The day a failure leads to a lot of pain. It's not fun to read, nor was it to write, especially for Quatre fans. (Ie: ME!!) CHAPTER SIX: DEATH BLOW.

SHOUT OUTS!! !!

Fairren: Don't worry about misinterpretations. I'm used to it at school. I'm afraid I'm not sure what you're asking, though. But as far as Quatre's mom goes, in the actual manga, Quatre was born naturally, but his mother knew she would die giving birth to him. She chose to die to bear Winner Senior's son, and she was, and I quote from Winner Senior, the "strongest and most noble of all." So he expects a lot of Quatre, and when Quatre first fought in a mobile suit (with the Maganacs!! ), Winner Senior labeled Quatre that. But in my story, there's a whole lot more to Lady Catherine's death. It'll be explained later on. Hee hee! There is an element of mystery in my story!!! Actually, let me check . . . You find out in. . . Chapter 9. I'm sure of it. So wait until then, and you'll find out what happened to Quatre's mom. (It's sad. (tear. . . ))

Eight more chapters left! Nearly done with my story!! (And then out comes another, that's set almost a millennium in the future in the same setting.)

Okay, as far as the "" and the "" and the "", etc, I'm trying new stuff to see if I can separate stuff in my texts. The Quickedit doesn't like long lines, so I'm trying new stuff. Sorry if it bothers you. Try to work with me . . . I hope those will show up. I'm also trying a new save format. Tell me whatcha think!!

If anyone could tell me how to work the Quickedit, I would greatly appreciate it. In other words, I'm pathetic and don't know how to work it.

If my explanations are not enough, I love to answer personal questions!!!

I have no idea how many lawyers will read this, so just in case, I do not own Gundam Wing.

One more question. Then you can read the story. How does one pronounce "Treize"? It's really important in another one of my stories. I'm thinking it's "Treez", but I'm not sure. Could someone tell me the right way?

"Temper is the one thing you can't get rid of by losing it." Jack Nicholson in "Anger Management".

Wufei had put it off as long as he could, trying to find some way to hide it. But the more he imagined a way to hide Quatre's face, the more he found it was impossible. Dirtying him would not block the eyes, and a hood was too obvious. He just looked too much like his mother.

"This place is so huge, Wufei!" Quatre cried, amazement in his tone as he looked up at the tall buildings of Perdition's capital. Wufei winced as several people looked his way, but many just shook their heads and continued. The rest just stared a bit longer and then moved on.

Maybe it was just luck that the Winner family was from the far north, and the children of Lord Winner would not be a common sight. But once they reached the palace, there would be trouble. Certainly the guards would know Lady Catherine.

'Do not tell him his heritage, Chang.' The warning rang in his head and Wufei glared at the dirt beneath his feet. Treize had given him that warning just before they left, and Wufei was not going to go against it. He knew what could come with the truth of his past. Betrayal. Loss of his friend.

Wufei glanced up at Quatre's blond head, bouncing on the dirt path with an energy only a teenager could have. Wufei chuckled lightly and stared at him. His hair. It was too long. It looked like he could have had a mage tail, which he did. It would have to be cut.

He found a shepherd in a heartbeat and demanded a hair cut. Quatre had been astonished to say the least, but with the shorter hair hugging his head, he looked much more the peasant. (1)

There was nothing left to do except for confronting the king.

Yet another boring discussion. Duo rustled his robes impatiently. What was the reason for trade prices? It was almost as if a war was being fought, without words or swords. Glaring at the table, Duo slowly opened his mind to whatever the river of life brought him. A woman was washing her baby, cooing to it under her breath. A man was yelling at a stubborn donkey, calling it what it was. A wench was entertaining several men at a bar, and was definitely going to have several tips. And far away, a desert trader leaned over his camel's neck, taking a bolt of fabric to bring to the south, to sell in the cheapest of trade prices.

"Trader's coming, looking for the cheapest," Duo muttered and then faded back into the river. He could hear his boy relaying the words and then it was all lost. Strange how simple life was to the peasantry. A farmer plowing his field. A woman yelling at her children.

There was a flicker of flame in his mind and he carried himself back, staring at the blue fire that burned there. How strange. He knew he was becoming mesmerized, that he should pull away, but why? He could feel Helen suddenly inside his mind, scrambling to find him. But he was lost, lost in the blue flames.

His eyes alight with something akin to fear, he turned their sightless depths to the door, where most of the lords were suddenly looking. A feral smile played on his lips. "He comes."

The wave of power that crashed into his senses nearly threw him from his mind as the door was suddenly thrown open, a boy that he knew standing there. The boy with power. The boy with so much power Duo looked like a whimpering babe. Yet he could sense the boy knew only how to use half of it. He could sense the shock from the courtesans, and he forced his mind to come out of the trance.

What his eyes fell upon caused him to utter an exclamation. "By the river, it's him!"

Those eyes were unmistakably a Winner's eyes. Only the Winner children had Catherine's eyes. Yet they could not be. Hatred of a sort he could not encounter was burning deep in them.

"You killed me."

The statement caused the courtesans to run off, all except for the heart-broken Lord Winner, who was watching his son with something in family to awe. The king only stared at the boy, a look of bemused surprise on his face. "Oh, did I?"

This only seemed to anger the boy, and he lifted his head, baring his throat for all the world to see. A scar, thin and red, angry and still raw, was there, etched into his body for all eternity. "Caused by your decrees."

The king smirked. "I asked not for you to be killed. It must have been a mistake."

The boy smirked in return. It nearly caused Duo to cringe. The Winner's face was a face for a loving look, not the mocking grin that covered it now. "Avenge a wrong for a wrong. You cut my throat. Now, it is time for yours."

A blast of power burst out at Darlian, but Duo easily blocked it without moving. He got to his feet and waited as the boy let his anger build. Duo closed his eyes and then opened them, finding the color of powers. Green was beside the king, looking like it was ready to kill. Blue covered the boy, and Duo could not doubt it was the same one. The green leapt, and suddenly, a black powered man appeared out of nowhere, blocking the attack.

Duo quickly changed his sight back to normal vision. Trowa was fighting the black powered man, and Duo could see the same face that he had seen before only in his mind. A powerful man, a warrior fully trained. As was Trowa. The clash of the warriors was something indeed to watch. Black battled green as power was thrown into their attacks, making the fight all the more dangerous.

The boy was huddled in a corner, wincing as he held a bleeding hand to his chest. It did not look too bad, just a scratch, but it probably still hurt if Trowa had thrown power into it. The fight was growing fiercer, and suddenly, Duo saw their swords catch. Neither could overpower the other, yet both tried to do so.

Duo gasped when he saw a build of power growing in Trowa. He would not dare attack like that! It could kill him and the others in the room. Duo threw up a shield around him and the king and his children, remembering belatedly to add Winner to the mix. (2)

The power built up, growing to fill his mind. A small bubble floated from his arms up, and suddenly, everything exploded. The warrior was thrown back, his sword broken and his face bloody.

"WUFEI!"

The boy was on his feet, moving remarkably fast for being wounded. His arms cast out and a shield caught the warrior and settled him down, and the boy threw himself at Trowa.

Duo nearly jumped into the fight to stop him, but he knew it would only get him killed, whether in an attack or in a trial for treason. He felt anger that the Potential could just die like this, but he resigned to it.

Trowa had no doubts about killing the obvious Winner heir and brought his sword down upon the boy's outstretched hand.

The sword bounced back.

Duo stumbled back under the blow that was cast about the room in an attempt to throw it away. The boy was battle trained? How? Who?! When?!! Why. . . ? How?!!

"BATTLE TRAINED?" he screamed, before he cast the shield stronger. Trowa threw his sword down again, and the boy caught in it his hands. The sword was stuck and though Trowa obviously tried, he could not bring it back from the grip. Power surrounded the sword and the boy's grin returned. The power both kept the sword together and, as Duo could see from even that distance, was destroying it. The look of horror filling Trowa's normally emotionless face told Duo just how strange it was to find that.

The boy held it tight, and suddenly, he dropped his hands. The sword disintegrated. The boy screamed a word in a tongue he did not know and then light filled the room, so bright Duo could not see.

A moment later it faded, and the boy and the warrior were gone.

Wufei hurt. Somewhere between his pain and the power that was still pounding his head, he knew he was being moved. Where, he had no clue. But if he could find out who . . .

Desperately, he opened his eyes. Light filled them and he closed them quickly, moaning. There was a sudden cry of surprise and he felt the ground beneath him. Funny, but he did not remember the feeling of being carried. Only the feeling of moving.

"Where am I?"

"Outside of Perdition. Oh, my head hurts. Rasid told me to never use that unless it was a necessity, but I think that this time it was. How are you?"

Even if he had not recognized the voice, he would have known who it was. "I'm fine Quatre. Just hurting."

"I failed, Wufei. Do you think His Kingship will be too angry?"

Wufei could sense the waves of fear rolling off of his friend and he attempted a smile. "Nah. You tried, and you sure as anything scared those people out of their wits. Come on, get me up."

"No way. He hit you good. You are not moving until I am certain you're fine."

Wufei settled back down, wondering that it was so soft. He had not felt grasses this soft in a long time. He let out a satisfied sigh and curled up next to Quatre, falling asleep quickly.

Even if he was tired enough to sleep, he would not have been able to. Every one in the castle and city knew of it within several hours. Within a week, everyone in Perdition ought to know what happened.

The king was attacked in broad day light in his own castle. The king had mercifully lived, yet the attackers had disappeared without a trace. The enchanter had talked of it to several hired shadows and said he had felt the power before it came, but he could not warn them of it because it had entranced him so much.

Heero was not sure what to think. Duo had been entranced by a power greater than his own, drawing him like a moth to a light. When Heero had broken his rules of staying hidden, he had questioned Duo's teacher, who told him she had felt him disappear inside his mind, as if he had left himself and yet had left no grounder. It scared him more than he could imagine.

How could this enchanter, well trained and disciplined, throw it all away with one brush of a huge power? Heero was troubled, but when he doubled his guard, he did not think on it. He had too much to think of to begin with.

Wufei was hurting more than anything he had ever imagined. Even getting attacked with that power hurt less than this. He could feel a small amount of pain proportional to what Quatre was feeling through their link, and he could do nothing.

Treize narrowed his eyes again and Quatre winced, his knees weak and holding him only because Treize willed him to stand. Wufei felt the sharp jab of pain as Quatre started gasping again. The court only watched. It was punishment for failing, and Wufei felt a guilty stab. Quatre's sharp breaths ragged at his throat, and Wufei could feel his own breaths catch.

Treize pulled at another mental torture string and Quatre cried out, his legs shaking in pain. Wufei felt tears start and he lowered his eyes. How could his king do this to this child? Quatre was only a teenager. He was only fifteen. How could he hurt him like this?

He felt Quatre's breaths stop altogether and he looked up in fear. Quatre was starting to lose his consciousness and Wufei knew what would happen then. He would be called weak and he would be beaten physically instead of mentally.

He felt his rage building and pain ripped at his mind. Shaking with rage, he rebuked Treize with all he had. The power of his mental slap threw his king back in his throne and dropped Quatre to the ground.

"Chang."

Wufei looked up, not at all regretting what he had done. "Yes, My King?"

"Did you just rebuke me?"

Wufei thought. That would be the word for what he did. "Yes." (3)

"Why?"

"He is just a child. It was not his fault he missed the king. Besides, the king did nothing to him. It was his assassin. Why attack the king to avenge himself when he was not the first to make a mistake?"

Treize looked furious. "You think that this discipline is wrong?"

This time Wufei lost control of his rage. "Discipline? Discipline! This is torture! Discipline tells the child what he did wrong, but does not hurt him in such a way!"

Treize's face suddenly softened. "True. But now I fear that you have done a wrong. You have said the king is wrong. Is the king ever wrong? He has divine right. Now, fear the king's wrath."

Wufei took a deep breath, knowing it would be his last. But if he could have bought time for Quatre . . . It was now clear to him that Quatre was not safe in Loquacity. He cared not one iota for his king, especially seeing the complete pain he had inflicted on his friend. Maybe he could send one last message to Quatre. A picture of his mother, a piece of his heritage. It was all he could leave him.

Wufei felt the power at the end of his link to the king, the link that was created between bodyguard and king when the guard was initiated. This blow would be the first of that king, and the last. The death blow.

He waited. The power built and he felt his chest clench in anticipation. Suddenly, he felt a warm presence in his mind and a soft smile. A link of friendship, a touch of brotherly love, and then, his mind was totally blocked from all links as the presence surrounded him.

He looked up in shock and fear at Quatre. "No! QUATRE!"

There was a sharp blow, yet he felt none of it. Quatre suddenly shot upright, and a seizure ran up his body, snapping his neck dangerously, before he crumpled.

Wufei stood, shocked. He was numb. His friend was dead. Killed for him. No. It could not be. There was no way he could be. Quatre was strong. He could not be killed so easily. It had to be a mistake.

The presence was gone. His link was hard to touch. It burned in mental pain, and Wufei began to walk to Quatre's still form. His hands were trembling as he reached down to touch Quatre's throat, hoping to find a pulse. Before he could touch it, Treize's voice rang out and arms jerked him back, pulling him away. Two other guards were taking him, and he had yet to find if he was really dead.

Wufei fought. He was a demon to fight, and he knew it. There was a reason he had been chosen as the king's guard. He managed to get one arm free to knock one guard senseless before a sharp blow left him reeling and easy game for the rest of the guards.

Important stuff incase anyone asks. These are just notes, mainly to refresh one's memory or something along those lines. Or simply to explain it. If this is not enough, I love to answer personal questions!!!

(1) So, Quatre now looks like himself. Before it was about to his chin, and before that, waist or longer.

(2) Just to make sure you remember, the head (in this world) has destructive powers with enchanter and soldier powers, so, when Trowa was pulling his power into his head, he was getting ready to throw out destructive power. Get it? It's in chapter, um, 2, near the bottom. Here it is: "Slowly, the power started to move, from his limbs to his torso, to his head, where Wufei knew destructive powers lay."

(3) Okay, so to make this understandable, Wufei uses his power, but does not put words to it. Unfortunately, I have to describe it for you, and so use the words that he would use if he put words to it. Does that make sense?

Teaser:

Helen glared at him as he came back to his body, a grin on his face. "What do you think you're doing, Duo? He's powerful and an enemy."

"Who suffered under that who he trusted. He's a child as well. He's easily influenced." Helen's face hardened even more.

"You sound just like Treize."

Thanks for reading! Come again! REVIEW PLEASE!!

Kay Kylo