Darkness at Dawn Part 6
Heero found the Dawnchild on the walls the following morning as the sun peeked over the horizon. Duo favoured him with a smile as they both turned and watched in companionable silence.
Duo finally spoke. "Ramar will show no pity, and I will have to meet him force for force. There will be nothing left of this place." He hung his head.
Heero crossed his arms over his chest. "You are not alone here, Shinigami. Do not discount the rest of us because we are not Dawnchildren, ourselves."
Duo's eyes flashed, but he quickly bit back his response as he realised that he had been doing just that. Having someone else around who could read his thoughts was going to be novel and annoying! "They don't know how to use their power yet, Angel, though Trowa is learning quickly. No reason to put them in too much danger by letting any of them take him on as yet."
Heero was forced to recognise the wisdom of that. He put a hesitant hand on the Dawnchild's shoulder. "We will be there for you, though, so don't forget it."
Duo flashed the angel another smile. "It's nice not to be alone. I haven't found anyone who I could really talk to... my own kind think I am dead, and most humans hate me for what I am. You would understand that."
"Hn." The hand on his shoulder tightened for a moment before Heero released him.
Duo smiled as he stretched and turned to his silent companion. "Well, we'll have to start training today. Come on, Angel."
Heero gave him a quizzical look as they walked towards the doorway behind them. "Training?"
Duo smiled again, this time with a hint of evil to it. "Elemental magic in combat."
~*~
Of all of Quatre's many sisters- his father had had 29 of them through various marriages- only two truly shared in any of his abilities, though neither with the same intensity. Noin and Une now sat across the table from him, curiosity and apprehension clear on their faces.
He began cautiously. "Sisters- I wanted to talk to you because I think you might already know some of what I have to say. A few nights ago, I had a... strange dream, and I confirmed it just a few minutes ago. You've both read Iria's writings, haven't you?"
Une, an elegant lady with long brown hair and large brown eyes, smiled down at him apprehensively. "Of course, Quatre! What happened- I've felt something, too..."
Quatre met her eyes. "Duo is still alive, Une. He's alive... and the latent powers in the Prophecy have come alive- he is the Lord of Fire."
Noin looked up in surprise. "How do you know that?"
Quatre's worried gaze fell on his other sister. "Yesterday night, a vision woke me- a vision of a body, wreathed in flames, and a voice crying out 'A pact sealed in blood, by the Great Guardian Spirits!' Something about the speaker seemed familiar, and I thought I knew who it was, to be contacting me like that- I confirmed it just an hour ago by walking the Mind Roads and meeting him there. Shinigami is still alive."
Une looked excited and fearful at the same time. "But you said that he is the Lord of Fire- doesn't that mean the Elementals have been called? And the Prophecy..."
Noin's mind was suddenly struck by images- some of the past, others undoubtedly of the future- and she cried out. "A great battle... the Army of Shadows coming back... the Sank Kingdom in flames..."
Une wrapped an arm around her younger sister and soothed her gently. "Shh- it's okay, Noin. Try and control it like we've practised." She brushed the girl's dark hair from her forehead and placed a light kiss there.
Quatre waited until Noin seemed to have recovered before continuing. "The Earth Lord was with him on the Mind Roads, and I saw what you have seen, Noin. Sank is going to fall, and Relena and the Army of Shadows will turn to us."
"Relena!" Noin exclaimed. "What does that bitch have to do with anything?"
Quatre's eyes burned in his face. "At the stroke of midnight, as the phase of the New Moon began, Relena of Jirol murdered her husband and broke the Seal that bound the Dark Ones to their world. They have returned, and they will do her bidding."
He watched the change taking place in his sister- whenever there was danger to their family or their kingdom, Une became... someone different. It was as though the power inside of her was too strong for her to handle otherwise- her eyes glinted steel as she balled her fists on the oak table top. "We can't help Sank- it will be over before we could get there. But our home is another story. Has Duo said anything about the enemy?"
Quatre looked worried. "Nothing more than that he has grown strong. I doubt he knows too much for the moment, though. He said we could contact him through the fire to keep in touch."
Noin smiled at her brother. "Then that's what we'll do. How can we be of service?"
The blond sighed as he slumped back into his seat. "For now, I've already put out a call for the Army to muster, and I've sent runners to our Allies, calling for assistance. For us three..." He sighed again. "Ramar thinks he has nothing to hold him back this time, and he will want to wipe Iria's bloodline from the face of the Earth. He does not yet know that Duo is still alive, but he knows about us by now. I decided to talk to you two because you share in some of my... abilities. Duo will be teaching the Elementals how to use their power. I think it is high time I taught you how to use yours."
Both women's eyes glinted as he spoke, and Quatre felt a glimmer of hope lightening his soul.
~*~
Wufei looked back over his shoulder with wide eyes at the Dawnchild. "That's it? That's all we had to do?"
Duo laughed. "Yes, Captain. You just put a protective seal over the entire city, and Ramar won't be able to see in anymore."
The oriental man sighed as his arms fell- it had been strange to feel the power flowing through him, and yet... exhilarating. And to think that something that small... "How long will it last?"
Duo smiled again. "Until noon- I think we'll drag Treize up here to renew it then." It was a fairly easy process, setting protective seals, and Duo would have done it himself, but...
His magic left a special trace to it that shouted 'Dawnchild' to anyone who knew how to read the signs. Instead, he stepped back to the role of teacher and let the humans set the seals. It would be good practice at letting the power flow through them, anyway, channelling it and controlling it.
They would need lots of practice.
He shook himself from his reverie and smiled over at the Lord of Air. "We should joint he others, Wufei. It is time to begin."
The Captain barely concealed his nervous anticipation as he returned the Dawnchild's smile. "After you, Duo." They turned and walked down to the practice grounds.
~*~
The five of them stood in a courtyard and eyed each other warily. Or, to be precise, Heero, Treize, Trowa and Wufei eyed each other, but kept a careful eye on Duo at all times. The Dawnchild was dressed in leather from head to toe, armed with a sword, long knife and mischievous smile. None of the others could honestly say they were looking forward to testing him, as yet!
His voice was still soft, though, as he instructed them. "The power is in you, so don't try to summon it or think about it too much. The thing that brings it out is emotion- strong emotions bring your power to its fullest, as it does mine. What you will have to experiment with are the individual skills that are yours alone- I'll help if I can, but who knows?"
He watched with rising excitement as Heero and Treize paired off, leaving Trowa and Wufei to face each other. It happened without warning.
Trowa's attack was fast and brutal, and Wufei was taken aback by the sheer speed of it, a smile breaking over his lips as he swung into action, parrying and swinging in perfect rhythm with his opponent.
Treize and Heero had begun the combat as well- the angel looked almost bored to Duo's sight, watching his aura curiously for signs of rising power levels. All the same, the Angel's abilities were not triggered as the Elementals' were. Heero's main concern was going to be learning to control the flow of energy in his human form.
The Dawnchild turned back to the other combat and felt his entire body come alive in excitement as he slipped back into the Sight. Both Wufei and Trowa were fighting with their all, and their auras had lit up and intensified incredibly. He felt a jolt of excitement as the auras began to manifest on the physical plane to normal sight- green and gold glinting and flashing with each blow they exchanged. He turned to the other match-
The blue glow that had enveloped Treize was matched in intensity by a pure, blindingly bright white around the Angel, and Duo abruptly realised that they were all able to access their power, but none of them, save perhaps the Angel, knew how to use it properly. They could hurt themselves and each other terribly if they were to... not to mention New Port City...
Duo had always been a creature of emotion- some of his earliest memories were of getting overly excited about things as a child and accidentally setting them on fire, not truly knowing how to handle his own powers yet. Thus it was extremely easy for him to summon his own power- all it took was a fleeting memory of a long ago day and the moment of pure terror when he had realised that his home was under attack...
The other four rocked back in shock and, though none would admit it, momentary fear, as Duo unleashed some of his power in a flare, hitting them with it almost like a shock of thunder. His violet aura pulsated with life and energy, swirling around him, flame-like. The others stared, transfixed.
Duo's voice was soft, but penetrated to the farthest reaches of the courtyard they had appropriated as their practice grounds. "So you have power- you have all felt it by now. But you don't know how to channel it and use it. If you want to learn... you have to face me."
Treize felt a shiver travel down his spine. While he was certain the Dawnchild wouldn't hurt any of them too badly, it also couldn't be denied that he was the single, most powerful being any of them (save Heero, though he wasn't talking about it) had ever faced. The blue-eyed man was certain that the terrifying power he felt pouring from the slender Dawnchild was but a small taste of Duo's true capabilities. Looking over at Wufei, he could tell that similar thoughts were ranging through the Captain's mind.
Trowa, however, stepped forward and saluted the Dawnchild with his sword. "I am ready, Fire."
Violet eyes turned on the tall youth and sized him up fully before the braided head gave a nod of acceptance and respect. "Very well, Earth." Without another word, the combat commenced.
Trowa's eyes flew wide as their swords connected and he was thrown backwards by what looked like the tiniest of disinterested movements. He stared up at the glowing figure in shock from his position on the ground- Duo hadn't pressed the attack. The Dawnchild smiled at him. "No- I won't attack until I'm certain you can handle it. Before I hit you- I want you to try and hit me. Come on!"
No one could mistake the excitement in Duo's tone as Trowa sprang to his feet and rushed him with an unhinged yell, but Duo still seemed to dance out of the way, outmoving even Trowa's lightning speed as though the other was standing still. At the last possible second, he brought up his sword again and knocked the other man sprawling. "Don't think about it! Feel it! You know what I am doing- you can do it, too! Let it go, Trowa!"
Damn him- he's predicting my movements! He's too fast! Too strong...
Trowa felt the invasion of his mind like a physical blow. So hit me back, Earth. Stop thinking about it and do it!
With a growl, Trowa was back on his feet, eyes going wide as he felt energy pouring into his mind and body and his aura began to glow even brighter. He looked up into Duo's face and smiled. And he attacked.
The Dawnchild felt excitement burning through his mind as, for the first time, he was forced to actually dodge and parry seriously. He's doing it- he's actually tapping into it! Good for you, Trowa!
It was a feeling unlike anything he'd ever felt before- Trowa could almost see into his opponent's head and, while he knew that he didn't truly stand a chance against the Dawnchild as yet, his new found power was singing in his mind, whispering to him of things that he could do and ways that he could outwit his opponent- ways to make him lose that infernal smirk if his...
Duo felt true elation as he saw it in Trowa's eyes, instincts and knowledge flooding into the boy's mind, and he launched himself into the air as he felt the ground beneath his feet trembling suddenly, in answer to the Earth Lord's call. Somersaulting over the surprised boy with practised ease, he drew a long knife and held it, the tip barely touching Trowa's back. "Enough- you are beaten!"
Trowa whirled around with angry eyes. "Why then? You've been toying with me the whole time, so why stop then?"
Duo let his aura fade a little as he smiled back at the angry Earth Lord. "Because, Earth, I didn't want you to trigger a major earthquake that would demolish the city. And you were headed that way- weren't you?"
Trowa realised with a start that he indeed had been and, sheathing the sword in his hand, he bowed deeply to his opponent. "You are right, Fire. My thanks for stopping me. It seems I have to work on control."
Duo smiled. "You do, but you are well on your way. Thank you." He bowed in return and turned to the others. "Who's next?"
Wufei walked out and bowed. "I will face you next."
Violet eyes glinted as Duo's aura once again flashed into place around him and the quiet voice replied, "So be it."
~*~
Ramar scowled darkly. He had been trying to see into New Port City, and no matter how hard he tried...
Someone there knew that he would be looking- there was no other answer for it. Just as someone had been on the Mind Roads when he had sensed the heir to Raberba and had blocked him... the good news was that whoever it was, was human, not one of the Dawnchildren. The bad news- it had to be someone rather powerful to have known who he was and what he meant to do. He could only imagine who it would be.
Human scum! Disgusting vermin! They will all have to pay, they will all have to die, and then maybe the prestige of the Great Bloodlines will be restored!
"My Lord?" He turned towards Lady Relena with a tolerant smile on his handsome face that didn't quite reach his eyes.
She was undoubtedly pretty, for what she was. In fact, her beauty was comparable to a Dawnchild woman's, though nothing compared to how Iria had been. Not a single man among them wouldn't have done battle to win Lady Iria's hand, to be blessed wit her love... But she chose a lowly human and became his whore, and for what? When she could have been a Queen among our kind... I would have loved her until the Sun faded from the sky...
His eyes hardened. "What is it, my Lady?"
Relena gave him a smile. "It is growing late, my Lord. You will need your rest. Will you come to bed?"
He couldn't help the flash of excitement he felt as he looked down into her eager eyes. Yes- she wanted him. And it would feel so good to take her again, to feel her giving herself to him. He pulled her close, uncaring of how many people would see them on their high balcony, and he kissed her.
Relena felt her knees going weak as those strong arms closed around her, and she let him plunder her lips and mouth as heat pooled between her legs and made thinking a difficult exercise. As he lifted her into his arms and carried her back into the room they shared, she exalted in her head- I shall be his Queen and we will rule the world. He will make my brother pay- he will make them all pay dearly for rejecting me, and I will be Queen of them all...
Ramar smiled to himself as he slowly, teasingly, opened her bodice to gain access to the flesh underneath. Let her think as she will, my pretty whore! I will just have to teach her her place... later...
Both gave up thinking as they fell together onto the bed and gave in to their lustful feelings.
TBC...
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