By the Red Moon Part 39
(Flashback)
It was raining when Heero and Wing found the Sanq army... what little there was still left following the attack from Dekim and his army. After seeing the ruins that remained of his once grand and beautiful homeland, he had feared over the course of their two-day search whether there were going to be any survivors at all.
While he had expected to find a less than pleasant situation in Sanq when he returned from delivering Prince Duo to the portal, nothing could have prepared the knight for what awaited him. From the collapsed and still burning buildings to the many bodies spread throughout the city, most unrecognizable by then, there was not a glimpse of what Sanq had once been.
Even awake, those sights, sounds and smells haunted him.
But to Heero's relief, he spotted the camp fires that glowed within the thick cover of tall trees many miles south and brought Wing down to land in the middle of the crude encampment. Cobalt eyes wide, the rider descended from his saddle and peered around to the few familiar faces that there were to see.
Those soldiers that had been standing around with their own steeds, lowered their drawn weapons upon recognizing Yuy and his white dragon. Behind all of their wild eyes was something of a pure horror from their experiences over the course of the battle. And those looks only served to shake the young knight-in-training further over wondering what had happened.
"Heero!" Odin's voice called. Walking up to his young pupil, the Commander sheathed his blade as Peacemillion stayed by her rider's side. The tall man took the boy's hand in a firm shake and pulled him into a one-armed embrace with his free hand as he sighed deeply, "Glad you made it back to our ranks safely. We have been worried about you."
Stepping pack, he rested his hands on the stricken youth's shoulders and asked, "The prince was transported safely, then? You got him to the portal in time for the rising of the red moon to be carried over?"
Quickly snapping alert, Heero rolled his shoulders back at full attention and nodded firmly, "Yes, sir. I personally watched him cross through into the next realm, so he is safe." If anything, he could find a comfort in himself for that.
The relief was palpable on Odin's face as he released the breath that he had been holding in anticipation of the answer. Slapping the young knight on the arm, he smiled widely, "I knew that you were the right one to send on that mission. You have effectively given us all the chance that we need to save this world from the darkness that has arrived to claim it."
Heero swallowed roughly at that. While there was the true honor of being the one to see that the prophecy around the prince had a chance to come to light, there was also the guilt of not being in Sanq for the attack. His brothers were all there, fighting and dying for their home and their people while he had been away caring for a baby.
Almost afraid to ask, the knight decided that he had to know the details around the losses. Clearing his throat, he questioned, "How many soldiers are actually left? And the others... Wufei and Anna?"
Odin chewed on the inside of his cheek in thought over his words. Finally, he answered quietly, "While I never wanted to call a surrender, there was no choice if we did not want to be completely wiped out. The main Sanq army is down to almost a forth of what it was, hardly over a couple hundred remaining."
Shaking his head, he concluded sadly, "And of the near sixty knights-in-training, there are now only nine left... including yourself, Wufei and Anna."
Nine.
Heero could feel his knees almost buckling when that number really sank in. Nine. Not even two full hands of fingers to count. About the only consolation was the fact that his 'brother and sister' had somehow managed to survive. But there were so many others... all young and filled with the desire to one day be dubbed fully-fledged knights who would never see that wish.
Breathless, he whispered in a strained voice, "W-where are they?"
Gesturing to the west, the Commander replied, "They should be coming back from the graveyard that we made up to bury the last of our dead." He paused before informing, "Anna's father is one of the soldiers we lost the most recently to his injuries."
The Captain was dead. Such a thought was yet another hard fact for Heero to get his head around. Captain Justin Fraise was one of the best soldiers to serve in the Sanq army. He had reared all of the knights-in-training alongside Odin for many generations of soldiers. The hole that would be left behind in his wake was all the larger since he was also the father of one of his best friends.
Another lump forming in his throat, the young knight questioned, "H-how is she?"
"Shaken up, as one would expect," Odin sighed. Rubbing his hand over his mouth, he looked over his shoulder to the west again and commented softly, "When he died, it was only the second time that I have ever seen her cry."
That... nearly broke Heero right there. Along with all of the devastating news, he simply could not stand the thought of someone that he cared about- someone who had tried to prove themselves every bit as strong as the boys- being broken down like that. Biting his lip against the sting of his own tears, he turned his head away to put on his own stoic mask.
With a deep breath, the Commander said, "I have the duty of choosing a new Captain to fill Justin's place. And I have chosen you, Heero." His back straightening at that, the teenager snapped his head to stare wide-eyed at his superior.
Smiling tiredly, Odin explained before the questions even came, "Yes, you are still a knight-in-training. However, it is my decision and my decision alone. You and the others have more than proven yourselves to be every bit the soldiers as those who have been around longer. Everyone has already been advised that I would be offering you the new title and the whole of the Sanq army will listen to you and respect you as any other Captain, should you accept the role."
Being promoted into such a rank was a desired distinction for any knight, but most especially for one who had not even been dubbed a true knight yet. Heero only wished that the circumstances around it were different... so very different.
He righted himself as best he could while still reeling from everything and nodded firmly, "I would be more than honored to accept. Thank you for considering me for this, Odin." Behind him, Wing raised his head tall with a proud smile on his face as he fluttered his wings; for any honor bestowed upon a rider was also passed onto their dragon.
At the sound of several feet trudging toward them, the newly-appointed Captain and his steed looked around Odin to spot the other eight knights-in-training returning to camp with their own steeds in tow. And at the forefront, Wufei and Anna froze when their gazes fell on their friend. Bowing his head, Odin stepped back to allow the tight family a moment.
Tears stung the archer's already reddened eyes as she breathed, "Heero." Charging forward, she flung herself into his opening arms and was pulled into a fierce embrace.
Biting his lip, Wufei walked up alongside an equally relieved Nataku and Ingier. As the steeds reunited with twines of their long necks, the swordsman smiled sadly as he watched his lover cling onto their 'brother'. Turning his head to place a kiss against the trembling girl's cheek, Heero whispered in her ear, "I am so sorry, Anna."
Quickly pulling herself back together, she stepped back and wiped the last of her tears away with a final sniffle while Wufei gently rubbed her back. Putting on her brave smile, she shrugged, "It's alright. He died in battle, just as he always wanted." Squeezing the other knight's shoulder, she told him sincerely, "I am just relieved that you made it back safely. We have been worrying about you since you left with Prince Duo."
The swordsman stepped up to give and accept a tight, one-armed hug as he guessed aloud, "I take it that all went well with the journey, then?"
"Yes," Heero nodded. "There was little trouble along the way. Only a cold that a healer was able to relieve before we reached the portal."
Really taking the time to appraise his friends, he noted the long, angry scars that tracked across what part of Wufei's chest that was visible beneath his ripped tunic. Anna's left sleeve was completely torn away to show the twisting, curving claw marks forever imprinted on her from shoulder to wrist. So they had had their own near brush with death during the battle.
Swallowing roughly, Yuy told the pair in little more than a breath, "I... I am really happy that you both made it through... When I saw what was left of Sanq, I was afraid that..." His voice faltered and he did not dare continue. Touched by the rare show of emotion and expression of concern, Wufei and Anna smiled warmly and each squeezed an arm in appreciation.
Reluctant as he was to break up the tender moment, Odin addressed the group gathering around to announce, "Everyone, Heero has accepted the promotion to Captain of our army." Blinking, the archer and swordsman broke out into wide grins.
Anna chuckled and nudged the new officer with a kind, "Good. I could not think of anyone better for the job." Heero flashed her a wide smile, even more honored to have her blessing as the daughter of the former Captain. Offering his own congratulations, Wufei gave a firm handshake.
Holding his arm out to the others standing around in a half-circle, Odin said, "And now, I leave you to your men, Captain. We shall meet later to discuss our plans of moving out to spread word to the other lands in hopes of building an army strong enough to give Dekim's army the fight of their lives." That said, he turned sharply and headed out with a wink to the team.
With a deep breath, Heero looked at the faces gathered around and noted that they were all marked in some way from the fight. While he was not necessarily as close to them as he was with Wufei and Anna, he knew them all.
From left to right, there was Jack Dawson with his hair showing the early signs of silvering at his young age. And ever beside him was his steed of the same silver color, Onyx. Then there was Pete Swan and his tan-shaded dragon, Scorch. Larry Mischevitz and his golden companion, Phoenix were a formidable team.
Juan Hernandez and Tiny, the smallest of the dragons in a mix of greens and yellows, stood at full attention. Following them were Daniel Shuda and his dark brown steed whose face framed with fur earned him the name, Lion. And last but not least were Jerry Ferkey and his silver-streaked orange steed, Wedge.
Every one of them had been the fortunate ones. And they would be the ones that Heero was determined to lead to the best of his ability.
It was going to be an uphill battle for all of them. But they were going to face it head-on.
(End Flashback)
* * * * * *
Night was falling over Pisces by the time a mass, watery grave had been made for those lost in the fight and a simple service was heard for their souls. Where the caskets had been lowered to the bottom of the ocean, a string of floating candles had been lit and were permanently sealed in place by magic to their eternal resting place.
Standing at the edge of the main bridge where the crowd had been gathered, Heero was one of the last to leave after the memorial. In the background, the exhausted and heavy-hearted thousands of civilians, knights and dragons alike headed back to what was left of the city to take up a place to eat and sleep for the night.
Finally turning back away from the ocean, the Commander froze with wide eyes in finding the same semi-circle of knights and steeds. Though their steeds were still in the stables, Wufei and Anna stood in their same places, shoulders back and heads high in awaiting orders along with the others as the sun was beginning to set below the horizon.
Somehow, they had all managed to survive to fight again. Whether it was luck, fate or the more likely combination of the two, the 'nine elite' as Odin had called the remaining knights-in-training was still in tact. They may have been bruised and weary as they had been after the attack on Sanq, but there was not the hint of anything but determination in their eyes to continue on in their fight against Dekim.
With Duo staying close behind him for support, Heero took a deep breath and addressed his team, "I have had to make the very difficult decision of choosing a new Captain. And because it was too hard a choice to make, and because I need all of the assistance I can get, I have come to the conclusion of offering Wufei the new role of Lieutenant and Anna, Captain."
There were only smiles of understanding and agreement in the choice from the other knights as they faced the stunned couple. The archer gasped and covered her mouth to suppress her shocked cry. Wufei blinked in surprise, and then turned to face his lover with a proud smile. Knowing what this meant to her, to share the same role as her late father, he was every bit as thrilled over the announcement as being given the opportunity himself.
"I take it by your reactions that you accept, then?" Heero smirked.
"Hell yes!" Anna cried, only to cover her mouth again as her face took on the same bright red hue as her hair. Her fellow knights-in-training and the prince all laughed as she composed herself.
Duo in particular fought to contain his outburst, silently taking full responsibility for teaching the phrase that she had taken such a liking to. This was just another example of how his influence was corrupting his friends the longer they knew him.
One of those influences, however, had come to actual use in how it saved Heero from making a very difficult choice since no one in the world had previously heard position of Lieutenant. But he was not about to take the credit for that.
Clearing her throat, she righted herself and nodded firmly, "I mean, yes, sir." With a rough swallow past the lump in her throat, her voice dripped with emotion as she whispered, "Thank you for the honor, Commander." Heero smiled back and gave her a discrete wink before focusing on the swordsman for his official response.
Gently rubbing his lover's back, Wufei met their 'brother's' cobalt gaze and grinned, "I also accept and thank you for the opportunity, sir. We will not let you down."
Their Commander smirked, "I know that you won't. And the announcement will be made to the remainder of the army." Shrugging, he muttered, "Once we have the actual numbers to know how much of an army we still have."
He turned to scan his gaze over all of the men and their dragons as he informed, "One of the last things that Odin said was that he considered us some of his best pupils. Let's just do everything that we can to continue to prove him right. Stay true to everything that he taught us and to our pact to never let Sanq be forgotten."
The other knights all raised their fists over their hearts. Biting his lip, Heero told them quietly, "Good work today... all of you. Dismissed." Handshakes were exchanged between the small group in congratulations to the newly appointed officers before the knights-in-training walked off to take to shelter for the night.
Staying behind alongside their friends, Wufei and Anna approached their Commander. Embracing him tightly, Anna whispered, "Thank you." Unable to do anything but be pulled into her disposition, Heero smiled and returned the tight embrace with the first female knight... and the first female Captain of an army.
As Wufei and Yuy shared a one-armed embrace, Duo's grin faded when he looked back to see Peacemillion staring out to the water. Flattened out along the ground, the orange and red steed let out a soft squeak of a whimper as a large tear rolled from each golden eye.
His heart twisting for the steed, the prince asked in worry, "What can we do for her? We can't just leave her here like this." It was already experienced that anyone trying to console the dragon was completely ignored, she was so lost in her grief over losing her rider.
If there was not a way through to her, it was made perfectly clear that Peacemillion would forget to drink and eat... and she would eventually die from neglecting herself.
Quatre stepped up and offered, "Well, I know that you are not normally one to approve of my using my gift to manipulate emotions, however I can do that to save her from herself. My ability can... help her forget so that she can see to her own needs until we find another rider for her. A warrior like her belongs back in their skies and in battle where she can thrive."
Without hesitating, Duo met the empath's eyes and ordered politely, "Do it."
A wide, relieved smile brightening his face, Winner nodded and walked past him to step beside Peacemillion. She never even looked back as he neared her large head and gently rested his hand over the scales of her neck. Closing his eyes, he used his ability to find the source of her pain and eliminated it... filling it with new thoughts to replace the old until Odin was all but a very distant memory.
It was only right, after all, that the Commander not be completely forgotten by his brave steed.
When he was finished, the gifted stepped back as the dragon lifted her head and blinked in confusion. Looking around, she stared at faces that she recognized and tilted her head at them. The first realization she had as far as how she felt was that she was hungry.
Sensing where her train of thought was going, Quatre laughed, "I suggest that we get back to the stables so that we can check on Trowa and the others while getting this one something to eat." He laughed all the louder when Peacemillion smiled, wagged her tail and nuzzled him with the side of her long snout by means of expressing her gratitude.
Relena giggled as she shook her head in amusement, "We already have our hands full with Sand Rock. I certainly hope we find another rider for her soon, before he becomes too attached and insists that we keep her."
"Once we get settled back with Trowa, we will all need to talk," Heero said as he turned to his partner. On cue, Wing and Scythe both moved in to sniff at Duo for the umpteenth time that day, annoying him to no end in wondering why they seemed to be checking if it really was him.
Well aware that the 'talk' was going to involve what had happened when everything had gone black for him, the prince was more than ready to get the answers he had been waiting for all day. "Good," he sighed deeply. Mildly glaring at the dragons still sniffing at him, he huffed, "Alright, you two, that's enough."
Following his friends, Duo found solace in Heero staying in the back with him while linking their hands together. It was an extension of support for what was to come, the braided teenager translated.
His heart racing at that realization, he was suddenly not at all sure that he was ready for the answer to those questions of his.
TBC...
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