DC: I own none of the Characters from Gundam Wing. All other Characters are made especially by me for me and my friends.
Zero found herself staring back at a small, six-inch Fairy. She jumped up and almost swatted the poor pixie. "Big-bug! Big-bug!!" Zero shrieked, still trying to swat it.
"I'm not a bug!" Ayako screamed.
"Talking big-bug! Talking big-bug!"
"I'm a Fairy! A Princess Fairy! Stop trying to hit me!" cried Ayako.
Zero brought her hand up. "Power of light heed my call- destroy this bug, guts and all!"
"Ahh!" Ayako dodged a gold orb that would've killed her on impact. To retaliate, she summoned a fearsome beast. "From deep within the depths unknown, let a beast emerge with stone teeth and bone. Cower in fear and bow before me, with one small glance you will be a stone figurine! GOLEM!"
A red portal appeared before Zero. A large stone hand began to reach for Zero. Screaming, she flailed her arms, knocking Ayako out of the air.
"In mind's eyes, induce false time! STOP!"
The Golem froze for a moment, giving Zero enough time to run back to the castle. She needed to know what happened!
Shin jerked herself awake. There was a constant buzzing in her head. She searched the room. Why the heck was she in the throne room? She saw Quatre laying on the floor and instantly thought he was dead. She failed! "Oh, Quatre..."
Upon hearing his name, Quatre lifted his head. "Is everyone all right?"
"Hn." came a reply.
Shin helped Quatre sit up. "What happened?"
"I-I don't know."
Duo sat up and rubbed his head. "I had a weird dream."
Heero gazed over at Duo. "I don't want to hear it."
Duo continued anyways. "We were in this dark cave and you were trying to kill me!"
"I'm always trying to kill you." Heero replied.
Duo just laughed, thinking Heero was joking with him.
Shin turned, forming a blue shield around herself and Quatre. "Stand back, strangers! Trowa!"
Quatre shook his head and regretted it. "No, Shin...they're here to help."
Shin eyed Hero and his sword. She looked at Duo and his goofy face. "Fine." She then dropped the shield.
"QUATRE!!"
"Zero?" Quatre turned to his wife. "ZERO!!"
Zero looked pleasant enough but when Quatre neared, she smacked the side of his head. "You jerk!"
"W-what?" Quatre backed away.
"I was out there for hours and you didn't send anyone to look for me?!" Zero screamed.
"Well, you'd get mad even if I did send someone after you." Quatre explained.
"Oh. That's true...but still!" Zero crossed her arms.
Quatre hugged his Queen. "I'm sorry Zero, but I was afraid you might hurt someone."
"I-..." Zero laughed. "You're a nut case, Quatre."
"King Quatre?"
Quatre turned to Kirin and Trowa. They looked devastated. "What happened?"
Trowa carried in the dull-green Earth Crystal. It was now the size of a helmet.
"The Earth Crystal shattered?"
"We found Milliardo Peacecraft at the site. He's frozen for now."
Quatre rubbed his temples. "This means..."
Kirin interjected. "This means we have over one full week to collect the Crystal Elements or else we're all taking a one-way trip to Hell on Earth."
"Will it be enough?" He emphasized. "A week?"
"It'll have to be enough. I'll send a message to the Elves and the Fairies. They'll spread out and locate the Elemental Crystals for us."
"We have to work fast." said Trowa. "The closest Element, from what I can figure, is water. Nova Lake."
"How do you know that?" demanded Zero.
"It's the most logical place, Queen Zero." he replied calmly.
"Don't use that tone of voice with me!" Zero shouted.
Trowa blinked. "But I-"
"SILENCE!" Zero reacted by throwing a spell over him.
"........." Trowa crossed his arms.
Kirin ignored the interaction between Zero and Trowa and turned to Heero. "You're coming with me. Once the Crystals are located, you and I will pick them up."
"Will it be effective that way?" Shin asked.
Kirin looked at Shin. "My people are more attune to the Crystals, as well as the Fairies. They can find them."
"Why just you two?" Duo asked. "I don't want to be stuck here in this boring castle."
"The rest of you will have to protect the castle. It's best if just two of us go." Kirin explained.
"Do you think Relena knows what happened?" Wufei asked, speaking for the very first time in a long while.
"I doubt it. She's normal. She can't sense the Crystals." Kirin answered. She took a small whittled piece of wood from her pocket. "I'll relay the message with song, just in case Relena may be sending spies our way. I'll be back."
Quatre leaned heavily on Zero. "I don't think it's a good idea."
"What? Kirin going off to relay messages?" asked Zero.
Quatre shook his head softly. "No. I'm the appointed Guardian of the Crystal...I should go."
"But Quatre..." Zero said softly. "That's why she's here. So she could do all the work for you..."
"I don't feel right, Zero. I want to help in anyway I can. She shouldn't do it alone."
Zero could only agree with her husband. "All right...but if you're going...so am I."
Relena Peacecraft awoke with a throbbing headache. She sat up straighter on her throne. "Pagan. Pagan!"
The old man-servant entered the room, his knees still shaking from the effects of falling. "Yes, Queen Relena?"
"What happened?" she demanded.
"One of two things, Queen Relena. One, Quatre has launched an offensive which has weakened our defenses or..."
"Or?" she said impatiently.
"Or...the Earth Crystal shattered."
Relena didn't know if it was good or bad. "That mean's Quatre's Castle is unprotected?"
"I believe so, Queen Relena."
"Good. We're going to pay a visit to Quatre's Castle. Rally the soldiers!"
Pagan sighed. He was loyal to his Queen to some degree but sometimes...she was such a ditz. "Yes, Queen Relena."
"You can't be serious!" Kirin exclaimed. "Surely Heero and I will suffice. We can't afford your intervention in this manner! Queen Relena will try to attack if you leave!"
"Let her." said Quatre. "The Crystal of Earth is my responsibility and I'm going to retrieve the missing pieces."
"Then I'll accompany you." said Kirin.
"Me, too!" Zero cried. She turned to Quatre. "You're not the only one that's going out to have some fun!"
"Zero..." Quatre said, with slight exasperation in his voice.
"Us, too!" said Shin. She was speaking for Trowa who still couldn't talk. "As your advisors, you need to be advised."
Wufei was silent. He looked at the two travelers. "I'll go, too."
Kirin shot a look at Heero and Duo. "You two are coming."
"Is that a demand or request?" Heero asked.
"Both." Kirin replied, smiling.
"We'll have to make one stop at Nova Lake." Shin reminded them. "My Element is Water so it should be easy."
"All of you head to Nova Lake. I'm going to stop by the Elf Forest just to see if everyone is all right."
Kirin waved her hand over herself and was gone in an instant.
"Would it be better to go on foot or on horses?" Quatre asked. He searched the faces of his companions. "Well?"
".........." Trowa tapped his foot.
Quatre gazed at the, literal, silent one. "Zero, could you please let Trowa speak?"
Zero turned and glared at Trowa. "I don't like your attitude."
Shocked, Trowa's jaw dropped. "????"
Zero waved her hand, allowing Trowa to use his voice.
"Horses would be much quicker. The land is large and since were traveling in a large group and over a vast land, it's best to be one step ahead."
"All right, Trowa. Get the horses ready for our departure. Shin, we'll need supplies. We're leaving."
"Oh, good! Where are we going?" asked a voice.
"What the hell?" Duo asked, making jerking movements with his head; his braid flailing after it. Heero swore that if the braid even remotely brushed against his skin, he'd yank that braid off from his head and strangle Duo with it.
"You haven't met Xellos or Yume, have you?" Quatre asked the two travelers.
"No. Who are they?"
"Sore we himitsu desu..." said a male voice.
"...NO DA!!!" chimed a female.
Two purple clad figures appeared before Heero and Duo. The girl was looking at Heero. "Ooh, fresh meat, ne?"
Kirin had just appeared with news that Pan, her second in command had ordered all the fighting Elves back to the village. The surrounding area was bare, except for a few posts where Elves were still on lookout. "Yume-"
"Kirin!"
Kirin turned and was met with a fairy. "Ayako...what are-"
"Talking big-bug-that-knows-where-I-live!! KILL IT!!"
Ayako was ready to summon a monster that would silence and petrify Zero to shut her up.
"Calm down!" Quatre cried, trying to calm his wife. "She's just a Fairy! The Fairy Princess, Ayako. She's harmless."
"Harmless? HARMLESS? She attacked me!"
Ayako's tiny little jaw dropped. "Me? I helped you! You swatted at me and tried to kill me!"
"QUATRE!" Zero wailed.
"KIRIN!" Ayako cried.
"Hn." came the loud reply from Heero.
Everyone slowly turned and looked at Heero. Kirin broke the silence. "You ok?"
"If we have one week to find all the Elements, why are we still standing around?"
Duo rubbed his head. "I don't know. Should we all sit down?"
Heero's blue eyes narrowed into slits. "Baka."
Trowa ran into the throne room. He seemed to have come from the barn which would explain why there were strands of hay in his hair. "We have a problem."
"What?" asked Kirin. She was getting used to receiving bad news.
"The horses. They're unconscious."
Kirin swore. "Damn, it's starting." She saw the look on Quatre's face. "Earth is weak. It's absorbing the life energy from animals to survive. I'm not sure of which animals go first, but apparently in our situation, the horses. The Elemental Clans like the Monsters, the Wolves, the Mazoku's, the Fairies, the Elves, and those who wear the Crystal's are protected. We have to work fast because once all the animals and non-Crystal wearers are through, we're next."
"Well what about Relena?" asked Shin. "She'd be unconscious, too, wouldn't she?"
"I'd suspect that her brother, Milliardo has been forewarned about this, so even though she wears none of the Crystals, there's a reserve power that will keep her conscious."
"No time to worry about her right now." said Quatre. "Our first destination is Nova Lake."
Kirin took immediate control. "All right, everyone, move out!"
**
Walking on foot was a lit harder than it looked. If they had a map, which was burned by Duo who had complained it was too dark to see, thus burning it, they would have known they were heading towards the Ghost Forest instead of Nova Lake. But, unfortunately, with the Earth Crystal in its weakened state, affecting Kirin's ability of direction, she couldn't really tell the difference until it was too late.
**
"I guess it would've happened sooner or later." Quatre said to Trowa. "Should we try to backtrack?"
"We'll lose precious hours if we do. We're by Mount Tri-Star. Maybe there's an Elemental up there."
Quatre and Trowa looked over at Kirin who was shredding a tree with her razor-sharp nails. After numerous dead-ends and several monsters later, Kirin had finally figured that her usual sense of direction was faulty.
Yume and Xellos, who were happily feasting on Kirin's emotions, suddenly disappeared, leaving the weary travelers within the borders of the Ghost Forest.
"How much time do we have?" Shin asked Ayako.
"We have a week from the initial shattering of the Crystal. A week from today, our world is going to die." Ayako replied.
Shin sighed. "Maybe we should split up. If we have two groups-"
"You don't know where the Crystals are." Kirin reminded her, overhearing the conversation. "The Elves are especially attuned to the Crystal because we were one of the first Clans to be given Magic."
"Right..." Shin sulked. "But we're going to look suspicious with a large group like this."
Kirin turned her attention to the barely-visible triangle of stars that hung over the tallest mountain. It looked so close, but was actually separated by a large gap of water that was within the borders of the Wolf Pack Island territory. "Since we're here, we might as well go for it."
"There's a Crystal up there?" asked Quatre.
"Yes. But there's a problem."
"Here it comes." Zero sighed.
"Since the Wind Elemental is up there, its creating a tornado that fends off people seeking it." Kirin explained.
"But we're trying to fix the Earth Crystal. Doesn't it want to return?" Quatre asked her.
Kirin shook her head. "Would you like it if someone forced you into a small box with six others? It doesn't look it, but the Crystal's have feelings, too. They're enjoying their freedom. They will take powerful forms to fight us."
"Can't you talk to them?" Shin asked.
"Yes, but not in their Crystal forms. They'll acquire a particular mind and try to destroy anyone who comes after them."
"And if we defeat it?"
"I know a spell that will turn them back into their Crystal forms. When they're weakened and in their forms, the Earth Crystal will be able to absorb it."
Quatre gave a long wail. "Oh, no!"
Kirin gave Quatre a side-long glance. "What? Please don't tell me you left it at the castle? Please, Lord Quatre?"
Quatre's blue eyes quavered. "I'm sorry."
"Who's gonna go back?" Kirin asked, well adjusted to hiding her anger. Everyone in attendance was needed to get to the Wind Elemental. She looked at Wufei. It was a simple mission for him to do. All he had to do was go back to the Castle, get the Earth Crystal, come back, and wait as the others brought down the Wind Elemental. "Wufei."
"Huh?" He was more absorbed in his equipment than with his surroundings.
"You're going back to the castle."
"Woman, who gave you permission to-"
"Don't argue with me!" Kirin shouted. "It's important that you do this for us. If you don't all our troubles would have all gone in vain. You'll bring honor to your name."
That one word, honor, was enough to get him to do anything. "All right, if you put it that way..." He mumbled. He dropped off his equipment. "I'll be able to rub faster without it."
Kirin nodded. "Godspeed, Wufei."
Wufei snorted and began a sprint towards the supposed direction of the castle.
Kirin looked at the mountain entrance to Tri-Star. "Maybe now is not the time to mention that in order for us to get in is to dive underwater..."
"WHAT?!" came the exclaimed cries.
"Tri-Star isn't part of this continent. They don't call this the Ghost Forest for nothing." Ayako explained.
"And why DO they call this the Ghost Forest?" Duo asked.
"The solders who died in this forest inhabit this place. It said that those soldiers died trying to slay the three-eyed Dragon. When the Dragon was finally defeated, its eyes rose into the sky forming those three stars."
"Pretty..." Shin whispered.
"How do we get to the mountain?" Heero asked, obviously not interested in the origin of the Ghost Forest and Mt. Tri-Star.
Kirin pointed down to the ground. "There's an underwater tunnel that will get us into the mountain. From there, we'll make our way outwards and climb to the top."
"Now I really think we should split into two groups." said Shin. "One goes up, the rest will stay and wait for Wufei."
"Yume and Xellos?" Trowa inquired.
"They're not here so we'll count them out. I know the path so..." Kirin eyed the travelers.
"I'm going, too." Quatre insisted.
"If Quatre's going, so am I." said Heero. "If he dies, I'm not going to get paid."
Kirin sighed and looked expectantly at the others. "Anyone else want to come? We have White, Silver, and..." she stopped to eye Heero. "What Crystals do you wear, Heero?"
Heero gave Kirin a penetrating look. He seemed to try and convince her that he was normal. "I don't wear any."
"Oh, I see." Kirin beckoned to Zero. "You're coming. Shin, make a low-energy shield. Watch your backs and don't stray too far away. We'll be back at least in a couple of hours, into the night."
"Be careful!" Shin and Ayako called.
Kirin turned to Heero. "I'm putting you on point. Make a path for us."
Heero unsheathed his sword. He began to cut through weeds and vines, glancing behind him frequently to make sure Kirin was still behind him. Soon Ayako, Shin, Duo, and Trowa were out of view and nothing but thick-leaved trees and bushes abundant with poison berries were all around them. They stayed close together, even as Quatre and Zero followed behind, a gold shield around both of them.
Zero was excited. She'd have a reward for Kirin for taking her along. She knew for a fact that Quatre would have refused Zero's coming along, but he valued Kirin's judgment and decisions.
A sudden spark made Heero jump back, his eyes searched Kirin's. She nodded her head. "Yume and Xellos' barrier." She felt for an invisible rock and nodded slowly. "All right, from here it's through the water."
Zero held up a purple branch. She was quite unfamiliar with the borders since Quatre had tried to shield her from any harm. "Hey, Kirin...why is this branch purple?"
"We're in Wolf Pack Island Territory. They own Mount Tri-Star and the Lunar Sea."
"Then there's a reason why that angry looking rock-Golem is purple?" Zero asked calmly.
Heero gripped his sword. "Head for Mount Tri-Star. I'll handle this."
"Heero!" Quatre exclaimed. "We're not leaving anyone behind!"
"I'll stay." Kirin offered. She turned to her King and Queen. "You two, follow the path underground to the mountain pass. Find the first signs of an exit and make your way upwards. We'll catch up, I promise."
Quatre was being dragged away by Zero. He could say nothing but repeat Kirin's last words. "You promised!"
Kirin nodded. She waited until she could hear two distinct splashes. She glanced at the mercenary beside her. "I know you're lying to me, Heero. I can feel it."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Heero growled.
"I know about your Crystal."
"What Crystal?" Heero snapped.
"The Crystal you admit you don't wear!" Kirin persisted.
"Damn it, Kirin!" Heero pivoted on his leg, slashing the purple rock monster across its face with his sword which was now glowing . "Can't you stay out of my business?"
The purple Golem screamed in agony. Out of pure rage, it swung its massive stone hand in Heero's direction. A Black shield snapped around Heero. Kirin's suspicions were correct.
"Heero, just use your magic and destroy it!"
Heero still refused to let Kirin know his secret, even as his sword was induced with a Dark Element. "What magic?"
The Golem stomped its foot, sending a wave of energy towards Kirin. She jumped high above into the trees and poised her arms as if she were holding a tangible bow and arrow. She closed one eye and aimed. "Shooting Star..."
Streaks of light shot out from Kirin's fingers, forming a single arrow of energy. She let it fly and its mark was the Golem's chest. Giving a loud shriek of pain, it reached for the arrow just as Kirin finished off the attack. "...Shatter."
The arrow exploded into silver flames, engulfing the creature. It would have worked, but at the moment Kirin forgot the creature was made of stone, it made nothing but black spots on its hard skin.
Turning its attention from Heero, the Golem rushed towards the tree Kirin stood on and slammed into it, the sheer force of it uprooting the purple tree. "Heero, you fool! Do something!" Kirin shrieked.
Heero was getting quite fed up with Kirin's ranting. If she didn't shut-up, he'd have to hurt her.
"Heero, you poor excuse of a man!! Get your head out of your ass and be useful!" Kirin screamed.
Heero's mood turned dark. First she wanted him executed, then she was going to watch his every move, and then she called him a liar, and now she's insulting him? He swung his sword up into the sky and drove it into the ground. Black ripples of energy formed another shield. His fist was at his side as he began to gather energy. The blue-dusk sky turned an eerie black.
Kirin looked at the sky. She smiled. So she had to insult him to force him to use his magic. This would be fun.
Heero's breathing came slow and heavy. He always tried to avoid using his magic. He would make it a point that if he used his magic, it would come with devastating results. Right now, he had something more important to do. He stared at the Golem who was continuing to try and bring Kirin down.
A small smile formed on his lips. He slowly raised his fist; opening gradually as an orb forms in the space. As his hand began to spread, so did the orb. The orb was twice the size of Heero's head. Black vines of energy wrapped around his arm. "Black Inferno."
The black orb burst forwards, giving a direct and powerful hit on the purple Golem. The black wave of energy began to widen, decimating everything in its path. The remains of the Golem was nothing but dust and pebbles. The black orb suddenly began to surround the area. In one moment, it seemed to pass like a calm wind- in the next, it relapsed and began to destroy everything in its path...within a five mile radius.
The tree in which Kirin stood on, turned into purple ash. She managed to jump, but fell short, falling into the center of the 'orb of destruction.' Lucky for her, she landed safely in Heero's arms.
Heero stared at back at her for a moment, lost in Kirin's gold eyes, but remembered that she provoked him to use his magic. He promptly let go of her; a muffle thud came as her body fell to the ground.
"That's for calling me useless." Heero reminded her.
Kirin rubbed her sore back. She stood up and dusted herself off. "Oh, shit. HEERO!"
The entire are was bare. At least a half-mile away, she could see Shin, Ayako, Duo, and Trowa surrounded by a powerful blue shield. She turned to Heero. "You could've warned me, you know."
"What for? You're the only one that knows."
Kirin crossed her arms. "But still. If I wasn't wearing any Crystals, I would've been dead."
"That would suit me just fine."
"You don't care if I die, do you?"
"Should I?" Heero asked, hiding his smirk.
"Ooh, you're so mean!" Kirin cried.
"Then-"
Kirin grabbed Heero by the front of his shirt. "It's apparent Heero, that you don't like me, but since I'm in charge, you answer to me. Got it?"
"Hn."
"I'm certain that you're much more capable of speech than this, so I'll go ahead and do you a favor."
Heero remained silent. He was somewhat curious as to what Kirin had in her little Elf mind. "What-"
Kirin pulled closer for a kiss. He stood rigid, not moving or breathing. Her face was warm with her consistent chatter as well as the blush from when he had obligingly caught her. Heero didn't know whether he want to stay like that for a few moments longer or to push her away and punch her. Then again...this felt...nice.
Kirin pulled away slowly, turning away from Heero's cold, intense gaze. "I've finally given you a reason to be speechless, Heero."
"That action was uncalled for." Heero replied, trying hard to not lick his lips.
"I didn't hear you protest." Kirin added.
"Whatever." Heero growled. He pushed past Kirin and came upon the underground pass. Just a mile or so beyond was Mount Tri-Star. He took a step forward but then turned to Kirin. "Are you coming?"
Relena Peacecraft peered outsider her man-powered carriage. "Are we there yet?"
"No, Queen Relena." Pagan sighed, answering that same question for the tenth time in two minutes.
Relena glared at the men who were supporting her carriage. "Would you bumbling idiots hurry up? I want to get to the Winner Castle before tomorrow!"
"Yes, Queen Relena!" the men groaned.
Relena sat back in her carriage. "The incompetent fools! Why was I cursed with such idiocy?"
Do you really need to ask that?, Pagan thought.
Treize and Dorothy were walking on either side of the carriage. They could have easily summoned monsters strong enough to support the carriage, but Relena had made it clear she did not to want to obstruct her worthless soldiers from carrying her royal butt to the Winner Castle.
The carriage came to a sudden stop. Treize poked his head inside the small window of the carriage. "Queen Relena, I think you'd want to see this."
"What now?" Relena demanded.
"Nova Lake, Queen Relena. It's frozen solid and there's a fairly large Dragon sleeping upon it."
Relena shoved her head out the window. Her blue eyes widened as she took in that large mass of the pure white Dragon with cold, deep blue eyes. "Oh, my."
The Water Dragon took up half the size of the lake. Its claws were folded under its chin, it's blue eyes staring at the Peacecraft entourage. It opened its large mouth and gave a large roar, making the earth shudder. It arose to get up, making the cowering soldiers run for their lives.
"COWARDS!" Relena screamed. "Treize! Dorothy! Protect me!"
Treize and Dorothy both looked at each other then at the Dragon. They both gave a long, heavy sigh. "Yes, Queen Relena..."
Quatre fell forward for the second time that hour, the first was when he felt a shockwave of energy, and the second, just moments ago, from a penetrating roar that sounded so distant, yet powerful.
Zero stumbled over him, making her lose her concentration on the bright gold orb, their only light source. "Quatre, are you ok?"
"I'm worried about Kirin and Heero."
"They're fine. They'd want us to find the Wind Elemental." Zero assured him.
"But you and I aren't strong enough. Kirin's the only one that knows the spell!"
"Then we'll just hold the monster off until they arrive. It'll be ok. OK?"
"Ok-"
Zero suddenly fell into a ditch. She rubbed her sore head and gazed up at Quatre.
"Zero! Are you all right?" He asked, worriedly.
"Fine, fine-" she looked past him to see piles of rock falling towards her head. "SHIELD!"
A gold shield snapped around her before any serious damage could occur. Quatre was sighing with relief. "Thank Heavens, Zero..."
Zero climbed out of the ditch with the help of her husband "What border is this mountain in, again?"
"I think Kirin said...the Wolf Pack Island Border."
"Oh, great." Zero sighed. She dusted herself off. "Let's get in, get out, and avoid as many of the booby traps as possible."
"Booby traps?" Quatre repeated.
"This border belongs to Yume and Xellos. You don't really think it'd be easy for us to get to the top, do you?"
"But Yume and Xellos are our allies."
Zero nodded her head. "True, but if I remember correctly, Mazoku's live for making our lives- or at the very least, this journey, miserable."
Quatre put an arm around Zero. "Let's just try to make the best of it all, ok?"
"Sure."
Quatre and Zero walked up the steep mountain path. There were three exits, each giving off a welcoming warmth to the outside. The King and Queen of Winner Castle gazed at the three exits longingly.
"Kirin did say the first sign on light, right?" Quatre reminded her.
"This helps. There's three exits. Maybe-"
"We're not splitting up, Zero." Quatre warned.
"I would never think that." Zero smiled. "But we can't stand around here. If you can't choose left or right-choose the middle!"
"Zero-wait!" Quatre tumbled forward, bringing his wife down with him. They rolled to the middle exit and stopped inches before its opening.
"Quatre, DEAR...mind tell me why you're being so anal?"
Quatre blushed slightly. "Maybe I should take lead. I am your husband. I don't want you getting hurt."
"That's sweet of you, Quatre but-"
Three inch-thick spikes shot up from the ground, missing Zero's hand by a few inches and Quatre's thigh by mere centimeters.
Quatre's blue eyes widened with shock. "So...does this mean we take the left or the right?"
"Umm, right....right?"
"Yeah." Quatre slowly stood and helped Zero to her feet. They treaded softly and made their way around the spikes that had guarded them from going any further into the middle exit. The stepped softly to the exit on their right.
Zero stared at Quatre. "Hold on...let me try something."
Quatre stood back and waited. "What are you planning?"
"Darkness that consumes Human life, Lightning that strikes in the still of night, for a shadow that mimics me, make it strong for all to see."
Gold rings surrounded Zero. They began to wrap around her body, creating a shell that would make a replica of herself. The golden rings began to expand then lift away from Zero's body. The rings multiplied and stacked beside Zero, contorting to the mold of her body. The clone of Zero was pure gold. It felt very real and once injured it would dissipate.
"Like it?" Zero asked.
"Yeah!" Quatre's eyes sparkled. "Can I touch it?"
"Quatre, this is me we're talking about! Of course you can touch it!"
Quatre found it a little unnerving as he poked the golden-Zero. He was starting to have fun!
After a few more pokes, Zero shook her head sternly. "Quatre, stop it. I can feel that."
Quatre blushed. "Sorry, Zero. You would've never let me poke you like that."
"Oh, I don't know...you've done more than your share of 'poking' before..." Zero smirked.
Quatre turned beet red. "Z-Zero!"
"What? It's not like anyone's listening...besides my shadow."
"Still..." Quatre looked around suspiciously.
Zero turned to the clone. "Obey all my commands: walk outside this exit."
The golden clone obeyed and walked calmly towards the exit.
"Stop and turn around." Zero commanded.
The clone stopped, just in between the inside of the cave and the outside. It stared back at Zero and Quatre.
Quatre gave a loud sigh. "It seems safe-"
The clone was suddenly crushed by a collapsing wall.
"LEFT! LEFT!" Quatre shouted. He grabbed Zero, running towards their last, and only, option.
"Quatre!!" Zero yelled, as they reached the darkness of the outside. "We're all right! We're ok!"
Zero wondered how it was possible for it to be dark because when they were inside, the exits shone a brilliance that depicted it was light. Then she remembered...this was Wolf Pack Island Territory...anything could, would, and can happen.
Quatre had stopped long enough to find a rather large, PURPLE-smiling boulder rolling towards them. He looked up ahead and found the path to be going upwards. He turned to the boulder who seemed to have no sense of direction and was steadily rolling towards them. He turned back to Zero who was looking above her, looking at the twinkle of the three stars above them. It gave them just enough light to guide them up.
"Quatre..."
"No time to talk, Zero!" He pulled Zero over his shoulder and began to run.
"Quatre Raberba Winner, what the hell are you doing?" Zero screamed, not noticing the purple boulder.
"Do you see that large boulder that's following us, Zero?"
Zero turned her attention to the purple rock. "Yeah?"
"That's what we're running from!"
"I can use an attack to destroy it. No big deal!"
"Then do it!" Quatre cried.
"Forces of light form from my sight. Let fly a powerful arrow into the heart of my plight. Energy Arrow!"
An arrow of pure gold energy shot out from Zero's hands. The arrow struck the boulder with a purple flash.
"SHIT!" Zero screamed. "Damn you, Yume and Xellos!"
"...Damn you, Yume and Xellos!"
Yume looked up and blinked. She turned to Xellos who was smiling at the Wind Elemental. "Xel?"
The Wind Elemental was a pale blue naked woman with shock white hair; she was just as tall as Yume. Her ears were pointed somewhat, her lips were curved in a slight frown, and her arms were pulled up close to her chest, in her hands were a set of purple cards.
"Yes, Yu-Chan?" Xellos replied, his eyes still closed in a mysterious grin.
"Did you hear something?" Yume asked.
"No...c'mon Windy...say something!" Xellos said, a little too enthusiastically.
Windy, the Wind Elemental, huffed, which created a small gust of wind.
"...QUATRE!" came a female voice. It sounded like it was getting closer...
"You mean that, Yu-Chan?" Xellos asked.
"Umm, yes..." Yume replied.
"I have no idea." Xellos said finally. "It might just be Zero...and Quatre."
"I could've figured that one out!"
"Go fish!" Xellos said, after an awkward silence.
Windy exploded in another huff, causing a harder burst of wind.
"I guess I shouldn't tell her that we can see through the cards, ne, Yu-Chan?"
"Of course, Xellos, no da."
The rumbling of the earth made all three look up. Even in the starlight, the mountain plateau was blindingly clear. They turned just as Quatre fell to his knees, his wife, Zero, swearing up a storm. The purple boulder loomed ominously above the King and Queen, but, instead, gave them a wink with its seemingly painted on face, and rolled backwards.
Quatre felt like fainting. He collapsed on Zero who had gotten up to point a finger at Yume and Xellos. "Quatre, get off me!"
Yume, Xellos, and Windy stared at Quatre and Zero.
*Weird Humans.* said Windy.
"You're telling me." said Xellos, smirking at an enraged Zero.
Zero managed to untangle herself from Quatre and stalked over to Yume, Xellos, and Windy. She pointed at Windy. "You're coming with us. You're going back into the Earth Crystal!"
*NO!* Windy flew up into the air. *You can't make me!*
Unfortunately, all Zero heard were puffs of air. She depicted this as defiance and turned to Quatre. "Help me out here!"
"Coming...Zero." replied a very dazed Quatre. He was still recovering from seeing the Mazoku-boulder wink at him. When he saw Windy, naked in all her Elemental splendor, he had to remember he was a married man.
Zero called in her chain whip. She snapped the chain, her bright green eyes having a dangerous glitter in them.
Quatre looked worriedly at Zero. "Maybe we should wait a bit?"
Windy arched her back, her hair flailing in every direction. She let out a scream; the winds began to pick up, kicking dust around. She crossed her arms over her chest, blades sticking out from her elbows and fingers where her nails should've been.
"Zero...maybe that wasn't a good idea." Quatre said nervously.
"Quatre, whether you like it or not, we have to subdue that Elemental!"
Quatre looked around. Yume and Xellos were still seated in a rock formation that depicted a table and three seats. They sat, quietly talking amongst themselves.
"Quatre, I need your help!"
Windy landed on her feet, her mouth open and her teeth bared in a growl.
"QUATRE!"
Windy ran towards Zero, the blade coming inches from her face. Zero wound the chain around Windy's arm and pivoted on her left leg, kicking Windy in the back of the head. Windy screeched and swiped at Zero's leg with her free arm. Zero managed to jump back, falling against Quatre who was clutching his staff in his hands. "Are you going to fight or run?"
"If you let me get a clean shot of her, I'd be able to knock her out." Quatre explained.
"Oh, fine." Zero and Windy began to circle each other. A low whistle came from Windy's clenched teeth.
Zero jumped first, connecting a fierce jab into Windy's jaw. The Wind Elementals pure blue eyes widened-then promptly fell over.
"I...I did it!" Zero turned happily to Quatre. "I did it!"
Quatre and Zero joyously hugged, with an occasional kiss on the lips.
Yume shook her head. "I'd hate to ruin their celebration but...they should know better than to piss off an Elemental..."
Zero found herself staring back at a small, six-inch Fairy. She jumped up and almost swatted the poor pixie. "Big-bug! Big-bug!!" Zero shrieked, still trying to swat it.
"I'm not a bug!" Ayako screamed.
"Talking big-bug! Talking big-bug!"
"I'm a Fairy! A Princess Fairy! Stop trying to hit me!" cried Ayako.
Zero brought her hand up. "Power of light heed my call- destroy this bug, guts and all!"
"Ahh!" Ayako dodged a gold orb that would've killed her on impact. To retaliate, she summoned a fearsome beast. "From deep within the depths unknown, let a beast emerge with stone teeth and bone. Cower in fear and bow before me, with one small glance you will be a stone figurine! GOLEM!"
A red portal appeared before Zero. A large stone hand began to reach for Zero. Screaming, she flailed her arms, knocking Ayako out of the air.
"In mind's eyes, induce false time! STOP!"
The Golem froze for a moment, giving Zero enough time to run back to the castle. She needed to know what happened!
Shin jerked herself awake. There was a constant buzzing in her head. She searched the room. Why the heck was she in the throne room? She saw Quatre laying on the floor and instantly thought he was dead. She failed! "Oh, Quatre..."
Upon hearing his name, Quatre lifted his head. "Is everyone all right?"
"Hn." came a reply.
Shin helped Quatre sit up. "What happened?"
"I-I don't know."
Duo sat up and rubbed his head. "I had a weird dream."
Heero gazed over at Duo. "I don't want to hear it."
Duo continued anyways. "We were in this dark cave and you were trying to kill me!"
"I'm always trying to kill you." Heero replied.
Duo just laughed, thinking Heero was joking with him.
Shin turned, forming a blue shield around herself and Quatre. "Stand back, strangers! Trowa!"
Quatre shook his head and regretted it. "No, Shin...they're here to help."
Shin eyed Hero and his sword. She looked at Duo and his goofy face. "Fine." She then dropped the shield.
"QUATRE!!"
"Zero?" Quatre turned to his wife. "ZERO!!"
Zero looked pleasant enough but when Quatre neared, she smacked the side of his head. "You jerk!"
"W-what?" Quatre backed away.
"I was out there for hours and you didn't send anyone to look for me?!" Zero screamed.
"Well, you'd get mad even if I did send someone after you." Quatre explained.
"Oh. That's true...but still!" Zero crossed her arms.
Quatre hugged his Queen. "I'm sorry Zero, but I was afraid you might hurt someone."
"I-..." Zero laughed. "You're a nut case, Quatre."
"King Quatre?"
Quatre turned to Kirin and Trowa. They looked devastated. "What happened?"
Trowa carried in the dull-green Earth Crystal. It was now the size of a helmet.
"The Earth Crystal shattered?"
"We found Milliardo Peacecraft at the site. He's frozen for now."
Quatre rubbed his temples. "This means..."
Kirin interjected. "This means we have over one full week to collect the Crystal Elements or else we're all taking a one-way trip to Hell on Earth."
"Will it be enough?" He emphasized. "A week?"
"It'll have to be enough. I'll send a message to the Elves and the Fairies. They'll spread out and locate the Elemental Crystals for us."
"We have to work fast." said Trowa. "The closest Element, from what I can figure, is water. Nova Lake."
"How do you know that?" demanded Zero.
"It's the most logical place, Queen Zero." he replied calmly.
"Don't use that tone of voice with me!" Zero shouted.
Trowa blinked. "But I-"
"SILENCE!" Zero reacted by throwing a spell over him.
"........." Trowa crossed his arms.
Kirin ignored the interaction between Zero and Trowa and turned to Heero. "You're coming with me. Once the Crystals are located, you and I will pick them up."
"Will it be effective that way?" Shin asked.
Kirin looked at Shin. "My people are more attune to the Crystals, as well as the Fairies. They can find them."
"Why just you two?" Duo asked. "I don't want to be stuck here in this boring castle."
"The rest of you will have to protect the castle. It's best if just two of us go." Kirin explained.
"Do you think Relena knows what happened?" Wufei asked, speaking for the very first time in a long while.
"I doubt it. She's normal. She can't sense the Crystals." Kirin answered. She took a small whittled piece of wood from her pocket. "I'll relay the message with song, just in case Relena may be sending spies our way. I'll be back."
Quatre leaned heavily on Zero. "I don't think it's a good idea."
"What? Kirin going off to relay messages?" asked Zero.
Quatre shook his head softly. "No. I'm the appointed Guardian of the Crystal...I should go."
"But Quatre..." Zero said softly. "That's why she's here. So she could do all the work for you..."
"I don't feel right, Zero. I want to help in anyway I can. She shouldn't do it alone."
Zero could only agree with her husband. "All right...but if you're going...so am I."
Relena Peacecraft awoke with a throbbing headache. She sat up straighter on her throne. "Pagan. Pagan!"
The old man-servant entered the room, his knees still shaking from the effects of falling. "Yes, Queen Relena?"
"What happened?" she demanded.
"One of two things, Queen Relena. One, Quatre has launched an offensive which has weakened our defenses or..."
"Or?" she said impatiently.
"Or...the Earth Crystal shattered."
Relena didn't know if it was good or bad. "That mean's Quatre's Castle is unprotected?"
"I believe so, Queen Relena."
"Good. We're going to pay a visit to Quatre's Castle. Rally the soldiers!"
Pagan sighed. He was loyal to his Queen to some degree but sometimes...she was such a ditz. "Yes, Queen Relena."
"You can't be serious!" Kirin exclaimed. "Surely Heero and I will suffice. We can't afford your intervention in this manner! Queen Relena will try to attack if you leave!"
"Let her." said Quatre. "The Crystal of Earth is my responsibility and I'm going to retrieve the missing pieces."
"Then I'll accompany you." said Kirin.
"Me, too!" Zero cried. She turned to Quatre. "You're not the only one that's going out to have some fun!"
"Zero..." Quatre said, with slight exasperation in his voice.
"Us, too!" said Shin. She was speaking for Trowa who still couldn't talk. "As your advisors, you need to be advised."
Wufei was silent. He looked at the two travelers. "I'll go, too."
Kirin shot a look at Heero and Duo. "You two are coming."
"Is that a demand or request?" Heero asked.
"Both." Kirin replied, smiling.
"We'll have to make one stop at Nova Lake." Shin reminded them. "My Element is Water so it should be easy."
"All of you head to Nova Lake. I'm going to stop by the Elf Forest just to see if everyone is all right."
Kirin waved her hand over herself and was gone in an instant.
"Would it be better to go on foot or on horses?" Quatre asked. He searched the faces of his companions. "Well?"
".........." Trowa tapped his foot.
Quatre gazed at the, literal, silent one. "Zero, could you please let Trowa speak?"
Zero turned and glared at Trowa. "I don't like your attitude."
Shocked, Trowa's jaw dropped. "????"
Zero waved her hand, allowing Trowa to use his voice.
"Horses would be much quicker. The land is large and since were traveling in a large group and over a vast land, it's best to be one step ahead."
"All right, Trowa. Get the horses ready for our departure. Shin, we'll need supplies. We're leaving."
"Oh, good! Where are we going?" asked a voice.
"What the hell?" Duo asked, making jerking movements with his head; his braid flailing after it. Heero swore that if the braid even remotely brushed against his skin, he'd yank that braid off from his head and strangle Duo with it.
"You haven't met Xellos or Yume, have you?" Quatre asked the two travelers.
"No. Who are they?"
"Sore we himitsu desu..." said a male voice.
"...NO DA!!!" chimed a female.
Two purple clad figures appeared before Heero and Duo. The girl was looking at Heero. "Ooh, fresh meat, ne?"
Kirin had just appeared with news that Pan, her second in command had ordered all the fighting Elves back to the village. The surrounding area was bare, except for a few posts where Elves were still on lookout. "Yume-"
"Kirin!"
Kirin turned and was met with a fairy. "Ayako...what are-"
"Talking big-bug-that-knows-where-I-live!! KILL IT!!"
Ayako was ready to summon a monster that would silence and petrify Zero to shut her up.
"Calm down!" Quatre cried, trying to calm his wife. "She's just a Fairy! The Fairy Princess, Ayako. She's harmless."
"Harmless? HARMLESS? She attacked me!"
Ayako's tiny little jaw dropped. "Me? I helped you! You swatted at me and tried to kill me!"
"QUATRE!" Zero wailed.
"KIRIN!" Ayako cried.
"Hn." came the loud reply from Heero.
Everyone slowly turned and looked at Heero. Kirin broke the silence. "You ok?"
"If we have one week to find all the Elements, why are we still standing around?"
Duo rubbed his head. "I don't know. Should we all sit down?"
Heero's blue eyes narrowed into slits. "Baka."
Trowa ran into the throne room. He seemed to have come from the barn which would explain why there were strands of hay in his hair. "We have a problem."
"What?" asked Kirin. She was getting used to receiving bad news.
"The horses. They're unconscious."
Kirin swore. "Damn, it's starting." She saw the look on Quatre's face. "Earth is weak. It's absorbing the life energy from animals to survive. I'm not sure of which animals go first, but apparently in our situation, the horses. The Elemental Clans like the Monsters, the Wolves, the Mazoku's, the Fairies, the Elves, and those who wear the Crystal's are protected. We have to work fast because once all the animals and non-Crystal wearers are through, we're next."
"Well what about Relena?" asked Shin. "She'd be unconscious, too, wouldn't she?"
"I'd suspect that her brother, Milliardo has been forewarned about this, so even though she wears none of the Crystals, there's a reserve power that will keep her conscious."
"No time to worry about her right now." said Quatre. "Our first destination is Nova Lake."
Kirin took immediate control. "All right, everyone, move out!"
**
Walking on foot was a lit harder than it looked. If they had a map, which was burned by Duo who had complained it was too dark to see, thus burning it, they would have known they were heading towards the Ghost Forest instead of Nova Lake. But, unfortunately, with the Earth Crystal in its weakened state, affecting Kirin's ability of direction, she couldn't really tell the difference until it was too late.
**
"I guess it would've happened sooner or later." Quatre said to Trowa. "Should we try to backtrack?"
"We'll lose precious hours if we do. We're by Mount Tri-Star. Maybe there's an Elemental up there."
Quatre and Trowa looked over at Kirin who was shredding a tree with her razor-sharp nails. After numerous dead-ends and several monsters later, Kirin had finally figured that her usual sense of direction was faulty.
Yume and Xellos, who were happily feasting on Kirin's emotions, suddenly disappeared, leaving the weary travelers within the borders of the Ghost Forest.
"How much time do we have?" Shin asked Ayako.
"We have a week from the initial shattering of the Crystal. A week from today, our world is going to die." Ayako replied.
Shin sighed. "Maybe we should split up. If we have two groups-"
"You don't know where the Crystals are." Kirin reminded her, overhearing the conversation. "The Elves are especially attuned to the Crystal because we were one of the first Clans to be given Magic."
"Right..." Shin sulked. "But we're going to look suspicious with a large group like this."
Kirin turned her attention to the barely-visible triangle of stars that hung over the tallest mountain. It looked so close, but was actually separated by a large gap of water that was within the borders of the Wolf Pack Island territory. "Since we're here, we might as well go for it."
"There's a Crystal up there?" asked Quatre.
"Yes. But there's a problem."
"Here it comes." Zero sighed.
"Since the Wind Elemental is up there, its creating a tornado that fends off people seeking it." Kirin explained.
"But we're trying to fix the Earth Crystal. Doesn't it want to return?" Quatre asked her.
Kirin shook her head. "Would you like it if someone forced you into a small box with six others? It doesn't look it, but the Crystal's have feelings, too. They're enjoying their freedom. They will take powerful forms to fight us."
"Can't you talk to them?" Shin asked.
"Yes, but not in their Crystal forms. They'll acquire a particular mind and try to destroy anyone who comes after them."
"And if we defeat it?"
"I know a spell that will turn them back into their Crystal forms. When they're weakened and in their forms, the Earth Crystal will be able to absorb it."
Quatre gave a long wail. "Oh, no!"
Kirin gave Quatre a side-long glance. "What? Please don't tell me you left it at the castle? Please, Lord Quatre?"
Quatre's blue eyes quavered. "I'm sorry."
"Who's gonna go back?" Kirin asked, well adjusted to hiding her anger. Everyone in attendance was needed to get to the Wind Elemental. She looked at Wufei. It was a simple mission for him to do. All he had to do was go back to the Castle, get the Earth Crystal, come back, and wait as the others brought down the Wind Elemental. "Wufei."
"Huh?" He was more absorbed in his equipment than with his surroundings.
"You're going back to the castle."
"Woman, who gave you permission to-"
"Don't argue with me!" Kirin shouted. "It's important that you do this for us. If you don't all our troubles would have all gone in vain. You'll bring honor to your name."
That one word, honor, was enough to get him to do anything. "All right, if you put it that way..." He mumbled. He dropped off his equipment. "I'll be able to rub faster without it."
Kirin nodded. "Godspeed, Wufei."
Wufei snorted and began a sprint towards the supposed direction of the castle.
Kirin looked at the mountain entrance to Tri-Star. "Maybe now is not the time to mention that in order for us to get in is to dive underwater..."
"WHAT?!" came the exclaimed cries.
"Tri-Star isn't part of this continent. They don't call this the Ghost Forest for nothing." Ayako explained.
"And why DO they call this the Ghost Forest?" Duo asked.
"The solders who died in this forest inhabit this place. It said that those soldiers died trying to slay the three-eyed Dragon. When the Dragon was finally defeated, its eyes rose into the sky forming those three stars."
"Pretty..." Shin whispered.
"How do we get to the mountain?" Heero asked, obviously not interested in the origin of the Ghost Forest and Mt. Tri-Star.
Kirin pointed down to the ground. "There's an underwater tunnel that will get us into the mountain. From there, we'll make our way outwards and climb to the top."
"Now I really think we should split into two groups." said Shin. "One goes up, the rest will stay and wait for Wufei."
"Yume and Xellos?" Trowa inquired.
"They're not here so we'll count them out. I know the path so..." Kirin eyed the travelers.
"I'm going, too." Quatre insisted.
"If Quatre's going, so am I." said Heero. "If he dies, I'm not going to get paid."
Kirin sighed and looked expectantly at the others. "Anyone else want to come? We have White, Silver, and..." she stopped to eye Heero. "What Crystals do you wear, Heero?"
Heero gave Kirin a penetrating look. He seemed to try and convince her that he was normal. "I don't wear any."
"Oh, I see." Kirin beckoned to Zero. "You're coming. Shin, make a low-energy shield. Watch your backs and don't stray too far away. We'll be back at least in a couple of hours, into the night."
"Be careful!" Shin and Ayako called.
Kirin turned to Heero. "I'm putting you on point. Make a path for us."
Heero unsheathed his sword. He began to cut through weeds and vines, glancing behind him frequently to make sure Kirin was still behind him. Soon Ayako, Shin, Duo, and Trowa were out of view and nothing but thick-leaved trees and bushes abundant with poison berries were all around them. They stayed close together, even as Quatre and Zero followed behind, a gold shield around both of them.
Zero was excited. She'd have a reward for Kirin for taking her along. She knew for a fact that Quatre would have refused Zero's coming along, but he valued Kirin's judgment and decisions.
A sudden spark made Heero jump back, his eyes searched Kirin's. She nodded her head. "Yume and Xellos' barrier." She felt for an invisible rock and nodded slowly. "All right, from here it's through the water."
Zero held up a purple branch. She was quite unfamiliar with the borders since Quatre had tried to shield her from any harm. "Hey, Kirin...why is this branch purple?"
"We're in Wolf Pack Island Territory. They own Mount Tri-Star and the Lunar Sea."
"Then there's a reason why that angry looking rock-Golem is purple?" Zero asked calmly.
Heero gripped his sword. "Head for Mount Tri-Star. I'll handle this."
"Heero!" Quatre exclaimed. "We're not leaving anyone behind!"
"I'll stay." Kirin offered. She turned to her King and Queen. "You two, follow the path underground to the mountain pass. Find the first signs of an exit and make your way upwards. We'll catch up, I promise."
Quatre was being dragged away by Zero. He could say nothing but repeat Kirin's last words. "You promised!"
Kirin nodded. She waited until she could hear two distinct splashes. She glanced at the mercenary beside her. "I know you're lying to me, Heero. I can feel it."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Heero growled.
"I know about your Crystal."
"What Crystal?" Heero snapped.
"The Crystal you admit you don't wear!" Kirin persisted.
"Damn it, Kirin!" Heero pivoted on his leg, slashing the purple rock monster across its face with his sword which was now glowing . "Can't you stay out of my business?"
The purple Golem screamed in agony. Out of pure rage, it swung its massive stone hand in Heero's direction. A Black shield snapped around Heero. Kirin's suspicions were correct.
"Heero, just use your magic and destroy it!"
Heero still refused to let Kirin know his secret, even as his sword was induced with a Dark Element. "What magic?"
The Golem stomped its foot, sending a wave of energy towards Kirin. She jumped high above into the trees and poised her arms as if she were holding a tangible bow and arrow. She closed one eye and aimed. "Shooting Star..."
Streaks of light shot out from Kirin's fingers, forming a single arrow of energy. She let it fly and its mark was the Golem's chest. Giving a loud shriek of pain, it reached for the arrow just as Kirin finished off the attack. "...Shatter."
The arrow exploded into silver flames, engulfing the creature. It would have worked, but at the moment Kirin forgot the creature was made of stone, it made nothing but black spots on its hard skin.
Turning its attention from Heero, the Golem rushed towards the tree Kirin stood on and slammed into it, the sheer force of it uprooting the purple tree. "Heero, you fool! Do something!" Kirin shrieked.
Heero was getting quite fed up with Kirin's ranting. If she didn't shut-up, he'd have to hurt her.
"Heero, you poor excuse of a man!! Get your head out of your ass and be useful!" Kirin screamed.
Heero's mood turned dark. First she wanted him executed, then she was going to watch his every move, and then she called him a liar, and now she's insulting him? He swung his sword up into the sky and drove it into the ground. Black ripples of energy formed another shield. His fist was at his side as he began to gather energy. The blue-dusk sky turned an eerie black.
Kirin looked at the sky. She smiled. So she had to insult him to force him to use his magic. This would be fun.
Heero's breathing came slow and heavy. He always tried to avoid using his magic. He would make it a point that if he used his magic, it would come with devastating results. Right now, he had something more important to do. He stared at the Golem who was continuing to try and bring Kirin down.
A small smile formed on his lips. He slowly raised his fist; opening gradually as an orb forms in the space. As his hand began to spread, so did the orb. The orb was twice the size of Heero's head. Black vines of energy wrapped around his arm. "Black Inferno."
The black orb burst forwards, giving a direct and powerful hit on the purple Golem. The black wave of energy began to widen, decimating everything in its path. The remains of the Golem was nothing but dust and pebbles. The black orb suddenly began to surround the area. In one moment, it seemed to pass like a calm wind- in the next, it relapsed and began to destroy everything in its path...within a five mile radius.
The tree in which Kirin stood on, turned into purple ash. She managed to jump, but fell short, falling into the center of the 'orb of destruction.' Lucky for her, she landed safely in Heero's arms.
Heero stared at back at her for a moment, lost in Kirin's gold eyes, but remembered that she provoked him to use his magic. He promptly let go of her; a muffle thud came as her body fell to the ground.
"That's for calling me useless." Heero reminded her.
Kirin rubbed her sore back. She stood up and dusted herself off. "Oh, shit. HEERO!"
The entire are was bare. At least a half-mile away, she could see Shin, Ayako, Duo, and Trowa surrounded by a powerful blue shield. She turned to Heero. "You could've warned me, you know."
"What for? You're the only one that knows."
Kirin crossed her arms. "But still. If I wasn't wearing any Crystals, I would've been dead."
"That would suit me just fine."
"You don't care if I die, do you?"
"Should I?" Heero asked, hiding his smirk.
"Ooh, you're so mean!" Kirin cried.
"Then-"
Kirin grabbed Heero by the front of his shirt. "It's apparent Heero, that you don't like me, but since I'm in charge, you answer to me. Got it?"
"Hn."
"I'm certain that you're much more capable of speech than this, so I'll go ahead and do you a favor."
Heero remained silent. He was somewhat curious as to what Kirin had in her little Elf mind. "What-"
Kirin pulled closer for a kiss. He stood rigid, not moving or breathing. Her face was warm with her consistent chatter as well as the blush from when he had obligingly caught her. Heero didn't know whether he want to stay like that for a few moments longer or to push her away and punch her. Then again...this felt...nice.
Kirin pulled away slowly, turning away from Heero's cold, intense gaze. "I've finally given you a reason to be speechless, Heero."
"That action was uncalled for." Heero replied, trying hard to not lick his lips.
"I didn't hear you protest." Kirin added.
"Whatever." Heero growled. He pushed past Kirin and came upon the underground pass. Just a mile or so beyond was Mount Tri-Star. He took a step forward but then turned to Kirin. "Are you coming?"
Relena Peacecraft peered outsider her man-powered carriage. "Are we there yet?"
"No, Queen Relena." Pagan sighed, answering that same question for the tenth time in two minutes.
Relena glared at the men who were supporting her carriage. "Would you bumbling idiots hurry up? I want to get to the Winner Castle before tomorrow!"
"Yes, Queen Relena!" the men groaned.
Relena sat back in her carriage. "The incompetent fools! Why was I cursed with such idiocy?"
Do you really need to ask that?, Pagan thought.
Treize and Dorothy were walking on either side of the carriage. They could have easily summoned monsters strong enough to support the carriage, but Relena had made it clear she did not to want to obstruct her worthless soldiers from carrying her royal butt to the Winner Castle.
The carriage came to a sudden stop. Treize poked his head inside the small window of the carriage. "Queen Relena, I think you'd want to see this."
"What now?" Relena demanded.
"Nova Lake, Queen Relena. It's frozen solid and there's a fairly large Dragon sleeping upon it."
Relena shoved her head out the window. Her blue eyes widened as she took in that large mass of the pure white Dragon with cold, deep blue eyes. "Oh, my."
The Water Dragon took up half the size of the lake. Its claws were folded under its chin, it's blue eyes staring at the Peacecraft entourage. It opened its large mouth and gave a large roar, making the earth shudder. It arose to get up, making the cowering soldiers run for their lives.
"COWARDS!" Relena screamed. "Treize! Dorothy! Protect me!"
Treize and Dorothy both looked at each other then at the Dragon. They both gave a long, heavy sigh. "Yes, Queen Relena..."
Quatre fell forward for the second time that hour, the first was when he felt a shockwave of energy, and the second, just moments ago, from a penetrating roar that sounded so distant, yet powerful.
Zero stumbled over him, making her lose her concentration on the bright gold orb, their only light source. "Quatre, are you ok?"
"I'm worried about Kirin and Heero."
"They're fine. They'd want us to find the Wind Elemental." Zero assured him.
"But you and I aren't strong enough. Kirin's the only one that knows the spell!"
"Then we'll just hold the monster off until they arrive. It'll be ok. OK?"
"Ok-"
Zero suddenly fell into a ditch. She rubbed her sore head and gazed up at Quatre.
"Zero! Are you all right?" He asked, worriedly.
"Fine, fine-" she looked past him to see piles of rock falling towards her head. "SHIELD!"
A gold shield snapped around her before any serious damage could occur. Quatre was sighing with relief. "Thank Heavens, Zero..."
Zero climbed out of the ditch with the help of her husband "What border is this mountain in, again?"
"I think Kirin said...the Wolf Pack Island Border."
"Oh, great." Zero sighed. She dusted herself off. "Let's get in, get out, and avoid as many of the booby traps as possible."
"Booby traps?" Quatre repeated.
"This border belongs to Yume and Xellos. You don't really think it'd be easy for us to get to the top, do you?"
"But Yume and Xellos are our allies."
Zero nodded her head. "True, but if I remember correctly, Mazoku's live for making our lives- or at the very least, this journey, miserable."
Quatre put an arm around Zero. "Let's just try to make the best of it all, ok?"
"Sure."
Quatre and Zero walked up the steep mountain path. There were three exits, each giving off a welcoming warmth to the outside. The King and Queen of Winner Castle gazed at the three exits longingly.
"Kirin did say the first sign on light, right?" Quatre reminded her.
"This helps. There's three exits. Maybe-"
"We're not splitting up, Zero." Quatre warned.
"I would never think that." Zero smiled. "But we can't stand around here. If you can't choose left or right-choose the middle!"
"Zero-wait!" Quatre tumbled forward, bringing his wife down with him. They rolled to the middle exit and stopped inches before its opening.
"Quatre, DEAR...mind tell me why you're being so anal?"
Quatre blushed slightly. "Maybe I should take lead. I am your husband. I don't want you getting hurt."
"That's sweet of you, Quatre but-"
Three inch-thick spikes shot up from the ground, missing Zero's hand by a few inches and Quatre's thigh by mere centimeters.
Quatre's blue eyes widened with shock. "So...does this mean we take the left or the right?"
"Umm, right....right?"
"Yeah." Quatre slowly stood and helped Zero to her feet. They treaded softly and made their way around the spikes that had guarded them from going any further into the middle exit. The stepped softly to the exit on their right.
Zero stared at Quatre. "Hold on...let me try something."
Quatre stood back and waited. "What are you planning?"
"Darkness that consumes Human life, Lightning that strikes in the still of night, for a shadow that mimics me, make it strong for all to see."
Gold rings surrounded Zero. They began to wrap around her body, creating a shell that would make a replica of herself. The golden rings began to expand then lift away from Zero's body. The rings multiplied and stacked beside Zero, contorting to the mold of her body. The clone of Zero was pure gold. It felt very real and once injured it would dissipate.
"Like it?" Zero asked.
"Yeah!" Quatre's eyes sparkled. "Can I touch it?"
"Quatre, this is me we're talking about! Of course you can touch it!"
Quatre found it a little unnerving as he poked the golden-Zero. He was starting to have fun!
After a few more pokes, Zero shook her head sternly. "Quatre, stop it. I can feel that."
Quatre blushed. "Sorry, Zero. You would've never let me poke you like that."
"Oh, I don't know...you've done more than your share of 'poking' before..." Zero smirked.
Quatre turned beet red. "Z-Zero!"
"What? It's not like anyone's listening...besides my shadow."
"Still..." Quatre looked around suspiciously.
Zero turned to the clone. "Obey all my commands: walk outside this exit."
The golden clone obeyed and walked calmly towards the exit.
"Stop and turn around." Zero commanded.
The clone stopped, just in between the inside of the cave and the outside. It stared back at Zero and Quatre.
Quatre gave a loud sigh. "It seems safe-"
The clone was suddenly crushed by a collapsing wall.
"LEFT! LEFT!" Quatre shouted. He grabbed Zero, running towards their last, and only, option.
"Quatre!!" Zero yelled, as they reached the darkness of the outside. "We're all right! We're ok!"
Zero wondered how it was possible for it to be dark because when they were inside, the exits shone a brilliance that depicted it was light. Then she remembered...this was Wolf Pack Island Territory...anything could, would, and can happen.
Quatre had stopped long enough to find a rather large, PURPLE-smiling boulder rolling towards them. He looked up ahead and found the path to be going upwards. He turned to the boulder who seemed to have no sense of direction and was steadily rolling towards them. He turned back to Zero who was looking above her, looking at the twinkle of the three stars above them. It gave them just enough light to guide them up.
"Quatre..."
"No time to talk, Zero!" He pulled Zero over his shoulder and began to run.
"Quatre Raberba Winner, what the hell are you doing?" Zero screamed, not noticing the purple boulder.
"Do you see that large boulder that's following us, Zero?"
Zero turned her attention to the purple rock. "Yeah?"
"That's what we're running from!"
"I can use an attack to destroy it. No big deal!"
"Then do it!" Quatre cried.
"Forces of light form from my sight. Let fly a powerful arrow into the heart of my plight. Energy Arrow!"
An arrow of pure gold energy shot out from Zero's hands. The arrow struck the boulder with a purple flash.
"SHIT!" Zero screamed. "Damn you, Yume and Xellos!"
"...Damn you, Yume and Xellos!"
Yume looked up and blinked. She turned to Xellos who was smiling at the Wind Elemental. "Xel?"
The Wind Elemental was a pale blue naked woman with shock white hair; she was just as tall as Yume. Her ears were pointed somewhat, her lips were curved in a slight frown, and her arms were pulled up close to her chest, in her hands were a set of purple cards.
"Yes, Yu-Chan?" Xellos replied, his eyes still closed in a mysterious grin.
"Did you hear something?" Yume asked.
"No...c'mon Windy...say something!" Xellos said, a little too enthusiastically.
Windy, the Wind Elemental, huffed, which created a small gust of wind.
"...QUATRE!" came a female voice. It sounded like it was getting closer...
"You mean that, Yu-Chan?" Xellos asked.
"Umm, yes..." Yume replied.
"I have no idea." Xellos said finally. "It might just be Zero...and Quatre."
"I could've figured that one out!"
"Go fish!" Xellos said, after an awkward silence.
Windy exploded in another huff, causing a harder burst of wind.
"I guess I shouldn't tell her that we can see through the cards, ne, Yu-Chan?"
"Of course, Xellos, no da."
The rumbling of the earth made all three look up. Even in the starlight, the mountain plateau was blindingly clear. They turned just as Quatre fell to his knees, his wife, Zero, swearing up a storm. The purple boulder loomed ominously above the King and Queen, but, instead, gave them a wink with its seemingly painted on face, and rolled backwards.
Quatre felt like fainting. He collapsed on Zero who had gotten up to point a finger at Yume and Xellos. "Quatre, get off me!"
Yume, Xellos, and Windy stared at Quatre and Zero.
*Weird Humans.* said Windy.
"You're telling me." said Xellos, smirking at an enraged Zero.
Zero managed to untangle herself from Quatre and stalked over to Yume, Xellos, and Windy. She pointed at Windy. "You're coming with us. You're going back into the Earth Crystal!"
*NO!* Windy flew up into the air. *You can't make me!*
Unfortunately, all Zero heard were puffs of air. She depicted this as defiance and turned to Quatre. "Help me out here!"
"Coming...Zero." replied a very dazed Quatre. He was still recovering from seeing the Mazoku-boulder wink at him. When he saw Windy, naked in all her Elemental splendor, he had to remember he was a married man.
Zero called in her chain whip. She snapped the chain, her bright green eyes having a dangerous glitter in them.
Quatre looked worriedly at Zero. "Maybe we should wait a bit?"
Windy arched her back, her hair flailing in every direction. She let out a scream; the winds began to pick up, kicking dust around. She crossed her arms over her chest, blades sticking out from her elbows and fingers where her nails should've been.
"Zero...maybe that wasn't a good idea." Quatre said nervously.
"Quatre, whether you like it or not, we have to subdue that Elemental!"
Quatre looked around. Yume and Xellos were still seated in a rock formation that depicted a table and three seats. They sat, quietly talking amongst themselves.
"Quatre, I need your help!"
Windy landed on her feet, her mouth open and her teeth bared in a growl.
"QUATRE!"
Windy ran towards Zero, the blade coming inches from her face. Zero wound the chain around Windy's arm and pivoted on her left leg, kicking Windy in the back of the head. Windy screeched and swiped at Zero's leg with her free arm. Zero managed to jump back, falling against Quatre who was clutching his staff in his hands. "Are you going to fight or run?"
"If you let me get a clean shot of her, I'd be able to knock her out." Quatre explained.
"Oh, fine." Zero and Windy began to circle each other. A low whistle came from Windy's clenched teeth.
Zero jumped first, connecting a fierce jab into Windy's jaw. The Wind Elementals pure blue eyes widened-then promptly fell over.
"I...I did it!" Zero turned happily to Quatre. "I did it!"
Quatre and Zero joyously hugged, with an occasional kiss on the lips.
Yume shook her head. "I'd hate to ruin their celebration but...they should know better than to piss off an Elemental..."