I don't own Gundam Wing or Escaflowne. These are my interpretations of their characters. I don't want to make any money. Etc........
Later that day, Hitomi found herself in front of Quatre's chambers. Though she was more and more sure of the pair's good intentions, she had decided to proceed with her original plan. Besides, if they were allies then it would be useful to know something more about the young Emperor.
Hitomi reached out a hand to knock but, as she did so, was startled by the door opening. Trowa almost ran into her as he walked out of Quatre's room. "Sorry," he murmured as he trudged away.
From inside the room, a cheerful voice ushered her in. "Hello, Hitomi," Quatre said cheerful. The blonde was sitting on the bed facing a short marble table.
As Hitomi walked in, Quatre called out, "Please close the door." The teenager from the Mystic Moon sat down on the floor opposite the Emperor. Quatre smiled cordially at her and said, "I am sorry about earlier."
"It's all right," Hitomi excused him, but Quatre persisted.
"No, it isn't. The more I think about it, the more I think I was wrong. All this time I've been loyally following Heero, helping him accomplishing his goals. All the while never thinking to question how he was planning to attain them."
Hitomi stirred uncomfortably. The boy was so hard on himself. After all... "It isn't your fault," she said, "from what I hear Heero can be quite persuasive. Besides, his intentions may be admirable. He just has methods which cause too much bloodshed."
"That may be," Quatre responded, "but that's no excuse. I'm a disgrace to myself and my family."
"Still, one can hardly blame you," Hitomi decided to try to change the subject, "So are you and Trowa good friends?"
"Why do you ask?" Quatre looked up at her from where he had been staring down at his feet.
"Well," Hitomi blushed, "You asked his advice during the meeting when you couldn't figure out what to think. And he must care about you because he gave you and honest answer and defended you. Besides, wasn't he just in here?"
"Yes," Quatre responded, his eyes losing focus, "We were playing music together."
"What do you play?" Hitomi asked, curious now.
"I play the violin," Quatre replied, smiling, "and Trowa plays the flute. He is actually quite good. I've been playing since I was little but he is at least as good as I am."
Hitomi was surprised, Trowa didn't seem to be the type to play such a delicate instrument. Maybe he had a soft side after all. "But enough about me," Quatre beamed, "I don't think you came in here just to hear me talk. What can I do for you?"
With a slight jolt, Hitomi remembered her original purpose. "I wanted to know if you wanted me to read your fortune."
"Hitomi," Quatre leaned forward eagerly, practically beaming, "you tell fortunes?"
Hitomi smiled, glad to see that Quatre was so enthusiastic, "Yes. I read Tarot cards. I thought I might be able to help you make up your mind on what you should do by telling your fortune."
"Thank you, Hitomi!" Quatre said happily, "I would like that very much. What do I have to do?"
"Hang on a moment," Hitomi said, still smiling, "let me get my cards."
Several minutes later, Hitomi found herself positioning the cards in the correct places. It had been over a year since she had read anyone's fortune. Hitomi hoped that she still remembered how. Taking a deep breath, she lifted up the first card. Il Papa- The Hierophant. "Quatre is relying on his intuition and meditation," Hitomi thought, "he is searching for the correct path."
As Hitomi continued through the cards, she was once again struck by their accuracy. Unlike some fortunes which took a lot of interpreting, Quatre's was rather straightforward. When she got to the sixth card which predicted the future influence, however, Hitomi was seized with fear. La Morte- Death. There would be destruction in Quatre's near future. Destruction and rebirth. The teenager remembered the last time she had drawn the card. It was right before a Zaibach attack. "Does that mean someone is going to die?" Hitomi thought, trying not to let her subject see her alarm. Suddenly, images began to flash through her mind.
A dark shape moved swiftly forward. Hitomi screamed as blood splashed on the floor. What? Who was hurt? Trowa was running forward, waving a sword. Van was running too. The sounds of metal hitting against metal filled the air. "Just hang on," someone was saying. Hitomi could hear the gargled sound of someone gasping for air in fast, irregular breaths.
"Hitomi!" Quatre yelled, leaning over the table, "Are you all right?"
The girl straightened, trying to regulate her breathing. "I'm fine," she said, trying not to alarm the boy.
"What did you see?" the blonde's eyes were wide.
"Nothing," Hitomi fibbed. But it was futile, Quatre was not as easily fooled as Millerna had been.
"Don't lie to me," the young Emperor told her, his years of leadership evident in his tone, "Tell me what you saw. I can handle it. Please, Hitomi."
The soothsaying girl took a deep breath. "I saw the future. Someone was hurt, I'm not sure who or how badly. Trowa was running with a sword and Van was there too. Also there was a dark shape. I'm not sure who or what it was."
Quatre leaned back, satisfied with Hitomi's answer. "If it is the future it can be changed. We will just have to keep alert for anything suspicious. And if it can't be changed, then there's nothing we can do about it so there is no point in worrying, right?"
Hitomi nodded, impressed by Quatre's calm. Though he had always struck her as the more sensitive type, when it came down to it, he was no coward. "Do you want to keep going?" she asked.
Quatre paused for a moment, considering his options. "I think I'd rather not, if you don't mind. I think I've heard enough for today."
Hitomi agreed and gathered up her cards. Now she remembered why she had given up Tarot reading. Maybe Van was done with his business by now. The sun was beginning to sit low in the sky and on the roof above them a shadowy creature waited for nightfall.
Quatre leaned against the railing on the walkway of the castle. The stars were shining brighter then ever on this cloudless night. "I wonder what my father is doing right now," the young Emperor thought to himself.
Quatre sighed and remembered when things had been simpler. Heero's words were so virtuous, so powerful. Though he didn't speak very often, when he did others were frequently inspired. He had given the rebellious heir a way to prove himself to his father while still remaining independent. It was so easy to give in to the High Lord's talk of a heritage they could be proud of. "The Dragon Clan were destined to rule," he had said. How many times had he told them all that he would restore justice to Gaea? Were those words nothing but empty promises? Did Heero only want the power for himself or did he really have Gaea's future in mind?
"What about Van?" Quatre thought, "How is he any better?" Van clearly cared about his people. He obviously loved Hitomi and those affections were returned. He would fight to protect his loved ones. "Maybe that is the difference," Quatre realized, "Van is virtuous because he fights for his loved ones. Merle, Hitomi, and all of Fanelia's people. He loves them and is willing to sacrifice his own life for them instead of the other way round. And because of this, they are willing to do the same. It gives them strength."
With a sudden shock of realization Quatre's thoughts reached their conclusion. "It must be Van who leads Gaea into the future. Maybe Heero wasn't wrong. The Dragon Clan will lead Gaea into its future. However, it will be Van who does the guidance."
Quatre turned away from the balcony, his heart beating fast. He hadn't felt this excited since Heero had first told him about his heritage. Maybe it wasn't too late for Heero to understand. Maybe all the bloodshed could still be prevented. It wasn't too late! Ahead of him on the balcony he saw Hitomi. "Hitomi!" he called out excitedly.
A cool breeze caused him to stop. "Something's wrong," Quatre thought, his keen intuition sending him a warning. Over the years the young Emperor had learned to trust his instincts and now they were telling him something was wrong. Looking down, Quatre saw his pendant's red jewel was glowing.
"What is it?" Hitomi asked, walking over so that they were only a few feet apart. Quatre quickly took off the necklace and let it hang loose from his hand. To his surprise, it swung forward, towards Hitomi. Looking up, Quatre saw nothing but darkness. Wait, was that a shadow moving? Suddenly it all became clear as two red orbs of light became visible. A wraith! Heero! The blonde yelled, "Watch out, Hitomi!"
Trowa stiffened, hearing Quatre cry out. Luckily he was already heading towards Quatre's room and with a quick burst of speed, he rounded the corner. At first he couldn't tell what was going on but a flash of red eyes made it all clear. Before Trowa could interfere, Quatre jumped forward, grabbing Hitomi and shoving her off to the side. As he did so, there was a quick whistling sound and a sick thunk. The muscular Draconian ran several steps forward then stopped short in horror.
His beloved Quatre fell backwards, landing hard on the balcony's surface. In the middle of his lacy white shirt, a large red stain was growing quickly. In the middle of it was a large throwing knife. Quatre looked up, his eyes already loosing focus. "Trowa," he called out, like a wounded pup crying out for its mother.
Van was running up but Trowa didn't care, his eyes were set on the beast that had injured Quatre. He didn't care that the Defel were Heero's private assassin force. He didn't care that by attacking he was certainly going against the High Lord's wishes and would be branded a traitor. All he cared about was that this fiend had injured the one person that had shown him true kindness since he was a child. The one person who had made an effort to become his friend with no selfish intent in mind.
With a roar of absolute rage, Trowa ran forward, drawing the sword Van had given him after he had told the king and Hitomi about his suspicions. As his vision blurred and began to turn a reddish hue, Trowa launched himself at the wraith.
Van quickly assessed the situation. He wasn't sure what Trowa was fighting, it was remarkably hard to see and without the red eyes he wouldn't have been sure there was anything there at all. A quick glance at Hitomi and Quatre proved that whatever it was, it wasn't friendly. Trowa didn't have any throwing knives, Van had made sure that the pair was unarmed when they had entered the city, so the attack had obviously come from the creature Trowa was fighting.
Van drew his own sword and with an angry war cry, he entered the fight. Between the two of them, they made short work of the creature, who was used to hiding in the shadows and not fighting straight out. Secretly, Van thought that Trowa probably didn't need the help, his raw ferocity was enough to throw anyone off guard.
As soon as the beast was dead, Trowa ran over to the wounded Emperor, not bothering to wipe his blood covered weapon. "Quatre," the other boy said quietly, trying to wipe the blonde's hair out of his eyes and at the same time avoiding getting blood on his face, "It is going to be all right. Just hang in there."
"Trowa," Quatre got out between short, ragged intakes of breath, "Trust Van. Help him achieve true peace. He is the one we must put our hopes in."
Van felt a strange sensation flowing over him. He wasn't surprised, after this betrayal by their "High Lord" he would have done the same thing. But still... the King of Fanelia felt greatly honored to have so much trust put in him.
"We can still save him!" Hitomi was saying, "We have to stop the bleeding. Van, help me take him inside."
Trowa watched as Van and Hitomi carried Quatre inside. Because the blonde boy was small, they were able to carry him easily between the two of him. The Emperor was about to follow them when he noticed a small red glow from the body of the assassin. For a moment Trowa thought it was one of the wraith's eyes, still glowing with life. Further inspection proved him wrong.
Reaching down, Trowa pried Hitomi's necklace from the Defel's left hand, still clenched tightly around it even in death. As Trowa realized what the glow meant, a peaceful anger settled over him. Carefully, the brawny teenager slipped the necklace around his neck. Almost immediately, his he felt a familiar presence touch his mind. "Well, did you succeed in your mission?" Heero's voice was quite clear in his head, though Trowa was sure he was the only one who could hear it. Trowa didn't answer, instead he waited for Heero to manifest himself.
In his mind's eye he could see Heero's shape beginning to form. Trowa folded his arms and waited, staring coldly as the figure became more solid. "Oh, it's you, Trowa," Heero spoke, neither happy nor annoyed by the unexpected individual, "what happened to my Defel?"
"He's dead," Trowa said, his voice showing only a hint of his anger.
"Oh," Heero didn't seem concerned, "what happened to him?"
"I killed him," Trowa explained, his voice remaining calm. Now Heero did frown, a mix of annoyance and confusion flickering on his face.
"I see. Well it is of no consequence. I can always find a replacement," Heero continued, his indifference causing Trowa to grit his teeth.
"No, you won't," he informed Heero, taking a step closer to the physical manifestation of the High Lord's mind.
"And why is that, Trowa?" Heero asked, plainly exasperated by Trowa's contradictory attitude.
"Because if you do I will come back to your Flying Fortress and kill you in your own sanctum," Trowa threatened, his voice retaining its calm.
"What has gotten in to you, Trowa?" Heero asked, glaring at his subordinate, "whatever the reason, you had better stop it. You are trying my patience. Draconian or no Draconian if you don't learn to watch your lip I will have no choice but to punish you."
"And Draconian and no Draconian if you come near Quatre, Hitomi, Van or myself again either directly or through someone else I promise you I will make you pay," Trowa said coldly.
Heero snarled now looking Trowa in the eye. To his surprise, the other boy didn't back down, nor show any sign of fear. "That is it, Trowa Barton, I've heard enough. I am recalling you starting immediately. You will return to Daedalus where we are stationed this instant. I am your lord and I refuse to-"
Trowa cut Heero off, saying curtly, "Nom you are not."
"What?" Heero growled, clenching his fists.
"I said 'No, you are not.' From this point on I am no longer a member of the Dragon Clan. I intend to serve Lord Van Fanel from this point forward. You are no longer my lord," Trowa informed the pure-blooded Draconian, "I think I speak for Quatre as well."
Trowa felt a surge of satisfaction when he saw the fury on Heero's face. An expression that quickly faded into cold hatred, "Very well then, Trowa Barton. From this point on you, as well as Quatre Winner, are considered traitors and enemies of the Dragon Clan. You have betrayed your people and will suffer the consequences of your actions."
Trowa allowed a small smile to form on his lips, further infuriating his former leader. As Heero's image began to fade, he heard the High Lord's voice, "Before I destroy you I must know one thing. Why?"
Trowa stared up at the sky. The stars looked so beautiful that night. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the view was perfect. He could feel Heero's presence fading so finally he responded, "Because you have betrayed your people, Heero Yuy. Just as you have betrayed yourself."
Trowa reached out a hand and gently removed the two necklaces. Heero would be out to get them now. This meant war, that was certain. But despite what anyone might have said, Trowa knew that was inevitable anyway. Heero and Wufei were both bloodthirsty, having waited and prepared so long for this invasion. And Duo, well he just wanted Heero's approval and would do anything to earn it.
Behind him, Van stepped out on the balcony. "This is going to be one bloody war," Trowa said aloud, still staring at the vast void stretched all around them.
"I know," Van replied, moving to stand next to him.
"What are you going to do?" Trowa asked.
"I will join with Allen's forces. The nations of Gaea will unite at Asturia against the Dragon Clan," Van decided.
Trowa nodded, "And I will fight alongside you." For a moment neither person said anything. Finally, Trowa spoke, "The stars shine so brightly tonight."
Van reached out a hand and rested it against Trowa's shoulder, "Let's go in and check on Quatre. I think Hitomi's managed to stop the bleeding."
With one last glance, the pair left the striking scene, knowing all to well the horrors that were to come.
Later that day, Hitomi found herself in front of Quatre's chambers. Though she was more and more sure of the pair's good intentions, she had decided to proceed with her original plan. Besides, if they were allies then it would be useful to know something more about the young Emperor.
Hitomi reached out a hand to knock but, as she did so, was startled by the door opening. Trowa almost ran into her as he walked out of Quatre's room. "Sorry," he murmured as he trudged away.
From inside the room, a cheerful voice ushered her in. "Hello, Hitomi," Quatre said cheerful. The blonde was sitting on the bed facing a short marble table.
As Hitomi walked in, Quatre called out, "Please close the door." The teenager from the Mystic Moon sat down on the floor opposite the Emperor. Quatre smiled cordially at her and said, "I am sorry about earlier."
"It's all right," Hitomi excused him, but Quatre persisted.
"No, it isn't. The more I think about it, the more I think I was wrong. All this time I've been loyally following Heero, helping him accomplishing his goals. All the while never thinking to question how he was planning to attain them."
Hitomi stirred uncomfortably. The boy was so hard on himself. After all... "It isn't your fault," she said, "from what I hear Heero can be quite persuasive. Besides, his intentions may be admirable. He just has methods which cause too much bloodshed."
"That may be," Quatre responded, "but that's no excuse. I'm a disgrace to myself and my family."
"Still, one can hardly blame you," Hitomi decided to try to change the subject, "So are you and Trowa good friends?"
"Why do you ask?" Quatre looked up at her from where he had been staring down at his feet.
"Well," Hitomi blushed, "You asked his advice during the meeting when you couldn't figure out what to think. And he must care about you because he gave you and honest answer and defended you. Besides, wasn't he just in here?"
"Yes," Quatre responded, his eyes losing focus, "We were playing music together."
"What do you play?" Hitomi asked, curious now.
"I play the violin," Quatre replied, smiling, "and Trowa plays the flute. He is actually quite good. I've been playing since I was little but he is at least as good as I am."
Hitomi was surprised, Trowa didn't seem to be the type to play such a delicate instrument. Maybe he had a soft side after all. "But enough about me," Quatre beamed, "I don't think you came in here just to hear me talk. What can I do for you?"
With a slight jolt, Hitomi remembered her original purpose. "I wanted to know if you wanted me to read your fortune."
"Hitomi," Quatre leaned forward eagerly, practically beaming, "you tell fortunes?"
Hitomi smiled, glad to see that Quatre was so enthusiastic, "Yes. I read Tarot cards. I thought I might be able to help you make up your mind on what you should do by telling your fortune."
"Thank you, Hitomi!" Quatre said happily, "I would like that very much. What do I have to do?"
"Hang on a moment," Hitomi said, still smiling, "let me get my cards."
Several minutes later, Hitomi found herself positioning the cards in the correct places. It had been over a year since she had read anyone's fortune. Hitomi hoped that she still remembered how. Taking a deep breath, she lifted up the first card. Il Papa- The Hierophant. "Quatre is relying on his intuition and meditation," Hitomi thought, "he is searching for the correct path."
As Hitomi continued through the cards, she was once again struck by their accuracy. Unlike some fortunes which took a lot of interpreting, Quatre's was rather straightforward. When she got to the sixth card which predicted the future influence, however, Hitomi was seized with fear. La Morte- Death. There would be destruction in Quatre's near future. Destruction and rebirth. The teenager remembered the last time she had drawn the card. It was right before a Zaibach attack. "Does that mean someone is going to die?" Hitomi thought, trying not to let her subject see her alarm. Suddenly, images began to flash through her mind.
A dark shape moved swiftly forward. Hitomi screamed as blood splashed on the floor. What? Who was hurt? Trowa was running forward, waving a sword. Van was running too. The sounds of metal hitting against metal filled the air. "Just hang on," someone was saying. Hitomi could hear the gargled sound of someone gasping for air in fast, irregular breaths.
"Hitomi!" Quatre yelled, leaning over the table, "Are you all right?"
The girl straightened, trying to regulate her breathing. "I'm fine," she said, trying not to alarm the boy.
"What did you see?" the blonde's eyes were wide.
"Nothing," Hitomi fibbed. But it was futile, Quatre was not as easily fooled as Millerna had been.
"Don't lie to me," the young Emperor told her, his years of leadership evident in his tone, "Tell me what you saw. I can handle it. Please, Hitomi."
The soothsaying girl took a deep breath. "I saw the future. Someone was hurt, I'm not sure who or how badly. Trowa was running with a sword and Van was there too. Also there was a dark shape. I'm not sure who or what it was."
Quatre leaned back, satisfied with Hitomi's answer. "If it is the future it can be changed. We will just have to keep alert for anything suspicious. And if it can't be changed, then there's nothing we can do about it so there is no point in worrying, right?"
Hitomi nodded, impressed by Quatre's calm. Though he had always struck her as the more sensitive type, when it came down to it, he was no coward. "Do you want to keep going?" she asked.
Quatre paused for a moment, considering his options. "I think I'd rather not, if you don't mind. I think I've heard enough for today."
Hitomi agreed and gathered up her cards. Now she remembered why she had given up Tarot reading. Maybe Van was done with his business by now. The sun was beginning to sit low in the sky and on the roof above them a shadowy creature waited for nightfall.
Quatre leaned against the railing on the walkway of the castle. The stars were shining brighter then ever on this cloudless night. "I wonder what my father is doing right now," the young Emperor thought to himself.
Quatre sighed and remembered when things had been simpler. Heero's words were so virtuous, so powerful. Though he didn't speak very often, when he did others were frequently inspired. He had given the rebellious heir a way to prove himself to his father while still remaining independent. It was so easy to give in to the High Lord's talk of a heritage they could be proud of. "The Dragon Clan were destined to rule," he had said. How many times had he told them all that he would restore justice to Gaea? Were those words nothing but empty promises? Did Heero only want the power for himself or did he really have Gaea's future in mind?
"What about Van?" Quatre thought, "How is he any better?" Van clearly cared about his people. He obviously loved Hitomi and those affections were returned. He would fight to protect his loved ones. "Maybe that is the difference," Quatre realized, "Van is virtuous because he fights for his loved ones. Merle, Hitomi, and all of Fanelia's people. He loves them and is willing to sacrifice his own life for them instead of the other way round. And because of this, they are willing to do the same. It gives them strength."
With a sudden shock of realization Quatre's thoughts reached their conclusion. "It must be Van who leads Gaea into the future. Maybe Heero wasn't wrong. The Dragon Clan will lead Gaea into its future. However, it will be Van who does the guidance."
Quatre turned away from the balcony, his heart beating fast. He hadn't felt this excited since Heero had first told him about his heritage. Maybe it wasn't too late for Heero to understand. Maybe all the bloodshed could still be prevented. It wasn't too late! Ahead of him on the balcony he saw Hitomi. "Hitomi!" he called out excitedly.
A cool breeze caused him to stop. "Something's wrong," Quatre thought, his keen intuition sending him a warning. Over the years the young Emperor had learned to trust his instincts and now they were telling him something was wrong. Looking down, Quatre saw his pendant's red jewel was glowing.
"What is it?" Hitomi asked, walking over so that they were only a few feet apart. Quatre quickly took off the necklace and let it hang loose from his hand. To his surprise, it swung forward, towards Hitomi. Looking up, Quatre saw nothing but darkness. Wait, was that a shadow moving? Suddenly it all became clear as two red orbs of light became visible. A wraith! Heero! The blonde yelled, "Watch out, Hitomi!"
Trowa stiffened, hearing Quatre cry out. Luckily he was already heading towards Quatre's room and with a quick burst of speed, he rounded the corner. At first he couldn't tell what was going on but a flash of red eyes made it all clear. Before Trowa could interfere, Quatre jumped forward, grabbing Hitomi and shoving her off to the side. As he did so, there was a quick whistling sound and a sick thunk. The muscular Draconian ran several steps forward then stopped short in horror.
His beloved Quatre fell backwards, landing hard on the balcony's surface. In the middle of his lacy white shirt, a large red stain was growing quickly. In the middle of it was a large throwing knife. Quatre looked up, his eyes already loosing focus. "Trowa," he called out, like a wounded pup crying out for its mother.
Van was running up but Trowa didn't care, his eyes were set on the beast that had injured Quatre. He didn't care that the Defel were Heero's private assassin force. He didn't care that by attacking he was certainly going against the High Lord's wishes and would be branded a traitor. All he cared about was that this fiend had injured the one person that had shown him true kindness since he was a child. The one person who had made an effort to become his friend with no selfish intent in mind.
With a roar of absolute rage, Trowa ran forward, drawing the sword Van had given him after he had told the king and Hitomi about his suspicions. As his vision blurred and began to turn a reddish hue, Trowa launched himself at the wraith.
Van quickly assessed the situation. He wasn't sure what Trowa was fighting, it was remarkably hard to see and without the red eyes he wouldn't have been sure there was anything there at all. A quick glance at Hitomi and Quatre proved that whatever it was, it wasn't friendly. Trowa didn't have any throwing knives, Van had made sure that the pair was unarmed when they had entered the city, so the attack had obviously come from the creature Trowa was fighting.
Van drew his own sword and with an angry war cry, he entered the fight. Between the two of them, they made short work of the creature, who was used to hiding in the shadows and not fighting straight out. Secretly, Van thought that Trowa probably didn't need the help, his raw ferocity was enough to throw anyone off guard.
As soon as the beast was dead, Trowa ran over to the wounded Emperor, not bothering to wipe his blood covered weapon. "Quatre," the other boy said quietly, trying to wipe the blonde's hair out of his eyes and at the same time avoiding getting blood on his face, "It is going to be all right. Just hang in there."
"Trowa," Quatre got out between short, ragged intakes of breath, "Trust Van. Help him achieve true peace. He is the one we must put our hopes in."
Van felt a strange sensation flowing over him. He wasn't surprised, after this betrayal by their "High Lord" he would have done the same thing. But still... the King of Fanelia felt greatly honored to have so much trust put in him.
"We can still save him!" Hitomi was saying, "We have to stop the bleeding. Van, help me take him inside."
Trowa watched as Van and Hitomi carried Quatre inside. Because the blonde boy was small, they were able to carry him easily between the two of him. The Emperor was about to follow them when he noticed a small red glow from the body of the assassin. For a moment Trowa thought it was one of the wraith's eyes, still glowing with life. Further inspection proved him wrong.
Reaching down, Trowa pried Hitomi's necklace from the Defel's left hand, still clenched tightly around it even in death. As Trowa realized what the glow meant, a peaceful anger settled over him. Carefully, the brawny teenager slipped the necklace around his neck. Almost immediately, his he felt a familiar presence touch his mind. "Well, did you succeed in your mission?" Heero's voice was quite clear in his head, though Trowa was sure he was the only one who could hear it. Trowa didn't answer, instead he waited for Heero to manifest himself.
In his mind's eye he could see Heero's shape beginning to form. Trowa folded his arms and waited, staring coldly as the figure became more solid. "Oh, it's you, Trowa," Heero spoke, neither happy nor annoyed by the unexpected individual, "what happened to my Defel?"
"He's dead," Trowa said, his voice showing only a hint of his anger.
"Oh," Heero didn't seem concerned, "what happened to him?"
"I killed him," Trowa explained, his voice remaining calm. Now Heero did frown, a mix of annoyance and confusion flickering on his face.
"I see. Well it is of no consequence. I can always find a replacement," Heero continued, his indifference causing Trowa to grit his teeth.
"No, you won't," he informed Heero, taking a step closer to the physical manifestation of the High Lord's mind.
"And why is that, Trowa?" Heero asked, plainly exasperated by Trowa's contradictory attitude.
"Because if you do I will come back to your Flying Fortress and kill you in your own sanctum," Trowa threatened, his voice retaining its calm.
"What has gotten in to you, Trowa?" Heero asked, glaring at his subordinate, "whatever the reason, you had better stop it. You are trying my patience. Draconian or no Draconian if you don't learn to watch your lip I will have no choice but to punish you."
"And Draconian and no Draconian if you come near Quatre, Hitomi, Van or myself again either directly or through someone else I promise you I will make you pay," Trowa said coldly.
Heero snarled now looking Trowa in the eye. To his surprise, the other boy didn't back down, nor show any sign of fear. "That is it, Trowa Barton, I've heard enough. I am recalling you starting immediately. You will return to Daedalus where we are stationed this instant. I am your lord and I refuse to-"
Trowa cut Heero off, saying curtly, "Nom you are not."
"What?" Heero growled, clenching his fists.
"I said 'No, you are not.' From this point on I am no longer a member of the Dragon Clan. I intend to serve Lord Van Fanel from this point forward. You are no longer my lord," Trowa informed the pure-blooded Draconian, "I think I speak for Quatre as well."
Trowa felt a surge of satisfaction when he saw the fury on Heero's face. An expression that quickly faded into cold hatred, "Very well then, Trowa Barton. From this point on you, as well as Quatre Winner, are considered traitors and enemies of the Dragon Clan. You have betrayed your people and will suffer the consequences of your actions."
Trowa allowed a small smile to form on his lips, further infuriating his former leader. As Heero's image began to fade, he heard the High Lord's voice, "Before I destroy you I must know one thing. Why?"
Trowa stared up at the sky. The stars looked so beautiful that night. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the view was perfect. He could feel Heero's presence fading so finally he responded, "Because you have betrayed your people, Heero Yuy. Just as you have betrayed yourself."
Trowa reached out a hand and gently removed the two necklaces. Heero would be out to get them now. This meant war, that was certain. But despite what anyone might have said, Trowa knew that was inevitable anyway. Heero and Wufei were both bloodthirsty, having waited and prepared so long for this invasion. And Duo, well he just wanted Heero's approval and would do anything to earn it.
Behind him, Van stepped out on the balcony. "This is going to be one bloody war," Trowa said aloud, still staring at the vast void stretched all around them.
"I know," Van replied, moving to stand next to him.
"What are you going to do?" Trowa asked.
"I will join with Allen's forces. The nations of Gaea will unite at Asturia against the Dragon Clan," Van decided.
Trowa nodded, "And I will fight alongside you." For a moment neither person said anything. Finally, Trowa spoke, "The stars shine so brightly tonight."
Van reached out a hand and rested it against Trowa's shoulder, "Let's go in and check on Quatre. I think Hitomi's managed to stop the bleeding."
With one last glance, the pair left the striking scene, knowing all to well the horrors that were to come.