By the Red Moon Part 13
"Wow."
That was the only thing that Duo could breath as he stared in shock as Wing led his team to the end of the desert.
Instead of a transition from the stretch of sand into patches of grass that would spread into a meadow or forest, it ended abruptly before a land of ice and snow. Even the sky changed from clear overhead to overcast.
From where he sat atop the white dragon, the braided prince could see falling flakes of snow drifting on the wind just a few yards ahead. His violet eyes wide, he hurried to pull on his hooded mantle made of gray wolf fur and covered his head with the hood bearing the tall ears of what had become a meal for Wing.
Only an hour ago, Duo had laughed at Wufei and Anna when they handed the cloak over to him and said that he would need it. At the time, all that he could see was desert and he had never heard of such an abrupt change in climate that he would be cold enough to want such a thick and heavy cover.
Now, he understood the smirks on their faces when they had insisted.
Looking back and around to the other riders, part of the diets of their steeds was made known by what animal skins they were wearing.
Wufei was shielded in the dark brown hair of a bison. Anna bore the orange-and-white cloak of a fox. Trowa had on a shroud from a golden lion complete with much of the mane framing his hood. Sand Rock clearly enjoyed large felines as Quatre had on the stripes of a tiger and Relena a spotted leopard skin.
Reaching down for his pack beside the saddle, Heero removed his own hooded shroud of black fur. As he slipped it over his shoulders and covered his head, it was evident to Duo behind him them the thick material had belonged to a massive bear.
Silently, the prince became thankful that the dragons would go off to do their hunting far from him or any of their riders. For them to be able to take out any one of those animals to make them a meal reminded him of how threatening the steeds actually were when they were not looking for affection or playing.
They penetrated into the new climate and it was a brief shock to Duo's system to feel such a sudden drop in the temperature as the snow-flaked wind blew past. Fortunately, the wolf cloak around him did a more than effective job of keeping him warm.
Peering over his shoulder, Heero asked, "Handling the change?"
"Yea," the prince replied. "I just wasn't exactly expecting this. Such drastic changes in the weather didn't exist where I came from."
Just then, another sharp gust from the right pushed him in the saddle.
Gasping sharply as panic hit, he reached out in instinct to wrap his arms tightly around the Captain's waist to keep himself steady against the feel of falling over. The moment he latched onto him, Heero looked back with his own eyes wide in surprise.
His mouth falling open when their gazes met, Duo stammered, "S-sorry." That jolt of fear over slipping just an inch had not even put a strain on the harnesses that would have stopped him from falling from the saddle. Of course, right at the moment, any and all reason had gone right out the window.
A sheepish smile tugging his lips, he shrugged, "Guess I'm still not completely used to flying yet." Once again feeling secure in his seat, he began to loosen his hold around the knight to pull his arms back.
"It's okay," Heero reassured with their eyes still locked. "The winds are picking up a bit," he stated. "If you'll feel better hanging on, I understand." He looked forward again, completely missing the stunned expression on the braided teenager's face.
His violet eyes blinking a couple of times, Duo grinned and called over the frozen swell, "Thanks!" Carefully reaching back out again, he held onto the Captain's sides loose enough to keep it from being uncomfortable and tight enough that he did not have to worry about the gusting air.
Turning his head back to see the others following closely behind and to their sides, Maxwell commented, "The cold doesn't seem to be affecting the dragons at all."
Slowly peering back at him, Heero replied, "It wouldn't. Dragons can adjust to any temperature and any condition because of how they can shift from warm to cold-blooded in seconds. That is yet another reason to why knights prefer them to any other creature to ride."
Well, they certainly were remarkable creatures, the prince thought to himself. Fearful as he was of heights still, he did enjoy the sensation of flying.
They went on to continue their flight in a companionable silence. Smiling to himself, now that he had an anchor to make him feel more comfortable, Duo rested the side of his head into the thick fur covering Heero's back and closed his eyes for a moment.
Unbeknownst to him, or anyone on his team, there was another pair of eyes on him that stayed hidden behind the dark swirl of clouds above. And they were closing in.
* * * * * *
After what only seemed like minutes later, the prince was stirred awake by the gentle jolt of Wing landing. Sitting up in an instant, his eyes snapped open and blinked to see his friends also coming in as he searched their surroundings.
Instead of finding a blustery world of winter, he was taken aback at the sight of a large meadow sprawling with green hills, flowers and patches of trees. Overhead in the clear and sunny sky, birds chirped and flew while butterflies three times the size of those back in the world he had known hopped from one bud to the next.
Miles behind it all, Duo spotted the snowy, mountainous lands in the distance. "Unbelievable," he whispered. Gazing forward again, he found the knight that he had been holding onto staring back at him with an amused smirk.
Quickly pulling himself and his arms back as though burned, the braided youth chuckled in embarrassment, "Guess I dozed off there. How long have I been out?"
"A few hours," Heero shrugged. "We have made good time and will be arriving at Virgo soon." Unhooking himself from his harness, he jumped from the saddle and removed his mantel as the other riders did the same.
Happy to have a break to stretch his legs and relieve himself, Duo followed suit. When his wolf shroud was off, he sighed in content at the perfect spring-like temperature in the air as a much needed break following his time in the blistery hot desert as well as the frigid land of ice and snow.
Staying close, the team broke off to take care of their needs before gathering together to share water, bread, fruits and other items to satisfy their stomachs.
Gathered together in a ring as the dragons disappeared for their own food, the band of travelers began to go over their plan for when they reached Virgo.
"Now, Duo," Quatre began, "I am not sure how comfortable you would feel speaking to Lady Une, but I could guide you with my ability to what to say and how to act to make her appreciate that you are the prince of Sanq. Having worked and socialized with many kings and queens in my days, I would be able to set the course for you."
Beside him, Relena nodded, "I've also brought along attire that is much more fitting for a royal to wear in place of the more common tunic and pants that you have on now. If you are going to be presenting yourself as a prince, you would need to look like one as well."
Caught off guard, Duo swallowed his mouthful of food and raised his hands in the air. "Hey, hold up," he frowned. "First off, I don't like the idea of having my mind manipulated or having to change into some person that I'm not comfortable with. What happened to my not really needing to say much at all, but just being in Virgo for the Queen to see?"
Trowa chewed on the inside of his cheek and sighed, "The truth of the matter is that we need to be prepared in case seeing is not enough. It is too important for us to gain all of the allies that we can to not do everything in our power to convince them to join the cause."
Shaking his head, the prince leveled his gaze on the empath across from him. "Quat, now I like you a lot, man, but I refuse to have you tamper with my head for this," he warned. "I know that you don't want Queen Une pissed off at you for trying that, so I would appreciate the same respect. The second that I do or say something that I was not planning on, I walk out on all of this."
Quatre swallowed roughly, eyes widened, and nodded firmly. Everyone else around sat stiffly in attention at the sudden change in demeanor in their braided friend. And they were not exactly sure if they liked it, considering what he might be risking in his decisions.
"I understand that you all think that my looking and acting like this prince that I'm supposed to be will help with this meeting," Duo sighed. "But I can't keep up being someone that I'm not right now. I can't lie like that. So, if I do have to talk with this Queen personally, then I would rather I speak as myself. And I'm pretty sure that she'd want that, too, instead of talking to someone's who's not real."
A long silence fell on the group as they allowed that declaration to sink in.
Finally, Anna was the first to speak up as she said, "I agree with that."
All eyes around fell on the archer and she met them as she turned her head around and shrugged, "No trust can be gained any other way, but by his being completely honest."
To her right, Wufei announced, "I concur." Heero was the next to agree by giving a firm nod. Hesitant as they were at first to admit the flaw in their original thinking, Quatre, Trowa and Relena all soon bowed their own heads in acceptance.
Comforted by the fact that he did not have to argue the matter further, Duo gave them all a sad smile and a sincere, "Thanks. So, we'll just hope that I won't have to do or say too much. Otherwise, all I can promise is to do the best convincing job that I can."
Almost looking ill, the empath bit his lip and addressed the prince, "I am very sorry if I had insulted you with that I had offered. I truly meant no offense."
Smiling, the braided teenager responded sincerely, "I know that, Quatre. No offense taken. It's no secret that I'm inexperienced in leading and I know you were only trying to help me with your idea." His blonde friend's tense shoulders quickly eased as relief washed over his face along with a wide grin.
The pressure of his responsibility threatening to overwhelm him again, Duo thought out loud, "It would be nice if I could just have some... endorsement... something that would have the Queen really listen to me if I do need to speak with her."
Lightly patting his shoulder, Anna smirked, "Well, I would have to say that you did fine in making one of your first official decrees without realizing it. Keep that up and you'll be a natural at leading."
"Really?" the asked as he turned to the couple sitting at his left.
Wufei chuckled, "It is certainly a step in the right direction to what we are looking for. And you know that we will be patient for however long it takes you to get there."
If anything, Duo was more than happy with that.
* * * * * *
Once the dragons had returned following their own meals, Heero and Duo had gone off to replenish the team's water supply. Finding a patch of trees lining a clear stream a little over a mile away from the others, they set to remove the canteens that were strapped over their shoulders.
Lowering two opened canteens into the cool water, the prince turned to the knight and asked, "So, in your honest opinion, do you think that I am doing the right thing, or did you just agree with me because of my status?"
Heero closed the two filled canteens in his hands to give him his full attention while sitting atop a pile of flat rocks beneath him.
Before he could speak, Duo rushed to tell him, "Because, I want you to know that you can always be honest with me, even if it may be to tell me I may be in the wrong." Closing the canteens that he had filled, he sat in front of his friend and frowned deeply, "I just need to know that I'm not jumping into something that I'm not ready for."
With a small smirk tugging the corner of his mouth, the Captain replied, "A bit of advice that I can give you..." His violet eyes widening at the unexpected offering, the prince nodded his braided head enthusiastically.
Leaning forward, Heero draped his arms over his crossed legs and stated, "Do not ever question yourself if you believe strongly in something. Most leaders make their decisions based off of their feelings and not necessarily on how much they know. You felt strongly against being anything but yourself to Queen Une and so that is the right thing."
Slowly straightening himself, he concluded, "And I am not questioning you because you are the prince of my homeland. I agreed with your wishes because I also believe that the last thing you should do is put on airs for anyone, whether they are royalty or not."
Dry-washing his face with his hands, Duo sighed in relief. When he lowered his arms again, he smiled and replied quietly, "Thanks. I shouldn't have needed to hear that and just trusted my gut. From now on, I'll try to not second guess myself." At the sight of the pleased grin on the Captain's face, he actually felt his heart pick up its pace for a few beats.
Tilting his braided head, he asked, "So... do you think that our chances are good at getting Lady Une to support us, then?"
Almost hesitantly, Heero lowered his head and admitted, "That I cannot say with certainty. A lot of the leaders are scared-"
"Duo! Heero! Get down now!" Wufei's voice suddenly shouted from high above the trees around them.
Taken aback, the prince stammered, "What-?!" That was as far as he managed when he heard the terrifying growl that made the ground rumble with it just beyond the trees. Not needing another moment to think the situation through, the Captain lunged forward to knock his charge back onto the ground and shielded him with his own body.
With another gasp, Duo was stunned as he looked past a shoulder to see a wave of flames shoot out and roar just above them for several seconds that felt like an eternity. When the fire faded off, Heero sprang to his feet and removed his sword with a fierce glare, turning on the new opening in the trees where little tongues of red and gold were nibbling at the branches and limbs that made up the edges.
Violet eyes wide as he stared at the hole in disbelief, the prince shuddered when several loud, deep roars filled the air along with the clanging of metal against something hard. Blinking, he breathed, "W-what the hell is it?" The knight was already running through the gaping opening to have heard the question.
Against his better judgment, Duo scrambled to his feet and ran after him, right into whatever had caused the damage around them. When he ran back into the meadow, he came to an abrupt halt as his jaw hung open at the sight that awaited him.
Hovering around in the air was a massive, black dragon with a dark purple-streaked lower half. Easily larger than any of the other steeds that Maxwell had come to know by a several feet, the threatening beast looked out and around with completely white eyes and two black horns that branched out almost like lightning bolts at either side of its head. [1]
Swooping down from high about the monster were Nataku and Wufei. In their downward pass alongside their attacker, the swordsman slashed at the hide of black scales, only to have his blade bounce back without leaving so much as a scratch.
As his steed attempted to claw with her long talons, she was knocked hard in her chest and fell back with a pained cry that screeched out. As she and her rider fell from the skies, she just managed to pull them up before they hit the ground.
Right behind in the next attempt to take the striker out, Trowa up-swooped with Heavy Arms only to share the same fate when the red-and-gold was batted down by a back claw lunging out to catch them.
Ingier and Sand Rock were next to take a shot at the black one, opting to go in as a team while Anna climbed into a high tree to fire several arrows at the beast as it soared and weaved past her as though taunting. Though she hit every time, the weapons were rendered useless as they broke and fell away against the thick skin.
Whirling around unfazed, the creature let out a piercing shriek and struck both of the incoming attackers with its tail.
As they fell away, the long neck of the black dragon craned back and its jaw opened to unleash another stream of fire that shot like a beam for the archer. Her eyes narrowed, Anna leapt into a free-fall to narrowly escape the same fate of the tree tops that disintegrated from the flames. Swooping in fast, Ingier caught his rider before she fell more than a few dozen feet.
Heero whistled to get Wing's attention as the white dragon was slammed from behind by his black attacker. Making a quick turn, his steed hurried to collect him. Without wasting a moment as the knight leapt into his saddle, they were stretching up to the skies together.
Relena and Quatre panted heavily as they ran up to Duo in the opening that had been scorched out. "We, we did not know... if we would make it to you in time," the seer struggled to say when she and her husband came to a stop by their friend.
Lightly pushing the prince further back into the cover that remained, Quatre caught his breath and informed, "I do not know why or how long she has been following us, but we saw her approaching from the last land we crossed through. Wufei and Anna felt sure that she was looking for you, and so they did the best they could to keep her away."
Shaking his head, the empath explained, "Black dragons are not ones to be tamed. And when their sight's on a target, they are nearly impossible to stop until they... eliminate it. Their skin is impenetrable along with their minds, so I cannot try to influence her with my gift. Because she was going for you, I fear that she may have been sent by Dekim."
A chill ran up Duo's spine at the thought of being such a nasty creature's target.
The battle in the meadow continued with no signs of the black dragon tiring as the others were showing signs of fatigue while the air was filled with fire from both her and the steeds that were trying to fend her off. Watching his friends and their steeds give everything they had into the struggle, he watched as the creature looked only to stop them when she could have easily killed them all.
It was that very thing that struck the prince. Something was not right with the initial fear that the creature meant harm.
Heero's earlier words about not second guessing his strong beliefs or feelings ran through Duo's mind. It was that advice that had him straightening his back, holding his head up and taking a deep breath.
Even if he was wrong in this, he was not about to stand back and allow his friends to be harmed on his behalf. Pushing back every fighting nerve telling him to stay, he swallowed roughly and stepped out into the open as Quatre and Relena gasped with wide eyes, calling his name as they ran after him.
Raising his arms overhead while he looked up to the battle, the braided teenager called to the black beast in the middle of it all, "Hey! If it's really me you're after, I'm right here!" he shouted over the roars, hisses and screeched cries that came to a sudden stop as every eye in the skies looked down at him.
His skin paling, Heero stood in his saddle as his raised arm bearing his sword lowered. Cobalt eyes wide, he yelled, "Duo! Get away from here!"
But in that instant, the black dragon was already gracefully and quickly descending until she stood before the prince. His own eyes widening, Duo slowly raised his head until he was looking into the white eyes that were staring back at him at the top of a long neck that formed the shape of a huge 'S'.
"OhmyGodohmyGodohmyGodohmyGod," the teenager whispered over and over under his breath while a bead of sweat rolled from his brow. Suddenly, that gut feeling he had a moment ago was completely forgotten when his feet locked him in place. A plume of black smoke snorted from her nostrils.
Already back and ready to strike, the knights and scout were hovering around the beast with their own dragons growling deeply and their weapons homed in on her. At the top of the group. Heero looked about ready to leap from Wing to take a shot at the head.
Then... after a very long and tense few seconds, the white bulbs of the black dragon's eyes blinked and dark green irises appeared.
Seemingly melting, she sank to lie completely flat on the grass, neck, tail and all with the end of her snout inches from the stricken prince. Quietly purring, a tiny smile curled the ends of the beast's lips and her tail wagged sluggishly along the ground.
Completely caught off guard by the sight, the guards around her looked on in wonder and disbelief as their tense arms began to slacken. Behind their braided friend, Quatre and Relena shared a dumbfounded look.
Finally able to find his voice but unable to look away from the green eyes trained on him, Duo asked, "Okay, anyone want to tell me what the hell is going on?"
Lowering her hooked bow and arrow, Anna giggled, "I believe that you just found that endorsement you were looking for."
TBC...
Back to SkyLark's Fanfictions Page