I don't own Gundam Wing or Escaflowne. These are my interpretations of their characters. I don't want to make any money. Etc........
If you haven't realized already, the previous chapter has been made longer due to its extreme shortness. If you haven't read the updated chapter go back and read it. It's from Hitomi's POV if that makes you any more eager. Here's the next chapter.
The wind blew in Colonel Une's curled hair but she remained on deck, refuse to let a little breeze keep her from Treize's side. The pair stood on a near deserted deck as the warship Cancer soared over the countryside. The airship had been built for the purpose of being his Excellency's personal transport. It was fast but well armed, with the ability to carry several Guymelefs while still carrying several built-in weapons.
The sun was just beginning to set low in the sky, basking both figures with reddish light. Lady Une looked over at her commander and couldn't help but admire him. The Duke's handsome face fit well with a defined but not overly muscular body. The ornate trappings of his uniform caught the sun's red glow, creating points of light that seemed to radiate off the man himself. His ginger-colored hair glittered in the dusk light, setting off his sky blue eyes perfectly.
The Colonel realized she had been staring and quickly shifted her eyes to the horizon which his Excellency was so intent upon. To her surprise she realized that in the distance she could see the small rise of a settlement.
"Yes," Treize replied to her unspoken thought, "That is Daedalus ahead of us. We will finally be able to see for ourselves the threat that has all of Gaea in an uproar."
Lady Une nodded, staring intently at the growing protrusion. How was Treize planning to convince the leaders of the "Dragon Clan" that it was in their interest to join with Baslam? Though he was quite the speaker, the charismatic Duke was acting with such confidence that he would risk his own life. Though she trusted his abilities, his Excellency's life was of the utmost priority. If necessary, Miss Une was ready to sacrifice her own life for that of her Duke's.
"Please try to relax," Treize broke the silence, his soothing tone failing to reassure his companion, "If for not for your sake then for mine. I need you at your best when we arrive. Besides," he added, "This ship was very expensive and I wouldn't appreciate my guardrail being destroyed."
Une looked down and realized that she had been gripping the rail so tightly that her knuckles had gone white. "Yes, sir," she breathed, allowing a tight-lipped smile to surface on her face. Treize knew what he was doing and that was good enough for her.
By now the Cancer was nearing the gates to the city. Ahead of him, the great wall that had been so easily overcome loomed, casting a shadow on the ground below the airship.
"Come to a hover alongside the main wall," Treize order the pilot, the only other crewman on deck. The rest were no doubt in their quarters as his Excellency had ordered them less than an hour before.
"Lady Une," Treize spoke quietly now, issuing his last orders before contact was made with the possible enemy. "Whatever happens in the next few minutes you must not interfere. My plan depends on my ability to assess the situation without having to worry about anyone else's safety but my own. Have faith in my abilities, my lady."
Une looked over and saw that Treize was looking at her with a look of intensity that caused her to blush. The Colonel hoped it would be mistaken for the sun's gleam. "I promise you I will return to your side," his Excellency murmured, drawing even closer, "You have my word."
"Treize," Lady Une exhaled, becoming aware of how close their faces were. It was first time she had called him by his first name. Before she could decide whether she should pull away or lean forward, shouts filled the air. His Excellency quickly pulled back, looking over the rail as guards began to swarm near the walkway along their side of the wall.
"Who are you?" one of the men yelled, brandishing a spear, "What do you want?"
Treize faced the man and called back, "I am Treize Kushrenada, Duke of Baslam. I wish to discuss a possible alliance with your leader."
The man shook his head, grinning cruelly, "Nobody talks to the Emperors without permission, especially not some strange Duke. We don't take kindly to outsiders."
Treize tried again, not surprised by the reaction of the soldiers. "I'm sorry for the intrusion. I just want to speak with one of your masters. If you'd just relay my message-"
There was a slight pause and for a moment Lady Une dared to hope that Treize's words had gotten through. Then, without warning, an arrow flashed toward them from the right. It struck the ruler of Baslam in the side and bounced harmlessly off the body armor hidden beneath the blue uniform.
Colonel Une started forward, her heart beating rapidly. How dare they attack his Excellency? If they had aimed for the head instead of the chest... Une reached for the handle of her sword and had it partially drawn before she realized Treize had raised a hand. Though he didn't turn around, she realized that he must be ordering her to hold.
Though it was not her speaking, the lady noticed with pride that Treize's voice was strong and unwavering despite the attempt on his life. "Is that how your leaders do business? By cowardly attacking an unarmed stranger seeking a coalition? Are they so weak that they would not at least show their faces?"
"You would not say such words," a harsh voice declared from the other side of the wall, "If you knew that you were in the presence of those condemned."
Treize scanned through the throng of guards and soldiers for the owner of the voice. When the group of men parted to reveal the speaker, the Duke was surprised to find that it was in fact a young man, looking to be a little over five years younger than he himself. The teenager was Asian, with black hair tied in a ponytail behind his head. He was dressed in loose white robes which contrasted with his dark complexion and eyes. "I am Emperor Wufei Chang, leader of this army. You have insulted my honor. I have no choice but to retaliate."
Treize found himself torn between amusement and concern. If this proud teenager did indeed have the authority to back up his claims, then his ploy to bring out the authoritative figures might very well be his own downfall. "I am sorry if I offended you," he quickly responded apologetically, "I meant no insult. I merely intended to point out the dishonor in attacking an unarmed man who wishes only to converse."
The lord of the Dragon Clan glowered at Treize and the duke found the ferocity and power the lad emanated almost intimidating. This said a lot for the boy, for Lord Treize was not one to be easily alarmed. "Very well. Your ploy has worked and I am here. Now speak while I still allow you the opportunity to do so."
The Duke of Baslam complied, speaking neither quickening or slowing his speech, "Of course. I am Treize Kushrenada, ruler of a country a little over twenty kilometers from here. On behalf of Baslam, I wish to propose an alliance with the Dragon Clan."
"What kind of alliance?" the young Emperor asked, a suspicious expression on his face.
"The uniting of forces. My country has been raising an army for the purpose of uniting Gaea. However it appears as if our goals are the same. Am I wrong?"
Wufei didn't speak for a few seconds and Treize could almost see the wheels turning in his head. Finally he nodded and for a few seconds the Duke of Baslam could virtually see his train of thought. "He probably figures he can always kill us rather than let the information get out," Treize realized to his mild amusement.
"Our ultimate goal is to bring all of Gaea under its original master's rule," Wufei said finally. Treize decided not to ask who the original master was for the time being.
"We could assist you in your mission. Though my army is not as mighty as yours, it is strong and my men are well trained. We also have a good lay of the land and inside information on the other countries in this area. We could be of great benefit to you," Treize finished. For a moment, he thought that he had succeeded in persuading the young Emperor. Then, to Treize's disappointment, Wufei shook his head.
"I'm afraid you misunderstand, my dear Treize. The Dragon Clan has no wish for any assistance. We do not need your help." Treize tried to contradict the noble but was cut off. "Nor do we want it. However I can see that you are a just man. Let no one say Wufei Chang is not without honor. I will give you one chance to save yourself and your country from the jaws of the Dragon."
Out of the corner of his eye, Treize noticed another young man breaking through the crowd. This one was dressed in all black and had extremely long hair brown which was tied in an intricate braid behind his back. Wufei continued speaking, "If you can defeat me in a honorable duel then I will grant your request. If you win Baslam will join with the Dragon Clan. If you lose then I will kill you and the crew of your ship and Baslam will soon fallow your example."
"Wufei!" the other boy yelled out, earning a fierce glare from his fellow.
"Don't you dare interfere, Maxwell," Wufei snarled, unsheathing a long, fast blade, "This is between me and the Duke."
"So," Treize thought to himself, "Wufei Chang has at least one equal in the Dragon Clan." It was worth noting.
"I can't let you do this, Wufei," Maxwell continued, "Heero wouldn't approve of you fighting needless battles."
"High Lord Heero," the Emperor yelled back, reminding Duo of the respect that their common leader deserved, "would understand that conflict is necessary to create change. He would know that fighting is the way that we define ourselves. Heero would not want you to intervene."
This seemed to cause the other boy to faulter for a moment, buying Wufei all the time he needed. "Shall we begin, Mr. Kushrenada?"
Treize turned, realizing that he was without a weapon, and saw that Lady Une was already one step ahead of him. His devoted Colonel had already retrieved his weapon and threw it to him. The Duke of Baslam caught it and drew his fine weapon. "I am ready when you are, Mr. Chang."
The battle that followed was both brutal and eloquent. As Treize found out, he and Wufei were of equal talent. What the Emperor lacked in ability he made up for in strength and stamina. Almost immediately after the engagement commenced, Treize found himself fighting for his life. However the familiar actions quickly came back to him from his days on the front line and as time went on, neither opponent seemed to take the advantage. Finally, after Treize managed to dodge a particularly nasty series of blows, he managed to take Wufei by surprise and knock his blade aside. In one swift movement, Treize lunged forward and stabbed the younger man on the side. As he did so, the Duke of Baslam became aware of an intense pain in his chest. As a red stain began to spread against Wufei's white robes, Treize looked down. To his surprise he found that he had also been punctured and Wufei's blade was still embedded in his flesh. Somehow the Emperor had managed to bring his blade back in alignment in time for Treize to lunge into it.
Several seconds had passed and Treize realized that neither had made a move to pull back. "Kill me!" Wufei demanded, causing the duke to glance up. Their eyes locked and Treize saw the hatred in his opponents eyes. It was then that Treize realized he had struck the Emperor in front of many of his own men. Though he had managed to strike back, it was a great shame to Wufei.
"You first," Treize told the other boy. Both were fully aware that if he slayed his opponent he would no doubt be killed himself. For a moment the two strong willed young men stood still, staring into each others eyes in perfect loathing and understanding. It was like staring into a mirror and seeing all the things you hated about yourself. It was Duo who stopped the affair.
"Stop it right now!" he yelled, "Wufei, I don't care what you say about Heero. He would not stand by and watch one of his most trusted advisors get themselves killed. Now I was watching the whole fight and you two are the most equally matched combatants I've ever seen. You are also two of the most powerful. There is no dishonor involved here, no matter who is the loser."
To his surprise, Treize felt Wufei's blade being retracted. "You are the victor. You lunged first. Baslam is safe. I will inform you of our plans in further detail later."
Treize nodded and bowed deeply, ignoring the pain he felt in his breast. "Thank you for the fight. I am honored."
Wufei bowed as well though his eyes betrayed his hatred. "I am so weak," he murmured, "I fought someone better than me and lost. I do not deserve to fight."
Surprising himself, Treize shook his head, "You are not weak. It was an excellent fight. You are a great warrior, Wufei Chang. It could have gone either way."
The young Emperor straightened and looked Treize in the eye, "We are allies for now. However I must warn you that there will be a time where we will continue this duel. When that time comes there will be no mercy. One of us will not survive."
The Duke of Baslam nodded, believing every word. He had no doubt that Wufei was right. There would be a time when they would continue their battle. "I look forward to it," he replied.
"In the meantime," Maxwell pressed, eager to move beyond the talk of killing one another, "The Dragon Clan and Baslam have officially joined forces. Would you like to stay here for the night? We can treat your wound."
Treize nodded, motioning to Lady Une to join him. "Yes, thank you. This is my most trusted commander, Colonel Une."
"My name is Emperor Duo Maxwell," Duo identified himself, "Lord of Death. But you can call me Duo."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Duo," Treize shook the other boy's hand. So the leaders of the Dragon Clan were actually teenagers. Somehow it wasn't that surprising that the youth of Gaea would decide its future. And he, Treize Kushrenada, would play a part in it. Only one question remained in his mind. Who was High Lord Heero?
If you haven't realized already, the previous chapter has been made longer due to its extreme shortness. If you haven't read the updated chapter go back and read it. It's from Hitomi's POV if that makes you any more eager. Here's the next chapter.
The wind blew in Colonel Une's curled hair but she remained on deck, refuse to let a little breeze keep her from Treize's side. The pair stood on a near deserted deck as the warship Cancer soared over the countryside. The airship had been built for the purpose of being his Excellency's personal transport. It was fast but well armed, with the ability to carry several Guymelefs while still carrying several built-in weapons.
The sun was just beginning to set low in the sky, basking both figures with reddish light. Lady Une looked over at her commander and couldn't help but admire him. The Duke's handsome face fit well with a defined but not overly muscular body. The ornate trappings of his uniform caught the sun's red glow, creating points of light that seemed to radiate off the man himself. His ginger-colored hair glittered in the dusk light, setting off his sky blue eyes perfectly.
The Colonel realized she had been staring and quickly shifted her eyes to the horizon which his Excellency was so intent upon. To her surprise she realized that in the distance she could see the small rise of a settlement.
"Yes," Treize replied to her unspoken thought, "That is Daedalus ahead of us. We will finally be able to see for ourselves the threat that has all of Gaea in an uproar."
Lady Une nodded, staring intently at the growing protrusion. How was Treize planning to convince the leaders of the "Dragon Clan" that it was in their interest to join with Baslam? Though he was quite the speaker, the charismatic Duke was acting with such confidence that he would risk his own life. Though she trusted his abilities, his Excellency's life was of the utmost priority. If necessary, Miss Une was ready to sacrifice her own life for that of her Duke's.
"Please try to relax," Treize broke the silence, his soothing tone failing to reassure his companion, "If for not for your sake then for mine. I need you at your best when we arrive. Besides," he added, "This ship was very expensive and I wouldn't appreciate my guardrail being destroyed."
Une looked down and realized that she had been gripping the rail so tightly that her knuckles had gone white. "Yes, sir," she breathed, allowing a tight-lipped smile to surface on her face. Treize knew what he was doing and that was good enough for her.
By now the Cancer was nearing the gates to the city. Ahead of him, the great wall that had been so easily overcome loomed, casting a shadow on the ground below the airship.
"Come to a hover alongside the main wall," Treize order the pilot, the only other crewman on deck. The rest were no doubt in their quarters as his Excellency had ordered them less than an hour before.
"Lady Une," Treize spoke quietly now, issuing his last orders before contact was made with the possible enemy. "Whatever happens in the next few minutes you must not interfere. My plan depends on my ability to assess the situation without having to worry about anyone else's safety but my own. Have faith in my abilities, my lady."
Une looked over and saw that Treize was looking at her with a look of intensity that caused her to blush. The Colonel hoped it would be mistaken for the sun's gleam. "I promise you I will return to your side," his Excellency murmured, drawing even closer, "You have my word."
"Treize," Lady Une exhaled, becoming aware of how close their faces were. It was first time she had called him by his first name. Before she could decide whether she should pull away or lean forward, shouts filled the air. His Excellency quickly pulled back, looking over the rail as guards began to swarm near the walkway along their side of the wall.
"Who are you?" one of the men yelled, brandishing a spear, "What do you want?"
Treize faced the man and called back, "I am Treize Kushrenada, Duke of Baslam. I wish to discuss a possible alliance with your leader."
The man shook his head, grinning cruelly, "Nobody talks to the Emperors without permission, especially not some strange Duke. We don't take kindly to outsiders."
Treize tried again, not surprised by the reaction of the soldiers. "I'm sorry for the intrusion. I just want to speak with one of your masters. If you'd just relay my message-"
There was a slight pause and for a moment Lady Une dared to hope that Treize's words had gotten through. Then, without warning, an arrow flashed toward them from the right. It struck the ruler of Baslam in the side and bounced harmlessly off the body armor hidden beneath the blue uniform.
Colonel Une started forward, her heart beating rapidly. How dare they attack his Excellency? If they had aimed for the head instead of the chest... Une reached for the handle of her sword and had it partially drawn before she realized Treize had raised a hand. Though he didn't turn around, she realized that he must be ordering her to hold.
Though it was not her speaking, the lady noticed with pride that Treize's voice was strong and unwavering despite the attempt on his life. "Is that how your leaders do business? By cowardly attacking an unarmed stranger seeking a coalition? Are they so weak that they would not at least show their faces?"
"You would not say such words," a harsh voice declared from the other side of the wall, "If you knew that you were in the presence of those condemned."
Treize scanned through the throng of guards and soldiers for the owner of the voice. When the group of men parted to reveal the speaker, the Duke was surprised to find that it was in fact a young man, looking to be a little over five years younger than he himself. The teenager was Asian, with black hair tied in a ponytail behind his head. He was dressed in loose white robes which contrasted with his dark complexion and eyes. "I am Emperor Wufei Chang, leader of this army. You have insulted my honor. I have no choice but to retaliate."
Treize found himself torn between amusement and concern. If this proud teenager did indeed have the authority to back up his claims, then his ploy to bring out the authoritative figures might very well be his own downfall. "I am sorry if I offended you," he quickly responded apologetically, "I meant no insult. I merely intended to point out the dishonor in attacking an unarmed man who wishes only to converse."
The lord of the Dragon Clan glowered at Treize and the duke found the ferocity and power the lad emanated almost intimidating. This said a lot for the boy, for Lord Treize was not one to be easily alarmed. "Very well. Your ploy has worked and I am here. Now speak while I still allow you the opportunity to do so."
The Duke of Baslam complied, speaking neither quickening or slowing his speech, "Of course. I am Treize Kushrenada, ruler of a country a little over twenty kilometers from here. On behalf of Baslam, I wish to propose an alliance with the Dragon Clan."
"What kind of alliance?" the young Emperor asked, a suspicious expression on his face.
"The uniting of forces. My country has been raising an army for the purpose of uniting Gaea. However it appears as if our goals are the same. Am I wrong?"
Wufei didn't speak for a few seconds and Treize could almost see the wheels turning in his head. Finally he nodded and for a few seconds the Duke of Baslam could virtually see his train of thought. "He probably figures he can always kill us rather than let the information get out," Treize realized to his mild amusement.
"Our ultimate goal is to bring all of Gaea under its original master's rule," Wufei said finally. Treize decided not to ask who the original master was for the time being.
"We could assist you in your mission. Though my army is not as mighty as yours, it is strong and my men are well trained. We also have a good lay of the land and inside information on the other countries in this area. We could be of great benefit to you," Treize finished. For a moment, he thought that he had succeeded in persuading the young Emperor. Then, to Treize's disappointment, Wufei shook his head.
"I'm afraid you misunderstand, my dear Treize. The Dragon Clan has no wish for any assistance. We do not need your help." Treize tried to contradict the noble but was cut off. "Nor do we want it. However I can see that you are a just man. Let no one say Wufei Chang is not without honor. I will give you one chance to save yourself and your country from the jaws of the Dragon."
Out of the corner of his eye, Treize noticed another young man breaking through the crowd. This one was dressed in all black and had extremely long hair brown which was tied in an intricate braid behind his back. Wufei continued speaking, "If you can defeat me in a honorable duel then I will grant your request. If you win Baslam will join with the Dragon Clan. If you lose then I will kill you and the crew of your ship and Baslam will soon fallow your example."
"Wufei!" the other boy yelled out, earning a fierce glare from his fellow.
"Don't you dare interfere, Maxwell," Wufei snarled, unsheathing a long, fast blade, "This is between me and the Duke."
"So," Treize thought to himself, "Wufei Chang has at least one equal in the Dragon Clan." It was worth noting.
"I can't let you do this, Wufei," Maxwell continued, "Heero wouldn't approve of you fighting needless battles."
"High Lord Heero," the Emperor yelled back, reminding Duo of the respect that their common leader deserved, "would understand that conflict is necessary to create change. He would know that fighting is the way that we define ourselves. Heero would not want you to intervene."
This seemed to cause the other boy to faulter for a moment, buying Wufei all the time he needed. "Shall we begin, Mr. Kushrenada?"
Treize turned, realizing that he was without a weapon, and saw that Lady Une was already one step ahead of him. His devoted Colonel had already retrieved his weapon and threw it to him. The Duke of Baslam caught it and drew his fine weapon. "I am ready when you are, Mr. Chang."
The battle that followed was both brutal and eloquent. As Treize found out, he and Wufei were of equal talent. What the Emperor lacked in ability he made up for in strength and stamina. Almost immediately after the engagement commenced, Treize found himself fighting for his life. However the familiar actions quickly came back to him from his days on the front line and as time went on, neither opponent seemed to take the advantage. Finally, after Treize managed to dodge a particularly nasty series of blows, he managed to take Wufei by surprise and knock his blade aside. In one swift movement, Treize lunged forward and stabbed the younger man on the side. As he did so, the Duke of Baslam became aware of an intense pain in his chest. As a red stain began to spread against Wufei's white robes, Treize looked down. To his surprise he found that he had also been punctured and Wufei's blade was still embedded in his flesh. Somehow the Emperor had managed to bring his blade back in alignment in time for Treize to lunge into it.
Several seconds had passed and Treize realized that neither had made a move to pull back. "Kill me!" Wufei demanded, causing the duke to glance up. Their eyes locked and Treize saw the hatred in his opponents eyes. It was then that Treize realized he had struck the Emperor in front of many of his own men. Though he had managed to strike back, it was a great shame to Wufei.
"You first," Treize told the other boy. Both were fully aware that if he slayed his opponent he would no doubt be killed himself. For a moment the two strong willed young men stood still, staring into each others eyes in perfect loathing and understanding. It was like staring into a mirror and seeing all the things you hated about yourself. It was Duo who stopped the affair.
"Stop it right now!" he yelled, "Wufei, I don't care what you say about Heero. He would not stand by and watch one of his most trusted advisors get themselves killed. Now I was watching the whole fight and you two are the most equally matched combatants I've ever seen. You are also two of the most powerful. There is no dishonor involved here, no matter who is the loser."
To his surprise, Treize felt Wufei's blade being retracted. "You are the victor. You lunged first. Baslam is safe. I will inform you of our plans in further detail later."
Treize nodded and bowed deeply, ignoring the pain he felt in his breast. "Thank you for the fight. I am honored."
Wufei bowed as well though his eyes betrayed his hatred. "I am so weak," he murmured, "I fought someone better than me and lost. I do not deserve to fight."
Surprising himself, Treize shook his head, "You are not weak. It was an excellent fight. You are a great warrior, Wufei Chang. It could have gone either way."
The young Emperor straightened and looked Treize in the eye, "We are allies for now. However I must warn you that there will be a time where we will continue this duel. When that time comes there will be no mercy. One of us will not survive."
The Duke of Baslam nodded, believing every word. He had no doubt that Wufei was right. There would be a time when they would continue their battle. "I look forward to it," he replied.
"In the meantime," Maxwell pressed, eager to move beyond the talk of killing one another, "The Dragon Clan and Baslam have officially joined forces. Would you like to stay here for the night? We can treat your wound."
Treize nodded, motioning to Lady Une to join him. "Yes, thank you. This is my most trusted commander, Colonel Une."
"My name is Emperor Duo Maxwell," Duo identified himself, "Lord of Death. But you can call me Duo."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Duo," Treize shook the other boy's hand. So the leaders of the Dragon Clan were actually teenagers. Somehow it wasn't that surprising that the youth of Gaea would decide its future. And he, Treize Kushrenada, would play a part in it. Only one question remained in his mind. Who was High Lord Heero?