Title: Only Love Matters
Author: Annie_Tsu
Fandom: Gundam Wing
Pairing: 1x2, 3x4, 5x? (is wuffers even around?)
Summary: Heero finds the love of his life, unfortunately unattainable. So Heero pays an interesting visit to a mage and all of a sudden his love isn't exactly what he thought.
Archive: FFnet
Rating: PG-13
Parts: Unsure
Status: WIP
Series/Sequel: None
Website: none
Disclaimer: Don't own any part of Gundam Wing nor it's characters. Merely borrowing them for a little torture.
Authors notes & Warnings: Shounen ai, tad bit OOC, mpreg, crossdressing (future) and currently (but not for long) female Duo. FOR NOW!!!Chapter 1
A long pair of slender legs slid and twisted through the foliage, completely silent. Focused, amethyst eyes watched the tall pale figure, as it also sneaked through the brush. Sensing it was too close to its quarry, the legs stopped and allowed the distance between the two to increase.
The tall pale figure being followed, was the crown prince of the enigmatic and unknown Elven tribe, Silvermyst, that dwelt in the Forest. The amethyst eyes, the self-proclaimed protector of the Prince, followed the Prince's every movement, while also scanning the area for any potential danger. The Prince, Quatre, on the other hand, was more worried about making his rendezvous on time, then his safety. That of course, is what the protector was for. As soon as Quatre had been born, the amethyst eyed hero had sworn to protect the pale, blond, beautiful boy.
It was foolish of Prince Quatre to go out on his own, there had been rumors of a possessed wolf stalking and killing many visitors of the forest. The Prince's protector detected no sign of it yet, or of anything antagonistic at all, but that was no reason to let down your guard. Melting into the foliage, the Prince's protector followed, at a safe distance, on a mission to discover what the Prince had been doing for the last few weeks. Quatre had been sneaking off quite frequently of late. He was at the impetuous age of 17, and he was going, going, gone, all the time. True, the Prince didn't yet have to worry overly much about the burdens of ruling a tribe, his father was alive and well, as was the rest of his family, with the exception of his mother, who had died 10 years ago. All he cared about was the here and now, the future didn't exist for him yet. (A/n: Annie was watching Shogun...) Whoever he was meeting must be very important, as Quatre was normally a very open person, so for him to keep a secret, meant something was definitely up. His follower moved slowly, a long braid swaying silently at the hips. No one knew Quatre better than his guardian, so if something was up, it would be exposed and judged as dangerous or safe.
The crown Prince reached his destination, and his protector stopped just at the edge as well, looking on anxiously for any threat. Quatre seemed nervous, wringing his hands apprehensively, looking in all directions. His protector knew that his Prince only did this under extreme agitation. As the bushes on the opposite side of the Prince rustled, the braided protector's body tensed, delicately pointed ears twitching with anticipation. Long slim fingers tightened on the short elven dagger at the protector's side, ready to draw it and kill if need be. The protector was about to leap forth when the bushes parted, revealing a tall auburn haired. . . . human?
The protectors blade stilled in apprehension. What was the crown prince doing meeting a human? It was unheard of, elves didn't associate with them, at least not for anything other than politics. Graceful eyebrows came together in a frown of worry, something was happening here and it didn't bode well for both the crown prince and his protector.
Hands clasped over a hastily stifled gasp as Quatre turned and embraced the tall human with a passionate fervor. A small rustle in the bushes behind them stole his attention, a thousand thoughts of what could be lurking in them ran through the protector's mind; a panther, wolf, a troll, or even more irritating, a dwarf!?
A low growl emitted deep within the protector's throat and to his shock, there came a similar answering one from ahead of him. A low moan tore the amethyst eyed protector's attention from the rustling bushes only to see the crown prince locked in passionate embrace with the human. He pulled his dagger up, the two. . . . lovers unaware, the human looked as if he was eating Quatre! Righteous anger coursed through the Prince's guardian, lifting his blade in a quick deft motion, he aimed for the human's throat. The rustling across from the prince's private guard got louder, and violet eyes snapped toward that direction. Whatever it was lurking in the underbrush, it sounded large, easily human size, if not larger. The only thing the experienced hunter could think of, that would be anywhere near here, was a wolf, the possessed wolf. Another moan distracted the guard once more. The prince sounded as if he was in actual pain; and the human looked like he was gnawing on Quatre like a fine meal.
Needing to get one worry off his mind, the Princes personal protector leaped out from the bushes, his knife aimed once more. "Cease your feasting, human!"
At the same time, a low, dangerous voice called out, an arrow knocked and aimed cried, "Release the prince from this spell you've laid on him, elf!" Amethyst eyes glared at deep blue. Both princes separated from one another, staring in shock at their guards. Sparing a glance back at Quatre, he saw him unharmed.
“Quat-” The question ended in a gasp as the blue eyed man swung his fist, connecting solidly with the pale jaw of Quatre's protector. Staggering back, the protector dropped to the ground, shaking its head to clear away the stars. Quatre's lover was being dragged back into the bushes by the dark eyed man.
~*~*~
Never in his life had Heero been so infuriated. The nerve of those-those elves; and his Prince for falling for their tricks! It was a good thing he had chosen to follow Prince Trowa today, or who knows what could have happened. And then that boy that had jumped from the foliage to attack him, no doubt some sort of rash elf hunter.
Heero thought back on the ridiculously long hair and huge violet eyes. The hunter looked like a woman and Heero hated nothing more than men who looked like women. He looked toward his Prince, his cousin, who was silently fuming at the intrusion of the little tryst with his lover. He knew his cousin would probably not speak to him for the rest of eternity for this, but he needed to say something.
“You have responsibilities as Prince, Trowa,” Heero said quietly, stalking close at the heels of the irate royal.
Something came out of the tall Prince that could be ‘Go to hell’ or ‘I understand’, the Prince was a very effective mutterer.
“Trowa,” Heero warned. “You have been bewitched by that misbegotten creature!”
Trowa turned and fixed his cousin with murderous green eyes.
~*~*~
“Quatre, you have been bewitched by that misbegotten creature.” Violet eyes flashed with disapproval.
The aforementioned blond elf Prince crossed his hands defiantly, glaring at his protector. “I love him.”
The guard shrugged. “A love spell then.”
Quatre glared at his protector, "Why are you being such an interfering-interfering- GIRL!?" He continued heatedly, "Just because you are my sister doesn't mean you can intrude on my life!"
A disgusted gasp emitted from her lips. "Excuse me, your Highness, but I promised Mother I would take care of you. If that constitutes as intruding, so be it."
Any semblance of control gone, Quatre reached down into the moist sand, "Maybe its time you started acting like our mother, Duo! Stop binding your chest! Start wearing dresses and being a normal girl... And for goodness sake's," Quatre raised his pale, lithe arm, "Stay out of my life!"
A heavy mouthful of sand caught Duo directly in the face. Slowly it dripped down her neck and into her shirt. If Quatre hadn't been stalking away, she would have retorted, but as it was, it just would've sounded like a desperate attempt to get in the last word. Duo had heard that mud was good for the complexion, but with the feel of the slick, wet soil slipping into her shirt, her complexion was the last thing in mind, murdering the Crown Prince being the first and taking a bath a strong second.
"Damn," Duo looked into the sky. "Sorry Mother, I tried. . . . but for now, I really need a bath." Muttering to herself, she took off for the springs that she knew were frequented by her bird friends.
~*~*~
Sincerely pissed off, the normally unshakable dark haired man stomped through the forest. But the prince's behaviour had been plenty of reason to get ticked off. . . . not to mention the prince's temper tantrum and the fact that there was now a bucketful of mud splattering Heero's clothes. Heero Yuy stared at his mud splattered coat and a curse burst from his lips yet again.
What was Trowa thinking, falling for a accursed creature like an elf? And throwing mud, Heero shook his head. The normally stoic Prince had been reduced to the infantile actions of throwing mud at him to get him to leave the Prince alone, hence, his current state.
Heero moved off the small beaten path and into the underbrush, heading for some springs he recalled being in this area.
Duo dipped a slender leg into the rather cool water of the springs. "Stupid princes, just who do they think they are?" Duo pulled viciously on her hair, letting it cascade down her back, and dipped it in the water, "Just because they think-"
"- they are in love, it's the greatest thing in the whole world," Heero pushed away branches blocking his way, a sneer twisting his features. "Throwing tantrums... If it was not for me-"
"-He could be lying dead, tricked by that. . . . human!" Duo disappeared under the water angrily.
"-elf!" Heero yanked harshly at his vest and tore it off. "At least I know exactly what I want! No spell will fool me. The perfect one for me has to be beautiful, sweet and she has to be. . . ." Suddenly, Heero's eyes were trained on the most lovely creature bathing in the crystal clear springs, scrubbing her fingers through a cascade of chestnut locks. With a graceful and erotic motion, she came up from the water, her skin shimmering in the sunlight filtering through the trees. She was perfect, her every graceful curve, every gentle movement. Slowly his thoughts came to completion, "You." he breathed out in awe.
Duo tried to get most of the mud from her long hair, wondering yet again why she'd bothered to leave it so long. "At least I know exactly what I want, the perfect one for me has to be brave, handsome and he has to be..." She looked up and saw him. . . . the man who put his fist to her jaw just moments ago, "YOU!" She yelled furiously.
~*~*~
Far away, leaning over a scrying pool, a figure observed the first meeting of the duke of Windhurst, and the princess of Silvermyst. Hatred burned in her eyes as she noted the lithe figure of the princess and the adoration written in the duke's eyes. Years of searching had been for naught. Once again her perfect mate was to be taken by someone else. This couldn't happen, was not allowed to happen. A sneer twisted her lips, arranging once pretty features into something undeniably ugly. "I will have you, Heero Yuy, if it is the last thing I do."
Chapter 2
By the all the spirits in the forest, it was that HUMAN, that human who hit her earlier, that human who was with that other human, the one that had put that love spell on her little brother. "What are you doing here?" She growled at him. He didn't respond right away, instead he was staring at her intensely. With a fierce realization, Duo remembered she was bathing. . . . naked. With a squeal of horror, Duo crossed her arms over her naked chest. "Stupid pervert!" She spat, flinging water over the man. "Human!" She used the term derogatorily.
Heero realized a little too late that he had been staring at a maiden, naked. And not just any maiden, an elven maiden. With a properly apologetic turn, he shifted his head, muttering something akin to an apology, then apparently realizing he had not a single reason to stay, took off through the bush, shaking his head. He tore through the forest, turning a heretofore unseen shade of red, trying to clear his head of the memory of the creamy smooth skin, the supple build of her body, the perfect shape of her- still tripping over his once graceful feet, Heero clasped his hands over his head, willing his mind not to recall the proud rise of her.... NO!!! Gasping, ever so slightly, he brought to mind the image of her hair, her glorious hair. Thats right think about her hair, not her- HAIR!
Duo scrambled to the bank, hugging her muddy wet clothes to her body, feeling horribly dirty. . . . and terribly vulnerable. The nerve of those human men, she thought. Unable to relax anymore, she swiftly rinsed off her clothes and got redressed, deciding that a full bath would have to wait until she got back to her clans hot springs. A small rustle of wings caught her attention as she focused on her feathered friend resting on her shoulder. Duo whispered to the bird, “Have you ever had this problem? Arrogant human men peeping? Of course not." She laughed at herself, “How could they? Birds don't wear clothes, only feathers.”
The bird whistled in her ear, ~Don't worry, males make ways to be rude.~
Duo scowled a little, "Humans find it comes naturally for them though, especially that one."
The small brown bird twittered, “Males always ruffle their features and bring you fruits and things but when it comes to eggs, it is good bye” Duo laughed. Then, securing his small friend on her shoulder, she headed back to her village.
~*~*~
Heero growled, annoyed. Once again he was following Trowa, most likely doing the same thing he did yesterday. If it wasn't for the prospect of finding out more about the gorgeous and tempting elf wench, he would stop Trowa here and now. But Heero had seen a similarity between the Trowa's elf-lover's protector and Heero's own love. They had the same hair, the same build, and the same eyes. They had to be related somehow, siblings perhaps. So Heero followed the Prince in silence, fuming at his insensibility, but glad for the chance to find out more of his lovely elven woman. He'd have to apologize as soon as he could, it had been improper of him to look on like that. As a man, he couldn't allow such a thing to go unmentioned. But deep down inside, Heero couldn't help but be satisfied that he saw the lovely elf's. . . hair, but for now he would settle for seeing her face, her eyes, to see those lovely eyes look at him in demure admiration and respect.
Heero straightened up and continued following his best friend. Just how far was he planning on going? They were getting dangerously close to the elven tribe. That could be treading on violent waters if this little lover's tryst was discovered. The blond was once again putting his wiles onto his Prince, grinding his body wantonly against that of his cousin's. Using his black magic to gain Trowa's trust like that, he had thought his cousin was stronger than that, but apparently he was wrong. Idly, he wondered if his lovely elven maiden would use black magic on him? Of course, no magic would be needed to get him to fall in love with her. He already was, and the only words they'd exchanged were, "human" and "pervert." He would find her again, if it took him a lifetime.
Trowa seemed to be slowing down now, his eyes were searching more warily amongst the trees. Heero's did the same, though he was looking for someone different. The Prince's eyes lighted on something, or someone. With a silent tread, he came up behind his blond lover and whispered into his ear. Heero on the other hand was looking amongst the trees and the bushes for the blond's guardian. There. Slowly, Heero made his way over to him, but apparently he caught sight of Heero first. Leaping up, he growled dangerously at him. Heero held out his hands to show that he wasn't coming to attack him or his charge. "I just need to ask you some questions." Now that he had a better look at him, Heero thought he looked almost identical to the girl he saw bathing yesterday. Perhaps they were twins even. It would explain the resemblance.
The braided one growled again and flexed his fingers. "PERVERT!" He cried and smacked him across the face, immediately bringing a bright red hand print to his face. Now it was Heero's turn to growl. With a stormy expression he leaped forward onto the braided elf, throwing him to the ground, raising his arm up to return the favor, but the elf rolled away, slipping out from under him and jabbed his elbow into his back. This whole time, the two lovers had just stared, but now the blond elf stood in defense of his protector.
"Duo!" And he jumped in, digging his fingers into Heero's neck, making Heero's vision go fuzzy. Heero turned to the blond, intending to bash his head against the braided one's but the braided protector had slipped away. Trowa watched, finally he waded in, yanking Heero up and out of the little roll on the forest floor. Quatre didn't realize this though and grabbed the nearest pair of legs, yanking him down. Realizing that he had pulled his lover down with him, Quatre grinned and kissed him. Heero glared in disgust, turning his eyes towards the retreating braid. Now that his temper had been released and he was no longer fuming, he realized that the braid had probably only been acting in retaliation for his sister, a righteous reason indeed.
Duo stared down at her muddied clothes. . . again. . . . Every time they met, she ended up drenched in mud. A soft chittering got her attention as a small brown squirrel ran up her arm and settled on her shoulder, don't you start," Duo admonished her best animal friend, Chip. The squirrel chattered again and seemed to be laughing at her, much to Duo's annoyance. Duo reached a fist up, in mock anger and pretended to threaten the little animal, who proceeded to scamper up a tree and watched his master with wary amusement.
~You really should wash that off, princess~ the squirrel chattered with glee. The princess growled and wiped a bit of mud from her shirt and threw it in the squirrel's direction, but he easily dodged it, just like always. The critter retaliated by throwing an acorn shell right at the princess and hit her squarely in the forehead, just like always.
Duo laughed good naturedly, but raised a mock threatening fist at the squirrel. "If you weren't shorter than me, I'd deck ya one!" As she raised her fist, another dollop of mud splattered to the floor, causing her to sigh once more. Men, they were so rowdy and so dirty, why couldn't they just stay clean for once. Dejectedly, she trudged toward a small secluded spring, that she was fairly certain she was the only who knew about it. Taking a swift glance around for anyone getting an extra eyeful, she took off her top and dipped it in the water, then set it on a rock so it could dry. Removing her bindings and her pants, she dipped into the water, shivering against the chill and eased herself in. She liked this place, there was a small waterfall where she could rinse her hair, and clear white sand to rub through it to wash off the grime. She stood under the rushing water, letting the mud wash from her long locks as rivulets of it cleaned those stuck on her smooth creamy skin
Heero followed the departing figure of the elf prince's guard but soon was lost as the forest converged to hide the elf from his view. Looking around, he cursed the elves for their excellent stealth. Beginning to lose hope, he slowed down, searching for any sign of a disruption amongst the foliage. Heero heard water rushing, and perhaps splashing. Needing to know if it was his love, he ventured closer, when suddenly a dozen birds took off for the air, chirping and cawing wildly.
Duo's eyes opened sharply. "Who. . . Grr. . ." She jumped from the water, her relaxing bath interrupted once more.
They came in all directions, in all breeds, pecking clawing, flapping their wings at him, forcing Heero step my step from the waterfall. He raised his arms in defense, then finally he covered his head with his arms and pretended to take off, but not yet. . . . He couldn't leave, not if there was a chance that his beloved was waiting for him. He turned, hoping to circle around.
Hastily pulling some clothes, Duo took off in the sound of the disturbance, knowing instinctively her own human pervert had returned. Taking off at top speed, Duo had only managed to pull on her breeches, leaving her chest half unbound. Running in that direction, she smacked into a hard wall of muscle and landed on her behind. "Owww...." she complained, pushing her hair out of her eyes. Duo squinted upward, her eyes widened.
Duo couldn't help be exasperated at the fact that her wet hair was now sitting in the dirt and rotting leaves covering the forest floor. Today just wasn't her day. She peered up and stared into deep blue eyes. "Oh shit," she scrambled to her feet, backing off from Heero, and feeling awfully vulnerable in her unbound state.
“What do you want, you disgusting man, come for another look? 'Cause you aren't getting one." She glared straight into his eyes.
"I wish to apologize for my rudeness yesterday," Heero's eyes glowed as he drank in the lovely vision his elf maiden made.
"Rude?" Duo's voice went up a notch, remembering how he had stared at her yesterday, as if she was a meal to be eaten. "It was more than rude, it was completely perverted and brainless!" She swung her fist at Heero again but the warrior was ready this time and caught it easily.
"Tis unbecoming of a maiden to raise her hand in violence," Heero admonished softly, relishing in the soft feel of her skin beneath his palms. Up close, she was even more enchanting. She was a spirited little thing, but practically overflowing with life. she was excitement and joy and amazement and everything he had not even known he had wanted rolled into one delicate package. Alright, so maybe not so delicate, Heero thought as a fist connected with his stomach.
~*~*~
Duo plaited her hair that evening as she prepared for bed. Today had been long, and in the morning she intended to give Quatre a piece of her mind. Just like she had to that human. Well maybe not just like, he was her brother after all. But Quatre certainly deserved a stern talking to. If he couldn't be persuaded to cease and desist all activities with the human Prince, Duo would just have to stop him with brute force.
She'd sure given that arrogant human an earful too. After socking him in the gut, she laid it into him. If he'd had any interest in her, it had to be gone now. Not only had she said what she felt about him, Duo had also given him her opinion of the entire human race. He was probably quite turned off and the sight of her breasts was the farthest thing from his mind. Pervert.
Folding back the covers, she lay down in bed, drifting restlessly between sleep and consciousness. It was all that humans fault.
~*~*~
Heero walked silently, towards a secret quarry. Though he had received a serious ego popping from his maiden already today, he wasn't going to give up. They were meant to be together. Heero had never been the romantic type and maybe it was the pressure from his family to get married that also added to it; but he was enamored with her, and he would do all in his power to get her.
He'd been told of a witch who lived in the woods, someone who, for the right price would help with love problems. Heero's intent was not to bespell his lovely maiden, but instead to find a way to persuade her to like him. If this witch could just tell him what needed to be done, or maybe make him look more favorable in her eyes, perhaps he would have a chance.
The dark-haired man came upon a rundown shack, with weeds and vines creeping along the walls and between boards, it didn't look inhabitable, but there was a dim light coming from the inside. Heero walked up to the door, it may or may not be the witch's abode, but there was only one way to find out. Heero knocked on the door. Through it, he heard a voice call. “Come in.”
Heero opened the door and stepped in. As soon as he did he was flooded with a pleasing aroma, the room was pleasantly warm, and the light filled the room making it seem quite homely. The inside was completely opposite the outside. The “hut” seemed more like a mansion. It was impossible for the amount of room to fit in the hut that he had perceived outside. Perhaps that was just the witch's power.
“Hello?” He called out and walked in, looking for the stereotypical little old lady with a wart on her nose. Instead, he walked into the kitchen and saw a willowy figure with long blond hair and a pleasant, young face staring back at him.
“Can I help you?” She said, a small smile playing on her lips. “Oh, but I already know what you want, Duke Heero Yuy.”
Heero's eyes narrowed, “You- You do?”
The witch laughed, “Of course! What kind of witch would I be if I couldn't read people's desires, especially when they are displayed for all to see, like yours are.”
Heero grinned a bit nervously, “So can you do it? Help me make her fall in love with me?”
“Does the sun rise in the morning? Of course I can, but there is a price, just a little one.”
Heero looked at her suspiciously, “What do you mean price?”
“Nothing in this world is free, my dear duke.” Her periwinkle eyes turned and looked at him directly. “Fear not, all I want is a lock of hair. Just one little lock.”
“Thats all?” Heero asked in surprise. “No money, no land, nothing?”
“I'm a caring, giving sort of person.” She took out a small dagger and approached Heero. “Do we have a deal?” At Heero's nod, she took the dagger and cleanly cut of a small lock of his dark brown hair, tightly gathering the strands in the palm of her hand. “When you wake in the morning, the deed will be done. Come see me in one week.” She turned her back to Heero to signal the end of the discussion.
Heero bowed to her and left, his heart soaring, yet he still felt uncertain. Nothing was ever that simple. . . . was it?
~*~*~
The witch wrapped the strands of hair in a cloth before locking it away in the cupboard. Pulling out a black onyx stone, set in a gold, she put it on the table and muttered a long incantation. Her eyes stayed locked on the stone. It glowed, just a little, a small pulse of power and she stumbled over her words, kind of stuttering through a small phrase. She needed to keep focused! She brought her attention back and concentrated on the words and her intent. If there was no feeling or desire behind the spell, it wouldn't have any power.
When she was finished, she put the onyx stone on a chain and placed it on her neck. “It is done.” She stood, turning out the lights and went to her scrying pool and conjured an image of the sleeping elf. “In the morning my dear, the term tomboy will take on a new meaning.” Her lips sneered, “Lets just see how much Heero loves you after this.” She laughed loudly, before heading to bed herself. Today had been very productive indeed.
Outside her window, a flock of birds took off, chattering amongst themselves.
~*~*~
Duo awoke that morning, the early morning light shining on her face. Groaning, she pulled herself out of bed, ready to go for the day. Throwing back the covers, she stood, intending to begin dressing. Something was wrong. Something was definitely wrong. She jumped. Definite lack of balance in her upper half. She looked down.
A long loud scream filled the Elven clan, waking any sleeping member.
. CHAPTER 3
Quatre, Prince of the Silver Myst Elves, was half drowsing in bed, dreaming of his wonderfully handsome human lover. Even in slumber, a sleepy smile that would have resembled an idiotic grin if he was fully lucid curved the soft lips of the prince. Apparently his dreams took a turn for the not so good as creases started to form along his smooth creamy forehead. The prince frowned as another person entered his once perfect dreams, namely his sister, the Princess Duoviele.
Duoviele, or Duo as she was called affectionately by her family was, Quatre had to grudgingly admit, a very good sister, though a tad over protective. And it was this over protectiveness that drove the prince up the wall. Of course, Quatre understood his sister was older than him but only by a mere fifty years, that wasn’t even a blink in the life of a long lived elf. Who was she to think that she could rule his life and make all the decisions for him?
Quatre’s pleasant dream was turning into a veritable nightmare as his sister stalked into his wonderful dream in the middle of a rather erotic scene involving cream and some form of drippy, juicy, sticking fruit screaming about Trowa putting him in a spell. Then Duo proceeded to brain his lover with the uneaten fruit, screaming all the way.
With that horrible sound, Quatre jolted to full awareness, feeling slightly disoriented. Unfortunately, the screaming still went on and on. The prince leaped to his feet, recognizing where that sound was coming from.
Duo’s room.
Quatre grabbed his sword and dashed out the door, toward the sound. The sibling’s room was situated far away from the main body of the palace; their father had deemed them too noisy for the rest of the household. Whenever the royal siblings were together, glass breaking and loud sounds were inevitable, hence the King’s decision to put them in quarters as far removed from the clan as possible. Since the two were well accomplished warriors, there was little that could endanger them, well, except each other.
“Duo!” Quatre yelled, tearing down the hallway, sword bared and burst through his sister’s bedroom door.
The sight he met caused his already large aquamarine to widen to epic proportions. A nearly naked male elf was standing in middle of the room, screaming his head off; Duo was no where to be seen.
“Where is my sister and what have you done to her?” Quatre yelled, pointing his sword at the elf threateningly.
~*~*~
Duo stared down her body, and screamed long and loud.
This wasn’t her body! Panicked, she ran to the mirror, ripping off all her clothes and stared and stared and stared some more.
This is a nightmare, this isn’t happening, this isn’t my body! The same litany ran through Duo’s head over and over. She stared at the male body in the mirror and resisted the urge to scream again. Gone was every part of her that was female and replaced with everything predominantly male.
This is a nightmare, this isn’t happening, this isn’t my body! Her breathing hitched, as a vice closed around her lungs as she started to pant wildly.
The door exploded inwards, emitting her brother, still tousled from sleep, his sword drawn, pointing it at her. “Where is my sister and what have you done to her?”
Turmoil ran through Duo’s head. Her own brother didn’t recognize her? Spirits, she had to say something to him before her brother ran her through.
“Quatre, it is me, Duo,” she yelled, only, that wasn’t what that came out.
“Well, little lover boy, ready to get some spanking?” She saw her mouth move from the mirror and heard the words spilling out.
His brother’s eyes widened at the suggestion and lunged at Duo, his arm extended.
“Hey,” Duo squawked, scrambling for her sword by her bedside. She barely managed to blocked her brother’s attack.
“Where is my sister?” Quatre pressed, rage burning in his eyes. “If you have hurt her in anyway. . . .” He left the threat hanging. He took another swipe of the sword at Duo.
Duo backed away, in her haste, stumbling over some hastily discarded clothes. “Stop it, Quatre! I’m…” Another block. “Going to make your sweet, young, little body all mine!” One of her hands clamped over her mouth as she groaned inwardly. What the hell was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she say what she meant to say?
“I am going to kill you!” Quatre thrust the sharp sword at Duo, unrealising he was about to commit murder. “Tell me where Duo is!”
Almost ready to scream in frustration, Duo tried once more. “Damn it, Quatre, Duo is… the sweetest little piece of ass ever to grace this earth.” Shit! She gave up trying to explain and just plain dove for cover as a flurry of sword thrusts came in her direction.
“Nobody touches my sister and gets away with it,” Quatre fumed, diving in the direction of the fleeing brunet. “You coward, get your ass back here like a man!”
“I’m not a man,” Duo screamed, not wanting to engage her brother in battle. While she was touched at Quatre’s protectiveness, this was getting to be a pain.
That stopped Quatre for a while as the blond stared at Duo in confusion. Not a man? Well, this was all some elaborate trick to throw him off balance. He had seen the elf nearly naked. That was no maiden. “Get back here coward and give me back my sister!”
A well aimed cut of the sword tore the remnants of the pants off Duo, leaving her completely unclothed as she squawked in indignation, leaping for a blanket. She hastily wrapped herself in it and turned angry eyes at her now stunned brother. Striding toward Quatre, she slapped him across the face.
“Don’t you ever do that again, you hear me?” Duo pushed her brother aside, rushing to the closet to get more clothes to cover herself.
The blond stood pole-axed, having seen something that could not belong to any other but her sister. Standing out in stark contrast of the elf’s pale hip was a tattoo of the royal house of the Silver Myst elves, and next to it, a scar that Duo got saving Quatre from a falling tree branch when they were younger.
There could be no mistake, this elf maiden was Princess Duoviele, Prince Quatre’s sister, but this elf was also blatantly male.
Duo, in a midst of pulling on some clothes heard a dull thud from the middle of the room. She turned to find her brother, Crown Prince Quatre with normally nerves of steel, fainted dead away.
~*~*~
Quatre woke to the not so gentle slapping across one cheek and from that motion, he recognized it as his sister’s less than subtle method of waking her ‘baby’ brother up. With a frustrated growl, the young prince slapped at his sister’s hand.
“Lemme alone!” He mumbled turning away from the blurry form of his sister’s long haired, purple eyed visage.
“Wake up,” a voice deeper than Duo’s called out to him.
“Uhm…” Quatre mumbled, trying to draw the covers up over his head. “Had a weird dream. You were a man.”
Silence for a spell, before a rather forlorn voice said, “Yes, I am.”
Blue/green eyes snapped open, taking in the long chestnut hair and deep amethyst eyes. “DUO?” Quatre yelped.
Those eyes shimmered with unshed tears and laden with fear as Duo nodded. Her features were now turned slightly more masculine, but still maintained the beauty that made her the most sought after elf-maiden in Silver Myst. “What happened to me, Quatre? I’m male.” She hugged her knees forlornly, staring at her brother’s wide eyed gaze, wishing desperately this was a bad nightmare.
“But. . . but. . . .” Quatre stammered. “How did this happen?”
That seemed to be the straw that laid the camel’s back flat. The tears that Duo was so bravely suppressing overflowed. “I. . . . d-don’t k-know. I w-woke up li. . . .like this…”
Quatre gathered his brother. . . . no sister in his arms and tried his best to comfort him… her, feeling how uncomfortable it was to hold another man besides his Trowa like that. This sobbing male -- no damn it, it was Duo, not another male, it was his sister Duo! -- this sobbing elf was nothing like the bright spirit Duo usually was and desperate to make her smile again, Quatre said the first thing that came to mind.
“Well, I have always wanted an older brother.”
Duo’s head came up abruptly, staring at Quatre, gaping. For a moment the prince thought Duo was about to burst into tears again, only to hear a full bellied laugh echoing around the room. The blond was rewarded with a playful, yet painful punch, reminiscent of his tomboy sister.
“That was so uncalled for,” Duo wiped the tears away, seemingly in control of her, well, at this point in time, his emotions once more. “Honestly, I have always wondered what it was like to been a male.”
The siblings stared at each other and burst into laughter once more. The merriment was cut off abruptly when two dozen guards burst through the closed door, fully armed.
“Returned our princess to us, intruder!” the captain of the guard yelled. “Or suffer the pain of death.
tbc...