Fantasy Wing
Chapter 6:
Assembly for War

Heero fell into step alongside Duo, Quatre and Trowa, absently keeping track of their conversation in his mind. Duo was outraged, Trowa was grim, and Quatre just kept trying to understand why there had been an attack on the forest at all.

Heero gathered that this "Treize" person was the military leader of an adjacent kingdom, and that this had been done to provoke the forest and it's citizens into a war which Treize was confident he could win. His goal in all of this seemed to be the expansion of his kingdom into the forest, and to harvest it for resources.

Typical of Mankind, he guessed. They had started the last Great War, after all...

He'd heard stories from the older angels, the ones who'd been around for around two centuries or more, the ones who still remembered the old legends, and the stories of the Great War.

Around eight hundred years ago, Man had begun a terrible war of conquest over the Middle and Outer Races of the earth.

The Outer races were composed of the fauns, centaurs, fairies, dragon knights, and werewolves, the Middle Races were the elves and dryads, and Man was humankind. The three circles of beings had always been referred to as such, for so long that people had forgotten why they were grouped in that way.

The angels weren't classified as a race, because they'd always dwelt apart from the others, having been charged long before with keeping the peace among all the other races.

Heero adjusted his sword belt and kept walking.

"We have to do SOMETHING to retaliate, Quatre." Duo said, gesturing with his hands to emphasize his point. "We can't just sit by and let this happen. No way no how am I sitting back and just LETTING Treize destroy my home. I won't loose my home to a tyrant all over again." The last statement was almost a growl, directed mostly at himself.

"I'm just saying, Duo, that it's better if we talk to him first before we charge into battle and half of the forest gets killed!" Quatre replied, "How can you take all that life for granted?"

"Quatre..." He sighed. "I learned a long time ago not to take life for granted. No one knows death like I do... but I also know that I have to fight for my home and to defend what's mine. It's bitter, but sometimes it's all you've got. Trust me, Treize isn't going to listen."

"We should go to the King with this." Trowa added. "He has the authority to deal with Treize and his army."

Quatre nodded. "Let's all go home. If it turns out that we are called to court, we'll figure things out then."

They walked the remainder of the way in silence, each brooding. when they came to a bend in the path, Quatre and Trowa went to the left and Duo and Heero went to the right. The two groups waved their good byes, and broke off from one another.

Chang Wufei sat pensively gazing at the forest below, vast and sprawling from his vintage point on the cliff side notched into the mountains west of the trees.

He scowled.

"Fire." He almost spat. "Sorcery no less. What dishonor."

He had already come to his conclusions regarding the conflict, and he was leaving for the court of the Sanc Kingdom as soon as he could prepare his mount.

Walking from the brink of the cliff, he shook his head, grabbing the reins from the wall beside him.

The object of his search wasn't very far. It raised its head as he entered the cave, lifting its brow in inquiry. Wufei hadn't been up for flying in days.

"There's trouble Nataku." he said, slipping the straps onto the dragon and gently adjusting the reins to once again fit its head. "The forest is under attack."

The dragon snorted, and ash gray smoke began to dribble from it's nostrils.

"For the sake of our honor, and to prove our worth, we must protect them." He started matter of factly, making the last adjustment to the straps.

He swung up onto Nataku's back and walked it to the cliff's edge.

The dragon took off, spreading its mighty wings and beating them until it caught an updraft and was able to glide.

The two broke away from the updraft and slowly began to descend.

Heero and Duo had made it back to the clearing not long after parting with Trowa and Quatre.

The princess was nowhere to be found.

Duo chuckled. "Got sick of waiting around for us I suppose..." He shrugged and walked back to the fields to resume working. He didn't remove his sword however, Heero noted.

Trouble was coming, and when the summons to court came later that evening, Heero was prepared for what he knew was going to happen.

The sun was setting, the clouds were purple, and the sky was blood red.

So seemed grimly appropriate for a council of war.

Trowa was already there when the faun and the angel arrived, standing at the side of the Royal Field, surrounded by his fellow centaurs. The one next to him pawed the turf, glancing at the newcomers and asking Trowa something. Trowa nodded slightly and went back to standing at attention.

"That's the royal guard." Duo said, gesturing slightly at Trowa's band of centaurs, and the other soldiers surrounding them. "There's other races represented in the Guard too, but the centaurs have been the main troops of it for a long time."

"Hn." Heero acknowledged.

"I should go line up too." The faun frowned, "and... we have to present you to the king."

"What?" Heero asked.

"You're a foreign ambassador." Duo explained. Heero tried to object but Duo cut him off. "You're a member of a race we've never seen before." He explained. "That makes you foreign, and that also makes you a representative here no matter what your rank at home."

The angel nodded. "So I have to meet with the king?"

"You have to be _presented_ to the king. But I'll help ya. I've seen it before and I've been through it myself." He winked. "There won't be any problems."

The rest of the citizens of the forest arrived soon after, and they assembled on the field. By now the sun had set all the way, and the grass glistened silver in the pale light of the full moon.

The different races gathered on each side of the field, and left a path to the throne in the front.

Duo nudged Heero slightly with his elbow, and the angel made his way down the pathway, all eyes on him.

The entire mass of the forest gathered was totally and completely silent, and as the moon shown down on the lone angel, he spread his wings and kneeled before the throne.

"You may rise." one of King Peacecraft's attendants said.

Heero did so. He glanced for a moment to one side of the throne and his eyes locked briefly with Princess Relena's. he looked away quickly, and directed his gaze to the King.

"State your name, rank, and place or origin." The attendant continued.

"My name is Heero Yuy." The angel stated clearly. "I am a Peacekeeper Angel and I come from the Sky Kingdom."

The King nodded.

"The Sky Kingdom." King Peacecraft repeated. "you serve under Sirion?"

Heero blinked, startled, but regained his composure quickly. "Yes sir, your Majesty."

The King frowned.

"So even the angels are getting involved in the dispute now."

Heero remained silent.

"Is it true that you saved my daughter?"

"Yes your majesty." Heero answered.

"And you helped to put out the fire?"

"Yes sir."

"And if asked to fight for the forest, will you?"

"It is my duty, your majesty, to help uphold peace. As long as you were not the instigator the only choice I have is to help you. I am honor bound to it."

"Thank you." The Dryad said. He cleared his throat. "Hear this! The angel Heero Yuy shall henceforth be acknowledged as a member of this forest! Does anyone disagree?"

The forest was silent.

"Then let it be so!"

The crowd echoed with a chorus of "Aye!" and Heero looked around, awed.

As long as he could remember he hadn't felt close to anyone, not even the other angels. Something inside the winged young boy smiled. He was accepted.

"Now!" The King roared. "Treize has attacked us! he has burned your homes and killed your family! will this be tolerated?"

"It shall NOT!" The guard answered, the centaurs stomping.

"Agreed!" The rest of the crowd echoed. "We shall not accept this!"

"War!" someone shouted.

"TO WAR!" The mass gathering erupted in shouts for military action.

"So it shall be then." The king announced. "Assemble here in three days. Be ready to move out!"

They cheered.

Soon after, when everyone had left, and the field was empty, Heero finally made his way back to the edge of the forest and took flight.

All he could see looking back down were the footprints left in the grass.

Footprints will fade, he thought, But this war is not so easily forgotten.