Chapter 5: Retribution
"Here's the plan. We will help Soren rescue Lethe from Ranulf and Shinon. Afterwards, we will not return to Crimea but instead patrol the region in order to find any outposts of the Daein Liberation Front, the army Haar controls. If we succeed in finding them, I'm certain that there are several friends in their ranks that we can speak to. Once we gain the support of the DLF, we can use their personnel to gain support among the people. If we succeed in our mission, Crimea will be recognized as a friend of Daein, and the Daein Revolutionary Army will be compromised." Jill spoke.
"I think we can all agree on that. Not to worry, Jill. Haar will not die, Daein shall not fall, Begnion shall be destroyed! Everyone, move out!" Soren cried.
The Crimean Royal Guard (CRG), led by Generals Ike and Tanith, marched forward to engage the Crimean renegades and Daein battalion led by Ranulf (Tonerk), DRA Lieutenant Shinon (a former Crimean Sniper), and the traitor General Geoffrey.
"My brother... Why would he turn on us?" Lucia moaned as the Crimean Royal Guard marched on.
"Who can we trust now? Geoffrey was one of our most trusted officers..." Ike muttered.
"GEOFFREY! THAT SCUM! I SHALL WRING HIS NECK, FOR CRIMEA..." Kieran yelled. He turned to Jill: "AND, ER... DAEIN!" Jill sighed with annoyance.
"Well, you've got to give it to him, Jill, he had the guts to sum our feelings up for us." Titania embarrassingly smiled.
As our heroes neared Shinon's encampment, Tonerk and Geoffrey were relaxing in a tent. "Ah, Geoffrey, soon you will be able to slay Ike, and I, Soren. Our passions shall be fulfilled." Tonerk laughed.
"Ranulf, Geoffrey, I've got some bad news." Shinon spoke from the outside. The two addressed officers emerged from the tent.
"You see them? That's Jill, with her green wyvern. The black robe there is Soren, and the turquoise-robed, blue-haired idiot is Ike. Apparently, the three of them have gathered an army to save Lethe. Based on their speed, we'll never be able to rendevous with The Black Knight or any of the Daein Revolutionary Army's bases in this area. Pity! There's one only 12 miles from here... If only we escaped earlier..." Shinon muttered.
"Their army does not seem to be as large as we anticipated. If we were to strike them without warning, they'd be stunned, and that would delay their counterattack. We'd be able to do significant damage. By the time they gained their senses and countered, we'd already be having the upper hand." Tonerk spoke.
"But I couldn't bear killing Lucia... The only man I hate in their army is Ike..." Geoffrey muttered.
"Does your loyalty lie with Crimea, or with Daein, Geoffrey?" Shinon glared at him.
Geoffrey was quite stunned as his reaction: "With Daein, of course!... With the DRA Army to be exact." Geoffrey stammered in response.
"Good. Now, I wouldn't like killing Lucia either. After all, as my former comrade Gatrie put it: 'Beautiful women shouldn't be killed.' But that whelp Ike killed Petrine. And to avenge her, either Lucia or Elincia has to die. I know you like Elincia, so who do you wish to choose? Your sister, or the woman you want to bed at night?" Shinon asked with a sneer.
"I... Choose... Elincia..." Geoffrey turned his head and muttered, unwilling to look Shinon in the eyes.
"Good, now get going. Ranulf, your advice was prudent. We're going to strike them head on. All units, ATTACK!" Shinon bellowed.
"Did you hear that? Shinon detected us. We shouldn't have marched so slowly. Everyone! Prepare yourselves!" Soren called.
Our heroes immediately stepped into formation. Shinon, Geoffrey, Tonerk, and several troops charged into view.
"Look! In the distance. It's a cage, with Lethe inside, no less!" Rhys spoke.
"Lethe? Growl! Those Beorc do not give Lethe the honor she deserves. To keep her in a cage? How... Undignified!" Mordecai growled.
"Here, Mordecai, take this Demi Band. Muarim gave it to me as a present, and I think you should use it. It'll keep you in your tiger state." Ike spoke.
"I trust you, and Muarim. This shall be put to good use." Mordecai replied. He immediately morphed into laguz form, and rushed to engage the enemy.
The battle was harsh indeed. Several of the mounted calvary of the CRG were taken down by enemy Snipers and Paladins.
"There are so many of them... Shinon truly gathered a powerful army to oppose us." Ike muttered.
"If I see Shinon, I'll... Have to kill him... I'm sorry, Ike, but Shinon was my... Dear friend..." Rolf whimpered.
"Rolf, this Shinon is nothing compared to the Shinon we both knew. I'm sure of it. Stay close to me, or I might lose you. I don't think he'll hesitate to take your life." Oscar spoke.
In the midst of the battle, Soren watched in horror as a large band of Crimean Halberdiers were cut down by a giant blue cat. "Ranulf!" He shouted.
Tonerk smiled: "Soren... Now we meet face to face. It is time for me to have you for a meal." He pounced.
"Roar!" Mordecai growled, and rammed his body into Tonerk's.
"You will not hurt Soren!" He snarled.
"You are wrong. I will kill you first, then Soren shall be my prey." Tonerk laughed.
With a swipe of his paw, he smacked Mordecai in the face. Mordecai howled, his jaw snapped from the blow.
"How... How could you be this powerful?" Soren gasped as he stepped toward Tonerk.
"With Mordecai out of the way, you shall finally be my prey!" Tonerk purred.
At that moment, the rest of the veterans (Ike's old companions) in the Crimean Royal Guard arrived and formed a defensive perimeter around Soren.
"You are NOT going to hurt Soren, you hear me, traitor? We're right here for him! You'll have to get through all of us!" Marcia yelled.
At this moment, Shinon and Geoffrey also arrived and stood near Tonerk. "Ranulf, we're also here. It looks like everyone's grouped in this area... Nice to see you, Lucia, sister..." Geoffrey called.
"I have no brother." Lucia snarled.
"Oh, family instability! Are you sure that you want to stay with us, Geoffrey?" Tonerk taunted. Geoffrey could only hang his head.
"You there, great beorc warriors! You stand before me, Ranulf, one of the most powerful laguz in the world! I'm quite flattered that you traveled so far to face me! This tiger here, Mordecai, was pathetic. I think he insults your great strength by traveling with you. Regardless, I am here to tell you the truth about that little Sage among you.
"This sage, Soren, may appear like any other beorc, but he represents something else. He is the product of a terrible crime, the crime of crossbreeding. He is a PARENTLESS, A HALF-BREED, A BRANDED, A MISTAKE... He represents the sins of a beorc and a laguz. His very existence insults the will of the Goddess! Both races, Beorc and Laguz, shun these beings of filth, for they are impure, and are made in error. Let us fix this problem, and reform the purity of our races..." Tonerk shouted.
All present stared at Soren. "I... I knew it... All these years of suffering were bound to resurface. Yes, yes I am a Branded! But your continuation of this prejudice proves to me that you are no better than those racists who despised Laguz! Yes, I AM A MISTAKE! But have I not proven my worth to you? Don't all of you acknowledge my goodwill? Aren't I a member of the family? But no, my secret is let out. I am a Branded, so all the things I did for you are in vain. Fine, Ranulf, fine. If you wish for purity, then take this life of mine. I suffered dearly in the past, and that suffering continues into the present. Please, just take me now..." Soren moaned and closed his eyes.
"That mark... I... A Parentless? That explains it..." Lethe muttered from her cage. Soren was about to collapse in rage and sorrow, when he felt something warm press against his body. Soren opened his eyes, and found Mia huddled against him, along with the others forming a tight semicircle around him.
"I know what you're thinking. Don't..." Mia glared at him. Soren's eyes wandered to Titania, who stepped forward towards Tonerk.
"So what, Ranulf, so what? Yes, I've heard stories of the Branded. The Beorc refuse to acknowledge them into their society, and the Laguz deny their relationship outright, calling them 'Parentless.' Yes, the Branded are spawn from the blood of Beorc and Laguz, but what is your purpose of revealing Soren's birth? Regardless if he is a Laguz, or a Beorc, or a Branded, Soren has been one of the most important comrades in our army. He has stood beside us for so long that we consider him family. In this situation, any truths you may reveal will not force us to turn our backs on him. Soren is my son. He is a brother to Ike and to all the others standing here before you. You have no right to impose any more suffering on this man. By doing so, you have revealed how tainted you character has become. And, in the pursuit of purity, it is not Soren who must die, but you." With that, Titania readied her Laguz Axe.
"We will not allow you to fulfill your quest of purity, Ranulf! Soren shall not die today!" They all cried, standing their ground, but Soren gently brushed them off.
"Everyone, I must thank you for your support. But it's my fault that all of you have gotten into this. It is my duty to save Lethe, and the rest of you need not bring harm to yourselves to help me." Soren replied. For the first time ever, Titania could actually see a look of genuine joy in his eyes.
"No, of course we have to risk ourselves for Lethe, Soren. She's our sister too, you know." Jill shot back.
"Then let me rephrase. The fight between me and Ranulf does not have to involve any of you. It's only between the two of us. Please step back and let me face him alone." Soren replied. Jill, Ike, and Titania exchanged worried glances, along with the others, but they all respected his decision and stepped back.
"Shinon, Geoffrey, would you both mind ordering your troops to stay back for a distance? Let me handle the Half-Breed myself." Ranulf shouted. Shinon and Geoffrey obeyed and left Ranulf alone. The two enemies cautiously approached each other.
"Now, Ranulf, you wanted to fulfill your desire. Well, now's your chance. If you win... Then Lethe shall be yours. If I win, then she shall be freed. Understood?" Soren spoke.
"Fine, but I shall be overjoyed while tearing your flesh with my claws!" Ranulf laughed as he pounced.
"Tornado!" Soren yelled. Ranulf was caught in the tempest, but recovered and struck Soren. Soren readied another spell: "Elthunder!" Ranulf was electrified, but quickly recovered and slashed Soren several times on the chest.
Before Soren could retaliate, Ranulf quickly drew his claws and wildly slashed Soren on his face and back. Soren howled in pain as streaks of blood were flowing down his back.
"Soren!" Lethe screamed.
Soren heard her, but slowly began to smile. "Ranulf, after all that time I fought the Daein armies, do you honestly believe that I can die so easily? No, I must show you my ultimate tome." With that, Soren pulled out a book from his coat. There were gold letters etched into the cover and binding, they read: "Smack."
"Smack? Is this some kind of joke? Are you insulting the great..." Ranulf's words were cut off by a violent gust of wind: "SMACK!" The noise echoed throughout the battlefield.
Soren held Smack high in the air. "Now, don't you feel humiliated?" He taunted.
Ranulf staggered toward Soren. "You've... Insulted me... You forged a tome and gave it such a humiliating name. Any warriors who you killed with Smack have had their honor taken from them." He panted.
"Trust me, anyone who is truly honorable would not be finished with Smack. People like the honorable General Shiharam Fizzart of Daein were attacked by Elwind, Elthunder, and Tornado, not Smack. Smack is only reserved for powerful and greedy brutes such as yourself and Bishop Oliver. Goodbye, old traitor." Soren panted as he raised Smack one last time.
Shinon and Geoffrey turned their eyes as Tonerk breathed his last. "So, now that Ranulf is gone, you've won, Soren. Release the sub-human!" Shinon ordered.
Lethe's cage was opened and she collapsed, completely exhausted, on the ground. "Lethe!" Soren ran to her. "What did they do to you?" Jill and the others immediately arrived.
"Jill, take care of Lethe. Ike and I will hold off Shinon and Geoffrey." Soren told her.
"Are you sure of this? We can still provide you with cover." Tanith spoke.
"I'm certain. Now go, and don't worry about us." Soren replied.
Tanith, Jill, and the others immediately ordered a retreat. Rhys attempted to heal Mordecai, and with his wounds slightly recovered, Mordecai was able to help escort the others to safety. Ike and Soren, meanwhile, stood before Shinon and Geoffrey. "You take them first, Shinon. You hate them both, while I personally have nothing against Soren, even if he's a Branded." Geoffrey spoke.
"Fine. I'll kill Soren, and Ike, and you'll get nothing." Shinon replied.
"If Ike dies, then at least I get the satisfaction that Elincia has been avenged." Geoffrey replied.
"Truly, truly, you are an idealistic IDIOT! You valiantly fight for Elincia. She doesn't love you! She'll never care for you. Even when you or I kill Ike (in which it is almost certain to be me), she won't lay with you at night. Don't you realize this?" Shinon glared.
"Of course I do, but it better that I fight in her name than in my own." Geoffrey sighed.
"Are you implying something?" Shinon glanced at him with raised eyebrows.
"No, no, carry on." Geoffrey waved at him.
Shinon stepped towards Ike and Soren. "Ike, it's time. Watch yourself!" He smiled as he raised his bow.
Soren stepped towards him, "Ike, it's a Critical!" He yelled.
But it was too late; the arrow pierced Ike's shoulder. "Ugh... Take this!" Ike charged and struck Shinon with Ragnell, but failed to activate Aether.
Shinon laughed and stepped back. "That wasn't too bad!" He threw an arrow into the air, lept high enough to snatch it, aimed at Ike from an angle, and fired!
"Deadeye..." Soren muttered in stunned awe. Ike fell upon the ground.
"Sleep, my darling... Now, where is that judgmental dastard?" Shinon asked. He looked before him, but Soren wasn't there. "Tornado!" He heard a voice cry from his left. Before Shinon could fire another arrow, he was hit by a swirling cyclone. As Shinon began flying in the air, he heard another cry: "Elthunder!" A second spell was activated, and Shinon found himself electrified. Shinon finally landed on the ground. "Do I suffer the same end as Ranulf? I think not!" Shinon shouted. He turned and fired.
"Ahh!" Soren yelled as he was hit.
"Pity you have so little defense. Out of all the sages I've fought, including the ones that used Meteor, you are the only one that has injured me to some degree. You are a relatively worthy opponent, but I shall kill you." Shinon taunted as he fired another arrow. However, the arrow missed.
"Huh? He's escaped again! Curses, it's started to rain... Rain? No!" Shinon began to panic.
"ELTHUNDER!" Soren screamed. This time, the spell did extensive damage. And 'Adept' activated, doubling the pain.
"I admit, Soren, that you are worthy prey. You just refuse to die. But, you are still prey, and I'll kill you soon enough." Shinon taunted.
Shinon began firing four arrows at once, three of which were able to hit Soren. "You will not win this battle, Shinon! SMACK!" Soren yelled, clutching his side. Soren moved his hands before his eyes, and created a furious gust of wind, stronger than ever. This windstorm tore at Shinon's face, making it difficult for him to concentrate.
"A critical? Well, I have the perfect rebuttal!" Shinon laughed. He threw an arrow and lept into the air again.
"No... This is the end... Lethe, I did my best." Soren watched hopelessly as Deadeye activated once again.
But at that moment, when Shinon was in midair, both men saw a blue flash, and a sword fall before Shinon.
"What the-?" Shinon gasped as Ike grabbed the sword and charged at Shinon. "The power of Aether... It killed Ashnard, and now, damn it!... I die... Pathetic!" Shinon sighed as he was hit. Ike landed on the ground, slightly healed, while Shinon plummeted to the earth, never to rise again.
Is Shinon completely evil? Read the chapter carefully.
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