Waltz of the Moon

Disc 1

By: Quatre Raberba Winner (Quatre-Chan/Onna-Quatre)

A year passed since that day in Droconia. Quatre sat on his throne as he gazed out the window.

Trowa stepped outside, his eyes locked onto the black mage and his partner. The lancer cracked a small smile before opening his mouth to speak, "Heero, Duo, his majesty wishes to speak with you."

The longhaired boy arched an eyebrow, "Why are you still calling him 'majesty'? You're his partner. There's no need for that. After all you are his" he chuckled, 'queen.'"

"I am still his bodyguard, I made the vow to protect him before we were wed. I intent to keep my word."

Heero gave a slight nod, "Understood." He gazed back at his koi, "Come on."

The blond king diverted his attention to his friends. He looked at them sadly as he stood, "It has been one year and two days since we left Droconia. And no one has seen WuFei since. I-"

"Master Quatre!" A female servant ran into the chamber and bowed slightly, "there's a messenger here from Vishira. He said he had an urgent message from Melody for you."

"Send him in." Quatre retook his seat. His aqua orbs locked onto the young man that had just bowed before him.

"I bring you a message from her Highness Melody. I am here to announce that her half brother, WuFei, is in the kingdom."

Duo's jaw almost hit the floor, "WuFei?!"

The king stood from his throne and shot Duo a small glare. Once he saw that the other boy shut his mouth he turned back to the young man on the floor, "Please continue."

"Well Sir, Queen Kirin and her Highness Melody have summoned you to the castle."

"Is WuFei all right?"

"I'm afraid not. We found him about a week ago in the snowfields to the north. It looked like he hadn't slept or eaten in days. Please come with me to Vishira..."

The blond nodded. "We'll accompany you just give us a few moments to get ourselves ready."

"Yes, Majesty." With that he got out of the bowing position and left the chamber.

Heero looked into Quatre's eyes and saw a lot of worry deep within the orbs, "Quatre?"

"It's nothing… I'm just concerned."

"Concerned? Don't you mean 'curious'?" the longhaired mage spoke up, "I know I am. Why would WuFei go to the northern snowfields all by himself? He knows where we are."

"Duo."

The violet-eyed boy glanced over to the lancer that stood by Quatre's side. "What? I'm just voicing my opinion."

"I sense that. But WuFei does things in his own way. I'm sure a year ago if he hadn't run into, us he would have found a way to the Cave of Oblivion all by himself. I don't know why, but he prefers to be alone."

Duo sighed, "I know he feels down when thinking about the way his wife died, but that doesn't mean he can't trust us."

The paladin placed a hand on the black mage's shoulder. "You haven't known WuFei as long as we have. You have to understand that there is something that he doesn't want us knowing, so we have to respect his wishes."

"You're wrong…"

All eyes turned to the blond king that was shaking his head. "Heero, you're mistaken. True, WuFei doesn't want us knowing something. A big something, but I feel that it was that something that lead him to the snow plains in the first place. I don't know why, but I feel I should be afraid."

"Why?" the longhaired boy asked.

"Because. A year ago I… I saw…"

"You saw what?" Trowa questioned in a gentle tone.

"I saw him get violently ill."

"So? He might have had something bad to eat back then." Duo chimed.

"No. It seemed different…"

*Flashback*

The summoner wandered a little bit, but the wandering lead him to the statue of his father.

His eyes quivered, as he looked the large piece of stone over. His eyes then landed on his ring. He clenched his hand in a fist and observed the fact that it was shaking. "I can't believe this." He glared at the statue, "I'm turning into you…" suddenly he felt very ill, he took his hand out of the fist and placed it on the statue to support himself. He then proceeded to cough and the next thing he knew he was bringing up blood.

"Are you all right?" a gentle voice asked as he placed a comforting hand on the other boy's shoulder.

He slapped it away and spun around, "Don't touch me!" trying to maintain his balance he walked away.

*End Flashback*

"I want to know what he's hiding and I will find out."

"Quatre," his husband spoke as he placed him in his arms, "I want to help him as much as you do, but what happens if he doesn't tell you?"

"Then I'll get my answer from one other person that should know… Melody." He pulled away from the embrace. "We've wasted enough time. Let's be on our way."

With everyone nodding in agreement Quatre took the lead as he walked out of the throne room with the others not too far behind.

After the aircraft landed the four boys plus the messenger dashed into the palace and were greeted by the blue-haired queen. Kirin nodded to her servant and waited till he was out of sight. Then she turned her attention to the four boys that stood before her.

"Welcome once again, unfortunately I wish I could say those words on pleasant terms."

"Kirin," the blond spoke with all gentleness he could muster, "is WuFei all right?"

"I'm sure my messenger told you that he wasn't in good condition. Melody has been with him since they brought him here. She's been trying to heal him, but I don't think her magic is quite strong enough to handle such a thing."

Heero stepped forward and bowed slightly, "Excuse me for interrupting, Your Highness, but is it possible that he is just putting himself in suspended animation?"

"That is a very good perspective to look from, but I would have to disagree. Like the messenger said it looked like he hadn't slept or eaten in days and when they brought him here he was struggling to breathe."

The paladin stood up straight and retook his spot next to his koibito. Duo blinked at the conversation, "Why are we just standing here? If Melody can't heal him why not have Quatre try? He is a powerful white mage, ya know?"

The Queen nodded, "You're correct. That's exactly why we summoned you here. If you will Quatre, please see what you can do."

"As you will. Where are they?"

"Right through this door." She turned her back to them and walked only a few inches. She opened the door and allowed the blond mage entry.

"Kirin?" Trowa questioned.

She closed the door and shook her head, "It's nothing…"

"You and my husband are a lot alike. Usually when you say 'nothing' you mean 'I'm worried' or 'I'm scared'. I take it in this case you mean both."

"I should learn to mask my feelings a little better, huh?" she smiled a bit, but her eyes never left the wooden object in front of her. "Melody really has no one. If something should happen to WuFei I would be the only one left for her and I would hate to think what would happen if I died too… Every time I set foot into this room she would look at me, her eyes full of tears. I don't want her to be hurt like that, not ever…"

"I understand." The lancer said simply, placing a hand on her shoulder.

After what seemed like forever Quatre and Melody stepped out of the room. The onyx-eyed girl motioned for her friends to follow her into the throne room. She held back her tears as she spoke, "I'm happy to say that my brother will be okay."

"If you're happy than why are trying not to cry?" the longhaired mage questioned."

"Duo…" Heero said as he nudged his koi in the side.

"It's alright Heero, he had a right to ask. I'm trying not to cry because I don't know if he'll ever wake up."

Kirin looked into the other girl's eyes in confusion. "But didn't you say that he was going to be okay?"

"I'll fill that one." Quatre said then cleared his throat. "Yes, WuFei will be okay, but he seems to be in a deep sleep. As we were trying to heal him his facial expressions kept changing and when they did so did his breathing. I remember when he did get sick his breathing had become a little odd, as if he was trying to calm himself." He turned to the black haired Queen, "Which brings me to my question for you as WuFei's sister. What causes him to get sick like that and why does he refuse help?"

"I'm not too sure on that myself. All I know there is something inside of him that he doesn't want released."

"Do you know what that 'something' is?"

She shook her head. "No and I'm sure I will never find out."

"Hm…" the blond put himself into a deep thought.

Suddenly an explosion was heard and the castle shook which brought the king of Momoiro out of his thinking process. All of them regaining their posture they proceeded to make their way over to the cause of the noise. As they neared the summoner's room they could hear maniacal laughter.

Cautiously the Prussian eyed boy opened the door. As they entered they gasped at the sight. The room was in ruins with rubble and broken glass everywhere and standing in the middle of the room was a man with short, dark brown hair and violet eyes. He laughed once more as he lifted the unconscious boy off of the bed.

"Hold it right there!" Trowa shouted as he made his way to the front of the group and drew his spear.

The man chuckled, "Simple minded dragoon. Do you think you can really beat me?"

The violet-eyed mage pushed passed the rest of his friends and stood next to the uni-banged lancer, "Chi, what are you doing?!"

"Ah, if it isn't Mura's brother, Duo." He gave a sly smile, "You should thank me, after all I was the one who gave the order to free you. But I take it you also know that I had an ulterior motive behind that… But you see, my dear, pathetic party, this black mage is not the only one who could carry out my wishes."

"What are you babbling?" The paladin snarled.

"Ha, ha… My wish is to be the most powerful. If my plan works out, for example if young Maxwell did summon the power to crush the souls of the gods, technically that would be my power because it is my wish."

"You're delusional…"

"Hm? If that is true, fierce Paladin, then why am I still here?"

"That's it." Duo said, lighting a fireball in between his hands, "I'm sick of your lies!"

"Duo, don't." Melody commanded, "You could hit WuFei."

"Damn it…" he muttered as the flame went out.

"What do you mean 'not the only one that can carry out my wishes'? Who is the other?" the white mage asked.

"Why the summoner of course. But not just any summoner… he must be the son of KaiRyu Chang. Come after me if you have the guts…" he touched the ring on WuFei's hand.

The relic gave off a red flash as the fire dragon, Hono appeared. Chi jumped onto its back and with a small incoherent order the dragon took off into the sky and flew off into the distance.

Melody shoved the others out of her way and ran after them. When she stopped to catch her breath she was in the middle of the town. She sat on the fountain and cried.

The four boys caught up to her and just stared. The aqua-eyed mage placed her in a small hug, but he knew that there was nothing that could be said or done at that time to remove her sorrow.

Kirin stood a few feet away from her wife and her friends. Her emerald eyes locked onto the sky, then she looked down at the sound of something breaking. She watched the pieces of the top crescent moon on her choker fall to the ground. She ran her index finger along the three remaining moons. Her face then seemed to be very sorrowful just then. She looked back up to the sky, "The waltz has begun…" she whispered.

Please insert Disc 2…