Chapter 6
I'm so sorry everyone! Something is wrong with the ff.net formatting and won't let us do 's... so I am gonna try and fix a little problem! Bear with us!
CHAPTER 6
Relena Peacecraft, only daughter of the Earl of Sanq, was scrying through her little pot, keeping an eye on both the Duke and a certain elven Princess, oops, Prince. She cackled at that last bit, and quickly reminded herself that although she had the skills of a witch, she actually wasn't really one. While her mother came from a long line of highly skilled witches, the coven had been extremely disappointed that Relena was less that talented in that arena.
With that in mind, her mother and grandmother had bestowed on her an old family heirloom, the onyx stone. It was not like any other onyx she had seen in her life. This one, although dark like other stones in that variety, flashed brightly with life. It also seemed to have moods. Although she told herself it was silly, but Relena sometimes felt varying emotions from the dark stone tapping directly into her feelings. She almost feared to use it but it was a source of power for her and by the way she was screwing up her spells so often, she needed all the help she could get.
She waved her hand over the water and it shimmered to reveal the young Duke, Heero Yuy striding away from the elf Princess, bah, idiot, Prince, in anger. She giggled. The speech impediment that affected those around the harlot was an accident and she didn't know how it was come by. But it was an amusing thing to watch all of them scrambling around while offering sex to anyone they saw.
"I wonder if you did this," she whispered softly, touching the cool stone around her neck. For some reason, the onyx was perpetually cold, no matter how long she wore it and warmed it. It was as if the stone was alive and disliked her.
While admittedly spoilt, Relena wasn't a bad person. She was merely willful and she needed to get what she wanted all the time. And she wanted Heero Yuy. She was certain that if he saw her in that waterfall naked as he saw the elf harlot, he would fall head over heels for her immediately. It was merely being in the right place at the right time.
No, you screwed that part up all by yourself, a soft disembodied voice with no particular voice echoed.
Relena gasped in horror, looking around rather wide eyed. "Who's there?" She stood up and instantly began an incantation of a protection spell. "I know how to protect myself!"
Right, like how you tried to help the villagers get more rain by conjuring hail stones instead? The voice laughed sardonically.
"That was a mistake! I rain out of river water so I had to use ice instead! I thought it would have the same effect, it is water in another form," she protested, pouting rather petulantly. Wait, how did this voice know all her secret failures?
And when your best friend need the frogs on her dressed fixed, you filled her room with the green, hopping variety?
Relena blushed. "That wasn't really my fault. It was a mistake."
Another silent laugh. Oh, I am so sure that when your servant came around complaining that her husband's bird was rather under developed, you providing him with the feathered, winged type that was able to wake the entire village up come sunset was also a huge mistake on your part.
She was almost ready to spontaneously combust. "Who are you? How do you know all this?"
The voice turned deadly serious. Of course I know. I am trapped in that infernal stone by your ancestors. They call me dragon
Relena sat back, stunned. She had heard countless tales about a legendary sorcerer that was forced to serve her family. She didn't know why, but now she did. Dragon had been hiding, or imprisoned as he said in that onyx stone for ages now. She wondered just how long it had been he had been in that stone, and all the time she left it unattended on her dresser while she took a bath or…
"Pervert!" Relena screamed suddenly, clutching at her bodice.
What? Dragon sounded truly confused.
"You saw me in the bath!"
Dragon laughed. Oh please, I've seen better in my life time. You need to fill out more before you have any legitimate reason to fear for your innocence
The witch glowered at her jewellery. "Some people happen to find me attractive, you cold piece of glass!!"
I am onyx She was informed rather loftily. Woman, I believe the only people that find you attractive are your nurse and your parents
"For your information, attractiveness isn't only physical."
A disembodied snort echoed through her head. Isn't that what you intended to do to end Heero's attraction to Duo?
"That… that is different," she spluttered.
Oh? Tell me how Dragon sounded amused.
"She's an elf, I'm human. Heero should belong to a human. Look at how her brother had corrupted the Prince. I can't let Heero be subjected to that kind of filth!"
The scrying bowl shimmered, showing Duo listening to the birds, who was telling him avidly about where a certain blonde witch can be found to end the enchantment on him. They were also leading him toward her at that very moment.
That's double standards and it makes no sense at all, Relena. Love is love. If Heero was meant to be with the elven Princess, he would no matter what form he took
"I disagree."
Then, let's make a bet. If Duo can make Heero fall in love with him in that form, you are to change him back to his original form.
Relena gaped, unsure of what to say. While she was certain she would win this bet; Heero was definitely going to love her. There was still a chance this harlot would spell Heero to change his mind.
Coward witchling? Dragon teased.
That put back the starch in her backbone. "And if he doesn't?"
She could almost see Dragon shrugging. Then I will make him love you.
Relena snorted. "I can do that myself."
Don't be too sure, witchling.
She opened her mouth to argue but a panicked call at the door diverted her attention.
"Miss Relena, Miss Relena!"
Thinking it was someone bringing the harlot, she flew toward the door and yanked it open. At the door stood one of the maids which Relena recognised as Marcy. There were awfully itchy looking spots all over her face and arms, causing the young witch to wince in sympathy.
"Goodness Marcy, what happened to you?" She backed away from the door gingerly, letting the maid through the door.
Marcy, still scratching at her arms and neck, stomped into the cottage and threw a small pouch onto the wooden table. "Miss Relena, this is what I get for consorting with witches. May God forgive me and please, free me from your curse," she cried mournfully.
Relena gaped at the girl in shock. "What? Are you saying I did this?"
A soundless laughter filled her ears.
"Shut up, Dragon," she snapped at the sorcerer.
Marcy gasped, pressing herself into a corner, her eyes wild, staring at every corner of the room. "Who are you talking to, Miss?"
"You mean you can't…" Relena sighed. "Never mind."
"You have a dragon now?" Marcy cried even more fearfully. "I hear they eat people for lunch."
Hmmm… well, I did have humans for lunch before.
At Relena's horrified gasp Dragon laughed again.
…As guests, witchling. I prefer fowl over the taste of human flesh any day. They are more succulent. Now, find out what you did to this poor lady.
Relena bit back a protest that it may not necessarily be her fault. "No, no dragons. What happened to you, Marcy? You were fine yesterday."
Marcy, clearly not wanting to stay in the room anymore, bustled out of the cottage. "Doesn't matter Miss Relena. I wanted Cyrus to notice me, but now that he did, I wish he didn't."
The poor confused witch was left staring at the open door way and Marcy's retreating back, complete with the constant scratching.
"What did I do?"
Dragon exploded into laughter. What did she asked you to do, witchling?
Relena closed the door and walked toward the scrying bowl again. She pondered a moment. "Well, Cyrus wasn't too impressed with a good looking woman, so Marcy wanted me make her potted chicken incomparable."
And?
"I did!" Relena blurted. She stopped, reflecting on the chant she uttered. "I couldn't find a rhyme when I used potted chicken, so I said chicken pot."
No another howl of soundless mirth. You said chicken pox!
Relena was about to protest when she was suddenly aware of a long haired, gender switched elf heading her way.
"Duo is coming," she informed Dragon needlessly. "You shut your trap and I will do it my way."
Have I ever spoken otherwise, my lady? Dragon intoned mockingly.
"Just stay out of my head."
"Uh… witch?" A lyrical tone came from the door, along with a sharp knock. "Are you in there witch?"
Relena suppressed a growl of annoyance at being referred so. She was Lady Peacecraft! Dragon, however, found it hilarious, if the gales and gales of disembodied laughter was anything to go by.
Shut up! Relena screamed silently, in desperation.
The laughter stopped, following like a small surge of surprise. Very good, witchling, you are learning this method of speech.
You heard me? Relena gaped.
"Witch?" There was a creak as the door opened.
Damn that stupid elf, he was coming in unwelcome. Relena wondered if she could set his behind on fire. That would make him even less attractive to Heero Yuy, being burnt to a crisp. She quickly composed herself, trying to appear aloof and mild threatening, as all witches should be. A chestnut head poked through the door and a pair of large violet eyes blinked at her. Silence reigned as the elf called Duo peered around, drinking in the room. Finally, those large orbs settled back on her.
"Hello, little girl," Duo said in a soft, comforting voice reserved for the very young for adults to appear not intimidating. "Where is your mommy?" There was a look of slight sympathy on Duo's features that told Relena he felt sorry for her that her 'mommy' was a witch.
"You stupid fool!!" Relena exploded, ignoring Dragon's mirth that has ballooned to epic proportions again. "I'm not a little girl, and I am the witch."
Another blink of violet eyes. "But… that can't be right, my feathered friends told me that the witch was the ugliest thing they had ever seen." Belatedly realizing he had just added salt to wound, Duo clapped his hands over his mouth.
This is rich! I like this elf! Dragon continued laugh uproariously.
"What do you want?" Relena growled, though she supposed by the fact that he didn't think her the witch, it was a compliment of sorts,
Cautiously, Duo inched forward, afraid to anger the witch that could turn her into… Hey, he was in this predicament because of her. She was the one who changed Duo into a man.
"I want you to reverse this spell!" Duo said, his own temper rose at all the indignities he had been forced to endure since waking up with a third leg. "You did this," he pointed in the general direction of his groin.
Relena bit the inside of her cheek, trying to keep from laughing herself. "I only do what the customer requires of me. They pay and I perform the spell." She shrugged.
"Good, so I pay you and you will reverse it!" Duo pulled out his money pouch and threw it onto the table next to the witch.
Do you know how to reverse it?
Dragon stayed stubbornly silent.
Good, because I don't know either, Of course, she wasn't about to admit she had cast a spell without knowing a counter spell to someone else. She would be the laughingstock of the entire Wiccan community.
"Why would you want to reverse it?"
"Damn it, witch, look at me! I used to be a woman, I am a man now. I have parts which I have no use for and lost parts that I am used to. Of course I want to reverse it. This isn't me!" Duo finished his litany, huffing.
Relena shrugged. "Who's to say what is or isn't you?"
"And what the hell is all that weird things I spout when I try to tell people who I am?"
"Part of the spell."
"Well, stop it! Reverse the damn spell."
Relena decided to answer the annoying elf truthfully. She was that close to turning him into something more than a man, preferably something with fur and a tail. A mouse would be good. He would make a very cute mouse with his chestnut fur and violet eyes.
"I can't reverse the spell…" Relena felt a sudden wrench within her. "Only Heero can."
Dragon! She screeched silently. What are you doing?Leveling the playing field, witchling
Stop taking control of my body
Make me
Duo frowned. "Heero? What has that annoying, perverted peeping tom to do with reversing the spell?"
"Nothing," Relena quickly covered the slip. Another wrench. "Just you have to make him fall in love with you to reverse it."
DRAGON!
"What?" Duo squawked. "Are crazy? I didn't even like him when I was a woman much less now! Besides, after what happened today, there is no way he would be attracted to me. Forget it."
Hope bloomed in Relena. Maybe this half cocked idea of a bet would still get her Heero. It was quite clear that the nobleman didn't like this elf, if the murderous glare in Heero's eyes were any testament a while ago.
"It's up to you. The conditions have been set. On the day he falls in love with you, I will come to break the spell," Relena said confidently.
Ranting and raving wasn't going to solve anything, Duo realised that fairly quickly. He had left the witch's home rather quickly; her disdain of him extremely evident. He now walked the forest, wondering how he was going to make Heero Yuy, Mr Cold fall in love with him, now a man. Damn! Not only that, he had shot his mouth off at Heero just scant moments before. The man liked him as a woman, but not in form.
And fall in love. What does fall in love mean? A kiss? A hug? Or… Duo gulped, something more?
How do I make him fall in love with me? Duo asked the small squirrel currently perched on his shoulder.
Well, I think the animals can help you
Duo watched as his friend scampered off and in a few moments, animals of every kind were gathered at his feet, offering him advice on how to court Heero Yuy. While Duo cringed at some of the suggestions, he rationalized that if it got these creatures mates, then it would get him one as well.
Right, he would heed their advice.
To be Continued (soonish)
Annie: I have to run, okaasan no uchi ni iku.... ta ta!
(i will recheck for editing tomorrow! )
Please review and tell us what you think! Reviews really do encourage us, so we thank our reviewers for the awesome reviews we've received! glomples everyone