"....." talking italics thinking *.....* action [.....] translation <<<<.....>>>> flashback
The prince almost jumped back at the sudden intense gaze settled upon him. While his father had never been known to be an intimidating, one of his looks could literally send a man crumbling to the floor. Trowa swallowed hard as the moment stretched. Is it me? Or is the room getting stuffy?
Trowa: *jumps, swallows* "Yes?"
King: "If you knew who the offender was, what would you do?"
Trowa: "....? Why are you asking me this?"
King: "The curtain is raised. I hope you are ready."
Before the he could answer, the king had already turned back to the crowd. Only instead of scanning the area, he focused on one person alone. And that person answered the call by glaring back. A look so full of anger and hate, that it pierced right into the heart of anyone who dared to look into those ice blue eyes.
Trowa: That person is...... "......Quatre?"
D/H/W/M: "WHAT?"
Whistles sounded and the hall echoed with the roar of cumbersome metal. Within minutes the first of the knights appeared. Lydia and Shiva's narrowed their eyes. Nodding to each other, they each grabbed one of Quatre's arms and proceeded to drag him from the room. But after a few steps, the boy stood firm.
Lydia: "We have to escape. Now!"
Shiva: "Hurry Quatre. This is no time to get week in the knees."
Quatre: *head down* "You're right. You have to escape."
Lydia: *smiles* "Yes. Let's go!" *pulls Q's arm*
Quatre: *twists arms out of both girl's grasps* ".......but it's my job to stay."
Shiva: "What?"
Advisor: "Seize them this instant! Don't let them escape!"
All knights ran forth as fast as they could trying to surround them. Hastily, Quatre turned and pushed the twins towards the exit. Most of the guests were trying to flee and they could easily be lost in the crowd.
Quatre: "Nige' te!" [run]
Lydia/Shiva: "Quatre!"
Quatre: "GO!"
The sisters tried to make a run for it but only managed a few metres. The knights had already formed a large circle around them and were closing in. Furious, Quatre turned to the king.
Quatre: "Let them go!"
King: "They are just as guilty of treason as you."
Quatre: "They have nothing to do with me!"
King: "oh? That's hard to believe. A person like you wouldn't try to protect someone unless they were of some value. Am I not correct?"
King: *glares at T* "I'm trying to show you. Show you the kind of person he truly is. So that you will wake up from your foolish daydream!"
Trowa: *glares back* "That has nothing to do with what you are doing here!" *points to knights*
King: "Watch my son. You think you have a precious jewel in your hands. But I will show you that your little blonde friend is nothing but a cold blooded monster."
Trowa: "Nani!" [what!]
Quatre: "You're absolutely right."
Trowa: *turns to Q* "---!" What did he say?
Quatre: "There is no reason for me to protect what is now useless." *grins evily* "It's time I eliminated all obsticles in my way." *turns to sisters*
Trowa: "Wait.....Quatre!"
The prince rushed forward towards the boy but a strong wind forced him back. Quatre had now raised his arms, seemingly to hold a large glowing ball of white energy. It glowed brighter and brighter until everyone had to shield their eyes from the light. At that moment, he threw the glowing sphere towards the two girls surrounded by knights. Again, the prince shouted the boys name but his voice was lost in the explosion.
The sound of metal hitting marble wall was deafening. Trowa's eyes widened in horror. None of the knights moved a muscle. He was almost too afraid to look at the spot where the two girls had been. But after a couple of hard swallows, he forced himself to look. To his surprise, there wasn't a scratch on the two ladies nor the ground beneith their feet. The prince let out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding.
Wufei: "We have to get you to safety."
Trowa: "I'm fine." *gets up*
Meiran: *pulls T back* "You're fine now, but we're thinking about later."
Trowa: *yanks free* "I'm not the one in danger."
Duo: "I wouldn't be so sure. Look." *signals towards Q*
Meiran: "Wufei!......My...my shadow....!!!"
The rest of them looked down just in time to see their shadow lift off the ground and fly towards the black blob.
Duo: "What the hell is that!?"
Wufei: "Heero!..."
Heero: *looks deeply disturbed* "...I.....I.."
Trowa: "You what!?"
Heero: "I....don't remember...."
Trowa/Wufei/Meiran/Duo: "WHAT!?"
Heero: *sweatdrop* "Hey. There are a lot of spells okay? I can't memorize them all." *turns nose way up*
Meiran: "CHE! This is not the time to get amnesia." *looks over at Q* "Is he planning on killing them?"
Trowa: "Impossible. He wouldn't."
Duo: "No use in denying it my friend. If we don't get back we might get sucked into that thing too."
Heero: "!!...." Sucked into..?
************************************************************************************
Quatre: "...from shapeless darkness form the object in my mind. In the name of Yrisses let it appear. Connect the two worlds with this command and bid the doors open......"
Heero: That's right! "!! ....That's...!"
In a burst of wind the black blob turned into a giant door that looked more like one of those windows from a huge chapel. The two girls infront of it didn't seemed afraid. Instead, they looked very sad. Shiva held out her hand, silently pleading for Quatre to take hold of it. But the boy scrunched his eyes shut and finished the spell.
"Shadow Gate."
The doors swung open and a giant whirlwind started blowing everything into the portal.
Duo: "EVERYBODY DOWN!!!"
The four of them took cover huddling against each other. Heero just stood there as if nothing was happening.
Duo: *looks back at H* "Baka!!! What are you doing? Do you want to get sucked in? OI! HEERO!"
///Quatre...what do you think you are doing?///
\\\Don't get in my way. Heero.\\\
///Aren't you afraid? If anything goes wrong, not only will they...but you'll....///
\\\....I knew that ........before I started\\\
Duo: "Oi!! Heero!" *grabs H's arm* "What are you..."
Heero: *covers D's mouth* "Be quiet for a while. Don't distract him."
Duo: "Are you crazy!?"
Heero: "Those girls lives depend on it."
King: *gets up shakily* "Oiya. All that trouble just to get rid of two useless girls? Quatre, you are so dishonest. Wouldn't it be easier just to stab them with that dagger you keep hidden before your chest?"
How did he......With a little 'Hn' of defeat, Quatre reached into his top and pulled out the beautiful blade. The rest of them couldn't believe their eyes. Sitting in the middle of the dagger was the royal green jewel. It defracted light from the chandeliers into spectacular rays of green in all directions.
Trowa: *eyes wide* "Why does he...."
Quatre: "Because it belonged to your father." *points blade at King*
King: "So it did." *draws his sword* "Look Trowa. With your eyes. Not your heart. You already saw how he mercilessly disposed of his 'sisters'. And now he will try to take the life of your father. Tell me my son, can you really love such a person?"
Trowa: "........." *stands up with his guardiens around him*
Quatre: "Let's end it. The battle from 12 years ago."
King: "I agree." Come. My little lamb. Let me see how many times, you can cheat your destiny.
"hyaaAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The two charged at each other, blades in hand. Quatre wasn't fazed at all by the large difference in size of weapon. All exhaustion from before seemed to disappear. Agility and skill, made up for the reach and power that he lacked. Quatre always stayed within 2 feet of the king, not allowing him to swing the large sword effectively. The rest of them could only watch the duel in awed silence.
<<CLANG>> <<CLASH>> <<ping>>
<<CLANG>> <<CLANG>> < <CLASH>>
King: "Not bad. I knew you were a genious from the start." *scrapes swords* "A huge threat indeed."
Quatre: *clenches teeth* "Only because...." *swords colide* "You're getting old.....huh!" <<Pwang>>
<<CLANG>> <<CLASH>> <<CLASH>>
*****************************************************************
Duo: "Are they....really going to just keep fighting like this?"
Trowa: "........"
Wufei: "It's not our place to interfere."
Meiran: "But if they continue on, someone is going to get hurt."
Heero: "Don't be silly. That was determined from the start."
Trowa: "............"
<< tat tat tat tat tat tat tat tat....>>
The group turned to the direction of the strange sound. They seemed like footsteps but.... There was a big screach as whatever it was rounded the corner. A very out-of-breath and panting Advisor, the same one from before, stood before them. He had been the first to run off when Quatre was chanting his first spell.
Advisor: "How's the prince!?" *pant pant*
Trowa: *waves him off* "I'm fine."
Advisor: *heaves huge sigh of relief* "HAAAAH. And the king?" *groups points to sword fight still going* "How could this happen!? His majesty is being attacked!! Guards! Guards!!!"
Wufei: "All the guards are out. Sir."
Advisor: *spins around angry* "What!?" *sees knights against the wall and on ground* "AHHH! The castle is under attack! Gather all the troops! Surround the castle immediately!! Guards! Anybody! Guards!"
Having lost it completely, the advisor ran back the way he came, while shouting for more guards. The groups sweatdroped at his departure.
Wufei: "Eventhough he doesn't seem....very much with it. Others will still obey him. What do you want to do? Trowa. He can't win in this situation."
Trowa: "I know." *turns back to Q and King*
Meiran: "Are you still going to stand on his side?"
Trowa: *draws his sword* "If I don't....who else will."
<<clash clang>>
King: "What do you want to do Quatre?"
Quatre: "You already know." *slashes left*
King: *dodges* "I want to hear you say it." *wacks down*
Quatre: *blocks and pushes blade to the side* *takes several deep breathes* "You really want to know!? My sole purpose of living is to cut off your head and use it as a stool!"
King: "Hoh."
Quatre: "To accomplish this I would do anything!"
King: "Anything you say."
Quatre: "Yes. To avenge my people! To avenge my family! I've given up my soul just so that I can kill you with my own hands you murdering son of a bitch!"
King: "Even killing those around you." *clang* "Those that raised you." *clash cling* "And those that love you?"
Quatre: "Shut up with your bullshit!" *knocks King against throne* *misty eyes* "What people around me? What people that raised me? People that love me? Who are you kidding. All those people....they were killed by you!!!!"
Quatre/King: *shocked, look up* "NANI?" [what]
Trowa: "Yamero." [stop]
The prince, chosing his moment wisely, managed to pin both his father's sword, and Quatre's dagger down under his own blade. Stronger than he looked, neither of them could move their weapons.
King: "Idiot. It's not your turn to come on stage yet."
Quatre: "Yes. Go back to your room and maybe the nice maids will bring you some warm milk and cookies."
Trowa: "Let him go."
King: "Hn. Is that anyway to speak to your father? Where have your manners gone?"
Trowa: "There's no way he can win. Stop this useless fighting."
Quatre: "Che! Didn't anyone every teach you to mind your own business? Move. Unless you want to be killed." *tries to yank dagger out to no avail*
Trowa: *looks at Q* "You are my business."
Quatre: "Hn! Since when."
Trowa: "Since the first day I met you."
Quatre: "You....." Idiot. Why do you have to be so stupid. Can't you see that I don't deserve your attention?
King: *starts shaking* "fu ufufu...Mwa hahahahahahha!! Ha hah! hahahahahha!"
Trowa/Quatre: "!?"
Off their guard, the king took this opportunity to knock them back. Both were sent flying off the small staircase that lead to the throne. They landed in a heap on the ground, their blades somewhere off to the sides. Quatre was fine, while Trowa had the air knocked out of him since he was acting as a safety pillow. He coughed and sputtered while Quatre patted his back, trying to sooth him. Once Trowa got his wind back, the smaller boy let out a small sigh of relief. Then with the softest smile on his face, touched noses with the prince.
Quatre: (whispers) "Baka. I'm not worth it."
Trowa: *smiles slightly* (also whispering) "That's for me to decide."
King: "How very touching. So touching.....that if I was anyone else, it would bring a tear to my eye."
Trowa/Quatre: "......." *both still kneeling on floor*
King: "I think you should lay off the romance novels for a while Trowa. You're taking this tragic hero business way too seriously." *stops infront of the couple* "There is no happy ending for you two."
Trowa: *moves to shield Q* "......he has nothing. Would it be so hard just to spare him?"
King: "Nothing? Ho ho. My dear boy. A lot of people have nothing. That is why they steal, commit crimes. As the next ruler you should know this by now."
Trowa: "..........."
King: "Such determination in your eyes." *sigh* "You surprise me. If only you showed this strength at a younger age." *takes deep breath* "Is it because you have grown to become a man?" *looks at Q* "Or because you've finally found something that interests you?"
Quatre: "......." *reaches for T's sword a foot away*
King: "But I'm afraid you are doing this all for the wrong reasons. Speak. Why must you protect this boy so? This person whom you've only met about a month before. What do you know of him? He is practically a stranger to you. Don't tell me you have falling in love with someone thus easily. Let alone a boy."
Trowa: "If this is the way, then I have nothing to say."
King: "He is only using you. You know that."
Trowa: "I don't know. And I won't believe it."
Quatre: "......." *lets go of sword*
King: "Then you are a fool. How many times must he say, that he doesn't care for anyone else as long as he can kill me. Let it go before it is too late."
Quatre: "Yes. Stop before it's too late.....because....we're destined to be apart!"
Spinning into view, Quatre leaped into the air and whipped his arm. All Trowa could see was little streaks of light passing by his head, then the billow of black behind him.
Wufei: *holds up 5 needles* "Never thought you could hide so many weapons under that flimsy clothing."
Duo: *picks the needles out of the blade of his scythe* "And dangerous ones at that."
Quatre: "You were all so quiet I thought you left."
Meiran: "That's not possible. We have sworn to protect the Prince. The royal family included."
Quatre: I'm surrounded...."Hmph. I should have known it wouldn't end so easily." *looks at H* "........."
Trowa: *takes Q's hand* "Stop here. Don't fight back. I promise no harm will come to you."
King: "......." Still thinking this way....... *lookst at Q* You must know it isn't possible...what will you do?
Quatre: "I.......I...."
King: "....." It's impossible for him to forget.
Quatre: *lets out deep breath* "..It's too late....to do anything now.."
King: *chuckles quietly* "......" Perfect.
Quatre: "Get back. Or I'll jam this into his artery."
Heero, Duo, Meiran and Wufei moved back and away as they were told. While Trowa was holding on to his left hand before, he had left Quatre's right hand free. Before any of them knew it, the boy had retrieved a needle from...somewhere and was holding it against Trowa's neck. The look in the boy's eyes let everyone know he meant business. Even the king looked a little unnerved. But that was only for a second.
King: "Look. You are being used again."
Trowa: "........." Quatre.....
Quatre: "It's useless for you to try to protect your prince now. Get out of my way, and I'll make sure he doesn't die too painfully."
Duo: "Heartless monster." *stepping back*
Meiran: "He's doing everything for you. Can't you see that?" *also stepping back*
Quatre: "I never asked him to do anything for me. He was just doing what he wanted."
Wufei: "Have you ever thought about why he was doing the things he did?"
Quatre: "That has nothing to do with me. As long as I can kill your murderous king, then my purpose is complete."
Trowa: "........" Quatre....you....
<<<< Q: "This is just a puppet. Kept until my final purpose is accomplished."
T:"Final...... purpose?"
Q: "You don't have to know." >>>>
Is this what you meant at the time?
Quatre: "I might as well tell you. This is no ordinary needle. It's actually a fine open capillary. Once this pierces into a bloodvessle, the difference in the body's internal pressure and atmospheric pressure will cause a suction to run though the capillary much like drinking from a straw." *evil grin* It will slowly drain the blood out of his body until it's completely dry. The tip on the needle is stronge but maliable. The force needed to push the needle in will bend the tip once it is imbeded. Meaning that the end of this needle will form something close to a fish hook. If you try to yank it out, it will tear the bloodvessle it is imbeded in. If you're not lucky, maybe even sever it." *pokes needle harder into T's neck* "Either way, it's a long and painful way to die. You wouldn't want that for your prince now would you?"
Heero: "Trowa!"
King: "So you've finally come to your senses."
Trowa: "........" *takes hold of Q's hand and the needle* "I would willingly die by his hand. But will you let him do it?"
King: "..!?"
Trowa: "Will you let your one and only heir die before you when you had a chance to save him. What would the rest of the people think?"
King: "Insolent son."
Trowa: "I won't let him take your life. But in return, you must not take his."
Quatre: "Trowa!" *tries to free needle from T's grasp* What is he doing? Is he crazy? This is too dangerous. "Trowa. Let go. There is poison on the tips. If it gets into your bloodstream....."
Trowa: "I don't care."
Quatre: "Baka! There is no antidote for it, the only thing that can counter it is..."
Trowa: *smiles* "........."
Quatre: "Why are you smiling like an idiot!"
Trowa: "Because.....I know you care."
Quatre: "!!!.... Don't be stupid."
Quatre's eyes went wide, then back to normal. Trowa could feel the boy's body tense for a minute before relaxing. His head seemed to droop for a moment also.
Suddenly, a strange laugh emitted from the boys mouth. It sounded hollow, almost forced.
Quatre: "This game gets more fun every minute." *looks up* "Useless things are no different than garbage." *steps forward, turns around to face T* "Of course, garbage must be treated like garbage and be disposed of. Since it is useless."
Without warning, Quatre jabbed the needle hard into Trowa's neck. The prince's eyes grew wide in shock. He pressed a hand to his neck to where the needle lay embeded.
Duo: "Trowa!"
Meiran: "Ooji-sama!" [prince]
Heero: "Quatre...what are you..!?"
Wufei: "teme!" [you]
Turning to face them, the small boy's expression didn't change. He straightened his arms and spread his fingers. When the closed his fists, 5 needles were in each hand. Not blinking, he threw them like a finely trained ninja. Only barely did they manage to evade the points. He repeated the process over and over, keeping them at bay by an endless shower of poisonous capillaries.
Trowa: *walking shakily* "Ka......to......ru......"
All he could see was the blurry movements of Quatre's hand whipping through the air. He could feel each needle pierce into his body. Muffled sounds of people screaming and shouting his name reached his ears. But all these sensations seemed to float away from him. A warm blanket of darkness began to envelope him. Numb his mind. But he could hear one voice clearly, repeating itself over and over in his head.
"Useless trash"
