I pray we'll find your light... And hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night... Remind us where you are
Let this be our prayer... When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place... Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
-Lyrics to 'The Prayer' performed by Celtic Woman
Elements of Great Design Part 37
Quatre stared down at his Elemental Stone that he had leaned protectively against his chest to support the weight. Mesmerized by the swirling blues and greens within the gem, a wide and warm smile spread across his face. "Good to have you back, friend," he murmured without realizing that he had even thought the words. As though to answer him, there was a bright ring from the stone as it glowed for a moment.
Suddenly, the brilliant pedestal behind the Keeper glowed intensely before it faded into a swirl of its ice blue color that wrapped around the rock. Shrinking to the same hand-held size of Heero's compass, the Elemental Stone twinkled in the palm of the wide-eyed Mage. Laughing, Winner carefully secured his prized possession within the confines of the pouch at his waist.
Reaching his lover first, Trowa slowed his run at the last second to scoop the veiled blonde in his arms for a fierce embrace. "You were brilliant, little one," the Dragoon breathed. Pulling back, he leaned in quickly for a deep kiss that Winner was all too happy to return. By the time they separated, their brothers had caught up to them.
"Nice trick there, Quat!" Duo cheered with a slap to the White Mage's back as the couple separated for air. Still soaked from the 'bath' of the wave that had surged from the cave, the rest of the Alliance was all smiles and pride for their Water Keeper as more pats and praise were offered.
His flushing face ducking, the young hero waved a hand in the air with a nonchalant, "Ah, my Elemental Stone did all the work of getting rid of that hydra." Peering down at the pouch containing his gem, he thought aloud, "To be honest, I have no idea how I knew how to use it in the first place... it's as if it told me what to do."
"Well, your stone would not have been able to act without your reaching it. And you more than deserve the credit in pulling that off," Wufei complimented as he continued to lovingly cradle Anna's body in his arms as her spark of a soul remained on his shoulder. "Clearly the Creator knew what he was doing when he melded our specific weapons to suit our powers."
The last of their threats removed from the picture, Maxwell snapped his fingers and the three shields that his black magic had created vanished back into the mist that they had been forged from. "And He definitely was wise in always having the six of us brought together to fend off dangers like Mariemaia in the world. Out abilities more than compliment each other in battles of this nature."
A thought that Heero had been avoiding could no longer remain silent and he frowned, "Do you suppose that the remaining three Elemental Stones are being surrounded like this one was? It is only safe to assume that if Abaddon's forces were able to find this place that they know how to locate the remaining three as well."
Rubbing his chin, Trowa sighed, "Most likely word on their locations was passed onto the girl when we were with Howard just before that attack. There really is no other explanation to how they would happen to come across such a random place in the middle of the world that they have not overrun yet." He shuddered a bit and shrugged, "As much as I hate to think it, we very well could come up against resistance as strong as what we faced today, if not stronger."
Uncomfortable silence fell over the group as that thought set in. Of course, they all had assumed the same... but to have one of their own actually say as much made the whole situation all the more real somehow.
Finally, Duo gestured to the monsters that would remain frozen in their icy casings as he stated, "At least we know that no one but the owner of the Elemental Stones can touch or move them. Like it or not, Mariemaia's forces have to stay right where they are until we get there." Heads nodded as something akin to relief spread through the Alliance.
Quatre's purse began to glow from within as a bright chime rose from the stone within. Blinking in surprise when he looked to the dimmed light, his whole posture eased as he raised his head once more and he moved towards the mouth of the cave. Frowning in confusion, his bothers followed close behind.
Once he stepped out onto the ledge of the cliff, Winner peered up at the brilliant, abstract remains of the Elder that had shown them the way. Reaching into his pouch to reveal the blue-green gem that fit in the palm of his hand, the Keeper held it up towards the remnants. A piercing, white light shot from the top of the Elemental Stone to engulf the smearing.
As the beam faded, the 'painting' came apart in thousands of glowing round bulbs that floated from the rock surface. Spinning and swirling on a breeze that did not exist, the Elder's soul wrapped around the rock in the Mage's hand. After a mystifying display, the Alliance watched as their guide soared up into the heavens until they faded away from sight.
His violet eyes blinking some time later, Duo breathed, "Wow." Unable to find their own voices, his brothers nodded in agreement as they all continued to stare up to the clearing sky.
"Considering how late it is, we may as well set camp here for the night," Heero suggested at last, bringing the lot back to the present.
He rolled his shoulders to ease the discomfort in them that had been brought on by the intense battle and said, "We wouldn't have to bother breaking our tents out since we have a fine enough shelter here, even with the... odd ice sculptures." His teammates snickered and not a single argument was raised against the suggestion.
Wufei bit his lip as he looked down at his 'sleeping' lover. Sensing the question running through his brother's mind, Maxwell grinned, "I'm sure that Anna would be more than happy for you to have as much time in your body as possible. You should have the night to hold her at the very least."
A warm, grateful smile spread across the Monk's lips as he bowed his head. "I would like that very much," he all but breathed.
Casting his gaze back down to his soul mate's body, he added, "Then first order of business for me is to see that she is dried, knowing how much she would appreciate that." If there were any doubt to that, the brilliant ball of light on his shoulder chirped excitedly and moved in to press itself against his cheek for a 'kiss.' Chang and his family's heads fell back as they laughed.
* * * * * *
The Alliance was stronger than Dekim would have ever given them credit...
...much stronger than he would have imagined. But there was no question to what they were capable of after watching the fight that had decimated an army of nearly a thousand that practically covered the island that housed the Elemental Stone.
Mariemaia sat rigidly on her throne as she stared blankly out to the open air that no longer revealed her mirror. With no soldiers remaining to show her their enemies, there was no longer a spell that she could work to spy on the warriors that had successfully claimed one of the four most powerful weapons in all of Gaia.
For Barton, he knew that the child was scared. If he really allowed himself to dwell on what they had just witnessed, he would have admitted that even he was frightened. But his niece never showed a sign of cracking and for at least that much he actually respected her. "A misstep," he snorted nonchalantly, a hand waving in the air as though erasing what had just come about. "We will still rise victorious over this."
"A... mis... misstep?" the young Queen breathed, her wide eyes blinking at last as she spun her head to look up at her uncle in disbelief. Her voice calm though she was anything but inside, she huffed, "I fail to see how the Alliance's possession over the Water Stone could possibly considered a mere 'misstep' on our end. That strike against the hydra was the first that Keeper had ever made using that weapon. Imagine what else he will be able to accomplish with it after he has had time to harness and understand it."
Shifting forward in her high-backed seat, Mariemaia gripped the armrests and went on, "What is more, you see the force that those Keepers and their two friends make together. The odds physically could not have been stacked greater against them as I made certain to cover that island with soldiers both on the ground and in the wings of those ridges. They went through that army as though it were nothing to them."
Dekim raised a finger, smirking, "Oh, they had their times of struggle, my dear. Let us not forget that they had all experienced close calls on more than one occasion through that fight. What is more, they are still without the remaining three Elemental Stones. You had received word earlier that the hidden locations to those weapons had been discovered, correct?"
The girl frowned, but nodded firmly, "Yes. And I have already sent off reinforcements to more than triple the numbers that they already make up so long as the terrain allows it."
Gently patting her shoulder, the old man cooed, "Very good, child. That is all that can be done for the time being." That grin on his face widening, he informed, "But there is something else that I already have in the works as a means of guaranteeing that the Alliance will be of no concern to us."
Breath hitching in her throat, Khushrenada fell back against her seat in rapt interest. "How so?" she managed.
Lowering his hand, Dekim replied, "We had a first-hand look at how that concoction works in restoring the Earth Keeper. Since Fire still cannot be in the same realm of the living as he is, she must have her soul taken from her own body."
His arms folding across his chest, he continued, "I am already forging a way to see that even the son of Shinigami will not be able to prevent her from slipping into the great beyond. It is only a matter of waiting for the right opportunity to plant my spell to counter their potion. Perhaps my magic is not as strong as yours, but I have my own ways of using what I do have to my advantage."
For the first time since making her discoveries surrounding the tram that was coming for her, Mariemaia felt a glimmer of hope and relief. If there was a way to eliminate one or more of the Keepers, it would not matter if the Alliance was able to claim all four of the elemental Stones or not. They would need their whole unit intact as it was to be able to use those weapons.
Sneaky attacks were not in the sorceress's forte... but they were for her uncle. And since he was in just as much danger as she was, there was nothing in the world that he would allow to get in his way of ending their threat. In addition, the direct blood would not be on her already soiled hands in this case.
"Whatever it is you need to do, then," she nodded firmly, "I trust you to it."
Bowing at the waist, Barton smiled darkly. He reveled this. He wanted this. Actually seeing that sent a chill down Khushrenada's spine, but she remained calm and cool before him for her own sake. The fact that the old man was her only family did not change the simple reality that he scared her more often than not.
As he straightened himself, Dekim stated, "I will gladly see that the deed is carried out. Time and opportunity will be needed, but with three more stones needed to be sought out, we will have plenty of that." Slowly descending the stairs leading to the floor, he peered over his shoulder and asked, "Any idea to how we will be repaying our friends hidden on the outskirts of the darkness? You have allowed those rebels just beyond our reach to lay in peaceful wait for some time now."
Quickly regaining her confidence, Mariemaia straightened herself while she informed, "I am just biding time so that their guards may fall before we advance upon them. They are far too resourceful and alert after freeing my parents to make a move now."
The corner of his lip twitching, Barton replied, "Just so long as your hesitance is not due to anything outside of strategy. We cannot afford ridiculous emotions to get in the way of our mission." Content that he had planted enough of a seed in his niece, he gazed ahead once more and slipped away from the throne room with his black robe swirling around him.
Releasing a deep breath, the Queen sagged heavily in her throne at his disappearance. More blood would eventually have to poured onto her hands. Dekim was growing impatient enough that it was only a matter of time before he pressured her into moving their forces onward. A danger to their cause was a danger to their cause. Guilt and regret truly had no place in wars of this vicious nature... not if she wanted to succeed...
...Only... for the first time since the fall of Eblan... Mariemaia seriously questioned if that was what she really wanted.
* * * * * *
Trent took hold of the hilt to his new, thick blade from the gifted mason that had created the weapon. An impressed smile spreading across his face, he tested the weight and balance of the sword by dancing around the clearing while swinging and thrusting as though fending off his demonic enemies. At the end of his test, he came to a stop before the tall man waiting for his customer's approval.
Grinning, the Fighter slid the cool metal into the empty scabbard at his hip as he complimented, "This is a magnificent piece of work. I greatly appreciate the efforts of your hand and magic in crafting it for me."
At that, the brown-robed mason bent at the waist, smirking, "My pleasure to be of assistance. A warrior like yourself should never be without a sword. Though I am sure that the one you had lost in last night's raid was a fine weapon, I made sure to see that this blade compliments your courage and strength against our foes.
The official fall of Salamand days before had ended the progression of the dark army for the time being. Restless and still hungry for revenge, the members of the White Fang worked with Firion in building an offensive strategy to cut at the demons when they least expected....
...That meant raiding the outskirts of their strength in the middle of the evening, when they were out scouting, when they were cutting down natural resources for their use. By the dozens, the rebels left to satisfy themselves in taking down what handfuls of their enemies they could.
In the broad scheme of things, what successes and casualties they delivered against Mariemaia's was not even enough to be considered a drop in the bucket to what they had still standing. But those little strikes means world for the morale of the resistance.
More fangs were brought back to be hooked to necklaces, one of which Trent words proudly around his neck on a daily basis. From the time of King Treize and Lady Une's rescue to that present afternoon, the thick black cord he adorned was threaded with enough jagged teeth of different lengths and widths that they nearly reached his collarbone.
Before long, he would join the highly regarded ranks of those who wore more than one necklace to display their prizes.
Alex and Mueller stepped into the clearing with a smile for his friend as the former greeted, "Hey. Already with a new sword, I see."
Turning to meet the other Fighters' eyes, the Romefeller native grinned back, "Yea. And I am more than pleased with it." His brow furrowing as he studied the darker-skinned Peacemillion native, he asked, "Are those... bruises, Mueller?"
His head ducking, the named soldier hissed a sharp breath through his teeth out of embarrassment that only accented the marks in the distinct shapes on either of his cheeks. "Yea," he mumbled in frustration while Alex bit his bottom lip hard to hold back the laughter that so badly wanted to come out. "I did not realize that Carrie and Danni were sisters when I had flirted with the two of them at different times. Apparently they sat down and talked over breakfast this morning."
Unable to hold in his amusement any longer, his best friend fell into hysterics. Clearing his throat and only just containing his snickers, Trent managed, "Oh? Maybe you should try to slow down on your efforts to win the affections of the young women here before you make a less than favorable name for yourself amongst them and lose your shot entirely."
Rolling his eyes, Mueller smirked, "Yea, yea, yea. You're both just jealous of the fact that I do stand a chance since I have two fang necklaces." Just to add a physical reminder of that point, he hooked a finger around both strands hanging across his chest and lifted them. "These alone earned me plenty of time and entertainment with the ladies here."
"Please," Alex huffed, "Mark my word I'll have collected more teeth than you by the end of the next raid."
The dark-hued Fighter snickered, "Well, you will need that and whatever else help you can get if you can ever hope to win Meiran's attention. How you can limit yourself to being taken by one girl when there are so many options here is beyond me." At the mention of the lovely, raven-haired rebel that had come from the Paramecia Empire, the blonde soldier's face flushed.
For a short while, the back-and-forth friendly bickering continued as Trent simply stood back and sighed to himself, his head shaking. Finally, Alex was the one to end the argument when the reason for their checking in on their brother-in-arms returned to him. Waving off Mueller, he announced to the other warrior, "Any way, we came here to tell you that any day now we should be receiving Queen Relena and her reinforcements."
Eyes widening at that, the Coneria Fighter froze in shock. "Q-Queen Relena?" he breathed. "She is coming here?" Numb, he stammered, "How... Why... When?"
So rare was it for the young man to be beside himself over the mention of a young woman's name that the Peacemillion guards exchanged amused expressions before Mueller grinned in response, "She has been part of a massive movement throughout Gaia in building our forces and has sent word to King Zechs that her division is heading straight this way since her word is spreading. Firion guesses that based off of her last known location, we should see them before the week is out if they press on as they have been."
Throat thick with the lump that had formed in it, Trent worked to control his racing heart. As the sister of his King and Queen, the personal guard had made Relena's acquaintance on more than a few occasions. And she certainly had made a lasting impression on him over the years.
Regaining his composure, he attempted to appear unaffected and shrugged, "Well, the more the merrier. The Creator knows that we can use all of the support that we can get in this fight." Before his friends could have a moment to read him any further, the soldier walked past them as he smiled, "I best go and report to Firion that I am suited to join the next strike that he arranges...."
'That way I can collect as many fangs as possible before Relena arrives,' he thought to himself.
* * * * * *
Anna sighed deeply as she burrowed herself deeper into the strong chest that she was nestled against. Her eyes closed, she inhaled the familiar, intoxicating smell of her lover. Smiling, she hummed at the soft press of lips against her forehead. Slowly blinking to reveal her deep blue irises, her grin spread further across her face as she took in her husband's loving smile.
Their nude, tangled bodies were draped under a light sheet from their waists down with a billowy set of pillows beneath their heads as they lay in a plush bed. "Why do these wonderful dreams always have to end?" the archer grinned sadly.
His own smile faltering a bit, Wufei ran a free hand through his loose hair to push it away from the sides of his face before he gently traced those same fingers along his wife's jaw line. "Try to think of these reprieves as motivation," he offered quietly. "We are coming so very close to ending this nightmare, love. Whatever happens, we should not ever risk losing faith in that now."
A small huff of a laugh bubbling from her, the redhead fought the tears that had begun to form in her eyes. "Motivation," she repeated softly. "I suppose that is a nice way to consider this." Biting her lip, she whispered, "I love you, Wufei."
"I love you as well, Anna," the Monk replied in kind. "More and more every day." Cupping the side of her face, he breathed, "And I am so damned proud of you." Their lips met in a deep kiss.
Knowing fully well that their moment was about to end, the thief clung onto her partner as tightly as she could... savored their kiss as deeply as possible. Then, when the sensation ended and her eyes opened once more, she found herself wrapped around a different, but also familiar scene of being surrounded in warm, black fur.
Slowly pulling back as Anna released her hold around the torso of the wolf that she had wrapped herself around, she smiled to the concerned onyx eyes of her lover watching her. "'Morning, love," she whispered in greeting.
Gasping when the cool nose of Chang's long muzzle brushed against her cheek to brush away a stray tear that had gone unnoticed until then, she patted his head and reassured, "Sorry. I'm okay." Satisfied with that, Wufei leaned his large head in, resting it on her shoulder so that she could wrap her arms around his neck.
When the rest of the world came to her at last, the redhead blinked in surprise in finding a clear , sunny sky over them. Pulling back, she gazed around to spot their brothers at either side of the sailboat that was considerably narrower from the time that they had taken it to the island. Scanning the warm expressions on their faces, she asked, "So... we won?"
"I should say so," Quatre winked, reaching into the pouch at his hip to reveal the shimmering blue-green gem that fir perfectly in his palm. An excited cheer bursting out, Anna closed the distance between them for a fierce hug that he gladly returned as the rest of the team snickered.
Breaking away, the archer watched along with he others as the dock for the sailing port came into view. Well aware that her lover would have used his powers to make the changed vessel that they were sailing now, she giggled, "Oh, this is going to be rich."
* * * * * *
The same burly Captain that had sold the boat to the Alliance scratched his head as he stared in confusion and disbelief at the craft tied against his dock. "How?... What?... I don't..." he sputtered, every bit as taken aback in seeing that the whole smirking crew of the ship had returned safely to port.
Shaking his head at last, the tall man laughed, "You know what, I have the feeling that I really don't want the details. It is your boat, after all. And as it is, it's a miracle that you are all back in one piece from that cursed place." He pointed a thumb over his shoulder, "I'll show you to your horses."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Moments later, the Alliance was mounted and back on the trail for the next Elemental Stone. Opening his hand to the clear compass in his hand when they were out in the open fields once more, Heero focused on the vibrant purple beam of light heading hard to the east. "So, we are all in agreement on our next target?"
Affirmatives rose from the rest of the team as Trowa's visible green eye stared out in the direction of his weapon with profound longing. The corner of his lip curling up, Yuy nodded, "Alright. Let's find Air."
TBC...
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