is Trieze Khushrenada," he said, offering Wufei his hand.
"My name is Wufei," said the dark haired boy as he took Trieze's hand and shook it.
"An interesting name... You're not from this region, are you?"
Wufei shook his head. "No... I'm not from around here at all."
The warm smile on Trieze's face never faltered. "Well, wherever you may be from, you are welcome here.
"I do, however, fear," he said after a pause, "that this is not the best of times for you to have visited. We are, it seems, on the brink of war..."
"With the angels?" Wufei said, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Trieze chuckled. "I see my sister has taken the liberty of giving you a history lesson of our land."
"Yes, she did..." said Wufei, and as he glanced at Meiran, he noted the slightest blush on her cheeks.
"He was a captive audience, after all," she said in her defense.
Treize nodded. "Of course," he said. And then, turning to Meiran, "The ambassadors from Prince Zechs have arrived. We'll be meeting with them within the hour."
Meiran's face screwed up, but she did not protest. "Very well," she said with a resigned sigh.
"Duo can stay with Wufei," offered Meiran with a glance at the long-haired boy as he stood silently in the doorway.
"Absolutely not," Treize said sharply. "Duo will accompany you."
"But-"
"Wufei may come with us. Or he is free to look around the castle, whichever he prefers."
"Uh... I think I'll stay with you..." said Wufei.
Meiran nodded. "Wufei, if you don't mind, I'd like to speak with Treize for a moment. Privately."
"Oh, uh... sure. I'll be right outside." With that, Wufei exited, closing the door behind him.
Back inside the library, Meiran gestured vaguely at Duo. "You, too," she said. "Get going."
Duo, his expression unchanging, left in silence. Joining Wufei in standing just beyond the door, Duo remained as stoic as ever.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the door...
"Now, what is this all about?" asked Treize.
"Why do I need Duo with me?" Meiran asked. "I mean, I'm almost 15; I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."
"That's just it," Trieze countered, never losing his cool. "You *are* almost 15. And truth be told, my dear, we just don't know what's going to happen when you take wing. If the angelic part of you is dominant, Zechs will claim that you belong in his domain. I think we both know that's something you don't want."
Meiran nodded, a small sneer of disgust marring her typically pretty face.
"I'd prefer to have someone competant keep an eye on - and, if need be, protect - you until you're fully-fledged. Surely you understand my concerns."
Meiran nodded again. "Alright, alright," she said.
A knock on the door interrupted the conversation.
"Come in," said Trieze.
Nanashi entered, and bowed deeply. "Your Excellency, Your Ladyship, the ambassadors are ready to meet," he reported when he was once again upright.
"We'll be there momentarilly," said Trieze, noting Wufei and Duo behind Nanashi.
