Standard Warning: Gundam Belongs to Gundam and any scene or plot similarity to another person's story, movie or anime is purely coincidental. As always I hope you find some enjoyment in this offering.

Tears for the Dragon
By: Amber


The young woman stumbled again over some unseen object along the ground, but instead of becoming angry, she merely smiled. Moving as mortals had its drawbacks. But, she thought as she gazed around entranced by the beauty before her, it also had its compensations. She had watched and judged for as long as she could remember, but always distant, serenely safe from involvement or partiality. Only in the last few millennia had she taken to coming down mingling among them. No longer indifferent, her journey these years had made her intensely fond of these frail beings covering the planet. For, while fragile in body, they were strong in spirit. Their souls blazed with a purity of potential that rivaled the brightest of stars in heaven. And so the glory in the possibilities of what these finite creatures could accomplish, given the opportunity, remained undiminished through out the annals of time.

She crested the hill, pausing to survey the view before her; it was beautiful, a land of myth and legend all in its own right so different from her beloved Greece. Moving among the trees, a light breeze lifted hair the color of midnight. She closed her eyes and lifted her face skyward. Every now and then, sunlight breaking through the branches would hi-light her hair, making it appear several shades of blue. The wind, as if full of hungry fingers, gently parted the hair around her circlet, causing flashes of gold to play peek-a-boo among the thickly bound strands. A gown of purest white, which covered her slender frame, was made all the more startling by the wrist thick curl of hair draped over one shoulder falling to her waist. Her beauty so startling, so arresting, if someone had glimpsed her visage they would swear goddesses were living among us on earth. And they would be right.

She watched him in the grove earnestly going through a series of moves, delicate in balance and grace, mind and body united in harmonious symmetry. So patient, or maybe determined would be a more apt description, she pondered as she watched him repeating the exercises over and over again, that which appeared perfection to her, he perceived as imperfect and therefore weak. What a series of contradictions housed within the body of one young man. She searched his heart with a gaze holding the wisdom of the centuries, and found cause for concern.

She didn't understand why she was drawn back time after time on the surface. As mortals go, there was little distinguishing him from the others. It was only when one looked within and gazed at the fiery brilliance that was his love for justice that one realized how special this one was. Perhaps it was fate that she would be drawn to care for one so blessed. Yes, blessed with the ability to accomplish great good, providing his arrogance could be tempered by equal amounts of empathy for the weakness within others as well as himself. She stood there motionless, detectable only by her choosing, making a thorough perusal of the changes time had wrought on his form.

The teen was now a young man, and a handsome one at that. While she found much changed on the surface, the core of her concern remained. Pride in moderation was admirable, however, ungoverned leads to arrogance and intolerance in one’s self and for others? That must not be. The little one’s potential could not be lost. She smiled enigmatically. Perhaps it is time for new lessons to be taught.

She moved into the clearing and allowed him to see her. He stopped, an impatient frown marring his face. "Who are you? You have no right here."

She bowed her head slightly, acknowledging his words. "Of course, but I came to see a friend. Do you know where he might be?"

"Don't be foolish, how would I know?" he scowled.

"Have you forgotten me already?"

His eyes narrowed. "I have no friends who are women, nor do I have time to waste on useless chatter."

She considered him a moment. "So I see you have no time nor honor."

He scowled. Drawing his sword, he dropped into a fighting stance. "How dare you question my honor!"

Her eyebrow lifted, "But it’s acceptable to question mine by implying I lie?"

Wufei sheathed his sword. "Women do not understand honor in the same way. You are right, it was careless of me to assume so."

She shook her head, torn between amusement and irritation. "Ahh, little one, you have much to learn."

Wufei frowned, "Little one?” he repeated. You…"

She smiled sadly. "Me. You use to call me Jade because of my eyes, remember?"

"What foolishness is this?” he demanded. “That was a dream conjured up by a lonely child to amuse himself."

She started closing the distance between them. The wind picked up, kicking leaves and stray twigs viciously across the ground preceding her. The sky darkened and clouds rolled in covering the sun. Thunder rolled down from the mountain and back around the valley again, as lightening zapped down from the sky, striking a tree and splitting it in two. She stopped a foot away and met his gaze. There was a knowledge there he had not seen before. Gradually, a subtle awareness moved up his spine that perhaps he had been too hasty in his words. But pride refused to allow him to admit his mistake. Straightening his spine, he lifted his chin defiantly.

She lifted her hands and immediately a small silence grew around them, while outside, the circle of nature continued going mad.

"Who are you?"

She stared at him with infinite patience. "I am the same person I was before, believe it or not, your friend. When I left you last, I hoped you would take the time to grow and learn who Wufei is, but there apparently is still one lesson left to learn."

She raised her hand palm up, allowing the ball of energy to grow larger. Wufei crouched. "I am the last of the Dragon clan, I will not go easy."

She shook her head, "You have great pride being of the Dragon clan, so be it." The glow from the energy was creeping closer to him as she spoke. "The dragon represents wisdom, wisdom you need to develop further." The light engulfed him and a hoarse shout escaped, in spite of his determination to silently endure the pain. Only there was no pain; a tingling started at the tip of his head and continued downward before finally reaching his fingertips. The last thing he saw was an enormous flash of light.

When he opened his eyes, he was looking down on her. She stood there, regal in her posture, holding scales in one hand, while a single tear coursed its way down her cheek. "You asked me my name,” she said solemnly, “I will tell you. I have been known as many different names throughout the ages, and many things to many people. I prefer my given name though, that one which it all began with: Themis."

"Themis?" He frowned. The numbness was wearing off, prompting him to look down at himself, stunned. His body was no longer human. That which had once been an honor was now a mark of his shame.

"What have you done?" he growled low and deep, it vibrated within the chest of a being far larger than his human one was.

"I am Themis, Wufei, and I dispense Justice." She lifted the scales. Holding them out, her voice echoed around the clearing and through his mind. You have one year to the day, Wufei, learn well this time. Her body slowly faded away, leaving only the wind whispering through the trees.

Learn well.