Disclaimer: I in no way own Gundam W or AD&D. Don't sue; I'm simply an E5 in the USN, therefore I have no money. Ha.

A/N; /magical spell/

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"And so, with his arms wrapped tightly around the crystalline orb, the Solar spread his magnificent wings. Light flowed along the edges of the soft, huge feathers, slowly spreading to encompass his body, surrounding and engulfing him in its white radiance.

Duo, Heero and Wufei watched from the top of the rubble that was once the East Gate of Waterdeep, each with sorrow and regret in their eyes and hearts.

"Quatre...?" Duo whispered as tears began to flow from his violet eyes, brought forth by the stinging brightness of the Solar's pure magical aura as much as by the fear and pain that gripped his heart.

The light-coated form turned his head towards the three companions. Opening his eyes, the startlingly deep aquamarine coloration shining with tears of their own, the Celestial sighed, "Farewell."

"What about Trowa?" the raven-haired warrior quietly asked, gesturing to the blood-red form within the crystal sphere the Angel clutched protectively. "You aren't intending to leave him like this, are you?"

"No," Quatre said.

"Then-" Wufei began.

"I can't break Blackstaff's spell," interrupted Quatre.

The three adventurers stared as the Angel's shoulders shook.

The single tear that fell from his face sparkled in the magical light that enfolded him.

"But I won't give up. Someone, somewhere, whether here or back home, can free him... can undo the sin I've committed against him. Someone can give him back his life. And I intend to find that person, even if it takes me the rest of eternity to do so... even if it kills me," he said.

He tightened his grip upon the orb.

"I'm going to because he's done what is supposed to be impossible. He wrenched mortal emotion from the spirit of a Celestial, turning its loyalties away from its Creator and Master to those who are supposed to serve and worship it."

"He accomplished what no one ever could..."

"He taught me to love," Quatre whispered, a small smile appearing on his lips.

Duo rapidly blinked his eyes, his vision slowly returning to him after the blinding flash of white radiance that had emanated from Quatre's frame had engulfed Waterdeep's smoldering remains. Heero stared, his emotion-ridden face indescribably animate as he gazed at the crater where the Solar had stood but moments before. Wufei stood completely motionless, his eyes closed, head bowed, face somber, resolve keeping his emotions tightly in check.

Reaching out with shaking fingers, Wufei slowly opened his jet-black eyes. And, as the sparkling white feather tinged with the slightest hints of gray being blown carelessly by the wind caressed those fingers and enticed them to catch it, he found that even his legendary resolve couldn't keep his tears at bay.

All three simply stared, jaws slack and eyes wide, as the pure, white and gray soft cloud of feathers raced from the heavens to swirl around them before slowly settling upon the ground and vanishing.

Only the one feather that the raven-haired man had caught remained."

Clearing his throat, the wizened elf let the orb of magic that had been playing out his tale vanish. Reaching into his tunic, he tugged a single chain free from the multitudes that surrounded his thin neck. And, smiling as he ran his finger over the one gray-tinged white feather that dangled from the necklace's chain, he nodded. "It is magical, boy. It brings great luck to its wearer."

The small boy heard nothing. Already fast asleep, he snored calmly in his bed.

Arching a brow, the elf laughed. "Well now. Looks as if I'll have to repeat this tale another night, eh? Maybe then you'll remain awake long enough to hear about how I met Mr. Chang and why he passed this precious feather on to me before death claimed him."

Wandering out of the boy's room, the old elf made his way down the grand house's stairwell into the dark cell he used as his laboratory. Snapping his fingers, the room sprang to life at his call - /Faerie Fire/ raced along the walls, lighting the chamber and the multitudes of tomes, scrolls, beakers, wands and jars that were within even as a conjured /Wall of Iron/ spell enacted, blocking off the chamber's entrance.

Hobbling slowly across the room, he sat himself at the largest of the three tables the room contained and laid his fingers upon the huge tome that rested there.

The crystal orb in the stand that dominated the desk's center flickered, white light pulsing from within. The tenuous rays danced over the object within its center, drawing the old man's eyes to it.

"Welcome back," he quietly said, glancing over his shoulder.

"Thank you."

"Would you care to take a seat, old friend?"

The light, beautiful tenor voice that flowed from behind the elf sighed softly. "No thank you. I don't intend to stay long. I just wanted to know..."

Smiling, the old elf nodded. "It's progressing well."

"I'm sorry to trouble you like this."

"Think nothing of it. Even if this did not require Elven High Magic, I'd still be willing to help. Do not think that I do this only because I am the only one who can. I do this because you are my friend."

"... Thank you."

A brief interlude of silence fell upon the elf and his guest.

Slowly emerging from the shadows, the elf's companion laid a hand upon the crystal orb upon the mage's desk, sighing as radiant white light bathed the crimson rose that laid entombed in its depths.

"Just twelve more years..."

"Yes," the elf said with a nod. "Twelve more years, and that cloned body will be ready for his soul."

"And he's...?"

"Snoring happily in his bed." A wry grin took the elf's lips as he gazed upon his guest's face. "He fell asleep in the middle of his own history."

Nodding, the form straightened his posture, slowly swinging his huge white wings back. Smiling at the elf, he nodded. "I'll come back soon enough, alright? I... it makes me sad to see him like this."

"I understand."

Closing his eyes, he turned his face back towards the crystal orb.

The elf resumed his studies of his tome. "In twelve years, then."

"Make it two. I can't stay away that long, no matter how much it hurts."

Smiling, the wizened elf nodded. "Two. I'll look forward to it. And promise me that you'll stay longer than fifteen minutes then."

A soft laugh filled the room. "Alright."

"Farewell, then, Quatre."

After granting the elf a curt nod, he lightly ran his hand over the orb. And, with a soft smile, he laid a tender kiss upon its smooth surface.

"Two years, dearest Trowa."

"I love you."

-owari-