Dark Wind, Violet Lightning
Chapter 6: The Power of Dragons and Dragonkin
Archsage Soren: Blarg, my chapter titles get worse every chapter. That aside, it is time for even more action, love, and adventure with everyone's favorite mercenary crew, The Greil Mercenaries.
Emphasis, Thought "Speech" (1, 2, 3) end of chapter notes.
Kisari: Just shut up and produce the chapter!
Soren: Disclaimer time then. Archsage Soren owns only Kisari and any plot deviations he adds to the story. What he does not own is, but is not limited to: Nintendo, Intelligent Systems, Fire Emblem, any Wii copyrights, any Nintendo Copyrights, stocks for any company, the Internet, , or any music he imagines playing during certain scenes he writes. Suing him for "Stealing" your idea(s) is pointless because by claiming to not own them and by making no profit of his works, he is breaking no laws whatsoever, and if you manage to win a lawsuit (Improbably low odds) you would earn at least ten times Less than the court fees.
Elf Princess Kiri: Well THAT was descriptive!
Archsage Soren: Damn, that was the best and most protective legal disclaimer ever, Soren. Thanks for writing it all out! And now to the Story itself.
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Dear lord, why are we stuck here of all places? Soren pondered pessimistically. Caught on a reef after a battle and, of COURSE, the reef just happens to be Goldoa territory. Now we are either going to starve here or, they will burn us all to death.
"Hey Soren, care to tell us what's going on behind your skull?" Ike asked, a forced smile on his face.
"Not really, but I guess I should. Basically, we are caught on a reef, as you know. The only way to get off the reef is to push it off. We do not have the manpower for this. Even if we did, we would have to go on Goldoan land to push off, signing our own death warrant for daring to set foot on their land. In essence, we are stuck with limited supplies and no way to get free. We will die here if the tables do not turn in our favor. I predict a fifteen percent chance of all of us surviving, and forty five percent chance of Marcia and Jill being able to fly away to safety with enough supplies to live while we die," Soren explained bitterly.
"Soren, I don't get why setting foot on their land to push off the ship is a death wish," Ike sighed. "I can see Daein being that way, but why is Goldoa so horrible?"
"Goldoa is the land of Dragon Su...Laguz. They are cold hearted and prohibit foreigners, Beorc or Laguz. They try to stay out of all conflicts, but will protect their borders with fierce intensity. This is due to them attempting to avoid war awakening the Dark God. If we go onto their land, we will be told to leave or die. Since leaving would mean going back onto a ship stuck on a reef, we would eventually starve. They will not do business with us any more than let us on their land," Soren grimaced. "In essence, we are, pardon my language, thoroughly fucked."
"Not the report I wanted to hear, but thanks Soren. At least you're honest," Ike slapped him on the back.
"It appears you are wrong, Boy Genius," Volke replied, appearing out of nowhere behind Ike and Soren, and scaring the hell out of them.
"Damn it Volke, I told you not to do that!" Ike complained.
"And I told you it will cost you three thousand for me to comply," Volke retorted, a small smile on his face. "But on to business. It seems we have some Dragons headed over this way."
"Oh great, I knew we were fucked..." Soren grumbled.
"Not so. They haven't shifted, nor have they shown any signs of hostility," Volke countered. "I think that we might be able to get them to help us get adrift."
"Ilyana! Come over here and stay by my side!" Soren ordered. Quickly she complied, interlocking her arm around his. "Do you think you can pull off the Lightning Cyclone again with me? We might need it..."
"Yes, Soren. If we need to, I will do it. I, well, we are the only ones who can stop them if they are here to hurt us, right? Because of my Thunder magic…Because it has to be us, I can, and I will," Ilyana vowed, yet she seemed much less confident then she was trying to sound. She was shaking, and looked like she was about to cry.
The Dragons drew closer, and one of them called out: "Beorc! You are harboring upon our waters. We demand you leave immediately. We do not wish to have to remove you the hard way."
"You don't understand. We were snared by a trap of the Raven tribe of Kilvas, and now we are caught on a reef. We would gladly leave if we could on our own accord. Alas, we are stuck here." Soren yelled, playing diplomat.
"Is that so, Parentless one? Your kind should not exist. We will remedy that!" the man roared. Soren stiffened, scared that the others would make the connection; that they would figure out he was branded.
"Wait!" a Dragon boy cried. Surprisingly, the men did as they were told. "I know they are telling the truth. We should help and feed them."
"Your Highness? Why would we feed them?" another Dragon man inquired.
"It is to make up for my father's neglect of hospitality in Goldoa, to apologize for our Laguz brothers who did this, and because I have never actually seen this many humans before. I want to meet them," the newly revealed prince answered.
Ike decided to start speaking before Soren managed to blow it. Soren didn't seem ready to talk again anyways, hearing them calling him Parentless, and the fact that they were able to tell from that far away scared him to the bone. "I am the leader of this group. My name is Ike. If you would please help us get unstuck, we will leave your borders at any time you request. We apologize and we did not mean to trespass."
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Soon they were all on land feasting, thanks to the Dragon Prince. "Prince Goldoa, you have my thanks for helping us. I was certain we were going to die even before you headed to our boat," Soren commented.
"Please, we are not in ceremony with the Princess in your protection, so please call me by name as well," the Prince ordered.
"Certainly, Kurthnaga," Soren corrected himself.
"Thanks, I am not a fan of formality," Ike laughed.
"We've noticed that a lot, Commander," teased Mist.
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When their feast was over, they pushed the boat back afloat. The mercenaries got back onboard and they headed back to sea. Soren was not completely happy at the moment, however. His prey that he had been stalking since the last battle was very near, he could tell. "Gotcha, brat! So, stowaway Sothe, why were you hiding when we were under attack instead of helping? Kisari and Volke were fighting too, so don't go 'Because I am a Theif!'" Soren demanded.
"You want to know why? I just... didn't want to get in the way of you guys. You all can fight so well and I can barely defend myself, I just didn't want to be another one out there to protect. But if you tell anyone you will wake up with a slit throat, you got me?" Sothe threatened. His lack of confidence was obvious, and he shed a lone tear.
"Stupid child, we needed all the help we could get then. If Ilyana and I couldn't pull off the spell that saved us we could have all died because we were down a man! We didn't care how well you could fight; you could parry the whole time! We just needed someone to even out the numbers. Next time I catch you hiding, I will make sure you pay for putting Ilyana and everyone else at risk. That's what you do when you hide, you know that? You have to man up, Sothe, trust me." Soren raged.
"I…okay, you're the genius. Anyways, I need to get stronger so I can protect... someone..." Sothe sighed vaguely. (1)
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Days later, they came across a group of Pegasi knights fighting an unknown enemy. Realizing that this is likely Begnion troops of Pegasi, Ike decided to pull closer and ask if they need help. After all, this is a chance to get on Begnion's good side.
"You, peasants! You're armed, and we need assistance. The apostle has disappeared recently from where she was on our ship, and we need help fighting while most of us search for her," a mounted woman shouted with authority.
"Hey, we are the Greil Mercenaries; we can certainly help out a bit. We were on our way to Begnion as it turns out, so our paths seem to be interlocking at the moment. I'm the Commander of this group, Ike," Ike introduced himself.
"I am Tanith of the Holy Guard. General Sigrun, who is my superior, the other Holy Guards, and myself thank you for the aid," Tanith replied gratefully.
"Yes, it's no problem. We need a favor ourselves, so we are earning it now. Fair? Good," Soren added. They hastily pulled up to the Begnion vessel and prepared to move out and assist the soldiers on board.
"Soren, suggestions for a strategy?" Ike asked.
"Hm, yes. Brom, Nephenee, Lethe, Mordecai, and... Mia. Can I count on you five to defend our ship? Oh, Keiran and Marcia should help you out as well. I think seven is enough for our own vessel," Soren decided. "The rest of you, we rush to the Begnion ship and assist in the fight, and make sure no enemies can board the ship. Block off gangplanks and such. Also, there seems to be quite a lot of chests ripe for looting. Sothe, Volke, Kisari, and Jill, you four all go to those chests and loot them. Jill is the helping hand in combat while you three thieves rob everyone blind."
"Good plan. Greil Mercenaries, move out!" Ike roared, and they rushed to aid Begnion. Ike ran blindly across the ship until he saw a woman hiding behind a man with a familiar face. He ran to them, bleeding dry all enemies in his way. "Gatrie? Never expected to see you here."
"Ike? Good to see you again, despite the circumstances. I got myself a job here protecting this lovely lady," Gatrie greeted, smiling lazily.
"My name is Astrid... I just want away from the Noble lifestyle, and if you two know each other, maybe we should all join up?" Astrid proposed, barely more than a whisper.
"Sounds good to me, milady!" Gatrie cried valiantly. "No matter the odds, I will be your impregnable shield and ensure you live whatever the threat is!"
"Well, let's focus more on the battle at hand right now, sound good?" Ike asked.
"Sure thing, Ike. Damn, I think you grew two inches taller and acquired some Biceps since Shinon and I left," Gatrie grinned. "Still nothing compared to my manliness, but you are coming along well." Gatrie then speared a man who dared to get near Astrid.
"And you actually improved your taste in women it seems, Gatrie," Ike laughed. Ike jumped in the air and sliced off the arm of an enemy who had tried to sneak up on the young woman. "You know where Shinon ran off to?"
"Not a clue, sorry," Gatrie sighed.
Astrid, surprisingly enough, decided to make herself useful. By either luck or skill, she shot an enemy who was sneaking up on Ike in the eye. Wounded, he fell and was trampled to death by the soldiers of both sides who were busy fighting.
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Half a boat away, Soren was surrounded. He was doing his best to eliminate the Raven tribe troops while avoiding the lances, swords, and axes aiming to kill him. "Damn, there are just too many of them. But, I have to defeat them and reunite with Ilyana! I can't let them hurt her..."
"Fat chance, Parentless one! First off, you're bird food, mine to be exact. Second, that woman will either be bird food as well or used by the humans as a whore!" one of the Ravens jeered, then swooped in to attack.
"NO! That will not happen. I will kill you all, even if I have to do…that!" Soren raged vaguely. "Heh, the odds that I might die are high, but if it saves everyone, hell, even if it only saves Ilyana..."
"Shut up and die!" a human soldier cried, and then was blasted away by a wind spell.
Soren started an incantation not related to his tomes at all. "The rabid dog chases his own tail to the ends of the earth, as the tides shift from high to low. The strong of the world rise up, while the weak fall and die. Rain cascades from the sky to augment man's sorrow. The restrictions on life can be eliminated as to deal with our burdens. Seal of the Magi, Power Restriction, set to Zero!" The wind spiraled around him as his power grew, obliterating those near him. One blast from Wrath of Gales slew all other enemies on the half of the ship he was on. His situation was reversed: once surrounded, he was now alone. "Shit, I...don't have much strength left after that. I put too much into Wrath of Gales. I have just enough to reseal, however. Maybe..."
"Soren!" Ike shouted, seeing his black-haired friend struggle to stay standing.
"Ike, it's...okay. Just give me a minute, then go get Rhys." Soren called weakly, then began the resealing of his latent powers. "Those with the strength to decimate cities with a glance, those who can move mountains, and those who can hold the world aloft in its place. Their power, a blessing and a curse. They yearn to be with others, yet even the slightest touch kills with might. Let that overbearing curse be sealed, to be unlocked in dire need. Let those blessed with power control it, lest their powers consume themselves in their greatness. Seal of the Magi, Power Restriction of the Dragonkin." After this, the winds flew into his body, and Soren collapsed.
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"Nngh, where am I?" Soren mumbled. "You, little girlie-girl. Where am I?"
"Girlie-girl? Is that how one addresses the Apostle, Empress Sanaki of Begnion? Where are your manners, injured boy?" Sanaki laughed haughtily.
"In battle, titles and positions matter not. I am sorry that my mind was still set in battle logic. That added to the fact that I have never actually seen you before, nor had any information of looks on you in any of my information networks," Soren apologized.
"It matters not. Now that you acknowledge me, I'd like to talk with you, peasant. You see, I am somewhat of an arcane pupil as well. What you did was simply amazing in battle. That trick with the winds, I mean. Explain it to me." Sanaki demanded in her childish way.
"I'll try. That is my full, unreleased power. My latent, unused strength. However, my body is not strong enough to handle it, so I seal it off normally. To be able to live without the seal, I would need to eat about as much as a Lion su...Laguz. That, and my body would need more training," Soren explained slowly.
"Why are you that strong? What made you that way? What will make me that powerful?" Sanaki was staring at him as if he was the way to immortality and infinite riches.
"Er, I hit puberty and my magic came to full strength once I became that age. It all awoke then. My friend and I, with my master, had to seal it off. My master taught me all it's stages of release, and warned me of its dangers of wielding that much energy at once," Soren frowned. "I am like this because I was simply born in whatever way with whatever genes that I had that much energy. If I had decided to not study the Arcane, however, all of my strength would have likely went to building my muscles rather than becoming magical strength. You can never become this way, nor would you want to."
Ilyana then entered the room. Soren's face lit up instantly. "Ilyana! It's good to see you are okay. You didn't get hurt, did you?"
"No, I'm fine," Ilyana reassured him. "Empress Sanaki, please leave our soldier and tactician to heal in peace. No matter your position, this is the hospital cabin and the only rank that matters is Head Nurse. That lady said all but Ike and I are to leave him alone until further notice."
"Hmph. I was done with this useless, boring boy anyways," Sanaki huffed indignantly.
"What was she harping you about, anyways?" Ilyana asked when Sanaki was finally gone.
"My power. I assume everyone saw it... Now my heritage is likely to be found out. She saw that power, and she wanted to know how to be that powerful. I told her she wouldn't want it, and I wasn't kidding. It comes from my dragon blood. The power is too strong for my body, too strong for itself. Left alone unsealed, the power itself would consume me," Soren told his beloved.
"Well, now it's just you and I, alone. What do you want to do?" Ilyana purred softly.
"Heh, your Cat side is showing," Soren chuckled softly. "That bitch of a head nurse said I'm not allowed to do anything at all with you, and that even just making out with you could exhaust me and open my wounds."
"Well then, I guess I'll just have to sleep with you and keep you safe this time," Ilyana smiled and got on the bed with Soren. "Is this really all I can do to thank my beloved hero for saving everyone with that massive spell?"
"Just knowing you love me and having you to hold is payment enough, Ily," Soren closed his eyes. "Maybe later we can make up for the lost time of me being in this Hospital area. Start with a breakfast, with honey!" as he said this, each word became quieter until it was only a mummer Ilyana barely caught. Then he drifted to sleep, an arm around Ilyana.
Ily? I get a pet name now? How cute! I guess it's time he got a pet name too... Ilyana grinned at the prospect caused by this new sign of affection, and followed Soren into the realm of dreams.
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"Huh? What happened to Ilyana?" Soren asked in the morning, having awoke to an empty bed.
"Well, she got up at sunrise," Ike sighed, leaning on the wall. "You, however, have been sleeping until noon. And before you and Ilyana were sleeping, you had been asleep for three days straight. You had everyone deathly afraid."
"Damn it, I knew I should have only half released my power!" Soren cursed angrily. "I made everyone worry and turned myself into a burden rather than an asset. I wasted myself, ruined the plans I had made..." Soren continued to rant.
"Shut up, Soren. I was here to bring good news too," Ike continued interrupting Soren's beginning of a rant. "After a day you are allowed out of the ward. Until then, the Head Nurse wants someone to constantly take care of you. That lucky someone is Ilyana, so knock yourself out." Ike gave the bead-ridden Mage a knowing look and a wink, then left to attend to business with the Apostle and the Princess.
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(1) Yes, this someone that Sothe speaks of is Micaiah…
Archsage Soren: What did you all think? Not to ruin my foreshadowing, but I am highly considering next chapter to be centered on the day that started now up until the very hour Soren is allowed to be released. In other words, a whole chapter of Fluff, fluffier than the finest Cotton Candy, or that's the goal anyways... As usual, thanks to my beta Elf Princess Kiri. Please, review now! Just hit the button and tell me what you thought! Oh and as usual, suggest the Kisari pairing of your choice for the later chapters. Also you can request pairings. Votes are two Kisari/Volke, two Kisari/Zihark, and one lone Kisari/Shinon. If I forgot any, I apologize.
Pairs being used at some point are: Soren/Ilyana, Keiran/Marcia, Shinon/Mia (Unless the votes for Kisari/Shinon go insane!), and Naesala/Leanne. I'm thinking of Gatrie/Astrid, not sure though.
Elf Princess Kiri: -flails- I vote Shinon/Mia!! 8D Fluff? Fluffier than my favoritest candy in the whole entire world?! YAAAY! -hyperventilates, then passes out-
Keiran: You can't give Soren his own fluff chapter! Use half of it to pair me with Marcia! And make it half my fluff chapter!
Archsage Soren: I'll think about it… If I run out of fluff writing steam for Soren/Ilyana, I'll try to pair you and Marcia up and let you have a little fluff too. Hey, if Kiri wants Shinon/Mia, and I also want it, that counts as like 10 votes 'cause we are the beta and author, respectively. And someone else voted for it too, I think. That's 11 XD. Muses blessings to all who read all this!
As a Post Beta Note... I, the author, apologize for overpowering good ol' Soren in an unneeded, dramatic, and flashy way. However, it explains why Soren has a normal appetite, while Ilyana doesn't. Her powers are not sealed, so she needs a ton of food. Soren is the opposite, sealed and a small appetite. Micaih... we will cross that bridge when we come to it...
But his unneeded flashy powers are cool, right? And the incantations took awhile to think of too! Oh, and sorry that Kisari didn't get 'screen' time, so the poetry takes a... 2 chapter break? This one and the next one...
