Love Conquers All Part 17
Heero set Duo down on his feet. With a gentle touch he guided his reason for living to the immortals. "This will be finished now." he announced stepping away from his lover and comrades.
"I love you." Duo called after his soldier.
Heero turned partly around but did not look directly into Duo's wide blue eyes for fear that if he did he would lose his resolve to fight. "I love you."
"Return to me my love." was Duo's only request as he resisted the urge to follow.
"I will." Heero promised then began walking. He did look back.
Decador watched with interest as the human warrior made his way to the courtyard's center. Pushing back wind-tousled hair from his eyes, the Captain craned his neck up to the battlements. The wind rose under Decador's overcape flaring it out like wings. The taut material swelled with the battering breeze billowing out. Slowly the wizard began to rise over the parapet. He glided down silently and landed so softly that he hardly raised a sandy cloud.
Stretching out his hand a swirl of light radiated from his palm. The sparkling particles compacted then elongated into a straight line. From the glow the Staff of Triad materialized. Decador slid one hand to the Staff's bottom, the other hand slid to the top stopping just below the golden rings. The wind caused the ringlets to bounce one into the other producing a mystic melody.
Heero locked his unwavering sight on the evil sorcerer, "I have grown tired of your games old man. I will warn you that patience is not one of my virtues." Yuy declared angling his sword across his body, "If you leave now I will spare you life." he said giving the evil wizard an honorable way out.
Decador cocked his head at an inquiring angle, "My life, how gracious of you. You are no threat to me human but you are pesky like a fly. I think I shall squash you to see how much you bleed."
"Then let us end this here and now." Heero shouted over the storm's mounting fury.
Lightning flashed overhead feeding on the energy pulsing between the two combatants. Heero glided into a ready stance centering his weight. The wizard copied his opponent's posture preparing for battle. With a throaty growl Heero made the first charge. Decador pivoted swinging the Staff to intercept the sword. A hollow clang sounded above the wind and sparks were flung in all directions. The Devil's emissary answered with a swift return. Heero parried the thrust as his blade zipped through the air inches from Decador's head.
As handily as Heero was blocking each of the wizard's strikes, Decador had two advantages that Yuy could not match, magic and the dark powers of nature. Again and again Decador threw up a barrier of dust and debris that blocked Heero's sight and compromised his movements. The constant battering was beginning to take its toll. The human warrior wheezed from inhaling the airborne grit. His eyes stung from sweat.
More than once he stumbled and each time Decador did not waste the opportunity. One faltering step left Heero too exposed. The stone eagle's tapered wingtip sliced across his cheek. The gash was not deep but long running from under his eye to his jaw. The cut oozed out a steady crimson flow. Salty perspiration mingling with the bloody discharge added to the pain. Heero ignored the stinging; nothing could interfere with his concentration.
Exhaustion and lack of oxygen were now as much an enemy as Yuy's foe. But he could not give into the weakness and certainly not give up. He promised his precious partner he would return to him and a warrior always keeps his word. He had to remain strong for Duo's and his comrade's sakes. If not all would be lost.
On the courtyard's far side Duo fought against his overwhelming fear for his lover. As frightening as it was to watch the battle Duo could not avert his eyes. He trusted his soldier, had faith in his abilities. He also had to believe that the fates would not be so cruel as to tear them apart not after all they had been through.
Quatre held onto Maxwell's hand offering up an intercessory plea. The Dark God stood on the other side but curses not heavenly entreatments were offered as he felt helpless to aid his friends. Together the trio tried to lend their strength but their spirits were so weary from the pervious confrontations the simply act of praying was a struggle.
Attack and counterattack, on and on the battle raged. Heero used back-pedaling and offensive maneuvers to stay just beyond Decador's reach. He knew from experience that the evasive moves would frustrate his opponent. He hoped that the resulting irritation would quickly turn to anger and anger to carelessness. Uncontrolled emotions were a soldier's worse hindrance. One moment of inattention, one instant of straying alertness was all the opening Captain Yuy needed. But the mistake had to happen soon for Heero's waning energy was not going to grant him that much longer to fight.
The human's strategy of charge and retreat was having the desired affect. Decador was rapidly losing his willingness to endure the agile human's irritating behavior. A curt puff was the Captain's first clue that his plan was working. The gritting of teeth and a hiss of air was all the warning he needed. Decador, clutching the Staff in a white knuckled grip, rushed in but his aim was too high. Heero brought his sword over his shoulder then over in a tight arc. The riposte struck along the Staff's end. The stone eagle flew free reflecting a reddish gleam as the lightning streaked overhead. The golden rings jingled briefly before their mystic music was silenced in the dirt.
Decador stared at the Staff's blunt end. A mixture of shock and confusion showed in his odd expression. Then his eyes widened in surprise as the finely honed blade of Yuy's sword pressed across his wrinkled neck.
Heero applied persuasive pressure until the skin drew taut. "Do you yield?" he asked panting out the question.
Despite the sword's painful placement Decador titled his head to get a better look at the "fly" who for the moment seemed to have bested him. "Do you really believe you have won?" he hissed glaring down at the annoying human.
"Do you think I have?" came the Captain's rhetorical question.
"You have made a serious miscalculation human." the Chosen One stated as scarlet sparks exploded in his pupils that were as black as his heart.
Heero pressed the blade harder, "It seems to me that you are the one at the disadvantage. I ask again, do you yield?"
A hallow laugh rose from Decador's distended throat. The storm returned the sound of amusement in repeated echoes multiplying the harsh tones. "You want an answer then so be it."
At the sorcerer's feet the soil began to glow. Shimmering blue-white ripples worked up his body encasing his entire frame in the wavy outline. Decador lifted his hands to the turbulent sky. The overcape again fanned out but this time the material thinned and developed a web of greenish membranes. The cape became one with Decador's arms in much the same way a bat's wings are attached to its body. Growing taller the vile Son of Satan quickly overshadowed the speck of humanity standing before him.
Glistening scales replaced ashen skin. Stringy gray hair gave way to bony spikes. Black eyes darkened to a ruby hue. A long snout appeared. The flared nostrils seethed sulfur-laced smoke and tiny embers. A wide mouth that held twin rows of pointed teeth drooled out a thick yellowish liquid. A green forked tongue slithering out mopping about the shape fangs then paused to flicker in the air no doubt to taste the storm and savor the human's building fear. From his spine a barbed-tipped tail swayed momentarily before it crashed to the ground sending up a drift of dust. Tremors rumbled through the courtyard quaking out in ever widening circles.
*********
Crouching on the parapet's rim a bluish outline viewed the events unfolding below. Shuddering in the whipping gale, the Shadow Spy leaned into the wind. "I cannot remain silent any longer." he sighed upset by the human's plight. "My Master will listen this time." he swore his anger causing him to loss some of his transparency.
Crawling up the aged stone walls, well above the weathered battlements, the slip of light and shadows that once occupied a solid human form hurried to find his Master. "He will listen." The fading words were carried away on the frenzied currents as his fleeting essence disappeared into the castle's gloom.
*********
Lowering his arms the Dragon Decador brought razor talons to bear on his challenger. His scaly head titled as he studied the mortal who, in spite of his impending death, was still brave in his statue and bold in his speech. The lanky neck bobbed low enough over Heero that he could feel each blast of hot breath. "I hope your affairs are in order and all your debts paid." the serpent snorted puffing out more fire-tinged smoke.
Heero raised his sword hoping his hardened facade would hold and not crumble away leaving his soul bare to the great beast. "Your parlor tricks do not scare me." Again a rhetorical question was asked. "I have right on my side, what do you claim as your help?"
"I need no help to end your miserable existence. But I will make one promise that I do intend keep. When you are gone I will take good care of your whore. Chang's Pretty One should provide some amusement on those long winter nights. Tell me human is he good enough to fight for?"
"Try me and see." Heero replied resisting Decador's attempts to goad him into a fit of anger that would surly be a grave mistake.
*********
By the gate Duo and the immortals stared in disbelief at the sorcerer's terrifying transmogrification. The supernatural mutation held then in stunned silence. Their eyes conveyed the frightening picture but their minds could not comprehend the change.
"By all that is holy." Quatre whispered reaching for his dark mate.
Duo, too, was overcome with dread that soon turned to pure terror. Transfixed by the dragon's sudden appearance Duo could do nothing but fight an overpowering faintness. He swayed beside Quatre and only the support of the two deities kept him for sinking to the ground.
"Heero...no...oh merciful saints...please." Duo mumbled in a state of total incoherency as fear gripped his soul. "No." he repeated with more volume as the fear gave way to a surprising calm. Duo Maxwell had decided, if his lover was going to die then he would die with him.
Without pause Duo walked beyond Quatre's reach making a straightway path to his beloved soldier. Quatre began to go after the clearly confused human. He intended to use words or force if necessary to bring Duo back to his and Trowa's protection.
Trowa laid a hand on his Fair One's arm. "Let him go."
"But..." Quatre began to protest his mate's intervention.
Trowa lovingly put his hands on his partner's shoulders leaning down until their eyesight met. "What would you do if I were in Heero's situation?" he inquired.
Quatre glanced back at the human that he had grown so fond of. Tears brimmed in his eyes and a tremble touched his voice. "I would go to be with you." he answered honestly. "My heart is breaking." he admitted letting the tears flow freely.
"We will offered up prayers for both their souls and greet them in the next realm." Trowa said drawing his sobbing mate into his arms.
*********
Heero could not hear his lover's approach over the wind's whistling but he keenly sensed him drawing nearer. As much as the creature looming over him brought on heart-wrenching terror, the Captain's precious partner's presence brought on an even stronger peace.
Finally Duo stopped beside his solder. "Hello my love." he greeted his soul mate then placed a loving kiss on Heero's parched lips. "I have missed you." Despite the grimy film on his face and that his auburn hair had frayed from the braid Heero thought that Duo was the most perfect sight he had ever seen.
Duo reached up to Heero's cut cheek. Carefully he allowed his fingers to gather a goodly amount of the congealed blood. He then smeared the stiff liquid on each of his own cheeks staining his creamy skin with his lover's life fluid. It had long been a practice among the King's troops to mark each other with battle-shed blood as a symbol of their brotherhood of soldiers and Defenders of the Kingdom. Now Duo was using the same tradition to display his eternal bond with his soldier.
Lowering his sword Heero slid his arm about Duo's slender waist returning the kiss. Heero's heart wanted to hold on to Duo forever. His mind, however, told him that he should send Duo back to the immortals and hope that by some miracle they might find a way to survive. Then love not logic took over. If this was to be the end then he and Duo had no other choice but to be together. He knew that nothing in this world or the next could keep them apart, that their bond was mightier than death and that love could conquer all.
Decador viewed the strangely composed humans with wonder. Deep in the rancid recesses of his heart he longed for the commitment the mortals shared. He hurt for his loss of fondness, the undeniable connection that two people in love had. There had been love long ago. There had been joyous laugher and passion that lasted all night. He had once greeted the dawn in a lover's arms eons ago when his soul was free from the Devil's heinous hold.
But the wizard could not afford to dwell on the past for if he did he might not be able to perform his duty. Nothing less than the human's demise would satisfy his hellish Master and Decador knew that the punishment for any disobedience would be swift and merciless. The Ruler of Hades could not kill Decador but he could easily make him beg for release from the indescribable torment.
The creature of the Underworld reared back his spiked head. Lowering his snaky neck the dragon Decador prepared to unleash a cremating inferno designed to give the soldier and his lover a taste of Hell.
Duo wrapped his arms around Heero's waist, settled his head on his mate's broad shoulder, closed his eyes and let out a peaceful sigh. "Goodnight my love." he whispered close to Heero's ear so no one but him could hear. "We will awake together on the other side." he promised having complete faith that his brave soldier could guide him into the afterlife.
"How touching." Decador roared sucking in a deep breath to expel his deadly flames. A boiling like the rumble from a blast furnace sounded deep inside the dragon's gut. The raging growl increased as the searing heat rushed up the beast's gullet to spew forth a stream of fierce fire.
Heero pulled Duo closer finding an unexplainable serenity in his mate's embrace. "I love you." he reaffirmed his pledge of loyalty and love. Duo nodded. There was not a tremble in his body as the sound of superheated air sizzled to the surface.
"STOP!" A voiced boomed above the storm. "I SAID STOP NOW." it ordered loudly.
The immortals stared across the courtyard. Likewise the embraced mortals searched through the haze to find the disembodied calling. Decador choked back the rushing flames straightening his neck to see who dared to issue orders in such a demanding fashion.
Chang Wufei dressed in his Clan's white outfit of robe, loose pants and soft shoes stood unflinching in the battering debris. His shiny black hair, pulled back in a ponytail, feathered along his back. With a defiant glare Chang centered his ebony sight on the Devil's serpent. "This game had gone on long enough." he announced moving so lightly over the ground that he appeared to float. He stopped several feet from the humans surveying them with a somber gaze. Then his attention turned to the great scaly beast who had again reared back on his hind legs using his barbed tail for balance.
Decador weaved his spiked head from side to side in the mesmerizing sway of a cobra ready to strike. Wings fluttered with fitful tension. Steady streams of ember-laced smoke drifted from his nostrils as he studied his servant's newly found boldness. "So you decided to crawl out of your hole." he stated with a degree of bother. "It is just as well for now you can watch your whore and his warrior die."
"There will be no mortal death this day." Chang proclaimed raising an anger-clenched fist at his soon to be adversary.
The serpent swayed once more this time adding his whole body to the rocking motion. "Oh yes that will be death and you will be included in the slaughter." he promised.
"You never intended to keep your word." Chang declared even though he had known from the beginning how much treachery lived in Decador's soul.
Scaly lips pulled back into a sneer. The forked tongue darted out lapping at the slimy spittle oozing over the frothy fangs. "Why would I honor your disloyalty by keeping my word?"
"Then I cannot count on your pledge to release the humans and their comrades?" Chang rightfully assumed.
Decador shook his massive head. An increased stream of smoke and sparks showed the dragon's irritation with his unfaithful servant. "No the only thing you can count on is dying." he hissed seconds before he bared his teeth to deliver a death bite. *"Ultima ratio regum."
In a blink of an eye, in the moment between heartbeats, Chang Wufei mutated into Ryuujin. The Dragon God reared up to his full height using his own clawed hands to bat away Decador's charge. The intercepting swipe glanced off of the serpent's snout opening up a hefty gash. Decador shook his head spraying blood and frothy drool in all directions.
"Get safely away." the Dragon God shouted at the dumbstruck mortals who still stood frozen in each other's arms. Disbelief swamped their minds. Fear held them petrified in place. "GO NOW!" he screamed finally gaining their attention.
Heero took Duo's hand pulling him back toward the equally stunned immortals. Déjà vu. Duo kept glancing back over his shoulder sure that one vile beast or the other would postpone their battle to stop his and Heero's retreat. It was not until they reached the relative security of the godly pair that Duo permitted himself to take a breath. Burying his head in Heero's chest he desperately tried to shut out the sights and sounds of the demonic combat.
The apocalyptic battle raged on. The enraged mythical monsters raised dense dust clouds. Sparks shot into the storm-tossed haze. Lightning zigzagged overhead feeding on the raw energy surging between the invincible demons. Talons slashed, teeth tore. Horrifying bellows resounded over the courtyard bouncing off the walls. Reptilian bodied twisted and snarled becoming a blur of motion.
Decador sunk both sets of claws so deeply into Ryuujin's shoulders that the talons disappeared well pass the first joint. The barbed tail cracked across the Dragon God's back ripping out huge chunks of flesh. He threw back his head releasing a deafening wail of pain. His answering swipe caught along Decador's underbelly gorging out a large section of tissue and allowing a sizable amount of entrails to protrude. The slicing strike successfully detached the claws and sent the serpent reeling backwards. A travailing cry accented the agony.
Ryuujin wasted no time in retaliation. As Decador straightened his neck to roar in pain the Dragon God bared his teeth and latched onto the serpent's exposed throat. With a vise-like grip Ryuujin bit deeper. The sound of rent flesh preceded the crunch of bones as Decador's windpipe was crushed. Blind rage now controlled the Dragon God. Savagely he shook his head lifting his prey off the ground. Another crunch and the Chosen One stopped thrashing. One more jerk finished the job and Ryuujin let go.
Decador immediately returned to his human form. Clawing at his throat he collapsed on his back. Gurgles and gasps for air confirmed the deathblow had been delivered. Sightless eyes stared into the storm quickly becoming just as dark and cloudy. Twitching of arms and legs showed that the end was near. Slowly the convulsing faded. Then with one last sucking inhalation Satan's consort breathed his last. A faint hiss sang in his severed windpipe and he was gone.
Before the final throes grew cold and the escaping breath was carried away by the whipping wind the ground surrounding Decador's body began to bulge. The earth split, the sandy crust divided. From the dissections anguished moans surged to the surface. Bony hands much like the skeleton army rose through the cracks grappling over arms and legs, snagging onto clothes until Decador's corpse was covered with the gnarled fingers. The groans and wails grew louder as the bleached bones pulled the evil emissary back to the Underworld where he would at last have a place to rule. Then as quickly as the earth had parted it fused over again. A few ripples fluctuated then the ground smoothed back to its original texture leaving no hint of what had just happened.
With Decador's death his blocking spell was broken. Immediately Quatre and Trowa felt their powers return. Even the human's sensed that things had come back to normal. The storm also vanished. Clear blue replaced dark cloudbanks. Fresh air cleansed the haze. Sun shone brightly.
Ryuujin rocked back on his hunches and let out a victorious roar. The bellows joined with nature's celebration to orchestrate a song of liberation for the humans and immortals and Chang himself. Satisfied with his winning Ryuujin reverted back to his moral body. But like Decador the fragile form was battered, bloody and broken. An unaccustomed faintness washing over Wufei. Bracing trembling arms he flopped down on the blood-splattered ground. His once white outfit was blotched in scarlet. His shiny hair had slipped from the ponytail and hung in matted curtains about his pale face. A jarring cough shook his body lancing it with pain.
Duo with a caring look watched Chang in his struggle with his mortality. "Chang." he whispered lowly. "Heero I have to go to him." he informed his lover.
Without question or pause Heero took Duo's hand and with swift steps guided him to his former abuser. Trowa and Quatre followed closely behind. Chang looked up in amazement as his pet knelt by his side. His puzzlement turned to fear as Duo reached out. Chang drew back but lacked the strength to escape Maxwell's touch. "Do what you will...with me." he choked out the words between short gasps for air. "I deserve whatever punishment you desire."
Another cough retched up thick blood-tainted salvia. Chang tottered as he attempted to spit on the foul fluid. Duo placed his hand on Wufei's clammy forehead lending his aide. Ignoring the crimson clothing Duo eased down leaning Chang back against his chest and encouraging his heavy head to rest on his shoulder. It seemed that the failing human wanted to resist Duo's tender touch but again his strength betrayed his efforts.
"I have no reprisals." Duo declared shoring up his support.
Gazing up into his Pretty One's soft sight Chang gave up fighting. "Duo why?"
Duo tensed at the sound of his name. Tears welled at the implication. "Do you realized that is the first time you have called me by my name?"
Chang lowered his sight. No longer could he gaze into Duo's soulful eyes. "I knew from the beginning that I had no right to defile your name." he stated, "I held you in awe, was jealous of your steadfastness, of your devotion to your soldier." he sucked in a labored breath, "I longed for the same warmth, ached for one night of willing passion." he unashamedly admitted. "But you see I have forgotten how to love. It had been centuries since I have felt a comforting caress. Decades since..." a stabbing pain shuddered through him as cold sweat broke out on his pasty skin.
"Rest now." Duo urged the repentant Priest. "You saved my life, all our lives. You offered yourself without consideration of the outcome. You redeemed yourself," he proclaimed, "it was not my doing."
Quatre squatted down on one side. He laid his hand over Chang's damp brow. A radiant glow began to emit from his fingers. The shimmer grew brighter. Wufei reached up and with quivering fingers pushed Quatre's hand aside. "Please let me go." he wheezed out the request. "It is the only way I can find true peace." The God of Light nodded returning again to his mate's embrace. Duo wiped away more coppery drool smearing Chang's mouth with scarlet. "Be quiet, save your strength." he instructed.
"You have to know...before the end you have to know." Wufei implored his precious Pretty One to listen. "I have no right...to beg your pardon for I have committed many grievous sins against both worlds. All I ask is that you...do not hate me." he begged his eyes brimming with tears.
"I could never hate you." Duo replied truthfully mopping back stringy hair from Chang's failing eyes.
Wufei coughed again. This time he had no strength to turn his head. Strangling on the ejected phlegm he fought an overwhelming urge to close his eyes and simply go to sleep. "Do you feel pity for me?" he whispered his voice becoming fainter.
Duo shook his head. "I feel heartfelt appreciation for your sacrifice." His own voice fettered with mixed emotions Duo squeezed his watery eyes shut. Crystal droplets spilled over the lids forming grim-streaked tracks on his cheeks. The tears gathered on his chin then gave into gravity. They dripped on Chang's ashen face mingling with his own shed tears of remorse and regret.
Air hissed in his lungs as Chang drowned from internal bleeding. More bloody fluid sprang from his clogged windpipe. One last dim gaze on Duo's fair face. One memory for a keepsake as his journey to the other side began.
Duo held tightly to his savior's hand. He could feel Wufei slipping away and knew he had no saving grace with which to halt his passing. Now weakened sight searched for a final glimpse but failed to focus. A raspy breath fought to voice one last question.
"Duo." came the calling of his cherished name.
"I am here."
"Do you think..." Suck in. "that one day..." Wheeze out. "someone will write...a Requiem...for me?" the last syllable faded away. A content countenance replaced the tortured expression of pain and sorrow. A final soft sigh, a peaceful repose and Chang Wufei expired.
Duo clutched the limp form pulling Wufei as close as possible. His heart broke and a spillway of tears flooded through the rip in his soul. Silently sobbing Duo allowed all his hurt to dissolve. Heero knelt by his mournful mate rubbing his back and offering soothing words. Trowa comforted his lover as Quatre, too, wept openly.
Chang Wufei, the Dragon God, had in the end obtained an ennobled soul. He had willingly made the ultimate sacrifice. He had saved two worlds and four lives had been set free. Duo touched his tarnished cross to Chang's forehead. Privately he offered up an appeal for his safe journey into a better place. "May the wind guide your wings till you find your way home." he breathed out the "Petition for the Dead" he had learned from the village Priest.
Heero and Trowa carefully carried Chang's body outside the courtyard away from any residual influence that Decador might have left behind. Reverently they buried the fallen warrior under a graceful oak tree. Quatre used his restored magic to fashion a cross from a large quartz stone. With his finger he etched Chang's full Christian name and the date of death. Since Wufei was much older than the immortals they did not know the year of his birth.
Needing some time to himself Duo wandered from his lover and companions to walk among the towering trees. As he gathered wildflowers for Wufei's grave he ponder all that had happened. His faith in mankind had been reaffirmed. The power of love had been proven true. He no longer feared death for he knew that he and Heero's souls were united forever. There was a blessed closure, a perfect peace.
Soon Duo joined his comrades. Placing the flowers on the newly disturbed earth he offered a final request to the heavenly deities for divine guidance and asked the fates for their blessings for a long life with his friend, lover and soul mate, Heero Yuy.
As the victors disappeared into the forest they left no trace of their presence. Only a lone grave remained as mute testimony to all that had transpired. The setting sun painted vivid hues of orange, pink and red over the rocky cliffs. Somewhere in the dusk-shrouded woods a nighthawk sang out a haunting call then unfurled his strong wings. Gliding above the ancient castle's spires, silhouetted against the gathering twilight, perhaps the soaring symbol of strength and grace carried Chang's soul to its final rest.
TBC...
*Ultima ratio regum is Latin meaning, "The final argument of Kings."
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