Genre: AU, Fantasy

Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 6x5

Disclaimer: Don't own nothin' but these words

Special Note: Dedicated to darkneko666 and Demonskid, this was a request to me. Hope you both like it!

Warnings: Yaoi, lemon, language, angst-ish, MPreg (sort of, probably not what you're expecting), demons

Author's Note: Know what my favorite lunch of all time is? Toast half an onion (or egg) bagel. Put some tomato and orange or yellow bell pepper slices on it. Cover it with cheese and microwave long enough to melt cheese. Sprinkle with salt or cilantro, and enjoy. It's delish. That's what I just ate, and now I'm drinking coffee. I tell you this, because I'm just random enough to wonder what other people are eating or drinking when they're writing. If you've ever wondered the same, now I've satisfied your curiosity. LOL

Oh, and there is no Relena bashing in this story. She's kinda a good guy (gal). Imagine that!

Prophecy of the Champion of Light

"So where are we going?" Duo demanded.

Heero Yuy did his best to stop the annoyed/amused smile from showing on his face. He'd known it was only a matter of time before the loud-mouthed baka piped up with some dumb question the answer to which he really ought to know. Funny how a person could get on someone's nerves so badly, and yet mean so much at the same time.

"Cancaredes, nimshid," Wufei said coolly.

"Call me idiot, seriit!" Duo growled, flashing a very rude gesture at the acarci. In an eyeblink the bad temper was gone, and he flashed Heero a dazzling smile. "Why we goin' there, Hee-ro?"

Quatre relieved Heero the task of answering as he grabbed Duo in a headlock with a laugh. "Don't you ever pay attention, sani? The centaur was right, you're worse than a willow wisp!"

The mix of fey and demon insults and endearments made Heero want to smile again. So far, of course, Duo took the award in that area. Seriit was an incredibly rude fey insult, not normally heard in polite company. As the two youngest fooled around, Duo taking a good-natured swing at his sprite friend, Wufei fell in alongside Heero.

"What are we doing first when we get there?" he asked.

Trowa stepped to Heero's other side. "A plan would be good," he agreed softly.

Heero nodded. Quatre would be no help, sprites disdained plans. Far too impetuous and spontaneous. They just preferred to wing it, literally. Duo would be no help either, his inability to pay attention would prevent him from even remembering a plan.

"Silia gave me several gold crowns," he said. "They're old, but gold doesn't lose its value. We can buy horses and supplies, if we need to we can buy two or three horses and double up. Duo and Quatre are small and light, so I don't think it would strain our animals too much. If we needed, you could simply travel with us in another form, Wufei. A hawk or fox."

Wufei nodded. "We should definitely conserve our resources."

"I think we should go to the library first," Trowa put in. "The one Maro mentioned. We haven't been in the outside world since we were kids. It would be good to educate ourselves."

"And find a map," Wufei put in.

Heero nodded. "I agree. Trowa, you and Quatre find a cartographer. Wufei, you and I will take Duo and go to the library."

Heero could feel Wufei's hesitation. "Do we really want to take Duo to a library?" the acarci asked.

Heero hesitated now, too. "Perhaps not . . ."

Trowa shook his head, visible green eye fierce. "Oh no. I'm not taking both Quatre and Duo by myself. Not unless I can take Wufei with me."

Wufei rubbed his temples. "It's ridiculous we even have to discuss this," he muttered. "If you take Duo, Heero, I'm going with Trowa to the cartographer."

A strange, helpless and frustrated chuckle wanted to escape. Heero swallowed it. "Fine. You three can find me in the library later. You may as well see if you can buy supplies. You will be best at that, anyway, Wufei." The 'you can sense if anyone tries to swindle us' didn't need to be spoken.

"Hey, what you guys talkin' about?" Duo suddenly exclaimed, glomping Heero's arm.

Heero vaguely wondered why Duo always plastered himself against the sylvan. Didn't he know it was extremely distracting? The smell of his blood was so strange and intoxicating. The fey and demon intermingled and though he could smell them individually, it was difficult to separate them. Together they formed an altogether new smell unlike anything Heero had ever encountered.

"What to do with you when we get to the city," Wufei said in his usual blunt way.

Duo pulled away to give Wufei a blistering glare. "Hey, I'm not some cat you need to stash away, jerk. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself!"

Wufei snorted. "That would be the day."

"I am gonna kill you!" Duo growled, launching himself at Wufei.

Heero caught him around the waist. "Let's at least act like we aren't kids," he said in what he hoped was a reasonable tone.

"Hn," Wufei sniffed, turning his attention back to the road ahead.

Seemingly distracted by the arm around his waist, Duo beamed up at Heero. "Kay! What are we gonna do once we get to the city?"

o8o o8o

Trowa Barton surveyed the streets of Cancaredes, feeling a little daunted by the sheer mass of people. He'd never actually been in a city before. The efreet lived in Trivance, a land unsuitable for any other form of life in the world. The volcanoes erupted constantly, forming new rivers and valleys of lava and fire daily. These boiling lakes and oceans formed the habitat in which efreet thrived. There were no streets, no shops, no markets, no museums, no city halls.

So Cancaredes, by stark contrast, looked like an overturned anthill. He'd never seen so many humans in one place at one time in his life. In fact, he thought with a frown, he'd never seen a human, period. Humans stayed well away from Trivance. His sister had told him long ago it was because they feared the fiery tempers of the demons and found them unpredictable. Which, Trowa reasoned, was fair enough. Efreet were renowned for their fearsome dispositions and love of fire. A love Trowa shared. He was more able to control it than most of his kin, which rather set him apart. It had been this that led his family to take him to the Grove for his education.

A decision he had never once regretted. His four friends were all like brothers to him, bonded strong enough for blood. And one of them in particular, he thought with an internal smile. An efreet and a sprite were certainly an odd pair, though in some ways they were suitably matched. Both had free spirits, neither liked being contained, and both had a deep passion for magic. And for . . . other things. Trowa tried not to blush.

Duo, of course, noticed. "Naa, what you thinkin' about, Tro?" he said with a grin, bumping his shoulder against the efreet's. "Is that a blush? Thinkin' about some pretty demon?"

Trowa flicked Quatre a very quick glance. He and the sprite hadn't told their friends they were intimate. Both were afraid it wouldn't be well received. The sprite was studiously avoiding looking at him. So he shrugged and gave Duo an uncharacteristic grin. "Could be."

Duo gasped. "You flirt! I can't believe you just teased me! I think I'm goin' into shock!"

Pleased the distraction worked, Trowa snorted softly and saw Wufei roll his eyes.

"We'll meet you three at the library," Heero said, grabbing Duo's arm and steering him away.

Quatre waved, then Trowa took a deep breath and stepped onto the streets. He headed toward the open market near the entrance, hoping one of the many humans would know of a good cartographer. Quatre and Wufei stuck close to his side, but he could tell they were more cautious than nervous. As far as he knew, neither of them had ever encountered a human before, either. People called out to the three boys from their booths, and Trowa finally approached one.

"Hello lads!" the plump woman greeted them, folding her arms across her ample belly. "Come to sample my wares?" She waved a hand at the dark red apples and berries on her tables.

"Ah . . ." Trowa said, managing not to stare. He'd never seen someone so . . . round, before. Demons and fey didn't get to be so . . . large, vertically. "I was hoping you might know a good cartographer. One with a shop in the city?"

She nodded. "You'll find it down the street a few turns. Mazon's Maps, s'called. Before ya go, sure I can't tempt you?"

A tall, extremely skinny man appeared at her elbow. "Can't ya tell he be a demon, Uranda?" he wheezed in a nasally way. "Them don't eat fruit."

True enough, but it annoyed Trowa he just excluded Quatre. If it was obvious he was a demon, it was obvious Quatre was fey. "Thank you for your time, ma'am," he said, inclining his head. Turning on his heel, he continued through the market.

They didn't stop until they reached the shop called Mazon's Maps. The storefront looked a bit shabby, and there was no one inside. Trowa walked up to the desk and rang the bell he found. A few thumps and the owner bustled out.

"Yes, yes, customers. What can I do for you?"

"We'd like a map," Trowa said, too polite to make it sound as though it should have been obvious. Even if it should have been.

"Preferably an enchanted one," Wufei added, "so the terrain moves as we do. One that spans the whole continent, but not so big we couldn't make out details."

"Hm, an enchanted map," the man said. "I see, them aren't as easy to make, mind you. It would cost you a good bit extra."

Wufei rolled his eyes. "Never mind, then. We'll enchant it ourselves. Quatre?"

The sprite nodded. "It would be easy enough."

The man blinked. "You're an Enchanter?"

Quatre shrugged modestly as if it were no big feat. "Yes, a bit talented."

The man frowned. "And not a one o' ya is human. Where you boys be off to?"

"Your concern, cartographer, is our map, not our business," Wufei said, back stiff. "Do all humans pry this much?"

The man held up his hands. "Sorry, sorry. I'm a curious sort, far too curious for my own good, I'm afraid. I've a good number o' maps you could enchant easy enough."

"What?" Quatre abruptly snapped. His aqua eyes blazed as he glared at the man. "What were you thinking just then? That glee and greed?"

Both Trowa and Wufei turned icy eyes on the man. Whose eyes widened. "Nothing at all! Well, other than curious at seein' ones like you. Don't get many besides humans in the city anymore."

Wufei raised a black eyebrow. "You're lying."

The man looked uneasy as Trowa took a step forward, drumming his fingers lightly on the countertop. "He," he began, pointing at Quatre, "may be an Enchanter, but he-" now at Wufei-"is a Confessor. Do you know what that means?"

The man went pasty pale, gulping audibly. "Uh, now, h-hang on a minute, boys. There's no need for you to get all hostile on me."

Quatre sneered. "Oh no? Tell you what. We won't get hostile. The second we leave this building, you're going to forget you even saw us, let alone had any customers like us. Now give us a map and we'll pay, or would you rather Wufei confess you right now? Your choice. Confession, or enchantment."

Trowa allowed himself to smile at Quatre's ultimatum, saw Wufei mirror it. The man swallowed. "I'd rather stay in control of my will, thanks." He set the map case down on the counter.

Wufei took it and opened it, examining the map before nodding his satisfaction. Quatre looked at the man a moment longer, Trowa paid him, then the three of them headed back out. Trowa didn't bother asking if the enchantment was done, he knew it was. Wufei disregarded the place instantly.

"Next horses," he said. "Or at least see how much they cost."

Quatre grinned. "I wonder if all humans are this entertaining. Enchanting him was really easy. Duo will be so disappointed he missed it!"

o8o o8o

"So, what are we doing in here?" Duo asked, looking around. He'd never seen so many books in on place all at one time. It made his nose itch to sneeze.

The love of his life let out an exasperated-sounding sound. "Even if I told you, you'd forget an eyeblink later."

"No I wouldn't!" Duo protested, glaring at him. "I only forget things that are boring. Or unimportant. Or don't affect me."

Heero gave him a sideways glance, and Duo was pleased to note the amusement glimmering in his cobalt eyes. Such amazingly pretty eyes. Fey rarely had blue eyes, so the dramatic color made Heero all the more stunning. For a moment he was drowning, then Heero blinked and broke the spell.

"Research," he said simply, heading toward one of the occupied desks. "Excuse me, could someone help us?"

The short, balding man looked up at him and blinked. "Well, you're an unexpected sight," he said in a low voice. "Imagine two fey in Cancaredes. You boys best mind yourselves. There is trouble stirring in this city, sure as I live and breathe."

Duo blinked. Trouble? "Of the bad sort?"

The man frowned. "Is there any other sort?"

Heero snorted. "We'll be careful. Right now, we'd like help with some research."

"Yes, yes. Let me fetch our primary historian. She's also our resident expert on demons and fey. Be but a moment, make yourselves comfortable."

While the man bustled off, Duo looked around some more. The walls and walls and rows and rows of books were broken up by desks like this one, convenient little research stations for visitors and library workers. He plopped himself down at the one just vacated, wondering what this historian would be like. Some short, dusty old sort with too much facial hair? Heero stood at his shoulder, so close his hip was actually touching the back of Duo's shoulder. He tried not to concentrate too hard on the contact.

He was expecting someone else, so he missed it when the librarian-historian approached them. When he finally noticed her (because Heero greeted her), he did a double take. She was a young human woman, maybe in her late twenties? Her hair was a thick, rich blond/brown, her eyes a stormy blue. Her skin was creamy and dotted with freckles across the nose, in all she was quite pretty.

"Hi," she greeted, "I'm Relena. Gromman told me you requested some help with research?"

Heero nodded, but Duo jumped in. "That's right!" he chirped. "Know anything about prophecy?"

The question obviously threw Heero; he gave Duo a strange look. Relena smiled. "A bit, at least about ancient prophecy. What would you like to know?"

"Something about a champion against evil?" Duo replied hopefully.

She looked impressed. "That's one of the oldest prophecies. 'In the time of greatest peril a champion will be born to the side of Light. He will be aided by the five Divine Elements in his quest to destroy evil.' That is the whole prophecy, uttered some one-thousand years ago by one of the greatest seers our world has ever known."

Heero sat at Duo's side, inviting Relena to do the same with a gesture. "One thousand years ago," he said softly, "that was when the Demon Prince was sealed from this world."

Relena nodded. "Yes. That prophecy was spoken days after Azrong's sealing."

Duo watched some color drain from Heero's face. "That great evil, it wasn't Azrong, was it?" the sylvan asked.

Duo had never heard of Azrong. And there was a title Demon Prince?

Relena shrugged. "It's not known for sure. Azrong can't be killed, so it's likely."

"Who's Azrong?" Duo asked, curious.

The historian smiled at him. "He's a dragon, the first dragon born to this world eons ago. He is generally considered the most powerful immortal being in the world, and he wrought great turmoil when he was still here. It was the sylvans who sealed him, generations and generations back in the Yuy family."

Duo blinked. "Heero?"

Who nodded. "My family. A long time ago."

"Wow!" Duo exclaimed, impressed. "Quite a legacy! If this Azrong was so powerful, how did they seal him? And what the heck does that mean, anyway?"

He could tell Heero wanted to laugh or smile, but he kept it in. Relena grinned.

"The entire Yuy family gathered to seal Azrong," she said, "after a large group of efreet, Way demons, and other dragons had gathered to fight him and his army. He was weakened just enough they were able to seal him. And that means they opened a gateway back to the demon plane Asharon and banished him through. Then they placed a special lock on the gate so it couldn't be opened again."

Tapping his fingers on his chin, Duo nodded thoughtfully. "So then how will he come back to the world and create mayhem?"

Relena shrugged. "It may be he's found a way to break down the seal. Or it could be another evil entirely the prophecy speaks of. We don't know for sure."

Heero frowned. "Do you know of a way the seal can be broken?"

"No, but Azrong has had a great deal more time than I to discover a weakness."

Heero made a rude sound, which made Duo grin.

"Even if he breaks out," he assured the sylvan whom he loved like crazy, "we'll just shove him back through the gate and seal it again."

After a moment, Heero gave him a hint of a smile. It was deliciously sweet on him, made Duo want to grab him and kiss him. Maybe one of these days, he thought with a private grin, he would do just that. It was high past time, anyway.