"Shadows of The Past" Pg 24

Disclaimer/Notes: I do not own Gundam Wing or any of it's wonderful character, they are owned by some rich guy.
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Daybreak found the six travelers packed and moving along the road, everyone more aware of just what Duo was doing. As the suns moved across the sky they seemed to cover more ground then they had the day before. Suddenly Duo stopped reining his horse in.

"This stone wall marks the border, right?" Duo said dismounting them moving to sit on the wall.

"Yes," Milliardo answered.

"Are you sure they are coming this way?" Quatre asked as he jumped from the horse he and Trowa shared.

"Positive, if I'm correct, he has to come this way because this is the only place to cross the border," Duo answered looking back the way they had come. "So all we can do is sit and wait for them."

Everyone settled in for the long wait they knew was coming. If they had been a week ahead before who knew how far ahead they were now. As the suns began to set Duo decided he didn't want to wait. If only he could pinpoint their location. 'Of course his magic, if he's using it to keep Heero hidden I should be able to find it.' Sending his mind out he searched all the magic signatures. After several tries he landed on the one Kieandra had felt. "Gotcha!"

Everyone looked up at him surprised. He smiled almost sheepishly then it changed to something else. "I hate waiting, let's go get him."

"What? I don't understand... you said..." Quatre asked shocked.

"Hold on, I'm going to get us close, hide your powers," Duo said before jumping down to join them. Closing his eyes he phased out then suddenly the whole group disappeared including the three horses that were eating.

Several miles away deep in the dark forest the six chosen appeared quite suddenly. Duo moved quickly through the trees everyone following him quietly. A figure soon came into view carrying something. Duo stopped his eyes focusing on the figure as everyone else spread out to surround it.

"Stop!" Duo called from the shadows causing the figure to freeze in mid-step. Duo stepped out from the shadows facing the young man. The young man smiled at seeing who stood before him, he now knew his feelings about the great energy were wrong. Duo returned the smile with a wicked glint in his eyes. With a nod of his head the bundle in the young man's arms disappeared. "Where'd he go? What did you do with him?" He asked his voice curious.

The young man glanced around, "I... I... hid him."

"Well I'm not sure his friends will like that." As Duo spoke Quatre and Trowa stepped out from the trees. The young man looked at the two mages feeling no level of magic from either of them. "Of course if you bring him back I think they will be nice to you in the end."

Milliardo, Wufei and Kieandra stepped out, now fully surrounding the young man. He looked at each of them detecting nothing but almost jumped when the guard cat growled at him.

"What does his pet scare you? Beware she is very anger with you," Duo said his smile widening. "For you are a great liar."

"What?" the young man asked his anger rising.

"You have not hid him, you couldn't have, cause I did," Duo answered letting his power free from his controlled barrier. The young man stepped back feeling the great power that rivaled his Lord's own. "Who are you working for?"

"... I will not answer you!"

"Fine I will just pick you to pieces..." Duo answered taking a step forward. The young man cried out then suddenly disappeared. "Damn! Well at least we have what we came for!"

Everyone looked around before Quatre spoke up, "So where is he?"

"Oh right," Duo said his smile again somewhat sheepish. Snapping his fingers Heero appeared cradled in his arms sound asleep. Milliardo let out a soft sigh a smile finally returning to his face. Kieandra rushed over to Duo moving to stand on her hind legs. Duo knelt down allowing her to see her master's sleeping face.

"Where was he?" Quatre asked calmer then before.

"A secret place no one can reach but me," Duo answered. "Guess we should wake him up."

Duo laid the young prince on the ground them moving his hands over Heero's body he lifted the spell that had been placed on him. Stepping away Kieandra immediately moved closer licking his face.

Heero's hands came up to push the animal away as he tried to open his eyes. Suddenly he stopped moving, his voice was low, "Kieandra?"

Opening one eye he spotted his faithful pet and friend, his arms swiftly went around her neck pulling her close. He snuggled his face into her fur. He sat up his face still buried in her soft fur. Finally he pulled away looking up to see everyone staring at him with huge grins on their faces.

"So it wasn't a dream?" He asked in general.

"Afraid not," Milliardo answered kneeling beside him, "but it's over now."

Heero reached out wrapping his arms around Milliardo's neck, "I'm glad you found me."

"Actually..." Quatre started to say but was interrupted by Duo's hand on his arm. Duo simply shook his head at Quatre's surprise.

"What?" Heero asked looking up at the young blonde.

"Uh nothing," Quatre replied shrugging his shoulders. "I was just thinking out loud."

"Come on lets get moving we need to head back toward the south our next task awaits up there," Trowa said trying to get the group back under way.

"Wait!" Duo said moving over to a large tree. "We're here, the Forest of Languard."

Milliardo looked around as Heero finally release him. "Yep he's correct we are in the Forest of Languard." He confirmed Duo's statement.

"So what now?" Wufei asked his eyes glancing around.

"Well I guess we are forced to wait and see," Trowa answered.

"But I hate waiting!" Duo complained leaning back against the tree he was standing in front of.

"Duo..." a soft voice called out.

"What?"

"We didn't say anything," Quatre said startled by Duo's question.

"None of you called my name?"

They all shook their heads, giving him a strange look.

"Duo..." the voice called again.

Duo stared at the six working to get the camp set up. It didn't look like anyone of them had spoken. 'So who said my name?' He wondered his eyes darting around.

"Duo over here," the voice called out. Walking around the large tree trunk he didn't spot anyone. Suddenly everything around him disappeared leaving his surrounded by a bright white light. A few feet ahead of him stood a slender woman, her long brown hair falling over her shoulders while bright violet eyes watched him.

"I see you have grown into your destiny," she said though her lips never moved. "My beautiful Duo... how you have changed?"

"Who are you?" he asked his own violet eyes wide.

"Of course you don't remember me; I left you before you could even cry. Duo I'm your mother. I have been waiting for you," she answered her eyes never wavering.

Duo felt his chest constrict as all his air came out in a gasp. "Why did you... waiting..."

"I had to for both our sakes; yes I knew the time would come. Duo I have a story to tell you. Just listen." She answered. "The year of your birth the Prophecies said another was born with the destruction power. One would be raised to stop the power, raised on the land. Your father was a messenger, a being far greater then humans. That is where you power comes from. They are stronger; you will become stronger in time.

It was learned that in that same year the Queen had given birth to her first and only child. That was the child Prophecy had spoken of just as it had spoken of you. I had to leave you to be raised by someone who was not of blood. Now you have stepped into your role, as I have. My role is to guide you from this time on. The road ahead will not be easy. The others have all passed their tests. You being a Child of Divinity are not going to be tested just as the bearer of destruction is not."

"Why not? Why am I not to be tester?" Duo asked.

"You were sent by God's own hand, your soul is already proven by that fact alone. Now I will guide you, while you guide the others."

"What about Wufei?"

"He is your land guide, I am you spirit," she replied. "Now you must prepare, the journey is going to grow harder now."

Suddenly the bright light faded as the woman claiming to be his blood mother disappeared. Looking around he realize he was at the camp.

"Duo are you listening?" Quatre asked looking at him almost in impatient.

"Um... no... what?" He asked confused. 'Was it real? Is she my mother?'

"Well I was saying that we should head south after this," Quatre said interrupting his thoughts.

"Is that where Wufei said to go?"

"He told up we needed to go to a shrine, only he's not sure what shrine. The only one we can think of is in the southern plains."

"Well then I guess we are heading south," Duo said sitting down on the soft ground.

"Um not to sound stupid but just what are we doing?" Heero's voice timidly asked. Everyone else looked at him then at each other. Duo knew he was going to have to speak with the young prince. It was almost time for him to know the truth, but could he bring himself to put the weight on the young man. Standing up he offered his hand out to Heero as everyone else watched curiously.

"Wanna go for a walk?" He asked the unsure prince. Heero nodded taking Duo's hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. Walking away from the camp Kieandra followed close to his heels. Duo stopped a few yards away from the others, turning he looked at Heero before the three disappeared from the moonlit night.

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