Here you go. A Fable 2 fic from Lord Genesis Shadow. I'm feeling slightly unappreciated lately what with no reviews for any of my chapters lately, and last week I couldn't bring myself to even post. But, this week, I feel like I can. So, along with this, I posted two chapters for Jack's Journey. Three posts, something I don't do often, so I hope you enjoy it. It takes a lot of time to create even a half decent fic of a thousand words per chapter, and this one alone is over four thousand words. I'm not like most authors, because every time I post I need at least two to three thousand words for it to feel like it's worth posting. This one, I hope you all like it, I really do. Because if I feel like none of you like it, I'm not posting until Gallade's Arm is ready to go. And if that stops receiving reviews, then I'm sorry, you'll be going a long time without my posts again.

But enough about that, here we have Sparrow's Flight, chapter one. It took me a few hours and I was really in the zone with this. I've recently played through Fable 2 again, and despite that it didn't even get close to living up to the hype, I liked it. It was good enough for me to spend a fair chunk of my time on it, trying to discover every little fun thing to do, and I can go back to it for the sheer customization I can put on my characters.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Fable 2, nor do I have any desire to.

Oh, and before I go, I wanted to hold a vote, but last time nobody bothered, so I just figured this would do. I've got a Fallout 3 fic, but I'm not sure if it would really take off. So, as much as I hate to, I'll say it again. Please review, because reviews are very helpful in telling an author how they're doing, and when an author knows that their readers like something or even if they don't like it, it helps them get better, which can get you even better fics in the future. Don't settle for a good fic, tell the author how to make a great fic, or an excellent fic. Help me give you better quality fics.

I watched that night as Lucian shot my sister. I backed away, scared for my life. I was shot, and the force of the round threw me out of the stained glass window. I fell so far, and I hit a roof, then another, and finally I hit the ground on my back. My whole body ached so badly, and it hurt so much, I just wanted to die. Now, ten years later, I stand on the bridge over the entrance to the Gypsy camp. My dog by my side as I watched the birds flying over the lake, cursing the man that murdered my beloved sister Rose, and praying that one day I could finally return the favor by killing him, hopefully with his own gun.

"Ah, here you are." A familiar voice said calmly. I turned my head to see Theresa walking my way. "And with your faithful companion I see." I simply smiled as she walked up to me. "It has been ten years little Sparrow. I think that the time has come for you to take flight. I have taught you all I can in this camp." I nodded. "I have something for you. Meet me at your caravan." She turned and began walking while I knelt by my faithful dog.

'What a good dog.' I thought. 'You saved my life boy, and I owe you for that.' I rubbed his chin and he panted while raising his right paw, which I took in my left hand while smiling. I stopped and he barked. "Good boy." I patted his head and rubbed his fur slightly before standing. "Come on, we shouldn't keep Theresa waiting long. You know how she gets." I smirked, knowing she probably either heard me, or knew I had said it in her mysterious way. I walked along the path, my friends laughing, dancing, or otherwise having fun. I smiled as my dog walked beside me. In ten years, he had barely grown at all. I didn't even know how old he was. Heck, I hadn't even named him, just calling him 'boy' whenever I talked to him.

"Hey Sparrow, hold up." A familiar male voice called. I stopped and turned around. It was Max, the local Stonecutter. He had a bag in his right hand. "I hear Theresa might be letting you head out for something." He held out the bag. "Here's a little present for you, on the house. I hope you find it useful." I smiled and took the bag.

"Thanks Max, I'm sure I will." I said. He smiled and I put the bag in the magical pouch on the back of my waist. He leaned in and hugged me, as was custom of friends in the camp. I moved my arms back around him and smiled. "You're a good friend Max. I promise I'll come back to visit from time to time." He patted my back and pulled away.

"See you around Sparrow." He said. He turned and walked away with a smile. Everyone in the camp was almost always smiling.

'I love this camp.' I thought. 'I'm sad to be leaving, but I've got to kill that bastard for what he did. He killed my sister, and shot me through a window. I can never forgive that man for either reason.' I walked three steps before another one of my friends, Jill the owner of the General Store, walked up to me. "Hi Jill, what's up?" She smiled and held out a bag like the one Max gave me. I took it slowly and she smiled.

"It's a little going away present." She said. "I figure you'll be back some day, but until then, you might find these useful." I smiled and put it away before she hugged me. I smiled and hugged her back. "I'll miss you Sparrow. You've always been such a good girl to all of us."

"Thanks Jill." I said. "I'll be back, I promise." She pulled away and smiled. "I could never just leave my home behind for too long without at least coming back to visit when I can." She nodded and turned to walk away. I'd check the bags later. I turned to my caravan and walked up to it, luckily not running into anyone else. Theresa stood before a chest that had been locked for the last ten years. 'I wonder if she'll finally let me open it.'

"I see your friends have given you some parting gifts." She said. I nodded. She stepped away from the chest and gestured to it. "You may now take the equipment from inside this chest. I hope you find it useful." I stepped up to it as my dog bounded happily up to it, sniffing it and scratching it with one of his paws. I moved the now open lock out of the way and raised the lid. I reached in and pulled out a rusty long sword and looked it over. "It's not the best equipment, but it is difficult to afford decent equipment these days." I nodded and pulled out the scabbard for it. I put the sword in it and set it on the ground. I pulled out a worn looking crossbow. It was old, very old, and older than me I'd be willing to bet. "It may be an old weapon, but it still works. Just take care of it and it will take care of you in battle." I nodded and set it on the ground. It had a leather strap so I could carry it at my side or over my shoulder. I pulled out three bottles of red potion; I recognized it as a basic healing potion, mostly sugar water and mild sweet healing herbs. It wouldn't do much, but it would keep me alive until I could find another way to heal any wounds. I also pulled out a rare item, a canine healing potion. It would heal my dog up to nearly lethal injuries, but not death. It would also never run out, kept permanently full by a very powerful magic. I pulled out a shovel and put it in the bag quickly, figuring it would be useful in the future. There was a map as well, which I rolled up and put in my pack on my waist. It could hold anything in it, regardless of size. It was also very tough to damage, and it would be fixable with a basic stitch, which would disappear after a day. I pulled out a strange seal and looked it over. There was nothing else so I put the seal in my pocket, figuring it useful. "Equip yourself with your weapons and meet me at the gate." I nodded as she walked away. I grabbed the crossbow and slung it over my right shoulder, letting it settle on my hip. I picked up the sword and stood up. I tied it around my waist, settling on the left so I could draw it quickly with my right hand, my sword arm.

"Come on boy, we shouldn't keep her waiting." I said calmly. I put his potion in the pouch and my three on holsters of my belt. I smiled as we walked over to the gate, jumping the fences to get there before she did. The kids of the village giggled as I did so, and it made me feel somewhat happy to make them laugh. If only for a moment of time, I could genuinely smile. I leaned against the gate as Theresa approached. 'For once I beat you here.'

"Open the gate!" The gatekeeper called. The large wooden doors rose as I stood away from them, my dog barking happily.

"I know how long you have been waiting for this day Sparrow." Theresa said. She walked past me as I turned to follow. "Ten years I've trained you in basic swordsmanship. Ten years you've learned how to handle a slingshot. Ten years you've been waiting, ever so patiently, to find Lord Lucien, and take his life, like he took your sister's, and like he tried, and failed, to take yours." I nodded as I followed, the dog close behind me. She stopped at the edge of a steep incline, how she knew it was there I could only imagine. She gestured to the ruin on the island a good distance away. "That was once the entrance to the legendary Guild of Heroes. There is something there you must acquire before you can go on your quest. That seal is the key, and it will let me stay in contact with you." I nodded. "I can speak through the seal, so do not be alarmed if you hear my voice while I am not around." She turned to me. "I will contact you once you are inside. Make sure you are ready to leave. It may be a while before you can return."

"I am ready Theresa." I said. She smiled. I rarely spoke to her, and then only what was necessary. She turned to the gates and walked away. I walked along the path for a moment before my dog barked and ran over to a spot of recently disturbed earth. He began digging at it so I pulled out the shovel. He stepped back as I sank it into the ground. "What have we here boy?" I pulled up one shovel full and saw a red ball sticking out slightly. I reached for it and pulled it out, letting the dirt drop to the side. I looked it over and put the shovel away. "Well, you found a ball boy." I looked down at him and brushed some of the dirt off of it. I leaned down and rubbed his ears. "You're such a good dog." I smiled and scratched his ears. "Yes you are boy, you're a good dog." He barked and licked my right cheek, making me laugh. "Okay, now we've got to get going."

I walked into the building after opening the door. It was quiet, damp, and very creepy. Something about it made my heart beat faster, but it wasn't fear. It was exciting. Not one person had been in the ruins for years, and that meant that there was bound to be a lot of cool treasure around. I heard a whining and I turned around. My dog was scared. I knelt by him and pet him for a few moments.

"It's okay boy, we'll be fine." I said. "We'll get through this, and then we can leave." He barked happily and I smiled. "Good boy." He panted and I smiled wider. "Okay, let's go. There should be some neat treasure here." My voice sounded excited, I knew, and I knew that I was right. A ruin that had no visitors for decades, centuries even, was bound to have some awesome stuff in it. I stood up and walked over to the end of a hall. There was a hole and I saw a lake below. 'Figures, this place would have some water in it.' I smiled at the thought. I loved swimming. It was how I got into such great shape. I jumped down and landed in the water. I made my way to the surface and slicked my hair back. I looked around and swam a bit forward when I heard a loud bark. I turned around as my dog landed in the water with a splash. He rose to the surface and panted at me while paddling. I laughed and put my right hand on his head. "Who's a big brave dog? Who's a brave dog that knows how to swim?" He barked and we began swimming to an opening.

I walked up to the center of the room. I had killed dozens of monster sized beetles with my sword, and I had found a mace in a chest, along with a rusted flintlock pistol. They were infused with magic that created the bullets, though I still had to empty the gun to reload it. It was that way with all firearms, and crossbows reloaded much the same way. It wasn't a forgotten art, but it was tough to make such weaponry, making any gun or crossbow expensive. I had also found a rare jewel that was called an Augment, something only Stonecutters could make, and only with magical gems. This kind was one Max told me a lot about, a Bewitching Augment. Putting it on a weapon would make a person look more beautiful or handsome to others. It added some kind of glow to a persons' skin and hair, making them look somewhat ethereal so long as the weapon was with them. My rusted sword and the old mace wouldn't hold an augment, being so old and damaged from time, but I figured I could find another weapon.

Max had given me a really useful set of augments. The first was a Stoneskin Augment. When attached to a weapon, my skin becomes resilient to weapons, making it tough to get a scar. The second was a Gnarly Augment. This made my skin tougher to damage altogether, but the magic made it easier to break and scar for some reason. The third, and last, he gave me was a personal favorite, a Flame Augment. This would make my weapon burst into magical flames, which would hurt my foes much worse than a plain weapon could. It was beautiful and red, like a ruby. It was small, but I adored it. I had pressed it to my cheek lovingly, and it warmed my face and hand. I had even declared love for it. I love fire and flames, even the smell of smoke. It calms me somewhat, so I'd often stare into a fire before going to bed, sometimes roasting marshmallows over it and giving some to the children of the camp.

Jill had given me useful supplies as well. Five hundred gold coins, no doubt to help me, and some food. Carrots, celery, and several bottles of freshwater, for my journey. I'm not a vegetarian or anything, but I like eating healthy, and the Gypsies are lovers of animals, so getting meat was a task in and of itself. The last thing she gave me was a pair of blackened leather gloves, which I now wore.

'Sparrow, step into the light.' Theresa's voice said mystically. 'You will be given the power that all heroes once wielded. The power of magic, and the power to use the Mana of fallen foes to become stronger.' I stepped into the light and felt a wave of energy covering my body. I floated off of the ground as my dog watched me while whimpering. When I set down, I felt some kind of power flowing through my body. 'Concentrate Sparrow. I can teach you a single spell at the moment. Your body does not contain enough Mana right now for more than a simple spell, so I can teach you one from the list of spells on the broken table to your left.' I looked at it and grabbed the paper. It was old and faded, but I could still read it. There were several words, along with written descriptions. 'You may also use the Mana you've obtained to sharpen your eyes, your combat skills, and become faster. You can use it to become stronger and more powerful physically as well. Focus your mind, and feel the Mana, and will yourself to become stronger.' I thought for a moment and looked at the list.

'Time control, Inferno, Force Push, Vortex, Shock, Blades, Raise Dead, and Chaos.' I thought.

'Yes Sparrow.' Her voice said calmly. 'Select one of these, and I will be able to grant you the wisdom to use it at once. You need a single spell to activate the device at the end of the path.' I looked to the glowing blue ball at the edge of the room. 'It is a Cullis Gate. It will send you to a single place, the top of a tall stone tower a ways from where you are now. Please, choose a spell you would like me to teach you.' I looked at the list and thought about it for a moment. I finally decided on Shock. 'Then close your eyes. I will grant you the power to control the elemental force of lightning, and the knowledge of how to wield it with a thought.' I closed my eyes and suddenly I knew how to fling lightning from my fingertips. 'Now, activate the portal, and leave. You must get to Bowerstone.' I nodded and tucked the list into the pouch, dry by the magic that stored the items within.

"Come on boy." I said. I turned to the dog and he was wagging his tail happily. I walked to the end of the room and saw a chest. "Theresa? Can you hear me?"

'Yes Sparrow.' She replied. 'What do you need?'

"What's in this chest?" I asked. "Do you know?" She stayed silent for a moment before making a curious sound.

'I do not.' She said. 'See if you can open it if you are curious.' I nodded and walked over to it. I opened it and a suit of metal armor was inside, along with a strange metal handle. 'Interesting. You seem to have stumbled upon the legendary equipment of Hal.'

"Hal?" I asked.

'Yes.' She replied. 'Hal was a hero that appeared from seemingly nowhere one day. He carried a strange rifle, a strange pistol, and that odd handle wherever he went. He was the ultimate warrior, able to kill legions of Hobbes and other creatures without any effort.' I nodded. 'However, not one person in all of Albion knew his real name. He rarely spoke, and he never removed so much as his helmet. One day he simply vanished, and I guess this is where he had hidden himself.' I nodded again, picking up the handle. 'It is said that by gripping the handle, he willed forth a blade of lightning that was able to cleave Hobbes and any other creature in half with a single swing. The armor, he explained that only one who was fast enough, strong enough, and disciplined enough, could wear it. And whenever he was hit, it glowed a bright gold before showing no damage.' I nodded and looked at the weapon handle. I gripped it and two blades sprung forth with a crashing sound. 'Ah, you have discovered how it works.' I looked it over and loosened my grip. The blades vanished and I stared at it. 'His other weapons are curiously missing from the chest. And you are in no shape to be wearing his armor as of yet. Perhaps if you train with Mana, one day you can wear it with his level of skill.' I nodded. 'Until then, you can use Hal's sword to fight, but be careful. It may be fragile, and who knows what trouble could become of using it openly. I would warn of using it only as a last resort.' I nodded and put it away, hoping to figure it out later.

I walked along the path, smiling. My muscles had grown slightly, and it was lean muscle. I was faster, my reflexes were sharper, and my muscles were stronger. I had willed my body stronger, as Theresa had told me, and I was happy at the result. I walked up to a roadblock and a guard looked at me.

"I'm afraid with the bandit activity lately; we are forced to close the path to Bowerstone." He said. "I am sorry for the inconvenience, but you will have to wait until the bandit Thag is dead or otherwise captured before you can get to Bowerstone." I nodded. "Thank you for understanding miss."

'Well, this simply will not do.' Theresa said. 'I hear rumors that Thag is to the north end of the lake. You should be strong enough with your magic to defeat him. And you have Hal's sword if you should run into trouble.' I nodded and began walking in the direction she indicated.

I followed the path for ten or so minutes before spotting a cottage and a chest. I ran up to the chest and opened it to find a dye inside. It was labeled 'Moonless Midnight', and I smiled. A dye was a magical bottle of pigment that would change the color of anything it touched, and it would never run out. It could be used for clothing or hair, and it could be removed easily. I looked at my brown hair and smiled. I opened the bottle and saw a brush on the inside of the cap. I dabbed it to my hair and it changed to black instantly. I smiled wider and dabbed it to my entire outfit, turning it all black. I smiled and closed it while my dog wagged his tail happily.

I walked back to the path and followed it until I saw two Gypsies in a caged wagon.

"Run, it's a trap!" The male called. Several bandits dropped around me, four of them I counted. I drew my sword quickly and turned slowly.

"Well, what have we here?" One of the bandits asked. "A nice little girl in our little neck of the woods."

"You look lost little girl." Another said. My dog was growling. "Why don't you let us show you a nice little place you can stay?" I gritted my teeth and felt lightning flow to the tips of my left fingers. I smiled as they backed away.

"You guys are so going to regret messing with me." I said calmly. I pointed my hand to the one ahead of me and the lightning flew from my hand to his chest. It enveloped him and he began jerking around horrifically while screaming. I took their stunned moment to hit another with it. The first fell while I turned again to the third. I blocked a sword strike and pointed my left hand to his fellow, who gasped when I shocked him. "Oh yeah! This is too awesome!" I smiled as the last bandit began backing away. "Oh no you don't." I pointed my hand and fired one last bolt into his chest. He screamed as he fell over. A bit of blue Mana flew at me, along with some green. Blue Mana was physical strength enhancing Mana. If absorbed by my body, I could use it to become physically stronger. Green was 'General' Mana, which could be used to enhance my body, my skills, or my magic. A lot of green would let me do a lot of neat things. Red Mana was magical essence, which would allow Theresa to teach me new spells. Yellow Mana was 'Skill' Mana, which made my eyes sharper and my wits keener. "Okay, now how do I get you two out of that thing?" My dog barked and I turned to see a cottage door get kicked open.

"Okay, you've got until the count of three before I kill you!" A large man said. "No two!" I smiled at his stupidity. "One?" He groaned. "Oh sod it!" He yelled and ran at me. I ducked away from him as he swung a large axe at me.

'Sparrow, you can learn a new spell.' Theresa said quickly. 'Perhaps Force Push would be useful. Knock him into the fire, and shock him. He'll go down rather quickly I think.'

"Okay Theresa." I said. I closed my eyes as I jumped back. I saw how to use it and I opened my eyes. He ran at me and I pointed my right palm at him. A force of energy knocked him back, tripping over a dead body and into the fire. I quickly focused the lightning and hit him with it, opting to finish him quickly.