Wing Warriors
Author: Abby Ebon
Beta: Alara Moonrunner
Her Majesty, Queen Selenay of Valdemar, started her day in the usual way- paperwork lots, and lots, of paperwork. Ruling wasn't all about the paperwork, in fact over the years, paperwork had become the only time she had for herself.
Her reign had started with bloodshed, and when King Ancar of Hardorn had began attacking her beloved Valdemar- she feared it would end in bloodshed. It hadn't- so far…
She supposed she should be grateful, for the most part; the mage-storms had been stopped- at least for now.
Still… while sending her Allies to Urtho's Tower seemed the only logical solution. It didn't make it any easier for her, to tell herself in the dead of night, that she was doing the right thing…
Her musings were interrupted by a great rush of displaced air, and the shaking of the earth, in her shock she had rushed to the window- hoping not to see another mage-storm brewing…
Selenay was amazed at what she did see- a metal …thing, that, sprawled as it was across the Companion's Field, looked almost like a man…It didn't stop Selenay from summoning her Heralds- she smiled slightly, as if she could stop them from investigating the oddity.
: You'd better get down here. : Caryo, her Companion, 'suggested'.
--
Duo woke with a pounding headache, and a buzzing static noise ringing in his ears. He cautiously opened his amethyst-colored eyes, peering cautiously into the darkness of what he hoped was his Gundam's cockpit.
At first the readings from the controls didn't make sense, and then Duo realized his Gundam was kissing dirt.
After rectifying this he tried the communication links between the Gundam's- after half an hour of nothing but static and feeling faintly sick to his stomach with worry, he decided to open the hatch.
It seemed the only logical decision since the 'windows' needed to be cleaned, and he couldn't really go anywhere without doing that first …
Although Heero, the perfectly paranoid soldier that he is, probably would have scanned the grounds… but that would take far too long in Duo's opinion. It turned out Heero probably had a reason for being so paranoid!
--
"What is it?" Queen Selenay demanded, as she had been for the past candle mark. So far there were no real answers; Bards found no reference to anything like it in the history of her kingdom- which was distressing. The Healers had uselessly confirmed that it was metal and not animal in nature.
The Mages and Gryphons had both concluded (and agreed) that, while it had a core of great ancient magic; magic that gave it a sort of sentience.
While it had moved and was now in fact standing, it wasn't alive in any way they recognized; all of which was nice to know- but really didn't tell them anything.
Her lifebonded, the Royal Consort Daren, 'Prince' of Rethwellan, called out pointing to the head of the metal giant…Selenay squinted…"Is that a boy?" Selenay asked the Queen's Own Herald Talia, who confirmed it.
"See if you can get a response to our questions." The queen ordered.
--
Duo was greeted- not with a storm of bullets, but a warning arrow.
He was either incredibly lucky- or the archer a better shot then Duo wanted to think about. As it was he had an arrow in his pant leg, there was no blood- so it was a near-miss.
What the hell! He muttered a curse as he yanked the arrow out – tearing his clothing, and reaching for his handgun, belly-crawled to the edge of the hatch.
A quick count was near fifty people decked out in white - with (of course) white horses.
These people take the concept of 'knight in shinning white' far too seriously. Duo thought somewhat humorously.
There were a few children (some at least in their teens) clothed in grey… with the white horses leading them away?
Duo purposely ignored that concept for the moment, for a far more important one. Who brings kids to a battle! Duo thought angrily- forgetting he wasn't much older then a teen himself.
Ignoring the people and white horses, Duo noticed he was in a courtyard of an almost medieval castle. Noting what was beyond the castle- a maze of a town, Duo decided his only escape was up.
Looking in that direction -and finding winged things… that were for sure not just big birds...circling in the sky above was not the most comforting sight in the world.
Not to mention they were yelling something, and he didn't understand a word of it. Duo decided it was probably 'your name and blah-blah or else' when another arrow shot up and fell short.
As the not-birds- that-fly-things could easily drop something unpleasant on his head; Duo rushed to get back inside…maybe if he cloaked Deathscythe- they would go away… and forget about him?
"Yeah…right, keep dreaming…" Duo muttered to himself.
Duo doubt it- but he knew arrows were probably the best weaponry they had. So the good news was there was nothing that could get through his Gundam.
Hopefully…because Duo wasn't getting out anytime soon… and if they tried fire- well they were likely to become burnt ashes before he even got warm.
The only problem was water and food….and going to the bathroom- but Duo was trying not to think of that…
He was reserving the cloaking and flying away until dark…because if the flying not-birds were anything like birds- they'd have to land before dark.
Duo really didn't want bird-guts on Deathscythe's face… and there was still the dirt- not to mention… he could justify using scanners at night to fly to his ego.
Unfortunately, it seemed it was still early morning….it was going to be a long wait…
--
Meanwhile in Rethwellan, which is ruled by King Faramentha Jadrevalyn, who is- ironically, Daren's oldest brother. Was trying to figure out how to tell his people that The Comb's path, the quickest way into Valdemar- was blocked by a similar (but white) metal-man…
Friday, April 13, '07- Reposted with corrections made by Alara Moonrunner
AN: I decided to follow DaughterofDeath's advice and 'add a new chapter'. Fabulous name BTW…