| Gundam Wing: Legend of Mystiks Chapter 25 � Mochiron!� Cosmos scoffed. � You thought he�d be single his whole life?� � Anou . . . Well how�d you know?� Cosmos puffed up with pride. � Shinigami-sama told me.� � Nani?!� � Now Cosmos,� Shinigami scolded. � You know better than to go around boasting. I know I taught you better than that.� � Sou,� Duo put in, � and off the top of my head I can think of one thing better than talking that you can do with your mouth.� � Duo!� There was an evil cackle from Duo, who was now laying on the misty ground, partially obscured by the thick white fog. � Gomen, Otousan. That was for Cosmos� ears only.� � Don�t worry, Shinigami-sama. I think you and he are misunderstanding each other. Either that, or I�m misunderstanding you both.� � You�d better hope so!� � Oh, good one, Duo! You�ve made your otousan paranoid!� � Oi! Stop talking about me as if I�m not here!� Duo just laughed like a lunatic. Upon Halcyon�s call, Duo and Cosmos returned to the castle where the others were discussing a Mystik meeting. � Let�s go!� � Iie.� They all stopped in surprise and turned to look at Cosmos. Strange. Usually she was so excited about flying. And Duo stood with her, just as solemn. � Doushite?� � I can�t fly.� They stared at her as if she were half goat. � You�re joking,� Terestria said finally. Cosmos shook her head. � I wish I were. Look, you all just go on without me. I�m sure I�ll meet them eventually.� � What are you going to do?� She shrugged. � I haven�t been feeling too well recently anyway. I think I�ll just nap for a while.� � I�m staying with her,� Duo announced. There was silent debate between the other ten. � All right,� Seraph said. � We won�t try to force you. If you change your mind, you know where to go.� Cosmos nodded and watched the others leave. Then she turned and headed back inside. Duo moved alongside her, one wing around her for comfort like an arm would normally be. � One thing,� Duo stated abruptly. � Hai?� � Why are Death and Life called �Primary Elements�?� � Because Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water can either bring Life or Death to others. It just depends on the controller.� � Sou ka.� He followed Cosmos into his room. � Why�d you come in here?� � Because your bed is huge and it�s warm from the sun.� Cosmos crawled under the covers and laid on her stomach, her eyes closed. � I love it in here.� She patted the bed beside her. � Come on, I know you�re tired too. Your eyes are still dark.� Duo was about to protest, but realized he did indeed feel like having a nap. He climbed into bed and pulled Cosmos against him, careful not to jar her wings too much, and rested his chin on the top of her head. He yawned. � Good idea.� *~*~* There weren�t that many of them. Just a few hundred per Element. They knelt as the Intrepid Mystiks flew in. � You may stand,� Halcyon said. � For now, we are all equals. When the time comes, however . . .� � Wakatta,� the Mystiks all responded simultaneously. One Death Mystik raised his hand. � Where is Cosmos?� Halcyon gave him a look. � Are you a Reaper?� � Hai. I was told she would be here along with Shinigami-sama�s son.� � Cosmos was . . . detained. Duo remained with her. Hopefully, if she does not come this gathering, she will attend the next.� <I�ll hog-tie her if that�s what it takes to get her here!> � Is that all?� The Reaper nodded. A Fire Mystik raised his hand. � How did you become Intrepid Mystiks?� � It just happened, as far as we know,� Pyre answered, gesturing at herself and the other girls. � We never felt anything because we were unconscious.� � The girls were in danger from Ferals and we were trying to protect them,� Wufei supplied. � It just happened.� � Can anyone be Intrepid Mystiks?� � I suppose it�s a possibility if the power is inside the person. I wouldn�t suggest trying it, though. It�s painful. Very painful.� Halcyon spoke up again. � All right, minna. Listen. Exactly one year from now, two warring races will arrive here to fight over their planet. They are slightly more advanced then we are, but will be concentrating on each other, using this planet�s resources for themselves and possibly using normal humans as meals for the troops. We are the only ones who know of this. Do not share this knowledge with a human, because they will tell everyone else and throw this planet into chaos, which is the last thing we need. Further details will be held until a month before the aliens arrive. For now you need to pair off, it doesn�t matter with who though one of the oppposite Element is best, and train. If you�re stuck with someone you don�t trust, get over it. We�ll all be relying on each other in a year; might as well start before it becomes necessary to do so. And make sure you come to check in with us at least every two months so we know you�re okay. If there are any accidents, come back here immediately. Have I made myself clear?� There were nods all around. � Then go.� The Intrepid Mystiks watched as Deaths and Lifes, Fires and Waters, and Winds and Earths paired off and left. There were a few who went with one who was of the same Element or one who wasn�t a direct opposite Element, but they mostly paired as Halcyon instructed. � Now what?� Zechs asked when the last Mystiks had gone. � Now,� Halcyon replied, � we train.� � And then?� � We wait.� Suddenly, there was a bright flash. When it died, the guys were gone. The girls looked around, then heard some noise and looked down. � Nani?!� |