Flame of Darkness
By: Starlight-x1

Chapter 6: Chance Encounter

Duo stood, feet planted firmly as he swung the sword that he had discovered clutched in his hand when he'd woken up several days ago. There was a whistling sound as the blade cut through the air. "Excellent balance." He murmured to himself, holding the sword vertically in front of him while he admired it.

Glad you like it. Quatre's voice echoed in his head.

"Hey." Duo jerked, startled before suddenly looking around. "Where are you anyway? I thought for sure you 'd have something to say about this new sword I got."

There was a sigh. I already told you I was a sword, right? Well, you're holding me at this very moment.

"Interesting." Duo gave the sword a couple more practice swings before carefully sheathing it. He looked up to see Hilde approaching.

"What've you got there?" Hilde asked curiously.

"Just this sword. For some reason it's chosen me." Duo pulled Song of the Warrior out of its sheath.

Don't be silly. I can't choose anyone. Quatre said. You chose me. You were responsible for waking me up in the first place.

"Elai's rod! What a beauty." Hilde reached out and ran her slender fingers over the flat of the blade.

"It's got perfect balance too." Duo boasted. "Why don't you try it?"

Hilde accepted the blade and gave it a few practice swings. Her admiration of the sword increased. Almost reluctantly she handed it back. "What did you mean the sword chose you?"

Duo sheathed the gleaming blade once again. "I woke up this morning with him as a bedfellow."

Thanks a lot. Quatre said dryly.

"Him?" Hilde lifted an eyebrow.

"Well, you remember Quatre, my swordmaster? Turns out he was a manifestation of this sword." Duo patted the hilt at his side. "I guess since the sword came he can't show himself like he did before. Now he just talks to me inside my head."

Hilde looked thoughtful. "I wonder..." Turning, she bounded off gracefully. "I'll be right back." She called over her shoulder.

"Fine, I'll be here. I guess..." Duo hadn't the slightest hope of keeping up with the limber elf and he knew it. He sat down, cross-legged, in the grass, to await Hilde's return.

Before long he looked up and saw Hilde returning followed by the rest of the company. Fanr came and sat next to Duo. "Do you mind letting me see your sword?"

"Sure." Duo pulled out the blade and offered it to the elf. He watched, puzzled, as Fanr examined the sword's every detail.

The healer finished his inspection and straightened up, smiling at Hilde. "You were right young one. This is indeed the Song of the Warrior, the sword wielded by heroes." He handed it back to Duo. "It was well that we were able to save you, warrior. Only those with great heart and courage have ever been able to use this sword. It was last handled three hundred years ago when an elfin swordmaster used it to defeat a band of giants who were harrying helpless travelers."

"Exactly how old is this sword?" Duo asked.

Fanr smiled. "It isn't known. That knowledge was lost to us. Nor is there anyone alive who knows who the original creators of this sword were. Save of course the Matriarch of the Dragons."

"She's that old?" Duo's face showed his disbelief.

"Next to her I'm a mere babe in arms." The healer replied. "While human life passes in the blink of an eye for her. The dragons are the guardians for the key of Justice. Unfortunately Ha'derkaath nearly wiped their clans out in his attempt to steal the key from them. Now they live hiding their identities beneath a veil of humanity."

-----

Heero had been working on his staff when the feeling came. Carefully he stopped what he was doing to consider what he was sensing. It hadn't come through the lifebond with Relena. He had become used the emotions and feelings he received from her and managed to balance them accordingly.

This was evil. As he concentrated harder on the feeling he was able to isolate it into one small spot that moved in an area outside of the valley. Heero stood. Thesensation of evilhad captured his attention and his curiosity. He'd heard enough from the elves over the past few days to know they were in the middle of a struggle with the god of death and destruction.

Heero slowly made his way through the valley, keeping himself as inconspicuous as possible. The rest of the group, minus Relena, was sitting, listening as Fanr explained something to them. Heero cast a quick look around, trying to locate the elfin princess. Not seeing her he reluctantly dove into his lifebond with her. He touched her just long enough to discern her tranquility before he broke contact and continued on his way.

-----

Dorothy felt a small tinge of impatience. She had been traveling with her impromptu partner for several days. At first they had walked silently, each wary of the other. Dorothy followed his lead unquestioningly while observing him silently. She had come to the conclusion that even though he had been the one to verbally invite her to partner with him it had been at the behest of someone else.

Now on the third day of silently walking her patience had worn thin. Lengthening her stride she hurried to walk beside Wufei who continued his silent trek, ignoring her. "Where are we going?" Dorothy finally asked.

"Somewhere safe." Wufei replied shortly.

"Safe?" Dorothy asked, somewhat incredulous.

Wufei kept walking.

"Listen," Dorothy had to hurry to catch up with him. "I have a—"

"Be quiet!" Wufei held up one hand, halting in mid-stride as he did so.

Warned by his curt manner Dorothy obeyed. And soon sensed the thing that had set him on edge. A cold darkness that seemed to be drawing closer. She shivered involuntarily and looked at Wufei.

"You sense it too. We're surrounded." Wufei spoke matter-of-factly.

"Good." Dorothy pulled her newly acquired sword out of its sheath and swung it about in a professional manner. "I was hoping for a chance to try this out." She watched impassively as the creatures Wufei had sensed shuffled and stumbled into the open around them. Humanoid in shape, their flesh held an unnatural gray cast while their eyes were dull. Some seemed to be in a more advanced stage of decomposition then their companions. On those Dorothy was able to see the white of bone visible here and there. Glancing over at her companion she saw his lip curled in an expression of distaste.

"Go to your rest, creatures." Wufei took a swipe at the nearest zombie with his staff. His attack seemed to release the rest of zombies from their hesitation. With guttural cries they flung themselves at the two enclosed within the circle.

Dorothy swung her sword, sending limbs flying with each stroke.

"Aim for their heads." Wufei advised. "Because unless you're a mage and able to invoke fire that's the only way to kill them."

Dorothy took his advice and in the next swing beheaded one of the zombies and saw with satisfaction the way the headless body crumpled to the ground.

"Watch your back, woman."

Dorothy looked over her shoulder and saw Wufei turning away, another headless corpse laying on the ground behind her. Offering a silent prayer of thanks to Askar she fell into the evening dance ritual, her moves fluid and sure.

Even with their skill it soon became obvious they weren't winning. With each zombie they struck down it seemed another two filled the vacated place. All too soon Dorothy found herself fighting back to back with Wufei. Grimly she swung her sword again, hearing her companion's grunts as he fought with staff, hands and feet. A sharp pain blossomed in her side and she struck out in that direction automatically. Another zombie crumpled and she spared a quick look down at her side, enough to confirm she was bleeding. With a yell of defiance Dorothy surged forward. If it was Askar's will she die today then nothing would be able to change it. Besides, it was better to die with a sword in her fist and her goddess's name on her lips then of old age, lying useless in a bed.

"Askar!" Her war cry was almost obliterated by the sound of an explosion and a group of zombies burst into flame. Dorothy stared at the burning creatures, unsure of whether Askar had decided to intervene on her behalf.

"Watch yourself!" Wufei shoved her to the side and slammed his staff into a zombie that had been taking advantage of Dorothy's temporary distraction to attack her from the side.

Stung by his tone Dorothy flung herself back into the battle with renewed vigor.

Another zombie burst into flame and went wild, careening about uttering wordless cries and igniting its fellows as it did so. Dorothy caught sight of a figure standing outside of the circle of zombies that surrounded both her and Wufei. His mouth moved silently as he spoke another incantation.

-----

Heero had exited the valley of Eleanon in his search for the evil he'd sensed and had become aware of the battle that was currently in progress between two humans and a large group of zombies. The humans, a male and female, fought bravely but were close to being overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of their foe.

His first attempt at casting had unleashed a bigger fire spell then he'd wanted. The explosion had startled him and distracted the female warrior. Cursing under his breath he tried again with better results, managing to target only one zombie. He watched in satisfaction as the undead creature went wild, lighting several of its companions on fire with its struggles to escape the flames that engulfed it. His satisfaction soon turned sour as he watched a flaming zombie stumble toward the two humans battling in their midst. Before he could even breathe the words of a protection spell the young man calmly dispatched the burning zombie without being affected by the flames that licked about his skin as he did so. His female companion didn't notice, being involved in her own fight.

Heero narrowed his eyes in consideration before becoming aware of a question floating around the back of his mind.

Relena.

Heero turned his attention back to the few remaining zombies. They were quickly dispatched leaving the three survivors surveying one another coolly.

"Who are you?" The young woman asked bluntly. Her pale blue eyes narrowed slightly as she unabashedly looked Heero up and down.

Heero returned her stare, noting the flush of battle that still flooded her face and caused her eyes to snap and sparkle with a harsh heat. "Just someone in the right place at the right time." Heero answered. He turned his attention to her companion. The young man was crouched by one of the remaining corpses. He turned his head and looked up at Heero.

"You should burn the rest of these bodies."

Heero eyed the corpses and gave a curt nod. "Move." He waited until the others had retreated to a safe distance before igniting the remaining bodies.

"Heero!"

The mage turned away from the few flickering flames to face an overly excited Duo. He waited for the braided young man to speak.

"Are you all right? Relena felt something from you and so I came out to see what was wrong." Duo paused for breath. "By all the gods Heero, you shouldn't've just run out by yourself. What if you hadn't—"

"I wasn't alone." Heero said curtly. "And I am well able to take care of myself."

"I know that." Duo frowned and looked around at the smoldering embers that were all that remained of the zombies. "It does appear that you had no need of help." He turned his attention to the two strangers who inspected him somewhat curiously. "Who are they?"

Heero shook his head silently, not speaking anymore, his arms crossed over his chest.

Duo took another look at the two before shrugging and turning away. "He's all right, Lady Relena."

The female elf appeared out of the greenery with a gentle smile on her face, followed by her brother.

"You've mastered your magic. Good." Zechs said peremptorily. "We'll be leaving tomorrow."

"You both are welcome to rest in the Valley." Relena had turned to where Wufei and Dorothy stood. The Courtesan sent a narrow-eyed look toward the elf before squatting and wiping her blade carefully on the grass, removing every last vestige of rotted flesh from the gleaming metal.

"Thank you." Wufei spoke so formally that Dorothy glanced up at him in surprise. Her eyes widened even more as she watched him execute a half bow. Swiftly she rose to her feet, returning her sword to its sheath and followed him into the valley.

-----

Relena wandered through the valley, searching for the black haired stranger who had entered earlier. She found him standing in the middle of a moonlit grove, looking up at the star filled sky overhead.

"What do you want?"

The question could've been considered rude but Relena took no offense. Instead she paused and looked at him quietly for a moment. "You are the guardian."

He didn't turn his gaze away from the sky. "What are you talking about?"

A smile curved her lips. "Don't worry. I will not betray you. Once our two peoples were allies and friends, until necessity and great evil drove us apart. It is good to know that Justice has remained hidden from Ha'derkaath." A sad look crossed her face then. "Unfortunately the elves were unable to keep Truth away from him. Now both of our people face extinction because of our determination to thwart a god's wishes."

"Better to do something then nothing." He turned to face her, his eyes fathomless black pools that seemed to reflect the starlight. "Complacency is a more dangerous enemy then Ha'derkaath could ever style himself to be." Then he turned away again.

Relena inclined her head in acquiescence to his statement before leaving him once again to his thoughts and the starlit sky.