Darkness at Dawn Part 40

"This ends for once and for all, Ramar. Right now."

A low moan of pain caught Duo's attention, and he quickly moved to Trowa's side, helping the young half-breed to sit up. He cradled the Earth lord against his chest. "Just breathe, friend-Trowa. That was an extremely brave thing you did."

Trowa could only nod, his face drawn in exhaustion as he slumped against his friend. He couldn't even open his eyes - even that took too much energy and effort - and he struggled to speak.

Duo quieted him and concentrated, reaching out with his feelings -

~Now is not your time to die, my friend. Take back the life that is yours.~ Power radiated from the pair, and Ramar almost immediately began to scream as Trowa's energy was ripped away, in much the same way as it had been stolen. Trowa's aura lit the gloomy sky, slowly changing from a shy, sickly colour to a deep, forest green.

Ramar fell to his knees, the sword falling from his numbed fingers.

It was as though a dam had broken - the companions gathered around where Duo and Trowa sat. Quatre took Trowa's hands in his and squeezed them, feeling warmth returning. "Trowa?"

Green eyes opened and looked up into aquamarine before they shot back up to the face of the Dawnchild Trowa was leaning against. "Duo... thank you..."

"No thanks needed, cousin," Duo replied.

Duo would never have admitted it, but he had been afraid of how this would feel, what it would be like to possess this much power. How much strength it would take to control and wield it. It humbled him to consider just what he was blessed with - how could he have ever considered this power a curse?

Quatre felt his heart brimming over and looked up to Duo - he gasped - Ramar had regained his feet and was standing behind the Dawnchild, sword raised as if to strike. "Duo!"

Violet eyes glinted like stars - Duo reached up and caught Ramar's sword blade effortlessly in his hand as the Darkchild swung it down at his neck. The others gaped in shock - that cut should have severed his arm, at the very least...

Violet-blue energy streaked up the blade, and Ramar screamed again as he dropped it, clutching a badly-burned hand to his chest. "How..."

Duo gently lifted Trowa into Quatre's waiting arms and stood, wiping his hands off on his pants before turning around to face his enemy. "You don't understand now, and you never have, Ramar. You can't understand."

He held out his hand and the scythe flew into his grip. Faster than Ramar could blink, Duo twirled the long staff until the curved blade rested against his enemy's throat. "This fight is pointless, Ramar. You cannot beat me, and you know it."

"The Hell I can't!" Ramar moved faster than anyone could have imagined, dropping to the ground to grab his sword and immediately making a vicous swipe at Duo's lower body. The scythe was already there, though, blocking the strike as though acting of its own volition.

Ramar snarled and backed away, only to attack at full force, his eyes flaring with hatred. "You are an interfering whelp, little one, and you always have been. You know all this is your fault - yours and every others' who allowed the blood of the great houses to be polluted by human swine..." He yelped as Duo neatly side-stepped his attack and disarmed him with a single sweep of the scythe. The curved blade was once again pressed against his skin, and a slow stream of blood began to trickle down Ramar's neck. He hissed in pain.

Sorrowful violet eyes strayed to the silent battlefield around them, where human and Dawnchild stood, staring at the small group like statues. "All this... I never wanted this, Ramar. I wanted nothing more than to fade away completely, no more than a folktale. I never wanted to see so many die..."

He backed away and made a flicking movement with his left hand. Ramar's sword flew back into his grip, the pain in his hand gone. Duo's aura flared around him again and he added, in a strong, power-filled voice, "This is what you want, then go ahead and fight me."

Around them, the other Elemental Lords and their companions formed a circle. Auras flared - with a jolt, Ramar realised he would not be getting out alive without a fight.

That suited him just fine.

Duo was not of a mind to draw the battle out any longer than he had to, though - his attack was sudden, fearless, and brutal. Ramar felt fear overwhelming him as each of his blows were countered perfectly, while his arms ached worse with each heavy blow he was able to stop. Worse yet - Duo didn't even seem to be watching what he did, his face set in a distant, emotionless mask that betrayed neither compassion nor anger.

A final sweep of the scythe sent Ramar's sword flying from his hand and indeed out of the circle, and he fell to his knees, clutching at his head as Duo's eyes blazed once again. The Dawnchild lord's voice rang in his mind, ~You cannot defeat or destroy me, Ramar. Let go of your hate!~

The voice grew steadily louder, and Ramar's light whimpers turned into a scream. He lashed out violently, power igniting the air around him and blasting outwards, like a ring of fire.

The surrounding circle of people all fell to their knees, and Ramar took his chance, jumping to his feet and turning-

Duo was already there, and simply held out his hand. Ramar flew backwards and landed heavily on his hands and knees, flinching as Duo spoke again, "That is ENOUGH!" His power bloomed and spread, lifting his fallen comrades back to their feet.

Ramar shivered as that clean energy brushed his senses - bitterness ate at his soul, and he refused its touch. Quivering with anger, he growled out, "Kill me now, Little Duo, or I swear to you that I will be back as many times as I need..."

Words died on his lips as Duo's sorrowful eyes turned and locked with his.

The braided Dawnchild took a step closer. "Ramar, stop. You don't know... you've never known, have you?" he asked cryptically, stepping even closer to his enemy. Another tear slipped down his cheek, but he ignored it. "This darkness you've surrounded yourself in - you really see the world like this, don't you?"

He cocked his head. "Poor Ramar - you are filled with so much hate... because you do not know what love is."

Ramar stood. "I don't want your pity, Maxwell! I just want you to die and leave me in peace..."

"To find something and someone else to hate? Now that would do you a world of good," Duo replied sarcastically. "Why can't you see how beautiful this world is?"

Ramar spat, "You and your kind destroyed the only beautiful thing this world ever held for me when you let her die like a common mortal."

Quatre hung his head.

Duo gave a light smile, though, clearly caught up in memories of brighter times. "She was... beautiful, as you say. The best and greatest of our kind. And in her love... she became even more than that." He broke away from his memories and looked deep again into Ramar's eyes. "I think... it is time you saw what I see." He dropped the scythe.

Before Ramar could react, Duo had reached out with both hands to clasp either side of his enemy's face. The strange white-flecked aura burned to life around him again.

~*~

Ramar could not control his trembling. Sunlight was dancing all around him as he looked around in panic - children laughing as they splashed in a cool stream, one with shoulder-length chestnut hair and laughing violet eyes, and sitting on a hilltop, watching them with a gentle smile on her face - Iria.

He gasped - no memory of his could have compared with this Vision, the beauty of her clear, smooth skin and bright eyes, the sunlight on her hair...

The picture changed, and he felt his bitterness rising, like bile in his throat. Iria had never been more beautiful than on her wedding day, flowers in her hair, dressed in flowing white. She looked as delicate as a lily, yet as bright and alive as the Sun, shining overhead in mockery of the pain in Ramar's heart.

Light swirled again, though, and the next picture was dark - anger and heartache stormed his senses, and he was suddenly aware of a young man - little more than a boy - at his side, staring at a burning village, the stench of burning flesh in his nostrils and the pain of a life torn to shreds in his eyes.

It was Duo - there was no mistaking him, even then.

He watched, unable to turn away, as the soot-covered youth crept back into the burnt-out village and pulled as many loved ones out as he could, preparing them for burial and crying the whole time. A mother, a sister, two younger brothers, grandmother, best friend...

Ramar was shocked to find that he could not gloat. He could not bring himself to mock the actions of the boy in the Vision, not when he recognised those feelings all too well, himself.

Blackness, swirling blackness that was shot through with sparks of fire and droplets of blood. He watched in awe as the young Dawnchild picked up the last available weapon in the village - a scythe, of all things, and prepared the fire, chanting ritual words with an intensity and coldness that belied the joyful child he'd seen in the previous Vision. He watched as the boy sliced his arm open and screamed in rage and pain, and the sound shook him.

He'd done this. He'd created his own nightmare...

He was forced to watch, now, as that nightmare rode into battle after battle, blood spattered on his face and armour, an angry light in his eyes that didn't quite hide the pain underneath. It was strange to think about it now, but the scythe in General Shinigami's hands - it had glowed that sickly, disgusting green, power poisoned by hate and pain.

~*~

Somewhere on the edges of his consciousness, he could feel the others bringing the circle in closer, their power reaching towards his.

Duo felt warmth running through him - comfort and caring - and he smiled as his thoughts ran to his lover and his cousin. The scenes of death and destruction slowly faded to sunlight again.

He smiled in remembrance. Iria's first child - Helena (named after Duo's mother) had only just been born when he came back to the Raberba's kingdom, a mere shadow of the person he'd once been. It had been with that tiny, beautiful child on his knee that he'd re-learned how to smile and laugh. Iria had adopted him as her own child and had taken such pride in him...

~*~

Ramar was shivering - the sunlight was too bright, too happy, and the scene before him...

He watched as Duo Maxwell slowly came back to life after that fateful final battle, watched the warrior slowly learn to be a boy again, the older cousin who was adored and looked up to as children grew up and Kings grew old.

He actually felt sadness as Raberba passed on and he watched the bloom slowly fade from Iria's cheeks, watched as his greatest enemy changed again to become a sick nurse, never leaving his beloved aunt's side until the day she took her last breath. And then, the smile fading from his face, he, too, slipped away into the wild world, into exile...

Years of lonely, solitary wandering, and yet...

Duo wasn't alone. He watched as the lonely Dawnchild picked up a shadow in the form of a golden eagle whose voice he faintly recognised. He watched as a person craving contact with another person disguised himself and entered human towns in the form of a wandering storyteller.

He watched as the ground seemed to shimmer ahead of the Dawnchild one day, and out of nowhere, a creature appeared - another humanoid, and yet slightly different and ever so beautiful...

Image upon image of Heero and the others - smiles, laughter, concern written on each others' faces as they fought, side by side.

Love glowing in a pair of sapphire-blue eyes. Love that made his heart sing - it was a feeling so foreign to him it was painful.

A night bathed in moonlight, when two bodies came together, erotic cries filling his ears as he watched the Angel claiming Duo and marking him. He gasped for air as white wings unfurled and cradled the two forms carefully.

And finally, the battle. Sunlight was replaced by the oppressive dark, and screams of terror replaced the cries of ecstasy he'd heard only moments before...

Everything was tinted violet.

Ramar was only vaguely aware that he was not the only person surprised by it. He knew that he was somehow connected to the minds of the Elemental Lords and their companions, but there was nothing he could do about it. He was more trapped in the circle of power than anything else.

He watched as words rang in his mind. ~I can make things better, I can change it all...~

Agony shot through his mind as Duo battered at the darkness he'd created, and Ramar was powerless to fight it, trapped as he was. He felt Zechs' joy as the darkness swirled and broke over the remains of New Port City and the first rays of daylight fell on the survivors for the first time in months. Duo reached out further - a wind swept through Relena's old city, Jirol, wiping away debris and ashes and leaving the place clean as it hadn't been in a very long time.

The darkness was breaking up, and each crack in the swirling grey clouds was little a sword thrust into Ramar's soul. He trembled, desperately trying to reach out of the circle, but he could not touch his captors, and they did not see him, engulfed in the Vision as they were. Worst of all, he could feel how much they all cared for each other, and it ate at him from inside while Duo tore his shields down from the outside.

And when everything was gone and destroyed, all he had left was loneliness and a bitter hatred of everything the companions had been blessed with, but Ramar had never known.

Wind was whipping around them wildly as Duo seemed to come back to awareness and slowly brought everyone else back to the present, as well. "Do you get it now?"

Ramar's eyes still snapped with bitterness. "Damn you, damn you all."

"Ramar." He found himself staring into deep violet once more, unable to look away. Duo's voice sank to a whisper. "I'm sorry. I wish - I wish you could know for one second what it feels like to love and be loved in return."

"I hate you, Duo Maxwell."

"I forgive you, Ramar," Duo's light whisper struck his enemy like a physical blow, leaving him reeling and defenceless.

"You have no right-"

Duo reached out, and heat and gentle calm permeated Ramar at the contact. "I forgive you. Please, let me help..."

Ramar began to tremble. He looked down finally and said, "Don't. Let me have my dignity, Maxwell. Give me that much."

Duo took hold of his enemy by the shoulders and stared down into his eyes for a long moment before he leaned forward, stopping at the last moment. "As you wish. Farewell to you, then." Closing his eyes, Duo moved one hand to Ramar's forehead and spoke a word of power.

A beam of pure light pierced the heavy gloom and struck Ramar. Duo backed away, his eyes still on Ramar as the beam of light expanded and he was engulfed inside of it completely. The light flashed-

And when it was over, Ramar was gone.

To the East, the sun peaked over the horizon and bathed the battlefield in light.

~*~

Awareness of the world beyond his circle finally hit Duo full force. He shuddered, the pain and misery around him practically choking him with its poignancy. ~They don't have to die, do they? I can... I can save them. I know I can.~

Duo felt the touch of Heero's mind, like cool water flowing over his abused senses. ~That power is yours, Duo-love. It is the power you were born to hold. Do not fear it!~ The angel stumbled closer and laid one hand on his lover's shoulder.

The touch sent a surge of energy through Duo that was enough to make him cry out in shock. Heero's pure white aura was burning to life around them, engulfing them both until, with a shock, they realised that it was shot through with violet, gold, blue and green.

The four Elements, combined.

Duo's eyes blazed with fire, so bright that you could no longer see his pupils, and the glowing white energy spread out from where he stood, as though bathing the countryside in a wave of clean, spring-fresh air.

All around them, men and Dawnchildren blinked in amazement as wounds healed and pain vanished, as though nothing had ever happened. They stared in shock. Sunlight kissed the ground and revealed what horrors the darkness had concealed - a mess of dead bodies, carnage spread around them in all four directions for almost as far as the human eye could see.

Duo sobbed brokenly, and the light faded somewhat. He whispered out loud, "I cannot save them all. They who are dead..."

Heero nodded. "The dead are already gone, my love. I'm sorry..."

"You have no need to apologise," Duo said, tears sparkling on his cheeks. He closed sad eyes, though, and concentrated deeply-

~CREEE!~ The joyful sound of a familiar bird's cry brought a smile to everyone's face. Heero buried his smile in Duo's hair.

Duo stood stock still, shoulders slumped in weariness. Heero stepped closer to him almost hesitantly, reaching out to him. "Duo-love?"

The Dawnchild looked up, his eyes normal once more. "It's over with. It's really over."

Heero took hold of Duo's shoulders and turned him to face him. "Duo?"

Trembling, Duo threw himself into Heero's arms, toppling both of them over to the ground. Pale and drawn, Quatre reached out and caught Trowa's hand, stumbling slightly. Wufei rushed forward on the blond's other side to steady him. "Quatre?"

"Hush," the young King said, all his attention on the two before them.

Their hearts suddenly heavy with the knowledge that something was about to happen, Trowa, Wufei, Treize and Zechs watched silently, as well.

The sunlight seemed brighter where it fell on Duo and Heero, and they slowly realised that it wasn't just sunlight. "Heero, no..."

The Angel wiped Duo's bangs back from his eyes. "Duo, I don't want to go, you know that."

Violet eyes lit with possibility. "I could make it go away, I could keep you here-"

Heero pressed a kiss to Duo's forehead. "Yes, you could."

Duo looked up. "But you don't want me to, do you." It wasn't a question.

Heero's hands trembled. "Duo, He has a plan. I believe in that."

"And me?"

Heero squeezed his hands. "Nothing in the world could make me stop believing in and loving you."

"Heero..."

"Shhh." The Angel wiped Duo's hair back again. "Just hold me. Please."

~*~

The vision came back to Duo in full force, and for a moment that seemed to last forever, he doubted. I could do it. I could change him and make him mine, only mine. Nothing would ever be able to separate us ever again.

Heero's arms tightened around him at that moment, though, and he stifled a sob as memories came back to him. Heero, bathed in the glow of his Lord's pleasure, white wings spread around him and a look of utter bliss on his face. Heero's face bright with love and devotion to the Great Guardian. The question isn't if I can. It's whether I should. Guardians, I never wanted this! I didn't ask for this power...

Tenderly cradling Heero's face in his hands, Duo kissed him gently, thoroughly, and felt his heart break. It would destroy him - it would change him, and I don't want my version of him. I want him. All of him. Just as he is.

Trowa clenched Quatre's hand and arm tightly as he figured out what was going on, and he closed his eyes. Guardians, it's not fair. Don't do this to them...

Duo trembled and clung to his lover, refusing to break their kiss as tears fell down his face. In his arms, Heero was slowly fading away - reluctantly, as though every fibre of his being wanted to stay, and that alone was enough of a reason for the Dawnchild to let him go. As they finally pulled apart, their eyes met one last time.

"I will always love you, my Duo." A tear rolled down the Angel's face and splashed down onto Duo's armour just as Heero's body faded back into the light.

Everyone watched from a respectable distance as Duo began to cry, sobbing brokenly as he clenched his fists in empty air. Concerned, Wufei made to try and touch him-

Treize held him back. "No, love. He needs to be alone right now."

~*~

As Heero appeared before the Seraphim Council, smiling faces greeted him and the council spoke, as ever in even unison, "Welcome home, young Heero. We are all proud of you."

They all fell silent as the Angel before them bowed his head. "It was an honour to do my d-duty." The words faded into a broken sob and, without another word, Heero turned and fled from the Council.

TBC...

 

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