Disclaimer: I in no way own Gundam Wing or AD&D. Don't sue; I'm simply an E5 in the USN, therefore I have no money. Ha.
Special notes: Dream sequence, Mind speech
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The flowers still spread as far as the eye could see.
Their fragrance still permeated the air, coloring it vividly with the luscious scents of daisies and delicate posies.
Their brilliant petals still opened to the sun, calling its gentle rays down to caress them and warm them, to evaporate the early morning dew that still littered their stems and chilled their leaves.
The young man in the midst of that field crossed his tanned arms over his chest, his onyx eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at the sprawling quilt of vivid beauty that sprawled before him.
"Just another dream," he sighed, hanging his head, his raven black hair sweeping around his face.
Still, he smiled.
"At least..."
"At least she'll be here."
And with that said, he raised his face, a bittersweet yet expectant smile gracing his lips as he chose a direction.
"She always loved that rose bush to the north."
"YA HO! Wakey wakey!"
Rolling over with a grunt, the raven-haired warrior pulled his blanket more tightly over his head.
Not to be outdone, the mage plopped down on top of the form huddled beneath the thin cotton barrier against the cold, making certain to rest all of his weight right where it should hurt.
He was promptly smacked with a sword, still in its scabbard as per his luck, over his head.
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Trowa arched a brow as he gnawed on his roasted fish, staring at his small gathering of friends.
Heero, being half asleep still at this time of day, didn't make for interesting watching. The young man was doing nothing more than chewing whatever remains of his breakfast was still in his mouth and tiredly dragging his whetstone along the length of his sword, being careful to not deepen any of the already crucially large cracks and notches in his weapon.
Duo and Wufei on the other hand were glaring at one another over their breakfasts, having just finished a marvelous spat of fencing with the sticks they'd roasted their freshly caught piscine on.
"YOU were the one who whapped me, you idiot."
"You know better than to wake me like that, moron."
"Fine, fine! Next time I'll just shove a fireball up your ass."
"Hmph. I've nothing to worry about, then, seeing as how you can hardly cast that spell to save your life."
"WHAT!"
"Heh."
Duo clenched his fists even as Wufei smugly grinned, taking a bite of a biscuit he'd procured from their ration packs.
Just as the mage clasped his hands together, his violet eyes fading to white and his mouth beginning to formulate the words of an enchantment, Trowa's sharp ears caught just the distinct sound that was never welcome in the morning.
He'd heard the snapping of a twig behind him.
And, even as he turned with his dagger practically having leapt to his hand, the forest burst into a sea of chaos.
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Otto sighed as he stared along the length of the winding path he'd chosen to follow, his eyes observing the many twists and turns that occupied the largely uphill road.
"Why the hell do they always have to build their fortresses atop of damned hills?" he muttered, even as he started along his way.
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Dark red wine swirled around the interior of the crystal goblet.
"So you understand my dilemma?"
The young man who stood before the shadow-enshrouded chair nodded, his arms crossed over his chainmail clad chest. A frown forming upon his lips, he lowered the gaze cast by his green almond-shaped eyes to the floor. "It is quite a serious mess you've gotten yourself into, m'lord."
"Indeed. But you do understand what the rewards for you and your people will be if you assist me in this matter?"
Returning his stark gaze to the shadows before him, the man narrowed his eyes, his dark lashes brushing against fair cheeks. "A great gift you've offered us, I'll not deny. However, two things I must know. One, how are you planning to accomplish such? E'en my people, with their millennia of deviance against them, have done naught to harm them. And two, why do you think we'll assist you in hunting a creature who's servant of the same gods we revere?"
A faint rustle in the shadows before the man sounded, along with a soft chuckle. "To answer your first question, let me simply say that e'en the grand magics of the drow can do nothing against the might of the creature I ask you to capture. Turning it in its rage would do wonders to turn the tide of your continuing stale-mated war with them."
Eyes widening, the lithe man gritted his teeth. "So you intend us to fetch it so you can put it to use once more...? Nonsense! It shalnt happen!"
"And two, if you do not agree to assist me, you will not leave this manor alive."
With a snort, he shook his head. "Take my life as you must, old man. We elves have more pride than to subject ourselves to hopeless quests that will do naught but endanger our people and strike against those creatures of good we've striven for many eons longer than humans have plagued these Realms to gain the favor of. I will not employ my people to assist you in this task."
Sighing, the form in the shadows took a sip from his wine glass. "Very well. The fate of our people are not your concern... therefore the fate of yours will no longer be mine. Maybe your dark brethren will be more... cooperative."
Gulping, the elf took a tentative step back. "You... you aren't suggesting..."
"Bringing them to the surface?" Cackling, the hidden man set his wine glass down upon the end table that was next to his chair. "Aye, I am. We both know that the dark ones would do anything, if the reward were great enough."
"You would incur their wrath..."
"I fear their wrath not one bit. It is only the wrath of that one that drives terror into my heart. The drow, compared to that creature, would present no challenge."
"And you were suggesting, then, to send my people on a suicide mission."
"Nay, nay, good elf. Your kind are not yet hated by that horrible monster. You could reason with it, mayhaps convince it to return to safety here with me. You would have the ability to bring it under control."
"So you could use it..."
The rustle of cloth, perhaps indicative of a shrug, rang from the dark shadows. "Perhaps. But for nothing other than wholly good intentions."
Lowering his eyes, the elf growled. "So either you draw up the dark ones to wage war upon it here on our surface, drawing us into this chaos anyway... or we agree with your mad scheme..."
"You've got it."
"I will speak to my elders tonight, mage."
"Very well. I'll expect you back within one day. And, if I do not see you..."
"..." Mouth open, the elf gripped his throat, his eyes widened in horror. "Bi... gby...'s..."
"You will die. As will your village."
Nodding even as he was released, the elf hurriedly ran from the room, leaving the madly cackling man in his dark shadows and self-imposed isolation. Rubbing his throat as he burst into the sunlight of the inviting outdoors he glowered over his shoulder at the chilled manor that towered above him, its visage having degraded from an object of splendor to a horrid blot upon the innocent sky so condemned to be its backdrop. Shivering, he crossed the gateway to emerge onto the sidewalk and hurriedly made his way out of North Ward as quickly as his feet could carry him.
"Mad man..."
"All the legacies said he was a great, good human..."
"But he's utterly mad."
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The door opened before the wild haired man before he'd even rapped his knuckles upon the hard oak that made its construction.
Otto gulped, even as he stepped across the threshold. "Hello?"
"State your purpose," an ethereal voice sounded, surrounding him even as the doors slammed shut behind him.
Nearly leaping out of his skin, Otto wiped his brow, swallowing the large lump that had formed in his throat. "I... I was sent by Lord VonWinner of Waterdeep... with a proposal."
"STATE YOUR PURPOSE."
"He... needs you to help him find his son."
Silence fell upon the huge chamber. A faint trickle of light glimmered from the wall before the quivering man, creating the outline of a previously hidden door.
"If this truly considers his son, then enter."
Nodding, Otto stepped up to the door, entering as it opened itself before him.
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Heero and Wufei buried their faces into the ground, having just slammed into it from a full run.
Magical lightning raced over their prone forms, arching to strike each of the goblins that had been charging forward to attack them, causing the little bulldog-like creatures to twitch and spasm, screaming horribly. Even as they collapsed in smoldering heaps the warriors were back on their feet resuming their wild trek.
Dusting his fingertips off on his robes, Duo hurriedly picked up his staff from where he'd set it to free his hands for casting. "Hold up, Heero!"
Breaking his stride for a moment, the Prussian Blue eyed youth nodded. "Hurry."
Trowa, meanwhile, was calmly stalking his prey.
The large flind that had directed the goblins to chase them down was still completely unaware of his presence.
Delicately balancing upon the tree limb, he stared at the creature below him. Shorter and stouter than the gnolls that it commanded, it none-the-less held a more threatening presence, its eyes radiating a far greater intelligence than that held by its inferior brethren. Being caught by this creature would do nothing more than bring the entire encampment he'd snuck his way into down upon his head.
Not that such hadn't happened before but this time neither Heero nor Wufei was with him. He didn't know whether he'd be able to escape on his own.
Still he'd had to strike out on his own. He'd noticed which direction the goblins had come from before they'd formed their enclosure around them to ambush them. He'd also noticed that his friends were being herded in the opposite direction.
He had to find out what was going on.
Leaping silently from the branches, he pressed the sharp edge of his dagger to the flind's throat, resisting the urge to smirk as the creature gagged and gulped in shock.
"All I want is answers. Give them to me, and I'll make your death a little less painful than I'd like."
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Wufei, meanwhile, had conveniently found himself alone as Heero had doubled back to fight his way through their pursuers and locate the mage he held so dear to his person.
However, he'd also found himself face to face with the ugliest, smelliest, and most surprisingly skilled ogre he'd hoped to never meet.
And he was finding out that it had friends.
If you hadn't left them, you wouldn't be in this mess.
Wufei's eyes snapped wide open, even as he thrust his katana to its hilt into the stomach of the ogre before him, whipping it out sharply to attack the next. 'What the...!'
Rear, boy, rear!
Pivoting sharply, he struck blindly with his weapon, being startled when it connected and a gargled scream met his ears.
'What... where are you!'
That's for me to know and you to never find out.
Glaring about, Wufei snarled, his eyes narrowed. The ogres slowly backed away.
They soon found themselves screaming, clutching their skulls and running in terror.
Eyes widened in shock, the warrior stared after his fleeing foes. "What the hell...?"
It's time for you to return to your friends, neh?
'Who are you!'
None of your concern. Maybe I'll tell you later... when she actually thinks you're worthy of knowing me. 'Till then, we'll just be haunting you.
Closing his eyes as that foreign voice's laughter rang in his skull, he gritted his teeth. 'Who are you speaking of...?'
Dreaaaaaming away... You'll see her again tonight, neh? Those lovely images, those lovely flowers, that lovely woman, moments before...
'WHAT!'
And the raven haired boy stood, shivering, even as that cackle faded slowly away, proclaiming that it would return at another time.
The flowers were still the same, bright, beautiful colors they were that day.
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She was still smiling as she lifted the rose to her face, inhaling its sweet fragrance.
"Meiran..."
As she turned, he screamed.
Her empty eye sockets glowered at him, as that wicked, mocking laugh rang through the pristine blue sky.
tbc...
