The Princes' Choice Part 8
Duo used a little magic to get out of the town unseen. Now he was back in the forest. He needed to think about what had happened, why he felt the way he did. He stopped at a tree and looked up. It was old and very tall. He put his hand on the trunk and felt the life and magic in it. He felt the magic coursing through his body. He closed his eyes and let the magic flow through his hand up his arm and to his heart and then to be spread all over his body.
He opened his eyes. He climbed the tree. It felt like home. In fact it was home to him. He was born in the tree. His mother was born there. As was all pixies of his family before him. He settled on a limb. He allowed the magic to surround him. He was going to miss Trowa. Trowa was his family now. But no, no more. Trowa had found someone. Duo was happy for Trowa really he was. He just wished things were a little different. Less confusing.
As Trowa neared the forest he noticed he was being followed. "What do you want?"
Meiran smiled, no one had ever noticed her before. "To follow you so that the others can find you."
"Why?" Trowa turned to look at her.
"Because I have spent the last three months with both Heero and Quatre. They finally found what they're looking for. I have no intentions of going another three months looking for someone else who isn't who they want."
"Nice speech." Trowa look past Meiran. "Looks like you stalled enough for them to catch up." Trowa nodded towards the other three. He then turned on his heel and continued into the forest.
Meiran waited for the others. "Nice to see you did not wait too long."
"We should follow." Wufei put his arm out for Meiran to take. They followed Trowa into the forest. "Quatre you should walk with him."
Quatre ran up to the tall young man. "Trowa! Wait!"
Trowa turned to him. "Shh! Do you wish to scare him off!"
Quatre stopped and looked down at the ground. "Gomen nasai. I did not mean any harm."
Trowa sighed, he had upset the blond angel and that sent a pain to his heart. "No, I am sorry. I should not have yelled at you." He looked up to see the other three approach. "It's just this is his forest. He knows when someone is looking for him. We must be careful. He thinks running away will make me stay with you, Quatre. He thinks that will make me happy."
"Would it?" Quatre whispered.
Trowa turned and continued to walk into the forest. Quatre walked beside him. Wufei and Meiran behind them and Heero taking up the rear. They walked for what seemed like hours to Quatre but it was only a half hour.
"It would." Trowa whispered.
Quatre looked up at him puzzled. "Huh?"
Trowa smirked. "To be with you. It would make me happy."
Quatre beamed up at him. "Really! Would you?" Trowa just kept walking.
Finally Trowa stopped and looked around. He knew that Duo would have gone back to the Tree of Life. But Trowa himself was not really sure where that was. Duo's directions were vague. However Duo had said that he was never really far from the tree.
Trowa crouched down and looked at the ground. He was looking for tracks. Not that Duo left very many tracks. If the long haired fey creature didn't want to be found he would make is so. Trowa knew that Duo would use his magic to cover his trail. But Trowa was hoping that Duo would be too upset to do a very good job.
Heero came up beside Trowa and crouched down next to him. "What are you looking for?"
"Tracks. Sometimes when Duo is upset he doesn't do a good job of covering up his tracks."
"Don't you know where he's at?" Meiran asked astonished.
"Yes and no."
"Well which is it?" Wufei asked.
"Yes I know where he went, but no I'm not really sure where that is."
Just then Quatre was overwhelmed with a wave of great sadness. He placed his hand over his heart and closed his eyes. He concentrated and turned around for a barring. Finally he realized that it was Duo. He opened his eyes and looked up.
Quatre gasped the tree in front of him was huge. It must have been several hundred years old. But what really got his attention was who was in the tree. From where he was standing, Quatre could see Duo laying on a tree limb.
"Trowa." The blond whispered. Trowa heard him and went over to the small prince. When Trowa was standing next to him Quatre pointed up into the tree. Trowa looked up. He then went over to the tree and started to climb it.
Climbing the tree was not an easy task. The magic within the tree was attempting to stop Trowa from getting to Duo. However the magic did not do anything that would actually hurt Trowa. It was almost as if the tree knew that Trowa was a friend and loved one of Duo's. Finally Trowa made it to the limb that Duo was laying on.
"Duo?"
"Go away Trowa. Be with the one you are destined for."
"What about you my friend?"
"Leave me. I am a forest creature. I will survive."
"Aa. And what about the prince?"
"He is a human. I am not to be with a human. It is forbidden."
"Aa, like an elf is not to be with a pixie."
"Yes." Duo looked at Trowa. "Wait, what are you gettin' at Tro?"
"If I remember correctly your mother was a pixie and it was forbidden for pixies to be with any other creatures. And your father was an elf. You are the results of a forbidden love."
"Are you saying it should be alright for me to be with a human?" Trowa nodded. "You always say that humans are not trust worthy."
"I am human."
"You did not come alone. You brought them with you."
"They came on their own."
"I see so you didn't force them. Must mean they care. Trowa will you do me favor. I know my knowledge of my people is... um... lacking. But I do know one thing. When one wants to mate they must make it up the tree to the one they want."
"I shall send him."
"Thank you my brother." Trowa climbed down the tree. Wufei, Meiran Quatre and Heero awaited him at the bottom.
"Well?" Quatre asked.
Trowa looked at Heero. "He wants to see you."
"Then tell him to come down." Heero crossed his arms over his chest.
Trowa shook his head. "No, you must go to him. It is the only way."
"What the hell are you talking about bang boy?"
"Meiran! This isn't your place." Wufei pulled his wife away from the others.
"If you want him you must go to him." Trowa then turned to Quatre and took the blond's hand. He led him over to a tree and sat them down on the ground.
Heero looked at them then up at the tree. He went over to the trunk and started to climb. He noticed that it was harder than he thought it would be. Almost like the tree was trying to keep him away. At first he thought it was Duo's doing. But then he looked up at the fey creature and saw him looking back at him. Heero then noticed that Duo was being carried farther up the tree. Heero growled low in the back of his throat. Heero began to climb with more determination.
Quatre looked up into the tree, noting that Heero was frustrated. He looked over at Wufei and Meiran. They were seated upon a fallen tree talking to one another, or arguing with each other. He then looked over at Trowa, who was watching him. Quatre blushed just a bit. "Why doesn't Duo come down?" Quatre broke the silence.
Trowa looked at the tree. "Tradition. When a pixie is courted outside of their own, the one they love must climb the tree to prove it to the others."
"Oh." They were quiet for few more minutes. "Are there many pixies in the tree?"
"No. Only Duo, he is the last of his kind."
"Um if he's the last then why does Heero have to do this?"
"The tree holds all of the knowledge of the pixies past and present."
"I don't understand." Quatre shook his head.
Trowa chuckled softly. "Look at it this way, Little One. Duo was born in the tree, in order for him to keep his magic and the memories of the other pixies, Heero must prove to the tree that he loves Duo."
"Oh. How interesting. Do you have any traditions I should know about?"
"I don't think so. I'm an orphan, Duo and I met a few years back. Before that I don't remember much. Just wondering around looking for a home. What about you? Any scary family traditions I should be aware of?"
"Hmm let me think. There's living in a huge palace with servants tending to your every need. Um... there is the wedding ceremony, which is long and boring and just might put us both to sleep."
Trowa chuckled again. "I see. And am I to slay a beast to prove that I am worthy, too?"
Quatre giggled. "No I don't think so. But you may have to profess your undying love for me to my family. My father the Sultan, my mother the Sultana and of course all twenty nine sisters and their respected suitors."
"Twenty-nine sisters?"
"Yes well Father believes in tradition and the heir to the throne must be male."
And how does he propose we have a male heir?"
"I don't really know. Of course father won't know you're male until we get home." Quatre giggled. "I wonder how he'll react?"
Heero looked up again, Duo was on the highest limb. Heero was wondering how the higher limbs were going to hold his weight. He was already at limbs that creaked under his weight. He had a few bend so they were unusable. "Duo, can you climb down?"
Duo looked down at Heero. He sighed at Heero's question. 'No my love I cannot.' Duo just shook his head a little. He too was wondering how the limbs would react to Heero's weight. 'My father made it, surly Heero can too. But then again Heero is not a magical being.
Heero looked at Duo again. Another ten feet and he would be with Duo. Five more feet. But how are the limbs supporting me? Heero thought. Two more feet. Heero looked at Duo, he was startled to see that Duo did not look happy. Heero was almost there. He reached for a limb and it broke causing Heero to fall.
Duo felt the limb break and cry out in pain. The tree was apart of him. As the limb fell it was caught by other branches and then reabsorbed back into the tree. When Duo looked back over to where Heero had been climbing he was staring into cobalt blue eyes. Startled Duo moved back quickly.
"You wanted to see me?" Heero kept looking into Duo's violet eyes.
"Um... yes."
"Then why did you run?"
"I didn't run. The tree moved me."
"Why?"
"It is a right of passage. In order for me to be with someone they must first climb the tree. It is harder for one of another species." Duo turned away form Heero's stare. "I'm sorry, I couldn't tell you."
"So now what?"
"I guess I am yours."
"Aa. Then will you come back with me and be my life mate?"
"If you wish."
"Hn. You seem to think that this is one sided. What do you want?"
"I...I don't know. The only human I know is Trowa. He says I should be happy and be with you. Do... do you want me?"
"I wouldn't have climbed the damn tree if I didn't"
Duo's eyes got big. "DON'T SAY THAT!!" Heero blinked. "This tree is where I was born! It's the source of my magic!"
"I'm sorry I didn't know." Heero looked away. "If you don't want to come with me I will understand."
"Can we take the tree?"
Heero looked back at Duo. "How? The tree is rooted here."
Duo giggled. "Silly human, the tree is magical. It can go anywhere I wish."
"Won't the other pixies miss it?"
Duo looked away sadly. "I'm the only one left." He whispered.
"I see. Well, then I guess we can take the tree." Heero looked down. "How do we get down?"
Duo smiled and giggled. With a wave of his hand the tree started to shrink. Heero was so caught off guard that he grabbed Duo's waist. Duo smiled even bigger and laid his head on Heero's shoulder. Heero started to relax when Duo had laid his on his shoulder. To Heero it meant that it was safe. The ride down was a nice pace and smooth.
When they reached the ground the other four were waiting for them. Duo and Heero got off the now small tree. Duo watch solemnly as the tree continued to shrink some more. Finally the tree was the size of a sapling. Duo bent down and said a few quiet words and then scooped up the sapling and the dirt around it.
He then turned to Trowa. "Trowa do you... do you have anything to put this in?"
Trowa nodded and reached into his pouch and pulled out some cloth. "Will this work, Duo?"
Duo looked at it and smiled. "Yes." He took the cloth and carefully wrapped the sapling's root and dirt in it. "Trowa do you have anything to put dirt into?"
Trowa thought for minute then shook his head. "No, Duo I don't. I am sorry."
"Wait I have something." Meiran walked up to Duo and hand over her money pouch. "This should work."
Duo beamed at her. "Thank you." He took the pouch and knelt down to the ground and scooped up some dirt.
"Are you all done?" Heero asked as Duo stood up.
"Yes. I have the tree and some magic dirt. When we get to where ever you're taking me we can replant the tree. The dirt will help it grow. Trowa has some magical water back at the um.... inn? Anyways that will help also."
Quatre looked over at Trowa. He had a puzzled look on his face. "What is wrong Trowa?"
Trowa looked at Quatre. "I have magical water?"
Duo heard the question and smiled. "The lake, Trowa. It is magical. I thought you knew."
"No."
"Oh, well we'll have to come back to it anyways."
"Why?" Now it was Quatre's turn to be puzzled.
"I will need it to keep my magical powers. So to be safe I should return every two blooms of the tree for at least on full moon cycle. Since Trowa has been drinking and bathing in the water he will need to return to stay healthy."
"I don't understand Duo"
Duo smiled at Trowa. "Trowa seasons move differently in the forest than out of it."
"Are you saying that time is slower here?" Wufei asked.
"Well I'm not sure. I just know that seasons move differently. Since Trowa has been here for so long he has been kept alive by the water."
Trowa sank to the ground. He was in shock. "Trowa! Trowa are you alright?" Quatre rushed t Trowa's side, kneeling beside him.
"Trowa I thought you knew. I really did. Thought m...mom told you."
"N...no she didn't."
"So now what happens?" Quatre asked.
"How old is Trowa, now?" Heero asked.
"Old?" Duo looked puzzled.
"How old are you Duo?" Wufei asked.
"Old? I don't understand."
"How long have you been in the forest?"
"I don't know."
"I've known Duo for five years." Trowa said. "At least I think its five years."
"I said season move differently. I do know the tree has bloomed 500 times since I came to be. The lake has been ascended and descended 1000 times."
Everyone looked at Trowa. "The tree blooms every year the village has a festival. To me it seems like once a year."
"Aa." Heero looked around. "So we need to go to town and see how often they have a festival."
"Let's not worry about this." Meiran said. "Let us return to our homes. There are to be two bonding ceremonies when we get back."
They all agreed and headed out the forest, to begin their new lives. Each wondering what time would be like when they left.
OWARI
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