Hello everyone! As all of you know, I am a HUGE Suikoden fan, although I have not played 1 or 2 yet. I hope you all enjoy it and as always, reviews are welcome!

And now, on with the story!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING IN THE SUIKODEN UNIVERSE. ONLY MY OC'S.

Prologue: Arrival

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The light of the Estrise lighthouses illuminated the sea and also shown light on the outline of the incoming ship. The storm was unrelenting, rain pounded the deck and soaked the sails and anyone who was on deck. As lightning arced overhead, the captain of the Intrepid breathed a sigh of relief to his first mate.

"Tell our passenger we've arrived, and tell the men not to jump ship until the cargo is off-loaded storm or no storm."

The first mate saluted and ran from the enclosed bridge and down the gangway to the lower deck. He passed down a corridor and approached a room in the back of the ship. Normally, this room was the Captain's quarters, however, with this passenger it was only common courtesy he get the best room.

The first mate knocked twice and waited. A moment later a voice, strong yet kind, came through.

"Enter."

The first mate entered and saluted to the passenger. He was a middle aged man, quite tall, average yet somewhat muscular build. He carried himself like a noble though in fact he was a merchant. Although to call him a simple merchant was a mistake. The man turned and faced the first mate, his facial hair grown during the long voyage made him look older than he was. The first mate nodded.

"We've reached Estrise safe and sound Mr. Cree. Again sir, it was an honor to have the owner of Cree Land and Sea Trading on board. Although, I find my curiosity as to why you didn't take one of your usual ships; why is that sir?"

The man nodded and sighed. These men on this ship had sailed through a storm and fought off three pirate attacks for him to get here. They at least deserved to know why they had risked their lives so. He knew the first mate's name as Josh, so he spoke in an informal tone.

"The reason is Josh that someone is hunting me. Although yes as I stated my buisness in Falena is to set up a branch office. The simple fact is that I cannot remain in one place for long. I know not who is after me, however, I simply cannot wait for my death to come to me. I thank you and the the Captain of this vessel for bearing me this far. Now I must continue to Sol-Falena."

The first mate, though stunned by what he had just heard, nodded and stepped aside. Donning his raincoat, Thomas Cree stepped out of the room and went down the hall towards the gangplank to shore.

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A lone figure watched Cree depart from the ship. A young man, to anyone's eyes he would appear as a young adult, the truth is he was far older than that. Rain poured off his cloak as he moved forward. For him it was now or never: he leapt forward as Cree passed and stabbed at the cloaked figure following him.

The assassin yelled as the man's blades pierced his chest bringing Cree around, longsword drawn. Cree lowered his weapon as he saw the man withdraw and sheathe the twin blades, then turn to him. The man's voice broke the monotony of the rainfall.

"Thomas Cree?" Cree nodded unsure of what was going on. The man pulled back his hood revealing short cut brown hair, an aged red bandana tied around his head. He eyed Cree then nodded grimly.

"I recieved word that you had fled Tinto after an assassination attempt. I knew Falena was the only country besides Nagarea and Gaien that you didn't have trade agreements with. Given your desire to become the first world wide trading buisness, I figured you'd come here, damn the risks and consequences." Cree looked at him oddly.

"You find me at a loss for words sir. I thank you for saving my life but I also find myself worried. Who are you and why did you save me?" The man chuckled.

"The answer as to the act of it, you are the son of a good man and have helped many people and countries. You recently helped the people of Zexan and Grasslands recover from their war with Harmonia, before that you and your father helped Toran and before that Dunan. Your father lent a little support to Falena after their civil war. The 'why' of it is much more simple: your left hand."

Cree looked immediately concerned; he had told no one of his left hand. He glanced to make sure no one was listening, then whispered.

"How do you know this?" The man smiled.

"Because Leknaat says that those who wield True Runes can sense when another Rune Bearer is nearby. Your rune has a very distict aura about it. I trust you know of what I speak?"

Cree looked to his hand and then to the man.

"Who are you? How did you know about the Shining Light Rune?" The man held up his left hand and caused his rune to pulsate from red-black to white-blue.

"As I said, I too have one of the twenty seven True Runes. I am Lazlo En Culdes, and I have borne the Rune of Punishment for over one-hundred thirty years."

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Here it is! My Suikoden fanfic! Admittedly, I've only played III, IV, Tactics, V, and Tierkries but I made sure to do my research before starting this.

First off, this fanfic will only take place in the original Suikoden world. (Meaning only countries and Stars from I, II, III, IV, and V will appear.) As I am familiar with 3, 4, and 5 only the majority of the stars will be from those games. I may make a few OC Stars to flesh out the story some.

Reviews will help me prioritize how often I update as I still have other projects to work on. If you like what you read, please update and review. Enough reviews will mean more often updates.

As a foot note: I read a list of the True Runes revealed in the games. Only 18 of the 27 True Runes are known so it is possible that one is called the Shining Light Rune. I may need help getting the timeline straight, I know that Suikoden IV was the earliest and that V took place eighty years after it, then 1 came twenty years after V. I, II, and III happen within five or six years of each other but I'm not 100% sure. This story takes place ten years after the events of Suikoden III.

Again, please rate and review. Visitor comments are welcome, and yes to the inevitable question: Thomas Cree is the Tenkai Star.

Also, the next chapter will be a flashback to where Thomas got the True Rune.