The Cathach

I forget which Chapter this is. All I know is that it's the next one.



" Wufei Chang, what a pleasant surprise. I had heard rumors that you returned to our side."

Trowa fought the urge to just kill the man so that he could get his lover to safety. Three times Quatre nearly slipped right through the cloak's material while Wufei and Treize had what seemed like a friendly chat. Or not so friendly. He swore that he could see Wufei's hackles rise as he spoke in a clipped tone to the High King.

" I returned, and now I'm leaving. I had heard that you gained ground in the war with some brilliant plan, but now that I'm here I see little reason to stay."

" Oh, I do have a plan. It's only known to a select group of people."

Treize pulled the Asian soldier closer and talked to him in hushed tones, while Wufei just got more and more annoyed. From where he was, Trowa wondered at the way Treize was holding Wufei, it seemed overly familiar. One hand was on his arm, the other at his waist. Finally, Wufei pulled away and laughed.

" That has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, Treize! As hare- brained as all your other ideas. I see even less reason to stay now. Goodbye."

" I can't make you stay. I hope you don't plan to betray us."

" Certainly not, Treize. I would never betray someone, especially the way you betrayed me."

Wufei poured venom into that last statement, and Treize flinched visibly, then stalked off down the hall. Wufei hurried over to Trowa in the shadows.

" Come on. He told me what he did with Quatre. We need to get out of here."

" Good. What were you."

" Don't pry, Barton. It's not you."

Gathering their horses, they rode off as fast as they could.



Duo screamed out Heero's name at the last thrust, and emptied himself onto his Captain's stomach. Heero followed suit, he came inside the faerie with a hoarse cry. They both sank onto the bed, dazed and exhausted. After Duo woke up, he'd admitted his denied feelings to Heero, and found that Heero loved him just as much. What happened then was a blur, they attacked each other and got lost in a sea of euphoria.

Revived, Heero got out of bed and went looking for his clothes.

" Where are my breeches?"

" I ate them in a fit of passion."

" Be serious. The others should be back soon."

" (snicker) I love your ass."



Heero had to grin. Duo was loud, crass and forward, but all he could feel was loving affection for him.

" You get dressed too. They should be here soon."

" Yes, sir! Hey, Heero?"

" Yes?"

" Now that I'm sleeping with you, does that make me second in command?"

" No."

" Awwww, all that sex for nothing!"

Duo had just finished getting dressed when the others finally arrived. Duo's face turned as white as the moon when he saw his friend.

" What's happening to him? Why is he disappearing?"

" Treize told me that they used his immortal life-force to create seven demons."

" TREIZE told you?"

" Don't ask."

" So what do we do?"

" We don't know, but there's someone who might."

" Well, who?"

" Sally."



The dragon ushered the soldiers into the cave and got Trowa to lay Quatre down on a bed near the back. Her angular blue eyes narrowed with pity.

" Poor little thing. He's very young for an Alicorn. It doesn't seem fair that he should die now."

" He's DYING?"

Trowa's heart felt like it was about to shatter, and Duo looked ready to kill.

" I'm afraid he is dying. They don't die of blood loss, or hunger, or anything else that a normal creature would suffer. An injury can sap the life force from an Alicorn, and with no others of his kind around, he can't be given strength. He doesn't have a soul, and so he doesn't really have a body either. He'll just fade away into nothing, like the others."

There was a general feeling of complete misery in the group, each Fenian felt responsible in some way for what was happening. Sally took pity on them.

" There may be a way to save him, but it is difficult."

" What is it? We'll do it."

" Hunt down and kill the demons, then bring back some of their blood, a piece of their wing and their horns to me. But it will be impossible for you, fighting against a demon with the strength of an immortal."

Duo grabbed his sword and turned to leave.

" I'll do it. I'm immortal, and it's my fault he's dying. I owe him."

Sally's thick tail stopped him from going.

" As a Tuatha De Danann, you are powerful, but not powerful enough. If you must go, let me do something to help."

" Well, okay. Hurry up."

With a flash of bright yellow light, the dragon contorted and changed her shape into that of a woman. She was statuesque and willowy, the spiraled frills on her head became two fat braids of wheat-blond hair, and she was dressed in what appeared to be a gown of her own dragon skin. She beckoned to Duo, then grabbed his hand and cut quickly into his skin with a claw- like dagger.

" OW! What are you doing, you crazy bitch?"

" Trust me. I can give you the strength of two immortals combined."

She then walked over to the unconscious boy on the bed, and sliced into his palm as well. She gathered a few drops of Quatre's blood on the blade, and held it over Duo's cut.

" This may feel uncomfortable, but it's just your body adapting to the transformation. It will wear off in twenty-four hours."

With that, she let Quatre's blood flow into Duo's palm. As it mingled with the faerie's blood, a strange silver glow surrounded Duo. The symbol on his forehead flashed a shining gold, his braid was run through with gold, silver and white strands. The change was peaceful at first, but all of a sudden a tearing sensation and crippling pain attacked his back and shoulders. The pain died away, and Duo stood up straight.

The result was mystifying and beautiful at the same time. The faerie's lavender eyes shone with silver, his long, silky hair rivaled the sun. But most extraordinary was the pair of enormous, black and silver wings that sprouted from his shoulders.