A/N. Sorry to write at the top of a chapter, just a quick note to say I am aware my page breaks STILL aren't working so I'm trying more ways. I apologise for time lapses seeming random and when I find a fix for the problem I will go back to the older chapters and rectify the issue.
Thank you.
Chapter 9
Laharl's briefing on the storming of Dinero palace had been nothing more than him barking threats.
He stood before the new recruits and as usual Flonne and Etna stood beside him, Terra stood behind him militantly with her hands resting behind her back. She tried to listen to him dutifully but found her eyes strayed now and then to settle on Ido. She quickly averted her eyes when he met them with his own, aware of the smirk on his face.
Terra was feeling a pang of regret today, having gone into a deal with Ido. She couldn't help but feel as though she had been too hasty. Logic would have been waiting to give him an answer, to at least think it through and fine tune the details. Instead, caught up in yet another of those weird 'moments', she had opened herself up to him and now she felt as though a distance was closing between them. She felt a heat wash through her when she thought back to the kiss. She had been kissed before, of course, but something had felt different with Ido. Her mind ebbed and flowed with endless curiosity. She had never enjoyed her first kiss, it had been taken from her by force. She thought back to it regretfully and tried not to compare it to what had happened yesterday. Ido hadn't forced her, he'd simply misunderstood a situation and taken what he thought was a natural course of action. This was how Terra had rationalised it anyway.
He hadn't intended to cause harm like before but she had reacted all the same and slapped him. She would have to find a moment to apologise to him for it. But right now wasn't the time.
Her thoughts were soon interrupted by a slight thud to her shoulder.
"Hey, it's your turn. Come on." Etna chided.
Terra blinked, bringing her eyes back into focus and saw everyone was looking at her, Laharl included. Clearing her throat she stepped forwards and began briefing the Vassals.
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"Sooo...we're going in through that window?" Ido quizzed.
"Yeah, from what I could gather this is the least guarded room in the palace so it goes without saying we start here. If we burst in anywhere else we'll be detected too quickly and we don't need all the attention on us just yet. We have to stay low until Laharl's distracted enough of the guards and they all make their way to the front entrance." Terra informed him, her legs jostled lightly by the pack of Prinnies they had with them. "I mean, they won't all go to fend off Laharl. Some will stay behind. Those are the ones we need to pick off quietly. That's why I'm here. It just makes Your and the Prinnies job a little easier."
"Well it looks like most of them have gone already. I guess that means Laharl and the others are in." Ido stated.
"Then it's time for us to go in. Have you Prinnies got everything you need?" Terra checked.
The Prinnies had been given large, wheeled chests and sacks to carry out all the loot. They all confirmed they were ready. "All set, dood."
Terra led the way across the parameter of the rear gardens and to the window she had pointed out to them. They didn't have much issue opening it with Ido on hand. He expertly worked at the window locks and slid it open in utter silence. Terra was the first to climb through followed closely by the Prinnies and finally Ido, who wordlessly slid the window closed behind him. "It's so that we don't cause suspicion if anyone passes by later. If they see a window open they'll know we're here." He whispered. Terra nodded and continued through the room to stand guard by the door.
Ido went to work scouring the room for valuables but only managed to lift a solid gold cigar box and a fountain pen. They listened through the door before moving on to the next room. They closed the door behind them and again Terra stood guard. This room was a little more profitable affording them a variety of diamond studded broaches and first edition books. A small thud outside the room had them all freezing on the spot. Terra gripped her sword and readied herself. She wasn't waiting long before the door opened and a guard wielding an axe stepped inside. Like a hot knife through butter, Terra had cut him down and as his lifeless body fell forwards Terra caught him over her arm and dragged his body into the room silently, one of the Prinnies closing the door. She deposited the corpse by an ornate cupboard and opened it, stuffing the body inside in a crumpled heap.
She stood fully, a hand on her hip and one pressed against her chest as she regained her breath. She looked up to see Ido eyeing her in what could only be described as 'awestruck horror'.
Ido couldn't believe what he'd just seen. She hadn't hesitated even once to dispatch the guard and had disposed of him with a worryingly well practised efficiency. He realised in that moment just how dangerous that could be if he ever really pissed her off. 'Note to self. Just don't piss her off.'
She was the perfect killer and he was grateful then that it had been her on this mission with him. He had to admire how calm and disciplined she truly was.
"You're so serious." He whispered.
"I know I'm supposed to try and be more 'fun', but hell, what do you want me to do? Draw on his face before I stuffed him in there?" She retorted in near silence.
"That'd be a start." Ido mused. "I got some great pens in of these sacks."
Terra smirked before one of the Prinnies wandered over to chide them for slacking. Terra flushed deeply and looked at Ido with a mock look of shock.
"See, you just got me in trouble off a dang Prinny." She muttered as she passed him on her way back to guarding the door.
And so this went on through several rooms. When the first Prinny had filled his bag and chest He left the group, heading back along the way they had come, knowing it was clear, and escaped with the treasure. Terra mercilessly killed anyone who stood in their way in that calm collected way that gave Ido the creeps, and Ido continued his hunt for the most valuable objects.
Finally they were nearing the centre of the palace. They had to be. They were down to one Prinny and his bag was almost full. Once he was ready to leave Ido would go with him and Terra would be off to regroup with the others to strike an attack on Hoggmeiser.
Terra was about to open the final door but something held her steady. Her hand froze on the door handle. Something was off, that was for sure. It had all been too easy up to this point.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Ido's voice came low in her ear.
"I think you and the Prinny should go." No expression was in her tonne, nor did she whisper.
"What's in there?" Ido followed her gaze to look at the door.
"Don't question me. Just go. It's too dangerous for you two to be here now." She finally turned to look at him and realised just how close he was actually standing. Her breath caught in her chest for a moment but she had to focus. "Go quickly. Get to the meeting place and wait there."
Not wishing to cause a scene Ido stepped back. He glanced at the Prinny and gave him a nod. The Prinny instantly threw his sack over his little shoulder and began dragged his chest behind him back to the first room they had entered.
"Take care of yourself." No sooner had the words left Ido's mouth, had the door flown off its hinges sending both Terra and Ido skittering backwards across the ground. It took Ido a moment to realise what was happening and as he sat himself up he saw that Terra was already on her feet, launching herself at their assailant.
"Get the hell out of here." She yelled aggressively over her shoulder to Ido before she swung her sword towards a red haired female brawler of similar stature to Terra.
Ido got to his feet and turned after the Prinny but hadn't gotten further than a few steps before a clambering guilt took a hold of him. Could he really just up and leave her to fight alone? He was sure most other demons wouldn't think twice about turning tail and running but something held him back. He turned to watch as she threw blow after blow at her foe, attacks that were easily dodged.
Terra had all but put Ido from her mind now, all her focus on the woman before her. Rem.
So the demon that had purchased her had been Hoggmeiser.
They had always had something of a rivalry during their time with Bobbin. It had been a matter of time before the two of them would finally come to serious blows. But it was clear Rem had had some practice, much like herself and no matter how many strikes Terra made, Rem was quick to avoid them. She knew this tactic well. Rem was tiring her out. But if Terra stopped for a moment Rem would retaliate with an attack of her own. Rem relied on her fists and was therefore more agile than Terra. She was physically a lot stronger too. How long had it been since she'd had such an adversary. Her last few years of training were being put to the test.
Her lungs began to burn as her energy waned but she would have to take a defensive stand soon or she would suffer a harsh defeat. She gave a final firm downward slash and leapt backwards raising her sword to deflect the blows about come. And when they did she parried as quickly as she could.
She observed each punch until she thought she noticed a pattern emerge. She knew no matter what she did she would receive at least one blow so she had to make her attack count. Waiting for a small gap between hits she swung her sword and slashed Rem across the chest whilst she took the full impact of a fist to the gut herself. They knocked one another backwards and each landed painfully on their rears. Rem clutched at her heavily bleeding chest, panting heavily and cast a look towards Terra. Terra rolled onto her knees and bent forwards holding her stomach, winded.
"That was pretty intense." Rem called over, a smile playing on her lips.
Terra raised her head with a small groan and couldn't help the laugh that escaped. "Yeah, it seems we're still equally matched, huh?"
Rem echoed the laugh and looked down to her wound, blood now pouring between her fingers. She was sure it wouldn't bleed out enough to be fatal but she would be left with a nice scar. She knew it was futile to continue the fight, they were both too exhausted and she might risk damaging her hands. A risk she couldn't take. If she was incapacitated then her master would surely punish her harshly.
"I guess we are. For now." Rem couldn't deny Terra's power, and vice versa. No matter how many times they had tried to best one another they always fell into a stale mate. "So. Who's your cute friend?"
Terra looked confused for a moment before it dawned on her who Rem was talking about. She turned to Ido who stood several feet away in an almost dazed state.
"Didn't I tell you to go back?"
She heard his foot steps as he came nearer but another surprise awaited Terra.
All she heard was Ido shouting before everything went black. An immense pain in her head had her paralysed and she felt her whole body lifted from the ground. Something had grabbed her. Something big.
She was still feeling a deep ache from her fight with Rem but she had to try to do something. She knew Ido was in no real shape to fight something so powerful. She had to delay it, whatever it was.
With great effort she tried to bend her midriff to bring her legs up high enough to push herself away from whatever had her. Her struggles were in vain.
Ido couldn't just stand there, he couldn't. The creature before him was a pig. Literally.
He could surmise that this had to be Hoggmeiser himself. He had caught Terra up in his entire fist and effortlessly swung her up. Terra was trying to free herself but Hoggmeiser brought his fist down with unnatural strength and slammed Terra's body hard against the ground once, twice, three times. When he raised her up again her body was limp, her limbs hanging like a floppy rag doll. How could he compete? He did the only thing he felt he could. He turned and ran.
Terra, now completely unable to move could see through a small gap between Hoggmeiser's fingers. What she saw brought a bitter taste of bile to the back of her throat. Ido was running away.
Coward.
The onslaught continued for what felt like an eternity before, finally he tossed her body across the hall, her back hitting hard against a wall. He stomped his way back to her and grabbed up both of her arms, dragging her through the corridor and eventually into a large room that could only be the central most point of the palace.
She was unsure what was going to happen but figured it would likely end in her death. She only hoped the others could get away safely.
She had to buy them some time, if she was struggling to fight this...creature then the others wouldn't stand a chance.
She pulled against his grip to give her some leverage and brought her leg up to kick him hard in knee. Hoggmeiser raised her again and slammed her hard to ground, releasing her. But still she pushed on, propping herself up on her arms shakily.
"Terra." She heard her name just barely. Her ears were ringing from the blows she'd received.
"Terra, stay down." Stay down? How could she?
She brought a leg up beneath her and tried once more to stand but Hoggmeiser was there again, grabbing her hair in his large hands to pull her into an upright kneeling position. She wasn't sure if she felt pain, wasn't really sure if she had felt anything, she just knew something felt wrong.
Her waist and legs felt suddenly hot and wet. She heard the faint dripping of liquids below her.
As Terra's vision blurred she felt the grip on her finally release and her bottom rocked back onto her feet before she flopped forwards and hit the ground awkwardly. She landed in a pool of her own sticky blood and realised she had been stabbed. She could hear the muffled cries of Ido, Laharl and Flonne, see their feet as they rushed towards her.
Ido ran as hard as he could towards Terra, Laharl and Etna charging towards Hoggmeiser with the others.
Ido dropped to his knees beside Terra and pulled her desperately to his chest, cradling her and pressing a hand firmly to the would on her stomach in an attempt to stem the bleeding.
"Terra, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I left you. I went to get the others." He spoke hurriedly, desperately.
"Ido." Terra's voice was no more than a small croak. He hadn't abandoned her. He'd gone for help. A strange sense of relief washed through her and before she sank into complete and total darkness she thought that she had never felt so warm or content in her whole life.
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A/N. Sorry that some of my other chapters didn't have an authors note on them, I've gotten so carried away playing Disgaea again and writing the last few chapters I just wanted to get them posted for you all.
As a little bit of a spoiler I will tell you that in the original plan for this chapter back when I started writing Terra's awakening, Ido was meant to attempt an escape for freedom during Terra's struggle with Hoggmeiser, before turning back around and helping her out. But sadly it didn't make sense since the rogue class aren't very strong and it just seemed lame to have him beat Hoggmeiser when a warrior couldn't.
The story was also meant to have been upgraded to an M rating as well back in the day because it seemed too easy to slip into writing smut and swearing, but I'm liking the challenge of avoiding bad language, gore and sexy scenes to keep it at T. If at any point anyone feels like it's a bit too much for T just whack it in a comment and I'll adjust the rating instantly ^_^
As a final note I will be dedicating the next chapter to KappeZ, who, thankfully for me, has followed this story since 2007 and I am so grateful that you stuck by it and left me such great and constructive messages. You are awesome and I truly hope you're enjoying it so far. Had it not been for you commenting I think I would have likely felt a little disheartened and possibly abandoned the project altogether, but knowing that there's even one person out there reading gives me the boost I need to keep going. So again, I thank you for your comments ^_^