Wing Warriors
Author: Abby Ebon
(UnBetaed At -The- Moment)
AN: Major spoilers for Gundam Wing here- and somewhat for Valdemar…
Wufei didn't think it was possible, but after six hours of searching for a way out of a blasted tree-house, and finding none, he gave up- temporarily.
It didn't help matters that a snowy owl seemed to be laughing – or at least highly amused, at him. Snarling at it hadn't helped him either- he had to face facts, he was trapped.
No Gundam pilot liked being trapped, which he obviously was- even if it couldn't be OZ -or the Romefeller Foundation for that matter, who had imprisoned him …
Wufei calmed himself, 'I'm not Duo…' –he told himself sternly, even as he felt a prang- he would give anything for the loud-mouths babbling about now…It was familiar at least- this place…and he finally took the time to look around in him- in his 'prison'; he had tough of it as a tree-house- it was more like the tree had made itself into a habitable home.
Wufei felt a chill rush through him- this was unnatural - and most assuredly not familiar.
There was a hemlock tied between the trunk of the 'tree' and wall. For a tree-house it was remarkably unlit, there was slits along the 'ceilings' –he doubted he could fit the tips of his fingers through- let alone signal anyone of his whereabouts.
For air, he guessed, he felt a relief wash over him – unlike his last imprisonment with Duo, these people couldn't suck the air out of his cell…But how did I get in here? The stupid bird certainly hadn't flown him up here.
His obsidian eyes narrowed on the snowy owl.
In fact it shouldn't even be able to be in here with him. He was missing something…he felt a thrill, at last there was something he could do.
Wufei felt along the floor, carefully, he didn't have Duo's ability to sneak into a building – no matter how heavily guarded, and ultimately either 'blow it all to hell' – as Duo would say, or get the needed information. None the less, Wufei felt he was adequate enough to be able to find a trap-door.
Half-an-hour later, he felt sure the damned bird was laughing at him. He wished he had his sword- then he could get the feeling of the owl's oddly intelligent eyes off of him. The bird was as unnatural as the 'tree-house'.
Wufei wondered where he was- it was a good thing that Untho was dead…Wufei imagined what he would do to the man who had not only had the gall to transport unnaturally but to send them here- wherever here was.
The others could be nearby- but he doubted it. He'd know if they were. Wufei moved so that his back and one side were guarded by the wall- he settled into a meditate state- if he couldn't get free, he'd wait them out.
He may not have his sword- he was, however, by no means helpless- he knew martial arts. He practiced it twice daily -before the sun rose- and set…
Whoever had trapped him here had badly underestimated a Gundam pilot- even if he was trapped- they had used no restraints…not even Romefeller had been so stupid…
--
After the Gryphons had led him away from Heavyarms- they rejoined into their group.
Trowa had learned quite a lot from his Gryphon friends, they were surprisingly intelligent- and that he was in their nest- these were younglings, and he was at 'White Gryphon' wherever that was…
It was a cliff-built city in the shape of a Gryphon, bordering a sea…and boosted more then just Gryphons, despite the misleading name. It had bird-people called 'Trevardi' and lizard-like ones called 'Hertasi' and apparently wolves that could be understood in your head called 'Kyree'- and of course, people.
Trowa was understandably puzzled, yet pushed his feelings aside to learn more.
The younglings told him of Haighlei, six nations, which had allied themselves with White Gryphon since its beginning years- and that the people were very dark, shockingly so, for Gryphons who were used to seeing humans who- to them, looked very much the same.
This amused Trowa, who asked about how he had gotten here. The younglings answer was not so amusing.
"There wasss sssstorm, and the sssteal-monssster ssspit you out. We sssaved you, ssshould we tell them of you?" The younglings were clever- they knew he wasn't supposed to be here- but they had put him here. They knew they would get in trouble if they let their elders know Trowa existed.
So far they hadn't told their parents of the 'storm', which had happened at night in a real thunderstorm, Trowa was very grateful for this. Now that they were safe, they half thought his Heavyarms wasn't real…
Which was all well in good or else he would be the one answering the questions of their elders, and getting few answers, if they knew the proper methods – Trowa didn't doubt they did.
"What are you doing here?" A male human voice demanded, having spotted Trowa- who jerked his head up to stare at the stranger. The younglings looked properly abashed, and the man hadn't even spoken to them…yet.
"Don't be mad Sssilversong, he is a friend." One of the young ones whined, Trowa tensed, his mind going back on what he had learned- and shared to learn it. They didn't know his name, yet, they did know he came from far away- and he was lost…
"He isss lossst, he comesss from the north." A littler one reported, and Silversong's eyes narrowed at the stranger.
"Why don't you come with me?" Silversong 'suggested' while the younglings fluffed their feathers in disappointment of losing their newest source of entertainment.
Trowa had one of two choices, to go with him- or run …No choice at all…
Trowa stood silently, and allowed him self to be guided by Silversong's tight grip on his elbow, he found himself facing a council – who asked questions (as most councils do) yet found no answers in the stubbornly silent and tall young man.
Trowa had been nicknamed 'No-Name' once more, this time they didn't know how close they were to the truth.
Trowa smiled slightly –making his 'guards' twitch.
Trowa was an orphan- like Heero and Duo; he didn't know who he was. Since he was very young all he remembered was the silent war being fought- and the mercenaries who raised him…and let him pilot their Mobile Dolls when he had been very young indeed.
He had found himself a mechanic – for the enemy. The real Trowa Barton had died in front of him. He hadn't hesitated then, he had asked from the shadows to pilot it, admitting for the first time aloud his fondness for the terrible weapon that the Gundam was.
Doctor S had agreed to his being the pilot- hinting to use it to fight for the Earth. Trowa had done so – and formed a bond with the others that proved to be the undoing of their enemies.
The other pilots knew of his taking the name of a dead man for his own, but it had stuck…
"How far north do you think he comes from?" One of the guards asked his partner, the other shrugged. "Might be where Silverfox and the others went…1" The conversation lasted a while; Trowa wondered if they were dumb- or they thought just because he didn't speak he couldn't hear.
None the less he made a plan- he would follow Silversong in Heavyarms, he was sure they couldn't outrun a Gundam. He waited till night and slipped from his bindings, having used his slim wrists to his advantage- then he used the Gundam-metal wire to cut through the bars.
Morning found him with Heavyarms, eyes on the scanner- which read static. Finding this annoying Trowa headed to the city, keeping the forest in front of him. What he saw was a portal being opened by humans…Trowa narrowed his eyes- it was just big enough for Heavyarms to squeeze through; he saw Silversong go through and made his move.
Using the thrusters to burst through the thin line of trees, the noise distracted them for the second needed for the Heavyarms to be on top of them- most of the people scattered like ants, and with a small adjustment Heavyarms was through the portal- just before it closed itself.
Trowa had felt as if he was on the Moonpaths again – for a instant- then with a crackle of static the sensors came back online, but Trowa didn't need them to tell him Deathscythe was nearby- he had appeared beside it.
He glanced at his scanner- he didn't know how, but he had gotten here before Quatre and Heero.
Which, he thought as he got out of the Heavyarms, is probably for the best. Duo was crouched down in a fighting position, half-street fighter, and half Wufei's teachings.
Duo visibly relaxed when he heard the commotion caused by not one- but two Gundams suddenly appearing. Duo glanced behind himself, and saw Trowa coming towards him; Duo gave the other pilot a shaky smile.
Trowa noticed Deathscythe's visor flashed green- and its stance relaxed, literally – its scythe while still glowing, didn't look as if it wanted to slaughter the entire city for causing it's pilot distress.
Trowa saw two what had caused Duo to, for lack of a better word- freak. Their trainers had once considered enhancing Duo's and Heero's DNA, Duo had had nightmares for a week.
Eventually after much arguing on both pilots part, the builders of their Gundams had revoked it- because neither pilot was too keen on getting animal DNA coded with their own. The men might be genius mechanics, scientists, and doctors, but they didn't know too much about the after effects of mixing DNA.
That didn't mean experiments hadn't been done on the two- every drug and enhancement theory had been 'suggested' to give the five pilots an edge.
Trowa allowed himself a small smile for the braided pilot's peace of mind. Then turned his attention back to the young woman with a cat-like appearance- he had to admit, he was fascinated…was she one-of-a-kind? Or part of a species…
"02, Deathscythe's emergency-beacon has been activated. 01 and 04 are on their way. 05 is in the north." Trowa reported calmly, in the face of Trowa's report Duo took control of himself.
"Deathscythe has been acting ….unusually." Duo admitted, gaining an ease to mask his emotions. A short panic whinny from a white horse drew Trowa's gaze, when he looked to Duo for an explanation he saw him calming, and tested their link.
: What is it? : Trowa asked Duo, in the face of learning of a wolf-like 'people', he had deemed anything that acted oddly in this place was to be treated as both a potentially intelligent being- and a potential threat.
: 'It' is a she, and I am Sartra; Duo's Companion. : A female voice echoed in his mind, Duo turned amused eyes on the 'horse'. Her blue eyes stared into his own, and he knew it had 'spoke'- he took in the rest of the evident area. There were 'connections' like invisible strings between silver horses and white and grey clothed people.
He was sure Quatre would agree…
Trowa tensed, remembering an instance where Duo had been captured. Against the odds Heero had gone in – not to assassinate the other pilot, but to save him… Heero's loyalty to Duo was as old as their first meeting.
In the beginning, Duo had been reckless, and Heero colder – but at first meeting Duo had shot Heero in an effort to save Relena- who had then become obsessed with Heero, and a 'royal' pain. In the end Heero had been captured, and Duo had saved him- and unwillingly donated Deathscythe's parts to repair Heero's Wing.
Quatre while the kinder of the pilots, had once been under the influence of the Zero System, it had changed him…if one of the pilots were in danger, Quatre became alike to Heero.
For this reason he knew exactly how those two would react to Duo being in danger- and unless reassured the two would be…reckless, with the lives- they might even seek them out to gain revenge.
Trowa turned, and feeling the braided pilot's surprise, he explained his thoughts. "Heero and Quatre will assume the worst. You have never activated your distress beacon." Considering they had fought in battles, and a war, whose numbers vastly outnumbered them- the distress beacon was used only as a last resort in near-death, or when death was unavoidable.
Duo while a loud-mouth was smart, and followed Trowa's conclusion easily, both ignored the curious and baffled onlookers as they went about contacting the other pilots…
1 Silverfox had already gone to the tower with Firesong, he left on the first of the floating barges. Silversong is a OC...who went on a second barge to Haven, which was never mentioned in the books because- hey, its a AU...I needed some way to get Trowa north...
AN: -sweatdrops- Wow.
I've never had more then 9 people add my story to favorites…Thanks to everyone from before (DigitalSorceress, Goku Koneko Sage, Hikari-Nymph, Leshyaedawnfire, Negs5, Rally Collins, SirenNightMoon, Wolven Spirits, green-gold-fox.) and Delphine Pryde (sorry about the 'I' instead of the 'Y'- fixed now ) and The Lonely Executioner, I now have 11….again…wow…
Heh, my alert-list 'victims' jumped up too…15 of you now –hugs- thanks again to Delphine Pryde, DragonSteel, Ghost Whisperer, JenniferYuy, Leshyaedawnfire, Rally Collins, Riru-chan, Sorceress Misha,Wolven Spirits, Yllyana, green-gold-fox, inari92.
And to the 'new kids', lol, Ginastar (who most of this background on the pilots is for…if you (or anyone else) needs some links to follow along- or wants to know more, I have LOTS, Gundam Wing is my first love in anime…), Lacus01, and balecka92… welcome.
Now the really exciting news, Alara Moonrunner has taken it upon herself to beta this and 'After Dark comes Death' my Gundam Wing and DNAngel x-over… Is she awesome or what?
…I sure do have a lot of crossovers…-giggles- ' and Rael-Lirdu, all questions shall be answered…in the next chapter.
–Coughs and thinks on what Companion's Field – or Haven for that matter, would look like after a Gundam battle…or rampage...-
Oh…my…..
PS, is anyone 'okay' at drawing? I'm not asking for greatness here, I'm just curious at what sort of fanart this would dream up. PM me if you have something…I'd love to hear from you.