Hey you guys. So this really is a chapter, thanks for hanging along with me so far.

Cormag- Ok, thanks. Though, I probably wouldn't have done that last little note if I hadn't originally said that I would be coming out with the real chapter the next day instead of later. I know I changed it to "later" but I didn't want anyone who read it before I changed it to think I was lying so I wanted to post that to clear things up with those few. Either way, thank you for your support.

The Legendary Falchion- Thanks. Yeah, they did sort themselves out nicely. Thank you for your kindess as well.

Princess Nyna knelt there, eyes wide, "Wha-what?"

Julian looked at Darros, "Vulnerary."

Darros reached into a pocket and pulled out a small flask, handing it to Julian, who knelt down beside Nyna. Julian then tilted Roshea's head back and poured some of the liquid into his mouth.

Some color came back into his face, but he still looked like he was in a great deal of pain.

"Princess," Julian said, "is there a healer present? The vulnerary can only do so much. Nyna!"

The princess just kept staring, the blood from the wounded soldier seeping into her clothes.

Julian exhaled and stood up, "Is there a healer here? This man needs one!"

A young man stood up, "I am."

"Well what ye be doin' then?! Get o'er here!" Darros commanded.

The young man gave a quick "yes" and scampered over here, pausing only to pick up a staff that had fallen to the floor. He lowered himself over Roshea and clasped both hands onto his staff, eyes screwed shut.

The staff emitted a faint glow and Roshea's breathing began to steady and the pool of blood surrounding him stopped growing. We stood there in silence while the young man worked, my heartbeats pounded like a drum in my chest.

A few seconds passed, maybe minutes. Then finally the cleric stood up.

"I've done the best I can. He is not in any immediate danger, but if he does not get proper rest, then he really will die," he said.

"Got it. You," Julian said, pointing to a nearby guard, "take this man up to a comfortable bedchamber. Make sure he rests and doesn't move."

"I'll watch over him as well," the healer said.

The guard took a step forward as if to immediately obey Julian's orders, but then stopped and looked at his princess as if he needed her say before he could do anything.

"Princess..." he muttered.

"Yes...yes, do as he commands," Nyna said without looking up.

The guard looked relieved and immediately came over to pick up Roshea and hurried out of the room, the healer not far behind.

The other people in the room, who I guessed to be Princess Nyna's attendants and advisors, came over, fussing over their princess. Amidst their babble and worry I only caught a few words of what they were saying, mainly consisting of "princess" and "are you okay."

Princess Nyna stood up shakily, her legs were shaking as if she was about to fall down at any moment. The bottom of her white dress was now a deep crimson red with splashes of white.

I turned to Julian, "Julian, what are we going to do now?"

Julian stood there his face betraying no emotion, as if he had not heard me.

"Julian-" I started again.

The theif turned towards the princess, "You highness, we must report this to Prince Marth at once. He must know that Coyote and his troops will not be coming for back are not prepared for a full on frontal assault with an army as large as if not large than us. We need to warn them so that we can change our tactics. Can you spare us any horses?"

"It is already too late," Nyna said, "The cause if over. With Coyote dead, we cannot be sure that the enemy does not have our battle plans. They will already know that you cannot fight them off by yourselves and they are already on the move. It is too late."

Julian spun towards her, "NO! It is not too late!"

Everyone froze, startled by Julian's outburst.

"Forgive my bluntness, Princess," Julian said with a quick bow of his head, "but that is the way of thinking for the weak. Coyote and his men were trained soldiers, they would not betray those plans even under torture and you underestimate the skill of our army. One of our swordsmen alone has the strength of twenty men."

"And what is he up against twenty-one men?" Nyna questioned, "he will surely be outnumbered no matter how skilled he is. Your army is now out numbered since our attack has failed. No Sir Julian, I will not ask the few soldiers I have left to go and die for a faithless cause."

"Ye of little faith!" Julian cried, "'It is not the destiny of these men to die at the hands of their foes. We three shall go in Coyote's stead. Prince Marth has not come so far to be put down at this time! We will succeed!"

Nyna bowed her head and and turned to the door, "If you will not be swayed, I will not stop you. I wish all of you painless deaths."

At that, Princess Nyna and her advisors left the room, leaving only Julian, Darros, and myself remaining.

"Gah!" Julian shouted as he kicked a nearby chair, "she is a coward and weakling!"

"Aye mate," Darros agreed, putting his hand on Julian's soldier, "but, she be a princess, dumb to the ways of men. All she be wishin' for is for the least casualties possible. Can't blame her for that."

"But if we don't do anything, we will all die to the hands of Madon anyway! If not them then the manaketes!"

"Ye mean Dolhr."

"Yes, that's what I said."

"Nay, ye said manaketes."

"Same thin...Oh, right. Sorry Zero. I mean Dolhr."

I raised my hand, "No problem, I understand that they are easily confused. Anyway, whatever happens, we're right behind you Julian. You're the leader of this group, and we'll follow your lead."

Julian seemed to calm down a bit at those words, "Right, a leader must keep a level head at all times."

He took a deep breath and then looked at us, "Let's go."

"Aye!"

"Yes, sir!"

The three of us walked out of the room. I could feel my heart pounding against my ribcage. I know I said that I would follow him back there and I meant it, but that didn't stop me from feeling nervous. What could I do that a king, trained in the ways of war, couldn't? No, that way of thinking will get me killed, and I don't really want to die.

I shook my head and slapped my face with both hands, refocusing my thoughts. I am fighting with my friends, for my friends. I will do everything in my power to protect them and not let them down.

I looked over at Julian and Darros, their eyes betrayed their deep concentration. Whatever they were thinking, I knew they would somehow all come to the same conclusion that I did.

We will fight, and we will win...hopefully.

As we exited the fort, we were met by three fully armed guards and six horses.

"Hail, Sir Julian!"

We stopped and Julian looked confused, "Soldiers under Nyna's command. But why-?"

"Her Ladyship said that she would not ask any of us to go with you, however, she did not stop us from joining you on our own free will. We three may not be much of an additional force, but I hope that we will suffice," said one of the soldiers, apparently their leader.

Julian looked taken aback by this outcome, "I cannot ask you to join us-"

"That is why we are not asking," said their leader, "We are giving our services to you whether you like them or not."

Julian cracked a smile for the first time that day, "Well, with this, our forces are doubled I guess."

"Haha, that is true," said the same soldier, "I am Sir Darren. The one on my left is Wiekling and the one on my right is Leuzer."

Wiekling and Leuzer nodded their heads in greeting.

"And I am sure you are familiar with Darros and Zero here as well?" Julian asked.

Darren nodded, "Indeed, Princess Nyna spoke of all three of you."

"Alright," Julian said, "our first objective is to reach the valley just north of here. From there, we will launch our attack on any soldier remaining to guard the castle and then move east towards the main force. This is so we do not get trapped by the enemy who we ourselves are trying to trap."

"Yes, Sir!"

"All right then," Julian said, "Time is of the essence, let's move out!"

The five other's mounted their horses.

"Sir Zero!" Wiekling said, "are you not goint to mount your horse? Sir Julian said that time was of the essence!"

"Oh, I won't be needing a horse," I said, "I need a warm up before a get into a real fight. Oh, and if you see a dragon, please, please don't try to kill it."

"Ah, you're a dragonknight?" Wiekling said, "Where is your mount then?"

I smiled and willed my stone's energies to permeate my being. From my new hight, I looked straight at Wiekling, who had fallen off of his horse due to shock, and said in my ridiculously low voice, "You misunderstand. I am the dragon."

His expression was hilarious.

We reached the valley just before midday, the sounds of war carried along with the wind.

"Halt," Julian commanded

The six of us came to a stop and looked at him, waiting for instruction.

"There," Julian said pointing out to the distance, "is the castle."

Indeed it was there, a structure, that even in the distanced, looked quite castleish.

"Four, nay, three miles away," said Leuzer.

"We will head there first," Julian said, "then we will meet up with the other's."

"'Oy! Julian!" Darros said urgently, "there be enemies comin' from up 'n to the right."

Julian looked and scowled at the cloud of dust in the distance that was created form the eight...no ten cavaliers riding towards us, flying the colors of Madon. Or at least I guessed it was the colors of Madon due to knowing what the Alean colors looked like and knowing that Nyna's troops had all been killed.

"Madonians," growled Derren, "they outnumber us too."

"If we make a big skirmish here, they'll be the ones getting reinforcements," Julian said, "Either we've got to wipe them out quickly or turn back, and turning back is not an option."

"There be no way in wipin' them landlubbers all out with us just sittin' here like we are in the open," Darros said, "n' the nearest cover be fifty meters that way. We won' be able to give much of a surprise attack that for away, all of us bein' close ranged fighter 'cept Zero."

"Of all the things-" Julian trailed off.

"Hey," I said, "I have an idea."

I told them my idea.

"Hmm," Julian said, "lame, but better than nothing. I hate saying it's our only choice because it isn't...whatever, there is no time, best of luck Zero. The rest of you, with me!"

The five other's rode off towards the cover of tree's in the distance. Luckily my explanation was short, so the soldiers were still somewhat far off, but they would be here in a few minutes. I had transformed back into a human a while ago and I started to walk slowly, deliberately towards the oncoming enemy.

"This was a bad idea. This was a bad idea. This was a bad idea. I'm an idiot," I said to myself.

Really, what was I doing? These were trained soldiers! Not some bandits that anyone could pick off. I big off way more than I could chew...

"Get yourself together man!"

The sound of my own voice shocked me. I was right, I needed to focus or I would be dead. I slapped my cheeks with both of my hands and took a deep breath, calming myself. By now, I could see the distinct features on the advancing soldiers.

They formed a semi-circle around me, lances out. I noticed that two of them stayed in the back, they were armed with...bows, great.

"Who goes there?!" One of the solders asked/demanded.

"My, my, is that how you speak to your superiors?" I asked, "Your attitude is making my kindness drip away, like burning flesh off of bone. Oh, that would be nice."

The soldiers wavered a bit, but their courage held strong.

"Reveal your face and name yourself or die!" the soldier demanded.

I guess my hood had been casting a shadow over my eyes or something. Though the thought of that was pretty cool, I decided to dwell more on the lances at my throat. Third time in three days, I'm on a roll.

"Eh!? You're giving orders to me?!" I spat, "know your place, human!"

With that, I transformed into my full glory, "I am your master! Your superior! You have no right to even look at me, much demand anything from me! You have offended the great Medeus! You human scum will die for your insolence!"

Yes, for those of you who don't like OC's, do not worry, these three will not play a major part in this story.

Also, yes, Medeus has returned as well.

Also yes, just yes.

Ciao,

SeaJade

Yeah,