Chapter 3

By: Malika

The royal palace in the center of the Chang dynasty was a splendid piece of art. It reflected the majesty of the kingdom, and the age-old wisdom of the people. True it was made up mainly of wood and pillars of carved stone, not like the fancy marble palace's of the Khrusendra kingdom, or the worked and shaped clay and stone palace's of the Winner kingdom, nor was it the strategically placed brick walls of the Yuy nation. But it had it's own unique quality that made any newcomer breathless upon witnessing the building. 

Even with all this art and wondrous architecture, this was not the reason that most came upon this rural beauty. No, they came for one of two things: the scholars in the eastern quarters that were known for creating both new spells and medicine for the people, or for the classic martial art training. 

The old Emperor knew all of this as he looked proudly over his kingdom from the main balcony in his private quarters. His chest swelled with pride in witnessing all of the people so satisfied with their lives, and glad that they followed his wise words. It was like watching your own child grow up. 

Not quite, the old Emperor frowned casting dark shadows upon his worn and wrinkled face. His son was a bit of a mystery to him. It wasn't that he wasn't the best son that he could have imagined, it was that he was too perfect, too honorable. The Emperor snorted, he hadn't known that there was such a thing. 

He shifted, for there was something else. It seemed that his son, the prince was not happy with his life, it seemed as though he was bored and un-content. The Emperor pondered this for many years, and yet still had no idea of what to do for his son. 

A soft, but demanding knock sounded on the outer doors of the balcony. The Emperor turned his head to the side slightly to see who had come to see him unannounced. 

A young man walked through the door with a haughty, yet graceful walk that was full of purpose beyond his years. The youth's ebony colored hair was bounded back strictly in a small tail that the Winner's called a "pony tail." The prince stopped in front of his father and bowed subtly before moving beside him.

"Wufei, why have you come to see me?" asked the Emperor softly looking to his son that seemed so much like his departed wife.

Wufei stiffened slightly, "I wished too see when the representatives from Khrusendra's country were coming in."

The Emperor chuckled, "Why does this matter to you? It'll just be a lot of talk about trading routes, nothing special."

"Well," Wufei ducked his head and lowered his voice, "I had a dream warning me about them." He looked up seriously, "I think something not pleasant for us is going to happen."

The Emperor stroked his long white beard thinking, "A dream told you this?"

Wufei winced, "Yes."

"Then we'll have to be careful, dreams have a way of telling us what is going to happen when it is important."

"Then, I will see you for supper then?" Wufei asked bowing shortly again.

The Emperor sighed and bowed back, "Yes, son you will."

The prince nodded and turned around walking with purpose once more this time to his favorite haunting grounds; the scholars would be delighted to have him around.

 The Emperor had a distant look on his face, seeing what there was nothing to see. "Could it be possible that another one has emerged?" asked himself softly. He looked up, "My son, be careful."

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Sooty and slightly singed the Shadow twirled around desperately in the flaming destruction of the lower city. It had been filled with people, people he swore he would protect once he discovered his power.

The only thing he heard now were screams of dying people, or the wailing of those who were alive over there dead, and there was nothing he could do. Tears streaked down from the violet eyes, digging a clear path through the dark soot plastered to his face.

He started walking down the burning street, seeing if there was anyway he could help the people. Those who were dead laid across the road, hanging out the windows, and packed like firewood against collapsed doors. The corpses pleaded to him from soulless and dead eyes. They asked why he couldn't help them, they asked why they failed them.

Those who were alive looked up at him with hatred. He was one of the legendary Shadows, he was supposed to stop this from happening.

And yet some strange, primal part of him basked in the death, the carnage. How could it not with his power being of the dead? Duo shed away from this desperately declining the beat of excitement of seeing the dead. Tears streamed freely down his face now as he shook his head rapidly denying the fact.

'No, no, no, no, no, no, NOOOOO!'

"DUO, WAKE UP!"

A slap brought him to consciousness. He panted tiredly and struggled to his feet. A bursting of pain slowed him, leaving the young mage gasping for breath. Strong hands pushed him backwards and he lay still panting and staring up at the headboard above his body.

Once he was sure that whatever slight movement he would do would not send him out again, he glanced around.

It seemed as though he was in a narrow room, no, make that a narrow moving room. He winced as a jolt sent more waves of pain through his already shocked nerves. Duo blinked realizing that someone was speaking to him.

He turned his head slowly to the person who was next to him. Duo blinked again. How did Trowa get there, or here, where was he? Oh, yes, the caravan. He blinked once more, he was in a wagon?

Trowa was still talking, and frowning too as he noticed that whatever he was saying wasn't getting to Duo. Duo struggled to understand what his partner was talking about.

"…feel okay?"

Duo snorted and then winced as even that hurt. Drops of sweat stung his eyes, and Duo tried to reach up to wipe them away only to find that he were too weak to do so. Trowa noticed this and stood up to reach something that was out of Duo's range of view, and Duo wasn't about to move to see what he was doing after what had happened when he tried to stand up.

Trowa moved back into his range with a small bowl filled with water. He dipped a folded rag into the ice cold water and placed it on Duo's forehead. Duo winced at the drastic coldness.

"How's that?"

Duo gulped and gasped out, "..fine."

Trowa nodded, "Now what happened?"

"They're dead, all dead, Tro. Khrusendra attacked the lower city and wiped out most of the civilians and all of the resistance. He was looking for you and me so he could have us alive."

"And let me guess they found you?"

Duo nodded and let a tear escape his guard, "Even Hilde. She warned me to duck and they killed her right in front of me."

Duo was silent. Trowa shook his head and cursed silently under his breath.

"Bastards!"

Duo nodded and swallowed trying to get some saliva down his parched throat. Trowa noticed this and picked up a glass of water and helped the boy drink it down.

"You will rest, got it Shin?"

Duo nodded slightly, "How bad am I?"

Trowa cocked his head, "Well, you've got the two knife wounds, one which is starting to get infected, also a high fever which has been running for three straight days."

Trowa paused in seeing Duo's amazed face. It wasn't often that something took Death down that long. Anyone else would have died in such conditions. Trowa wouldn't be surprised if Death himself stepped in to prevent his aviator from dying.

Good thing Duo didn't know this or he would feel guilty. With all those mental images he was broadcasting Trowa was sure of this.

"I think that you would have some trouble walking for awhile, that means no fighting or spells until you can stand and walk without pain."

Duo opened his mouth to protest but Trowa once again cut him off, "You won't be any use if you die from infection, Shin."

Trowa still expected his partner to protest. Duo batted his eyes innocently, but Trowa wasn't fooled.

"Tro, that's the most I have ever heard you say at one time."

Trowa whacked him over the head, "Baka."

"You know it!"

"What's all the ruckus back there?" Catherine asked moving to the back where they were.

Duo dropped his jaw as he recognized the girl. He struggled to get up and move before falling back his body shuttering with pain. Trowa grabbed him and held him still until he could get the pain under control.

Catherine looked surprised by his reaction before softening and walking over to help with the pain.

Duo moaned and kept his eyes shut tight as soon as the world began to whirl around him. This was so not his week.

He felt a wooden cup touch his mouth and a voice telling him to drink it. He obeyed; gulping it down and relaxing as the herb mixture took the edge off the pain. When he felt he could open his eyes without heaving, Duo did so.

Trowa shook his head, "Shin, this is Catherine, my sister."

Duo winced, "Your sister?"

"Yeah," Catherine said sheepishly, "I am. I'm also sorry about pushing you."

Duo gathered his wits, "Well I would do the same if someone was looking for my family too," he paused, "if I had any." Duo yawned, "What did you put in that concoction?"

Catherine smiled, "Sleep grass."

"You little…" He didn't finish his sentence before he fell asleep. Catherine chuckled and brushed his sweat soaked bangs aside and rewet the cloth on his head. "I hope he sleeps off his fever, Trowa."

Trowa nodded, "He's strong, he'll make it."

"Yes I know, but it seems so unfair that ones so young have so much responsibility."

Trowa shrugged, "That's the way things are, Catherine."

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