DESTINY(6)

[RyanEX2000]

Disclaimer:Never wrote one before cause eveyone knows I don't own Gundam Wing or any of the G-guys or girls(though I wish I owned Dory-chan...Rowr).

Chapter six

(Mt.Drogen)

The mountain rose,seemingly endlessly into the sky,it's pinnacle hidden behind the clouds.There was no entrance at the bottom as Dragons abhored uninvited company.The first openings to the cavern city of Drogen extended almost a mile up the sheer southern face.Dragon flew to and fro the many openings extending up the cliff,the fires in their belly warming their blood against the cold,and the thin air was of no consequence to those who had lived on it for time immemorable.Within the city itself Dragon moved about in both human guise and the smaller draconian form that had given rise to the human legend of demons.No Dragon bowed to any king but their own.Unfortunately,the current one was still a fledgeling,with little understanding of the human world across the water or in the matters involved in running his kingdom.It was this selfsame king that was now making his way to the Oracles' chamber.

******

"ORACLE,"he shouted."ORACLE.WHERE ARE YOU?"

"I'm right here Prince Wufei,"the silvery haired woman stepped out from behind one of the many rock pillars that held the books she spent her days perusing.

Wufei set his jaw,"I'm King now,woman.And I'll thank you to remember that."

"You may be king in name,"she replied shaking her head."But you are yet to understand the intricacies involved in BEING king,Wufei."

"I didn't come here to debate with you,"Wufei sighed."I know I still have a lot to learn,but right now my only concern is for my two friends across the water."

She raised an eyebrow,"two FRIENDS,prince Wufei?!"

He flushed but gave no answer.

"They're both safe and well,though Meiran is currently sleeping due to an enchantment placed on her by the Guardian Lovers,"she replied,sitting at the table in the centre of the room motioning for him to join her.She held up a hand as she saw outrage erupt across his face."It was necessary to protect her from spell that was placed upon her by her captors.Both spells will be removed soon."

Wufei joined her at the table,pouring himself a goblet of water after she declined a drink."What is the point of all this,"he asked her."Why have these humans begun moving against us after all this time?"

"Think of time as an endless river,"she answered him,smiling inwardly at the irritated expression on his face."Everything that ever happened flows past a village.At the rivers' source everything remains unchanged,constantly churning out the same water endlessly.No matter how much has flowed past the village,no villager ever thinks of damming the river,so more of the same flows by as time goes on."

"Very poetic,"Wufei grumbled."Don't you ever give straight answers."

"When you finally admit to the fact as to who it is that holds your heart."

Wufei's eyes flared red and his wings erupted from his back shredding the shirt he wore as he loomed over the Oracle in draconian form."You go too far woman!"Wufei growled.

"Do I?"she asked mildly,her eyes flashing a white light that engulfed Wufeis' form.As it faded Wufei fell to his knees back in human form,naked.She rose and strode past him."It's time for you to grow up Wufei and start acting like the king your father wanted you to be."

She tossed him a cloak as she left her chamber stepping out into the mountain city.

*****

"What are you doing 'Fei?"

An eight year Wufei started as he glanced back at Meiran,his playmate,"Quiet." he whispered."Selina brought back a human girl.I want to see what she looks like."

"Is it true that they don't have wings and canna' fly?And that they eat that green stuff that pokes up out the dirt.And...and what about..........."

"QUIET!!"he hissed at her,before glancing back around the door looking at the curly haired girl that stood nervously before his father.They couldn't hear what was being said but the girl was staring around the chamber,probabely in awe of being in the presence of true Dragon,when she looked full at him,and Wufei looked into the pale blue eyes of Sally for the first time............


His eyes opened slowly as he confirmed that it wasn't seventeen years ago,and glanced at his mirror across the room to stare at his twenty four year old body.He was almost positive that the Oracle was the one doing this to him.The dreams had started ever since his last visit to her four days ago,all of his memories of his times with Sally and Meiran,all leading up to his marriage to Meiran three years ago.It had been an arranged marriage,Meiran being the only Platinum Dragon born in the last cycle to mate with the heir as promised.

It was on the day of his sixteenth cycle that his father has informed him that he was to be mated to her.Furious that he held no say about his fate he'd confronted his father.


"What gived you the right to choose my mate for me?"

"As your father I must do what I think is best for my son,"Vorse had replied calmly."But as DragonKing I must do what is best for our people."

"Is this the work of that human witch again?If it is I'll................."

He wiped his hand across his mouth stunned at the coppery taste of blood on his tongue.Furiously he raised his eyes to his fathers' face,but the look there silenced whatever he had been about to say.

"You will speak of her with respect,"Vorse thundered,morphing into his true form,a massive Tiamat."She is the daughter of one of my oldest friends.If not for him You would not even be here.I have promised to protect her until the coming of He of Two Fates.And at my death that duty shall pass onto you."

"But.............."

His father slowly shifted into the smaller draconian form,tail twitching,"I know many things about you Wufei.Many,many things.Like how you've been spending a disproportionate amount of time with the human girl,Sally."He said slowly."She is not Dragon my son,and is incapable of being a suitable mate."

"MATE!!I'm afraid you've misunderstood father.They are my friends.I cannot........."

"You are attracted to her are you not."

"................"

"The ceremony will take place on the day of your ninteenth cycle.You will learn son that the burden of carrying a crown is heavy,one way or another."


Despite his father's depredations he'd continued to spend much time with the human girl.He was surprised at how easily she made friends with most of the younger dragons,even the usually quarrelsome Blaze dragons.He,Meiran and Sally were always together,but the enjoyment was gone for Wufei since everytime he saw Meiran he was reminded of his fate,come two cycles.

*****

The Oracle sighed to herself as she observed Wufei from an unused corner of his mind.While most men required a gentle shove or a helping hand this one needed a harsh shove to get anything done.But now was not the time.Her silver hair flaring with a white incandescence,her mind flew across the water seeking out the one called Noin...the Mother of the World.There!!

She was sleeping.All the better.Carefully the Oracle began to manipulate mental muscles deep within the elf's psyche.The muscles that allowed elves to access the magical energies that flowed through and around them.Muscles that elves on Ashara for some reason forgotten how to manipulate.It was difficult.Back in her chamber small beads of sweat gathered along her forehead at the strain.She wouldn't be able to finish tonight,much less start on Hilde,but it would be enough.She would now have the ability.All it needed now was a catalyst.A soft noise caught the attention of her host.Quickly muffling her presence she looked through Noin's eyes as Heero softly shook Quatre awake.

"It's your shift,"she heard him whisper as the young shapeshifting sorceror groggily pulled himself out of Dorothy's lose arms.Staggering slightly he moved towards the cavern opening.Cavern?????Surprised Oracle realised that they hadn't passed through the Faeries Forest.Studying Noins' memories she realised what had happened.

"The Northern Ranges......this isn't the way they should be going,"she murmured softly to herself.

"Heero?"<eh?>

"Yes Noin,"he replied from his position against the cavern wall.

"Don't you ever.......you know.....you,"<hardly ever>"I've never seen you in anything but armour.Doesn't it feel uncomfortable."

"That's a rather personal question."he replied.

Oracle

<as if>"I'm sorry.I just......"she sighed.

"Just what?"

Oracle

<eh?>"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"Heero sounded irritated.Someone was interrupting her work.Herself annoyed Oracle allowed her body to pull her mind back into it crossing back over the water in an instant to open her own eyes wearily and try to move her own legs.A pair of striped draconian guards were kneeling before her.

"Yes.What is it?"she allowed some of her irritation to show.

"My Lady,the king has left the safety of the mountain and even now flies to Heeshk seeking a ship to cross the water to the Western continent."the one on left answered.

"I see,"she tasted the winds of time seeking an answer,but even still this too went against the grain.But it also went against her plans.Too many things were going askew over a so short a period for it to be random chance."Someone else is manipulating the strands of fate.But what are their intentions."

*****

"It was exquisitely simple Sire,"Vara answered deferentially."The dragons have not changed in two millenia and are still as brutish and simple-minded as ever.Thusly it was no great task to mentally goad the prince into personally leading a flight of Dragon across the water."

"Well done Vara,"their shadowy leader replied,a note of satisfaction in his rumbling voice."Cin,can we depend on your faith in these humans of yours?"

"They will not fail Lord.The strange one,Sage,has presented Dermail with a weapon powerful enough to be effective even against the armoured Shieldragons."

"Truly?"Vatoren looked surprised.But then again Vara realised,he alone has had first hand experience fighting Dragon."Perchance this human be more than of his appearance."

"He does indeed bear watching Vatoren.Cin.I leave it in your hands."A cape rustled as the Lord faded into the darkness.

"Have fun,boys.Do try not to screw this one up Cin,dear."Vara taunted as she too disappeared.

With an oath cin shimmered,disappearing.The remaining ones faded out leaving only the shadows dancing in the faint light from the pool.

*****

Between Mt.Drogen and the western seaport of Heeshk,families trembled and animals bolted at the screeching and roaring of the flight of dragons that ate up the many leagues with the flapping of their massive wings.At it's head Wufei had to struggle not to push the pace,as he knew he could.It wouldn't be in his best interest to abandon the escort that'd been hastily assembled.But he couldn't shake the fear that'd slowly been building in his breast over the last few days.The fear that Sally...and Meiran were in a danger geater than their pathetic human allies could hope to overcome.

<I'm coming>he thought silently to himself.<I only hope I'm not too late>

In the back of his mind,hidden even beyond the reach of the Oracle,Vara laughed.

*****

Far across the ocean Sally shivered, and suddenly awoke,unsure of what it was that had disturbed her slumber.Quickly she cast a glance at the princess.Still sleeping she realised.The small pot of gruel Dorothy had used to feed her lying unwashed at the fire's edge.Shaking off her unease Sally lay down her head and was soon,again asleep.


TBC
______________________

I recently bought the first three books of the Belgariad.An excellent fantasy series,mixed with action and not a little bit of comedy.I was,however,disturbed at how similar in some respects it is to my story.(i.e.the hidden voice talking to a charater,and the special names given to the main charaters.)I think do a bit more reading on it and see what else I can find to improve Destiny.I also recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good Fantasy novel.

[silversong]

I was going to ask you if you had read any David Eddings, but you already answered my question.
They're really good books, though. (creepy voice that really doesn't sound creepy but is trying) Reee~eeead them....

Oh, and before I get off on an Eddings tangent, the fic is still great.

~Silver

[shadowcat]

Ryan, what can i say?
It was a FAB fic!!!!
Absolutely Terrific!!

-Shadow