Dragon Quest

Ch 7

Makoto waited for everybody to finish entering their trials before moving to her own. To her surprise, she found Trowa leaning on the frame of the door, waiting for her.

"Hey silent boy, what, waiting for me? You're so sweet." Makoto smiled patting Trowa's shoulder.

Trowa didn't even flinch, and started walking. Looking behind the door, Makoto and Trowa stopped dead on their tracks. Inside was a vast jungle, and in the far left, they could see a temple-like structure covered with vines and foliage. Walking further into the jungle, they found a large rock with a piece of paper over it. Reaching down, Trowa picked the paper.

"The two chosen must reach the temple. One against the other, they will compete, And without helping the two must succeed." He read putting the paper down.

"I hate riddles! And who the hell wrote that anyway? It doesn't even rhyme correctly!" Makoto looked at the paper with disdain.

(FD "0.# Ouch, that hurt. Flamed by my own characters. T.T" Makoto "Well, if you learned how to rhyme." -FD pokes at Wufei with a stick- Wufei "Injustice woman!" FD "^-^ why thank you for defending me Wuffie." Wufei "0.0????")

Looking around, they found two paths that ran almost parallel to each other; just a thin layer of grass helped distinguish that they ran separately.

"Well, I think this is it Trowa. Gook luck, and remember that both of us have to make it to the end." Makoto extended her hand. Trowa looked from the offered hand to the owner, and after a thought, he decided to shake her hand. No harm done on shaking her hand that he could see.

"Good luck to you too." Trowa offered before taking his place on the other path.

"Well, ready.set.go!" Makoto and Trowa sprang forward. About half a mile after their starting line, they found their first obstacle. A giant tree was the only way of climbing a cliff, which stood in front of them.

Makoto looked up at the tree, sizing it up. On the other trail, Trowa looked up, and with a swift move he jumped to the lower branches. From there, he looked down at Makoto who was still looking up.

"Can you do it?" Trowa yelled, looking at her, almost betting that she couldn't.

Makoto looked up. Nodding, she started to jump up. With the grace of a circus performer, as if she had done before, she jumped in a matter of seconds to where he was. She looked at Trowa who noticed that she hadn't even broken a sweat climbing the tree.

"See, I can do it for myself." She smiled.

Trowa raised an eyebrow; it looked like this girl was stronger than he had previously thought. Finding themselves on flat ground once again, Makoto waited for him to position himself on his trail.

"Ready?" She asked. With a curt nod from Trowa, both of them started again. After a while both dropped to a steady run, none gaining at the other, but not falling behind either. Trowa was actually impressed at her stamina, after running about five miles, she didn't show any signs of stopping any time soon, not that he was tired, but it intrigued him how a girl so slim could run that much without a break.

Entering the jungle, they both began to realize something. The more they ran, the more the temple seemed to get farther away.

"That's odd.it looks as.if we're running.the wrong direction." Trowa slowed a bit.

Makoto looked at him. That was exactly what she had been thinking. While looking at him, Makoto didn't notice a root in front of her. Tripping, she let go a yell while landing in a puddle.

~~

Trowa looked behind him, just to see her landing on what it seemed a puddle of mud, however looking at it better, and watching as Makoto started to sink in it, he realized that it wasn't mud, but quick sand in which she had landed. Carefully, he walked to the edge of the pool, extending a hand he waited for her to take it, but what she did surprised him. Instead of taking his hand, Makoto slapped it away.

"What do you think you're doing?" Makoto asked him.

It took Trowa several seconds to catch up with her meaning. "I'm helping you get out."

"Exactly, 'helping you' being the key word on that sentence." Makoto saw as he looked confused at her. *sigh* "Don't you remember, we can't help each other. If you help me, we'll loose for sure." She said while trying to stay afloat.

Trowa looked surprised at her. This girl was going to let herself die on quick sand just because it would make them loose? Shaking his head, Trowa extended his hand for a second time.

"Hold on to my hand, I'm gonna get you out of there." Trowa tried to grab her hand on his.

"No! don't you see? You have to get out before the trial ends." Makoto told him, panic starting to set in as the sand started to swallow her leaving just her head and one hand out. "Just please, take care of Usagi for me.It seems that I won't be able to guard her anymore." Makoto prompted him.

"No." Trowa looked at her. Makoto looked at him in surprise.

"Huh?" Makoto blinked as she saw Trowa looking around.

"I won't do it since you'll be there to do it yourself." Trowa said while picking up a large branch that was lying around. Quickly, he threw the branch near her. "Now hold on, I'm going to pull you out."

"But the parchment said-" Makoto said while grabbing the branch.

"What it said is not important, we have to get out of here alive." Trowa said while grabbing her hand and pulling her out completely.

"Thank you." Makoto smiled, looking herself she grimaced. "Urg, I'm a mess. And I didn't even pack extra clothes!" She whined trying to make a joke.

Before they could start again, the landscape changed for that of the cavern. Again there were two doors, one in front and one behind them. Looking down, Makoto and Trowa found a small piece of paper. Picking it up, he read out loud.

"To complete any task, you have to put everything aside and work together. Work as one and rejoice as one, your goal has been accomplished, go now and receive your price."

"What? That's it? We're home free to go?" Makoto raised an eyebrow.

"It looks like it." Trowa said waiting for her to go thru the door.

~~~$@~~~$@

"Makoto!" Three voices rang as one. Makoto found herself being held down by two smiling faces while another looked at her within a safe distance of the two blonds.

"I'm so glad that you're out!" Minako hugged her friend.

"Hehe, I'm glad to be out. Thanks to him, I was able to get out of that fun house." Makoto sighed in relief, looking at Trowa. Moving to him, Makoto offered him her hand. This time Trowa accepted it without seconds' thoughts. "Thanks man, I owe you one." She smiled.

Nodding, he moved to where Duo and Wufei watched the scene.

"So, you have a girlfriend now?" Duo smiled slyly winking at Trowa.

Ignoring him, Trowa looked around looking for the rest. Wufei quickly catched up.

"They are not out yet." Wufei said curtly, turning to see the next door.

~~~$@~~~$@~~~$@

Inside the Water Door, Ami walked transfixed looking at the crystals around them. Behind her, Quatre also watched how the large stalactites rose at least five feet tall, made solemnly out of what it seemed glass. The tall structures catched every ray of light that came from the ceiling, multiplying them and sending it in every direction on the cavern.

"Incredible, I had never seen such beauty." Quatre breathed, his voice traveled in echoes down the cavern.

"Indeed this is a rare sight." Ami inspected them, but did not touch them, instead she hugged herself as the coldness of the cavern started to set in.

"What do you think they are made of?" Quatre looked at them carefully trying to determine what kind of rock or crystal was able to dissipate light like that. After a couple of seconds, he too felt a cold wind coming his way.

"I'm not sure, they aren't any kind of rock I've ever seen." Ami frowned. "But they seem to be made out of ice." She thought out loud.

Slowly, Quatre's hand reached to touch one. Running his fingers over the cold surface, Quatre felt as if they where suddenly on the Antarctica. Coldness ran thru his body, and his clothes provided little comfort for him.

"Oh Kami, NO!" Quatre heard Ami yell from behind him. Turning quickly, he discovered that he couldn't move his legs.

"What?!?" Quatre looked in disbelief as his legs were encased to his knees on ice. Taking her computer, Ami tried to analyze the ice. Her fingers flew over the small keyboard giving her no indication on what could be happening.

"This is no good! The Mercury computer says that there is nothing there!" Ami cried.

Quatre's eyes widened when the ice started to grow, taking more of his body. By now, Quatre was covered to his hips.

"Is there any way that we can break it?" Quatre's voice didn't cover the hint of panic that he felt.

"I-I don't know!" Ami tried on her head to imagine all kinds of ways to pull him out. "Grr.what kind of help can I give when all my attacks are made of ice? I would only make it worse."

Quatre looked at her helplessly, the ice had covered his chest already. Ami looked wildly around trying to find something to break the ice with, however, there were only the unforgiving stalactites that had started everything.

"No, no, no, no! why can't I do anything?" Ami started to cry looking as how only Quatre's head was left.

"Help!" Quatre said before being swallowed by the ice.

"Nooooo!!!!" Ami cried and started hitting the ice with her bare fists. "I won't let you die, I wont let you die!" Ami repeated like a mantra while hitting the ice. Driblets of blood fell to the ice. Hit after hit, the ice chipped off Quatre's body, making Ami hit it even more frantically. Wherever her blood touched, the ice melted with a loud hiss, until Quatre was finally free of the ice.

Chocking on little pieces of ice, Quatre was able to breathe once again.

"Oh thanks the goddess you're alright!" Ami cried again, holding Quatre who looked a little blue, but his color started to return to him slowly.

"Thank you. You saved my life." Quatre gave her a weak smile before looking up and gasping.

Looking where he was looking up Ami could see a door. Picking herself up, she helped Quatre to his feet. "Lets go, the rest must be waiting for us." She smiled before drying her tears with the back of her hands. Nodding, they walked thru the door.

~~~$@~~~$@

This time, Ami wasn't the only one to be trampled by the girls. Quatre too, found himself being inspected to see if he was completely fine.

"Are you ok?" Trowa asked concerned looking at the blond pilot.

"Yes, Ami-san here helped me." He smiled. Behind him, Wufei took off his white shirt, handing it to Quatre, leaving him just with his blue tank top. (FD *drools* WD over intercom "mop on aisle 3 please, I repeat mop on aisle 3 please.") Quatre accepted it gratefully and put it on trying to keep warm.

Walking to Ami, Trowa and Quatre bowed. "Thanks you for saving his life." Trowa said making Ami blush.

"Yeah, thanks babe." Duo hugged her making Ami blush even more if possible. From his post, Wufei gave her a curt nod. He was learning even more about these girls and their strength.

Near Ami, Usagi ripped some of her long skirt, making long pieces to wrap on Ami's knuckles. "There, much better!" Usagi smiled as she inspected her work.

"Thank you." Ami smiled looking around, and then she frowned. "But, where are Mamoru-san and Heero-san?" She inquired when she didn't see them.

"They haven't got out of there yet." Rei frowned, looking at the Chaos door.

~~~$@~~~$@~~~$@

Heero and Mamoru looked at the other expectantly, after what it seemed hours, both of them stopped their staring contest and looked at the door.

Taking a deep breath, Mamoru looked at Heero again. "Look kid, I don't like you, you don't like me, but we have to go through this together. What do you say if we let aside our dispute of earlier and cooperate on this one?"

Heero looked at him as a hawk would watch its prey. He did not trust him, but what he had said was true. If he wanted to see his comrades again, he had to work with him. *At least until we get out of here* Heero thought eyeing the door in front of him.

"Hn." Heero.said before moving to the door. Giving a shrug, Mamoru followed him.

To their surprise, Heero and Mamoru entered the same room that they had been before choosing the doors. Yep, there it was the big stone door, the little statues, the altar filled with blood, the door going to where they ate, the- Wait a minute.the altar filled with blood?!?! What the hell? That wasn't there before! Both, Heero and Mamoru looked intently at the altar, just a small piece of cloth lay on one corner of the altar. Something was behind it, that was for sure, but what they didn't know.

Turning to see each other, Heero gave him a curt nod, and with that they decided to investigate. However, what they saw there made their blood turn cold, even Heero's mask fell leaving his emotions show freely. Emotions that he thought he would never have again. There on a pile behind the altar where littered the bodies of the senshis' and the G-boys. Heero couldn't believe what he saw, all his comrades, his only friends were lying in the floor covered in blood. Wufei's tunic was covered by a coppery color; Quatre's blond hair was now tainted by his own blood. Trowa's body lay spread in front Quatre's as if he had been trying to protect him from something, and in the back, Duo's body lay bloody, his hair had come out of his usual braid, and fell all over the ground like a halo around him, absorbing the blood around him giving him a macabre look to the already horrifying scene. Behind him, Mamoru was in a similar state of shock.

"True leaders know when to face difficult tasks, even if it means to sacrifice their followers or themselves." A femenine voice said. Suddenly, the bodies started to float forming a line. "Now then, you as leaders must decide. Take your lives, and their will be returned. Leave them be, and continue your mission, get out of here alive and the trial will be done. You then can go back to your worlds and this will be saved from destruction." A pair of daggers appeared over the bloody altar. "Choose your faiths then. Your lives or theirs and the lives of everybody on this world, it's all in your hands." The voice disappeared, leaving Heero and Mamoru to decide their future.

~~~$@~~~$@~~~$@

G-boys as senshi alike, watched in disbelief at the scene before them. After hearing Usagi and Minako give a loud scream, the G-boys had ran to see what had scared them to make them yell like that. Looking thru the last door, their eyes widened as they watched entranced the scene in front of them. However once they saw the daggers appear, everyone paled. Within a second Duo tried to step inside the door finding it impossible, then he started to pound on the field frantically, calling out to Heero to stop.

"Don't worry, they won't do it." Rei tried to joke.

"Yeah, they know better than to kill themselves." Usagi looked at the door. Duo turned to look at her, his face as white as ash while grabbing Usagi by her shoulders.

"You don't understand!" He yelled while shaking her not too gently. "Of course he will!!! He is suicidal! They're practically giving him a self- destructing device!!!" Again Duo turned to the door.

Makoto looked confused at Trowa who shrugged. "It's like giving candy to a child." He said before turning to see the door.

"Duo, calm down," Usagi put a hand over his shoulder. "Mamo-chan won't let him kill himself." She tried to reassure the hyper-ventilating boy.

~~~$@~~~$@~~~$@

Heero looked from the dagger to the bodies of his friends floating by his side, without a second thought, he took the knife on his hand. Moving in front of his friends, he looked at every one of them while caressing the blade with his thumb.

Besides him, Mamoru looked at the dagger not thinking clearly. Usako, his Usako was dead and all of this was his fault. If he had hurried, she would still be alive. With dead eyes, he reached for the weapon and walked in front of the senshis' bodies.

~~~$@~~~$@~~~$@

Usagi tried to calm Duo, telling him that everything would be ok. Glancing thru the door, Usagi stopped dead on her tracks. "What the hell does he think he's doing?!?!?!" Usagi yelled making all the senshi and the G-boys turn to see Mamoru with the dagger on his hand.

"I can't believe he fell for illusions! Illusions god damnit!" Rei hit the barrier with her hand.

"But they don't know that, they still think they are us." Quatre said looking at his double.

"But what can we do?! They're gonna kill themselves any moment now!" Duo yelled desperate.

"Calm down. We won't do anything if we all go into hysterics." Trowa looked at him.

"Ami, is there any way we can get to him? Maybe our communicators could work?" Makoto asked.

"No, I tried calling you guys from inside the trial but it didn't work." Ami said regretfully.

"But we have to reach them before they do something stupid!" Rei growled.

"Well, unless you have some way to project yourselves or contact them with our minds, I don't think you will be able to do anything." Wufei crossed his arms over his chest, watching worriedly at the boys behind the door. All movement stopped, and the senshis turned to see Usagi, hope shining in their eyes.

"The link!" Minako exclaimed excited.

"Do you think you can do it?" Ami asked.

"It's a possibility." Makoto said.

The G-boys looked at the senshis strangely.

"I'm gonna try it." Usagi nodded.

~~~$@~~~$@~~~$@

Mamoru looked at the dagger on his hand, and then at Usagi's body thinking on all the things that they had gone through their former life, all their battles, meeting twice and getting to know each other all over again, not to mention falling in love all over again.

*I remember our fist kiss, our fist date. I still remember how sweet the smell of her perfume was, her sweet voice I can just hear it if I think about her.* He thought.

//Mamo-chan//

*See, I feel like she's still talking to me* He sighed.

//Mamo-chan!!//

He frowned *Well, more like yelling at me, but still I loved her. That's why I'm gonna do what I have to do.*

//Chiba Mamoru! I'm talking to you!!!// The mental yell startled Mamoru, making him drop the dagger. Quickly he looked around, but the only living thing besides him was Heero who was looking at the bodies of his friends. Frowning, he bent to pick up the dagger.

//I must be hearing things// he thought shaking his head.

//Mamo-chan it's me!"//

//Usako? B-but how? You're dead in front of me!// Mamoru looked at the body in front of him.

//They're illusions! Don't let them fool you. I don't have much time, you have to convince Heero not to kill himself and get out of there as fast as possible!// Her voice sounded desperate.

//But how do I know that you are not the illusion?// Mamoru asked.

//Please Mamo-chan, look at them, really look into them.//

Giving a heavy sigh, Mamoru looked at the bodies.HH Concentrating on their souls instead of the actual bodies. One by one they began to fade until they disappeared leaving nothing but the wall.

//It worked!// He cheered.

//Of course it worked. Now go and help Heero!// Usagi's voice hurried him.

Turning to see the other boy, Mamoru could still see the bodies of the G- boys floating in front of Heero. Moving towards him, Mamoru was a moment too late when he saw Heero bringing the blade to his wrist.

~~ Just moments before~~

Heero kept looking at Duo, Trowa, Quatre and Wufei floating there. Duo's hair kept dripping what it seemed rivers of blood which never ceased. Quatre's lifeless face had a sad expression that Heero had never seen before during those endless years of war. Trowa's only visible eye kept looking at him as if blaming him for what had happened. And Wufei's hand clenched his katana as if in a last attempt of defending himself.

*This is all my fault. It was my responsibility to look for them as their leader.* Heero looked at them. *I failed them as I failed the little girl and her dog. In this world there is no room for failures.* He thought before bringing the blade to his wrist, this was going to be his punishment for his carelessness. He could feel the cold blade on his skin as his eyes never left their bodies. However, before he could give the last push where the blade would cut his skin, a hand grabbed him stopping him from completing his mission.

"Let go of me." Heero hissed not even turning to see who had stopped him since he knew that the only one that could have been was Mamoru.

"Sorry buddy, but it's not your time yet." Mamoru frowned as he pried the knife from Heero's hand, throwing it to the other side of the room.

"What do you think your doing?!" Heero sent him a Death Glare while looking around for the knife once again.

"Oh, no you won't." Mamoru gripped Heero's hand while pulling him to the door that had appeared when the false senshi had disappeared.

"You will not be an impediment to complete my mission. All obstacles must be removed." Heero said in monotone as he tried to pry his arms of the older boy. With a swift move he crouched and swiped Mamoru's legs from under him, making him loose his balance. However, Mamoru was able to grip Heero's tank top and pull him with him. Moving quickly, Heero got to his feet fingering where his gun was supposed to be and cursing once again when he didn't find it.

Watching as Heero was distracted, Mamoru reached once again for him getting another couple of steps closer to the door. "C'mon Heero, we don't have all day." Mamoru growled as he took another two steps to the door. Heero kept struggling as Mamoru dragged him each time farther from the dagger. With a last pull, Heero tried to get rid of his captor almost succeeding on freeing himself. However, Mamoru towered him while keeping him in place with a dead grip to his waist. "Just.a little.bit more." Mamoru kept dragging him until they were just a pace from reaching the door when Heero twisted his body and made Mamoru loose his balance again.

~~

"There they come." Minako yelled.

"Hmph, more like there he comes dragging Heero." Wufei said without humor.

"Well, at least they're coming out." Duo gave a sigh of relief, but kept glancing nervously as Heero almost got free from Mamoru's hold.

"They're almost here." Makoto paced behind the group.

"They'll be out in just a moment." Quatre look intently at the two on the other side when Mamoru lost his grip from Heero.

"No!" Usagi yelled trying to make contact with Mamoru but failing. In a desperate move, Usagi tried to reach Mamoru who was only a feet away from her on the other side. To everyone's surprise, her hand made it thru the wall. Quickly, she got a hold of Mamoru's collar and pulled with all her might. Seeing this Duo moved to her side, and grabbing her hand, he too pulled.

~~

"Ahhh!!!" Mamoru felt himself being pulled from behind. Acting on instinct, Mamoru got a hold of the first thing in front of him, which happened to be Heero. Grabbing him from the shoulder both fell backwards to the door.

~~

Everyone saw in slow motion as Mamoru and Heero fell from the other side, getting out of the room. With that last pull, Usagi and Duo were able to take Mamoru and Heero out but when they fell thru, they fell over Usagi and Duo making a heap on the floor.

"Mamo-chan! You're alright!" Usagi hugged him not caring that they were on the floor.

"Thank you for making me see that they were only illusions Usako." Mamoru helped her to stand.

"YOU! What the hell do you think you were doing?!?!" Duo yelled while still being on top of Heero. "Why did you try to kill yourself again? I thought we had had a little talk about all this suicidal business!!!" Duo kept yelling looking down at Heero who didn't say a word. He just kept looking at Duo's eyes. Shaking his head, Heero looked around him and with a 'Hn' he stood up making Duo fall on his butt besides him.

"So.did we make it?" Quatre asked trying to divert the attention from Duo and Heero.

"I don't know, but I think it's better if we go to the altar to see what's next." Trowa turned to see the altar. Moving to the center of the room each one of the statues had something on their claws which started glowing the moment that they all stepped on the circle.

Suddenly, all the torches extinguished leaving only the glowing spheres to give them light. Looking around, they saw something coming down from the ceiling straight to them, engulfing them on its light.



~~~$@~~~$@~~~$@

FD: So, what do you think? Neat huh. WD: Why, miss modesty herself has spoken. FD: ;p Anyway, we're done with the trials now. Wufei: finally Duo: but why so much angst Quatre: and why did I have to be encased on ice *achoo* Trowa: now you made him sick. FD: just a bowl of chicken soup and rest and he'll be as good as new. Quatre: Well, I'm not that sick Trowa: lets get you into bed Quatre: ^-^ thinking about it, I am feeling kinda dizzy. FD: o.0 hey, why don't I get a cute nurse? Wufei: Are you sick? FD: no, but I can be. Wufei -_-;;; never mind. FD: Oh well, until next chapter. Ja ne.