Breath of Fire: Of Time and Destiny
Chapter Six: Time to take action
Time:Goddess Era 2020
Location:Windlan, Aspiara
After dodging and hiding from numerous guard patrols, the group managed to reach the kitchen without letting Nina being seen, which bring great relief to Stella and her friends. Luck seems to be at their side as well, as the kitchen staffs are not at duty at the time. Quickly, Nina went to the wall and pushes some sort of a button and then the door just open up in front of her. She immediately gesture her other friends to follow and went in the secret passage.
"Wow. This goes to say that old castles do have secret passages after all." Bob commented before going in as well. As soon as everyone went in, the door closes behind them and they made their way across the underground maze with the torches as their source of light to navigate through.
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Zeke has just return from his guard duty for the King and he had a hard time digesting the information he heard from the King when he discussed it with his advisers. The fact that the cold wave the world is experiencing right now is the work of the Ice Dragon Clan, which he had never heard of until recently. Other information he heard from also help him understand why the King will not let Princess Nina to go, but he doubt it matters to her when it comes to Ryu.
He sighed, walking back to Nina's room so he can resume his guard duty…..only to find that the lone guard that is supposed to be there is not at his post. Sensing something is amiss, Zeke quickly strode forward and turn the handle and found it is unlocked. He immediately open the door and saw the guard have just regains consciousness from his chair and no Nina around in her room.
"Hey! What happened! Where's the princess!" His voice carries a tone of urgency and worry when he asked the guard.
"Miss Raquel….." The guard managed to utter the name but it is enough for Zeke to know that she must have help Nina escaped from her room. He immediately called out for nearby guards to search for the missing princess and her 'rescuer' and attend to the guard.
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"Thank the God! We're out!" Stella cried with great happiness as they found the exit after going through the most frustrating and tiresome navigation of the maze.
"Sorry, guys. This is my first time going through this maze so I'm not sure the way to the exit…." She spoke sheepishly.
"Well, if it is me and this is my first time here navigating through these, I wouldn't know the way either. So it is not your fault." Robert offered his support to Nina, then he take Nina's hand, which earned a dubious look from her.
"If you ever feel cold because of the snowstorm, feel free to come to me and I will---OUCH!" He never finished his sentence when Stella hit him on the head with her silver case.
'Geez….just as I thought he finally take the situation seriously, only to turn back to his old self and flirt with Nina again. That jerk!' Stella thought to herself as Robert crumpled to the floor comically while her friends either shook her head or shrugged.
"Come on, guys. Let's go outside and take a look." Raquel is the only one seemly oblivious to the whole situation and went out the passage. When everyone went out which is actually a cave under the castle, the cold blizzard wind greeted them as it blows them in their face. Everywhere the eyes could see are all cover in snow and there is absolutely no life around here.
"This is terrible…..who could have done this….." Miyako stare at disbelief at the scenery in front of her.
"The blizzard may be strong, but it won't stop me from going to the Imperial Capital. Come on, guys!" Nina spoke determinedly and began to stride forward.
"I knew if you want to escape, it will be either through the glass window of your room or through the rumor secret passage, but I didn't expect you guys are here too."
Everyone jerked their head up to see Raifel is flying above them; apparently he was waiting for them to come out.
"Raifel!" Bob cried out in surprise while Miyako quickly slap her hand on her forehead.
"Great…..we're busted…."
"Yes you are, young lady. I knew that Miss Raquel is not working alone to save the princess, but to think all of you are doing this…." Nina and her friends immediately turn to see Zeke and several soldiers at the mouth of the passage; obviously they follow through the passage to find them.
"Double busted……" Miyako mourned at the situation.
"Quit complaining! Ready yourselves and protect Nina!" Stella barked to her Asian friend and soon all five formed a circle with Nina as it center.
"Stella….you and your friends should not do this. Come with us back to the castle with the prin-"
"And lock her up in her room? Don't be stupid! We all know Ryu is in trouble and whoever created this cold wave will freeze Windlan anytime soon! And your first thought is to lock her up for her safety? Zeke! Raifel! All of you should have known better than that!" Stella roared out in righteous that have shocked Nina, Robert and the other three. Though Robert and the others have join Stella to help Nina, they didn't expect this kind of attitude before. The soldiers at the back of Zeke have lowered their heads in shame, Raifel still flying above but he seems like he understand her meaning but Zeke is the only one maintaining his resolve.
"Stella….what you say may be true, but her father, the King, is worried of her safety and I cannot let her go to a dangerous journey such as this." Stella threw up in an exasperated manner.
"Arrrgghhhh! Do you men always have to be so thick headed about this!"
"Hey! Stella! I deeply object to this accusation!" Bob immediately shouted to her while Raifel flew over and spoke to her.
"I understand how the princess feels and I want her to go too but……"
"Then no buts and let her go, ok old man!"
"O-old man?" Zeke felt he has been hit by a hammer and staggered backward while his soldiers have sweat drop on their heads.
While the argument is going on, Robert immediately nudged the stunned Nina and whispered to her.
"Now's your chance, Nina…go!" Nina is shocked about this and wanted to protest but Robert stops her. "Just go! We'll keep them busy…" Reluctantly, Nina immediately spread her wings and flies off….
….only to get intercepted by Raifel, whose sharp eyes have already saw her leaving and went to block her flight path.
"Princess, please come back with us to the castle. It's not I do not understand your feelings…"
"Shut up and let me pass! If you do not, I will….." Nina clenched her teeth in sheer determination and left her sentence unfinished as she unsheathes her rapier. She is determined to leave for her new friends have done everything to make sure she leave to help Ryu, so she is not going to waste their efforts by going back!
"Use force, huh? Have you forgotten that I was the one teaching you swordplay?" Raifel put on his serious face as he unsheathes his rapier. Nina responded by attacking him but he managed to repel her blows. The fight between them has everyone on the ground staring in disbelief.
"Raifel! Don't hurt the princess!" Zeke cried out to his comrade as the aerial duel continues with two white ball flying in the sky, each time crashing each other then separate. Then the duel stop with Raifel locking his sword with Nina, obvious to everyone that he has the upper hand in the battle.
"Very good, princess. Your skill is good….for a girl. Remember though you still not good enough to travel alone."
"I know…..the only skill I have been good at is my healing magic….but that's why! I do not know what has happened to Ryu…….but if something do happened to him, then I could help him with my magic! I can't stay here and do nothing when the most important person I care about is in danger! So…..no matter what happens, I want to be there for Ryu! Please Raifel!" With that final plea, she stares intently at Raifel's eyes.
"Nina….." Miyako, like her friends and the soldiers, all looked up and saw the emotional plea made by Nina. It seemed like an eternity before Raifel start laughing loudly.
"You win! I lose! You win, princess! If you are willing to go that far, there's nothing I say to hold you back! I'll let you go and do what you want! But! I'm coming with you! It is still too dangerous to let a girl go alone!"
"Raifel…..Okay!" Nina felt relief and happy that her bodyguard has offered to join her in this journey. On the ground, Zeke was startled at the change of events while Bob and Stella cheered happily.
"We should try to pick up Stella and the others…." Nina spoke before she was interrupted.
"Forget about us! Get out of here and save your boyfriend!" Stella shouted to them.
"Hey! Raifel! Take care of Nina for us! We'll keep the others here as long as we can!" Bob gave them a thumbs-up while keeping his eyes wary on Zeke and the soldiers.
"What! You idiot! Don't you understand the King is worried about her!" Zeke shouted to Raifel after recovering from his shock.
"Unfortunately, unlike you, a bachelor like me is easily moved by a lover's devotion!" Raifel respond with a glee, while Nina apologized to her friends and Zeke in general.
"If you want to stop them by force, then you must first pass through my naginata." Miyako then began moving forward with a determined look while the others could only stare at her. "Normally I would have opposed Nina's leaving, but after hearing her out, I have decided help her out!" She twirls her naginata several times before pointing it to Zeke's general direction.
After a few minutes of silence, Zeke suddenly roared his battle cry, which in turn surprised everyone in the vicinity with Miyako looking at him with a dumbstruck look. Then Zeke raised his battle staff up, ready to throw it into the direction of Miyako and the others.
"What! Don't tell me he's really serious on killing them!" Raifel was equally surprised at Zeke's movement. He knows Zeke is a serious guy and will probably do anything to accomplish his mission, but killing people is not one of them. Nina, having seeing this, was about to fly towards her friends, terrified of their safety.
"BEHIND YOU!" Zeke throws his battle staff and it flew past Stella and her group. By the time they turn around (to Raifel and Nina, it was below them) they just in time to see the staff destroy an ice creature right behind Raquel.
Although startled, everyone on the ground quickly jump away and ready their weapons as more ice creatures seemingly jumped out from the snow field.
"INCOMING!" Bob shouted as he extended his katar when some ice creatures began charging towards Stella.
Stella calmly opens the lock on her silver case, drop it on the ground which pops open and then gave it a kick, which the force makes her bat'leth 'jump' out of the case. She grabs one of the hilt of her weapon and gives it a wide angle swing with one hand, immediately slicing the ice creatures into two parts who foolishly charged at her.
"Nice move! You okay?" Robert asked when he came to her, his rapier unsheathe.
"You think I will be beaten by these creatures that easily?" She gave him a broad smile.
"I never see those creatures before. But more importantly, I never see that kind of weapon before." Nina spoke when she flies low with Raifel, who looks at her weapon with great interest.
"It's called a bat'leth, it means sword of honor-"
"While the topic is interesting, I suggest we keep our focus on the situation at hand. Those 'guests' of ours are waiting for our first move." Stella secretly peeved at Miyako's interruption but went immediately to battle stance with Nina and Raifel as they faced off the ice creatures, which made no move except more popping out of the ground.
"Sir Zeke! We have finish mobilized the troops!" A soldier reports to him while giving him another battle staff. Sure enough, a large number of Windlan troops have landed on the ground, weapons at the ready.
"Good! Don't let your guard down!"
"Yes sir!"
"These ice creatures……they do not charge at us, as if they are waiting for something…." Raquel put her opinions forward while she glows with aura, indicating she is ready to use her magic.
"I wonder if these ice creatures are the one responsible for the cold wave…." Nina looks at the army of ice golems forming in front of them.
"Exactly!"
The voice have everyone looked up and they see a magician floating in the sky above the ice creatures army.
"Who the hell are you?" Bob growled at the mysterious newcomer.
"I am Kruce, the most powerful sorcerer of the Ice Dragon Clan!"
"Ice Dragon Clan? I've never heard of such clan!" Raifel looks at Kruce with a bewilder expression.
"Why do you create this cold wave!" Nina demanded.
"We, the Ice Dragon Clan, created this cold wave to freeze the world to make it easier for us to live in and control….Quite a clear, simple reason. Nina, Princess of the Wing Clan! If you do not resist and allow us to strike, we will allow you to adorn this land as one of the beautiful pillars of ice for many years to come once we rule."
"That's the most arrogant bastard I ever see in my life!" Miyako gritted her teeth in anger.
"We'll never let you do this terrible thing! I don't know what hole you crawled out from, but my allies and I will take you down!" Nina spoke determinedly while pointing her sword at Kruce, who promptly laughed at her.
"What's so funny!" Nina angrily shouts at Kruce for making a mockery of her.
"My younger brother, Zazan and I have frozen almost all the lands in the world…..I wonder how many allies, the eight heroes, are left? Perhaps just you?"
"Do you think I will believe that?"
"Ah yes….like Ryu of the Light Dragon Clan, who I personally turned into a pillar of ice in the Imperial Capital, I guess the others are lumps of ice now…." With that said, he laughed maniacally.
Everyone is shocked to hear that, especially to Nina who began to envision Ryu encased in the ice pillar. But she pushed that thought into the back of her head and glared at Kruce with strong determination.
"I swear by those who govern the bonds of life…by the proud wings of Windlan! Kruce, I will kill you!"
The vow Nina made has encouraged her troops and they all roared together. Kruce seems to look amused at their resistance and continue laughing.
"Princess Nina, it will also be amusing to stain your beautiful wings with crimson blood…."
As if finishing his words is a signal, the Ice soldiers roared and charged towards the Wing Clan troops, whom themselves led by Nina, flanked by Raifel and Zeke and Stella and the others at the vanguard, charged at the enemy as well.
Time:Goddess Era 2520
Location:Township, Aspiara
The group now assembled outside the town's gate, apparently still discussing about the undead threat in the Highlander's territory. From what Jack learns from Nina, the Highlander Clan is essentially a monkey clan, only they are formidable warriors as they are trained at a very young age. Even so, they are not a hostile race and they are quite friendly to anyone unless some idiot decides to piss them off. He have also heard that in the past a Highlander by the name of Sten Legacy have once travel with them to defeat the evil that once live in the cave which is now sealed off at the edge of the town.
As Jack was digesting information he received, he heard a coughing sound and turn to see Ryu looking at them, more specifically him and his friends.
"Guys…I have to ask you again. Do you really need to go with us? This is a dangerous mission…."
"And again, I answer for all of us: We're going because we want to repay you guys for the kindness you show to us. You could have left us but you didn't."
"Besides, if you guys are going against undead, you need all the help you can get. We have experience against undead in our world, so we won't get in your way." Selphie spoke with a smile.
"And it is not good you take only Nina, Katt and Yua along whom they are not rangers. So it is fair we come along and we might be able to find news of our friends in that area as well." Diana spoke.
"She's right, you know! What happens if you guys could not protect Nina and the others? I can…I mean we are there to protect them in case anything happens!"
Xing Long looks at Zack with suspicion while fighting off an urge to say something sarcastic to him. Soon Xing Long spoke as well.
"If I had to stay here in this peaceful town with no action to satiate myself, I will probably die of boredom and agitation here."
Katt immediately pat him at the shoulder in a comradely manner. "My friend, I can understand how you feel for I myself almost die of no excitement for three months."
Ryu sighed while raising his hands as a sign of surrender. "All right, guys. You're in, but don't complain to me that I didn't warn you guys." He smiles at them, then turn frown at his younger sister. "And Yua…"
"No buts, brother! If you think I am defenseless, then think again. I learned certain techniques on self defense or I will not be able to survive all these years."
As if to prove her point, she immediately pulls her twin daggers out and immediately went on an impressive display of series of dagger dance, then she sheathe them back. Ryu sighed again in defeat.
"Buddy, I suggest we get going. Obviously you are a loser when it comes to persuasion and arguments." Ryu immediately look at his Glassrunner friend with a look of disgust, then turns to Nina.
"Fine. Nina, can you call Mina here? We need to fly there as fast as we can."
"Huh? Aren't we supposed to warp there, Ryu?" Jack spoke with a hint of surprise while Nina has begun searching for something in her pouch.
"Normally we teleport there when we need to. But according to the letter, these undead army has been seen near the city and the surrounding areas. I don't want to get us teleport there and found ourselves in the middle of them."
"Point taken. So who is Mina?"
Ryu did not say anything but pointed to Nina who has just taken an item out of her pouch. Jack could see the item concern is a gold medallion with a pair of wings as its insignia. Nina then lifts it up in the air and cried out: "Mina, we need you!"
After a brief moment of silence, it was quickly broken by sounds of flapping wings. Everyone looks up and Jack was astonished to see a giant bird has begun landing towards them. The sounds of gasp from his friends have clearly told him that he is not alone in this. The giant bird is white in color and it has a pair of rainbow-colored wings and Jack believes it is big enough to be the size of a helicopter, a recent invention of techno in Terra which can fly horizontally.
The bird lands at the open field in front of the group and Nina went to pat Nina's head and whisper something to it. Jack could feel some sort of aura coming from her and his instincts tell him that bird is no ordinary bird. The aura he felt from her is sadness.
"Everyone, come on. We've got to get to Highfort as fast as we can." Ryu's voice broke Jack's line of thoughts and he sees everyone has begun 'boarding' Mina. Pushing his thoughts aside, knowing the answer will have to wait for now, he went and climb on the back of Mina's back. Then with a cry, the giant bird then flaps her wings and carrying her passengers, she flew up rapidly to the sky.
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At an undisclosed location, Ryu and his friends' movement have not gone unnoticed for Sindri is watching through his crystal ball.
"Ah yes…..Just as we predicted, the Destined Child has gone to rescue their furry friends while our activities here have gone unnoticed."
"Grrrr….The thought of helping these cultists disgusts me."
Sindri turn to see a black armored warrior standing behind him. His face is pale in color and he has sharp teeth and he was carrying a scythe.
"Lord Bale (1), these cultists are just tools, nothing more. And quite an effective one if I might add."
"I still do not understand why we have to run an 'errand' for him and give them artifacts to these unpredictable 'creatures'."
"They are not unpredictable. These cultists are too busy experimenting and plotting their revenge on the Highlanders to take a notice of our true nature. The 'errand' we are going to do will help satiate their lust for knowledge and keep them occupied."
"I hope what you say is true, Sindri. We cannot afford anyone to find out our operation here or our Masters are not going to be pleased with us if it delays us of finding 'them'."
Both Sindri and Bale turn to the newcomer. Like them, he was wearing a black armor but his appearance shows him at the late 20s and he has a sword attached to his belt. Both of them made a small bow to him.
"Of course, Lord Tauron. I was never wrong in my prediction and never led you all astray so far, have I?"
"Of course you haven't and I have very much hope it keeps that way. Astral has already begun his operation and have report that 'distraction' there have some success in containing the eight heroes there…..I hope these undead can keep them busy as well."
"They will be, my lord. But trouble yourselves no more with these cultists. I will deliver the 'package' to them and we will get what we came for before the Destined Child realized a thing."
"See that you do that, Sindri. Remember, the Masters wants good news….Failure is not an option."
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The great bird that the party is now riding has arrived at the Highfort region in about two hours, which surprises Jack since considering the vast distances between Township and Highfort. Still, he is impressed of the giant bird's ability to fly fast in such a large gap in distance (and strangely the speed did not blow everyone off the bird).
Bow was holding his breath when he looks down and has a pale face to show it. "Guys, you are not going to like what is going on down there."
As everyone looks down from the side of the great bird, they could not believe their eyes and some gasped at the sight. At the open field, all kinds of undead are moving slowly through the land, from zombies to skeletons and creatures made from different parts (which nobody wants to know what it made of).
"I don't think landing here is a wise choice." Jack says as he turns to Ryu. "So, what now?"
"Let's try to fly and see what's in front of us. Get to know the situation on how bad is it." Nina nodded to Ryu and gave instruction to Mina, which the bird obeyed. But no matter where they look since they have the bird's eye view of the surrounding area, the undead are everywhere.
"This is worse than what the letter says…..I wonder if everyone in the castle is okay?" Nina spoke with a hint of worry.
"Hey! They are in the castle, right? Those Highlanders are skilled warriors and the rangers dispatched are very good in this, so you shouldn't worry too much about them. But rather trust them!" Zack reassure her, who gave him an appreciative smile.
"Thank you, Zack."
Zack began to blush and scratch his head, while Bow look at Xing Long, who just shrug at the situation.
"But still, don't you guys think this is strange?" Everyone turn to look at Diana. "From what Nina told me, the undead here is no different than the ones from our world. They are unable to think of themselves, therefore impair of their ability to organize into such scale. So, the most reasonable thing I can think of is…"
"….that someone is controlling them." Ryu finished the sentence grimly. Diana nodded her head.
"So, what you mean is all we have to do is kill the ones behind all these and the undead will fall apart, right?" Katt suggested.
"Only problem is we do not know who controls these undead." Jack spoke and he began thinking. Then he looks up and talks. "Perhaps we should try to get inside Highfort, maybe they know something that can tell us on who was responsible for this."
"My thoughts exactly. Nina, can you get Mina to land near the forests? We can make our way there and we won't be easily surrounded by the undead if we get into a fight." Nina nodded and began instructing the bird.
"Can't we just land into Highfort? Wouldn't it be quicker that way?"
"Highfort is not exactly very sparse for her to land, Yua. Besides, it could cause unnecessary panic if we do that." Ryu clarify to his younger sister.
As Mina land near the edge of the forest, the party quickly jumped off the bird and Mina proceeds to fly into the sky. Everyone nodded to each other and began marching into the forest that connects to Highfort.
Everyone began to walk through the forest and as they see around, the forest looks peaceful and tranquil. But that doesn't mean they should put their guard down, for unlike any living creatures, undead sometimes attack unexpectedly and that could prove fatal to those unprepared. But so far, they have yet to encounter any undead.
"Guys…." Xing Long spoke, which Jack nodded his head.
"Yeah, I know. Something is watching us. But where?"
As if to answer his question, they heard a sound from above the trees. Then Katt shouted: "ABOVE!" And everyone scrambled out of the way just as something drop from above and crushed the ground. As the dust and leaves settled down, everyone held their breath in horror. The creature that stands in front of them is unlike any monsters they have encounter before for it has human female body with 6 arms, each holding a sword or a sickle, below her torso are eight spider legs with a spider's head, drooling with acid that burns the grass and a snake head acts like a tail behind her back.
"That is the worst combination and ugliest monster I ever see in my life!" Selphie shouted in disgust as she pulls out her nunchaku. Katt charged forward, swinging her battle staff for the kill. But the creature, despite its size, is much agile and avoided her strike and counterattack with its swords and sickles. Katt knelt down to avoid the strikes and jump away from the spot when one of the legs steps on where she was.
It shrieks in pain when a few arrows imbedded on its chest, courtesy of Bow. The creature's spider head then spit a pool of acid on Bow's general direction, who managed to avoid it by taking cover behind a boulder, where it melts and showing Bow visibly. Ryu, on the other hand, is trying to attack it from behind but the snake tail has been keeping him busy by attempting to bite him. Nina launched a barrage of thunder on it but seem to have no effect. The hybrid creature angrily charges toward Nina but she flew away and it ended up crashing into a tree.
"Damn it! This thing took our assault like it was nothing!" Jack snarled at the situation.
"We've got to get rid of its arms and its tail. It's the only way I can think off!" Diana suggested.
"Sound good enough for me! Let's kick its ass! Xing Long! Zack! On my mark!" Jack charged towards the creature where it began to turn around and raised its weapons to smash his head…..
….only to scream in pain when a nunchaku hit its head, temporarily stun it and its arms cut off by Diana's blaster edge and Zack's boomerang sword, who attack from a distance. Before it recovered, Jack sends a powerful blow to its chin, causing it to stagger backward. Then it screamed again when Xing Long slice off its snake tail and proceed to give it a slash on the torso. He back flipped away when it tries to crush him with its leg.
But then Yua suddenly appeared and has jumped on its back and proceed to cut its throat, which gush out green blood before she impressively uses her acrobatic skills to jump off the creature. The hybrid staggers for a while, then finally its legs gave way and it falls to the ground, unmoving.
Nina then cast a Flare spell on it, which immediately caught fire and burns. "Well, this creature is obviously weak against flame all right." She commented.
"Yeah….but this thing is sure is tough, that I could say." Jack breathes out in relief.
"You guys are good! I knew you are capable!" Katt then look at Ryu, who smile back sheepishly.
"I guess I was wrong about you guys. Sorry for doubting you." Selphie just waved him off. "Nah…the one who finished it off is your sister, not us." Yua seems beamed at the credit given to her.
"Buddies, I have to break it. But if this creature is powerful, do you think the castle itself….." Bow left the sentence hanging, but the others have already known what he wanted to say.
"I guess you're right. We've got to get there as fast as we can." Ryu spoke out which everyone nodded in agreement. Soon everyone quickly made their way through the forest, hopeful they can reach the castle before its too late.
Bale – Like Sindri, he's also a Chaos character from Warhammer 40000. I kinda like his unique voice, which I haven't heard since Dinobot of Beastwars….
