Author's Note: Keep reading. Keep reviewing.

------------------------------

Heero froze as he watched Duo falling from the canopy, his attack on the gryphon stopping. His heart stopped for a moment as time seemed to slow down. He watched the boy hit a large branch and he swore he heard the painful crack of bone. It was the boy's cry of pain that brought him out of his daze. Duo was now caught by the ankle in a tangle of branches. Heero hadn't noticed it, but the gryphon was no longer in front of him. Instead it stood under Duo, coiled and ready to jump. And jump it did, its large beaked jaw opening, ready to snap closed around its victim.

"Duo!"

He didn't even notice that the cry of the boy's name came from him and his body acted on its own accord, pushing off of the ground to fly to the young boy's rescue. His shout had caused Duo to look down and he saw the braided boy's face written with fear as the gryphon closed in on him. Though he was moving, it felt as if he was far away; too far away, and moving as if in slow motion. His heart started to jump again and he heard it echo in his ears. He wasn't going to make it. His eyes looked to Wufei, whose roar made the surrounding forest tremble. He was unable to reach Duo, since he had been wounded and now couldn't stand.

"Duo!"

His shout had a lot more fear in it, since the gryphon's beak was now close enough to take off Duo's head. He felt his heart racing and it then clenched painfully. He would lose Duo, he would lose his prince. Again. He didn't know when he did it, but his dagger was changed to the shaft of an arrow and he notched it into the bow that appeared in his free hand. Duo would not be stolen from him.

"Not again.", he hissed and the arrow went flying.

The monster gave a loud screech as it was hit in its side and it fell to the ground, rolling away painfully. Heero didn't pause and another arrow was in his hand, and it was released without hesitation. The beast was trying to stand when the arrow hit its chest. It was knocked backwards and it crashed into one of the large trees. Heero glared as it struggled to right itself, but didn't allow it to; or he had tried at least. The gryphon had learned of Heero's intention rather quickly and it moved with a speed towards him. The king wasn't prepared for it and he cried out as a talon slashed across his chest. It caused him to drop the bow and arrow, and he fell to the ground hitting his head on a rock.

His vision blurred and he kept still so that it would clear. When it did he was greeted with a view of the tree tops, when he thought it would have been the gaping mouth of the beast.

"No!", he cried, and he struggled to sit up.

The gryphon was now under Duo once again, the boy still struggling to to free himself. With a hand cradling his wounded chest, Heero forced himself to stand. He looked for his bow, but found it was snapped in two. Thanks to the help of the gryphon's beak. His sword was too far off and his dagger was useless. He had failed.

The gryphon watched up at its prey as the small human tried its best to free itself from the trap it was caught in. Its muscles tensed as it prepared itself to jump up, wings folding close to its body. As the boy gave a cry, it sprang, jaw opening wide, ready to have the taste of blood on its tongue. It was however, greeted with the feeling of fire being shot into its throat.

With a painful shriek, it fell back to the ground, one of its wings breaking under the pressure. The gryphon wriggled on its back for a moment, eyes looking up to see if it could find its attacker. It only found another arrow on its way, lit with fire and it embedded itself in the creature's throat. It tried to shriek again but it couldn't. The bird-like monster turned over, its legs quivering under it as it struggled to lift itself. It looked up into the tree, with a strangled squawk, to see a boy standing bow and arrow poised and ready. The boy gave a smirk and then the arrow was released. It struck between the gryphon's eyes, the monster crying out and then falling to its side. It continued to move for a moment and then it stilled.

Duo was panting as he watched the creature die and he looked up as the branches he was caught in jerked, troubling his ankle. He was greeted with the sight of a tall boy, probably his age. His green eyes watched at him as he smiled down at him. His state of dress was a little provocative, not that Duo was complaining. His black leather pants weren't tight, but form fitting and his sleeveless tunic was somewhat midriff. Duo stared at him in interest for a short while until pain shot through his ankle. His adrenaline was lowering, so his other matters were making themselves known. Like his shoulder that throbbed relentlessly.

"Duo!"

Heero's voice caused him to look down, to find the Fairy King flying toward him. It wasn't long before his poor ankle was finally freed, and he and Heero were lowering toward the ground.

"Heero?", Duo asked, grimacing at the pain in his shoulder, "Are you okay?"

"You shouldn't worry about me.", Heero said, gently cradling Duo to him, "We should be worrying about you. I nearly lost you."

Duo paused as Heero brought his forehead to rest against his. He felt the king's hold tighten gently and he heard Heero sigh. He looked at Heero's eyes to see them closed in relief, and as their feet touched the ground, Heero brought his arms fully around Duo.

"I won't lose you again.", Heero whispered and Duo frowned.

It seemed as if Heero wasn't aware of anything at the moment. He was lost, probably in memories.

Duo, are you alright?

Duo turned to look to the dragon, whose breath panted as if in pain and he then noticed the dragon's wounded front leg.

"I'm fine.", Duo told him, "Though I think I broke something. My ankle's a little sprained, but at least I'm not dead."

Duo eyes were trained onto the now lifeless gryphon and he felt Heero slowly let go of him. Though he supported him somewhat so that he didn't put pressure on his ankle. The king and Wufei both had eyes trained onto the tree that held the newcomer. The boy only smiled down at them, jade eyes watching calmly, yet almost mischievously. His bow rested by his side, held in his left hand, a loose arrow held in his right. It was placed back inside of the quiver that hung in the boy's back and his bow joined it.

"I save your lives and all I get are stares?", the boy asked, arms crossing against his chest, "I swear, people nowadays can be so rude."

Wufei was now back into his human form, his left hand cradling his right arm as he stood besides his comrades. His eyes glared up at the boy who continued to smugly look back at them. He didn't trust this boy, savior or not.

"Who are you?", he asked, the boy chuckling.

With a graceful leap, the boy did a quick acrobatic display, before landing in front of the Dragon Lord himself. His eyes held Wufei's as he granted the man a bow and he smiled.

"I am Triton, my Lord.", Trowa answered, straightening himself, "And I am at at your service."

Wufei eyed the boy warily and he was wasn't the only one to. Heero watched the boy with caution also. There was something about him that they weren't quite sure could be trusted.

"Thanks for saving me, I mean us.", Duo offered with a smile.

"How fortunate that you were close by and able to come to our rescue.", Heero said, Trowa shrugging.

"Lucky for you I was in the wrong place at the right time. I was looking for my way out of here when I heard the commotion.", Trowa provided, "I came to see what was going on and decided to help out when I saw the young beauty was in trouble."

Duo felt Heero's grip on him tighten and it was his groan of pain that made the man loosen it. The king was definately acting strange. Hell everything was strange, since the moment he fell through the mirror.

"Well thanks again, uh..."

"Triton.", Trowa provided.

He had been told by Remius not to provide his real name. There was a small chance that they had heard of him, but he didn't want to risk it. His eyes turned to Wufei, the dragon now favoring his right arm. He was aware that the Dragon Lord didn't trust him at all, and he knew that he would be the hardest one to get to. He had better start getting to work now.

"Would you like some help with that?", he offered and Wufei glared, "I'm only trying-"

"I can do it on my own.", Wufei said curtly.

He didn't want this boy's help. He would usually know the intent of others, but he didn't know what this boy wanted. It made him somewhat nervous not knowing what this young man had planned, and he didn't want to get too comfortable with him. He could be trouble.

"Wufei."

He looked to the Fairy King at the call of his name and he followed Heero's eyes to Duo. He was close to fainting, something the boy did frequently, but it seemed as if he was fighting it. He needed some aid, that broken bone of his wasn't going to set itself.

"We have to get him deeper into Myrthril.", Wufei said and Heero nodded.

He then turned to "Triton", who seemed bored with the entire situation and was examining his nails.

"You."

Trowa turned to him, granting him a smug smile.

"Why don't you make yourself useful, look for something that we can use to brace his ankle with.", Wufei commanded, "Now!"

Trowa bowed again mockingly and he turned to walk off, making sure to tantalizingly sway his hips. The dragon only rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to the wounded boy in Heero's arms.

Trowa didn't get to walk very far, he was stopped as he came face to face with an arrow head. He nervously backed away, and slowly raised his hands in submission.

"Gentleman, I believe we have a problem."

"We know.", was Wufei's response.

Trowa now backed away with the others and they all found themselves surrounded. The small army of elves that circled them were ready to kill if anything went wrong, and their glaring eyes made Duo nervous.

"Well this is just great.", Duo mumbled to himself.

Then he was out again, unable to stay awake any longer.

------------------------------

Angelus now sat in Milliardo's company, the Great Wind seated on what was a chair carved out of stone. The cave was now furnished as if it was a room, though when Angelus walked through here earlier, it had been just stone and ice. It was the work of magic Angelus knew, but it took him by surprise. Even the Seer who saw all could be taken by surprise.

"Please excuse my manners.", Milliardo said with a smile, "It has been awhile since I've held company."

"It's alright.", Angelus assured him, "Besides, I'm not sure on how to be good company."

The two men shared a laugh, that soon turned to an awkward silence. Angelus did have a reason for coming to visit him. It was better to get it out of the way. He needed to know much more than what the Great Wind could tell him. He wanted to save Remius, no matter how much his brother wanted him not to. That meant he would have to play a part in the Fairy King's search for his prince. Anything for his brother; his blood.

"Why don't you ask me the question that has been plaguing your mind.", Milliardo suggested, "I'm willing to help you any way I can."

"Tell me, what do you know?", Angelus asked, eyes studying the man across from him, "Everything you know and are willing to provide."

With a sigh, Milliardo leaned back into his chair, his arms propped on the arm rest as his hands steepled in front of him. He had been waiting for someone to approach him for centuries. It was the Seer that answered his silent plea and he was more than happy, more than willing to tell.

"Relena, the former Elfin Princess of Myrthril.", he started, his eyes staring off into nothing, "She was always a troublesome child. It was expected the day she was denounced and refused the throne. Her taste for the Black Arts is what caused her to be driven from her own lands. Now she resides in her dark castle with her servants, fools trapped by her ways. To think I was one of those fools, even if it was only once."

His eyes turned to Angelus, and they locked with the man's, who sat silently and patiently.

"She had always had her heart set on the Fairy King. Since the day she saw him, she knew she had to have him. Her father had tried to convince Heero to marry her, but he refused. She chased him for years trying to win his heart, but he wouldn't give in. She tried spells, she tried curses, but nothing in all of her knowledge of the Black Arts would work on him. Then came the birth of the Human Prince. Did you not predict, Oh Great Seer, that Heero would fall for the boy? When he set eyes on the child as a babe, did you not know he fell in love with him?"

"Yes.", Angelus admitted, "However, I misjudged that love. Any man can love a child. I did not know that it was True Love."

"I'm sure that Cupid would have missed it as well.", Milliardo commented with a smirk, "It was truly love at first sight. So Heero watched the boy grow, his love for him growing stronger as each year passed and Relena knew. She was always a jealous woman and she always had to have her way. So when Heero and Duo announced their love to each other and then to all they came across, she would take it no longer."

"She offered Heero a kingdom farther than the eye could see.", Angelus said, adding the part of the tale he knew, "Absolute power and control over all creatures. All; but only if he would take her as his lover."

"And Heero refused, claiming that Duo was the only lover he would ever have.", Milliardo said sitting up.

"So in her rage she took his heart...", Anegelus continued.

"Threw it to the ground and shattered it...", Milliardo put in.

"And she called upon the Great Wind and ordered him, under threat, to scatter the shards to the farthest corners of the earth...", this added by the Seer.

"In which I did.", Milliardo finished, leaning back again, "They say that Relena took the prince and hid him away with a shard of his heart. It was all a lie. She did no such thing. She kept the shard for herself. Now Heero has all but the one in her possession."

"Two.", Angelus corrected and Milliardo stiffened, "She has two now; one that was found."

It was a moment before Milliardo moved. His eyes studied Angelus for any sign that the Seer was lying, but he found none, and he sighed. It was time to add some new parts to the tale.

"What really happened, Milliardo?", Angelus asked leaning forward, "Why are there two shards left to Heero's heart and not one? What happened to the prince?"

"The prince.", Milliardo started, hands folding once again, "He was never to see his king again, killed by Relena mercilessly. At least she was hoping that he would have been killed. He survived and unknown to her, I saved him."

"How so?"

Milliardo smiled and he stood from his chair, going over to a wall that was made of pure ice. Angelus followed with his eyes and watched as the lights shining against the ice began to form a picture of four women, each dressed in white. Angelus knew who they were. They were the Witches.

"I left him with the Witch of the North.", Milliardo said, the image changing.

The woman had blond hair, nearly platinum and her eyes were just as icy blue as Milliardo's. Said man turned to look at him and he reached down to lift a large crystal off of the floor.

"I'm not exactly sure what she did with the prince, but I believe that he is now dead.", he said fingering the gem, his eyes focusing on it, "He was most likely kept safe for the rest of his years, but Humans live short lives, and it has been centuries."

"And what of the shard that was recently found?", Angelus asked.

Milliardo shrugged, looking up to the white-haired man.

"I cannot help you there."

"My brother, Remius, he found the shard.", Angelus explained, and Milliardo listened, "I learned later that it was found on a boy."

"A boy!", Milliardo asked in surprise, "What boy!"

He didn't wait for an answer, he only turned to the wall of ice again, the colors dancing wildly before coming upon a blurred picture.

"He's protected by magic.", Angelus explained, leaning back into his seat.

"I must see this boy for myself."

The wind in the cave started to blow lazily and Angelus watched as Milliardo pressed a hand against the ice. His lips moved slightly as he muttered a small spell under his breath. It was useless, Angelus himself had tried and he was unable to. His magic was not strong enough to break it, Milliardo's would be just as weak. Standing from his seat, he walked to his friend, who was deep in concentration.

"Milliardo."

"Touch the ice.", was all the blond man said.

Doing as told, Angelus felt a surge of energy enter him and then leave again. It took with him every ounce of strength he had at the moment and he felt himself begin to fall. He was caught by Milliardo, who looked to him with a smile of satisfaction.

"I'm sorry.", he apologized, helping the Seer to right himself, "I needed every once of magic available. If I had asked you-"

"I would have refused.", Angelus said sternly, and Milliardo nodded.

"Exactly. However, what I took did not go to waste. Observe."

Angelus let his eyes look to the ice, in which he gasped as he caught sight of violet eyes staring back at him.

"By the gods.", he muttered, Milliardo smiling, "It can't be."

"I don't believe it myself.", the blond said crossing his arms across chest, "It can't be him."

"It must be him.", Angelus said, fingers brushing the picture in front of him, "The Human Prince still lives? But how?"

"I believe that we need to pay a visit to the Witch of the North."

Catching the word "we", Angelus looked to his friend with a smile. At least he wouldn't be alone on this journey.

------------------------------

Little one, come back to us.

Duo stirred slightly, feeling that he was lying on his back. He was expecting pain in his shoulder, but he felt none. Whatever bed he was lying on was particularly comfortable. He didn't want to wake up just yet.

Duo?

His eyes slowly opened at the call of his name, and he saw Wufei above him. His eyes closed again however; they were too heavy to keep open.

You have to fight it, Duo.

He didn't want to fight it. The sleep was too good. He didn't want to wake up now. He felt himself slipping back into a deep sleep and he allowed himself to. Though it seemed that Wufei was intent on waking him.

He felt a hand touch his forehead and the his eyes snapped open as he felt a painful burning sensation run throughout his body. He gasped as he sat up, his skin now drenched with sweat. His eyes looked around wildly and he calmed only when Wufei came into his view.

It's okay. Calm down, you're alright.

"What did you do to me?", he asked, his voice rasping.

He needed water. It was too hot.

"I gave you a fever of sorts.", Wufei told him, handing him a cup, "Here drink some water. It'll help."

Duo did as told. The water felt ice cold as it touched his tongue and he felt the cold spread. He was fine now, though he felt rather sticky from the sweat. His eyes turned to Wufei and he watched the dragon smile at him.

"Why is it I always wake up to find you next to me?", he asked and Wufei laughed.

"Would you rather I be on top of you?"

The question caused Duo to choke on the water he had decided to sip at that moment and he heard Wufei laugh again. This man was really trying to kill him, and when it wasn't that, he was trying to seduce him.

The sound of a door opening turned their attention to the door and Duo found a man walking in. He closed the door behind him and Duo watched him come closer. His eyes noticed the pointed ears and he instantly recognized that it was an elf. His robes were white, embroidered with gold and Duo could only guess that it showed that he was of high status. That and the crown that adorned his head. It was a simple band of twisted gold and a single oval shaped gem. The elf's hair was cut short and somehow Duo knew that it was odd for an elf to have his hair that short. As the elf drew closer, his teal eyes looked to Wufei.

"It's been so long.", the man said with a smile.

"Too long.", Wufei responded.

Duo then watched as Wufei stood from the bed to sweep the man in his arms. The dragon laughed as he spun with the man, who he lifted into an embrace. It was a short while before the elf was set on the floor and Duo's eyes widened as Wufei pressed his lips to the elf's before hugging him again. Was this a lover of Wufei's? Duo could only wonder.

"The way you greet me you would think I was a lover.", the man said laughing and Wufei joined him.

"I greet my friends how I wish to greet them.", Wufei said pulling the man in for another kiss, "I only kiss you to show you how much I've missed you."

"I wonder what you would have done if we had been apart longer."

Duo blushed as the man turned to wink at him and Wufei's laughter echoed throughout the room.

"So how is your mate?", the man asked carrying on with small talk.

"Meiran? She's fine."

Duo's eyes widned at the word.s Wufei had a mate? A female mate?

"And what about young ones?", the man asked, "Do I have any nieces and nephews to spoil?"

"Four fledglings hatched last spring.", Wufei answered proudly, "Three girls and a son."

Duo's mouth dropped open at the words. Wufei had kids! Kids! And you would've thought he was a lecherous bachelor by the way he flirted with him. Yet, he had a wife and kids. Duo let it go, he didn't want to know, so he wouldn't ask.

The two went on with their conversation, and Duo let them, trying his best not to eavesdrop. It was only when the two had calmed down some did the newcomer turn completely to him.

"I recognize this face.", he said observingly.

"So you would think. However, you are wrong."

The elf turned back to Wufei and the two stared at each other for the longest while. It made Duo wonder what was going on. Before he could ask however, the blond haired elf turned back to him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you.", he said with a slight bow, "I am Quatre, crown Prince of Myrthril. I welcome you."

"Uh, thanks.", Duo said with a scratch of his head, "I'm Duo."

He saw Quatre turn back to Wufei and the dragon shrugged. He then noticed something about himself. His shoulder wasn't hurting him, and he could move his arm.

"You were treated by the healer.", he was told by Quatre, "Your ankle is fine as well."

He went to ask a question but he was answered as if they knew what he meant to ask.

"Heero is with Quatre's father.", Wufei told him, "He'll be there for a while. Though you can go in search of him if you want."

"What about you?", he asked, looking back and forth between the two.

Quatre smiled as he sat on the bed, a hand resting against Duo's shoulder.

"Wufei and I will be here. We're old friends that have a lot of catching up to do."

Although he couldn't be sure if it was meant to sound as nosebleed inducing as it had, Duo found himself blushing. Rising from the bed, he went to leave but noticed at the last minute that he wasn't dressed. He quickly grabbed up the sheets from the bed and wrapped it around himself, Quatre giggling.

"Here you go.", Wufei said, now holding out clothes, "You can wear these."

Grabbing the clothes, he dressed quickly and still under the coverage of the sheets. He dropped them only when he was fully dressed. His hands ran over the white fabric of his tunic and he marveled at the feeling. He was handed a leather belt that Wufei insisted he help him put on and then he was given boots. Just as white as his clothes. It seemed as if white was what everyone wore around here. Slipping on the soft leather boots, Duo walked to the door.

"Duo."

He stopped at the call of his name looking back to Quatre. Wufei was already seated on the bed and he couldn't hide the blush that took his face.

"I suggest you wait in the gardens.", the man said, giving the boy a smile, "Heero will know where to find you."

And don't hurry back.

Nodding, he slipped out of the door, ignoring Wufei's words. He made his way up the hall, willing to put as much distance between him and the room he had just left. Whatever those two had to catch up on, he didn't want to fall witness to it.

------------------------------

"Thanks to you my gryphon is dead!", an dark-haired elf bellowed pacing back and forth, "Is there anything that you have to say for yourself! Anything at all!"

"I'm sorry.", Heero tried, but it was of no use.

"Sorry does not bring back my Guardian of Myrthril!", the Elfin King cried, spinning to pin his eyes on Heero, "Do you know how hard it is to raise a gryphon! How hard it is to train one! Hell, you can barely find the damn things!"

Heero sighed, bringing his hands up to rub at his throbbing temples. It wasn't easy trying to get Quatre's father to calm down once he was mad. It was a wonder that the elf's son was as calm as he was. Looking to the man who still paced, Heero decided to try again.

"My Lord-"

"No, oh no you don't!", the elf said, a finger pointing at Heero, "Don't you dare!"

"Don't I dare what?", Heero asked as the elf started to pace again.

"You're going to try and convince me, in the manner that you do, to look past all this. To calm down and think about everything; that it was a matter that couldn't be avoided, and I will not have it!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You! You will try to make me look like the bad guy and I refuse to be!"

Heero let the elf pace yet again, his eyes following him as he walked back and forth. He wondered if he was getting tired.

"Let's have it then.", the elf said suddenly.

"Hmm?"

"Let's hear what you have to say."

"I don't have anything to say.", Heero told him and the king paused, "We had no right to trespass, friend or foe. We should have gave warning first. No matter how difficult, we should have found a way. It was careless of us, and as for your beas-"

"Wait.", the king interrupted, eyebrows furrowing in confusion, "You're agreeing with me?"

"Of sorts.", Heero said with a shrug.

"You can't agree with me!", the elf exclaimed, "You are a friend of Myrthril, you are always welcome! Even if you needed to send word, there was no need to. We should have had our gryphon better trained. It was entirely our fau-"

The king paused as he caught his words and Heero watched him turn red with anger. He was in trouble.

"You bastard!", the king screamed, Heero flinching, "You did that on purpose! You deliberately blamed yourself so that I could say otherwise. You sly, evil...Fairy!"

Heero couldn't help the laughter that erupted from him, and he watched the king stomp his foot childishly.

"Those Leprechauns have a right not to trust you Fairies. Damned little buggers you all are!"

Heero was no longer laughing, but he did still chuckle now and then. Righting himself he let his friend vent before even trying to talk to him. Fairies were said to be mischievous and the king couldn't be more right. Heero may not be an example of the most mischievous but he was troublesome at times when he wanted to be.

"Okay, Fairy King.", the elf said, now calm, "I admit you are right; though not entirely. Wufei should have sent word of his coming, though my beast was trained to recognize an enemy from an ally. However, I can't rectify anything now, my gryphon is dead. Who was that young man that delivered the killing blows? A friend of yours?"

"A blessing at the right moment.", Heero said, the king nodding, "His name is Triton."

"I shall see that he is both scolded and rewarded. For the death of my Guardian and for your rescue. Now as much as I would love to stay and talk, I must go seek out my son."

"And why's that, Xolin?", Heero asked watching the man walk off.

"Wufei is with him.", the man explained, "And they're alone for that matter. Quatre may trust him, and as much as he may be a father and husband, I don't trust him. I have heard many a tale of the Dragon Lord's promiscuity. You're being waited on in the gardens by that pretty young man. Don't keep him waiting."

------------------------------

It didn't take him long to reach the gardens, and when he did, he found Duo waiting there for him as Xolin had said he was. Taking a deep breath, he stepped toward him, trying his best not to make a sound. He had been acting somewhat odd around Duo, and he found that Duo himself had noticed it. Duo did not know how much Heero saw his prince in him. He was the spitting image, from head to toe. The boy awoke feelings in him that Heero swore he had only for his lost lover. Now he stood, staring at Duo's back unsure of anything. He wanted to turn around and walk back to find Xolin's company again, but it was too late. Duo had turned around and he was frozen in his spot.

The boy was startled, since he didn't hear him coming, but he was expecting him. For what, he wouldn't say. Blue eyes watched at the boy who smiled back at him and Heero felt his heart start. Dressed in Quatre's borrowed garments, Duo truly looked like royalty.

"Hey Heero, you okay?", Duo asked, "You seem kind of lost."

"I'm fine.", Heero answered.

"You sure?", Duo asked, waving a hand in front of his face.

"I'm very sure."

He took hold of Duo's hand that was still waving in front of his eyes and the boy stopped. His heart was beating loudly now and he wondered if Duo could hear it as much as he did. Duo only smiled up to him, before pulling him over to the small bench that rested beside the silvery pond. It felt odd when the boy let go of his hand to point into the pond and Heero looked down at it to find the somewhat large silver fish that danced in the water.

"My grandma used to tell me stories about a silver fish.", Duo started to say, seating himself on the bench, "Don't remember much of it, though I know it had a happy ending. Most of her stories had happy endings."

"Which ones didn't?", Heero asked, slowly sitting beside the boy.

"Yours.", Duo answered, his eyes still trained on the pond, "Though it was my favorite. Only because it wasn't finished and I got to add on my own ending."

"Really?", Heero asked interested, "Do you care to share your ending with me?"

Looking to Heero, Duo laughed.

"I could, but, I don't know. You probably won't like it."

"Please.", Heero begged taking Duo's hand in his, "Let me be the judge of whether I like it or not."

Shrugging, Duo allowed the king to get his way.

"Now let's see. Relena was intent on keeping the Fairy King and his prince away from each other. She said she would hide him away forever, but what she really did was cast a spell that would kill him."

Duo felt Heero's hand tighten around his and he figured he'd have to not go into details and get to his happy ending. He had a feeling that the king would take it seriously.

"However, the spell backfired, and instead of killing him it sort of sent him into a deep sleep. You know, kind of like Sleeping Beauty."

"Sleeping Beauty?", Heero asked with a raised brow.

Duo just waved him off, promising to tell him the story later and went back to his own tale.

"Yeah, well he was found by a witch, who knew who he was and by so knew his story. Feeling pity for him, she decided to help him. She cast him off into another realm where he would be safe from Relena's magic, though she did not reveal to Heero what she had done. So when the Fairy King had gathered the shards of his heart but one, he knew that to find his prince meant he would complete his heart. He searched for his love for weeks, months, years, hell, centuries-"

"Did he find him?", Heero asked eagerly and Duo placed a finger on the man's lips to shush him.

Heero felt a jolt run down his spine at the touch, and his voice stopped working almost as if Duo had willed it. Though he knew that it had to be from the fact that Duo was actually making contact with him other than their holding of hands, in which he quickly let go once he realized it.

"Let him finish.", a voice said from the garden's entrance.

Both looked to find Trowa, still dressed in all black, walking closer. His presence was known now. There was no need for him to lurk in the shadows. Though where he found the shadows to lurk in here in Myrthril, the land of no shadows, was beyond Heero. He greeted the young man with a nod, and it was returned.

"Triton.", Duo greeted.

"Are you going to finish your story?", Trowa asked, "It was getting interesting."

Duo went to answer, but Wufei's voice interrupted him.

"He'll have to finish it another time.", the dragon announced.

"I thought you were busy?", Duo said, trying his best not to blush.

"We're done.", Wufei said with a smirk, "Besides, the king decided to end our little reunion, said we had other matters to attend to."

"Which he was right."

The other turned to see Quatre walking toward them, no longer dressed in his robes of white. He now wore a tunic and pants of green, very similar to those of Heero's. His leather belt held the sheath of a sword, and the leather strap that went across his chest was a sign that Quatre carried his quiver of arrows. It seemed as if he was off to war.

"What's with the get-up?", Duo asked, "We at war?"

"No.", Quatre answered with a smile, "I'm coming along with you. Wufei and I have already discussed everything. We're going to help Heero and at the same time try and find a way for you to go home."

"Where is he from?", Trowa asked, "It can't be that far."

"Trust me. It's far.", Duo told him.

Standing, he looked around at the group that in a few hours he had grown a sort of friendship with. Well, at least with Wufei and Heero. Quatre seemed nice enough, and though Trowa was at the moment a bit odd to him, he'd grow to like him. He'd have to hang out with them for a while if he wanted to go home. His mother was probably making a federal case out of his disappearance; literally.

"When do we hit the road?", he asked suddenly, and everyone looked to him.

"We can leave now if you like.", Quatre suggested, "I've been waiting for a reason to leave Myrthril and I'm willing to leave as soon as possible."

"What about Xolin?", Wufei asked, and Quatre shrugged.

"My father knows; or at least he'll find out when he sees me gone."

"Where's our first stop?", Trowa asked, and Heero provided the answer.

"We head to the only person who can help us."

"And who's that?", Duo asked, watching as Quatre smiled.

"We ride in search of The Seer."

T.B.C.

Boy this chapter must suck something awful. Writer's block the whole damn time. Yes well, the story is a bit rushed, but there's a lot more to come. Fear not those who actually like the fic, our little group has a lot more traveling and exploring to do. Anyway, ciao for now people!