Wing Warriors

Author: Abby Ebon

Beta: Alara Moonrunner

Heero's most basic instinct was to pull out his handgun- and it seemed even in this dream place he had it. Despite the otherworldliness of the two…people…before them his hand didn't waver from his targets.

"Identify yourselves." Heero demanded in a clear, if emotionless, voice. Duo couldn't help but be amused at the looks on the faces of the two 'people' in front of them.

One was a man who had silver hair that went past his shoulders. There were slim braids in his hair that were attached with colorful beads, and feathers. He made a startling sight- but the one woman was even more so.

She was young, perhaps a year or two older then the pilots, she seemed made of glowing liquid glass. With both of them was a suggestion of the hawks they had first appeared as- of great wings unseen.

The only thing the same between the two of them were their eyes. Intimidating, yes- as they were as endless black with specks of silver, akin to the night sky.

It only took a glance at those eyes to know…

They were not human.

"We seek your help." The woman said softly, even so her voice echoed.

"We were Dawnfire K'Sheyna, and Tre'valen shena Tale'sedrin." She continued, with a glance at her companion. The look on Heero's face told them this information was not what he wanted.

"What he means is what you are. What do you want us to help you with." Quatre told them when Heero continued to stare them down the barrel of his gun.

"And where are we, woman." Wufei added, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

"We are the Avatars of the Star-Eyed, the Shin'a'in and Tayledras, a people once called Kaled'a'in, Goddess- and are any of these words familiar to you?" Tre'valen asked- he didn't look as he expected they would be. He wasn't surprised when Duo shook his head for them. Wufei didn't look pleased that he and his fellow pilots had been kidnapped for a goddess.

"As for the where, you stand on the Moonpaths- a spirit realm of the Star-Eyed." Dawnfire added, seeing they were still confused she continued. "You are safe so long as you stay on the pathways. We ask your help, in the heart of the Star-Eyed's lands, called the Dhorisha Plains, are ancient weapons collected ages ago." Heero lowered the gun, decided it probably wouldn't do any good against Avatars of a goddess- even one he had never heard of.

"Under the Star-Eyed's instructions we called to those who knew how to use these weapons, our call stretched across time and here you stand." Tre'valen answered the unasked question of why this concerned them.

"The Gundams- metal machines that look like…huge people?" Duo asked struggling to describe the Gundams as these…Avatars, would see them. The two glanced at each other, and nodded their agreement- they had seen something that resembled what the braided boy described.

"Among other things, yes there are five of those…things, they look of the same kind to that description." Tre'valen answered, Quatre rubbed his chest, glancing at Duo and smiling slightly. He was glad his friend felt more alive, but he did wonder how this had come to be.

They had sent their Gundams into the sun.

"We do not know how this came to be. But if you can use these…Gundams… we have need of you." Dawnfire pleaded, the pilots shared an almost telepathic bond, and when they needed to- not only could they make quick decisions on their feet that seemed to agree with the five of them. They could, if they chose, hear each other and consult each other in this way in uncertain situations.

This was one of those times.

: Lets do it! : Duo begged the other four, excited to see his Deathscythe. He had missed his Deathscythe more then any of the other pilots had missed their Gundams. Parting with it- even after the War, and there had been no need to keep it, had been heart-braking for Duo. The others knew this.

: We are walking into another war, uncertain alliances, and peoples, on the word of these…beings, to get our Gundams back? : You didn't need to guess what Heero's feelings were at his 'mind voices' tone.

: Not to mention language barriers. Any allies we could make wouldn't understand us. : Trowa added, keeping his attention mostly on the two Avatars of the 'Star-Eyed'.

: The Gundams might be rust. : Wufei stated coldly, stinging most of them with something that had to be said.

: Can we really turn our backs on these people, perhaps even our own decedents, because we are scared? : Quatre asked them, disbelieving that they'd do so. It was an uncomfortable question, but one – just like Wufei's, that needed to be said.

: With good reason. : Heero warned Quatre, glancing at the two Avatars of a Goddess, and a people, none of them had ever heard of. They all knew somehow that if Dawnfire and Tre'valen weren't Avatars – the pilots wouldn't understand them. If they agreed to help a people they had never seen- who might look just as outlandish as these two, how would they communicate? They might be mistaken as enemies and killed on sight.

: Remember; if the Gundams are useless or too low on power to use effectively- we'd all get in the way. Then this Star-Eyed 'Goddess' might send us back, if we've actually gone anywhere. : Trowa put in reasonably. Noting that throughout the exchange none of the pilots' expressions had changed too much- yet the two Avatars appeared to be listening to something- could it be they were listening to them? Which wasn't possible- unless in their world such communication was used frequently- that thought did not bid well with him. Nor, Trowa knew, would it go over well with the others.

Quatre's comment about descendents had cut Wufei, whose honor demanded he help kith or kin, future or otherwise, who had need of him. Quatre knew he'd go with whichever side won. Trowa would follow Quatre, and Duo was already for it. It would only be a matter of time before Heero was worn down by Duo.

: These Avatars seem pretty powerful; maybe they have a way for us to learn their people's languages quickly. : Duo suggested, it made sense and yet at the same time Trowa was uneasy- what if one of the Avatars had suggested it to Duo?

: How can you be certain they are truly working for the good of their world? : Heero quizzed him. Dou shrugged, pouting slightly.

"It is not other people we ask you to use your machines against. It is alike to a force of nature." Tre'valen said blandly, as if the thought to tell them this had just occurred to him.

Trowa was no fool, and neither were the rest, for all that Duo pretended. They had all felt Trowa's unease about the Avatars through Quatre- if not their own observations. They had been trained to notice things. For now they wouldn't show that they suspected the Avatars could do more then change shape and speak to them.

"In that case the Gundams are useless to you. Killing is all they are good for. All we are good at." Heero told the male Avatar, fingers itching for his handgun- even if it wouldn't work against these two it gave him the feeling of control.

The two Avatars obviously struggled to keep their expressions calm.

"In our world, there is something we call magic, are you familiar with it?" Tre'valen asked as he had been a former shaman of the Shin'a'in he knew it fell to him to ask- even though he didn't question the Star-Eyed's wisdom.

"Somewhat. Quatre can heal people, and sense emotions. It's nearly impossible to lie to him." Duo answered, after feeling compelled to do so. His eyes narrowed slightly now suspicious that Trowa was right.

"Do these …Gundams enhance these abilities in him?" The avatar continued, this time only Quatre could answer- and the other pilots turned to look at him he nodded slowly, unsure to where Tre'valen's questioning was leading.

"Then perhaps they have magic in them- which you are not aware of. For I assure you- all five of you would be Mages in our world. The potential is there, but untapped." Tre'valen finished softly; the five glanced among each other again.

They had decided that if they were to go – or stay, they would stick together.

Despite Trowa's misgivings, and Heero being uncomfortable with the thought of not being able to defend against what he couldn't predict. Quatre and Duo were decided, and Wufei would follow whichever side won.

Quatre knew he wouldn't be happy as the head of the Winner Corporation. What few times he had attempted the work- him not being in charge had actually been more beneficial, then with him in charge, although no one would dare say so to his face.

Wufei was the last of his Clan, and there was no future for him alone as far as he could see. Duo had been a street rat on L2- until becoming a pilot. Trowa had no family, and had been trained to fight at a young age- just like Heero. No one, except perhaps, a few women who they were more burdens to now, would miss them. Some might even be glad to see them gone.

Quatre and Duo had won the silent battle of wills, because of their enthusiasm for the matter. The five knew also that the Colonies and Earth had no need for Gundams- or their pilots.

So it was with both a heavy heart and lighter burden Quatre stepped foreword and held out a hand. "You've convinced us. Take us to our Gundams." Dawnfire and Tre'valen shared triumphant smiles and, reaching out a hand Tre'valen gripped Quatre's and the eight disappeared from the Moonpaths, to re-appear deep underground in The Mage of Silence, Untho's Tower.

Friday, April 13, '07- Reposted with corrections made by Alara Moonrunner

AN: Sorry for the long wait. I kept on having to go back to 'The Valdemar Companion' for names and things. Not to mention how to convince the pilots to allow themselves to be transported to another/maybe future world. As I hate doing 'drop ins' with x-overs. In the end I think it's the promise of new experiences, magic- and a chance to pilot their Gundams again that won them over. Heh, wonder how they are going to get the Gundams out of the large hill that Untho's Tower is… Hm…Oh well if all else fails the Goddess is handy to have around in a time like this.