Mage vs. Guard Part 7
When the door clicked shut behind Heero, Duo stirred, rubbed his eyes and blinked, trying to shake off the sleep spell. He frowned, one hand reaching up to pull out the talisman he wore under his tunic. "Always thought it'd be the frog spell," he muttered to himself as he examined the warped and blackened circle.
He yawned and shook his head, trying to clear it. Damn, Heero had slammed him with a strong spell- had he wasted energy that he should've saved? Duo should've known better than to argue- course Heero had always given in before... but then it hadn't been a matter of life and death...
"Idiot." Duo said and didn't know if he meant himself or Heero. He got to his feet and paused- if he went right after Heero, then he'd no doubt get hit with another spell... and the last thing Heero needed to be doing at the moment was using up his magic.
Not to mention that Duo had only bought the one anti-spell talisman- he hadn't thought to stock up, but knowing Heero he should have...
He sighed and turned to look at the clock. He'd give Heero just enough time to get a head start- and then he'd follow. Hell if Heero was going to escape him this easily...
~*~
Heero waited at the edge of the forest. He'd left his horse a few meters away- hopefully the beast would bolt back to the school when the duel started. He resisted the urge to rub the back of his neck. He'd had a feeling he was being watched almost as soon as he left the school. No doubt the Order was scrying on him, and his opponent as well.
He checked the angle of the sun. Two hours- and no sign of the other mage. For a moment he wondered if he'd miscalculated-
A fountain of flame burst out of the ground, nearly at his feet. He leapt away, cursing. Of course- he'd forgotten. The man always had to make an entrance.
He waited as the flames grew taller, watching the form inside coalesce into a familiar shape.
When they died down, he snorted. "A little dramatic, don't you think?"
"You never had any sense of the dramatic," the mage sniffed. "I always thought that was a flaw." Zechs dusted off his robes and glared at Heero. "I'm surprised you came by yourself- then again, I suppose the rest of the Order is hiding in panic somewhere? Or no- I'll bet my dear little sister called a meeting!"
"You challenged me, not the Order." Heero folded his arms across his chest. "Have you already forgotten? I know the mind is usually one of the first things to go..."
"Is that how you speak to your former master? The one who plucked you from obscurity and recognized your talent?"
"True, the last time we met I was the student, but this time..." Heero stopped and shook his head. "Are we going to posture here all day or fight?"
"So eager to die?"
"Can you be more cliché, Zechs?" Heero pulled his shields up in a smooth motion. "Let's just get on with it..."
"As you wish," and Zechs launched his first attack.
~*~
Duo stood in the trees, throwing dagger balanced on his fingertips. It was hard to see the fight- the combatants were blurred in a haze of shields and smoke. He bit his lip. Somehow he didn't think things were going well for Heero... it had taken him too long to get into place, and now he despaired of getting a clear shot... maybe he could rush the other mage?
"That won't work," said a voice in his ear and he nearly dropped the knife as he spun around.
Mage Winner smiled a little as Duo cursed. "Sorry to drop in."
"The School finally decided to send help?"
Winner looked at Barton, who was standing to the side, eyes on the battle. "Not... exactly. We got tired of waiting for them to decide."
"Mages," Duo sighed and flipped his knife over his hand. "Why won't this work?"
"Zechs has shields up that will block a physical attack. Heero doesn't. You throw that and Zechs' shields might deflect it back at you- or at Heero."
"Damn it." Duo glared at Heero's blurred form. "Why doesn't he have that kind of shield up?"
"He's nearly out of power," Barton said. "I'm amazed he lasted this long really."
Duo turned his glare on them. "Why don't the two of you go help him?!"
"It's the rule," Barton gave him a surprised look. "We can't interfere in a duel."
"Besides," Winner frowned. "Heero would kill us if we stepped in."
"What?!" Duo nearly shouted.
"Relax- I didn't say we weren't going to help." Winner said before Duo could punch him. "Has he gotten a drain on Zechs?"
"Not that I can tell." Barton frowned.
"Damn it. I was counting on a drain. If there was one we could funnel power away from Zechs..."
"Isn't that interfering?" Duo demanded. "Against the rule and all that?"
"It's really more of a guideline than a rule," Winner retorted mildly. "And it's not directly interfering... Hm... maybe we can set up a drain..."
"Shit," Barton muttered and Duo turned to focus on the battle.
Heero was on his knees; form only slightly blurred as his shield faded in and out. The other mage was surrounded by a deep red glow.
"Not good..." he heard Winner snarl.
"Well, well," the Blood Mage's voice carried clearly across the space between them. "You seem to be at the end of your strength Heero. Any last words?"
Duo yanked his sword out of its sheath and a moment later, found himself flat on the ground, the two mages holding him down. "Hold still," Winner hissed in his ear.
"Let me go!"
"Wait for the opportune moment."
Heero slowly got to his feet, his shields fading away. "You won't win, Zechs."
"I think I already have." Zechs snapped out a few words and the air around Heero ignited in a burst of flame.
Duo threw off his captors and lunged towards the Blood Mage even as the flames died, revealing nothing but a burnt circle of earth. He was too late...
Zechs was regarding the burnt circle with a look of faint surprise. "I didn't think it was that hot..." Duo heard him mutter even as he swung at the mage's now unprotected back...
And his sword sliced through an empty robe as the mage inside of it vanished.
He blinked in shock. "Did I get him?"
"What the hell are you doing here?" A scratchy voice demanded and Duo whirled to find a slightly charred looking Heero glaring at him.
For a moment, Duo couldn't find his voice. "You're alive," he managed at last and Heero smiled.
"Just barely." He bent down and rummaged in Zechs' robe. "Good thing the arrogant bastard didn't know that trick." He straightened up, a small animal dangling from his fingertips.
"Is that... a hedgehog?" Duo blinked at the animal as Heero waved it at him.
"I didn't have enough energy left for the frog spell. You take him."
Duo cupped his hands obediently. "Why?"
"Because I'm going to pass out." Heero replied, and promptly fell over.
TBC...
Back to Merula's Fanfictions Page