I don't own the GW guys. I'm poor. This story is for entertainment only.
The song lilted across the evening filling it with sorrow and pain. The words reached into the hearts of all who heard it. A funeral pyre sat just outside a green forest. A large number of people stood around it paying final homage to the body atop the pyre.
I have no more light
Warmth is a memory long gone
Hope is a dream unattainable
You were my center
The balance that kept me whole
I am less than half without you
Come back to me my love
Leave me not to die in darkness
Hold me again
Love me again
Ease my soul
Tell me again
Tell me again
Forever
As the song ended, the singer, a young woman with silver hair and lavender eyes, nodded and a man set fire to a large funeral pyre. The fire caught immediately claiming the wood and the body upon it.
"Heero!" A voice shrieked above the flames. "He's not dead. He can't be!"
Beyond the light of the flames, in the shadows of some trees, two figures struggled; one, with a long braid, trying to rush into the flames and one, with long platinum blond hair, trying to keep the other still. A third figure walked out of the shadows and laid a hand upon the smaller, longhaired form. A faint glow outlined all three figures and then silence filled the air.
Most of those in the clearing rushed to help the two men now carrying an unconscious third. The lavender-eyed woman watched everyone talk and shuffle about and finally leave. None of them had been comfortable around her anyway. Finally, she stood alone, the fire glinting off the sword she wore at her hip and her jewelry.
The figure with platinum blond hair approached her slowly as if unsure of how she would react to his presence. He stopped besides her, looking into the fire for a long time before speaking.
"Ashi, no one blames you." His voice was deep and soothing. The woman only snorted.
"Was that Treize who cast a sleep spell on Duo?" There was only polite interest in her tone; as if she already knew the answer.
"You know it was."
Again silence filled the clearing. It held no real tension. Another emotion floated on the air. Ashi's head tilted and bright eyes focused on a dark speck in the evening sky.
"How long do you have, Zechs?" Her voice was barely a whisper.
"We don't know. There's a small chance the two of us may be enough. Duo is very strong."
"You should go to him, Zechs. Now." It was a dismissal. A frown of worry creased the blond's forehead.
"What are you planning?" The man turned his head to see what she was staring at. "Is that who I think it is?"
"Yes. You should leave now, Zechs." The woman's tone held no tolerance for defiance. "My dear husband has come to kill me." She punctuated the statement by drawing her sword.
"Damn it all to Taven! I can help you. There's no need for either of you to die."
"He killed Heero knowing that you and Duo were bound to him." She hissed, finally turning to face him. "If one member of a bond dies, all others die as well. The only difference is that their deaths tend to be long and very painful. Have you forgotten the manner in which you and Duo will die? The agony? He knew what he was doing when he drove his sword through Heero's heart."
Zechs had to steady himself. Her anger washed over him and almost prevented his response.
"So your solution is to kill him and break your own bond?" The anger he felt filled his eyes, but not his voice. "Have you thought about Treize? He is the third in your bond! If you care nothing about your own suffering at least consider his."
"Why do you think he has been avoiding me? After Heero's death, I knew what must be done. I went to him and severed our tie. Since it was not with my death or Wufei's, he will survive intact."
Zechs stared. Who was this woman? When had she grown so cold? Treize had been the honor, nobility, and fighter while Wufei was the knowledge and balance, but Ashi had been the heart. Her gentle nature healing the mental wounds her lovers received from the war. Looking at her now, Zechs saw nothing of that in her.
He opened his mouth to continue their argument, but realized there was nothing he could say.
"Leave now, elf lord." Ashi whispered softly. The speck in the sky was now easily recognizable as a human with black wings.
Seeing the dark figure and the silent woman, the elf knew he needed help. Turning, he took off for the nearby city at a run. Quatre was a powerful magic user. Maybe he could force the combatants to surrender.
Hearing Zechs leave, Ashi locked her eyes on her approaching lover and wondered when things had gone so bad. Five years ago, humans had found this planet. After traveling for more than a century in space, they had finally found a planet that could support human life. Celebrations had gone on for more than a week. Then they'd discovered intelligent life. No one knew what to do. Did it mean they had to leave and continue searching?
In a move that shocked almost everyone, the inhabitants of the planet welcomed the humans with telepathic messages, but the biggest shock came from actually seeing these people. Dragons, elves, dwarves, trolls, and just about every mythical creature any legend had ever spoken of lived here. Magic ruled this land. Beauty was everywhere. The travelers were breathless with a mixture of joy, surprise, and appreciation.
A small, uninhabited continent was given to the humans and they built a grand, technology filled city named Reason. It was truly a marvel of modern science. Five men, scientists who helped build the city, were elected as the Ruling Council. They later earned the title "Lords of Science" by forbidding the use of magic within the city. If it had no scientific basis, it was outlawed. That was two years ago and the beginning of the end.
The Lords began trying to convert the entire planet to science. It did not go well. The inhabitants used magic like breathing; it was completely natural to them. Then the first bond happened and a human learned magic. The bond was between a man named Alex and an elf Lady called Noin. A man named Walker cast a small fire spell at their wedding. It seemed humans were adapting well to the planet. The natives thought this would bind humans and them closer. Instead the Lords panicked.
They tried to kill both Walker and Alex. All humans were rounded up and forcibly relocated back to Reason. Though Walker and Alex lived, many other people were hurt in the attempts. A rebellion began in the city and was brutally put down. More than one hundred people were executed for simply speaking against the Lords. Everything was happening too fast for anyone to stop.
Those who could escaped the city and found the elves, dragons, and others held no grudge and welcomed them. Ashi had been one of these luck few. The Lords of Science weren't about to allow anyone to get away, however. Proclaiming all magic to be a threat to "continued human existence," the insane men ordered attacks on all known cities belonging to "the enemy."
So it began. The Lords underestimated the strength of magic, though, and soon found themselves losing battle after battle. Then the day came when a new force appeared on the battlefield. Five young men wielding devastating weapons tore through any who stood before them. Strong magics were counteracted by some sort of shield they all carried.
Battle after battle went to the ruthless fighters, until an elf Lord known as Treize had gathered a special group of fighters and faced them. On the battlefield, Ashi recognized the killers as people she had played with as a child. Once carefree, laughing, and bright-spirited, they were now cold and empty eyed. At the time, she'd mourned more for them than for her own impending death.
No one knew what Treize planned or why he chose to take the group he did. Mueller was human, but the attempt on his friend Alex's life had left him unable to use the right side of his body. Ashi was no fighter and could hardly hold a blade. Zechs could fight and yet he already carried several wounds that needed time to heal. Treize himself was an incredible fighter, but how could anyone stand against the weapons these young men had?
If ever there had been a team less capable of defending itself, no one knew of it. The small group stood along, in the middle of a battlefield, waiting for the five fighters to show up. When they had, Treize challenged them to combat. It meant they had to leave their machines and fight without them. A face to face battle. The minute each man stepped onto the ground, Ashi knew what was going on.
Magic filled the field. Not attack magic, but healing magic. It seemed to seep from the ground, permeating the air like a perfume. Duo, Heero, and Zechs were drawn together almost against their will. The same could be said for Mueller, Trowa, and Quatre. Treize calmly waited for his two humans, Wufei and Ashi, to come to him. With power beyond anyone's understanding, each trio was bond together.
Never before had any of them felt such completeness. They were home and they all knew it. The planet itself put them together and nothing would ever pull them apart. At least, that's what they'd thought then. Later, Treize was asked how he knew what would happen. His only answer was that people needed to have faith. Things often work themselves out.
For a long time, the trios were very happy. All good things must end. Two months ago, Wufei had been captured by the Lords and changed. Treize and Ashi fully expected the young man to be killed. It would have removed two more major obstacles for the Lords of Science. The five leaders knew what happened when a bond was broken by death. Instead, the pair could feel their lover being altered. Someone broke his mind as the scientists broke his body.
Two days ago, the new Wufei made his first appearance. He had new black, metal wings. The metal seemed to absorb light and created a haze of shadow around the bearer. No one had been able to stand against him. Heero had tried. Their fight ranged all over the forest. Finally, standing in plain sight of everyone, Wufei struck Heero from behind. While the Japanese man fell to his knees, his opponent had grasped his hair, pulled him upright, and with a demonic smile, driven his sword into Heero's chest and heart.
The moment was forever engraved in Ashi's memory. It was at that second, she knew Wufei was dead; all that was left was dealing with his body. Now in the present, that body flew through the sky toward her. No matter what, only one of them would leave the clearing. If she killed Wufei, the bond would kill her. Considering the difference in their fighting skills, though, it would take a miracle to beat him. Wufei would kill her and then die because of the bond. Simple justice. The real Wufei would have appreciated that.
The Lords of Science's creation touched the earth as the evening sky turned blood red. Cold black eyes surveyed the woman before him. A twisted smile twitched at his lips.
"Well, wife," Wufei growled. "I see you have a blade. Not come to your senses yet? Shall I teach you the same lesson I taught Yuy?"
"And that would be," Ashi asked calmly. She would not be fooled by the monster's attempt to anger her. There was no going back now. A peaceful rest was only a sword's thrust away.
"No one defies the Lords of Science," her husband hissed. "This entire world needs to know that."
"Instruct away, dear husband." Ashi sneered. "We will see who learns what lesson."
By the light of the funeral pyre, two swords glinted and clashed as death hung in the air.
End Part 1
Why can't people see the beauty in differences? Why must so many seek to make things conform? We may never know, but for now these fighters must deal with the consequences of others' actions.
Phoenix
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