Darkness at Dawn Part 10
Ramar was not a great believer in the traditional myths of the Dawnchildren- he preferred to believe solely in his own new order and in the Dark Power that was a permanent resident of his soul. All the same, he was aware that the signs were bad, and he knew that many of his soldiers were, too. Where is Dorothy? When she gets back, I will make her torment a public event, and it will be long remembered...
The time had come- he could no longer wait to march, if he wanted the alignment of the planets to favour his conquest.
That Relena was gone, as well- it bothered him more than it should have. She had been... unacceptable, as a companion, but she had been soft and willing, and then she had screamed delightfully as he beat her.
He smiled as he thought of what he would do to her when he found her again- she was going to regret running away from him. And maybe, if she begged him enough, maybe he'd let her die quickly.
He looked out over his army- the Army of Shadows. It was an awe-inspiring sight- armoured soldiers and horses, bright metal flashing in the torchlight of an early morning, a morning that was never again going to come to Jirol.
Ramar laughed darkly as he threw his arms to the sky and called out the ritual words- clouds swelled and swirled in the darkened sky as he called on the Darkness, winds roaring wildly-
Lightning split the sky as it struck down just in front of Ramar's mount, and the beast reared with a mighty scream of fear.
Ramar spurred his horse and yelled as he trotted ahead of everyone towards the ruined gates of the once-beautiful town of Jirol. He stepped to the side to watch as legions of soldiers marched past him, and was finally alone to look back into the darkened town. The desolation of it rang true- it was the way it should be.
It was the first of its kind.
He laughed again as he spurred his horse after the army. The new War had officially begun.
~*~
Far to the East, Quatre Raberba blinked awake again to find a red sprite sitting on his chest and shaking him worriedly. As he sat up and wrapped his arms around it, he felt it shaking with fear and he sent a wave of comfort out to it, cradling it against his chest. "Don't worry, little one! You are safe here, and Duo will be with us soon."
Something put its tiny hand on his shoulder, and he turned to find a green sprite sitting on his pillow, a single tear slipping down its small cheek. He smiled at it, as well. "Well, hello. Green, huh? When did Trowa send you here?"
He watched in great amusement as the red sprite jumped up and the two began an elaborate pantomime, one pretending to sleep and, as he slept, wishing for something to look after the young King. He laughed as he figured it out and patted both small creatures on the head. "You felt it, too, didn't you?"
Their smiles disappeared quickly as they burrowed closer to him, and he held them close. "Don't worry, little ones. Have faith in your Masters- I do."
He settled back against his pillows but was unable to fall back to sleep as he cuddled the two sprites close. It has started- may the Guardians watch over us and protect us!
~*~
A piercing, keening cry broke the pre-dawn air in the Palace of New Port City, and Heero sprang to his feet, recognising the voice all too well. He raced through the corridor and wrenched Duo's door open, skidding to a halt at the Dawnchild's side-
Duo was still asleep, but tears coursed down his face as his breath hitched in his throat, his voice rasping out words so softly that even Heero's hearing was defeated in listening to them. He slid onto the bed carefully and pulled the shaking form into his arms. "Shhh, I know, Duo. I know, but it's okay, it will all be okay..."
Duo's arms slowly came up around the angel, and he held tightly to him, as though Heero was his anchor to the world, without which he would simply float away and never be seen again. "He-Heero... they are marching. He called the Darkness..."
Heero pressed his lips to the pale brow as he cradled the Dawnchild against him. Why did it hurt so much to see him in such pain? Why did it have to be so hard- why did he have to care so much? "We will beat him, Duo. He will fall- we will make sure he never comes back."
Duo's shaking was subsiding, and he looked up into Heero's face fearfully. "I don't understand what I'm feeling, Angel. Something growing inside of me- I don't want to become Shinigami again. I don't want to lose touch with what it means to be alive..."
Heero felt those words cutting through him like a knife, and he tilted Duo's face so that the violet eyes met his, wide and soulful. "Then don't lose touch, Duo. Live- and let life be your focus. I will be here- I will help you. I won't let you go!" He ran his thumb over Duo's lips gently. "I swear it to you." Leaning down with deliberate slowness, he pressed his lips to Duo's.
Duo whimpered as he felt those silken lips touch his- his arms moved to around Heero's neck as he allowed the angel to pull him tightly against his body. He could feel the wet, heated touch of Heero's tongue against his lips and he let them part, motes dancing behind closed eyelids as the questing tongue slipped past and into his mouth.
Heero felt like his mind was on fire as he tasted the heat of Duo's mouth- nothing on Earth or in Heaven was quite like this! Nothing was quite so sweet and tender, so hot, so enticingly heart-binding... He pulled back slowly, regretfully, sighing in pleasure as Duo's lower lip slid from between his, and he smiled down into the Dawnchild's flushed face. "Whenever it feels like too much, think of me. Think of this," he said, stroking his hands along the muscles of Duo's back, "and believe in it, because it is real."
Duo's eyes sparkled brightly as he stared up into the prussian blue eyes of the angel. His lips still tingled, a feeling like butterflies in his stomach that was both annoying and highly pleasurable, his breathing rough and irregular as he tried to command his heart to beat slower. "Heero..." He reached out and brushed his fingertips over the angel's lips gently before touching his own again. "I do believe in it- I believe in you."
He drew the angel close again and kissed him with exquisite tenderness, lips moving gently over Heero's, tongues dancing in each other's mouths for a blessed moment before they pulled apart to breathe again. Both immortals smiled.
Heero settled down onto the bed and pulled the slender Dawnchild down next to him, settling him comfortable against his side. "Sleep now. Sleep."
He listened to Duo's steady breathing for a long time before he, too, once again faded into sleep.
~*~
Dorothy looked up morosely as the door to her cell opened and three men walked in- the angel she recognised immediately, but the other two... Wait- that dark-haired one- I recognise him. He is an Elemental...
Heero smiled at her as he watched her eyes fall on his companions and settle on Lord Zechs questioningly. "This is Lord Zechs, Dorothy. He is..."
"You are Relena's brother- I know who you are," she said coldly, meeting his eyes in what she hoped was a threatening gesture. The Elemental seal that had been put on her kept her from using her powers- she had railed at it for a few hours before giving up.
Zechs simply nodded to her. "Is Relena alive?"
Dorothy gave an evil smile. "She was when I left. The Guardians alone know if she lives still. Ramar was not gentle with her."
Zechs grimaced at the idea of the Dark Chieftain putting his hands on his sister. "My sister... she deserves to live and see the results of her folly. All the same, I pity her."
He didn't seem to be even remotely angry with her, and that bothered Dorothy a little. Shouldn't he be trying to kill her, especially since she had no access to her abilities and was therefore at his mercy?
Zechs bowed his head sadly before looking back up directly into Dorothy's eyes. "I thank you for sending a Healer to her. It gives me hope that she still lives."
Dorothy blinked hard. "Are you daft? Your little kingdom shall fall to my people- you will probably die, yourself, and yet you would spare your worry for her? You should hate her even more than you hate me."
Zechs shook his head. "She is my flesh and blood, my Lady. I could no sooner wish her dead than I could name all the stars in the heavens. And I don't hate you- I don't trust you, but I have no reason to hate you yet."
She laughed. "And then you wonder why we think your kind unfit to rule this world!"
"That may very well be, my Lady," he retorted sadly, "but when I die, I will have lived for something that was both beautiful and worthwhile. All you will have done is hated and feared. Who, I ask you, has really lived, then?" He turned and left.
Dorothy stared at the door for a long time after her visitors left. Love is just a myth- it exists to make people weak and easy to manipulate. Doesn't it? How could it possibly be a good thing?
~*~
Hilde of Jirol looked up in surprise as Lady Noin walked into her room with a polite smile. "My Lady?"
Noin tried to calm her mind, after what she heard. "I have some news of your home for you, Hilde."
The girl's eyes filled with tears. "There isn't much to tell, is there? She made her pact- I bet she's happy now, off to fight her war..."
Noin shook her head and sank down into a vacant chair. "Not at all! I mean- yes, she made her pact, but things have gone poorly for Lady Relena. The Mother Healer will smuggle her to us here in the East as soon as she is fit to travel."
Hilde's eyes took on a haunted look. "I am dead..." she whispered. She suddenly reached out to grasp Noin's hands in her own. "You can't bring her here- I disobeyed her- she will kill me..."
Noin gently brushed the distraught girl's hair back as she got her hands free again. "No, she won't. I promise you, and my brother gave his word. Besides," her face fell into a troubled frown, "Relena is in no shape to kill anyone right now. Walk with me as I speak."
The two girls walked and talked for a long time, and when Noin finished her tale, Hilde's eyes were wide and incredulous. "My God! She... but how do you know all this?"
Noin smiled. "The Mother Healer has spoken to my brother- he heard it from her very own lips. So do not be afraid. My heart tells me that Lady Relena still has a role to play in this- and that maybe, just maybe, she will be able to become the Lady she was supposed to be."
Hilde stopped the other girl with a hand to her shoulder. "You are certain that this is not a trick? I know my Lady, and she is as cunning as she is vain."
Noin laughed. "Talk about mixed praise! Yes- we are certain."
Hilde gave her a tremulous smile. "I suppose... that will have to be good enough for me."
~*~
It took them a long time to find Duo, and when they did, their mouths dropped open in shock.
Five faces stared in open wonder as they watched the Dawnchild working in the forges of the Armoury, Lord Zechs accompanying the other Elementals and the angel. Duo was bare to the waist, the tight, powerful muscles of his upper body covered with a sheen of sweat that made him seem to glow in the unearthly light of the Elemental fire he had conjured. There was little doubt of it- the fire was one that only the Fire Lord would have been able to withstand.
With a jolt of shock, Heero recognised the bag at Duo's feet and figured out what it had to mean. Sure enough, the Dawnchild gave him a tight smile before he turned back to his work and began to chant over it.
The song was transfixing- it would have been impossible for any of them to move, even had they wanted to. Endless rhythms fading in and out of one another- Duo's shimmering violet aura came to life around him as his eyes began to glow with that strange, star-like intensity.
He gestured, and their eyes followed his hands mechanically to the fire or, most appropriately, to the bundle suspended within it. Trowa, as well, recognised the stuff for what it was- it was Shinigami's armour, obsidian-dark and bearing the same, dark signature energy as Deathscythe itself. Wufei automatically moved to shield Lord Zechs from its menace.
With a cry, Duo's arms went up and the fire raged so hot and bright that the others were bowled over by it, shielding their eyes even as they felt the calm protection of Duo's aura settling around them. Eyes refocused on the figure in the fire and watched, spellbound. Metal gleamed red hot as a shriek of pain seemed to rise from it that staggered the Dawnchild, yet he held firm, eyes hard and determined as the scream died away and the oppressive anger that had been lashing the walls and assaulting their minds disappeared.
Duo reached into the inferno with both hands, the molten remnants of his old armour pouring through his hands as his chant changed and his face took on a more peaceful aspect. They watched, amazed, as fire sprites popped into existence around him and began to aid him, following the directions of both sound and hand as Duo's eyes slipped closed and the chant continued. Ribbons of flaming metal began to swirl around him in ever increasing speed, interweaving themselves with the song he sang and the power that fairly thrummed around him, as though he were the beating heart of a great beast.
Violet eyes flew open as the tendrils of flame began to take shape, and he caught the eyes of each of his companions one at a time- they could hear their names entering the flowing song and wondered at it.
Lastly, he locked eyes with Heero and smiled, and the angel felt himself being drawn forward, machine-like, into the fiery heat of those eyes.
He wasn't alone. The other Elementals were with him, drawing forward into a loose circle around the chanting Dawnchild, pulling apart to let him into their circle...
As their hands clasped, the others felt a scorching heat and their auras flamed into existence- at that moment, the swirling metal fire expanded out...
The chant ended abruptly.
Everyone blinked in a daze before they looked up and into Duo's smiling eyes. They caught their breath in a gasp of surprise and astonishment.
The Dawnchild was clad in new armour, the finest chain they had ever seen under armoured plates that radiated the same violet energy as his own aura, twisted in serpentine patterns over a field of silver. This wasn't the same creature they had come to know- this was a Warrior God of the old legends!
Duo's laugh was as bright as ever, and seemed to exude a cooling influence in the remaining, shimmering heat of the small chamber. "If you think that's something, look at yourselves."
They looked down and promptly joined in the Dawnchild's infectious laughter. Treize's armour was adorned with glowing blue patterns, like waves on an endless ocean, crafted so they almost looked to be moving. Wufei's was fitted with whisps of gold that seemed to float on the winds, and Trowa's with green hues that danced with life, like tall grass on a hillside.
But Heero's was the true crowning glory.
On his breastplate, all four Elements were combined, glowing brightly about a central image in sparkling white- the Guardian's Hand.
They stared at each other in shock. Duo's melodious voice finally broke the silence. "Ramar marched today. It was time to bind our powers together."
Treize nodded, but quirked an eyebrow. "Why your armour?"
Duo smiled again. "Star metal, friend Treize. The armour you now wear once fell from the sky. It... it was something I wanted to do." His expression changed in less than a second. "Besides, I didn't want to outclass everyone on that battlefield with my fashionable attire!"
The joke broke the solemnity of the moment, and they all smiled as they turned back to Zechs, who was watching in something approaching a state of hilarity as two fire sprites popped into Duo's bag and began hopping around in it, like some kind of midget kangaroo. He surveyed their armour with a raised eyebrow. "I see I'm going to have to update my wardrobe."
Wufei raised an eyebrow. "Truly? And already the lesser Lords have been complaining about how they can't possibly look as commanding and noble as you."
Zechs' face was stained with the slightest touch of pink. "And even that doesn't compare..."
Wufei laughed, and a gust of air cleared the room of its final wafts of heat. They walked out into the sunshine.
Treize smiled as he waved his arms experimentally- the stuff was as light as it was beautiful, and it seemed impossible that it would be so... He turned to Duo, who tried to conjure an innocent expression onto his face. "This isn't just star metal, is it?"
Duo's smile bloomed like the whole of spring happening in a moment. "No- you're quite right. Star metal it is, but enhanced with what small graces Duo Maxwell has to bestow upon it. When I made Shinigami's armour..." The smile faded as he seemed to slip into an unpleasant memory. "I made it the same way I crafted Deathscythe- using a certain amount of blood magic. The protective effects of that... will never go away."
They all looked stunned. Trowa's voice was breathy as he asked, "But aren't blood magics dangerous? It is the highest form of magic..."
Duo smiled once again, coldly. "Oh yes- it was dangerous. But I... I wasn't thinking clearly at the time, to say the least. You might say that each of you are wearing a small piece of my soul now."
Wufei shook his head. "That's too precious a gift, Dawnchild..."
"But it has already been made, Lord of Air," Duo quietly interrupted. "Pay me back by using it well and surviving this mess, okay?"
They all smiled as Wufei replied, "Consider it done."
~*~
Ramar felt his anger welling up inside of him- something was happening. Something big, and he had no idea what! But whatever had just happened- it had been great enough that he had felt washes of its energy, even through the shield placed over New Port City.
He cursed Dorothy yet again- she was supposed to be telling him what all this was, not lingering and, no doubt, amusing herself by taunting and torturing some human peasants somewhere. I can't even pick up her energy signature... Am I supposed to believe that whatever is in that town is strong enough to overpower her?
He cursed yet again as his horse slipped in the heavy mud of the track- heavy rains and high winds had plagued their march from the moment they left Jirol, and now the track they rode on was seeming to ooze out from under them in sticky, perilous streams of clay mud. He couldn't help wondering if the Great Guardian was trying to slow him down. Whatever was doing it to them, he had no way of stopping it.
Ramar automatically tried to project his mind to warmer, happier times, and strangely enough found himself thinking of Lady Relena again, of the softness of her and the fire of her passion...
He shook his head angrily- she had betrayed him, as well. She had left. Well, he would get back at them all- he would kill her slowly, maybe at Dorothy's side, as a lesson to the whole world. He would punish her for the feelings of longing he was experiencing now.
He slogged ahead, immersed in his dark thoughts.
~*~
Duo felt the telltale tug at his mind and excused himself from the battle preparations quickly- he jogged to the back of the room and stared intently into the flames of the fire, not in the least surprised as Quatre's face appeared to him. Greetings, kinsman.
Quatre's fair face was troubled. You felt it, too- he is riding.
Duo nodded soberly. Yes- I fear he will be here all too soon. We are making our battle plans now, and we will begin constructing the outer defences as soon as we can.
Quatre's eyes pinned him to his spot in their intensity. And I felt you doing something today, as well. Duo... what was that?
The Dawnchild smiled, and Quatre felt a wave of calm descending over him. Trying to free up a bit of my soul, cousin. I deconstructed another part of Shinigami, and it felt very good.
Quatre smiled in far more relief than he could allow the Dawnchild to realise. I'm happy to hear it, Duo Maxwell. His smile faded quickly, though. I wish I could do more to help you...
Duo waved it off, and as another wave of feelings entered his mind, Quatre knew that he should have still been worried, but couldn't find the worry anywhere. Your role is coming, cousin. For now, you should be ready for when the Mother Healer and her charge flee to you.
Quatre shook his head. I should have known that Healer Sally would have contacted you, as well. We will be ready- I will do what I can, cousin.
Duo nodded his acceptance of that. I wish I could save this town... I wish there was a way, Quatre. I wish... I wish I could make the ugliness go away. It isn't even revenge, or hatred anymore- I think about it... and all I can feel is the pain.
Quatre felt a flash of fear in his mind. Duo was already so close- he wondered if the slim Dawnchild had any idea of how powerful he truly was. He wondered what would trigger the release of the powers of the Prophecy.
Most of all, he wondered how the Dawnchild Lord would react to it all. We will find a way, Fire Lord. There is always a way- keep that in mind.
Duo abruptly smiled. I will, cousin. Be safe! He cut the communication before anything else came to his mind, in case his estranged kinsman could pick it up from him.
Worries and doubts had plagued his mind for a long time now, but they had recently been accompanied by a new aspect. His heart seemed to ask him what he would do, if he had the power to end it all. How would he do it? What would his solution be?
Duo knew what the answer would have been in the past- Shinigami would have wished for the death of his foes and the eradication of their kind from the face of the Earth. He would have purged the world of all of it- jealousy, conceit, hatred...
But the more he thought about it, the less he could see that as a real solution. He knew that he was powerful. But if he had that power... couldn't it be used in better ways than that?
It was a useless exercise, anyway- nothing more than a chance to sift through the darker portions of his psyche and try to determine if he would have the strength to hold off his own rage, in the face of his enemy. In the face of Ramar's power- the enemy had trained and delved into the dark magics until he was nearly unstoppable. He remembered his fear, the first time he had faced the amber-eyed Dawnchild and felt the backwash of such incredible power... The only emotion he had to counter it had been rage. And all that rage and hatred had grown inside of him until he was consumed by it... that was what Shinigami was. Duo winced- that person didn't deserve to live. Shinigami should have died that day.
He shook his head as he turned and walked back to the war council. He would have to be able to control it- there simply was no other choice.
TBC...
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