misanagi

In the depths of the Abysm

Rating: R / M
Parings: Future,1x4; 5xS
Summary: Heero Yuy has to go on a dangerous journey to find something he didn't know he was looking for.
Warnings: Fantasy, violence, death, angst.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters featured in this fic or Gundam Wing. However, the storyline is mine.
Archive: Gundanium Line. Previous parts can be found here.

Notes: I'm sure there is a rule somewhere that says that every fanfiction writer must write at least one fantasy fic. Well, here is mine.

Big thanks to Anne for the beta. *hugs*

Dedication: This fic is for Hex, who one night on AIM asked me to write her a fic.

___

Chapter Two: The flying nomad and the floating seer


The Shiroi were very special creatures. They had great physical strength that was hidden in their slim bodies, a cunning intellect, and a powerful sense of balance. Balance, was after all, the thing the Shiroi tried to preserve and held dear above everything else. That's why they didn't have conflicting emotions, which allowed them to keep their cool and control in the most difficult situations.

Heero knew that this mission was probably the biggest one any Shiroi had had to take, and while that made him a bit apprehensive, it also made him focus on what he had to do even more. Right now, the first step was reaching the outskirts of town and finding this Duo Maxwell who would provide transportation to the Lismonia valley.

It wasn't a difficult task to accomplish. The brown tent was big enough to be seen from a long distance and if anyone should miss it, the loud singing voice coming from inside was enough to guide any traveler right into the nomad's residence.

Not bothering to call from the outside, Heero just lifted the leather door and walked into the tent. Inside a man was singing an unknown tune while he worked on some sort of weird devices that were scattered around him. He was wearing a loose white shirt, leather pants and he was barefoot.

"Duo Maxwell." Heero said.

The man turned around quickly. The long braid flipped as its owner faced the newcomer. "The one and only," answered the nomad in a cheery voice. He placed the pieces of metal he had in his hands on the floor and stood up. "And who might you be?"

"My name is Heero Yuy, from the Shiroi Tribe. I require your assistance."

Duo's eyes widened at the mention of the Shiroi gave Heero a wicked smile. "A Shiroi? Asking for the help of a poor nomad?" He chuckled. "I thought you were above any other beings. Surely someone of /your/ kind can find a way do things alone."

Heero glared at the nomad. He had no time to fight about petty clan differences. The nomad would just have to cooperate. "The Guardian of the Dragon clan said that you could take me to the Lismonia valley."

The smile was gone from the nomad's face in a flash and his expression turned inquiring and serious. "The Lismonia valley is not a nice place. Many of my kind have tried to go there, few have returned. They say the place is cursed."

"I've heard the legends myself."

Duo raised an eyebrow. "And you still want to go?"

Heero nodded. Duo studied him for a moment, his arms crossed above his chest as he looked at Heero from head to toe. "How important is this?"

"Very. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't."

Duo gave him one last look before turning around and walking to another door. "Very well, follow me."

Stepping over the junk on the floor, Heero followed Duo to the back of the tent where another door led them outside. Heero only noticed it when he was outside but the tent was so big that he wasn't able to see the road at the other side. Likewise, when he had been on the road he hadn't been able to see the bizarre and very large artifact hidden behind the
tent.

"So, when do you want to leave?" Duo was facing Heero.

"Are we leaving in /that/?" Heero asked, giving the vessel looking machine behind Duo a wary look.

Duo turned around, glanced at it and nodded. "My ship. It's my masterpiece. I built it specifically to travel to Lismonia. I've just been waiting for the right moment." He smirked, and there was something about the gesture that made Heero nervous. "It seems like that
time has come."

Heero walked closer to the ship. It was big, about ten meters tall and twenty-five long. It was built with Meorian wood, extremely light but strong. There were no wheels underneath it, or at least Heero couldn't see them. Since the Lismonia valley was a dead land, a desert
really, with nothing more than rocks and dirt, Heero couldn't see how a ship would be useful to go to a place with no seas or rivers.

"It's not a sea ship," said Duo, almost as if he was reading Heero's thoughts. "It's an air ship."

Taking a step back from the ship, Heero stared at it as if it was cursed. "Inanimate things can't fly."

"Yes they can," replied Duo, "if you know how to make them." He walked to the side of the ship where a small rope ladder was hanging from the top. After climbing the first two steps he stopped and looked back at Heero. "Coming?" Duo didn't wait for a reply, and Heero followed silently.

The inside of the ship wasn't like anything Heero had seen before. There were wooden benches built into the low walls and two staircases leading down, probably to the sleeping compartments. In the front of the ship, a large steering wheel was built before a comfortable looking chair. Beside it was another chair with a smaller wheel. There were some other devices there that Heero didn't recognize.

Nomads were known for being extravagant but Heero didn't think that there was another nomad who had ever constructed something like this. However, the most impressive thing was the tall mast standing in the middle of the ship. There were some cloths on top of it. At first Heero had thought they were sails but after a more detailed inspection he had noticed they were circular and arranged in a weird pattern that didn't resemble the sails he had seen in the past.

"And how is this thing supposed to fly?"

Duo grinned and walked to the front of the ship. "With magic and a kickass pilot."

Heero didn't have the time to ask what a pilot was before Duo threw some powder inside one of the devices near the wheel and the circular cloths on the mast started to grow. Soon the cloths had grown so big that they looked like with ball-shaped clouds floating just above the
ship.

"It's altezze powder," explained Duo. "When burnt it produces a gas that elevates to the sky. The cloths are filled with it, and as soon as I cut the ropes that tie us to the ground, we'll be able to go."

Heero nodded. "Then let's go."

* * *

Flying was such a unique experience. Heero had done many things in his lifetime but flying was definitely something he had stayed away from. As a Shiroi, he was very in tune with the order of the universe. Each being had a purpose, qualities and limitations, and what the nomad was doing was breaking the boundaries.

Heero leaned on the banister and looked at the ground below. They were getting closer. The tall peaks and rough mountains were proof of that. While the Lismonia valley was a bare land divided only by the Abysm, it was surrounded by the tall Pyrgos peeks. Climbing the peeks could take a very long time; that was if one managed to survive the wind, cold and lack of food. As the nomad had said, many had tried to brave the unbeatable mountains. Most of them had died.

"Heero, stop staring at the mountains and come here and help. That is, unless you want us to crash or something."

Giving one last glance to the landscape, Heero approached the front of the ship where Duo was sitting on one of the chairs.

"If I could handle the ship alone safely, I would have come to the valley a long time ago." Duo's eyes were cast up front, his left hand was holding the steering wheel, and the right one was busy handling the different levers at his side. "Make yourself useful, would you? Slowly lift up the highest lever at your right. "

Heero sat in the empty chair, located the lever and lifted it slowly.

"It's not gonna break. You can pull a little harder." Duo pressed his lips together and swallowed a laugh. "Yep, that's it. Congratulations, Heero, you just stopped us from crashing into that mountain. You make a fine co-pilot."

There was that word again. Duo had defined it as the person who prevents crashing. Heero now understood a bit more about it. Certainly, whatever Heero had done had elevated the ship a little, and that, combined with Duo's handling of the wheel had helped them avoid a peak.

"This ship is the safest and quickest way to get to the valley. However, that doesn't mean that there won't be dangers involved," said Duo, smiling.

"You look excited," said Heero, watching Duo from the corner of his eye.

The nomad grinned. "I am. You don't know much about nomads, do you?"

Heero frowned slightly. He had enough information about every creature in existence. It was vital for his tribe to know the nature of all beings; it was the only way balance could be kept. "Nomads have no specific active magic potential. The magic they have is used to feed their minds. Therefore, they are highly inventive and clever beings. However, a side effect of this active mind is that they become restless and unable to settle, hence their name. "

Duo blinked and after a moment of staring at Heero, laughed. "You memorized that or something?" His hands were kept at the wheel and his eyes scanning the sky. "My kind, we have a thrill for adventure. For us, staying in the same place for too long is what other beings feel when they are put in a small room. We need to move, we need to get around and see things." He grinned. "We might be bums but we're happy bums."

Heero didn't reply. He didn't pretend to understand what the nomad was telling him. He had seen many beings of many kinds, all driven by different things, all with different priorities but at the end, for the Shiroi, they were just elements of balance, nothing more.

"So, are you going to tell me why is a Shiroi traveling with a crazy nomad to the most dangerous land there is?" The tone was playful but Heero could tell Duo was serious. "Last time I checked, you guys were the keepers of balance. Is balance being threatened by something in Lismonia?"

At first, Heero ignored him, refusing to give the nomad any explanation. He didn't think it was vital for Duo to know anything more than he already did so there was no need to disclose information. However, he soon learned another trait of the nomads: they were very persistent. Eventually, the nomad's stubbornness won over Heero's reluctance.

"So," said Duo, when Heero finished explaining the situation, "you are on a mission to save the world." He paused a moment. "A mission that could get us all killed, especially you and me since we are the dumb fools venturing into the heart of danger." This time Duo looked at Heero. "All of this based on a dispute that happened so long ago that no one even remembers, even though it was the cause of the Shattering?"

Heero nodded.

Duo smiled a dangerous mischievous smile. "Sounds like fun!"

* * *

Landing on the Lismonia valley was by far the must difficult thing Heero had ever done. They couldn't land in the plain. It was dangerous to be seen, so they decided to land on the hills surrounding the plain. The hills weren't as tall as the peaks but they had sharp edges and finding a place large enough to land Duo's ship was almost impossible. What they managed to find was a little clearing between two peaks that was barely big enough to fit the ship, but would hide it completely.

Heero had to accept that the nomad was very skilled. Several times Heero thought they were going to crash but Duo seemed to be very sure about what he was doing, giving orders to Heero and working on his own set of levers and wheel. When Heero exited the ship he noticed that if they had been even a little closer to the right or to the left, the large fabric on top of the ship would have shattered and the ship would have been ruined.

Since there wasn't really any other place to stay, Heero and Duo decided to spend the night in the ship and wait until morning to start the dangerous decent into the Abysm. Duo got some fruits and bread for them to eat and a bottle of wine.

"This drink fogs the mind," stated Heero, looking at the bottle. "It makes creatures lose balance."

"That's the fun thing about it," said Duo, taking the bottle from Heero and drinking a mouthful. "You, Shiroi, are too righteous for your own good. You should learn to have fun once in a while." He handed the bottle back to Heero, managing to spill a few drops in the process.

Heero just ignored him. Fun wasn't something he was born for. He was a Shiroi, and for them duty came before anything. He lived only to keep the balance, and before this trip he hadn't even contemplated that there were other ways of living. The nomad was a walking statement of all the possibilities. He was moved by impulses and lived his life that way. As far as Heero could tell, the only thing stable in the nomad's life was uncertainty.

"Fine, be boring," said Duo, bringing the bottle back to his lips. "If we might die tomorrow, I plan to spend tonight smiling." He changed his position so he had a better look at the sky. "The only thing I need now is a pretty lady and a good cigar," he looked at Heero. "Do you have a special lady back there in your Shiroi world? Are you even allowed to have one?"

"My function is to destroy any threat to the balance. There are others to farm, teach the young and care for the village. Those are the ones who should continue the Shiroi linage. The fighters have no time for a family." Heero had heard that many times. It had been taught to him since he was very young. In the world, every creature had a place to fulfill. Just like that, in the Shiroi Tribe everyone had a role, and for things to work, they had to be what they were born to be.

Duo opened his mouth and stared at him in wonder. "Are you telling me that you are not allowed to have someone, love someone, or just be with them?"

The idea had never even crossed Heero's mind before. He wasn't forbidden to love, he just didn't have the option. A lion wasn't forbidden to fly. It just wasn't in his nature to do that.

But yet, Heero had flown, and the nomad flew all the time.

The sound of footsteps distracted them both from the conversation. There was someone inside the ship, and he or she was walking towards them. Heero instantly stood, taking his sword on his hand and assuming a defensive position. Beside him, Duo had also stood. He had a knife on each hand and he was looking at the spot the steps were coming from, waiting for the threat to reveal itself.

A thin figure started to appear from the shadows. It was a man; he had a curved blade in his hand and he was walking towards them without any hesitation. He was dressed in beige robs and a deep red belt. His face was mostly concealed by a cloth. A desert man.

Before any word could be spoken more sounds filled the air. There were more intruders climbing into the ship. "If you want to live, don't move." The voice of the man was firm. It commanded obedience, and Heero knew it was not an idle threat.

Soon the ship was filled with twenty men, all dressed as the first, and each with a curved blade in their hand. One of them stepped forward. He was very tall and muscular. Heero immediately recognized him as the leader.

"We are the Maguanacs, the guardians of the Lismonia valley. If you want to live, you'll raise this ship and go back to where you came from. This is a sacred land, not everyone is worthy of being here."

Heero stepped ahead, his head raised and his hands down but at a far away distance from his body so his posture wouldn't be seen as aggressive. "My name is Heero Yuy and I'm a member of the Shiroi Tribe." He looked at the leader straight in the eyes. "I don't know if I'm worthy, but I have a mission to fulfill and the fate of the world depends on it."

The man gave him a look. He was evaluating Heero, deciding if he believed him or not. Finally his eyes focused on the blue gem Heero wore on his neck. The man sheathed his sword. "My name is Rashid, and we'll assist you anyway we can."

* * *

Heero and Duo spent the night on the ship, with a couple of Maguanacs to keep them company. When there was enough light, the Maguanacs took them down to the plain, to the very edge of the Abysm.

"Let me see if I got this," asked Duo, looking warily at the dark Abysm below them. "We are supposed to go down there. Down into the place where the land first shattered, a place that it's believed to be cursed, and where no one has gone in a thousand new moons?"

Heero was about to tell the nomad that his part of the journey was over and that he didn't have to go into the Abysm, but another voice spoke before he could.

"I have."

The thin figure that had first sneaked into the ship was a man named Trowa Barton; the youngest Maguanac in the group who had been assigned to guard Heero and Duo. Trowa was the one who had spoken, with the same confident voice he had used before.

"You've been into the Abysm?" asked Heero, watching Trowa's body language for any sign that he was lying. As far as Heero knew, the Abysm was a sacred place, and the only reason why Heero was determined to go in there was because the balance was threatened. It was said that the Abysm was filled with so much magic that it could overwhelm anyone who dared step inside. That was the curse Duo had been talking about.

Trowa walked to the edge and leaned over, looking down. There was no sign of fear in him, and Heero understood that it was something Trowa did often. "I've seen him too." Trowa turned to look at Heero. "The one you are searching for. I can take you to him."

Wufei had said that the answers awaited in the Abysm but he had never told Heero exactly what to look for. "What makes you think I'm looking for someone?"

"He's very powerful," replied Trowa. "I can see it." He extended his hand to Heero. "And I think he's been waiting for you."

Heero looked at the hand and then back at Trowa's eyes. He didn't move and just waited for Trowa to explain his gesture.

"And how exactly are we supposed to get down there?" Duo walked between them and glanced at the darkness bellow. "I don't think we can climb down there or back up here." He turned to Trowa. "You say you were there? Well, how did you manage it?"

Trowa smirked at Duo and then simply stepped off the edge. Instead of falling, he was still standing there, in mid air.

"Levitation," Heero said simply.

"Wow." Duo's eyes opened wider. He took a couple of steps towards Trowa, never taking his eyes away from him. "Can all Maguanacs do that?"

"No," Trowa said, walking back into the valley, "I have special skills."

Duo voiced the question in Heero's mind. "What else can you do?"

"I can see magic." Trowa shrugged. "That's how I found him. His light was so blinding that I couldn't ignore it."

"Just who is this he you keep talking about?" Duo seemed to have lost his patience.

"He's the reason you are here." Trowa extended his hand to Heero again and the other to Duo. "I can lower you both."

Heero thought about it for a moment. With Trowa's help they could reach the depths of the Abysm faster than anticipated. The sooner Heero got there the sooner he could help restore balance. Taking a step towards Trowa, Heero took the Maguanac's hand. Duo did the same.

"Trust me," said Trowa before walking towards the edge, "and don't let go."

It was a great act of faith to take that last step off the edge. Heero couldn't help but be relieved when he felt firm ground under his feet, even though he was standing on thin air. The descent was quick; it was as if the invisible ground they were standing on began to swiftly go lower and lower until Heero was standing on real ground again.

"I hate to break it to you," Duo's voice sounded from somewhere, "but we forgot to bring a light."

It wasn't until then that Heero realized that he had closed his eyes, behavior that wasn't very fitting for a Shiroi. He opened them but still couldn't see. Heero silently reprimanded himself for not thinking of bringing a torch; now they would have to go back up to find one.

"No need to worry," Trowa said, letting go of Heero's hand. "I keep torches here."

Moments later the orange glow of fire illuminated the place. The Abysm looked much like a cave. The surface was so far up that it couldn't be seen, and they needed to rely on the light of the torch to see anything.

"This way," said Trowa and started walking deeper into the Abysm.

Heero followed, with Duo closely behind. The floor was covered with pebbles. He watched his step, it would be easy to trip.

"So, how many times have you been down here?" asked Duo. He had already caught up with Heero and they were both walking a couple of steps behind Trowa.

"Since I was very young." Trowa never looked back but he slowed down a bit. "When I discovered I could levitate, the first thing I did was come down here."

Duo was touching the walls, letting his fingers trail on the stone as he walked. "Are you allowed to? Isn't it a big transgression or something?"

The flame of the torch illuminated Trowa just enough for Heero to see the small frown. "I kept it secret at first." Trowa's voice was softer, barely above a whisper. "When it was discovered, Rashid told me that I wouldn't have been given this gift if I wasn't meant to use it. Magic always knows."

It had been very fortunate to meet with Trowa. Otherwise getting down into the Abysm would have been a lot more difficult if not impossible. Heero couldn't sense any imbalance but he knew that there were powers moving, driving them to find something. Wufei had said that the answer was in the Abysm, but that was no guarantee that the balance would be kept. The future of the world depended on the balance and on Heero's quest. But what would happen if his quest leaned the balance towards one side. What would be of the world then?

"Did you think to bring a light the first time you came down here?" Duo's voice interrupted Heero's thoughts.

Trowa shook his head. "I don't need it."

Heero looked ahead beyond Trowa and the quivering light of the torch. He couldn't distinguish anything, just an endless darkness that seemed to go on forever. "It is impossible to see down here."

"For you maybe." Trowa shrugged. "That first time I followed his light. He glows, and it was his brightness what led me to him."

Duo sighed, sounding annoyed. "Are we going to meet this mysterious person soon?"

Trowa stopped and brought the torch forward. "He's right in front of you."

Heero gasped. Before him, inlaid on the rough stone wall, was a large clear crystal, and inside it was the figure of boy.

Taking hesitant steps, Heero walked closer, until he was just in front of the crystal. The boy's eyes were closed; he appeared to be in a deep slumber. His hair was golden and his skin pale. The clothes he was wearing were torn and old. Whoever he was, he had been there for a long time.

Remembering the story Wufei had told him, Heero moved to the side, trying to get a glimpse of the boy's back. Only a few black lines were visible, tattooed on the boy's back, their darkness contrasting with the pale skin.

"What is he?" asked Duo.

Heero took a deep breath. "He is the Human."

* * *

TBC