I'm back new and improved!

First in what I hope to be a series but who can say. Most of the charters are owned by Konami. Original fan charters abound and many where inspired by other games and movies (but I do so only out of homage)

Reviews and Criticism are always welcome. (Pleas no Mary/Gary Sue stuff about the first chapter, wait till I develop them more.)

-Last son of Highland-

Three travelers from Higheast where heading to the Grasslands by way of the Caleria Mountain Pass. That in itself was not unusual, but the travelers and their purpose was.

The traveler bringing up the rear of the group was a pretty young woman about twenty three years of age. She was dressed in a pink qui-pong dress and was cute in a tomboy kind of way, with short cut almond brown hair. Panting and hunched over as she walked, clearly exhausted from their long trek.

"Bro… (pant) … Hey bro… …(huff) … damn it, stop ignoring me!"

The second traveler turned and smiled in diction of her friend. She was the oldest of the travelers at age twenty eight and perhaps the oddest. Wearing a no-frills dark blue karate gi, Her face was pretty even without makeup and her long blond hair was simply done straight back. Not that she cared about looking good, the white blind folded that protected her useless eyes was testament to that.

"Pilika, you know as well as do I that Lucian will only respond when you call him by name. It's also more respectful."

"Alice, why are you talking his side in all this? Besides I always called him 'Little Brother' when we were kids."

Lucian the only male of the group, was also the leader and youngest at sixteen years old. Dressed in a fine unbuttoned white coat with a blue undershirt, black pants, black boots and a well made hand-and-half sword that hung low off his hip. His face, which had a soft and feminine look, was slightly marred by a small scar under his right eye. Lucian's long, dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail, but a few dark strands of hair still perpetually hung over his forehead.

"That was a long time ago Pilika and I've told you a thousand times to call me Lucian."

"I don't care! Even if you become King or Lord God of the universe you'll still be my litter brother."

"I'm not going to be dragged into this argument again, what did you want to say earlier."

"Earlier… …? Oh yes, I think we should take a break."

"Again! We just had one in Caleria. If we keep stopping we'll never reach the Karaya village."

Alice stepped in to play mediator as she usually did. "Karaya isn't going anywhere. So a few minutes of rest wont hurt."

Alice was always the tie-braking vote with him and his older sister. "Ok … … but just a short one."

The three then stopped to rest in a wide open space in of the Mountain Pass. Pilika relaxed on a large boulder, Lucian checked his maps and Alice sat cross-legged in mediation.

'God, Lucian been so hard to get along with on this trip…' Pilika thought to herself. '…but I guess I can understand why. If he doesn't find what he's looking for in Karaya then he'll be devastated. I hope this is just a wild goose chase, then we can all go home to Aunt Jillia and be a family again.'

Alice suddenly jumped up and yelled. "Look out Pilika!" Alice was blind form the day she was born, but she had an incredible awareness of the world around her many times that of normal people. So when Alice says something wrong, something is wrong.

Pilika dove forward into a roll just as a large clay fist smashed the spot where she was. It turns out the boulder she was resting on was actually clay golem.

Lucian was there in a heart beat sword drawn and looking forward to a good fight. Pilika screwed the two parts of her brass tipped, pink quarter staff together and took a fighting stances. Alice rose to her feet and prepared for battle.

The three humans spread out and circled the golem. Each waiting for an opportune moment to strike, but Lucian believes you have to make your own opportunities.

Attacking form the monsters left Lucian hit the golem with a quick succession of cuts and slashes. The golem took an awkward swing at Lucian with it's giant right hand, but Lucian easily dodged the blow. Alice struck next with a powerful right handed punch, so strong was her punch that it broke off parts the golems clay body. She fallowed that up with an equally powerful left and finished with a double open hand strike that it left a large crack in the monsters upper body. Pilika swept the golems stubby lags with her staff and sent the monster tumbling backwards to the ground.

"Wahoo! The bigger they are the harder the fall!" Pilika cheered.

The golem was not finished yet and using it's powerful right arm lunched itself into the air and land behind Pilika. The impacted of the landing cased her to lose her balances and that's when the golem hit her dead on with it's right arm. Pilika was thrown back and skidded to a stop twelve yards away.

Alice was right beside Pilika in a second casting a Healing Wind spell. Seeing it's chance the golem march forwarded to the two women. The monster suddenly roared in pain and turned around. Lucian had attacked the golem when it's back was turned and he now had it's full attention.

"You hurt my sister…" Lucian's sword turned red and then bust into flame. "… that was a mistake."

Taking his sword in both hands Lucian slashed the golem across it's stomach, then cut upward and finished with some powerful chop and thrust combos from his sword. This all happened within a few short seconds.

Lucian smiled, his face a twisted mask of sadistic joy. Still the golem tried to raise it's right arm to crush this little human who caused it so much pain. Lucian returned his sword to it's scabbard and brushed some stray hairs out of his face.

"Stupid monster, don't you know I've already killed you."

With those words the golem's right arm fell clean off it's body, it dropped dead a heartbeat later.

Lucian breathed a sigh of relief. 'Well that was relaxing.' "Hey Pilika you ok?"

To his surprise Pilika and Alice were no longer there, but by the treasure chest the golem was guarding.

"Hey Alice look it's a ninja uniform!"

"I call it!"

"Hey don't worry there's two of them…"

"Now Pilika you wouldn't try and tack advantage of a blind woman would you?"

"What makes you think I'd try something underhand like that."

"but you did that one time three months ago… … I'm still mad at you for that."

"Ha ha… … your still sore about that little thing." 'god she can hold a grudge.'

"What's this thing I'm holding?"

"Oh… that's some B medicine."

"Well you can never have to many healing items."

"Hey you two!" Pilika and Alice turned to Lucian who was looking on with a bit of a pout. "Save some stuff for me!"

"Sure thing Bro, here you can have these leather gloves."

"Gee thanks." he said with little enthusiasm.

Pilika turned back to her treasure and lifted a vase out of the chest "I bet this vase will fetch a nice price once we get it apprised."

=====

After spending the night in the Duck clan village, the three traveled on to the Karaya village. As they approached the village gate Beecham and four Karaya fighters ran to meet them.

"Who are you and what is your business here?" Beecham asked.

"My name is Lucian Blight prince of Highland. This is my sister Pilika and our long time friend Alice. I respectfully request a meeting with the honorable chief Lucia."

Beecham looked Lucian over. "You do look like the last Highland prince that visited us. I'll let you in the village but Lucia is very busy so you will have to wait."

"Thank you. Come on Pilika, Alice."

The afternoon pasted slowly and Lucian still had not had an audience with Lucia. Pilika and Alice went to get a room at the Karaya inn, as it looked like they may be here for the night.

Lucian was going to stretch his lags and have a look around. The picturesque village had a very welcome feel to it. The whole town was clean, children ran around laughing, the smell of Karaya herbs used in cooking wisped thru the air. Karaya people where so close to each other, the chiefs hut was no more grand then the huts of the others.

'Everyone here is so close. This place is nothing like Harmonia where your value is a rank you get from birth. How is it that these people are called barbarians when there so much more civil then most countries of the world? This places makes me homesick for Kyaro, Highland and my family. It's been what… … two years now.' Lucian smiled sadly at the thought of home.

As he walked by the stables Lucian heard a sound not normal associated with horses of any kind.

"KUUUEEEE!"

Curiosity got the better of Lucian as he walked into the stable and much to his surprise found a fully grown gryphon. Lucian's first instinct was to go for his sword but it appeared as if the gryphon was just enjoying a meal. Lucian couldn't help but be awestruck by the unique and majestic beast.

"Fubar is pretty amazing isn't he."

Lucian turned to see a Karaya boy about his own age walk in. He was a few inches shorter the Lucian but was more muscular. His skin was a few shads litter for Karaya, his hair was both soil black and light blond and his eyes where a beautiful pools of torques.

"So this is the Flame Champions gryphon I've heard so much about."

"Yes he is. Forgive me for asking this but what are you doing in Karaya?"

"Right now I'm waiting for an audience with chief Lucia."

"Well technically I'm the chief now but if you want to speck with my mother I can arrange it."

Lucian blinked a few times and this new information was digested "That must mean your Hugo the Flame Champion."

"What are you surprised by who I am?"

"No… … I knew the flame champion was about my age, but I thought you'd be… … … well taller."

Hugo smiled oddly. "Is that so… anyway how about I take you to see Lucia."

'I hate it when people say they thought I'd be taller.'

"Thank you Sir Hugo."

"Just Hugo will be fine."

With Hugo's help Lucian got to speak with Lucia much sooner then if he continued waiting. A few words with his mother and Hugo had gotten Lucian an audience. The Karaya house was very open and cool. The floor had carpets with deep earth tones and all the personal stuff was placed along the walls.

Hugo sat to his mothers right and Lucian sat across from her on a small wooden bench. Hugo was quite as Lucia looked over Lucian's face.

"So you're the son of Jillia and Jowy Blight. You have your fathers face but I think you got your mothers skin and hair."

"So I've been told many times. I have come before you chief Lucia about the packed you made with my father so many years ago. I must ask you a question and in the name of the oath you swore to my family I demeaned an honest answer."

"I shale answer any question you ask truthfully."

"Fore many years now Highland has been under the rule of Duran Nation and I hope to one day free her from Duran's control…"

Lucia interrupted him. "Sorry Lord Lucian but, I will not send Karaya fighters to help you start a war."

"You misunderstand Chief Lucia, Highlands freedom must be won by her own willing people. However to get the people behind me I need the one item that will get everyone to unite behind me. So Lucia I must know, do you know where the True Beast Rune is hidden?"

Dead silences filled to room and heavy seconds pasted like hours. Lucia was deep in thought, but could feel Lucian's eyes on her.

"No… … I don't know anything about the Beast Rune, all I know is it was lost when L'renouille fell."

"I see… … Thank you for your time Chief Lucia." With that Lucian got up and left. Once Hugo was sure Lucian was unable to hear he turned to his mother.

"Why did you lie to Lucian?"

"I did no such thing Hugo."

"I know you better then you think mom, and I know that you didn't tell Lucian everything you know, your keeping secretes."

"It's complicated Hugo and one day soon you'll understand but not now."

=====

Dusk had now settled over the village as Lucian practiced his sword play. No matter where he was Lucian was always find time to practice. It was one of the few constants in his life. Just as Lucian went through the movements of a sword strike he saw Hugo walking up to him.

"Do you always train like this at night?" Hugo asked.

"Yeah most of the day I'm to busy to get any practice in."

"Lucian I'm sorry, you came all the way form Higheast and all for nothing."

"It's all right, life is full of disappointments however…" Lucian then pointed the tip of his sword at Hugo, a smile playing on his lips. "… If I could have a duel with the Flame Champion my trip would not have been in vain."

Hugo draw his knife and took a ready stances, returning Lucian's smile with one of his own. "I was waiting for you to challenge me to a duel."

Lucian attacked first with awesome speed that was pushing Hugo back at a jogging pace. Even on the defense Hugo easily blocked everyone of Lucian's blows. In a split second Hugo took to the offences and Lucian was being pushed back twice as fast as Hugo was. It was a struggle just to block Hugo's knife alone and even then Hugo got in some cuts, but to do so while running backwards took all Lucian's skill.

Needing to put more distances between them Lucian jumped backwards and the moment his feet touched the ground he did a back flip into a handstand then pushed off again and then landed in a crouch. The impressive acts of aerobics had put two yards of space between the opponents.

Still Lucian was sweating and breathing hard. Hugo was still calm and cool. Lucian raised to his full height and smiled ruefully at Hugo.

"It's nice of you to hold back and make me feel like I'm holding my own against you; but if you don't fight me with all you have then I'm going to leave disappointed."

"I just wanted to make this last a bit longer. I feel bad if you lost to soon, but if that's the way you want it."

Hugo charged forward and Lucian slashed where he was sure Hugo was. To Lucian's surprise his sword it nothing but air, no knife and no Hugo. A flash of motion in the air got Lucian's attention, Hugo was in the air three feet above Lucian. It was poetry in motion as Hugo came down like a bird of pray about to pick off a mouse. Lucian knew that there was no hope to block as Hugo literally put his whole being into a one downward slash.

Lucian saw stars, no literally he was on his back looking at the night sky and saw stars. This was a bit odd as he could have swear nightfall was still an hour or so way. After several failed attempts at getting to his feet Hugo helped him up.

"Wha… … what happened?"

"You lost."

"I could guess that but how did you win. I saw that jump attack and then it went black."

"Oh well after the first attack I hit you eight more times before you fell to the ground."

Hugo then helped Lucian limp back to Lucia's hut. Lucian tried to protest, saying Pilika would worry if he wasn't back at the inn soon. Hugo told him that Pilika and Alice already know where he is and not to worry. Hugo lead Lucian to a some spare bedding they had for visitors right next to Hugo's bedding.

"I didn't think I'd lose to you so fast…"

"Well someday I'll tell you about the time I dueled Yuber in Chisaya Clan village, all twelve seconds of it. … … … … Hey Lucian? "

"What?"

"Are you still going to fight the Dunan nation without the Beast Rune."

"Yes, I am the Highland prince so some of the die hard supporters will fight for me on that alone. Who knows, if we can win a big battle or two maybe more people might join in."

"Wont Harmonia send you help?"

"They be more then happy to help me, but when I win they just make me a figurehead and rule Highland from behind the scenes. No this has to be done me and thought who truly want help. Be honest Hugo, do you think you could have united the Grasslands and Zexen without the True Fire Rune?"

"Truthfully, I don't know but it would have been much harder. So that's why you want the Beast Rune, to give the people some reason to believe in you. What do you personally get out of freeing Highland?"

"My father, I want to prove that my father Jowy was not the evil king people think he was but that he was a good man. Anyway I'm getting sleepy, goodnight Hugo."

"Sleep well Lucian… …"

Unknown to Hugo and Lucian the thin walls had allowed Lucia to hear every word they said. It had moved the normally stoic woman to tears. 'Lord Jowy forgive me but I must disobey the last order you gave me.'

=====

Lucian slept through the morning and into the afternoon, something he's never done because Pilika would wake him up with a cold bucked of water if it was past nine. Chief Lucia entered later and handed Lucian a big platter of Karaya food.

"Eat up you'll need your strength if you're to tame the Beast Rune."

"What?"

"I swore to Jowy that no one would find the Beast Rune ever again, but after hearing you and Hugo talk last night I think that Jowy would approve. We leave in an hour so be ready."

-End Part One-

I hope to get as many SoD as I can. So if there anyone form the other games you like to see make a come back send me a line, or if you have any ideas/suggestions/couples you'd like to see. I have can take this damn thing anywhere so don't be shy.

New faces.

Lucian Maroux Blight VI.

Weapon: (fathers sword… I know it has a name but I've forgotten it. If you know please tell me or I'll make a name up)

Runes: left-hand: Flame Strike (that god awful flaming sword move of Luca)

The only Son of Jowy and Jillia Blight. Prince of Highland. Leader of the Royal Highland Liberation Army. Looks every much like his father Jowy. (fact just unbutton the coat and add black hair and there you go)

Loves Highland and has a deep respecter for Dunan but hates Harmonia with passion. He's lived in Kyaro for five years away form his mother who still lives in Harmonia. For the past two years he's been training and searching all of Dunan for the True Beast Rune. Trains using the sword technique of his uncle Luca Blight and his uncles Flame Striker Rune (he's limited to using it once a day.)

Pilika

Weapon: Flower Staff (other)

Rune: Water rune

Jowy's adopted daughter and Lucian's big sister. Finds herself at odds with Lucian as she just wants to go home to Kyaro and be a family again. Thinks of herself more as a surrogate mother then a sister and will do anything to keep Lucian safe.

Alice.

Weapon: Blind Striker. (Claw type)

Rune: Wind Rune

Met Lucian and Pilika in her home town of Kyaro and they became fast friends. Hopes to one day find her lost brother. (more on her later)

On a personal note my long hiatus was due to a death in my family that hit me really hard last September.