Title: Two Worlds
Author: Lyndaura
Author's Notes: Well, this goes out to all of those who faithfully read this and have been there from the start, like Steph, Smoke & Mirrors, Heero's Soul, Lupi and all the rest! Sorry if I missed anyone. You all rock so much!
Two Worlds Chapter 20
Part B - Betrayal and Destruction
Tusk nodded his head solemnly. Dusk knew that as an Ancient, he would never rejoice in death, even of his enemy. Dusk only relaxed into his arms, glad that she had stopped the city from being destroyed.
As the remaining men began retreating quickly, the others gathered around the gates. Luke had to drag Duo with him, but they all meet at the doors to the city. Katara smiled and hugged Heero, cautious of his wounds.
"We did it," Katara could not stop grinning, but Heero felt a twinge of anxiety, why had Terra asked that he kill Katara? Heero knew that it was the feud that they had, but something was off, he could feel it.
"Now all I have to do is destroy the stone and this will all be over," Katara turned to Tusk, "Can I have the stone?"
Tusk looked at Peace, but Peace wasn't looking at Tusk. She was concentrating hard on the ground. Tusk slowly drew a necklace from underneath his robes. Attached at the end of the necklace was a small glowing crystal.
"So odd how a third of the power of this world is held in that stone," Dusk spoke softly.
"What?" Luke asked turning to Dusk.
"Didn't you know? The stones contain the power of the world in them, there are three stones, so a third of the power is contained within that stone," Dusk looked at the shimmering object.
Katara held out her hand for the stone. Tusk's hand was shaking as he placed the stone in her hand. But as soon as the stone touched her hand, Peace immediately hit the bottom of Katara's hand, sending the stone flying. Peace quickly caught the necklace and ran away from Katara till she was several hundred feet away.
"What the hell?" Luke growled, but as soon as Tusk saw what she did, he turned to Katara.
"You," he growled.
Katara turned frantically to Peace who seemed pissed as ever.
"What is going on?" Heero yelled.
It didn't take long for Wufei to realize it though, "Katara..."
"What?" She turned to face Wufei. Wufei was examining her.
"You weren't going to destroy the stone were you?" Wufei asked as the puzzle pieces fell into place. He could hear the dragon speaking to him as the knowledge came to him, "You never were going to destroy the stones. You knew that they contained a third of the world's power from the beginning. All you ever wanted was the power," Wufei felt the energy of the Ancients flow through him. He was beginning to understand.
Heero stared at Katara in disbelief. //: Tell me it isn't true... tell me it isn't true... ://
"Peace," Katara turned to the girl, "I want to destroy the stone, I do, now give it to me," Katara crept towards the girl, "Wufei doesn't know what he is talking about."
"You can't lie to the girl," Tusk took a menacing step towards Katara, and she was forced back. Everyone took a step away from her.
"I'm not lying, I want to destroy the stone as much as everyone else, all I care about is the two worlds," Katara felt her blood pulsing through her veins underneath the stares of her comrades.
Tusk shook his head angrily, "You can not lie to her or us anymore. Peace is the Guardian."
Peace was the Guardian.
There was a hushed silence of awe, several hundred feet away from them was the most powerful being alive in both dimensions. Katara felt the jealous envy bubble up from within her.
Heero couldn't bring himself to look at her Katara, but Katara turned to him desperate, "This isn't true, Heero do something!" Katara's eyes were watering, "I just want to destroy the stone, you know that, don't you? Please, tell me you believe me!" Katara pleaded.
"Do you love me?" Heero asked, finally drawing his eyes to hers.
Katara was startled by the question, everyone's eyes were on her. Heero's eyes burned, though he could barely stand. He was absolutely serious. Heero didn't even know if he wanted to hear what Katara had to say. He could feel something coming forth from within. The power that was surging around him increased and he was overtaken by it.
"I love you more than anything else in this world," Katara closed her eyes, tears pouring down her face. Luke had to take a step back. She had just hurt him more than she could ever do before. What was she thinking? All those years that they had been together, she had been with him, he had given her everything and she had denounced him for someone who she had met only a few short days ago. The bond that Katara and Heero shared was nothing compared to what had grown over the past years. What was she THINKING?
"Liar," Heero turned away from her. Everything inside him screamed out in pain. He didn't want to know, ignorance was bliss, but he could not deny it. Katara had never loved him, he was a pawn in her game to gain the stone.
"What are you saying? I gave you everything!" Katara cried to Heero, but he wouldn't hear a word, "Don't say that you believe these people. I love you! I would never lie to you!"
"You only wanted the power within me. Is that all you care about? Power? Are you that selfish? Can you even love?" Heero turned to face Katara, her eyes burning with pain and rage, her soul being torn apart.
"You wouldn't understand!" Katara screamed. The group could only stand and watch, barely processing the scene before them. Katara hadn't just turned against them, she had deceived them all this time.
"When did it start? When did you decide that power was more important than life?" Luke demanded, the agony she had inflicted evident on his face. Anger, inscribed on his mind and soul.
"You," Katara snarled, and shook her head, wiping away the tears that were streaming down her face, "You will love me till the day you die," Katara laughed through the pain.
"You put a spell on him," Wufei felt the power overcome him again. Knowledge sprouting forth from within him. It was slowly spreading through the group. Wufei could feel his ancestors' voices raging inside him, "He knew, and you made sure that he would never tell anyone, you erased his memories, and put a spell on him so that he would be there forever and always protect you. How could you use people like that?" Wufei felt the disgust boil up out of him. She was the lowest being he had ever met. She didn't deserve to live.
Luke felt the realization spawn inside of him. Everything made sense now, the way that she treated him, she knew that she could do whatever she wanted and he would still love her, only being nice to him when it suited her needs. Everything that she had ever done was a deception, what everyone thought Katara was, was false. She played them all, acting the way that she needed to in order to achieve her ultimate goals.
"When did it start Katara? When did you stop loving?" Luke demanded, but Katara only screamed in frustration.
"All of you, get away from me, or I will use my power and kill us all!" Katara threatened, her voice growing raw, and her face reddening as a vein stood out on her forehead.
"You never could love could you," Wufei shook his head, feeling sorry for her, "That's why you were one of the best soldiers, because you never cared, you never loved and it was all power for you. But the stones were too great a temptation for you, weren't they?"
"I know what I did was wrong, I'm sick, I need help, help me!" Katara tired to redeem herself, knowing that it was over, but no one was buying it.
"You put a spell on me," Heero tried to ignore the knowledge that was being revealed to him, but he couldn't stop it, "You made me love you," sickness welled up in Heero's stomach, "When you died, you didn't die because of your wounds, you died because you killed Emily," Heero could see Katara killing Emily in her mind, "You can't live without her. You killed her so that you would die, but I only loved you. I only brought the one that I loved back," Heero searched Katara's mind, but he found no trace of Emily. She was gone, she was dead. Heero felt the fatigue again. He couldn't take anymore of this. He was too tired, too weak... "Emily is dead, you killed Emily."
Tusk stood and glared at her. Katara felt like she was cornered. There was no way out, they knew the truth, and they held the power. She was outnumbered, powerless, and on the defensive. There was only one thing left to do.
Before anyone could make a move, Katara turned and bolted toward Peace. This was her last chance to do something. Peace stood still as Katara neared closer and closer. Katara could feel the power of the stone. Peace was shaking, she was scared, but determined. She knew what she had to do.
Peace held the stone and then closed her eyes. Everyone was involuntarily frozen. All of time seemed to slow as the energy pulsated around Peace. All the energy, Ancient and inter-dimensional alike, encircled Peace. It was so overwhelmingly powerful, that Peace began to rise off the ground. The stone glowed and radiated the brightest and purest light that anyone had ever seen. The adrenaline that was rushing through Heero and the others was more intense than they had ever felt. No one knew what to expect as a tear streaked down Peace's face. Her mouth quivered slightly as the stone positioned itself a foot away from her chest.
There was a long stillness, the suspense building, as no one knew what Peace was going to do. The stone then sent out a wave of light and energy, it was blinding, but everyone had to stare, one blink and they could miss it. The energy reached a climax as everything seemed to melt into each other. The stone turned then shot straight into Peace's chest, her eyes squeezed shut, sending more tears down her face as her head shot back. Her whole body was tense and convulsing as agony could be heard in her wails.
She couldn't stop screaming as the light shot out of the whole in her chest. Blood poured down her shirt as the stone burned. It was slowly cauterizing the wound, but the pain was unbearable. Peace could barely hold onto consciousness as it overwhelmed her, paralyzing her. Her fears were coming true, and she knew what she had to do, if she could survive. Peace was suddenly thrown to the ground face first. The ground around her rippled like a rock being thrown into a pond. The rippling effect lasted as the energy spread through the ground all through the cave.
Peace struggled to pull herself up from the ground, her eyes were dazed, but tears quickly formed. She could barely walk she was suffering so much. She had to lean forward slightly, almost drunken because she could not stand up straight. There was no more evidence of the wound, only the blood that was still fresh on her shirt. Peace opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Her eyes turned to Heero and Wufei who were standing side by side. She nodded and they both understood. She had absorbed the stone. Katara could no longer have the power. The paralysis finally wore off, and everyone was slightly dazed but it took only seconds for them to regain their composure.
Peace looked like she was going to throw up, Heero rushed to her side to help her stand up straight. She was so powerful, yet her body was so weak. She was only eight, she could not possibly be handle such stress. Peace clung to Heero waiting for the pain to dissipate. She held over a third of the world's power in her breast, but she was still only eight years old. Heero felt a tinge of sympathy for her. He was only fifteen when he saved the world for the first time, but this was more than even he could comprehend.
Katara looked around, not quite sure what was going on. She knew that she had two choices, she could use her magic and tear the whole place apart, or she could run away.
//: If I survive escaping, then I could take Terra's place at the head of the Fallen Angel's. ://
Katara smiled to herself slightly and then took off for the exit. Everyone's attention was drawn to her, but before she could get to the stairway, the ground began to rumble underneath them, throwing Katara off balance. She was thrown to the ground. Everyone had to struggle to keep their balance.
"Is it an earthquake?" Duo asked weakly in confused.
"No," Luke shook his head, fear causing his voice to waver.
"Ghost," Wufei finished for Luke. Before anyone could react the ceiling to the cave began to shake and crumble, "Everyone, go to Peace!" Wufei ordered.
It took only seconds for everyone to get near her. She was looking better already, she had regained some of her colour and she was focused again. Tusk knelt down and then saw Katara sprawled on the ground not far.
Peace looked up at him and nodded. As the large pieces of rock and crystal fell from above, there was a protective dome around the group. Peace held an outstretched arm toward Katara, and the a bubble of protection formed around her as well. As the rocks showered down on them, everyone looked up to see the darkness of the ghost hovering over them.
"Its huge!" Quatre held tight to anyone who was near him, trying to keep balance over the shaking ground.
"It has to be a class six," Luke shook his head, taking shallow deep breaths.
"But that means that they only way to kill it would be for it to take a host," Trowa remembered how Katara had explained to them about the ghosts.
Tusk nodded, "But how do we get it to take a host?"
Peace turned to Heero, another tear slipping down her face.
Suddenly Heero realized what was happening. He felt like screaming. She couldn't do what she was about to do. Let the monster take him! He would not let the ghost take her! She was too young to die! He had had enough! Let the ghost take him, but not Peace. She was too innocent. She had so much left for her. She had not lived enough for her to end her life like that.
"No," Heero whispered. The dust was settling as the ghost stepped into the cave.
"Where did it come from?" Quatre asked, not feeling that the ghost was near till he was told, "There weren't any rips large enough to let him through..."
"Terra," Wufei growled as he ground his teeth together. Everyone turned to Wufei, the bubble of safety disappeared, and they all stood, not knowing what to do, "She did this. She could control the portals between worlds. She let it in," Wufei's eyes grew wide as the red eyes of the demon locked with his.
Heero felt understanding dawn on him. Terra had said that she had made sure that she would not have to use her powers. She had also said that if he killed her, he would surely die. Everything was coming together.
The ghost let out a low growl and Peace seemed in pain again.
"He's sucking the life out of everything," Tusk screamed as winds started to rise. The stones and crystals that had once been enriched with Ancient magic were now breaking and shattering. The energy was draining from everything, Heero could even feel it feeding off of the dragon inside him. As it absorbed the energy, it grew larger and more menacing.
Screams could be heard from the townspeople as the ghost slowly let the energy fill it. Peace was shaking in Heero's arms uncontrollably, it was sucking the energy out of her too quickly for her to handle. If it got any stronger than it would be unstoppable.
Panic raced through Heero as he didn't know what to do he didn't know how to let the ghost take host of him, and he didn't know what Peace was doing. She had to do something, she was the only one who knew anything. Heero wrapped his arms around her in an attempt to shield her or at least comfort her.
Rocks and dust were being thrown into the air violently. Everything was being torn apart and sucked into the demon. It gave huge roar as it fed on the abundant energy. The Ancients had unlimited sources, and it could feed forever if it needed to.
A shrill scream was heard from not far away. Everyone's attention was drawn to Katara as she scrambled to get away from the ghost. She was clinging to a rock, but it was slowly uprooting from the ground. She was nearly in his grasp. Both Heero and Luke stiffened as they saw the ghost suck the energy out of her. The ground began to crumble beneath them.
First Katara was only crying out in pain and agony, but moments later, her clothing and skin began to peel away, sucked into the dark abyss that was the ghost's body. Her hair pealed away from her scalp. The winds were so strong that she was being lifted off the ground, but she still clung to the rock for her life. But she was no match for the ghost as it sucked more of her away. After a moment, all that was left was red, bleeding flesh as all the skin was gone. Bone began to appear as chunks of her muscle were torn away from her body. Seconds later, all that was left was bone, which was quickly sucked away into the ghost.
The ghost then moved closer to them. The winds that had been blowing, seemed to then circle around them, pushing the group closer to the ghost. Heero desperately looked around. There was nothing to help them. He knew what had to happen, but his mind and soul still screamed in protest. Peace was shaking in his arms as the ground began to crumble beneath them.
Peace's mouth quivered, as she opened it softly, forming the word, 'No'. Heero stared at her, as the earth began to settle, her energy level rising drastically again.
"No," she sobbed through the tears. She stared at Heero and shook her head. It was the first time that he had heard her speak. Her voice was soft and high, too innocent and fragile to be the voice of the Guardian.
"Peace," Heero breathed, the ghost took a step back, as she drew the energy back into her. Slowly Peace stood and took a deep breath.
"Take me," She screamed, tears burning her cheeks. The ghost let out a high pitched howl as it seemed to be sucked into her. Like water down a drain, the ghost was siphoned into her.
The winds swirled around the black cloud that was the ghost. It took little by little as the funnel of ghost narrowed to a pinprick on Peace's chest. She could barely handle the little ghost that had already entered her, how was she going to be able to contain the full class six ghost.
Peace's arm shot out to her sides, and she was levitated off the ground once again. Her eyes were filled with pain and shock as they opened wide. She was shaking in the air, her body filling with the never-ending supply of ghost. She slowly turned her head as the last of the demon was sucking into her. The sand and rocks that were being picked up by the wind were nearly blinding, everyone had to squint to see what happened next.
She began to glow.
Heero stared at her, the agony written on her face.
//: Release me, give me peace as I gave to you. ://
Heero could suddenly remember before he even met her, how she had been there. Quieting his mind, and stilling his soul(1).
//: That was her... ://
Heero felt the power boil inside him. Peace's eyes were wide as she fell to the ground. Staring at him her eyes pleaded with him.
"She can't hold it!" Tusk screamed over the commotion in the city and the high winds that were encircling her.
'Heero' Peace mouthed. She reached out to him. She was asking for a mercy that Heero didn't know if he could give. He felt so in debt to her. She was giving her life up to save the two worlds, something that he wished that he could do for her. He had done everything to deserve whatever life dealt him, but she was too young, she had been chosen, she had not chosen her path.
"I can't," Heero shook his head helplessly. Peace's eye were starting to turn red as the a vein near her eye burst. Her body couldn't hold all the power. Peace held out her hand shakily. She struggled for control as a black mist swirled around her hand. Slowly, the mist formed a gun on her hand. It was far too big for her, and it seemed so heavy.
Heero felt the need to relieve her of it. She could barely hold it. Peace's eyes pleaded with Heero, but he couldn't do it. It was impossible. He couldn't do that to her, Heero could not bring himself to kill her.
Peace let out a scream as her body began tearing itself apart. Peace still held out the gun for Heero though, "Please," she begged. Heero felt himself moving forward toward the gun.
//: There has to be another way... this can't be happening... ://
Peace's hand could barely hold it up now, she was so weak, the winds grew higher and higher. Heero could barely move, he was so afraid, what was he doing? He could barely control his movements anymore. He tried to tell his legs to stop, but they kept going. The strong winds pushing him closer.
"There has to be another way," Heero told her. He kept telling himself to back away. He wasn't going to do this. But she was in so much pain, just a few morea steps and he could spare her. Heero shook his head. He would not do it. His legs stopped and Peace let out another blood curdling scream.
"KILL ME HEERO!" Peace ordered with anger, pain and determination. Heero lost all control. He watched himself in horror as his body moved without his permission. It walked quickly to Peace took the gun from her hands and with deft precession aimed the gun at her.
Heero cried out, he couldn't take it, "NO!"
Peace stared at him, wishing every second into existence. It was just too painful to live. Heero aimed and felt himself pulling the trigger.
//: No... no... no... ://
Heero tried to stop himself, but his body was not his. The others looked on in horror as Heero pulled back the trigger.
Everything was in slow motion as the gun kicked back. The smell of gunpowder filled the air. The bullet came rushing out of the gun. Heero watched as it sped toward Peace. She smiled softly and closed her eyes.
//: Thank you Heero. ://
Heero saw the bullet pierce through her forehead, directly between the eyes. Blood came spurting out of her head as the bullet passed through her brain.
Peace fell lifelessly to the ground in front of Heero. There was a huge rush of wind out of her, as the energy overcame him. The death rejuvenated the dragon in him, and Heero felt the life fill him.
The next thing Heero knew was that he was several feet away from the corpse. Heero pulled himself up. He looked at the damage around him. Rocks were everywhere, and the city was badly damaged, but not ruined. The castle in the distance was still standing, and everyone was on the ground, hurt, but alive.
Heero felt the pain in his chest. Relena was dead. Katara was dead. Peace was dead. Heero felt his knees grow weak. He didn't want to think. He was too tired for that. He would never fight again. It was too painful. He would never love as he loved, but he would also never suffer as he suffered at that point. The whole world came crashing down on him at that very second. Everything was too much to bear.
Duo was so beaten that Luke had to hold him up, he had never seen Dusk as weak as he saw her then, and everyone was bruised and bleeding. Death seemed to lurk every corner, except for Heero's. It wasn't fair. If he saw and caused so much death, what was there for him? Life?
Heero let out a horrible scream. It was a scream of pain from his wounds. It was a scream of sadness from the loss of all the women that he had ever loved. It was a scream of frustration over his life. It was a scream of desperation.
Quatre was by his side in seconds, but Heero pushed Quatre away. Quatre didn't need more pain.
"Promise me one thing Quatre," Heero turned to him.
Quatre's eyes were soft, and his ears ready to listen.
"Promise me that you will take Relena's place when you get back. You have a lot of diplomatic and leadership skills. Use your influence to keep peace. Don't let what we have worked so hard for die," Heero asked seriously.
Quatre felt his eyes water. He nodded softly. He had never seen Heero as upset as he saw him then and it was hard to watch. Heero was talking like he was about to die. But it was over. Everything was over. They had finally assured peace. They had done it.
"I promise," Quatre whispered.
~End Chapter 20 - Part B - Betrayal and Destruction~
(1)Reference to the voice that he heard in Chapter 13, as well whenever it says that he felt peace (after he felt it in his soul) that was Peace too. ^_^ Make sense? I told you I would explain everything.
Author's Tidbits: That was weird, but one more chapter and its done. ^_^ Thanks to everyone who stuck by me!