The city was doomed. Already the invaders had taken the first half of the city and now the refugees were being hustled towards the castle and the only way out. The dungeon had a special secret passage that let out about seven miles from the city. If they could get everyone into the passage and seal it before the enemy found them, they could escape. Of course with the standing army massacred that particular hope looked very dim.
Prince Quatre, busy overseeing the evacuation, watched in horror as the last of the refugees turned the corner pursued by a legion of enemy soldiers. At the back of the group a young mother tired to run while carrying two babies and dragging a sobbing five year old behind her; even as the Prince watched, her grip on the child loosened and the child fell in the path of the invaders.
Quatre raced for the child reaching him moments before the soldiers. Seeing a sword descending, the blond royal wrapped his body around the child and waited for the blow; it didn’t come. Looking up, Prince Quatre saw a welcome sight.
A young pair of warriors stood between him and the would-be killers. The male had a long chestnut braid and violet eyes while the woman had a one of silver hair and lavender eyes. The two were his oldest friends and his bodyguards. In seconds they killed the first five soldiers leading the group and then half turned toward the blond as the remaining men fell back.
"You know, Quatre, if you intend to get yourself killed, you could at least let us die first." the male quipped.
"Yeah," the female joined in. "We’re the ones your father would take it out on, after all."
"Duo. Ashi." Quatre breathed a sigh of relief. "The evacuation is almost complete, but the enemy is moving too fast. There’s no way we can seal the passage before they find it."
"Leave it us, Your Majesty." Duo said.
"Get going, Quatre," Ashi ordered as she helped the smaller man up. He looked at them with his thoughts painted all over his face. "We’ll just keep them busy and then meet you at the regular place. Deal?"
Smiling, Quatre agreed and took the child to the castle.
Duo and his sister turned back to enemy. They began to advance again. While the pair had been talking, several more units had joined those already under attack; now they felt sure enough to face the deadly team.
With a sardonic smile, Duo spoke. "Who wants to meet death first?"
The twin fighters could read the thoughts of the men by their faces and the confidence of their stride. The invaders thought they couldn’t lose; nothing could be further from the truth. The street everyone stood in was deliberately narrow with large, thick, strong buildings lining the street. It was a well thought out street. The buildings could not be easily torn down or burnt and it was the only road to the Palace. Two skilled fighters could hold a small army here, buying valuable time for their allies. Duo and Ashi intended to do just that.
As the enemy soldiers closed in, Duo and his sister went into action. Duo was a master of the Double Blade fighting techniques. He had a sword that could separate into two when he needed and he used both with deadly accuracy. The blades themselves seemed to be made of darkness, absorbing all light around them and cutting through everything. No armor could protect those who stood against him; no blade could stay his blow. Where Duo walked, death danced by his side.
Ashi used a glaive that glowed with an inner fire. Light danced around it, blinding her opponents even as she cut through their defenses and armor to end their lives. Using the staff, the young warrior had a good six-foot killing zone around her. None could get close enough to land a blow on her and those who tried, died quickly. Several archers tried to take the fighter down, but both youngsters had many daggers hidden on them and the archers soon learned to hid or find one of the daggers in their throats. In addition, if any did get close enough to strike, they made the mistake of trying to grab the target's braid only to find it full of thousands of needles. The soldiers would pull away in agony to find themselves skewered by a blade.
This is how time passed on that street. The pair wove a dance of death for their enemies. Quick and silent, they killed again and again until the streets became slippery with blood and soldiers had to carry the dead away just so they could have room to fight. As the sun began to set, painting the sky the same color as the street, Duo and Ashi paused to survey the enemy.
They retreated to the end of the street and looked back. Bodies lay in various poses; more than a hundred men had lost their lives in the fighting and the twins felt their stomachs turn. Though they were excellent killers, it was not what they enjoyed. The soldiers made no move to bring the fight to them.
"You think they’re waiting for something?" Duo got out between pants. He was completely exhausted. There was barely enough energy left to lift his blades.
"Yes," Ashi said. The woman was also breathing hard and leaning on her weapon. "It might be a good idea to go now. His Majesty, Quatre, and the citizens have surely reached safety."
Duo started to gather his energy for the final rush out of the city when the soldiers suddenly parted. The action was not slow or hesitant; rather the men parted like water, smooth and in unison. Two people walked between the lines of men. A man and a woman approached the tired and bloody fighters, stopping more than fifty feet from them.
The man had waist length platinum blond hair and carried himself with an air of authority and strength. The woman had dark hair with a very strange bang that seemed to grow outward instead of down; she stood slightly behind the man, as if giving him leadership. Both wore swords at their sides and the way they moved told Duo and Ashi it wasn’t for show.
"It would seem you two have caused us a great deal of trouble," the man spoke. His voice was deep and serious. "However, considering how long you have been fighting, I think you have very little strength left."
"Shall we see?" Ashi called to him. The challenge was entirely bravado, fooling no one.
He and the woman slowly drew their blades. For several moments, all they did were a few practice swings, but the message was clear. These two fighters were very skilled, serious, and most importantly, fresh. Neither had spent all afternoon fighting, or sported dozens of small, bleeding wounds. No matter how good the twins were, they did not stand a chance against this new threat.
"Time to go," Ashi ordered. Together, the tired fighters took to the rooftops. There was a forest just beyond the city and if they could reach it,they could lose any pursuit. Yells and arrows came from behind them, but nothing came close to hitting either target.
The bodyguards slowed as they approached the city wall. The chase was too easy to lose, too easy. Something was wrong. Even as the thought entered their minds, two shadows appeared in their path. Duo ran to the left, while Ashi was forced to the right. Each sought solid ground to fight and then turned to face this new challenge. What they saw left them stunned.
Before them stood Lord Heero and Knight Trowa, two of the best and most loyal servants in the kingdom; yet they were aiding the enemy. To Duo it was an incredibly painful betrayal as Heero was his lover. Ashi respected and liked both men. The shock of the betrayal, combined with the exhaustion they already felt, dulled their senses enough so that neither saw the two more figures emerge from the shadows beside them.
Duo first noticed the newcomers when he felt a sharp sting on his shoulder. He quickly pulled the little dart out, but a wave of dizziness told him it was too late. Ashi saw Duo stagger and felt the same sting, but upon her thigh. She didn’t even try to remove the dart. The young woman caught her brother as he fell, clutching him to her chest.
"How could you, Heero," she screamed at the older man, her faced twisted in grief. "You coward! You couldn’t even give him an honorable death. Poison is no way for a warrior to die."
"It is not poison woman" one of the shadow figures announced. He was a lithe Asian man, pride etched into his face. Besides him stood a woman of the same descent and stature. Ashi hated both on sight.
"The darts contain a drug to calm you and your brother down." It was the blond from before. The man and his companion had planned this and waited for it. "We have need of you and the information you carry."
"We know nothing," Ashi hissed, darkness beginning to steal her sight.
"You know where to find Prince Quatre," he voiced echoed in her mind. So that’s what they wanted. The knowledge didn’t help her as the drug finally stole her consciousness and she followed her brother into a troubled sleep.
"Well, Zechs, we have them," the female shadow stated. "Do you think they will tell us?"
"Yes," the blond responded. "It all depends on how we ask."