As you turned to go, I heard you call my name.
You were like a bird in a cage, spreading its wings to fly.
'The old ways are lost', you sang as you flew....
And I wondered why
-Lyrics to 'Old Ways' performed by Loreena McKennitt

Elements of Great Design Part 51

Heero and Duo were the first to enter the private meeting room that Queen Iria had set aside for the Alliance following their breakfast. Both well-rested and fed, the pair entered with their hands entwined as they took in the dazzling space.

Fine, clear crystals adorned the massive chandelier to catch the flickering candle light within so that countless balls and shards of multicolored light painted every surface from the walls to the floor and visitors.

Whistling through his teeth in wide-eyed awe, the Black Mage focused on the tiny fairy perched in a tall-backed chair at the middle of the round table that had been set with six marble seats of the like. "You mystics sure know how to decorate," he complimented with a smirk, "I can't think of another kingdom where I have taken in so many beautiful things... and we have not even been in your kingdom for a whole day."

The lovely fey bowed her head as she giggled, "Why thank you, Death. Though we have a slight advantage in being able to do so thanks to our powers, my people and I do work at making our realm as captivating as possible."

It was not lost to Maxwell or to Yuy how the Queen called Maxwell by his actual entity with a kind smile and casualness where most would have cringed and avoided the name altogether. And it was touching for the both of them that such a creature would be so accepting of the favorite son of Shinigami. Both of their mouths stretched into grateful smiles as they took up two of the polished chairs at the table.

Quatre and Trowa stepped in seconds later, their own hands linked before they sat at Duo's available right hand side. Only a bit sluggish in their walk for the table, Wufei and Anna stepped through the glass doors that closed behind them. Fingers laced and the picture of contentment, they filled the seats at Heero's left to complete the circle of the Alliance.

Amused and knowing as the reunited pair's brothers were over the reason behind their slightly fatigued states, not one of them could have been any happier that the Fire and Earth Keepers were finally able to be together in their true forms where they could indulge in each other the way that they should have always been allowed. Along with that, the whole family was back together again as a more than welcomed event in and of itself.

Her seat slowly rotating so that she could take in the Keepers and their counterparts in Life and Death, Queen Iria clasped her hands together, and beamed, "The tales of how you last sat in these very seats has been passed on from my great-great-great-great-grandparents to me over the centuries. Even though our Oracles had foreseen your arrival here, it is still an overwhelming thing for me to actually be in the presence of all of you."

Leaning forward in keen interest, Trowa replied, "Yesterday you mentioned how we had visited Cleyra before. Were the circumstances around that similar to now in that it had happened at a time of war?"

"Unfortunately, yes," the fairy answered with a sad frown. "And we were punished by the absence of your company because of that meeting."

To the frowns of confusion that painted across her guests' faces, she explained, "In your time of need when you had come asking for the gifted of Cleyra to join in the last great fight between the Creator and Abaddon's own, my predecessors were proud beings as most people from my land are today. We also fear the outside world beyond our sandy walls more than most humans. These were the primary reasons behind my ancestors' decision to decline any assistance in the struggle."

Memories that trickled in at those words quickly flooded in like the river would through a gaping hole in a dam. "I remember," Wufei breathed, onyx eyes wide and skin paling in the sudden recalling that had been lost over the endless years.

That surprise instantly faded into unbridled anger from old wounds that had reopened. "We were laughed at, taunted for requesting for help beyond our own when what we were trying to get across to everyone in Gaia was that every creature needed to fight together for their existences."

Chewing on the inside of his cheek in thought, Quatre remembered aloud, "We had that same challenge wherever we went... no one wanting to work with Strangers and leaving us the duty to save them all."

Anna went on softly, "We had nearly lost against the darkness with only the six of us standing against it. And back then we were not nearly up against the odds of what Abaddon has managed to bring into the world this time."

Iria lowered her head in another respectful bow as she said, "You had ever right to punish us by staying away until the time of need for our assistance came around again. Your actions made your message clear that we are every bit as responsible for the safety of Gaia as you."

With her back straightening, she vowed solemnly, "You have my word as Queen of Cleyra that every gifted under my rule will stand against Mariemaia and her army. Many have already gone to the north to offer their aid to the Fighters and rebels that have been gathered to head off our enemies."

Blinking in surprise, Heero repeated, "Fighters and rebels? You mean that not everyone has fled for their own safety?"

As she caused a soft flutter of her transparent wings that glistened in the light that they captured, the fairy smiled, "Whether the humans are aware of it or not, your influence following the past great war has had its impact on them as well. For the first time in our world's history, Strangers are fighting alongside Strangers in an incredible scale."

Stunned, the Alliance members exchanged glances before Duo commented, "Howard had hinted that there was an offensive building against the forces in the north... but I never imagined that people of different kingdoms were actually uniting. I only imagined that he meant the residents of lands under immediate attack were defending what was theirs and leaving their neighbors to fend for themselves."

That was exactly what the rest of his family had assumed as well. And they'd had every reason to believe so, given the history of the souls that they had been counted on to protect since the creation of the world.

Grinning widely, Iria shook her head, "The kind Elder had purposely kept you in the dark to just how massive the resistance is growing so that you could focus on your quest for the Elemental Stones at the time. But now that you are halfway through that mission, it is safe to tell you of the incredible events that are transpiring. Even as we speak, there are armies from kingdoms far from immediate danger that are traveling north to reinforce the White Fang, as the rebels have named themselves."

"We came across many realms that had been completely abandoned during our travels," Quatre all but whispered, eyes brightening in renewed hope over what he was learning. "To think that there are any number of people from those lands that are actually moving towards the darkness rather than fend for themselves..."

The fairy Queen nodded, "I was shown the places you have visited. Nearly all of them have soldiers represented in the fray with most of which are due to reach the encampments within the next few days. In the meantime, the Elders have already arrived along with their descendants to be yet another line of defense and offense against Mariemaia. And once you leave here for your quest again tomorrow, those of us without younglings to protect will be leaving Cleyra to add our own hand."

She gestured to the glass doors, continuing, "Those that stayed here up to now only did so to be able to lay their eyes on you. Ever since my announcement of your arrival, there has been quite the stir. Many wanted to see for themselves that you were on the move before committing themselves to the fight. Now that it has been proven beyond doubt that the Alliance is once again banded together to defend us, we will have a powerful unit of our own to send into the fray."

A relieved smile tugged Heero's lips as he said softly, "We very well could win this war. Even with the Elemental Stones, I'd had my concerns, but with so many uniting on our front... Gaia just might stand a chance."

"It is most promising," Iria agreed. Folding her hands together in her lap, she commented, "But time is no longer on our sides as there has been a great push from our enemies that have nearly tripled the expanse of their control."

Grunting, Trowa muttered in a low growl, "We have noticed the considerable spread of the darkness that had consumed the skies over the last few days. And with there being no signs of Mariemaia slowing down, it would not be right for us to stay here beyond our intended time of leave at first light tomorrow. Were it not for our horses needing the time to rest, we would have been off sooner than that."

Despite her own wish to have their company more, the Queen responded, "Then there is no point in your being sealed off in this room. May you enjoy the rest of your stay in my homeland and the sights that it has to offer while you are still here. This evening, I have a special celebration feast planned for your return where those who are still here may be able to meet and speak with you before we all go our separate ways into whatever plan the Creator may have for us."

Raising an eyebrow to the Monk and the thief, the fey smirked, "I especially imagine that the both of you would like to continue to take as much of this time together alone as possible."

Their cheeks burning, the couple snickered as their heads ducked and eyes met. Clearing his throat, Wufei took hold of his wife's hand beneath the table as nodded to the Queen, "Yes, that would be most appreciated." Anna nodded vehemently to the quiet snickers of their 'brothers'.

"Very well, then," Iria smiled sweetly. "I thank you all for the honor of speaking with me." Exchanging their own words of gratitude, the Alliance rose to their feet and filtered out of the room until only Heero and Duo lingered behind at the end of the pack.

Squeezing his lover's hand when he came to a sudden stop short of the doorway, the Fighter waited for violet eyes to settle on him in a silent question. "I would like a chance to speak to the Queen alone if you wouldn't mind waiting for me to catch up to you," Yuy requested.

Maxwell gave a reassuring grin that had a spark of understanding flash in his haunting eyes. Lightly kissing his partner's cheek, he all but whispered by the soldier's ear, "I hope she can answer your questions." Heero chuckled deeply. Of course his soul mate would know what was troubling him. There was no other being to exist who understood Life better than Death.

With a mouthed, 'Thank you,' Yuy returned the kiss in kind and reluctantly released the hand in his own. A wink and a wave from his parting lover provided the encouragement that the soldier needed to draw a deep breath and turn back towards the table where Queen Iria stood before her tiny seat.

Her head tilting, the fey asked, "Is there something that I can help you with, Life?"

There was little doubt behind her wanting to be of assistance in any way, nor her contained excitement over having the opportunity to speak with one of the Alliance one-on-one. But then, there was also a hint of concern in her voice... perhaps one born out of the chance that she may be of no help at all. "You seem troubled," she added, a small frown marring her face to confirm her anxiety over what part she might play.

Heero nodded, "There has been a lot on my mind since learning my true identity." Returning to his chair, he sighed, "And there have not been many answers along the way... or people who might be able to shed any light on what I think I should already know about myself, namely..."

A saddened frown etched its way across his lips as he shrugged, "What am I? Everyone else in my family has such clear understandings of what they can do and I do not have the first idea of anything I am capable of."

Taking on his pain, Queen Iria's wings drooped along with her shoulders. "Oh, Life," she whispered, shaking her head. Quickly regaining her smile, she flew up to hover just before the Fighter's face so that their eyes could meet on the same level.

"You are the most important member of the Alliance," she began. "Without Life, there would be no Death. Every bit of balance that there is to Gaia's existence hinges on you. Perhaps it may not be widely known what exact powers you wield, but there is no question to the importance of your being in this world."

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

At that same time...

The remainder of the Alliance descended the winding staircase that wrapped the tall tree upon which the palace stood. Coming to a flat platform filled with residences, markets and streets that was so large that it was as if they had reached the ground when they were still many miles high in the sky, they slipped fell into the activity around that had come to all but a complete halt at their arrival.

"Well, this part of our stay is still a little hard to adjust to," Quatre mumbled through his teeth that had clenched in a tight smile as he waved to their audience. "I still consider myself no more than a White Mage from Onrac. It is almost unsettling to be drawing this much attention." Trowa grunted in agreement at his lover's side while never pausing in their passage through the streets that were clearing in their wake.

A Cheshire grin tugged Wufei's lips as his dark eyes settled on Anna beside him with a glint of need in them.

Quickly stepping behind the redhead, he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her fast. Lightly nibbling on her ear to the delightful tune of a surprised gasp from her, his voice suggested in a low and sultry purr, "You and I could take this as an opportunity to fulfill one aspect of our urges, Firefly."

Blue eyes widening, the thief froze. "Here?" she managed, cheeks flushing. Slowly turning her head to meet the suggestive gaze on her, she practically squeaked, "Granted I am not normally shy, but in front of all of these people?"

Chuckling deeply, Chang smirked, "I told you that it has always been a fantasy of mine to be an exhibitionist." He gestured to the dozens upon dozens of eyes on them, commenting, "No time like the present with so many around to watch."

Hard-pressed to contain her own excitement over the suggestion, Anna reached back to run a finger along her partner's jaw-line as she murmured, "Are you sure? You know once I get started it is near impossible for me to stop until I have completely worn you out." Humming an affirmative, the Monk responded with a firm nod.

Duo, Trowa and Quatre had paused to blink their enlarged eyes that had fallen on the pair. Mortified at what he was hearing, the Black Mage sputtered, "H-hey, you two... I know that we don't keep a lot between us, and I'm thrilled that you have the chance to be together like this... but I really don't think that now's the time or place-"

"No point in trying to protect Wufei now," Fire smirked to her braided brother. Breaking from her husband's hold, she put a fair amount of distance between them in a blinding sprint before she spun around to face Chang. In her hands, a link of flames cut out into the shape of a thick chain appeared.

Though her eyes remained fixed on her lover, her words were for the braided gifted when she smiled wickedly, "I gave him every chance to avoid this public humiliation." Whirling the end of the chain at her side, she warned, "I suggest that the rest of you boys stand back."

Chang held his arms out before himself to call upon a blade and a tall shield both made out of dark stone that filled either of his hands. 'She's right," he smirked, his own focus fixed intently on his challenger while he set into a deep lurch of a defensive stance. "No point in getting yourselves hurt by being in the way."

Instantly realizing what was about to transpire, Maxwell did as requested with Barton and Winner right behind. What they had confused as being a suggestion for a romantic coupling between the pair was something nearly as intimate, but something else entirely...

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

For as much as that answered, even more questions spun through Yuy's mind. Iria lowered her head a bit as she said apologetically, "I wish that there was something documented to explain what specific powers or gifts are at your disposal."

Pulling another deep breath, she stated, "However, I believe that there is a reason to the lack of such information. I truly believe you to be the strongest of the whole Alliance... and somewhere deep inside of you is the knowledge of the right way and time to wield that power."

In many ways, Howard had suggested much the same to the Fighter. Perhaps it did not answer anything, but he had to have every bit as much faith as the old man and the fey. The Creator worked in mysterious ways. Even in this, He must have had a plan. And that would be enough for Life until everything became perfectly clear.

Her frown returning, the fairy Queen rubbed her hands together as she all but whispered, "I do wish that I could have helped you more."

Opening the palm of his lifted right hand so that his hostess could come to land in the center of it, Heero smiled in reassurance, "Actually, you have been of more assistance than you realize. Thank you."

Beyond the meeting room, a clamor of commotion steadily built up into a notable flurry of activity that had them spinning towards the glass doors at the same time that they flew open. One of the tall guards that had been standing watch into the hallway charged in, armor crunching as he moved. "Earth and Fire are sparring!" he exclaimed before he rushed back out of the room.

Their eyes growing wide, Heero and Queen Iria were stiff with surprise for only a heartbeat before they took to foot and wing in the next second to charge out into the hallway. All around, those that had been going about their lives were interrupted in kind with the same exclaimed announcements from guard and civilian alike.

Literally dropping everything and flowing from the palace in a controlled rush there seemed to be a clear way to go in a descent down the stairs until the hoard thinned out along the streets of the first entirely flattened level of the great tree.

A roar from the rapidly growing masses led the Fighter and the fey to where the action was taking place. Lost in the excitement as they were, the citizens of Cleyra still moved aside to allow their Queen and honored guest to pass to the front of the line. There, Yuy found his lover and hurried to his side while Iria perched on his shoulder.

There were no words exchanged, hardly glances passed between Life and Death before their awed expressions remained set on the warriors in the center of the 'ring'. For a long time, the members of the Alliance had longed to watch Earth and Fire engaged in a skirmish. There had been no opportunity in the past to see the soul mates in action, to take in their especially honed skills.

What they witnessed was nothing short of spectacular.

For every twist and turn that Anna made, turning her flames to take the shapes of spinning stars to arrows to the head of a dragon, Wufei had an answer that was returned in an array of dense granite walls, sailing daggers and a massive lion that canceled out the attacks.

Powers were not enough for the pair to put into play. Between those assaults, so was there a dizzying dance of hand-to-hand combat. Swift, bruising blows were delivered and deflected in a mind-whirling display that left the captive audience mesmerized at how two beings could move so gracefully, so swiftly.

Sweat running down their faces as they continued their fight, there was a true sense of much needed release for the Monk and the thief in the moment. As intensely as they went after each other, it was only hours before that they had been lost in the throes of passionate lovemaking. They attacked each other like wild animals with abandon.

Frightening at times and beautiful in the next, the spar gave a level of hope for the people of Cleyra in giving them a clear picture of what their protectors were capable of. And to have it take place in their homeland after years of being all but forgotten by the Keepers, it was something beyond anything they could have hoped to witness.

Such was the reason for the tears in many of the eyes watching... for the profound sense of honor that radiated from the crowd.

How long the skirmish lasted no one knew, but the sun had moved quite a bit in the skies by the time Anna shot forth in a ball of fire to knock into Wufei when he came at her head on in a surge of stone. Their abilities slipping, another series of kicks and punches were made before they shifted to creating swords born out of their elements.

In one final blow that had their weapons tied up and pressed against each other's necks, the challengers panted heavily as their glares faded. Winded laughter escaping them, their blades faded at the same time that Chang leaned forward to kiss the end of his wife's nose. "Alright," he conceded, "it is a draw once again."

The crowd erupted in deafening cheers and applause as the elated thief threw herself forward to wrap her arms around the Monk's neck in a fierce embrace.

From the darkness, that glimmer of hope continued to burn bright for those clinging to the chance that Gaia may yet be saved. And so even the most bleak of resolves was solidified in taking their place in the war.

TBC...

 

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