Hey-o, and welcome to my Lil' World of Weirdness!!

I state for the record that I don't own Gundam Wing, or the wonderful characters that will be gracing this story. . . I only own Faye Bloom, Chang Xiao Fao Lan and the Angels. You know the pairings, but just in case . . . You've got 1x2x1, 3x4x3, 5xMeirin, a dash of 6x9, a sprinkle of 13xUne, half a teaspoon of OdinxHelen . . . and may just a hint of DxR and Dr.JxProf.G . . . [grins] what can I say? I'm evil.

[rubs hands together] what else have we got?

Ah yes, mandatory thank you to Bluegoo, even though she is still my primary betareader, she won't be putting in as much of an appearance for this next year . . . yeah, I plan on keeping on and on for a while . . . anyway, Blue's off at uni, which is BRILLIANT! But means she won't have enough time to beta for me . . . but does that mean that I will go down hill? That my terrible typos and grammar will get out of hand?! [laughs] Oh ho, HO! No way . . . [holds up hand and falls silent] ladies and gentlemen, yaoi fan girls and guys – I know you're out there - . . . there's a new Beta reader in town. My gracious thanks go out to CLOW'D9 of Cardcaptor Sakura Fanfiction Fame, for her time and her patience in this.

Thinking

"Speaking"

Stress/Emphasis

Writing/Dream sequence

Telepathic thoughts

:: Lyrics ::

For The Grace Of Knights And Angels

By Doctor Megalomania

Chapter Thirty: The Knights of Gundam

[Please note: I know the formatting's all messed up… in fact, I had it laid out much nicer, but it seems in the time I have been away ff.net have decided that formatting is not necessary to a story … [sighs] at least you can still read it! Please R&R!!]

:: I just feel "rhythm emotion"
The beat of my heart
Continues towards you . . . so faraway . . . ::

"We leave tomorrow."

The gathered group glanced at each other nervously, as Quatre continued. Gather everything you need, leave behind everything we don't need. The other Knights stood behind their leader quietly, Quatre's tone brooking no room for interruption. Quatrine stared at her son with open awe, so this was the young leader Rashid had often spoken about. She smiled, nodding to herself as Quatre told them of the plans for tomorrow. They had already known that the Knights had chosen the desert as the final battlefield. Quatre had chosen it because not only would each of their powers prove to have some advantage there, it also meant that the Knights could minimise the amount of damage to the Earth by fighting there. Quatre nodded once more, "we must spend one last night with the angels, there is one more thing they wish to give to us before we fight. He breathed for a moment, you should prepare for the worst . . ."

He swallowed, this was the part he was dreading revealing, but reveal it he had too. He'd put it off for far too long, and he didn't feel right keeping it from his friends. Trowa put a hand on his shoulder, wordlessly giving his support. Quatre glanced down, his throat felt dry and tight.

"There is one final thing . . . In order to seal the battle's end, to finish it for the next five thousand years . . ." he lifted his eyes and tried to meet everyone's eye before continuing. "One of us, one of we five Knights, will die at the end of the battle."

He felt Trowa's hand tighten as Meirin rushed to the front, "what?!"

"It has already been decided; one must die to end the battle."

"Then they may take me!" Meirin spat violently, "the Earth needs you all!"

"Nataku!" Wufei snapped quietly then paced over to Quatre, "what do you mean? One of us will die to end the battle. . . what does that mean?"

Quatre dipped his head, "I don't know why . . . Jikan cannot explain it to me properly; just that one of us must die to end the battle for the next five thousand years . . ."

"Must it be one of you?" Sister Helen asked, she rushed forward, "I will take his place. . . I . . ." she stared at her son, her eyes filling with tears, "I've been dead for so long, they can take me back . . ."

"Mom!" Duo growled, "no! Nobody's gonna die!" He spun on Quatre, "Shinigami will not allow it!"

Quatre shook his head, "it is already decided . . ." he glanced at Duo, then at Trowa, then Wufei and finally Heero who pressed his lips into a thin line.

"When the sun sets tomorrow, he who is destined to die and end the battle will know himself . . ." Quatre sighed as he recited Jikan's words once more, "and by tradition, he who must give himself to Death must not reveal this fate . . ."

"We're not allowed to know . . .?" Trowa asked quietly, "if it is you, you couldn't even tell me . . . if it is me. . . I can't . . ." he trailed off and pulled Quatre close as the small blonde nodded, tears forming in his blue eyes.

"Fate is cruel . . ." Zechs murmured as he watched each of the young boys' stunned expressions. He tipped his head back and glanced at the night's sky. There, slouching heavily in the sky, the dark chi's transport had lumbered to a halt. It sat there as a black shape against velvet dark blue sky, hiding the beautiful white stars. He swallowed as he felt Noin's hand slip into his own; her voice was hushed as she whispered. "Ah, but for the grace of Knights and angels . . . Love, let me protect thee." Her eyes were wide, the moonlight shimmering off her tears; "I give my sword, my heart, my life . . . this I shall do, until last breath's strife . . . for the grace of Knights and angels . . ."

Her hand tightened around his.

"Milliardo . . . pray . . ."

:: Again, even if it wounds me, without looking away
Hotly, intensely . . . I want to live::

"Choose only the best of your fighters, Tubarov."

Tubarov bowed to the Urami as the dark Knight sat in the command chair of the Sesshou, "but of course, I have around four hundred, thousand troops fitted with this mobile doll device . . ." he pointed to a shaved part of his scalp, "all linked to me. . . this time I shall not make any mistakes of leaving a panel free for anyone to hack into!" The man giggled insanely, "no, my precious dolls are superior! They are perfect!"

Urami nodded absently, barely able to take his eyes off the Earth as it spun gracefully before them. Never had he been so close to the accursed planet. He leant an elbow on the arm of the chair and pressed two fingers against his forehead. "Quinze, how many does that leave without the mobile doll device?"

Quinze looked up from his clipboard and quickly thought through the numbers, "approximately seven hundred. . ."

Trowa Barton glanced down at the Urami, "what will you do with them?"

Urami shifted and folded his hands in his lap; "leave them on the colony ship."

Alex glanced behind himself, his fingers still taping out commands on the pilot panel. "The colony ship is rigged to—"

"I know." Urami sounded faintly bored, "but what use are they to me? They are not Knights and they will not be much use to us unless they are under the mobile doll device . . ." he made a motion with his hand, "what does it matter to them . . .? They were dead in the first place anyway . . ."

Tubarov made a sickening chuckle, snickering and mumbling something about his beautiful waltzing dolls as he walked out of the room. Urami glanced up at Trowa Barton; the older blonde man's gaze was fixated on the Earth. Quinze was standing slightly forward of the elevated command chair, making some final notes on his clipboard. Ever so often he would glance up and stare at the Earth before writing something new. Mueller didn't know why he bothered, shrugging as he flashed Alex a toothy grin. Unlike the other weak soldiers they were about to leave behind on the colony ship, Mueller – free of the Mobile Doll Device – was going to the Earth to fight along side his best friend, Alex the Dark Knight of Warriors. He snickered slightly, it was a dumb title but it seemed to suit. They were facing the Knight of Warriors, they would defeat him easily. Mueller pressed a couple of controls on his navigational panel, "engines are online, Urami."

"All decks report clear for take off." Alex chimed in; "all thrusters are ready at your command, Urami."

Urami nodded once and glanced at Quinze, the ugly old man nodded as he listened to a communication. "Tubarov reports all non-essential personnel are aboard the colony ship. All soldiers are accounted for."

"The crew are at your command, Urami." Trowa Barton winked a blue eye at him, "when you give the word . . ."

Urami nodded slightly and stood. He tilted his head slightly to the side as the doors shushed open again, "are you ready, Father Maxwell?"

The black robes of the older, former L2 inhabitant shushed quietly as he walked, the metal tap, tap, tap of the end of the blackened scythe a sharp counterpoint to the almost silent sounds of the man. Urami stared down at the old priest. As Urami did, he, unlike the others, wore his ceremonial robes and carried his weapon. His eyes were still hidden by his hood, but Urami could tell they burnt with hatred for the planet that spun so peacefully before them.

"Well?" Urami prompted quietly, "Are you ready . . .?"

Father Rowan Maxwell's hand tightened around the blackened scythe, dark violent magic crackling with his fury.

"Good . . ." Urami smiled, he turned back to the monitor and glanced at Trowa Barton, "Disengage the docking clamps . . ." The dark haired, blue eyed boy sat down in the command chair once again and pressed his fingertips together in an arch, "and detonate the colony ship when the Sesshou is a safe distance away . . ."

As Barton grinned at him and moved away to give his orders out, Urami glanced up at Father Maxwell again. The old man stared at him coolly, as Urami smirked darkly.

"So very soon, we shall meet with your son once more . . ."

He glanced back at the Earth.

". . . and I shall return to my lover."


:: You give me unyielding strength ---
That's why I want to hold you . . . ::

The five Knights landed. The gates of the shrine of the Angels towered above them.

They glanced at each other, before entering silently. Their journey here had been fairly quiet, the bombshell that Quatre had dropped striking each hard. None of them wanted to die, not when they had so much to live for, yet each wished desperately that it were he. They glanced at each other, knowing they all had the same thoughts; they didn't want to sacrifice anyone, even though it would end the battle.

They'd come to realise that the battle would end with the death, but nobody knew whether it would end the battle in their favour or in the favour of the darkness. They stepped through the gates, through the same entrance hall they'd first arrived at, through to the courtyard. The five angels stood there still. The darkness banished by torches of fire placed all around. The soft glow of fire flickered as the angels turned slowly to face each of their Knights. They straightened out of the circle they stood in, and faced their Knights in a straight line.

"Tonight is the last night . . ." Jikan began to speak, her voice sorrowful, "for this we are deeply saddened . . ." she reached forward and touched Quatre's forehead gently as she sank down to kneel before him. "You have been the finest Knights we have ever had the pleasure to train for this ordeal. . . you have never shirked your duty, never denied what you must do . . . you are willing to die for this planet, and more importantly, for each other . . ." she stared up at Quatre as she crossed her arms across her chest, her magic circle appearing below her. "Quatre Rebarba Winner, Thou art recognised as Knight of Time."

Quatre gasped as her hair and gowns stared to turn to specks of light, Jikan's eyes slid shut as she gave up her very being to him.

"To you, I impart the totality of your power . . . May you guide time and the Earth with distinction . . ."

As Jikan's celestial form disappeared and the magic wound around him, Quatre felt his robes grow heavier, felt armour snap into place. His wings appeared with an explosion of gold magic and flapped powerfully as Jikan's magic circle rotating slowly under his feet before it faded. Quatre cupped his hands and a small ball of gold magic appeared there. "Thank you . . ." he whispered, as the last of Jikan's gold magic faded away.

"Chang Wufei . . ."

Wufei blinked and looked up at Konbo as the angel knelt before him. Its eyes were glowing slightly with the fire around them; its voice was slightly muffled by the mask it wore. "Your dedication to the fight, to see justice done shall be a great ally to you . . . however, there is a stronger ally you can gain, if you overcome your fear . . ." the angel crossed its arms over its chest and began to chant, a small ring of fire glowing brightly around Wufei and the angel. "Chang Wufei, Thou art recognised as Knight of Warriors." Its red eyes slid close, as its spoke, "To you, I impart the totality of your power . . . May you guide fire and the Warriors honourably . . ."

Wufei's black hair swayed back and forth as the angel began to dissipate before him. He held his hand out and pressed his palm against Konbo's brow, "I shall honour you on the battlefield . . ."

Duo gaped as his tall, beautiful angel knelt before him, "do you have to go?" He asked quietly grim as the angel blinked and looked up at him with a small smile. He gazed into her eyes, faintly aware that he was the only mortal on Earth who knew of the startling shade of her violet eyes. "I must . . . but we are not gone, listen and you may hear us, we are to give you guidance even throughout the battle . . ." she raised both her hands and pressed them over Duo's cross, "Duo Maxwell, your faith may be tested during this battle . . . everything you hold to your heart maybe taken from you . . . but continue the fight, you have lost all before and have overcome . . ." she closed her eyes, her voice calm as she began to chant her final spell. "Duo Maxwell, Thou art recognised as Knight of Death . . ." violet magic like fireflies began to float away from her and wind around Duo, "To you, I impart the totality of your power . . . May you guide the Dead safely to the Waters . . ."

Duo spread his arms as the woman fell forward, her magic completely overtaking her. He felt the armour she had been wearing modify itself and mould itself to his body. Her whispers already sounding in his head, Duo smiled warmly, closing his eyes and resting his head on hers. "I, as Death, shall bring honour to my namesake."

Armburst knelt as soon as Ogama's magic faded from them. "Trowa Barton, Triton Bloom, nanashi . . . your destined foe is powerful, however remember that you are the one who lived." He held up the white hawk on his fingers to Trowa, speaking in a low tone, "Do not allow him to confuse you, remember that not only are you life to his death, you must protect the Knight of Time as you have always done . . ." Trowa nodded sharply, lifting the hawk to his shoulder. Armbrust folded his arms over his chest, "Trowa Barton, Triton Bloom, nanashi . . . Thou art recognised as Knight of the Beasts." The dark green hair of the angel was the first to dispel into drops of magic and Trowa watched the face of the angel as the tips of his ears began to break up, "To you, I impart the totality of your power . . . May you guide winds across this Earth's face judiciously . . ."

Trowa swallowed and closed his eyes, his farewell to his angel silent and personal.

"Heero Yuy . . ."

The former Wing Gundam pilot took a moment to gather himself, before looking up at his angel. Katana looked down at him for a long moment then lowered himself to kneel before his Knight. "The last tenant of magic is yours to find, it will be painful . . . more painful than anything you've ever had to endure but for the sake of the Earth you must . . ." the angel raised a hand and passed it over Heero's eyes slowly, "pray your eyes remain sharp, they will give you the answers . . ." Katana nodded slowly, crossing his hands over his chest. "Heero Yuy . . . Thou art recognised as Knight of Mercy . . ." the bright blue magic circle of katana and Heero brightened the entire courtyard, almost blinding the others. Heero stared at his angel as he continued to chant, disappearing as the light over took him. "To you, I impart the totality of your power . . ." Heero's white feathered wings burst back from him, spreading widely as the gold armour began to appear on his body. His dark hair blew upwards with the magic as his dark blue eyes slid shut. As the magic faded and the light began to dim again, Katana's voice echoed all around them.

"May you show them the light, and bestow your mercy wisely . . ."


:: I just feel "rhythm emotion"
Even if I err, even if it hurts,
It guides me to the brilliant light of an instant . . .
I just feel "rhythm emotion"
The beat of my heart
Continues towards you . . . so faraway . . .::

He stared up at the sky as the explosions slowly faded.

The early morning, barely out of the night, was disrupted as a huge explosion in the sky briefly illuminated everything . . .

Treize's eyes narrowed.

. . . including the shape of the new version of the Balji and Libra hybrid.

He pressed a gloved hand against the window of lady Une's office window, as he watched debris rain down across the sky, shining brightly like shooting stars.

"A communication from Commander Marquise!" Walker paced into the room, slamming a piece of paper on Une's desk. Dorothy and Relena glancing at Une as the older woman read the paper. The Gundam scientists and Doctor Sally Po stopped talking amongst themselves as Lady Une stood and nodded to Walker, "deploy our troops to that position immediately."

"As good as done, ma'am!" Walker barked as he spun and marched out the room again quickly. Une breathed in and nodded to everyone else in the room.

"The Knights are returning, the battle will commence in the Sahara Desert . . . they will meet us there."

Relena glanced at Dorothy, then at Catherine and Hilde and finally her own father. "You four . . ." she said quietly, ". . . have no need to see this battle . . ."

"It concerns this Earth!" Catherine jumped to her feet, "my little brother is fighting for his life, I intend to fight with him!"

"It's too late, Relena . . ." Sally Po spoke up, "too late to change your minds, those who have remained must stay now. . ."

Lady Une sighed and turned to her former commander, "Trieze . . ."

The red headed man nodded slowly, and turned from the window. "It's starting, Lady . . ."

The group began to file out the room as Walker and Otto returned, stating that their transport for the Sahara was now ready. The Gundam scientists and Doctor Po glanced at each other and filed out quietly, Catherine and Hilde grabbed their own guns, and the Former Minister Darlian followed Trieze and Lady Une.

"Miss Relena . . ." Dorothy called as the blonde haired woman stepped toward the window. "We must go now . . . it's all starting, this war for the life of our planet . . . it's starting now."

"I know, Dorothy . . ." Relena pressed her hand against the glass, looking out as the bright red tint of the explosion faded from the sky. She turned away, the beautiful skyline of the city glowing brightly behind her. Dorothy smiled as she held out her hand to her best friend. Relena blinked once, slowly. Fury welling up in her eyes as she stalked toward Dorothy, she took Dorothy's hand and cast one last look out of the window, the Hybrid Ship disappearing once more into the backdrop of the sky.

"It may be starting . . . but I know Heero will finish it . . ."

:: Yes, quickly catching the moment in my bare skin ---
I want to find more gentleness! ::

"Helen."

She blinked and looked away from the window, "yes, Odin?"

"If and when we come through this . . ." The blonde haired man started, staring ahead. "I want you to become my wife." Helen blinked as the man continued, "I don't mean instantly . . . I don't even mean next year, I just want you to know that I will not let you go unless you really don't want me . . ."

Helen grasped his hand tightly. "Odin . . ." she smiled, "when we do come through this, God willing, I will gladly begin courting you." She smiled warmly, leaning over to kiss his cheek lightly. "It isn't a question of 'if' . . ." she motioned out the window, Heero and Duo sat on the wing of the plane staring ahead, watching as the sun raced before them. It was the day they would find out which would die, and they'd decided they wanted to be off the plane when that knowledge filtered through. Each of the Knights was sat on the wings as easily as they would on the back seat of a convertible. Trowa controlled the winds, making sure the flight went as smoothly as possible as they raced to the Sahara Desert.

Master Fao glanced at Meirin as the young Chinese woman sat in her chair. Wufei was outside sitting on the tail wing, thinking deeply. The two had taken off for a few moments before the flight began, no doubt to say their final goodbyes before the battle began in earnest. The old master sighed deeply; even he hadn't known that one of the Knights had to sacrifice their life. Of course a couple might have died during the intense training, but on top of that another to die in the final battle to ensure the end. The cruellest Chinese curse didn't seem so harsh. He sighed again, patting Meirin's hand in a silent gesture.

Faye Bloom also watched Meirin with some concern, the young girl seemed as if she was fighting tears. The girl was strong, but the possibility of loosing her husband . . . Faye's brow creased, she knew that pain so well . . . she glanced out the window, her son perched like the others on the wing, sitting on the far side of Quatre. The two, though not saying a word to each other, hadn't let go of each other's hands since the morning had broken and their journey had begun.

"They will overcome, Allah is merciful."

Faye blinked and looked over at Quatrine as the small blonde woman nodded determinately, "they will overcome this battle and win." She glanced forward, glancing up as Rashid got up and walked to the back of the cabin. "Allah is merciful . . ." Quatrine pressed her hand against her heart, "and our sons are strong . . ."

"Allah is merciful . . ." Rashid nodded, as he passed Quatrine. He paused by his three soldiers, watching them silently as they quickly assembled their guns, cleaning them swiftly. The friendly banter was terse, they were nervous but Rashid knew that they would be perfect on the battlefield. He nodded to them, and turned, walking back to the cockpit. Zechs was piloting and Noin co-piloted, Rashid's glower softened as he noticed the two were still holding hands, offering each other silent support as they flew the plane. "ETA?" Rashid asked quietly.

Noin glanced over at her instruments, "we'll land there at midnight . . ." she turned her gaze on the sun before them, "look . . ."

Zechs nodded absently, "it's time for them now . . ." he sighed quietly, "Gundam must face this challenge. For the sake of the Earth, they must face it . . ."

:: Everything gleams
As I return to the wonder of childhood . . . ::

The Knights stared out, each with their own thoughts. They watched the sun. Despite Zechs' flying skills and the speed they flew at, they couldn't outrun the sunset forever. They glanced at each other for a moment, Wufei getting up and flapping his powerful wings so he could sit beside Duo.

"Look . . ." Quatre pointed unnecessarily; "the sun's setting . . ."

He frowned as his eyes closed forcibly. Each Knights found themselves being forced under the spell of the sun. Their angels' voices sound within their minds quietly, assuring them that they were in no danger.

It was one of them . . .

He frowned slightly.

No. . . It was him. . .

The Knight found himself standing in a dark place staring at his angel as the taller being stood before him. He frowned, pursing his lips into a thin line. "Is it me? For sure, is it me?"

The angel smiled sadly, unfortunately, "yes it is . . . I know you have your loved one . . . but to end this battle, you are the one."

The Knight sighed, "and none of the others will die too?"

The angel nodded, kneeling to look into the Knight's eyes. "They will suffer any normal injury, but you are correct. None other than yourself will die in this battle . . ."

"I . . ." the Knight paused as he felt the moment pass, "I can't tell them, can I?"

His angel sighed softly. "No . . . You may not . . ."

Wufei opened his eyes. Quatre opened his eyes. Trowa opened his eyes. Duo opened his eyes and glanced at Heero.

Heero opened his eyes and glanced back at Duo, then at the others. Trowa nodded tightly, as Wufei tied his hair back, his eyes closed calmly again. Quatre glanced at the dragon warrior, and then tilted his head up as the last of the dying sun's light began to fade. The enemy had arrived . . . their ship was an enormous hulking mass on the very edge of the Earth's atmosphere.

Trowa's armour clanked quietly as he stood, using his magic to keep himself upon the speeding plane's wing. The tall brown haired Knight stared at the enemy's ship, cocking his head as he glared at his enemy. "The Earth is cringing!" he called over the wind, "we can feel the evil already . . ."

Wufei stood up, spreading his wings, his armour looked magnificent as it glinted dully with the dying sunlight. "I feel the Earth's forces . . . they have gathered . . ." he glanced at Quatre as the small blonde stood as well, his hands clasped over his heart. "You feel it too?"

Quatre opened his eyes slowly, "yes . . . this is it . . . the battle begins today . . . at midnight." He tossed his head toward Duo, "Duo? Can you get us there any faster?"

The braided Knight stared at the sun for a long moment, before answer. "Yes . . . easily. But the plane would arrive with us . . . unless . . ."

Heero glanced down at his seated partner. "Unless?"

"We send the plane ahead, and we travel after them." He looked up at Heero as the white winged Knight spread his wings, his messy dark brown hair blowing hard to the side as Heero turned to look down at him. Heero nodded, "we are the ones they want . . ." he glanced at Wufei as the dragon winged Knight knelt quickly, touching the roof of the plane. Wufei spread his wings, and allowed the wind to carry him off it. Trowa waited with Quatre as the small blonde bent down and quickly tapped the window. The two glanced up at Duo and Heero before they too leapt off the wing of the plane. Heero stared at Duo for a moment longer, "I'll warn them . . ."

Duo nodded, and clamped his hands down on the edges of the plane as he spread his large black feather wings.

Loose, white feathers ripped from Heero's wings as he sped to the front of the plane.

Noin and Zechs were staring ahead, as Odin leant over Noin's seat.

Heero flapped his wings, staring ahead until he saw a point of purple magic begin to glow before the plane. He glanced back at the cockpit, and smiled slightly as all three of the cockpit's occupants stared at him with awe. Even Zechs' mouth had fallen open as the young Knight flew along side their speeding plane. Heero mouthed Duo's name once and nodded toward the point of magic ahead of them, Noin seemed to get it first and nodded back to him. She made some adjustments to the panels before her, before explaining it to the others. Zechs gave Heero the thumbs up, as Odin pounded on the glass quickly.

Heero blinked, flying a little closer to the glass.

The older man pressed a hand against the glass of the window and smiled wanly, he paused for a moment. Heero stared at his adopted father for a long moment, not truly understanding the man's look. Odin's lips began to move, and Heero felt . . . he felt he might fall from the sky. His wings stopped flapping and he glided for a long moment, as Odin repeated the words.

"I love you, son."

The older man smiled and glanced forward, as the point of light exploded into a wormhole.

Heero glanced toward the wormhole as it sent streams of magic curling closer to the plane, before flying dangerously closer to the plane. He pressed his hands against cockpits windows, and for the briefest of moments, gave the happiest smile of his life.

"Heero!!" Duo's voice broke his distraction and Heero glanced over in time to see his dark angel of Death spread his wings and flip himself off the wing of the plane. Heero glanced back at his father, nodded and pushed as hard as he could from the window. He peeled away from the plane, spinning and twisting in the window as the plane flew into the wormhole.

Quatre was the first to fly to his side, followed by Trowa and Wufei. Duo flew toward them and pulled out his scythe. A wicked grin spread over his lips as he grabbed the scythe with both hands, "you know. . . this is going to be one of the coolest things I've ever done in my life . . ."

"Maxwell, this is the battle to prevent the end of the World . . ." Wufei raised a critical eyebrow, "we're the last line of defence before the ultimate destruction . . . this is not supposed to be fun."

"Yet Wufei . . . Just a year ago . . ." Trowa spoke up, "just one year; we were just five normal boys . . ."

"No. . . We were the Gundam pilots!" Duo corrected them, he grinned at each of them, "Pilots, Knights, whatever!"

"Duo's right . . ." Quatre nodded as he pulled his weapons out of their sheaves, "whatever we are . . ." He held the end of a gold scimitar into the middle of their loose circle. Trowa leant in the tip of his bow, Wufei the end of his staff. Duo chuckled and placed the heavy head of his scythe in the middle.

"Whatever we are . . . we are one thing . . ." Quatre began to grin, as his friends nodded with him. He fixed his gaze on Heero as the last Knight pulled out his sword and laid it on top of the clustered weapons. Quatre smiled brightly, "we are Gundam."

Duo snickered quietly, "there's two things I've always wanted to do . . . one's this. . ." He bounced his scythe up and down slightly, "One for all . . ."

"All for one!" The four others called out as they pushed away from each other. They straightened into a line as another point of purple light began to bubble before them; Wufei flapped his wings powerfully as they fell into formation, "what's the other thing, Maxwell?"

Duo grinned as he backed up slightly; he twisted his scythe once more before grabbing it hard. "The Deathscythe thing. . ." he raised his scythe and spread his wings, as the wormhole opened once more.

Heero glanced up quickly, glancing at the dark shape that loomed over the Earth. He frowned slightly as he noticed a bright light, like a slow falling star move away from the main part of the ship.

Wufei and Quatre spread their wings and flew into the wormhole quickly, followed with Trowa and Heero on their heels. Duo grinned as he pushed himself through the air at frightening speed, ripping past Trowa and Heero with a harsh laugh and a wicked glint in his powerful violet eyes. "Watch out . . ." he crowed darkly, "For Shinigami is back from Hell!!"

:: I just feel "rhythm emotion"
It's painful for both of us
to share these feelings, to believe in this warmth ::

Relena stared at the sea of faces.

There were just over half a million soldiers left, many of who didn't really know how to fight, those who'd grown up with the wars raging behind them like she had, and there were those who'd fought in the wars and had sworn never to raise a gun again. She glanced up as Treize's horse pawed at the ground nervously. He stared out, looking like a true leader, his gun was in his hand, his sword ready for hand-to-hand combat. Rapidly constructed tanks and mobile suits rumbled into place, as planes rapidly refitted with bombing capabilities. Never had Relena felt so glad that the old military scientists had not forgotten how to build defences.

She turned from them and stared over the darkened desert. The expanse of usually gold sand was lit in a cool blue, the moon was full, larger then usual in the sky. The stars shone brightly as if they were watching the contest avidly.

"Miss Relena . . ." Relena blinked and glanced as Doctor J hobbled over to her, "unless you have some last words for them . . . we must leave now . . . we would only be in the way . . ."

Relena glanced at Dorothy, the taller blonde's hair was tied back tightly, and she - like Trieze - had chosen to keep a sword by her side. She wanted to say something to all of them, but for once, words failed her. She swallowed and ran over to Dorothy's side, ignoring the look Lady Une gave her as the older woman waited on her own horse. "Dorothy!" Relena threw her arms around her best friend's neck, and quickly whispered, "they may need me, but I need you."

"Be brave, Miss Relena. . ." Dorothy pulled her friend from her and nodded grimly, "we live in a brave new era . . . we must be bold, we must be brave. . . we must fight on, no matter what."

"Relena . . ." Trieze looked down from his horse, "it's time for you to go . . ." he nodded to her, "we soldiers at heart must fight . . . you, must be the one to pick up the pieces . . ." he looked up as a massive roaring sound ripped through the air painfully, and a massive indigo wormhole opened up. Battered old Federation and OZ mobile suits rumbled, as smaller blackened and burnt tanks stuttered toward them. Une swallowed as she saw thousands of dead soldiers begin to lumber out of the strange anomaly. "Relena . . . it's time for you to leave. Now."

Relena nodded, reluctantly casting her friend one more glance. Dorothy didn't even meet her eye as she raised her shotgun. Doctor J gently pulled the small blonde girl away from the front line; towards the desert jeep that would take her to the last escape ship. From there, Relena and the scientists would watch as the battle unfolded. She sat in the jeep, glancing up at the night sky as another dark wormhole opened.

Six new beings dropped from it, clasping archaic weapons and billowing cloaks.

A shiver wracked Relena.

These six would be the ones who would fight Heero and the other Knights . . . she looked at her watch, only fifteen minutes remained before midnight, before the year was up. She swallowed hard, feeling fear well up in her as the dark new arrivals spread demonic wings, blackened and burnt. One of them had to be carried by the fifth, as they made their way to a clear space of dunes. They were getting out of the way of the fight between the forces of the Earth and the forces of the dead soldiers.

Yet another portal opened, this time bright violet, and the airplane her brother piloted sailed out if it with ease.

There was a gasp from the Earth soldiers as it landed heavily in between the two forces. The ground shook as it slid to halt and Rashid's Magnurac army raced to the plane.

Zechs coughed as he and Noin ushered everyone off the plane, it had been a rough landing since the plan wasn't equipped to land on sand. Rashid barked orders in Arabic to his men as the fighters pulled everyone off the plane. He glanced at Noin and Zechs as they grabbed their own guns, and were hauled over toward horses of their own.

Relena blinked as Sister Helen and Quatrine Winner were dragged over to the jeep by Odin and Abdul, with Master Fao. Fao coughed, the old man unused to the desert sands. He looked up, "they were behind us . . ."

"Odin! No!" Helen screamed angrily, "I'm fighting!" The small woman resisted the older blonde man violently, "I'm fighting!"

"I don't want you to get killed!"

"If they fail, I'll be killed anyway!" Helen grabbed a gun from the back of the seat and a long strip of a rag, "I'm fighting, Odin. . . that's my son out there, he's not going to fight this alone!"

Odin growled angrily as Helen tied back her hair, "Helen!" He grabbed her arm and pulled her tight against him, "Helen . . ." she stared at him with hard blue eyes, "Helen . . ." he embraced her, "Helen, stay close . . . I promised Duo, I'd protect you . . ."

She closed her eyes, and silently promised Heero . . . promised him, that she would keep his father safe.

Treize smiled warmly as his old friend rode toward him quickly. "Zechs!"

The lightning baron pulled his horse's reigns tightly as he looked up into the sky, "they're ready . . . they can do it! Trieze, the Gundams can do it!"

Treize smiled sadly, as he nodded toward the lumbering forces of the dead, "I certainly hope so, my friend . . . we will need a miracle."

Noin glanced at the massed army, then at the six on the horizon, "six? But there are only meant to be five . . ." she looked at Lady Une, who shook her head. The woman's hair was tightly tied back, and her glasses glinted in the moonlight, "one of them had to be carried while the others flew . . . there are only five endowed with magic . . . the sixth . . . is unexplained." She glanced at her watch, four minutes remained until midnight. "Where are they?"

"They'll be here . . ." Faye bloom called up to her breathlessly as the woman ran, the families of the five Knights joined the front lines. Meirin raising her arm with the dragon claw, and pointed to the sky. "There!"

A point of light appeared there.

:: I just feel "rhythm emotion"
With this kiss, I want to
send you certain passions. . . so faraway. . . ::

"Moments remain . . ."

As Urami spoke, Barton looked up, the countdown to the end of the long wait beginning in all their hearts. He grinned as the point of light grew stronger, the air around it rippling, "come on . . ." he urged his enemy, "come to us . . ."

Fifteen . . .

Quinze looked out over the desert, noting that the Earth's armies out weighed their own in number. He smirked, but that didn't matter . . . it would take a lot to kill soldiers that were already dead. He glanced up, as the point of light began to burn brighter.

. . . fourteen . . .

Alex glanced at Mueller and laughed, Mueller hadn't been given wings as Alex had but he did have some magic in his hands. They would take down the Knight of Warriors easily. He laughed again, as the point began to cast light down on the sands.

. . . thirteen . . .

Father Maxwell's eyes narrowed coldly as he recognised one woman on the other side. So. . . his delightful cousin had betrayed him as had the son. He made a silent promise to Sister Helen Maxwell that he would come and force confession from her and make her face his most unholy force of wrath.

. . . twelve . . .

Urami took a step forward as the night sky began to light up with the force of the Knight of Death's teleportation portal. The last remains of the year were drawing to such a close, he felt his chest constrict tightly and he almost couldn't breathe. Solo wanted to cry out for Duo, for all to flee before the battle began . . . Urami pushed the young boy back down once more, it was their fault, all their fault that he was Knight of Urami . . . the Knight of Cruelty.

. . . eleven . . .

Catherine felt a tear slide down her cheek and she brushed it away angrily, now was not the time for this! She had to fight now; her mother stood by her side and her little brother was about to arrive to fight the final battle between good and evil. There was no time to be scared! She swallowed, and nodded to her mother as the wormhole began to open up.

. . . ten . . .

Rashid looked up as the wormhole peeled back like a desert rose in the night's sky. He drew a deep breath, and continued to climb up his mobile doll's rigging. He paused just outside of his cockpit to look over at Sally Po's mobile suit. The doctor had been given a suit to fight with, everyone who still had mobile suit pilot capabilities were given as many of his armies old mobile suits. The battle was going to be intense. He climbed into the cockpit, feeling the familiar squeeze of the machine and instantly locked his sights on an enemy's tank. He glanced up at the opening wormhole and opened a communication channel to his fleet. "Allah be merciful, protect us . . . and help us fight with Master Quatre!"

. . . nine . . .

Noin drew a breath as she, Zechs, Lady Une and Treize spread along the front line. They were each going to head up a battalion. Her horse pawed the ground nervously as she kept her eye on Zechs' white hair, his horse trotted away from her quickly. He turned to his portion of the army and called out some encouraging words. Noin felt her throat go dry, and looked away. She had no words, how could she? The wormhole stretched further, beautiful in the amount of power it had.

. . . eight . . .

Dorothy didn't look up as the sand dunes were bathed in the strong violet light, she heard the motor of the jeep begin to run and prayed that Relena would get to the base soon. Out of the way, out of mind, so they could all focus on the war about to take place. Her eyes narrowed as she locked her aim on the front line of the enemy. "You will never crush Human spirit . . ." she hissed darkly, her finger tightening on the trigger, "the Gundams will not let you . . ."

. . . seven . . .

Howard looked at Relena as Master O drove away from the front line like a mad man. The girl was holding tightly to the back seat, craning her neck around to see the huge wormhole slowly spinning in the sky. Howard knew straight away that it was the boys and he felt a spark of hope, he glanced at J, the violet magic glinting off the old man's glasses. "It's them . . ." Howard said quietly, "it's the boys . . ."

. . . Six . . .

Zechs turned his horse to face the enemy, glancing over once at Noin. She was sat on her horse, her back straight and her eyes set on the wormhole. She looked beautiful and proud, a real soldier to the core. He looked over to his enemy, and narrowed his eyes as he noticed a man riding one of the massive, yet decrepit looking Taurus suits. "Tubarov . . ." Zechs murmured to himself, his sky blue eyes narrowing further, "the mobile dolls . . ."

A flash of light pulled Zechs' attention from the dead mobile doll designer, as the five Knights finally flew out of the mouth of the wormhole. The lightning baron glanced either side of him as Otto and Walker rode up on their own horses. He nodded to them then glanced up at the five winged Knights as they flew closer. "They're here . . ." Zechs whispered, hope and crushing finality warring in his tone, "it's starting now. . . they are finally here . . ." Zechs stared at the white feathered wings of Heero Yuy, ". . . Gundam are finally here . . ."

:: I just feel "rhythm emotion"
Even if I err, even if it hurts,
It guides me to the brilliant light of an instant ::

. . . Five . . .

Wufei felt his anger build as he noticed his wife standing on the front lines. He would protect her to the last, inside his mind he heard Konbo whisper a final word of advice. He frowned as his eyes were drawn to his wife again, A greater ally?. His strong dragon wings beat furiously as he slowed down to land.

. . . Four . . .

Quatre looked over the vast army, and felt his heart try to reach and touch each of them. His magic was drawn to the army, and he knew that he would be able to make them move as easily as he could weave time. The sands below them whisked up as the five Knights prepared to land.

. . . Three . . .

Trowa frowned darkly as he stared at the horizon. There stood their enemy . . . but there stood six . . . not five like they were! He looked around, Earth's forces were gathered and the front line didn't seem to have any—his breath caught. His mother, his sister . . . they stood on the front line . . . the winds gusted up around the five Knights as Trowa's anger and fear for his family grew.

. . . Two . . .

Duo felt drawn as he stared at his counterpart on the horizon. The other's scythe glinted dully compared to his own, and Ogama's words came back, his faith . . . was it going to be tested? But he had no faith in God; just in Shinigami . . . he frowned, his black-feathered wings swaying back and forth as they slowly arrived on the ground.

. . . One . . .

Heero's wings unfurled spreading as far as they would go, as the perfect solider landed. Loose white feathers fluttered around him as he raised his head, his eyes closed. He felt his magic begin to swell up inside of him and felt sand brush against his cheek as his magic burnt a circle into the sand. Light blue, almost white magic began to strike up from the sand and around him. He felt the others' magic swell and react to his own, before he opened his eyes. Magic twisted from his feet and shot into the sky, banishing the nighttime and forcing the light, the beautiful blue sky to appear as the night retreated. The enemy's warship came into painful view, the barrel of the massive gunship pointed clearly at the Earth, ready to fire. The enemy forces hissed collectively at the light as it came and revealed the true horror of their decaying bodies. The Earth's forces steeled themselves as they stared into the faces of the long time dead friends and families, preparing themselves for this final war to end all wars, and to save the Earth from annihilation.

Heero's cobalt blue eyes crackled with magic as he turned his gaze on the enemy on the horizon.

. . . Zero . . .

"We are . . . the Knights of Gundam. . . "

::I just feel "Rhythm Emotion"::

After colony Two-Zero-One . . .

The Year had ended . . . the Earth Sphere's time to prepare had finished . . . and the battle to save the Earth Sphere was about to begin. The Year had passed . . . too slowly for some, for others it passed entirely too quickly . . . The former Gundam Pilots were called upon once more to save the Earth Sphere, this time not from itself and its inhabitants . . . but from a threat far greater then they could ever have imagined.

The Future and the Past were to collide in a fashion not seen for centuries . . .

The Battle was about to commence, and this time no machine would decide the outcome. While Relena Peacecraft and the Six Gundam Scientists waited with the final escape craft; Krushrenada Treize, Lady Une, Zechs Marquise and Commander Noin were the leaders of the Earth Sphere's last great army. As they led the hastily gathered forces into battle with Tubarov's army of dead soldiers with Mobile Doll technology implanted in their skulls, the Knights of Earth's families and friends would face death, prepared to fight for the Earth Sphere's future.

Once . . . Five young boys descended on Earth with powerful machines called Gundam . . . their heroic legend became their name and a name that binded those five together. With the knowledge that one of their number had to die in order to seal the end of the battle, the five young boys resolved to fight boldly, passionately, fiercely to make that sacrifice worth every drop spilt of their comrade's blood.

As the battle commences . . . and their mirror counterparts ready to face them with the same powers, will the five young boys named Gundam win the day . . . or will the Earth Sphere fall under the cold hand of Urami and the might of the horrifyingly destructive power of the Sesshou Cannon . . .?

Is this the past beginning, or the end of the future?

Gundam.

Fight boldly . . . for the future . . .

::The beat of my heart
Continues towards you. . .

So faraway!! ::