Chapter XI: Charge!
Interesting, I think as I go out of the cave after some days of resting due to my injury and I see a man testing one of the hovercraft. It lifts out of the water, and then the engine promptly dies as I hear shouting from a man. Well, looks like Otharon doesn't want a scouting party, I snidely think as I chortle at the flying.
"Ah, look who's up," I hear a voice say, and look to my right with Dunban smiling. "Hope your leg's all right, Sharla said that it should be okay by now." He walks and then sits down on one of the boxes, and sips some water from a canteen. "We've been doing a lot of requests, especially with animal hunting."
"Interesting, I wonder which animals you guys are hunting today."
"None, as we have a particularly hard assignment today. We need all the bodies we can get," Dunban replies as I quirk my eyebrows. "We, again, have to cull the numbers of the Tirkins. They've nearly killed one of the members of the camp, so we're to go kill them. The only problem is that, the last time you, Sharla and Shulk went there, their full force wasn't there."
"Interesting, do we have backup?"
Dunban's eyes peak up and smiles at me, "You, Otharon and the old man."
"Okay then, let's go!"
I walk out of the cave, take my rapier near the opening, and then string my bow up too. I go outside and then realize how much I missed being out on the open road. I take a few practice swipes, parrying parallel to the ground, and then practising the other ones, grimacing at how out of practise I am. Ugh, I don't want to do this, tirkin have spears and bows, both weapons that the sword doesn't traditionally hold up against. Then again, I have Shulk and the visions on my side. I walk to the edge of the canyon, where the group has assembled, the smell of grass surrounding me, although permeated with tobacco, as Dickson is smoking.
"Good morning ya arse-wipe," Dickson drawls, while I laugh.
"Hello to you… oh no, I can't come up with an interesting comeback."
The rest of the group laughs, while Dickson shakes my hand.
"Why haven't I seen you, Otharon, or Sharla, in the caves for the past few days? I've seen Dunban, Reyn, and Shulk around, but not you," I inquire.
"Well, we've been doing errands for the past few days. I mean, Shulk told us about how he had a vision that a child would drown if he didn't interfere, and he said that it was the most uninteresting of his missions."
"Can't wait to talk to him," I reply, smiling.
"Oy, Augustine! Are ya well enough?" a known voice shouts across, and I chortle, and look at Reyn.
"Well, from looking at the way he walks, I think he's okay. He had the required days of rest that one needs," Sharla replies, smiling at me.
"Well, now that we're gathered up, what's the plan?" I ask, gaining the attention of the group, and sit down on the ground, leaning on a tree.
"So, there is one entrance, and one exit, into Tirkin HQ. It is one extremely small path that could easily function as a choke-point," Dunban says, drawing a picture on the ground with his sword. "Now, what we need to do, is either draw them out, or destroy them inside the cave. You, Sharla and Otharon will be great for that job, as you three will goad them out with the sounds of your rifles-"
"Excuse me, but can't we use the Monado to collapse the path, and then not do anything else, as they can't get outside?" I ask, much to the chagrin of everyone else.
"Interesting idea, but what we also need to get food, and what better way to get food than hunting some of these animals?" Reyn replies, unexpectedly.
"If you guys really want to hunt and get plunder…" I add.
"So, are we ready to move out?" Sharla asks, loading her rifle.
"All forces, move out!" Otharon commands, pointing at Tirkin HQ as we jog towards Tirkin HQ, passing by the waterfalls near the entrance of Gaur Plain, the waterfalls roaring as we pass them by, the warmth of the sun illuminating our faces as the noon-day sun rises. I sigh, trying to recall the place where I came from, and trying to recall whether or not this place was as beautiful as this.
"Are there any other places as beautiful as this here?" I ask.
"Well, you're in for a treat, as after we do this and bring the people back to Colony 6, I'll show you something beautiful," Dickson replies, smirking. "I'll probably not go on after that, but…"
"That's too bad, you don't want to come and destroy some Mechon?" Reyn replies, his tongue clicking.
"Why not?" I ask, perceiving something up, but not able to place what is happening.
"Someone needs to train the Defence Forces of Colony 6, and 9," Otharon buts in. "I probably am not coming too, as I need to supervise the rebuilding."
We pass by the Guidepost a few hours later, getting into battle formation, with the rifle users in the back, Dunban and Reyn taking point, with Shulk taking up the middle. Dunban signals for the chatter to get quiet, and we slink to the sides.
I see a two guards at the gate, where I knock an arrow, and then fire, missing my target.
"Crap!" I whisper, annoyed as the arrow lands behind my target, hitting the rock. "Sharla, take the second shot!"
A crack goes through the air, and the tirkin goes down, another shot rings out, from Otharon's rifle which takes out the second tirkin. We creep closer to the door, and another crack flies, as Sharla fires again. I nock another arrow, and fire at some of the tirkin in the pathway, but all of us gasp in horror at the sight at least twenty tirkin blocking our way.
"Take formation!" Dunban shouts, as we struggle and I let fly an arrow, while the rifle users fire more shots, taking down some tirkin. A blue blade shoots up, and I hear the screeching of three tirkin, as they are bisected, the Monado easily cutting through them.
"Stream edge!" Shulk shouts, cutting down another one, while Dunban deftly dodges another one of the spears, and then cuts its head off, killing it instantly. One of them breaks through the line and tries to kill Reyn, but I extend, the rapier cutting through easily.
"Reyn, you alright?!" I ask, as he spins around. "I'll switch out of your position, take up the rear!"
"Aye!"
I take point, and immediately I see an arrow flying towards me, and I dodge it, as it grazes my cheek. Shulk heals me, while simultaneously slashing one of the tirkin. I parry one of their spears, and then riposte, getting one of the tirkin. I see Dunban use an ether attack on a group, clearing out the rest of the tirkin.
"We're clear!" I shout. "Move out!"
I charge forward, switching weapons again, shooting another arrow into a tirkin who tried to extend their spear into me. We then go into the clearing of Tirkin HQ, and then get into our own individual battles.
"Watch out for Vagrant Alfead," Otharon warns me, as I hear a "Monado… Buster!" from Shulk.
I keep running forward. But then, a rather large tirkin comes around brandishing its spear. Like the rest of the tirkin, it has red tail feathers, the colour of Shulk's Monado, unlike the rest of the tirkin, though, it is a head taller than I am and has an ear-splitting shriek which thankfully didn't catch us in the cave.
"Argh!" I shout, "SHUT UP!"
"Stay calm, stay focused," Dunban says to himself, while I grit my teeth, and think how does he do that?
Apparently invigorated, Dunban charges up and slashes through a tirkin right in front, and continues to run.
We get to the platform, where we see some of the clothes strung out.
"Ca-caw!" I hear from the right, as I suddenly get a vision where a rather large tirkin stuns me and then runs me through with its spear.
That won't happen as long as I have anything to do with it! I draw myself up into a fencer's en garde, and while it tries to stun me with a flap of its wings, I raise my sword up, flick my wrist left, and then turn, executing a perfect counter-attack right to its abdomen.
Bingo. "Guys a little help here!"
"You're fighting Alfead on your own?!" Shulk says, his eyes widening.
"Well, you guys aren't giving me much of a choice!" I reply.
Shulk finishes off his tirkin, and runs, giving himself Monado Speed and does a stream edge from behind, cutting off Alfead's limbs. I look at him and acknowledge thanks.
"Impressive," Otharon remarks. "I have to ask though, how come the Monado can't cut through wood? It can cut through Mechon armour easily enough, although it can't cut through the spears that the Tirkin use."
"Well, it can. Although, it more like heats up the wood and then only when it is weakened enough, it can cut through," Shulk replies.
"Wish it could, it'd look pretty cool," Reyn remarks.
"Agreed," I reply. "Although, I would love to see myself practising against it, which can't happen if that is true."
"Anyway, while holding up Alfead was impressive, it was incredibly reckless," Dunban says in dulcet tones.
"Heh, the man who's talking destroyed a Mechon Fortress Unit by himself!" Dickson jumps in.
"Oh, how is the injury holding up?" Otharon asks. "I remember you convulsing after using the Monado to destroy that… thing"
"I don't use the Monado any more, so I have gotten better," he replies.
"So, want to go back?" I ask. "By the way, since I am healed now, Dunban, would you care to spar with me later?"
"As I've told Shulk when he was younger, practise makes perfect. I will be glad to," he replies.
"Shulk, referee please," I say, as he and Reyn stand by the cave, with the entirety of the Camp watching the two of us too. Well, if I lose, this will suck.
"Ready," Shulk says. "Begin!"
Dunban charges with a Gale Slash, and I parry his blade, and then riposte.
"Halt!" Shulk shouts. "Augustine has won!"
"Wait. We need to test some… other skills." Dunban replies, as he cocks his body and then goes back into his guard position; his left hand in front of his left foot and making an interesting mirror of my form.
What is he going to do? Will he try to mirror my skills? My knees bend lower. The only thing to be heard is wind, whipping through the grass as tension rises.
"Start!" Shulk says, and I move slightly forward. I extend, and test his guard. Interesting, he's more of an arm than a wrist guy. Then again, if I had to relearn how to fence-. Dunban goes and slashes with his blade, and I parry/riposte, but he foresees that and gets into my guard. Startled, I retreat, and swat away at his blade but he easily circumvents it and then levels the blade at my neck.
"One all," Dunban replies, with only the slightest hint of satisfaction at his voice.
"Let's do best out of three," I reply, my breath slightly quickening.
"Only one more?"
"Yes."
We get back to starting positions as a collective hush falls before everyone. I bend my knees into an en garde, while Dunban goes into his ready stance. Shulk sets us apart even farther than before. Good, we are going into something that resembles real foil fencing.
"Start!" Shulk shouts.
Immediately, the two of us advance towards the middle. Control, Augustine, control his blade. I immediately feint, and he takes it. I lunge and he back pedals. Good, now I have control. I advance and he retreats as I extend my arm forward a slight bit. Suddenly he launches himself at me, poised to strike at the midsection, but I position my blade perpendicular to the ground, then riposte.
Dunban ceases his attack immediately, and with superhumanly turns his body, and seemingly stopping the force of momentum, retreats again. My eyes widen at this feat and I quickly back off. Dunban renews his attack, opening with a wide slash, which I parry as I am forced back because of the power of the blows. With his slashing, I bring my blade up, trapping his and then slide it down, stopping near his neck.
The entire crowd breaks out into applause, as the two of us then walk away, and I salute him. He bows with a slight flourish.
"I think we can conclude that you are 100% healed from your battle a week ago," Dunban says with a wry smile on his lips.
"Well, have you guys gotten the necessary materials from Colony 9 since my injury?"
"Yes, we can now go to Satorl Marsh."
(A/N): Sorry for the long update, I had to do some examinations and some tests. Also, I had a problem thinking on what I should do in this chapter, as I thought a quest centred chapter would be way too boring, especially with fetch quests and the like. I believe that something like King Agni's or the Spider and Giants quests would be a lot better. Thanks!