| Gundam Wing: Legend of Mystiks Chapter 43 � Is everyone here now?� Halcyon asked, glancing around. � Hai,� came the chorused response. � All right then. This is it. They�re already here and are preparing themselves for their war. We will split up and ask them to leave first. If they do not, then we attack. For some of you such tatics may be crude, but it�s the only way to take care of the problem before it gets out of control. You wait here. We shall ask and if they refuse, we will challenge them.� The Intrepid Mystiks moved away from the others and stood in a circle. � Six to a team,� Halcyon stated. � Duo, Cosmos, Heero, Airia, Zechs, and myself are one team. We will speak with the Hekatats. The rest of you will speak with the Restars. They should let you in, for they do not fear what they believe is helpless. Go.� They split up and headed off in opposite directions. They tried to negotiate, but were met with the same unwavering negative. They regrouped and returned to the other Mystiks, who quieted at their arrival. The Intrepid Mystiks remained in the air as Halcyon spoke. � They have refused, as expected. The resources here are just too good to pass up. We must fight.� Abruptly, there was a cry from the back of the groups. The very few female Mystiks there were shoved to the front, which could only mean that the newcomers were Ferals. But strangely, the Ferals trotted right through the Mystiks, who weren�t going to strike until they were struck first. They stopped in front of the Intrepid Mystiks and stared up at them. � What do you want?� Halcyon asked roughly, not pleased at the stir created by this common enemy. � It best be good or you�ll regret it.� The leader nodded. �We know you outnumber us, but we did not come here to fight. We have come to offer our aid in this war.� � So you heard about it. Why are you interested in helping us?� �This is our home as well and we�d like to keep living here. We are willing to help you until the war is over. Then we shall be enemies again.� � So you�re going to attack us while we�re down, huh?� �Iie. We will leave and allow a day to pass for you to move any of your wounded. If by the next day there are some left, they are prey. Fair enough?� Halcyon nodded. � It is a truce then.� She turned back to the Mystiks. � All right, minna! Listen up!� She explained the new situation, then turned back to the Feral leader. � Is there anything you�d like to add?� �Not really. There are enough of us to carry your troops, if that is all right.� Halcyon eyed the Feral, but it wasn�t lying. She relayed the information and the Mystiks reluctantly paired off with the Ferals, whose backs were as high as their waist. The females were especially hesitant, but the older Ferals had made it a point to be paired with them and managed to explain why they were doing what they were doing and everyone eventually resettled. � Now that we�re ready, let�s go! Spare no energy! This is our home we�re fighting for!� The Restars and Hekatats were completely unprepared. They fought back as best they could, but they were not as familiar with the terrain as their enemy was. Unfortunately, the two outnumbered the Mystiks and Ferals six-to-one. � It�s hopeless!� Airia cried as another Mystik and Feral fell to the onslaught of Hekatats. � It isn�t!� Cosmos yelled back. � It can�t be! We can�t lose!� Halcyon took a moment to glance around, then panicked. � Where are they?! They were right here!� Her panic made the other two Intrepid Mystiks frantic and they began searching the battlefield for their fallen princes. Airia began to sink to the ground, though her yellow wings fluttered. � I failed him,� she murmured, tears clear on her cheeks. � I failed them both. Idon-sama will be so terribly angry with me, and Heero . . .� Cosmos was now quite distraught. Halcyon and Airia had both disappeared into the battle below and had not come back up. A flash of yellow drew her attention and she dove down to where Airia was kneeling in the midst of the fight. She grabbed the Intrepid Wind Mystik�s shoulders and shook her roughly. � Get up Airia!� Cosmos shouted, heedless of the tears falling down her face onto her knees. � Get up damn it!� � It�s no use, Cosmos . . .� � What are you saying?!� Cosmos wailed. � We are the symbol of our kind! We have to keep fighting! Don�t give up just because they�re gone!� Airia pushed her away and glared, also ignoring her tears. � You mightn�t�ve cared about them, but I did! And I failed! I totally fucked up!� she screamed. There was a moment of silence between the two and then Cosmos sat forward again. � You think I don�t care?! That I never cared?! This is war, Airia! �All feelings must be put aside�, isn�t that what Heero said?! Are you going to dishonor him by giving up and letting your feelings get in the way?!� It had the desired effect and Airia blinked. � I suppose you're right---� She glanced up and her eyes widened. � Cosmos!� She lunged forward, grabbed one of Cosmos� wings, and threw her from the ground. Cosmos tumbled helplessly, then regained her senses and caught herself. She looked at the plain below her that had become a bloody ocean and began to cry harder. � This isn�t the way it�s supposed to be!� she screamed to whoever would listen. � No one is supposed to die! Why is this happening again?!� From several miles away, an explosion rocked the area. Cosmos looked that way, barely able to see through her tears. <That must�ve been Pyre and Terestria. I wonder if they�re okay.> Then she felt Seraph�s sorrow. �They�re gone! What do we do now?!� Cosmos reached out to her friend. �Don�t worry, they�ll be all right.� �Sure thing,� was the snapped reply. �I bet yours are just fine!� Cosmos knew the hateful tone was just out of sadness. �Iie. Ours are gone as well.� Seraph�s sorrow increased. �Doushite? Doushite?! What did we do to deserve this punishment?! What did we do to earn it?! I might as well just---� �No Seraph! Not you too! Please don�t! I know they�re okay! They have to be!� Cosmos� link with Seraph fizzled out and could not be re-established. She sank to just three feet from the ground and waited there, wings beating rhythmically for whatever came. Through her thoughts, Cosmos heard a noise and turned. A Hekatat was headed right for her. It leapt and drove its teeth into her shoulder, dragging her to the ground. |