Authors: SkyLark, Snow Tigra, and Tsuki
Warnings: Blood, Gore, Violence, OCs (to add to the story), Fantasy
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: 1+2, 3+OC
Disclaimer: All standard disclaimers apply here.
Beyond All Doubt Part 1
For countless years, a mystical barrier known to very few separated the worlds of the fey and humans. Those from both lands lived their lives to the fullest with their own race, never to cross into the other world. To protect the balance of the two realms, neither race was to cross the boarder, or chaos would throw all into peril. Then, one fateful morning, that balance was ruptured...
* * * * * *
Duo sighed softly in his sleep, a small smile on his face even in his slumber. Under the shelter of his favorite blossom tree, his large angel wings wrapped around his body as a few petals fell around him.
With a sudden, sharp gasp, his violet eyes snapped open widely as a force ran through his body. Shivering as he sat up quickly, his gaze scanned the vibrant field for any sign to what had coursed through him. A gentle breeze stirred the tall grass and trees. The coolness of that breeze was normally welcoming, but this sent a chill through his slender body. Despite the calmness surrounding him, the young fey could feel a strange energy in the air that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
Along with the next breeze, a familiar, beckoning cry floated towards him... At the urgency in her voice, he knew what had happened.
* * * * * *
With his wings expanded widely, Duo flew through the main entrance of the sparkling palace. The palace guards lowered their spears and swords at the sight of him, allowing him through the halls without any interference. As many times as he visited the large palace, Duo still marveled at the beauty of it all. Stained glass windows brought a cascade of colors along with the natural sparkle of the walls themselves. Frowning to himself, he remembered the urgency in the voice that called him.
With ease, he soared into the brightly lit thrown room, by far the most breathtaking room in the whole castle. Tapestries of many different shades and materials hung from the walls to just barely touch the floor. Along with the light breaking through the tinted windows, hundreds of candles graced the room with a gentle warmth. Duo landed gracefully before the steps leading to the tall, elaborate throne, made of the purest gold and covered with silky, smooth fabrics.
Lowering himself to one knee and bowing his head, he greeted, "You summoned me, my Queen?" Sitting comfortably in her chair, the tall blonde fey's own wings unfurled behind her as they caught the light from the stained glass windows.
Duo waited patiently with his head still slightly bowed as Queen Dorothy's icy blue eyes fixed on him before she gave him a thin smile. "I am in need of your assistance, my Blade."
Raising his head at that, he nodded firmly, "Of course, my Lady." There was a slight discomfort in his stomach in knowing that she would never call on his assistance unless it was of a grave importance. Duo's existence, his purpose, only surrounded that of a protection that could only be called upon when no other means would work.
Taking a deep breath and sighing softly, the Queen's smile faded as she spoke, "Tell me, have you seen Zechs around lately?"
Zechs, who once was one of the Queen's best guards, only to have been dismissed when his motives proved to be for himself. He had been relieved of his duties and watched closely by her decree. Snorting, Duo answered, "Not lately, I am not one of those in charged to watch him. I can have a word with those soldiers watching out for him."
The tall fey's frown deepened as she said quietly, "Those guards were found unconscious and tied this morning, near the Boundary. Whispers have reached my ear that Zechs has crossed it. I am deeply troubled by this."
Duo's eyes widened and he could feel his skin turning pale as her words took their hold. Forcing himself to breathe, he whispered, "He... he's in the human world?" Before she could answer, he quickly shook his head in disbelief, "Are we really sure about this? He knows the dangers that would bring to our own world."
Lowering her head slightly, the Queen replied, "His motives are unknown to why he has done this." Gazing into his eyes, she said in a clear voice, "However, I am certain that he has crossed worlds." Her face took on an even more troubled look as she smoothed the pale blue silk of her dress. "'If indeed he is in the human world, someone needs to bring him back."
Frowning at that, Duo nodded, "And seeing as how I am your Blade..."
"Exactly," she cut him off, her eyes filled with concern but also the same determination that made her a fit ruler over their world. "You would be the most likely choice, if you would be willing to accept such a mission."
Biting his lip in thought as he thought things through, Duo considered any possible alternative. Finding none, he lowered his head as his eyes closed. He sighed deeply, "It is not a mission I wish to have rest on my shoulders, my Lady, but I realize that time is working against us and we have no other choice." Rising to his feet, he met her gaze and stated, "I will accept. I'll leave at once to search for him."
A small, sad smile graced the Queen's lips as she nodded in response, "I would like you to bring Zechs back here. However... you know the rules for the humans, they are not to know about us. And if he exposes us to them or the situation becomes too severe..." Her teeth pulled in her bottom lip before she would allow it to quiver. She needed to be the strong leader that was expected of her and nothing less.
Straightening herself in her throne, Dorothy's voice took on a tone with less authority and one that was more caring as she said softly, "Take care of yourself."
Giving her a firm nod, Duo's wings spread out to their full extent as he took to the air. As he turned his body towards the door, he smiled over his shoulder, "Don't worry about me, Your Majesty. I promise I'll do whatever I can to fix this." Even as he spoke the words, he wasn't sure if there were said more for her benefit or his own.
Returning his smile, the Queen nodded to him, "I have no doubt about that." With a wink, Duo turned and flew from the grand room. Dorothy remained on her throne, watching the entrance through which he disappeared. With a worried frown, she whispered, "Good luck."
Knowing that she just sent the only one she could consider a son into such an uncertain danger, Dorothy shuddered as a chill ran through her body. Her wings folded around her tightly as she lowered her head, silently willing away the fear that filled her.
* * * * * *
"Heero," a young woman's voice called through the fields on the outskirts of the Shay Kingdom. Brushing some off the small pods of pollen that stuck to her white apron, she walked towards the spot that she knew she would find him.
Approaching a pile of stone close to the edge of the woods, she brushed back some of her long silver strands of hair as they blew in the wind. Standing before the stones, she called again, "Heero?" While there was still no answer, she could head the familiar sound of a bowstring being pulled taunt ahead of her. Smirking to herself, the girl of her late teens peered around the stones. On the opposite side, she found the boy she was looking for.
Standing still as the stones hiding him, the tall young man had his arrow pulled back as he prepared himself to fire. Dressed in a pair of brow trousers and a light blue, long-sleeved shirt that was almost two sizes too large on him, he wore a brown belt that he made himself to keep the shirt tight around him. Heero's eyes remained narrowed and determined on his makeshift target in a tall tree trunk a good twenty feet away.
Quietly, the young woman walked up behind him without his knowing. Sensing that he was about to let the arrow go, she smiled, "Relena says hello." Frowning deeply, he released the arrow too soon. Watching it miss the target as it hit a branch several yards over the bull's eye.
Turning, Heero glared at Kumi as she shook her head with an amused grin. "Nice shot," she chuckled deeply as she looked back to where the arrow had hit. She raised the front of her lavender dress to walk with more ease and then moved towards the tall tree.
His frown still in place, her brother muttered, "Thanks for passing on the greeting, sis." Reaching up, he began removing one of the arrows from where they were embedded with a hard yank.
Taking another arrow and pulling it free, she smirked, "You have to admit, for a daughter of the King, Relena's actually starting to mature a bit. She hasn't opened any letters that has been delivered by the kingdom messengers in the last few months." Removing another arrow, her smile faded as she asked quietly, "Still determined to join the Shay army?"
Removing the last arrow, Heero turned to his sister and replied, "Relena still has a long way to go before I would consider her mature. And yes, I am. You still disapprove." The last statement was in no means an inquiry. Meeting her sad eyes, he couldn't help the small sting in his chest at her concern. Taking a deep breath, he sighed deeply, "I'm not one for working fields or with animals, you know that, Kumi."
Quickly, she straightened herself and responded, "There's no shame in that, Heero. I just don't see what you could gain by you wish to go off fighting."
"I'm restless here," he answered honestly but quickly hoped to put her mind at ease as he said, "and it doesn't mean that I would be leaving... Most likely I'd be stationed at the castle or within the city."
With a deep sigh of her own, Kumi sat on a low tree branch and gazed down the tall hill where they were. In the valley below, the vast city of the Shay kingdom stood in all its beauty and glory. There were many days that she would leave their secluded house in the fields to that very spot to gaze down on it. The same city that many people died trying to protect. Shuddering at that thought, she rubbed her arms and said quietly, "That still doesn't easy my concerns any more."
Smirking a bit at her, Heero asked, "Worried I can't defend myself? Think I still need my big sister behind me?"
Relieved and grateful for his attempt to cheer her, she smirked back, "Let's not forget about who watched after you these last eight years and got you out of a lot of fixes you got yourself into." Lowering her head, she frowned, "I'm just going to miss you when you're old enough to go. We're the only family we have now."
"I'm still too young for them to accept me," he reassured her. Sitting beside her on the low branch, he clasped her shoulder lightly as he spoke softly, "There's still time."
Smiling sadly, Kumi placed one of her hands over his as she commented, "At least another two or three years. I suppose I am going to have to let you go at some point, anyhow."
At that, her brother shrugged, "Or I could change my mind by then. Nothing is final." Silently, he hoped that might have put her a little more ease. Of all the people he came to know in his life, Heero had never been able to be as open and comfortable the way he was around his sister. After everything that she had sacrificed for him over their years on their own, he vowed to see that she was happy, knowing that she wanted nothing but the same for him.
Finally, she grinned at him, "You're right. I promise not to worry about it too much until then." Heero smiled back and squeezed her shoulder tenderly before they lowered their hands. Looking to the sky to check the position of the sun, Kumi's face lit up brightly as she said, "Trowa should be visiting soon. I should get dinner started."
With a nod, Heero rose from the branch and walked over to where his bow was set down. Raising a large, dead rabbit that he managed to shoot while he was practicing, he asked his sister, "Think this will be useful?"
"It'll make more of a meal than what I had to work with," she admitted with a relieved smile as she lifted took the rabbit in her arms, folding it in her apron.
Together, the two walked back along the low, stone wall that led to their secluded home on the hill. The young woman broke the silence during their walk as she began, "You know what you need?"
Heero questioned with a snort, "What's that?"
"Someone who makes you happy," she answered in a matter-of-fact tone with a wistful smile on her face.
Pausing instantly in his footsteps, he blinked at her in shock. Quickly recovering, he shook his head as he frowned deeply, "If you're implying that I and Relena-" He was cut off by his sister's loud, fitful laughter as her head fell back.
Calming herself to the point of chuckling deeply, Kumi shook her own head as she replied, "Are you crazy? I would never suggest you and Relena. I mean someone that fits you. Besides, I don't think that Trowa or I would have an easy time with her as our sister-in-law."
Shivering at the thought of that, Heero commented, "There isn't even a remote chance, so neither of you have anything to worry about. You just had me scared for a moment there by what I thought you were suggesting."
Reaching their home, Heero opened the door for his sister as she made her way to the kitchen as she told him, "I should be finished in about an hour, if you want to lie down and rest."
"All right," he nodded after her as he set down his things against the wall. Stretching, he headed towards the washroom to clean himself from a long day outside.
As she worked in the cooking area, Kumi heard the sound of another young woman's voice humming past the window. The humming stopped and a familiar voice called, "Rabbit? Oh, Kumi dear, you shouldn't spoil me so much."
Giggling, the silver-haired girl replied, "Actually, we have Heero to thank for this, Sette. And where is Quatre?"
Her friend leaned in the window to reveal herself. With her long blue hair falling loosely over the edge of the windowsill, Sette's thin face pouted dramatically, "Where do you think? He's still watching his family's precious horses. I swear he popped the question to them already and he's going to leave me alone in the dust." Kumi laughed quietly, careful not to wake Heero if he was trying to sleep in his room.
Brightening up again at the smell of the stew being made, her friend smirked, "Sooo... I say we eat everything before he gets here." With ease, she managed to climb through the windowsill, landing easily on her feet with a wide grin.
It was no wonder to Kumi why the other teenager always dressed in trousers and loose tops, as much activity as she took part in during the day. In many ways, she always envied the freedom to explore the woods and the city that Sette had. But, she was also content in knowing that she was a provider and guide for her brother. If anything, she could always count on her friend to have an interesting story to tell whenever they met up.
From outside, another familiar voice all but shouted, "Onna, don't you have any manners? They did invent doors for a reason, you realize." Leaning back out the window, Sette blew a raspberry at the own of the voice.
Dressed in his guard uniform, a young Asian man smirked up at her, "Aw, that hurt."
Peering out the window, Kumi smiled at him, "And what brings you to these parts, Wufei?"
Upon seeing her, Wufei met gaze and smiled kindly to her, "I was wondering if you may have seen Trowa. There is something I need to discuss with him."
"I haven't seen him yet," Sette spoke first with a shake of her head.
Kumi's smile faded as she said, "He should be here shortly for dinner. Why don't you come in?"
With a nod, he replied, "Thank you." Entering the house and closing the door behind him, Wufei walked into the living room. From where he took a seat by the fireplace, he could easily see into the dining room and kitchen. Sitting back into the wooden chair, he waited patiently for his friend to arrive.
Sette stood at the entrance of the kitchen as she folded her arms while watching the Chinese man. A playful smirk tugged the corner of her mouth as she said, "Hey, Wufei, I got question for you."
Rolling his eyes, he folded his arms behind his head and played along, "And what would that be?"
"Be nice, Sette," Kumi warned as she looked over her shoulder from the pot boiling over the furnace. Returning to her work of cutting carrots, she couldn't help chuckling to herself as she shook her head.
After knowing each other since they were children, Sette and Wufei were known for always poking fun at each other. Their other friends always believed that it was due to the fact that Sette did whatever she could to reform from the socially correct life for a woman. Meanwhile, Wufei was never one to be shy about his belief that society was correct in that the home and kitchen was where a woman belonged, from the dangers that the men protected them from. Despite the fact that they never agreed on anything and constantly bickered, they still could count on each other when needed.
Tilting her head to the side, Sette grinned, "Could you smile for once?"
Snorting at that, Wufei smirked back, "I smile when there is something worth smiling over."
Unfolding her arms, she stepped into the living room to take her place at another wooden chair and she pouted, "Oh fine, be that way."
After adding the chopped carrots to the pot, Kumi wiped her hands on her apron before turning to her Chinese friend to ask, "How are things at the palace?"
Frowning deeply, Wufei cleared his throat before answering, "Unfortunately, Kumi, I'm afraid that I am not at liberty to share all of that right now."
Biting her lip, she replied, "Your reason for meeting with Trowa, then." Swallowing hard, he nodded firmly at that, then looked away from her concerned eyes, unable to look into them any longer.
Just beyond the kitchen window, a horse came to as the clatter of saddle stirrups was heard as the rider dismounted. Peering into the window, Trowa found his mate looking into the living room from the kitchen. "I smell something good," he complimented with a warm smile on his face.
Quickly turning in his direction with wide eyes, Kumi's shock faded at the sight of him as she returned the warm smile and greeted, "Hello, Trowa. Dinner should be ready shortly." Her eyes looked towards the living room again as she frowned, "Wufei is here to see you."
Trowa looked over to the front door as it opened to reveal his comrade. His dark eyes couldn't conceal the concern that he rarely ever showed. At the sight of that, the tall Commander straightened in preparation for some disturbing news. "We best speak alone," Wufei suggested after closing the door after him.
Blinking at that, Trowa nodded and glanced back to Kumi. "We'll be right back," he said with a reassuring smile. Forcing a smile in return, she nodded.
As the two soldiers walked off to step around the house, she watched from the window until there was no longer sight of them. Tapping her teeth with her pointer finger in thought, she smirked to herself in recollection that she was not alone. Peering into the living room, she looked to her tomboy friend and asked, "Sette, would you be a dear?"
Leaning back in her chair, the blue-haired girl chimed in a singsong voice with a wide grin, "Someone wants me to spy on them."
Folding her arms as she raised an eyebrow, Kumi smirked as challenged, "And I am sure your own curiosity wants to know what's going on as well."
Bounding up from her chair instantly, Sette cheered, "Of course!" Adjusting the belt that held her dagger along her petite waist, she walked towards the back of the house as she said, "I'll just sneak through the back door."
Reaching the door, she carefully and slowly opened it to peek outside. Finding the two soldiers standing a few feet away by the barrels of hay for the stable, Sette quickly crept closer to hide behind one of the barrels when her friends were in earshot. Peering around the side, she watched as Wufei sighed deeply as he leaned his back against a tree after scanning the area to see that there was no one else around.
Walking towards him, Trowa frowned, "Problems, Captain?" As the sun continued to set behind the city, his brown hair looked almost red as he watched his friend through his long bangs.
"I am afraid so," he admitted as he ran ha hand over his smooth hair pulled back in its custom ponytail. "I know that your shift ended long before word could have reached you." Meeting his friends expectant gaze, he frowned as his tone became grave. "There is wind that there will be an attempt on the King's life along with a takeover of the Shay Kingdom."
His eyes narrowing, the tall Commander stated, "I thought that we had caught any who would be that foolish."
Wufei shook his head, "It's not that simple."
Sighing, Trowa took that to heart and shook his head, "It never is."
Looking over the area again to be certain that no one else was listening, the Chinese Captain missed Sette as she ducked back behind the hay barrel that she stayed behind. Turning back to Trowa, he leaned towards him and spoke in a hushed tone, "This is not a plot of a few rebels within our own walls. Treize was freed from the Graon Kingdom prison not a day or two ago."
With his eyes widening in shock at that news, Trowa remembered the man that held that name very well. Treize Khushrenada was the leader of a savage army of assassins and murders with no purpose other than to bring terror to all those who lived in the Shay, Graon and Prusia Kingdoms. The three kingdoms were the closest neighbors to each other. To travel between the three realms, the only way was through the woods and the journey took a good two or three days. Those woods housed Treize and his army as they traveled with stealth and ease through the more treacherous parts. At random, and never in the same place or time, he and his men would kill, rape, and steal from those who were unfortunate enough to run into them.
For more than ten years, Khushrenada was hunted by the three kingdoms but to no avail. Finally, Wufei and Trowa got to be a part of the attack on the hidden home front of Treize and his clan along with soldiers from Graon and Prusia. It was their first mission after just joining the army a year ago when they were of age. For their performances, they were promoted to their current ranks and duties.
That day, the sights and sounds of that terrible battle, lived on forever in their memory. Despite the fact that they had three armies against them, the Treize clan managed to prove a much more difficult foe then they were considered. While most of his men managed to escape the strike, Treize had been captured and thrown into the hands of the Graon army after a draw of straws at who would have their first chance to repay him for the grief that he caused.
"Graon has one of the strongest armies available. How could Treize have slipped past them," Trowa asked in a shouted whisper.
Lowering his head, Wufei's eyes closed as he answered, "I said that he was freed. I didn't say that he escaped." At that, the tall commander gasped sharply with wide eyes of realization and fear at what was being suggested. Raising his head, the Captain saw that his friend understood, but he continued, "King Rashon of Graon is allying his forces with Treize's to attack Shay and Prusia with a promise to split the land and spoils between the two armies."
"And we're the closest Kingdom to Graon," Trowa concluded. Wufei took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. "Has King Noventa of Prusia been contacted and advised any of this?" he inquired quickly.
The other soldier informed him, "We only learned of this news an hour ago. A messenger was sent right away, but it is a good two-day journey there, if not longer." Folding his arms, his dark eyes narrowed as he growled, "And we both know how Noventa hates going into battle without any proof of a threat. As of now, all we are going on is rumors floating from Graon. King Peacecraft is not willing to sit and wait. If it is true that there are two armies working against us, we may be on our own for a while."
"Correct me if I'm wrong," the tall brunette began, "but if we don't manage to head this off, we don't have enough people to stand up to them in a fight on our own for long, do we?"
Wufei bit his lip before frowning, "Actually, to see that we are not as greatly outnumbered as we already are now, the king lowered the age for recruits for the army from eighteen to sixteen." Looking towards the house just beyond them, he said quietly, "Heero just had a birthday last month."
Unwilling to think about that, Trowa raised his hand behind his head as he turned away from his comrade. Closing his eyes and lowering his head, he took a moment to take deep breaths as he forced himself to calm. Knowing how willing and anxious Heero already was to join the army, he knew that he would not hesitate to join now that he was suddenly of age. Gazing at the house, his eyes filled with concern as he spoke quietly, "I understand the need for more guards... but that's too young. And we both know that Treize's army would be difficult enough on us alone, but now the Graon army as well..."
Straightening himself from where he leaned against the tree behind him, Wufei stated firmly, "Trowa, we don't have a choice in the matter. All we can do is follow orders." Turning his gaze towards the house again, he cleared his throat after a long moment in silence and offered, "If anyone could help Kumi understand, it'd be you." Sighing softly, Trowa frowned deeply in thought, not wishing to consider what this news would do to his mate. Quietly, he heard Wufei's voice behind him speak sincerely and filled with concern, "I'm sorry."
From where she hid behind the hay barrel, Sette sat with her hand covering her mouth and her blue eyes wide with fear and disbelief. Quickly and carefully, she slipped from her hiding spot and made her way beck towards the house without making a sound. Completely unaware of her departure, Trowa shook his head without looking back, "It's not your fault."
"There are still some guards that have not been notified yet. I need to go meet with them," Wufei said with his usual determination in his voice. Resting a hand on his friend's shoulder, he quizzed it saying, "I'll see you first thing in the morning."
Nodding as the hand on his shoulder was lowered, Trowa looked back at him and replied, "Good luck... I hope that we're able to stop them before this gets too out of hand." With a firm nod, Wufei quickly walked off towards the house where his horse was waiting.
Falling back against the tree behind him, Trowa stood there for a long moment as he tried to sort his thoughts. Cringing at the thought of having to share the news with Kumi and Heero, the two people he cared for more than anything, he considered his options. Finally, just before the last lights of the sun vanished, he took a deep breath before heading back towards the house, silently dreading what was to come.
TBC...
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