The Knights' Chronicles Part 4

The feeling of cold whiskers brushing against his cheek brought Duo back from his daze. After his fall back to feeling his parents' presence again, he was not aware that he had also pulled back into the deep recesses of himself and his gift. When he blinked his eyes open, he found the face of the a certain baby black dragon inches from his own. Blinking his wide onyx eyes, the little beast chirped and tilted its head in concern.

With a deep chuckle, the braided teenager shifted himself in his seated position to make his lap a bit more comfortable for his friend to curl in. Behind him, a wuffle filled his ears as a warm body came to rest against his back. Sighing in content, Duo leaned his head against the side of the white unicorn and stared out to their shimmering surroundings.

"It's good to know that the two of you are always looking out for me, too," he smirked as he ran a hand over the dragon's cool scales. Purring, the dark side of his gift settled more in his lap with a contented smile that spread across its snout. Bringing its own head around, the unicorn gave his master an affectionate nuzzle.

And with the calming feeling that both sides of his power provided, Duo blinked and sent his consciousness forward to return to Scythe's stable. Heero had remained ever at the High King's side, an arm wrapped securely around his waist. Across from them, Odin had dozed off in the hay and Wufei was carefully placing a blanket over him while Anna looked on with a small smile.

Heero shifted when he sensed the return of his husband and grinned when their eyes met, "Feeling better?" He was answered with a kiss to the end of his nose out of appreciation for the concern. That was all the reassurance that was needed. After having to dwell on one of the more heart-wrenching chapters in the ordeal of his parents, the former knight understood the braided youth's need to have a moment to himself. As did their 'family.'

Looking over at Duo, Anna grinned smiled, "So, when exactly did we earn the title of the 'Terrible Trio' from Odin? I remember hearing him use that to address us many times before, but we never did know when or why he came up with that."

More than happy for the change of pace as far as the mood around the journal excerpts went, her friend paged forward in the thick book and answered with a smile, "That was years into your training, after you all had turned fourteen." Which would have been nearly a decade of years passed for them in Duo's alternate world to age that one year older. Finding the entry that he was searching for, he smirked, "Ah, here it is..."

*   *   *   *   *   *

(Flashback)

The seasonal change of another spring into summer brought about many changes. Along with the shift in the temperature, the return of many creatures that lived in the woods as well as the plant life that surrounded the encampment, there was another noticeable change taking place for the youngest of the knights-in-training.

With all of the thirteen-year-olds now growing older, so came the signs of their own growth into puberty. In addition to growing taller, so their bodies were also becoming more muscular and equipped for fighting with the aid of their intensive training. Now began the true early signs of what kind of knights the officers' charges would become.

Standing at the outer ring of a circle made by his students, Odin folded his arms and stared at the two challengers in the center. To his right stood Heero, calm and silently measuring his competitor with his intense cobalt eyes. His exposed arms and what part of his chest was revealed through the V-neck in his blue tunic were firming with lean muscle that Yuy had worked tirelessly in adding to his lithe frame over the years.

At the Commander's left, Wufei stood tall enough to bear his family sword following the growth spurt that he had been hoping for. Though Chang clearly had more room to go in his height, he was all too anxious to bear the blade at his hip that barely rose above the ground. Every bit as strong and focused as Heero, the Capricorn native proved to be his best adversary in the ring just as he had vowed he would be.

Odin studied each fighter one last time before he ordered in his deep voice, "Begin."

Wufei was the first spring forward, his family's blade removed in the process and raised overhead as he let out a battle cry. Quickly unsheathing his own sword, Heero stepped to the side and met the downward swing with his own upward blow to cause their weapons to bounce off each other with a loud clang that rang through the air. Easily balancing himself after being pushed back, Chang whirled his blade around and resumed the attack.

Matched for speed, grace and the delivery of every strike, the boys moved around the ring and made several attempts to best the other. Any blow was met with a block and so they continued to spin and weave in the dance that was one-on-one combat.

Finally, after a long and intense struggle, one wrong move of his body in a misread of what was to come, caught Heero off-guard and Wufei was quick to capitalize on the rare break. Sending his sword sailing in a side swipe, the raven-haired boy knocked the other blade from his challenger's hand. Quietly panting and drenched with sweat, the teenagers straightened as the victor held the tip of his weapon again Yuy's chest. Once their breath calmed, their mouths curled up in lopsided smirks.

Clapping his hands along with the class, Odin grinned, "Very well done, both of you." Chang stepped back to sheath his blade as his friend bent to collect his own. Raising a finger when Heero stood back up, the Commander stated, "You were thinking three steps ahead of your opponent instead of one. You will always get in trouble if you get too far ahead of yourself."

"Yes, sir," Yuy replied with a firm nod. Turning to face the other teenager, he extended his free hand and smiled sincerely, "Nice job."

Wufei returned the grin and took his 'brother's' hand in a firm shake as he responded, "Thank you. Same to you, Heero. I was sure you were going to get the better of me again this time." From the trees, the sound of clapping caught the boys' attentions. Peering up, they found Anna seated on a high branch that she'd turned into a private bleacher. A wide smile on her face, the archer made her way to the ground to join the gathered swordsmen.

Between her appearance and the position of the sun in the sky, Odin picked up on how late the hour was that afternoon. It was time to follow his Captain's example and give his own students a chance to rest and clean up before dinner. "That will be all for today, class," he called to his lot. Instantly falling into banter, the boys standing around spread out in their own little groups as they headed for the shower and bath stalls.

Nearing the pair that stood in wait of her, Anna beamed, "Excellent display, as usual, you two. I do get a kick out of watching your skirmishes." Her blue eyes focusing on Wufei, she grinned, "And for the winner..." Bending at the waist, she closed her eyes and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.

It took every ounce of concentration on Chang's part to fight the blush that was warming just below the surface of his cheeks. Ever since the archer had decided to reward either he or Heero in such a way, he did all that he could to come out the winner when he knew that she was around. Clearing his throat when the girl pulled back, he subtly coughed and nodded firmly, "Thank you, Anna."

For his part, Heero did his best to shield his amusement. Ever the silent observer, he knew well that his 'brother' was developing feelings beyond that of a family member for the redhead. There was many an occasion when he had caught Wufei watching Anna when she had fallen asleep before them in their shared room... not to mention about a dozen or more hints along with that.

Watching the threesome as he made his way for the officers' quarters, Odin shook his head in amusement. For all of the changes that were taken place both in the world around them and in the growth of the knights-in-training, there was always Heero, Wufei and Anna as one of the few constants.

Of course there were friendships throughout the recruits, however this bond was especially tight and genuine. Where any one member of the trio was, the other two were always close by.

"Race you boys to the showers," Anna smirked, her heels already digging into the dirt in preparation for a push-off. Before either of her friends could answer, she was off.

His eyes narrowing, Wufei shouted, "Hey! No cheating!" He did blush then at the squeak in his changing tone that always came on when he raised his voice. The archer's laughter that trailed after her vanishing form gave away that she had counted on that hitch. Growling, he charged after her along with a snickering Heero.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Sealed in their own private stalls, the knights-in-training enjoyed the warm sprinkling that came down from the elevated sacks of water that had been warming under the sun all day. The last group to arrive after their drills stepped into the unused stalls.

At the front of that group, a Jack Dawson of the lancers sported a head of silvering hair as he scanned those trainees in the midst of their showers. "Hey, Anna," he called in spotting the redhead with her back to him. The archer brushed back the wet hair that was glued to the sides of her face and craned her neck over the door to her stall and met his gaze. "Looks like you're the last hope for a female knight to be knighted in our class."

Her blue eyes blinking widely, Fraise gasped, "Danielle is resigning?" It was quite the shocking thing to comprehend, considering the way the petite blonde was hanging in with her training. For a long time there, Anna was certain that the two of them would be standing before King Solo at their knighting. All along the stretch of stalls, stunned faces were turning to face the informant of the news.

"She just broke down," the lancer shrugged. "I guess that she was having a more difficult time with what was being asked of her than she was letting on." Making his way to the last spare stall, he closed the door behind himself but kept his gaze on the girl as he said, "Her family will be collecting her within the hour. I thought that you would want to know."

Biting her lip in thought, Anna muttered a 'thanks' that was so quiet that it was nearly lost to the sound of the running water all around. Slowly turning her back to the door of her stall, she stood under the steady stream that continued to fall on her. Taking a silent and still moment to allow the information she had just learned to sink in, she stared ahead as her vision fell out of focus.

Wufei watched the archer for a moment before his concern got the better of him. "Are you alright?" he asked softly, mindful to not bring any attention to her.

Instantly breaking from her trance, Anna's head snapped to the side so that their eyes could meet. "Yea. I am fine," she reassured with a smile. "Thank you." Quickly finishing her hair rinse, she reached up to seal off the braced bag over her head. Reaching for the towels hanging over the door, the wrapped one around her drenched locks and the other around her frame before she stepped out of the stall and away out of the shower room without another word to anyone.

Only all the more worried by the redhead's hasty retreat, Chang grabbed the cap to his own shower bag when Heero's voice urged, "Give her some time on her own." Frozen in mid-reach to seal off the water, Wufei looked over to his 'brother' in the stall at his other side.

Shrugging when their eyes met, Yuy wiped his wet face with his hands and stated, "Anna has always said that she expected be to the last girl standing... but that cannot make her feel any better about being the only one now." He peered over to his 'sister's' empty stall as he insisted, "She needs to come to terms with this on her own, without us hovering around, if she is every going to accept this."

Much as the Capricorn native wanted to argue and go after Fraise, he knew the truth of Heero's words. Sighing deeply, he lowered the cap in his hands and nodded.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Dried and in a fresh change of clothes less than an hour later, Anna sat at the edge of the encampment atop one of the low buildings. Facing the opened doors of the settlement, she watched as a tearful Danielle Meyer was embraced by her parents with Odin and her own father standing by. Handshakes were exchanged between the officers and the girl and her guardians. Too far to hear the words spoken, the archer could tell that there was only understanding, encouragement and kindness exchanged between the lot.

Then, with an embrace for the Commander and another for the Captain, Danielle followed her mother and father through the gates to return to the outside world. Odin and Justin remained to wave them off as the doors slowly closed once again.

With a deep sigh, Anna took hold of her quiver at her side and removed one of its arrows. Using the sharp tip, she carved a straight, vertical line to join the other seven hash-marks that fell in a line before it. Eight markers to represent the eight girls that had fallen out of their training. Eight girls that she had outlasted and made certain to remember throughout her journey into knighthood.

Scary as it was to be the last female, that was simply the fact of the matter and so she had carry on as such.

Coming to terms with the pressure that was on her shoulders, the redhead slung the strap of her quiver across her chest again and made to move from her hidden spot when the Commander and Captain walked towards the building engaged in a conversation. "Looks like I have won another pound of coins now that Anna has outlasted the others," her father smirked to his friend. "Benson and the others should have known better than to forget that she has inherited my stubbornness."

Taken aback by the comment, the female archer sunk her body low against the straw roof beneath her and crawled to its edge to watch the pair continue on past her.

A frown marring his face, Odin looked over to the Captain and said, "I am still surprised that you partook in Brian's bet about how long the girls would survive here, let alone gamble against your own daughter in the end."

Shrugging, Justin gazed back to his comrade and replied, "Every other officer was going in and so that has the winner stand to win quite the pot in the end. At least I was good enough to give her the benefit of the doubt by giving her another year, which was far longer than anyone else gave her." Pain flashed across his daughter's face as she remained concealed not far overhead.

"Well, I think you are wrong," Lowe challenged, a smirk tugging the corner of his mouth. "Anna is different and I get the feeling that she is going to surprise you and everyone else here." Swallowing past the lump that had formed in her throat over the words of her father, Anna did manage a small smile in hearing the Commander's belief in her.

In consideration of how no female knight had ever come about before, the young archer was not completely surprised that the were bets being made on how long she and the other girls would last. However, to know that her father clearly did not see her determination enough to trust that she was different was like a slap in the face.

And so Anna determined that she was going to have to make a better demonstration of just how different she was from any other girl that had set foot into the encampment. It did not take long for a plan to formulate as a wicked smirk stretched across her face. Silently, she slipped from the roof and hurried to join her 'family' in the mess hall for dinner.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Sergeant Brian Benson was a particularly gruff officer. Not one to crack the hint of a smile or sag his broad shoulders to ease his muscular arms, he carried the air of a man that any man would think twice to cross. The knights-in-training feared him while his fellow officers respected him.

He also slept too soundly at night for his own good, Anna came to learn. A pleased smile over her feat the evening before remained on her lips as she ate her breakfast with Heero and Wufei at their usual table. Apparently, the expression had the boys worried as they would occasionally glance over at her.

Throughout the mess hall, the recruits were whispering about the absence of the officers during the meal. Such a thing was rare and so it was clear that their superiors were planning something. Only one redheaded archer was under the assumption that that 'something' involved a punishment. Still, her grin stayed in its place and she ignored the murmurs filling the air.

It was Fraise's lack of interest over the situation that really worried Yuy and Chang. When they were not watching their 'sister,' they were wordlessly expressing their concern to each other when their gazes met.

Finally, with the lot's meals long finished, Commander Odin stepped into the hall and silence fell over the knights-in-training as they looked up to him. Pausing just beyond the doorway, the tall man ordered, "Everyone fall into formation with your teams and come with me." There was a coolness in his voice that had his charges hurrying to their feet and following his demand to the letter.

Once they were in their lines of five people across, they followed Lowe outside until they came to a halt in the middle of the clearing that fell at the center of the encampment. On the stage before all stood a very stern-faced Captain Fraise with Sergeant Benson at his left. At the sight of the dark-haired officer, every recruit stared in slack-jawed, wide-eyed disbelief in seeing the burly man without his trademark braid that fell past his hips. In fact, Brian's hair had been cut to where it would only brush his shoulders in the loose state that it was.

And he looked every bit a harnessed storm, face red and fists clenched tightly at his sides as he scanned the knights-in-training before him.

Frozen stiff where he stood, Wufei could only manage to turn his paling face towards the girl at his right. "Anna, what have you done?" he breathed. The redhead opted to continued to stare forward without acknowledgment of the question.

Taking his place at the center of the platform, Odin held his arm out towards the fuming man beside him and told his students, "It would appear that one of you managed to infiltrate the officers' sleeping quarters last evening to confiscate our Sergeant Benson's hair. Since this is a direct violation of our trust, there will be a severe punishment brought down on the whole of the class until we know who-" His phrase was cut off when he ground to a stop mid-sentence to gape at the long rope of woven, black hair that was held up by Anna.

Gasps and hushed whispers filled the air from both the knights-in-training and their superiors as they all turned to the defiant archer. Her face blank and the fingers of her right hand wrapped around the end tip of her prize dangling in her grasp, she shrugged, "I have nothing to hide, Commander. Last night, I went into Sergeant Benson's quarters to thank him for starting a bet as how long before I would quit in my training."

Peeing from the corner of her narrowing eyes to meet her shocked father's gaze, she hissed, "He should have known where I inherited my stubbornness from to believe that such a thing would ever happen."

Both Justin and Brian's jaws fell. Recalling those very words having come from him the evening prior, the Captain swallowed roughly under the scrutiny of his daughter. Physically reeling, Heero and Wufei blinked in surprise at their friend standing between them. Shaking their heads, the mutterings through the opening turned on the shell-shocked Sergeant.

Spinning the braid into a ball and placing it back within her quiver, Anna rolled her shoulders back, held her head high and focused on the Commander. "I willingly accept whatever punishment you see fit for my betrayal of your trust, sir," she said without the slightest hint of fear in her voice. Smirking, she concluded, "Whatever it is, it will be well-worth my actions."

Odin chewed on the inside of his cheek as he measured the girl with a saddened expression. Feeling the pain that she must have felt in having overheard his discussion with her father, the Commander was at odds with himself. On one hand, he wanted to applaud her for succeeding to best the smug Sergeant in return for his behavior. Then, on the other, there was his duty to see that there was order in the encampment.

Difficult as it would be, Lowe knew that he had to punish the archer. And so, taking a deep breath, he frowned, "Well, Anna, for your insubordination your punishment will be-"

Heero took a step forward as he cut his leader off to announce, "Sir, whatever her punishment will be, I accept it as well." Chang and Fraise shot their heads in his direction with wide eyes. Keeping his own gaze on Odin, the boy continued, "You have taught us that intent to do wrong is as bad as actually committing the act." He peered over to the perplexed Sergeant to fix him with a glare. "Had I known of the bet made against Anna, I would have cut that braid, myself."

More gasps and whispers rose in response throughout the ring. Amongst the knight-in-training, heads were beginning to nod in agreement to Yuy's sentiment.

With a deep breath, Wufei took a step forward as well and declared to Odin, "As would I. So, I should be reprimanded as well. You speak of broken trust, well what of the trust that we as students should have with all of you as our teachers? Is this bet not a violation of that?" Nearly every head around was nodding in a backing of that comment.

Biting her lip against the sting in her eyes that she just managed to fend off, Anna glanced from one of the boys to the next. "Thank you, guys," she managed in a small whisper.

Suddenly, Juan Hernandez of the lancers stepped forward from his place and called, "I also accept responsibility." Right behind him, four others came up to call their own hand in the crime. Then even more followed suit until every knight-in-training had chorused their demand to share Anna's fate.

The officers around were a mix of guilt as well as bewilderment over the course of events unfolding before them. None looked more guilty than the three on the stage. Justin lowered his head and closed his eyes as the shame of his role took hold. While his daughter was not outing him in front of everyone, she was aware of what he had done. And that was heart-wrenching.

Beside the tall archer, Brian looked humbled and humiliated for the first time that any who had known him could recall. Long forgotten was any of his ire as he took in the faces of the lot before him that no longer looked back on him with intimidation.

As for Odin, he understood how quickly he should have ended the behavior of his fellow soldiers. Friends or not, he should have been a Commander first and foremost. Wufei was absolutely right in his sentiment. And that was about to be rectified. Clearing his throat, he straightened himself and smiled to his audience, "Well, this is not at all how I thought that this gathering would go." The tension that had been looming up to that moment broke with those words with chuckles and easing shoulders.

Nodding firmly, Lowe frowned deeply, "We all have let you down for allowing such a show of disrespect to happen." His eyes running over his 'brothers' flanking the ring, he demanded as much as he informed, "I assure you that it ends as of this moment and it will not ever arise as a problem again." Throats moved in rough swallows, but there was not a hint of dispute from the other officers.

Satisfied with that much, the Commander focused on Anna once again and said sincerely, "My dear, please accept my most humble apology on behalf of all involved either by partaking as well as those of us who did nothing to stop it. You deserve better than that."

A wide smile lighting her face, the archer nodded her head and replied, "Thank you, sir. I humbly accept that apology." Stepping back to flank her, Heero and Wufei boasted proud grins.

"Then, you are all dismissed to enjoy the fine day as you please," Odin concluded. "There will be no lessons today." Cheering, the knights-in-training dispersed quickly to relish in their rare day-long break in their training. Quickly moving this-way-and-that, everyone seemed to fend for themselves... with the exception of three.

Grinning to each other, Heero, Wufei happily accepted a peck of appreciation to both each of their cheeks from Anna. Together, they were amongst the last to walk from the clearing as they quietly conversed amongst themselves. From his place on the stage, Lowe snickered and shook his head. "They are going to be quite the force to reckon with," he muttered to himself.

(End Flashback)

*   *   *   *   *   *

"And so, at that moment, I will be endearingly referring to that inseparable team as the 'Terrible Trio," Duo read aloud and looked up to his smiling friends.

Chuckling as she leaned against her husband, Anna's hand unconsciously ran over the braid of black hair that had been permanently glued around the rim of her quiver. Just beneath the woven locks were the engraved eight hash-marks that she had carved at the end of the story.

"Makes perfect sense where the nickname came from now," Wufei smirked.

Heero rose to stretch his legs as he smiled, "I would have to say that it was quite the fitting reference for us. Not even Sergeant Benson gave us a difficult time after that day. It was quite the thing to not only challenge the officers' authority, but to actually be successful in doing so."

Wing stretched his large head into the group, the end of his long muzzle lowering towards the book in the High King's lap as he blinked his brilliant eyes. Chuckling, Duo looked up to the white steed and asked, "I take it you want to know where you come in, then?" He laughed when his answer came in the form of a wide smile and a happy flapping tail of white scales.

Shaking his head, the braided teenager said, "Oh, I think that I can pick that section out for you..."

TBC...

 

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