Author’s Comments: I felt that I was leaving the rest of those cuddly little cuties out of the plot, so this one is sort of a breather from all the dark, bizarre stuff, and basically no plot. I hope there is some comedy in this. By the way, I have found the VERY first fic I ever did, with all its weird kooky comedy. That’s right… I did a comedy. * Shivers * I’ll send it in for all who dare to read it…

Two Worlds – Chapter 13

Misadventures of the Six Dwarfs

“How’d ya burn your shoe?”

“Hn,” Heero refused to answer. Duo didn’t seem to mind Heero’s reply and simply changed the subject. Sometimes it was nice to have someone know you that well. Duo could be intrusive and sometimes down right annoying sometimes, but he was also very good at reading people, and although he often tried to push the limits, he knew just how hard he could push, and he knew that this was not the time to push.  

“So what the hell happened? We were talking about Katara and suddenly you just kinda disappeared. I barely even noticed that you were gone till after you were out of sight. So come on, tell me what went on! Did Katara and Terra get into a bitch fight?” Duo blabbered on excitedly. Heero felt slightly disturbed, as Duo was so pleased to even think that there was violence. Heero was there. It was nothing to be pleased about.

“I can’t remember,” Heero lied as he got to his feet, Duo scrambled up faster and held out his hand in offering. Heero grudgingly accepted as his body began to ache with every movement.

“You really don’t look that good, do you want me to go get Sage or something?” Duo offered. Heero noticed that Duo was starting to grow taller. Puberty. Heero wrapped his hand tightly around Duo’s hand and hoisted himself up. Duo was also getting stronger. Heero felt suddenly threatened by him, but immediately brushed it off. Duo was a friend, a comrade, an ally, and not to be considered a threat. But in the back of his mind Heero could picture himself fighting with Duo, even killing Duo. The aggression in him seemed to intensify as they walked. Duo’s stride was even longer and more confident. Duo was always confident, sometimes a little too confident, which then turned into cockiness, but Heero that silly feeling of intimidation still lingered in the back of his mind.

// Stop it! What the hell are you thinking about? Duo has never been a threat, and puberty will not change that. What has gotten into you? //

Heero mentally slapped himself and followed Duo to where everyone else was crowded around Katara. Heero reached out mentally and read Katara’s mind. He quickly realized that something was wrong. Very wrong. Emily was in control… but the life had been sucked out of her, both physically and mentally. There was barely anything left.

“Is she going to be okay?” Duo asked peered over Trowa’s bang.

“I don’t know. I don’t know how much I can do, but I’ll need a few hours with her. Alone,” Sage scratched the back of her neck nervously. Everyone was counting on her and she had already failed them. She should never have done anything…

“Help me…” Emily whispered hoarsely as she reached out to touch Sage’s face.

“Don’t speak, don’t move, don’t die,” Sage ordered calmly. Duo stifled a laugh at the last comment. It was out of place to hear someone laugh in the somber atmosphere, but it started Emily laughing, and then the laughter spread to Sage, who was smiling through the tears at her own joke, “Don’t laugh either.”

Emily broke out laughing even more enthusiastically. She couldn’t help it. Everything inside her screamed out in pain, but she laughed. It was enough to keep her mind together for a moment or two as Sage gathered her in her arms and began to leave.

“What do you want us to do?” Luke called after Sage. Sage turned and looked at the group of six. They were so noble, and brave. They were willing to risk it all for something that they were forced into, and they had done it more than once. Sage admired them, but there was a hint of jealousy, as she knew what she was. Being like them was something that she could never dream of becoming. She had given up her honour long ago. There was nothing left now except the burning hatred of her ancestors and the mission. She had to carry out her mission.

“You and Trowa were talking earlier about what was the best course of action for us. What did you decide?” Sage asked quickly, knowing that the pain would be too much for Emily any moment now, and she would begin to scream and cry. She didn’t want Luke to be around for that part.

“Thieves Town,” Luke had long stopped looking at Sage, and was starring at Emily in her arms. Tears had begun streaming down her face. Sage shifted Emily in her arms so that her face was buried in her chest. Luke shook himself out of the painful trance and nodded to Sage who nodded back.

“I’ll meet you there. Get a motel, we’ll find you. We’ll decide further courses of action tomorrow after a good sleep. I think I speak for everyone when I say we all need more rest,” Sage tried not to panic. She was deceiving her friends. It came all too naturally out of her. She wished that everyone didn’t trust her so easily. She wanted to be caught. She wanted to be stopped. She was evil. She was pure evil.

“See you tonight,” Luke turned and found his horse. The other pilots found their assorted horses and mounted. Luke grabbed his reins tightly and started his horse off at a rigorous run. He needed to get away for a while. The world seemed to be collapsing in on him and he just needed to think.

“Where the hell is he going?” Duo asked as he guided his horse beside the stoic Wing pilot.

“He loves Emily… Katara… more than anything on this world, and he can’t stand to see her suffer. So he’s running,” Heero answered and began his horse at a slower, more comfortable pace.

“How are we supposed to find our way to Thieves Town?” Duo could barely see Luke in the distance now, no matter how hard he strained his keen eyes.

“Trowa knows the way,” Heero answered and sped up his horse.

Duo was a little offended by Heero’s continuing rude behaviour, but he had gotten used to it and knew not to take it personally. He just wondered what was going on with Heero. Something wasn’t right, the way he moved, and the way he talked, even the way he thought was different.

Trowa pulled up beside Heero and they exchanged glances. Both knew that the other had changed in some unknown way, but they both knew where there alliances stood. They had changed, but their motives and missions had not.

While Trowa and Heero were in the lead, Quatre and Duo had pulled up behind them, busily chatting away and trying to keep the mood light. Neither was in the best of shape after the last two days, and they needed this third day to relax and have fun. They knew how far they could push their bodies and their minds, and they knew that they needed this mental break. The two would not waste an opportunity such as this.

Wufei brought up the rear paying close attention to the surroundings. He was keen, wise and always alert. Silently he listened idly to Quatre and Duo’s conversation while observing the vast surroundings, occasionally commenting and joining in.

“I wonder why they call it Thieves Town,” Quatre thought out loud as the trees faded and disappeared and they group found themselves amidst tall green fields.

“Government must hate it,” Duo smiled.

“I know,” Quatre responded, “If the town holds true to its name, then there must be crime everywhere.”

“Yeah, don’t steal, the government hates competition,” Duo laughed. Quatre turned and his eyes went wide. Then he laughed at the joke and shook his head. Perhaps the funniest part was that it was so true.

“Do you think that we will be safe there? I mean, are we adequately protected? From what I’ve seen, people don’t really like mages or magic users, and we will be with some, and I use the power, and I don’t know how people are going to react to us. Besides, if the town is full of criminals, then how do you know who to trust?” Quatre’s anxiety was showing through. Duo decided that he needed to add a few more jokes to ease Quatre’s mind.

“Come on not EVERYONE hates magic users. Just remember that you’re making a generalization, and ALL generalizations are false,” Duo grinned, not knowing if Quatre would get the joke.

It took a moment, but Quatre smiled and shook his head, “You’re right. I just don’t want to get into a fight or anything.”

“What are you so scared of? A little pain? Come on… you’re a frigging GUNDAM PILOT! You have saved the Earth and the colonies on more than one occasion!” Duo cried out, getting the attention of Trowa and Heero.

“I can handle pain!” Quatre retorted defensively, “I can handle pain, well… until it hurts.”

Duo laughed and Quatre smiled, trying to contain his contentment. If there was one thing that Quatre loved about Duo, it was the way he laughed at your jokes no matter how stupid they were. Wufei sped up his horse to join the conversation.

“Despite your jokes, Quatre does have a point. We don’t know what to expect and we should be ready for anything. For all we know the town is probably full of murderous convicts that will do anything for a bit of money,” Wufei almost warned.

“Hey, Wufei, can I borrow a bit of money?” Duo called to Wufei. Wufei ground his teeth and tried to keep his patience. He finally resorted to reciting Chinese proverbs in his mind to calm himself. Duo leaned over to Quatre and tried to stop his giggling. He then whispered into Quatre’s ear, “Always borrow money from pessimists, they never expect it back.”

Quatre tried not to laugh, knowing that it would offend Wufei, since it was obvious that it was about him, but the giggles were creeping up his throat involuntarily, and his cheeks were turning bright red.

“You know Duo, there is three kinds of people…” but before Wufei could finish his obvious threat, Duo interrupted.

“… those who can count, and those who can’t!” Duo laughed out loud, and Wufei’s eyes went wide with anger.

“I’ll chop off that braid if you don’t shut up you insolent fool!” Wufei growled loudly. 

Duo chuckled, as he was pleased with Wufei’s reaction. Duo knew it was morbid to derive such pleasure from aggravating Wufei, but it was too much fun to stop. While Duo and Wufei exchanged insults, Quatre was in misery. The bugs had gotten to him, and he was slapping his neck and arms every few seconds.

“Travelers,” Quatre shook his head, “Nature’s way of feeding bugs.”

“You got THAT right…” Duo chuckled softly. They all feel into a comfortable silence as they approached a dirt road.

The Suns were burning bright and harshly as the day progressed. There was occasional and meaningless chatter as there was still no sign of Luke anywhere up ahead. The five had absolutely no idea where they were going, but blindly they followed the road through twists and turns, dense forests and endless fields. Time seemed to stand still as they traveled. Something seemed so right then. There was no threat, yet they all seemed to have a purpose. They knew what they had to do, they had a tangible and formidable enemy, yet somehow… nothing seemed impossible anymore. It was a new world, with new rules. Nothing was the same.

“We should let the animals rest soon,” Quatre suggested, “Perhaps next time we come across a body of water?”

“I agree,” Trowa spoke softly. The others fell back into their relaxed silence, taking in the beautiful landscape.

Heero closed his eyes and tried to relax, but he could feel claws dragging on the inside of the skin of his back, muscles were being ripped and pain seared in steady waves over him. Moving at all caused him tremendous amounts of pain and he had a headache that was blurring his vision and driving him mad. He had a very high tolerance for pain, but his body felt like it was falling apart, and he was more tired than ever.

He just wanted that peace…

His mind suddenly went blank, and his body seized up. There wasn’t a muscle in his body that wasn’t tensed, but yet his body was painless for a brief moment. It was as if his mind tensed along with his body. Everything in his body sucked in, like an implosion, but in the same instant that it happened, it was over, the pain gradually returned, and he was left ridding his horse in the midday sunlight.

“OUCH! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?” Wufei cried out of nowhere. Everyone turned to see what Wufei was referring to, when there in his lap was a fish. While Wufei was gingerly rubbing the top of his head, Duo burst out laughing. What was funnier then Wufei getting hit in the head by a randomly falling fish?

“Where did that come from?” Quatre asked amazed as he steered himself closer to Wufei to inspect the animal.

“I bet that was a first,” Duo tried to stop smiling, but his crooked grin was pasted on, “You should sue. I mean… there should have been ‘Caution: Falling Fish’ signs posted all over the place!”

“Quiet onna!” Wufei hissed.

“Well at least I’m a hotter onna than you!” Duo immediately started his horse into a full out run as Wufei chased after him mercilessly.

“Few women admit their age, few men act it,” Quatre quietly quoted as he watched the quarrelling pair from a distance.

“We’ll never get there at this rate,” Heero commented angrily, he had a mission, and he didn’t like Duo goofing off so much, though he found himself mildly interested in his antics. He had a new respect and appreciation for all of the pilots now, and he didn’t want to lose that.

“Don’t worry about it. Just remember that although the early bird gets the worm, the second mouse gets the cheese,” Quatre smiled at Heero hoping for a remote reaction. He couldn’t help but be in a good mood. He just wanted to forget everything and enjoy the bright light and heat surrounding him. It was so beautiful and peaceful here…

“Hey you guys!” Duo came within earshot, “I think I see Luke! Wait… no, it’s just a tree, never mind!”

“We have enough youth, what about a fountain of ‘smart’?” Quatre suggested while shaking his head slightly. Duo came trotting back beside Quatre, Wufei was nowhere to be seen, “A tree?”

“Well nobody’s perfect,” Duo rolled his eyes.

“Heero must be a nobody,” Quatre whispered to Duo trying not to smile too much. Duo laughed again, his face starting to turn red. He loved times like these. Heero had been listening to what they said obviously; he had long since stopped trying to justify it. He just wanted to know what they were saying.

“Well, then again, maybe he isn’t perfect,” Quatre stared at Heero trying to find a fault or flaw, but none could come to mind.

“Name one thing!” Duo challenged, half interested in what Quatre was thinking of.

“I don’t know if I should say it, its kinda mean,” Quatre bit his lip anxiously, trying to decide if Heero could hear them or not, or even whether he wanted to say it or not.

“PLEASE! I really want to know!” Duo coaxed as he pulled the puppy-dog eyes on Quatre who finally relented.

“But you have to keep your voice down,” Quatre leaned closer to Duo, slowing his horse. Both Trowa and Heero had slowed their horses too, trying to hear without letting anyone else know.  

“Well, he’s an atheist, which is kind of a flaw, because you know, you have nothing to believe in,” Quatre tried to explain without sounding too mean or judgmental.

“I know, I mean, if there was no God then who pulls up the next Kleenex in the tissue box?” Quatre was relieved and glad that he didn’t offend Duo.

“National Atheists Day: April 1^st ” Quatre joked while trying to keep his voice down. He hadn’t been too sure of what Duo believed in before, but at least he knew that Duo believed in the existence in some kind of God, God of death or life made no difference.

“Its so true,” Duo smiled and leaned back on his horse stretching out like a cat. Heero had to restrain himself from looking. Duo was so adorable, like a little child. The only problem was that he was acting like a child, and that was not what Heero wanted right now. He had to force himself to not dwell on the God thing. He didn’t want to think about anything philosophical right now, he just wanted to find Luke.

“I’m going to chop off your braid and anything else I can find on your pathetic little body,” Wufei began to threaten as he pulled up behind Duo.

“What up Wufei?” Duo grinned as he laid his back down aligning it with the horses back. Wufei looked so weird from upside down.

“The more people I meet, the more I like dogs,” Wufei shook his head trying to ignore Duo who merely stuck out his tongue. Quatre had to stifle a laugh. The two of them were quite a pair sometimes.

“On the other hand,” Duo was about to say something when Wufei glared at him maliciously, “You have different fingers,” Duo finished preventing another chase scene with Wufei.

“Why don’t you be quiet Maxwell,” Wufei strode in front of Duo on his proud and strong horse. The horse and the rider were meant for each other.

“Fine then Wufei!” Duo smiled as he turned to Quatre, “Hey, Quatre, ask me about my vow of silence,”

Heero had been vaguely aware of a disturbance of the energy around him. He didn’t know what to do. He wasn’t quite sure what it was, and he was unfamiliar with the sensation, he had tried everything from going over mission strategies to even paying some attention to Duo, but nothing would satisfy the now painful feeling that was spreading all over his body. He needed to lie down, he felt so tired even though he had slept mere hours ago.

“Heero,” Trowa looked at him with mild concern. He had never seen Heero so pale except after he self-destructed and was laying in one of his bed half dead.

“I’m fine,” Heero shot back quickly through clenched teeth, the pain was growing rapidly. Everything around him, was starting to swirl and meld together, there was nothing left except pain and energy. But it was a certain flavour of energy. It was so familiar, like the scent of…

Emily.

Why was he feeling such pain?

//: Emily is dying…://

The thought was followed with a wave of emotions that were much more intense than felt in his soul. This was true grief, real, raw, uncensored pain that was flowing through his veins, uncontrolled.

Heero leaned over on his horse and tried to stop the tears from flowing as freely as they were. Trowa was immediately concerned. He had never seen Heero cry, and now he was seeing him cry in agony and sorrow. He didn’t immediately connect the dots, but after a moment thought the realization came upon him full force. He knew what was happening.

“Heero,” Trowa didn’t know what else to say. Heero tried to turn to him, but he was feeling sick to his stomach, the energy around him gathering and swooning over him, “Do you want us to stop?”

“No,” Heero grimaced, everything, every sound, movement, even breath was crystal clear in his mind, and it was agonizing. 

“You need Sage,” Trowa stated calmly and surely. There was no room for argument and Trowa wished it to be that way.

Heero chose this time to be silent as he tried to focus on the task at hand, but the emotions were surrounding his thoughts, intruding on the simplest of feelings.

He was losing her. She had made it very clear that the time would come, but he thought he had more time. She had been quite aggressive and angry about the topic. ‘Don’t try to save me, you can’t even save yourself’.

It rang as true in his mind as the moment he heard it. He knew there was nothing he could do, he needed help as much as she did, but this was her moment of need and he was not there. He had witnessed what had happened to her. She had tried to kill herself while taking Terra with her. He had saved her, and now she was going to die anyway, without taking Terra with her. Heero had been stupid. She was right when she had said not to help her, she was doing what was the best option for her, and he had screwed it up. He had royally screwed up. She had even taken the initiative to give him the power that she had so he could take her place when she left, and as a parting present, she wanted to take out their enemy. He had prevented that. She was going to die, and now they were going to face Terra without her.

He felt like he was losing two people. Two people that he cared for. Two people that taught him how to care, and what it was to feel. He had been an idiot, and now they were both dying, and he had betrayed them. Irrational thoughts and angry feelings ruled out any logic left in his mind that had been tested on every level he could imagine. Even a few minutes ago, his philosophical beliefs were tried.

Was there a God? He had never prayed, and never brought up in a religious background, but the question was there in his mind, and it was staying, an alien amongst the images and feelings of death and destruction.

//: If you are there God, save Emily and Katara. ://

It was a simple prayer. Heero couldn’t believe he had prayed at all, but it was worth a shot. He was desperate now. He needed a miracle right now, and though he had seen plenty of events that defied logic and probability, he never really NEEDED a miracle. Choosing to die was one thing, killing in war the same, but to have a friend die? Heero had never truly experienced that, and it was shredding him inside.

//: Be calm. ://

Heero didn’t know where the voice was coming from. Maybe he was a schizophrenic, or maybe he was hallucinating, but he heard the voice, calm, sure and stable. A rock amidst the storm. Heero didn’t know why, but he was compelled to obey the words.

The pain ceased, his mind cleared and he was numb.

He was at peace again.

Trowa looked at Heero. In a matter of seconds he had changed from deep distress to utter serenity. He never got Heero, and he supposed he never would, but he was still concerned.

A soft breeze cut through the forest swiftly and caressed the faces of the boys. It was soothing and relaxing and all bickering halted. Even the insects had stopped swarming and ceased their pestering/ It had been so long since they had just stopped and let the breeze mingle in their hair, without the stench of blood, without thought of war, without thought at all. Sweet pine and fruit scent was carried to them on wings of the wind as their eyes were closed. It was beautiful and serene here. There was no war, no death, and no struggle. It was perfect and in balance.

All was right.

The time seemed to drift with only the sound of the horses trudging onward through the soft sweet grass and the sweet hum of animals mating and feasting on the bountiful provisions that surrounded them.

For that hour, all predators slept.

~End Part 13 – Misadventures of the Six Dwarfs~

Author’s Tidbits: * Sigh * that was completely pointless, and you see how hard it is for me to write any comedy. Better comedy coming up soon. ^_^ Pyro George is having a field day with me. I have to finish the first chapter of my sequel, deal with chapter 14 and get my first fanfic that I ever ever ever wrote HTML-ed and sent to Steph. Have you all thanked and praised her mighty work lately? Heehee. Oh yeah, I guess I have to say something about the God thing. It isn’t what you think, do not bitch at me, and do not send me flames, please wait till it gets explained. I put everything in there for a reason, from why Luke doesn’t like to take off his cloak to why Katara was a demon in Heero’s soul, to even why Terra was pleased that Heero saved Katara and her. Okay? It’s all going to be explained. ^_^ I know this was a short one, but the next one will have all the plot you can handle, okay? Well, bye!

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