05 Dec 1999

Disclaimer: I don’t own the GW characters. I have no money. Really. Please don’t get upset. This story is for entertainment only. Also, this story contains M/M relationships. If this bothers you: leave! Simple, ne? If you are under 18, leave. Now please. Comments and helpful suggestions are welcome. Flames will be laughed at, used to cover the birdcage floor, etc. As my grandmother said: If you can’t say anything nice, shut up. Please enjoy.







Avatars by Phoenix



Part One



Once, long ago, when Atlantis still existed, man was in danger of being wiped out. To prevent this tragedy, the guardian spirits of the earth created a group of avatars. Each held only a fraction of the true sprits’ power, but none of them were weak. They were all more than human. Together they became a great force. This is their story.


In a cave, in the middle of nowhere, a young man waited. He had cobalt blue eyes and unruly dark hair. The orders he had been given stated that he should wait here , but where were the others? After an hour the first of his companions finally appeared. The new arrival had bangs that hid half of his face, only one emerald green eye was visible. He introduced himself as Trowa representative of the Trickster. The waiting young man proclaimed he was Heero, sent by War.

Over the next two hours five other people arrived. First was a small blonde, Quatre, representing Peace. Next came an Asian, Wufei, from Justice. Then a pair of men entered the cave. Zechs, a platinum blonde, and Treize, a ginger haired man with strange eyebrows. They were sent by Honor and Nobility respectively. The final arrival surprised everyone by being a girl. She walked into the cave like she expected fanfare and introduced herself as Relena, representative of Beauty. Once the young avatar saw Heero, however, she ignored everyone but him. Eventually, she attached herself to his arm and refused to move. The representative of War did his best to ignore her.

After half an hour of listening to the girl chatter inanely about herself, Heero was getting annoyed. A quick look around the cave revealed that the others were, for the most part, doing better than he. Trowa and Quatre seemed to have become fast friends, while Zechs and Treize had backed Wufei against a wall and were having a hushed conversation with the young man. The representative of Justice looked just a little panicked. Heero almost smiled, but soldiers don’t need to smile, so he didn’t.

"Aren’t there supposed to be more of us?" He was tired of waiting.

"Two more. Death and Love." Trowa informed him. Even as the words left his mouth, a shadow fell across the entrance of the cave. Everyone’s attention, except Relena’s, turned to the two new arrivals. One was a young man with a ridiculously long chestnut braid and violet eyes. The second was a young woman with lavender eyes and shoulder length hair so white it seemed silver. The pair was laughing at something.

"Who are you," Heero demanded. He was sick of waiting. There was a mission to be completed. Neither of these two could be Death, so maybe it was time to just get on with it. Death could catch up whenever. The thoughts of the others ran along similar lines. So it was that the avatars’ first lesson was not to judge a book by its cover.

"I’m Duo," the male announced. "I was sent by Death." Then he smiled the goofiest smile anyone had ever seen. His eyes raked over Heero’s form and twinkled. This was the representative of Death?

"I’m Ashi," the female said and laughed at Duo’s antics and the others’ expressions. "I was sent by Love."

"Impossible," Wufei sputtered. Surely Death would have created a more serious and dangerous avatar.

"He is my chosen," a voice echoed. The cave suddenly seemed to be filled with several presences. The avatars’ creators had arrived.

All that was visible of the group were their heads, which seemed to float near the ceiling. Death spoke for the others.

"You should not judge by looks children. It can lead to very dangerous mistakes."

The avatars had the sense to look abashed. Well, most of them. Duo stuck his tongue out at Heero, Ashi just smiled, and Relena glared at the creature who dared claim HER Heero made a mistake.

"We are not children," Wufei grumped.

"Of course not," Death laughed, startling everyone. "You are not even truly human. We gave you those forms so that you would be able to move among the humans with greater ease. Which brings us to the reason for your creation."

Now everyone’s attention was fixed on the specter above them. Finally, some answers.

"The dark guardians have decided to end all human life on this planet. To do that, they will need to free the Leviathan. They have created avatars like you. The dark avatars plan to release the creature.
We are not sure where the creature is bound, but Atlantis has a map to the location. You must reach the city and destroy the map."

"Why not just destroy it yourselves or created us inside the city? Why drop us a fortnight’s journey from Atlantis? Why not just destroy their avatars?" Quatre asked pointed questions. Death glared at him, but when he didn’t back down, Death sighed.

"The fate of man must always be in man’s hands. You and the other avatars are to some degree human. This allows you to be part of what determines man’s future. There are rules, which even we must follow. They will start the same distance from the city as you. It will be a race to see if good or evil rules the world."

"I think I see," Quatre began, "depending on how people treat us, we will be hindered or helped. The same will be true for them. In the end, the hearts of man will decide which group gets the map."

"Exactly. At dawn tomorrow the race will begin. You have the gifts we have given you. From this point on, we cannot aid you. Not even a little. In the morning, weapons will be left at the entrance of the cave. Good luck. And Duo.... BEHAVE!" With the last word the spirits vanished leaving the warriors alone.

"What?" Duo protested. What had he done to deserve that? Just because he was late? Love was late too. And that whole incident with the ox-cart was so not his fault. How was he supposed to know the ox would act that way? Still, Death’s order had to be obeyed. This was going to be a real pain. Then he noticed Heero giving him a speculative look. This might not be so bad after all.



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