By the Red Moon Part 57

On the last night of their stay in Aries, Duo enjoyed a dinner with the civilians of the city alongside his friends, family and their dragons. Laughing and conversing about anything and everything but the war to keep the gravity of the move to Cygnus from their minds, the lot kept their moods high for the evening.

As for the prince, he did his best to not dwell on the fact that this might be one of the last happy times that he would spend with a few of his closer connections.

While it had been a difficult decision to make, it had been agreed on that the survivors of Aries who could not defend themselves needed to be taken deeper south for their protection. Should both the Alliance's push fail and the border that Duo had created fall, at least those innocents could be far away from harm. After all that they had been through, they'd earned the right to have as many days spared to them as possible.

So came the discussion of who would be leading the exodus. In the end, there really was only one decision in that the women of royal blood and their personal guards be the ones to guide them. That meant that Queen Noin, Princess Hilde, Lady Une and Queen Sylvia would be parting ways in the morning. It was only for the best, but it was not an easy call on anyone's part.

Gathered together by the large fire pit where they ate, Duo's aunt and cousin sat close to him and Zechs to take in what time they still had in each others' presence. As the sun continued to sink lower and lower in the sky, so sank the prince's heart in knowing what the next sunrise meant for his family.

It hardly seemed fair to have to say goodbye to them after finally finding them not long ago. Whatever moments they had had were far from ever being enough. But, there was no doubt in his mind that it was the right thing to do. He would just have to hope that they would all meet again some day.

After all, they had reconnected following his years in another world. There had to be a chance that they would see this through as well.

Duo was so lost in his thoughts that he completely missed one of the little children creeping to his side until she crawled into his lap and wrapped her arms around his torso.

Blinking his violet eyes in surprise, he looked down to the freckled face of Cassie, a five-year-old who had been his shadow through much of the Alliance's stay in Aries. "Hey there, kiddo," he snickered. "You got me."

The brunette tilted her head up at him and asked quietly, "Dwo, are you all really going off to stop Dekim and the Keeper?"

Meeting the green eyes of the girl, Maxwell loosely wrapped his own arms around her and nodded, "That's the plan, Cassie. At least, we are going to do everything that we can to stop them."

A deep frown marring her angelic face, the child inquired in concern, "Are you scared?" Across the pit, her mother, Sandra, was already on her feet to collect her when the prince smiled in reassurance that he did not mind having the little one's presence or her question. The tall woman stopped half-way around the ring with a relieved grin.

Everyone gathered around the pit all looked to Duo and Cassie with a keen interest to what he had to say in response. Soldier, werewolf and citizen alike, all seemed to hold their breath in anticipation.

Glancing to each other, Wufei and Anna shared a sad expression as their hands joined to squeeze tightly before they turned to watch their friend. Relena rested her head on Quatre's shoulder as he kissed her forehead. Trowa and Catherine both bit their lips, not knowing how they would field such a question.

Heero rested his hand on the small of his lover's back to offer that silent reminder that he was there. Duo rewarded him with a warm smile. And then he found the comforting support of his family and Lady Une at his other side.

With a deep breath, the braided teenager focused back onto his little charge and told her, "Yes. But we have to do what's right. We have to make sure that you and your mother have a chance as well as everyone..." Gesturing to the trio of werewolves across from him, he concluded, "and every creature in this world." Alex and his pack beamed with pride and appreciation over the addition of the term 'creature' to the sentiment.

Smirking to Cassie, Duo stated, "What we're fighting for is more important than our being afraid of what may or may not happen to us. We can fight and there really is no other option for us but to do that. Sometimes you just have to forget about whatever you're dealing with, even fear, if it's for the better of people like you who shouldn't have to fight. Do you understand?"

In seeing the shifting emotions in the child's emerald eyes, it was evident that she did grasp what he was saying and she smiled with a bright smile. Shifting in his lap, she sat up to wrap her arms tightly around his neck.

The prince chuckled and returned the embrace as teary-eyed Sandra stepped beside him to bend down and scoop her daughter up. Straightening, the young mother mouthed a 'thank you' to the gifted youth before she walked back off to rejoin her neighbors.

Only then, when he had a chance to peer around the circle of those gathered did Duo notice several of those around wiping at their shimmering eyes.

"Very well said," Heero breathed, fighting back his own wave of emotions over the sentiments that had been spoken truly on all of their behalves. The knights nodded their heads in agreement with their sincere appreciation in their expressions.

Clearing his throat to break the silence that had fallen, the braided teenager smiled, "Well, what do we have planned for dessert?"

It proved to break the tension as everyone broke into laughter and continued to enjoy the remainder of their meal together.

*  *  *  *  *  *

Night had just begun to settle when Heero and Wing set out to make their rounds beyond the border that Duo had cast to the north of Aries.

Soaring through the shimmering veil as though it did not exist, the pair landed at the first post within a tall tree where a simple staff had been placed to provide a softly glowing light. The white steed wrapped his claws around a thick branch beside the smallest of the Sanq steeds and her rider perched atop her pointed back.

The tan-skinned knight peered over to their visitors to salute with a smirk, "Commander Yuy. Fine evening before the move, wouldn't you say? Not a cloud or demon for as far as the eyes can see." His green-and-yellow beast snorted in greeting with a smile spreading across her scaly face. Grinning back, Wing lightly brushed their sides together in a sort of friendly nudge to his 'little sister.'

Heero returned the smirk and nodded firmly to each of his friends, "Juan. Tiny." The endearing name for the smallest of the dragons was a never-ending source of amusement. Even as small as she was compared to the other steeds, the curve-horned creature was still a giant on her own. And her heart made up for her physical stature and then some.

Staring up to the star-filled skies peeking through the foliage overhead, Yuy agreed, "It is a very pleasant night, indeed. Your relief for the evening will be here within the hour, but I thought that I would go around to make sure that all was well before I turned in."

"You always were a restless one at times like these," Juan snickered as he shook his head in amusement. "The pack had confirmed that there is nothing around these parts for days yet. Only thing that I have to be worried about is not falling asleep from boredom out here." Quickly, he corrected himself, "But, I get the fact that we can never be too safe or sure, as Odin had taught us."

The Commander smiled in amusement at how the other knight had corrected himself before he had the chance to. "I will just be able to sleep better knowing that we are not letting our guard down for even a moment. Remember that we're not exactly dealing with a common army. We really have no idea exactly what Dekim has up his sleeve at any moment with the Keeper on his side."

Unable to argue with that, his fellow 'elite nine' member sighed and stared ahead again with a shiver. "You're right there," he muttered. "I would very much like to live to see the day when we will not have to deal with them again."

"I am with you there," Heero grinned sadly. Patting his friend's back, he told him, "Be sure to get plenty of rest when you do get relieved. We're going to try to make up as much time as we can over the next few days by traveling as quickly as possible."

Juan replied, "Got it." His smirk returning, he added, "You be sure to do the same, Commander. No need to keep your visits with the other lookout too long, since you're not the one on watch."

Chuckling, Yuy refrained from answering and lightly kicked Wing's hide with the back of his heels. As they climbed into the air once again, they circled above the patch of trees and headed along the edge to the next post about ten miles out, but as soon as they were about half-way to their mark, something rose of from the tree tops.

Wing instantly suspended them in place with a confused wuffle just as Heero whispered urgently, "Shh." Straining his ears, the knight-in-training frowned deeply as he looked far below them along with his steed.

That was when they heard the sound again. It was the beautiful voice of a woman singing. Though the song was not one that the Commander had ever heard, it was enthralling and it consumed him completely. Within seconds, that voice flooded his mind and his need was overwhelmed with the urge to find its source.

Blinking his cobalt eyes in surprise, he ordered, "Follow that, Wing."

A deep frown on his long muzzle, the white dragon turned his massive head back. Snorting a plume of black smoke, he wordlessly questioned the command, clearly not at all sure that it was the right move. That voice continued on with its haunting lyrics and melody until as it threatened to burn Heero from the inside out to reach it.

His eyes narrowing, the knight commanded sternly in a growl, "Take us down now or you will have to dive after me when I jump from my saddle." Taken aback, Wing let out a surprised groan. Not about to upset his rider any further than he already had, the dragon dipped his large wings to carry them on the downdraft back into the forest.

Following the ethereal singing a good distance from the nearest lookout post, the white beast brought them down to the sandy, vine-draped cove of one of the grand lakes in the area. Standing on the beach was a tall, barefooted woman with wavy, silver hair that fell past her knees. Dressed on a short and flowing pale green dress, she stared out to the water and continued to sing without pause.

In the light of the half moon that was shining through the opening around them, she seemed to glow brilliantly to only make her all the more desirable.

Captivated, Heero's eyes widened on the breathtaking sight as he unlatched the harness around his shoulders. Wing bucked and let out a shrill wail of warning, but his rider still managed to jump from his back to run for the woman while dodging the tail that had been whipped in an attempt to grab him.

Once he was only a few feet away from her, she turned to reveal her equally beautiful, oval-shaped face and cobalt eyes as she finally ended her song. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Commander," she greeted smoothly. That welcoming smile on her face warped into one of malice as she giggled, "We have been waiting for you."

For just a heartbeat, the spell that had taken Heero slipped away as he froze with a shocked gasp. His eyes narrowing heatedly, he reached for his sword, only for the woman to raise her hand and make him freeze with his hand on the hilt. Letting out a wild roar, Wing shot forward with his jaws opened wide to take their attack into his mouth whole.

Holding up her free hand, the creature sent a wave of black darts at the dragon that cut through the thin skin of his wingspan as well as his entire body until it overpowered him. Shrieking in agony, the white steed collapsed onto his side and slid across the sand. With her distraction out of the way, the woman focused her narrowed and now glowing eyes onto her true target.

"Time is wasting," she sneered before she melted into a large, black void that pulled everything near it inside. Helpless, the Commander was sucked into the darkness. The moment he vanished within the abyss, it disappeared and the world returned to normal as though nothing had happened.

Struggling to push himself up on his trembling claws, Wing dragged his sliced and bleeding body across the ground with a wail until he reached where his rider had last stood. Even through the pain, he sniffed the air and peered around frantically. His blue eyes watering when there was no sign of Heero to be found, he threw his giant head back to let out a heart-wrenching howl.

When he was able to blink again shortly after he was pulled away from the world, the Commander's eyes scanned the blackness around him as it suddenly began to glow in an array of colors that spilled into strange images at his feet, around him and over his head.

In that strange radiance, his heart stopped when he spotted the shape of a young woman only a few feet ahead of him. The curl of a smug smile tugged her lips. "Ah. Heero Yuy. So we finally have the pleasure of meeting," the girl greeted in a cool tone.

Although he had never laid eyes on the black-clad woman before, there was absolutely no question in the knight's mind who she was.

"Dorothy," he hissed through clenched teeth as he glared heatedly at her. Try as he might, he still could not will his hand to remove his blade with the remainder of his body frozen to both his panic and frustration.

Slowly stalking towards her prey so that her face was illuminated in the eerie shine surrounding them, the dark sorceress smirked, "I have been looking forward to having a personal pet of my own for a very long time. " Tilting her head, she stated, "And I want your last free thought to be wrapped around the knowledge that you are going to personally help us kill your lover."

If he had not already been locked in place at that moment, Heero would have been as his eyes widened in sheer terror for Duo when he felt the spell work its way into every corner of his mind. In an instant, every memory and belief was shredded to their core. A fire that threatened to incinerate him from the inside out flooded him to burn our every feeling and desire until there was nothing left of who he was.

His cobalt eyes glowing when the deed was done, the Commander beseeched in a blank timbre, "What do you will of me, Mistress?"

*  *  *  *  *  *

Following the pained wails deep into the forest, Juan and Tiny flew alongside their childhood comrades Daniel Shuda and Lion. His wavy blonde hair blowing in the wind along with his brown steed's mane that framed his large head, the knight-in-training peered to his friend and called over the wind, "You said that Heero was on his way to our post around the same time this horrid sound began?"

A lump forming in his throat, Hernandez peered from the corner of his brown eyes and nodded, "That's right. And you saw no sign of him when you left your station?" Shuda swallowed roughly and shook his head in response, not trusting his voice as the gravity of the situation was quickly setting in.

When they reached the opening surrounding the cove of the nearest lake, their eyes adjusted to the moonlight to spot the shimmering water beneath them along with the pale sands of the beach. Another piercing cry rose up to relieve any doubts that they had reached their mark. "Let's go, friend," Juan yelled to his steed as he removed his blade from its holster. Grunting, Tiny led the swoop downward into the gap.

Before they even touched down to the ground, the riders' eyes widened when they took in the large and prone beast on the beach. At the same time, their frantic voices cried, "Wing!" Their hands were moving before they even processed the command to them to remove the harnesses around them.

All but clawing out of their saddles, the knights-in-training rushed along with their dragons to their severely cut friend. There was so much blood covering Wing that there was little while scale to be found. His pained and anxious eyes falling on the others, he tried in vain to lift his head. Resting a hand on the end of his snout, Daniel breathed, "Dear spirits, what happened?"

Both Tiny and Lion groaned and whimpered as they desperately tried to communicate with their 'brother.' Taking a deep breath, Juan ran to the edge of the opening and shouted, "Heero! Heero, where are you?!"

Much to his dismay, there was no response as he had feared. The Commander would never have left his steed in such a state if he was near and could do anything to help him. And there was no telling what was in the dark shadows of the wood that had taken him.

Shaking his head as he ran a hand over a gaping cut along Wing's neck, Daniel shook his head when the bloodied dragon did little more than whimper. "We have to get him back to Aries and quick," he announced gravely. "He's in a bad way with all of the blood that he's lost."

As unsettling as it was to know that they were leaving without their Commander and friend, Juan agreed that they needed to take care of their scaly comrade while they could. Swallowing past his tightening throat, he nodded firmly, "Right." Quickly, he climbed back into his saddle along with his fellow rider beside him.

Carefully, Lion lowered his long neck to scoop up the front end of Wing's torso while Tiny took up the other end without complaint or hesitation. "Easy with him now," the blonde knight urged gently. "Careful to not make any of those wounds open up even more."

Heeding his words, the two steeds timed off of each other to step forward and open their wings at the same time to take to the skies. Too focused in trying to help their friend, neither of them thought of how heavy he was or how limp his frame was becoming during the length of their flight back into Aries.

Juan peered back before they crossed the border back into the city and whispered, "Hang in there, Heero... wherever you are."

Reluctant to even think of the notion, Daniel turned his head towards his fellow soldier and suggested, "As soon as we get Wing in Howard's care... we need to find Duo and tell him what has happened right away."

Biting his lip, the other rider nodded and did his best to not dwell on that difficult task until the time actually came. They were already without a Commander. They could not afford to lose their prince as well in light of the terrible news.

TBC...

 

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