Hehehe, well thanks to the people who have reviewed so far! I like this fic because even though the chapters are short, it's easier to get them out faster. LOL anyway, please let me know what you think, and I'll keep posting.

Ok, I don't own gundam wing, regardless to previous attempts. Nor the characters, so basically don't sue cause it's not worth your trouble.

When we left off, Trowa had just headed out with some guards to see if he could find Treize, but he doesn't know that Duo's already dealt with him. Duo is with Quatre in the village, and Wufei has left his clan. I haven't mentioned Heero yet, but he's coming. Trust me, he's coming.

Ok, poll time!

1. Should I make this a yaoi? (guy guy relationships)

2. Should I introduce Hilde and the other B*tches into the story? (I really don't want to, because I really hate Relena+Heero combinations. AND Hilde is....I'm not even going to get into that....)

3. Leave it alone, without any romance whatsoever. (yuch!)

So, let me know what you think I should do.

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Chapter 5 Magic Of Mages

*~* In The Village *~*

The villagers had herded Treize out of their village with the influence of Duo. The had chose to avoid the braided boy, but probably only because they didn't know what he was. They were terrified of anything to do with witchcraft (as most people in this story are).

Quatre had been the only one brave (or stupid-depending on your views) enough to approach the stranger, and he was finding a friend in the one named Duo.

He had offered Duo supper, and Duo had gratefully accepted. Quatre's mother was overjoyed at her son and husband's safe return, and even though she had Duo to thank, she was wary of the newcomer. Being a polite woman, she hadn't turned him down, and he'd enjoyed a meal of chicken and vegetables with the family.

After dinner, he and Quatre had gone for a walk in the woods, as Duo's herb supply was running low.

"What did you mean when you said I wasn't normal?" Quatre asked tentatively.

Duo grinned at the boy. "Your village has just as good a reason to fear you as much as they fear me."

"What do you mean?" The blonde asked. They had reached a small pond, and he bent down, searching for a small flat rock.

Duo gathered some leaves from the edge of the pond, and placed them in his pouch. "Have you ever touched fire before?" he asked. "and it didn't hurt you?"

Quatre didn't answer, as he flung the rock he'd found out over the water, it skipped twice, then sunk. He had told no one about his love for the smell and feel of burning flames. They completely amazed him.

Duo grinned. "I thought so. Here, take this." He handed Quatre a long stick. "Set the end on fire." He commanded.

The far end of the stick in Quatre's hand caught fire as soon as Duo had finished his sentence. He hadn't had time to think about it. The stick was on fire, but it wasn't burning. Duo took it from Quatre and dipped it in the pond. The flames were extinguished momentarily, but as soon as the piece of wood was removed from the water, it caught fire again. Duo returned the branch to Quatre, and he ran his hand over the burning end of the stick. It felt pleasantly warm to him. He then watched the flames disappear slowly as he ordered them to without noticing it.

"Did I do that?" Quatre asked Duo.

The braided angel was about to answer when his body stiffened.

"What's wrong?" The blonde asked as he placed the extinguished stick, which showed no sign of the previous flames, on the ground.

"Something's hurt." Duo mumbled. "C'mon, this way."

Quatre's face changed to an expression of worry. "something?" he asked as he followed Duo into a clearing. An animal lay on the other side, whimpering softly, a trail of blood on the ground.

Quatre started to head for the creature, but Duo reached out a hand to stop him. "It's a wolf." He said. He reached into his bag and pulled out the leaves he'd found near the pond. "you stay here." He whispered to Quatre, who nodded. Duo then headed over to the injured wolf. He muttered soothing words as he approached the animal's head with caution.

He reached out a hand and Quatre held his breath as Duo placed it on the wolf's head. His permission granted, Duo fan his hands over the soft fur, searching for the wound. He soon found it. The wolf's front leg was broken and there was a gash on his stomach. Duo immediately set to work fixing up the wounds.

He then called out softly to Quatre. "Come over here." His voice was a soft whisper.

Quatre approached quietly. "what's his name?" he heard Duo ask him.

"Heero." Quatre replied. "but don't ask me how I know."

After a moment of silence, Duo replied to Quatre's last comment. "maybe you should be asking me how you know." He suggested.

Quatre shifted his gaze from the magnificent animal lying on the ground to the boy tending the wounds. "how do I know?' he asked.

"You're a fire mage." Duo replied. "and fire mages can read people's thoughts."

Quatre turned back to the wolf. "People's thoughts?" he asked.

Duo nodded. "that's not a wolf."

Quatre's eyes went wide. "then it's a person?"

"well, an animal mage." Duo said. "They are born an animal, and when their magical powers are at their heights they can change into humans. In any other circumstance, when their power levels are lower than usual, they can change into other animals." Duo paused, looking up as the sun inched it's way toward the horizon. "it's getting late. You should go back to your parents. I'll come and find you in the morning."

"They won't accept me." Quatre mumbled.

"So don't tell them." Duo's eyes had a mischievous look in them. "I'll help you explain in the morning."

Quatre nodded and left Duo with the wolf, heading back for the comfort and warmth of the village.

Duo turned to the wolf, and continued dressing his wounds. "Heero." He muttered. "that's an odd name. has a nice ring to it though." Duo lit a fire and left the wolf to find some water.

When he returned, two men were in the clearing. Being careful to stay away from the wolf, they had seated themselves on the far side of the fire.

Duo stepped into the clearing beside the wolf. "who are you?" he asked in a menacing voice.

The men trembled slightly, but one of them stood up and bowed. "we are men of King Trowa's army, searching for a slave driver going by the name of 'Treize'." He said.

Duo raised one eyebrow. "Ah, yes. King Trowa." He had heard that the king had died and his nephew had taken charge of King's County. "Well, you can tell your king that Treize has been taken care of and he doesn't need to trouble himself with such matters any longer." He said as he turned back to Heero. He offered the wolf some of the water he'd found, and the animal drank it up gratefully.

"By whom?" the soldier asked.

"I took care of him." Duo answered. He had his back turned to the guards, but he could sense their every move.

The first guard turned to the second and grinned. "But surely this cannot be true. You are just a young boy. How could you have managed to overpower a full grown man?" The second guard snickered.

Duo stood and turned slowly, glaring at the guards. They were both standing on the other side of the fire. The light from the fire cast shadows over Duo's face and reflected off of his violet eyes in a magical way.

Duo narrowed his eyes. "If you do not believe, I cannot help you." He looked up at the sky and spread his wings gracefully. "And although I cannot help you, I have my ways of persuasion." He lowered his gaze to look at the two soldiers who were now trembling in their shoes. Duo then glanced around. His eyes landed on the fire, and he smiled as he lifted it off of the burning wood. The guards froze in fear, eyes glued to the floating flames.

Duo sighed and returned the fire to it's rightful place on the wood. He folded his wings and returned his gaze to the two guards, who were now staring at him. "Bring your king to me." He ordered.

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If you will please notice, the chapters are getting longer! And all of the characters are introduced! YAY! Okie, I'm not hiper, really.......

Anyway, let me know what you think of this fic, and don't forget to input your answer to the poll either through a review, or you can email me at duos_only_chick@hotmail.com

Ok, well, I've got to run. Have a happy new years everyone!

Aria