Disclaimer: I do not own Tsubasa Chronicles, never have never will.
William: Just who the heck is this disclaimer guy anyway?
Captain: I believe he exists to state that the writer does not own anything he's writing about.
William: Right...that makes sense. Well anyway, here's the next one.
Chapter 10: Arrival at Tyrl.
The unit's commander got back on her feet and ran for the convoy. As she passed her fallen horse, she grabbed a spare sword and her shield. The rest of her men followed suit, on foot since they had also been knocked clean off their horses. As they were approaching, the bear began to maul one of the carriages. It struck the said carriage repeatedly, rolling it over several times. The occupants could be heard shouting. She picked up her pace; they had to find a way to stop it or the occupants were doomed. She noticed that the soldiers stationed with the carriages were getting off and preparing to attack the bear.
She motioned to them, "Keep moving!! We'll handle things here!"
The soldiers looked at her, then nodded. One turned to the drivers, "You heard her! Let's go!"
The drivers acknowledged and urged their horses forward. The ones that were cut off began to move around the bear with the guards standing alert.
As she reached the convoy, she paused. She narrowed her eyes; there was a fair amount of light coming from inside the carriage and it was clear that the light wasn't from the various lamps inside. The answer to the question as to what the light was became apparent when a beam of light flew from inside the carriage and hit the bear smack between its eyes. The bear roared in pain and struck the carriage once more with its left arm, sending it towards the the edge of the road.
As it flew, something fell from inside. She took a closer look, and gasped; it was a young girl wearing a simple white dress. She landed a few feet behind the bear; but even after all of that she was still asleep.
"Damn," one of her men commented, "that girl sure is one deep sleeper."
"Hurry!" she ordered, "we have to secure her before that thing notices!"
"Yes ma'am!" her men chorused.
She gave a slight nod, then she turned her attention to the overturned carriage; the occupants were alright and had gotten out. Of the guards that were with them, they were nowhere insight.
"They must have fallen into one of those hidden gullies," she thought, then she noticed the occupants. One of them, the youngest if judged from their heights, stood up and started running back towards the convoy at full speed; he was shortly followed by his two companions.
"What do they think they're doing!?" she thought.
"Brave ones huh?" another soldier commented, "hopefully they're smart enough to not get in that thing's way."
"Let's hope so," she replied.
As they drew closer, the bear turned around; apparently it heard them coming. It was about to charge them again when it noticed the sleeping girl. It started walking towards her instead.
"Damn it!" the unit commander thought, she raised her left hand and ordered, "Archers!"
The six archers stopped and fired shots towards the bear hoping to distract it. They succeeded, for the bear grabbed a nearby tree and threw it at them. The archers scattered lest they wanted to be a little greener. Then several spears flew towards the bear and embedded themselves in its upper torso. The bear roared in anger, but was otherwise unharmed. It turned towards the lancers and swiped at them. The eight lancers jumped backwards to avoid the swipes.
While the bear was distracted, the commander headed for the sleeping girl. Despite all the commotion, she was still asleep.
One of the foot soldiers looked at her, "Gotta hand it to her, being able to sleep with this much racket..."
The commander was about to reply when she heard a loud roar. She turned back towards her men, and saw them flying towards her. They landed around her with bone-crunching thuds.
"Damn it!" she approached the fallen lancers, "Lancers! Cavalry Square!"
The 54 surviving lancers formed a square with 13 lancers per side, the extra two stood with their commander in the middle of the formation. The 50 infantry stood behind them at the ready. They surrounded the sleeping girl and the fallen lancers.
The bear started walking towards them.
"Steady," she commanded, fully expecting the bear to drop on all fours and charge them. But it instead remained standing, it took a deep breath, and roared. The roar blew the surprised soldiers off their feet and even sent some of them flying into the trees.
The commander lay on the ground a short distance away. Her vision was blurred and combined with the mist, she could barely see anything.
"Damn it," she muttered, "since when have they been able to do that?"
She got up and shook her head a little. When her vision cleared, she noticed that the bear was now standing over the sleeping girl.
She forced herself up and picked up her sword, then charged the bear as it picked up the sleeping girl with its right hand.
"Over here!" She shouted, throwing her shield at it.
The bear shrugged it off and focused on its victim. The captain, not wanting to see the girl killed, jumped onto the bear's right shoulder and stabbed it. The bear growled and tried to swipe her with its left arm. She let go of the sword and dropped to the ground. The bear ignored her and kept its focus on the girl.
But before it could do anything, the boy that had been running towards them earlier jumped in, and and swung a large broadsword in downwards arc, severing the bear's arm. The bear screamed in pain and stumbled backwards. The boy then caught the girl in his arms and dropped to the ground facing away from the bear. The bear roared in anger and pain, then charged towards them. One of his companions, a man with black hair and black clothes, jumped in and tried to slash downwards, sending a vertical shockwave towards the bear. The bear stumbled back in surprise; then while it was distracted the boy's other companion, a blonde haired man, jumped in front of it, brought his hands together and fired off a spell; the force of the spell blew the bear backwards and it fell.
As the commander stood up, she realized that the light she saw earlier was from the man.
"A wizard?" she wondered, "and a powerful one by the looks of it."
She examined them carefully; the black haired man was saying something to them, then he disappeared into the mist, presumably to return to their carriage. He appeared to be rather fierce and a natural warrior. The boy, on the other hand, had clearly shown some combat prowess and appeared pretty confident. And the girl, she was probably the most normal looking and harmless of them, but she seemed to be very important to them.
The blonde man walked over to the fallen lancers and helped them up, while the boy put the girl down next to a tree.
Then he walked over to her, "Thank you for protecting Sakura."
"I'm just doing my duty," she replied, "but if you don't my asking, who are you people?"
"I'm Syaoran and that's Sakura," the boy replied motioning to sleeping girl, "me and my companions are..."
"Travelers," the blonde man put in, "I'm Fai, and the man that just left is Kurogane."
"And who might you be?" Syaoran asked.
"Claire," the brown haired, black eyed girl replied, "Claire Clements, commander of the 108th army battalion."
Fai extended a hand, "Nice to meet you Claire."
Claire took his hand and shook it, then she heard a gruff voice ask, "Who's your new friend?"
She turned around and saw the black haired man that they identified as Kurogane striding towards them. He was holding a small, white rabbit like thing by the ears.
"She's Claire, commander of our escorts." Fai told him, "Claire this is Kirgy and that little thing he's carrying is our pet Mokona."
The white, fluffy, rabbit thing turned towards her and said, "My name is Mokona! And Mokona is still spinning!"
Claire backed away a little as the little rabbit thing continued to spin around while chanting, "Spinning, Spinning, Mokona is getting dizzy!"
Kurogane grunted, "That little ride in the carriage must've really gotten it dizzy."
"You can't really blame Mokona for that," Fai replied.
"Uh," Claire asked uncertainly, "are you sure that thing is safe?"
"Don't worry, she's harmless," Syaoran replied reassuringly.
Claire still looked uncertain, but she shrugged it off. She turned back to her men.
"Everyone alright?" she called out.
"Yeah," one of the lancers replied, "but it looks like most of us are going to need some medical attention before they get back into the fight."
"Don't worry," Claire reassured him, "We're almost to Tyrl, we'll be safe within the walls."
"Besides," Kurogane motioned to where the bear had fallen, now hidden by mist, "I don't think that thing's getting up anytime soo-"
As if to disprove him, a very loud, very angry, and very familiar roar was heard. They looked in the direction where the bear fell and saw it there, still sporting a severed right arm.
"That's odd," one of the lancers commented, "usually if a bear is inflicted with that severe a wound, it would either die on the spot, or run home to its cave."
"Well," another one answered, "they have been changing habits lately."
"Yeah sure," the first one replied, "but look at it! It's like its asking us to put its out of its misery!"
"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Kurogane warned.
"What the hell is it gonna..." the lancer's eyes widened in shock, "what the hell?!"
The mist began to swivel around the bleeding stump and condensed. Mere moments later, the mist solidified and gave the bear a brand new arm.
The lancer could only exclaim in shock, "Holy hell!"
"Since when can they do that?!" Claire said, her tone not one of curiosity but one of fear and surprise.
Kurogane flexed his wrist, "So this something new eh? Looks interesting."
The soldiers looked at him with shock.
"Hell?" the lancer commented, "how hell's name can you say you're interested in that thing?!"
Kurogane shrugged, "It might actually be worth fighting."
Now the soldiers really thought this guy was insane. The lancer could only say, "G-goddamn hell."
"Glive!" Claire shouted, "would you please stop cursing!"
"Sorry ma'am," Glive quickly replied, "force of habit."
She grunted and turned her attention back to the slowly advancing bear, "What in the world is happening to this country?"
Fai stepped forward, "This mist really is something, and it's pretty mysterious as well."
He turned toward Syaoran, "Wouldn't you say Syaoran?"
Syaoran nodded, then he proceeded to Sakura and picked her up and then moved back towards them.
"We don't have much a choice," Syaoran said as he moved between Fai and Kurogane.
"True," Fai replied, "but how are we supposed to beat it if the mist will just keep regenerating it?"
"Not to mention," Kurogane added, "that most of these men are wounded."
"Are you saying that because of that we'd be dragging you down?" one of the wounded lancers asked.
"Pretty much," Kurogane replied, then he added in a more meaningful voice, "throwing your lives away is pointless, especially if there are people waiting for you're return."
The lancer clenched his teeth, then Fai spoke reassuringly.
"Don't worry about us, we'll be just fine."
Claire turned to the wounded lancers, "Hurry to Tyrl, we'll catch up. If those who can still fight wish to remain, then do so."
The eight relatively unharmed lancers remained while the rest were hesitant, they stood their ground.
"That's an order," Claire said.
The wounded lancer shook his head, "We won't make t to Tyrl with these injuries, might as well stay and fight!"
Claire bit her lip, "Damn these men, stubborn as ever."
"Now is not the time to be stubborn!"
The lancer threw her words back at her, "Then that settles it ma'am! We're staying!"
Claire cried in frustration, "Now is not the time for some extravagant and unnecessary display of-"
She was cut off when the bear charged her the same way it charged the carriages earlier. Just before it collided with her, Kurogane jumped in front of her, pushed her to one side; then, holding Ginryuu with both hands, he swung it to the right and up while shouting, "Hama Ryuuojin!!"
The explosion blew them all, sans Kurogane, away. He stood there shouldering Ginryuu, he addressed Claire, "Now isn't the time for talking either. They do have a point, they can't get to the town without their horses."
As he finished speaking, they heard the sound of horses. Kurogane looked in the direction the convoy had left and saw a column of horses heading towards them.
"A medical unit?" Glive commented, "Must be our lucky day!"
"Hmph," Kurogane grunted, "Good, now the wounded can leave. We'll take care of this overgrown panda."
Fai stepped towards where the bear had fallen, "Looks like he's getting up again."
Kurogane readied himself, "You guys better get going."
"But-"
"You can't argue now," Claire replied calmly, "the medical unit has arrived, you can join them on their way back."
"Don't worry," Fai said, "we'll be just fine, the medical unit can come back for us later."
The lancer looked them and sighed in surrender, "Fine, but we'll hold you to that."
The wounded were boarded onto horses or carriages. Before they left, Syaoran approached one of the horsemen.
"Are you also injured boy?" the horseman asked.
"No," Syaoran replied shaking his head, "but could you please take Sakura back to town with you?"
The horseman looked at Sakura then nodded, "Very well then."
He took Sakura from Syaoran, then the latter instructed, "Once you are in town, please take Sakura to man named Clive and his wife Cecilia."
"Understood," then, as he turned to leave, asked, "What of you and the others left?"
Kurogane answered him, "Come back for us in about an hour, we should be done by then."
Fai laughed, "Wow, you sure are confident Kirgy."
Kurogane grunted, then said to the horseman, "Hurry up, don't forget be back in an hour."
He still looked uneasy, then Glive said, "Just get going. Like blacky over there said see you in an hour!"
The horseman looked at them carefully, "Are you people sure?"
Syaoran simply told him, "Go!"
He shook his head in exasperation, "Fine!" he rode away with Sakura.
"I hope you know what you're doing!!" he called back.
"Don't worry," Glive told him, "this ain't-"
Claire shouldered Glive to the side just as the bear's jaws snapped where he was standing.
"You know Glive," Claire growled, "that mouth of yours is going to get you killed one day."
Glive smiled, jumped up and ran for the bear. But not before shouting to Claire "Well, at least chicks are willing to save it!!"
Claire rolled his eyes, "Men..."
Syaoran walked past her, "We have to take care of this quickly."
She nodded, "Yes I know, but that man really sometimes he just... Never mind!"
She dashed forward along with the five other lancers and Syaoran.
Kurogane jumped backwards, "You sure took your time."
"Our apologies," Claire replied.
"Let's finish this," Syaoran said.
They stood in line, and began the fight.
An hour later, the horseman was back. This time he had an army regiment with him.
Accompanying them was a merchant named Clive. He was there since he claimed to know the occupants of the overturned carriage. Well anyone knowing them would be helpful, especially when it came to the identification of remains.
As they drew closer, it was eerily quiet.
"The bear's probably done with them by now," the horseman said.
"Don't be so pessimistic Ruzeb," one of the other horsemen told him, then he turned to Clive, "Hey! Its Clive right? You reckon they made it?"
Clive nodded, "Yes I believe they did."
"And what makes you so sure they did?" Ruzeb asked, then added, "You barely know them."
"I admit I barely know them," Clive said with a shrug, "but there is something about them that makes me believe that-"
"Ya, sure pal," Ruzeb interrupted, "optimism is great and all, but come on! You don't have the slightest shred of proof that they could have-"
He pulled his horse to a sudden stop; he looked at the scene in shock.
Clive rode past him with a smirk, "Is that evidence enough for you?"
Ruzeb took a look at Clive then back to the scene, he just shook his head. Just a little further down the road, the body of the bear lay face down with various cuts. It had a half severed left arm, a completely severed right leg and a sword in its head. The owner of the sword, Commander Claire, sat on the bear's nose with her back to them. A little behind her stood a young man with brown hair who appeared to be silently observing the scene. To the bear's left, the eight surviving lancers and a blonde man sat on the ground chatting with one another. On the bear's back, a black haired man sat looking at them. On his head was a white creature that appeared to be...
"Is..." Ruzeb stuttered, "is that thing on his head waving at us?!"
Clive giggled, "Sure looks like it," he hurried towards them.
Kurogane moved from on top of the bear and announced, "Looks like they didn't forget us."
Mokona kept waving vigorously, "Hey its Clive! Hello Clive!!"
Syaoran turned around, Clive was indeed hurrying towards them. Then he eyed the column, it appeared to be another force.
"Reinforcements," Claire said, "not that they are needed now."
Fai stood up and eyed some of the rear horsemen, he smiled, "Looks like they thought they would be bringing back bodies."
Glive laughed, "Stupid horseman, must've thought we couldn't handle it. Guess we showed him huh?."
Claire smacked him over the head, "Now isn't the time for bragging. We still have to see our mission through."
She smiled upon seeing the look Syaoran was giving her, "Part of our mission is to see that all refugees make it to Tyrl, you are refugees are you not?"
Syaoran shrugged, "I guess we are."
Clive stopped just in front of them, "I came along with the the force. I would have come sooner, had they not insisted that I wait for them."
"It's alright," Syaoran replied, then he asked, "how's Sakura?"
"She's at the inn me and my wife are staying at," Clive replied, "we'll have one of the local physician come and examine her tomorrow."
"Thank you," Syaoran said.
Meanwhile, Claire addressed the lead rider, "Lieutenant Ruzeb! Where are my men?"
Ruzeb saluted, "Ma'am they are at the compound's infirmary."
"Good," Claire responded, she glanced at the bear, "arrange a meeting with the town leaders. I have something to report."
Ruzeb nodded, "Yes ma'am."
Claire walked past him and took one of the horses.
"Everyone take a horse, we must return to Tyrl quickly," she told them.
After everyone was mounted, she rode ahead with the regiment following and the survivors behind them.
While they were riding, Ruzeb struck a conversation with Claire.
"Just who exactly are those strangers?" he motioned to Syaoran and company.
Claire shrugged, "Refugees heading to Tyrl. Why do you ask?"
"Don't you find them odd for simple refugees?"
"Soldier, a lot of odd things have happened to this country. But I admit they are a strange bunch."
"Just what exactly are they?"
"Let me put it to you simply; if it were only the three of them against that bear, they would've still won."
Ruzeb paled, then an idea struck him.
"Maybe we should recruit them to the army?"
Claire shook her head, "That's for them to decide."
Meanwhile, Fai decided to ask Clive something.
"Why were you going to Tyrl anyway?"
Clive looked at him for a moment, then smiled before answering.
"I guess you really are foreigners, Tyrl is the safest place for the people of the out lands. It used to be the country's capital before they constructed the city of Cariole around 200 years ago."
"So it's basically a fortress," Syaoran said.
"Yes," Clive replied, "though the main fortress and royal palace was built outside the town, the town itself was still heavily fortified."
Clive pointed to the distance, "According to records, the former royal palace still exists, though it's a bit run down. Nonetheless many treasures and historical artifacts are still inside; unfortunately they can no longer be retrieved due to the castle's lack of a drawbridge."
Syaoran was looking at him, surprised, and asked in amazement, "How do you know all this?"
Clive smiled, "I spent a lot of my spare time reading books on history."
"Just like Syaoran-kun!" Mokona piped out.
"So you're also interested in history Syaoran?" Clive asked, then his face broke into a wide grin, "Then maybe we should find some time to talk.."
Syaoran smiled and nodded, "That would be great."
Kurogane said to Clive, "You seem to know a lot about this country's history, then maybe you could answer a question."
"That question being?"
"Have you heard any strange rumors or legends surrounding this country? Anything at all?"
"Interested in legends are we?" Clive replied with a smile.
"Yes," Fai replied, "we're writing a book about old legends."
"We're also good investigators!" Mokona added.
"Well, then I'll tell one of this country's darkest legends," Clive said, "but...I want you to help me save this country."
They looked at one another in silence, then Syaoran answered, "Okay we'll try our best."
"Thank you," Clive nodded, "now the legend-"
"Hey!" a voice shouted from ahead. They turned and saw Ruzeb standing in front of a large iron gate, with a tower on either side. The gate was the only visible entrance through the rather thick gray wall that had materialized from the mist.
"Whatever you're talking about," he said in their direction, "it can wait. Because now, it is my great honor to introduce fine warriors such as yourselves to-"
Suddenly, Glive rode ahead and shoved Ruzeb's helmet down.
"What the-?! Glive what in the goddess' name are you doing!?"
"Because you're stealing the spotlight! Which, mind you, is rightfully mine!"
"What!? Why you ungrateful-!"
He was cut off when Glive pushed him aside, then he stood in font and spread his arms wide.
"Cranky lady, psychotic swordsman, obsessive kid, weird smiling guy, filthy rich merchant and other gentlemen!!"
Claire's eyes narrowed at the "Cranky Lady" pun.
Clive just laughed, Fai continued smiling, while Syaoran looked a little confused.
Mokona whispered to Kurogane, "He's worse than Mokona and Fai put together!"
Kurogane spoke through his clenched teeth, "Tell me about it..."
Then Glive pointed to Mokona, "And let's not forget the obnoxious talking rabbit!"
Mokona jumped and shouted in indignation, "Mokona is not a talking rabbit!! Mokona is MO-KO-NA!!"
The lancers nearly fell off their horses from laughing. But Glive wasn't finished, no surprise there.
"Whatever!!" he gestured to the gate. The soldiers on the gate, tower and walls, were just waiting for Claire to own his ass.
"Welcome to our run down, dilapidated, ugly, monster besieged, rotting from the inside out town of-"
He was cut off when Claire rode forward and the hilt of her sword into Glive's...sensitive spot. More accurately, the one between his legs.
Glive buckled over in pain, "Damn Claire I never imagined that you would-!"
"I wonder why I bother keeping you at all!" Claire shouted, "You don't know jack about courtesy!!"
"Courtesy? Come on!" Glive replied, "its not like that's the thing we need the most at the-"
Claire grabbed his head and slammed it into the horse's mane, "Maybe you should shut up before you get yourself into even more trouble!"
Glive struggled to face her, "Trouble from you? I find that hard to-"
Claire slammed his head into the horses mane again, "I am warning you, shut up!"
Glive whispered something that only Claire could hear. It made her go red and repeatedly smack him into the horse mane whilst shouting,
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"
While the two were arguing, Syaoran was concerned.
"Do you think Glive's alright?"
"Who cares," Kurogane replied, "I'm enjoying this."
"You shouldn't worry though," Clive said, "they do this a lot."
He rode forward and motioned for the guards to open the gate, which they did.
He turned back to the column, then he gestured to the opening gate.
"Finally after all our troubles, I welcome you to Tyrl."
a/n:
William: Creepy mist huh?
Captain: Not creepy enough for you I believe.
William (shrugs): You're probably right. Anyways, how does a merchant get the time to explore the local library?
Captain: Those who seek knowledge shall always find a time or a way to satisfy them.
William: ...Don't get philosophical with me punk.
Captain: Hardly the case.
William: Denial. What the hell kind of name is Ruzeb anyway?
Captain: You get that kind of name by randomly hitting keys in the dark.
William: Figures, what else is strange?
Captain: Well, Glive appears to be a...
William: A guy who doesn't know when to stop with the puns and jokes.
Captain: That is a nice way of putting it.
William: And about that line of Claire's...the author is watching too much T.V.
Captain(Rolls eyes): Really...
William: But anyway, that's the end of it folks. See you around! The next chapter should be a short one.
Captain: The author does intend to make it a short one.
William: But there's no guarantee it will be. Well bye!
Captain(bows): Till our next meeting.
Both vanish in a puff of smoke.