Author Notes: Finished! I hope its good... xD
I had to apply some small changes to the scenes. Like the ghost part for story purposes and decided to leave out Seigfreid for the moment, as when I play I don't get the chest (and least in the last play I didn't) in hopes of a different story piece. Could be wrong, but I wanted to experiment. I also, changed a bit of the train cars, but that's all I believe. I hope you enjoy it, its a massive sized chapter that I revised and rewrote six times until I became after with the piece I wrote after I got out of the hospital lol
If you have any suggestions or the like, I'll be glad to read them! Drop me a review or a Pm! :D
Chapter 14 : Long way home?
Something was terribly irritating him while he lay on the sandy beaches. His body was too sore and his head hurt too much to open his eyes. He just wanted to sleep it away and hope it was enough. But it was so irritating. Something was shaking his arm. He wanted to wake up and see what it was, yet his eyes wouldn't obey the command and remained shut.
Why can't I open my eyes…? He thought, and then weakly chuckled. I must be pretty hurt if I can't open my eyes. The thought of actually being hurt by something seemed a challenge to him; rest up and get better, he wins the challenge. And then there was the thrilling possibility he wouldn't get well and wouldn't be able to wake up again. This didn't scare him, it fueled him to get up and stop that irritating push at his arm! With a grunt, he focused all of his energy into waking up. He really did hate that irritating push! When he managed the strength, his eyes fluttered opened weakly.
Rolling his head to the right, he saw nothing. Oh yes, that's not the arm…and then he rolled his head to the left and saw a large black dog sniffing around his arm. When the dog spotted him awake, it growled furiously and then turned and shot off toward the east. A dog…? How far did the Lethe river take me? He wondered as he tried to push himself up. Pain seared up from his lower back to his shoulders. "Gah…" he growled, frustrated. Just a scratch.…just a scratch. He tried to rise again and completed the movement, though stiffly. He rubbed at his neck as he searched his surroundings. It was a wide, open field of flush, green grass. Behind him, the Lethe river - one of its sectors - ran pass in a swift, hard movement. Where was he? He had never been here before, and didn't remember reading about such a place in his teachings under Duncan. All he knew was that he needed to find a town and get to Narshe and then meet up with his brother! He decided going east was his best option, and then north if he couldn't find anything.
Sabin had found a small little house by the near end of the day. The sun was lowering behind the mountains, the sky was a shimmering orange and blue, and the bitter heat of the day had finally begun to lighten up on his back. He hoped there would be an inn and maybe a pub to quench his dry throat, but it was just a little brown house with a light brown roof. Surrounding it was cliffs and trees, shrubs and barrels. Running from the patches of trees from the left and right of the house, were old, brown fences that looked hundreds of years old. Across from the door, to the left, was an old, grass covered well. Beside the well, pulling water up, was a man in all black leather and a mask. By his feet, was a large black-brown dog sniffing around aimlessly. Sabin recognized the dog and frowned. That's the same mutt that was sniffing at me early. Poor thing must be hungry. Hmm, maybe he will know how to get back to Narshe.
When Sabin attempted to tap the man's shoulder, his hand was grabbed and twisted around quickly and with ease. Growling, Sabin glared into the blue eyes of the shadowed man. They were calm, collected…dark. "Look…I was only…trying to ask a question! No need for hostility!" the shadowed man relaxed his grip. "You…another traveler?" the man nodded before he let Sabin's hand go and nudged his head, indicating to ask his question. Sabin flexed his hand open and closed a few times and then rubbed it as he spoke. "You don't happen to know how I could get to Narshe, do you?" the man stood silent and Sabin hesitated, unsure if he should continue. "I got separated from my friends…"
Just when Sabin thought he wouldn't reply, the man sighed. "The Empire has set up camp just beyond the forest to the east."
Sabin's face flushed, and then his eyes flared. "The Empire! What are they doing here?"
"They seem to have their eyes on Doma Castle." The man was still calm.
"So Doma's next, huh…? But I need to get to Narshe right away!" Sabin wasn't sure why this shadowed man decided to share this information with him when he said he needed to get to Narshe.
"Your only road passes through Doma. I can take you there if you'd like. Just know that I may leave you at any time…" The shadowed man turned for his dog, whistled and then looked back at Sabin, expecting an answer. Sabin looked away, thinking. Who knows what I could run into…groups of Imperial troops, thieves…bah, I'd best be safe. My brother is expecting me. Sabin nodded and agreed, finally getting the man's name and a whisper. "Death is always just a step behind me…"
It was noon the next day when Shadow, the man in black, announced they were in sight of the Imperial Camp near Doma castle. Sabin had run up beside him and hunkered down near the man and his giant dog to watch the soldiers below running their errands, patrolling and preparing for another assault on the castle of Doma and her citizens. The camp wasn't the largest and definitely not the best the Empire could send out, Sabin knew, but it was enough to overtake the castle if the Domans didn't eat, rest, drink or prepare.
"What do we do?" Sabin whispered, seeing their destination across from the camp over a narrow bridge of land. "we can't possible sneak pass them all without being caught."
Shadow's eyes were moving from one soldier to the next in seconds, watching them like hawks. He paid no attention to Sabin's remark and lifted his hand to his dog and pointed to four guards watching the south entrance. With a pat on the dog's back, it was off in a silent run. Sabin watched as the dog skillfully snuck up behind the barrels and waited for the perfect instant to take two guards out and drag them out of sight. It moved up more, behind a giant iron suit and waited for the next two to make their rounds. With a leapt of great agility and silence, he struck them both down and dragged them out of sight, and he too. Minutes passed and Sabin was afraid the dog had been caught, but then it appeared beside Shadow, calm and collected as his master, as if nothing had happened. Amazed and shocked by the animal's beastly nature and precision, Sabin subconsciously reached a hand up to his throat, afraid it would turn on him. Shadow gave the dog a pat on the head, slipped him a round meaty treat and said, "Good work Interceptor."
"Now what?"
"We need to move in and hide the bodies better, and then we'll secure the entrance and wait for another chance to move it. There will be no way around a battle though, so be prepared." Sabin nodded and followed Shadow and his partner dog through the dead bushes up to the dead bodies in which they hid deeper out behind discarded trees the Imperial troops cut down for their camp. Once they finished they hurried back to the camp and then scurried along barrels and tents until they reached the entrance. Sabin was pulled to a stop and then pushed behind a dug up guard by Shadow. "Sssh." He muttered, pointing ahead of them. Two guards had walked close to each other, acting as if they were doing something important, but instead chatting.
"Hey, did you hear?" asked a tan soldier with brown eyes as he pulled on the sleeve of another, whom's face was covered with a cloth to keep cool.
"Oh, you mea—" the tan soldier put a hand against his mouth.
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" the one with tan skin and brown eyes whispered as he glanced around for anyone who might have heard. "If Kefka catches us, we're toast!" he looked around once more, and then said, flushed. "They say Kefka's plotting to drive away General Leo so he can take over his position as general…"
The cloth covered soldier gasped, pale. "Don't even joke about something like that. If that freak becomes our general, I'll quit!"
"Ssh! Ssh! What if he hears you? You'll be locked up!" the tan one muttered, worried for his friend. The other one sighed and raised his hands as if he gave up.
"All right, all right!" he glanced to his sight and gasped when he saw Kefka charging out of a tent, his face absolutely full of delight. "Uh-oh…here he comes! Quick, back to your post!" the men scattered apart, back to their posts hoping not to have been seen. Kefka charged down the slope, a evil grin on his face as he pulled the tanned soldier around toward him.
"Hey, you!" he barked. "You keeping a sharp lookout? Hmm?" The soldier jumped, scared but nodded as he replied.
"Yes, sir! Kefka, sir! What a pleasant surprise! How are you today, sir?" he paled when Kefka started to laugh, his eyes shimmering evilly.
"Please, spare me your petty small talk! Just to your job!" he turned, but looked over his shoulder back at the tanned troop. "And don't let me catch you slacking, or I'll make you regret being born!" and then he headed off, bickering at two guards by the bridge and then turned around the corner, gone. The cloth soldier jumped and ran near the tanned one, shaking his curled fist at Kefka's disappearance.
"Hmph! Like we're gonna listen to you, you pompous little…" he took a calming breath and then shook his head. "What's wrong with that guy, anyway?" he asked his friend, passing him a curious glance. "It's like General Leo got all the good qualities a man could have, and Kefka got stuck with the rest…" The tanned soldier growled and punched his friend on the arm.
"Shh! I just told you to keep it down! How many times are you gonna make me say it?" he looked about once more, relaxing just a bit. "You've gotta be more careful! General Leo may be a decent man, but Kefka…that guy's twisted!" The other laughed.
"Tell me about it!" Just then a dirty soldier in black ran up, his breathing shallow. He pointed at the two.
"You there! We're about to storm the castle. The two of you will join the assault squad. Get moving!" and then he turned and ran off again, over the bridge and around the corner. The two soldiers followed him closely.
Sabin growled. "Kefka…he's here." He gripped a ball of sand, his face dark red with fury. "We need to take him out!" Shadow shook his head as he stood a bit.
"Now is not the time, you'll be overrun. We need to get out of camp and fast, before they find us."
"You don't understand, that man…he…he is—"
"—I understand perfectly who he and the Empire is," he snapped, his eyes furious. "Now is not the time I said! You agreed for my help and you'll receive it, but only if you listen to me!" Sabin lowered his head, acknowledging him. "Good, now follow me and don't make a sound. If one guard happens to see us, we can easily kill him. But if more than two see us, we're doomed, do you understand?" the kind monk nodded. "Follow me over the bridge and to that tent," he pointed across the river bed to a tent stationed at the base of a large hill. "and then we'll go around the corner and across the bridge of land. We'll be done then." He stood and ran off, expecting Sabin to follow without command just as his dog did.
When they made it across the bridge and to the tent, Shadow stopped his team and pointed ahead. A soldier was talking to an elderly looking man in green and blue clothes. His head was shaved clean on the left and right side, leaving a strip of yellow, aged hair in the center. He had gentle eyes, creases and lines near his eyes and on his forehead, a giant, iron sword buckled to his side. Sabin was amazed…it was General Leo! In the flesh! The soldier bowed his head before he began.
"General Leo, sir. The Domans appear to be playing a waiting game."
General Leo slightly frowned, his yellow mustache sinking lower. "So, they're using their favorite stragegy…" he fingered his mustache and then heaved a sigh. The soldier looked uneasy as he started once more, unsure if the General would agree.
"General…we're ready to storm the castle as soon as you give the order…" the elderly general gasped, his face red.
"Patience! If we attack now, there will be too many unnecessary casualties."
But…General!" the soldier shouted, his eyes shining. "I'm prepared to lay down my life for the Empire at any time!" he gripped the sword hilt buckled to his side as he spoke, courage and stupidity ringing in his young voice. Leo sighed and turned away, suddenly tired and saddened. He looked over at the young man.
"You're from Maranda, are you not?" the soldier nodded.
"Huh? I mean, yes, sir, I am, but…why do you ask, sir?" General Leo looked down, his voice serious and his face grievous.
"You would have me go there and deliver news of your passing to your family?" the soldier gasped. "What would I say when I handed them your sword? How could I even look at them?" Leo turned back to him, laying a hand on his shoulder. "You're a human being before you're a soldier. Don't be so eager to throw away your life." He patted his shoulder. "Emperor Gestahl wouldn't want you to die for nothing."
With tears of admiration and strength, the soldier nodded. "Yes, sir!" he charged off into the tent behind them, a smile on his face. Just as General Leo was about to leave, another grunt ran up, gasping for air.
"General Leo, sir!" he handed Leo a note, sealed by the Emperor himself. "A carrier pigeon arrived from Emperor Gestahl!" The General snatched the note away and started to read, his face bunching up in confusion.
"What…?" he muttered, finishing the letter. "The emperor summons me. I must return at once!" the soldier nodded.
"Understood sir."
Leo shook his hand. "I'll leave the rest in your hands."
"Yes, sir."
Leo walked up to him and whispered. "Listen to me…Don't rush things. That's all I ask."
"Sir! Leave it to us, sir!"
With one last shake of the hands, Leo said "I'm counting on you." And departed back for the tent.
Sabin shifted on his feet. "So that's General Leo…" I've never seen him before… "He may be an enemy, but he seems like a decent man." What would Edgar do, if he knew I said that? Shadow gave a weak laugh.
"If you see him as such, you're an idiot. All Imperial soldiers are cunning little murderers." Just as he stood, he sat back down as Kefka came walking happily up the road to stand near the tent Leo had just entered to gaze off into the river.
"Once Leo's gone, I can turn this water into a flowing river of poison!" he started a fit of giggles, his eyes watering up. "Anyone who touches it'll be pushing up daisies! Hee-hee…" he kicked stones in the river, watching the water splash up as the stones broke through the surface. A hand touched his shoulder and he jumped in fright, screeching. When he saw the face of Leo, he growled, embarrassed.
Leo paid no attention to him and his anger as he spoke. "I'm afraid the emperor has called me back home. Try not to cause any trouble in my absence." Kefka turned his face upward in a fancy "hmpf" gesture.
"I'll take care of things faster than you ever would!"
Leo's temper flared. "Nothing dirty, Kefka!" he turned. "They may be our enemies, but they're still human beings. Try now to forget that."
Kefka sneered, sickened by Leo's "qualities". "We needn't show mercy to those who side with the Returners." He giggled. "…which is good, because I never seem to have any of the stuff." Leo shook his head and took off, walking pass the place Shadow, Sabin and Interceptor were hidden without seeing them. Kefka laughed as he turned back to the poisonous river. "Yes, you just go off and be a good little boy…" The mad clown turned and saw a soldier returning. He ran up to him and grinned. "Is the poison ready?" he wanted to make sure the poison was thick enough to actually kill.
"But, General Leo said—"
"—Leo's not here anymore. I'm in charge now. Fork it over!" he snapped, jumping up and down like a child. He took the poison, rather ripped it, from the soldier's hands.
"Some of our people are being held prisoner inside the castle!" he protested, sickened. "If any of them were to drink the water…"
Kefka turned back to him, his eyes flaring with laughter and childish reason. "Who cares?" he asked, shaking his head wildly. "they're the ones who were stupid enough to get caught by the enemy!" Kefka skipped right pass him and headed toward the bridge, toward Sabin and his group.
How could someone be so evil? So…so inhuman! Sabin jumped up right before Kefka, who screeched like a scared little child and stepped back as the monk started to yell. "You're inhuman!"
Stepping back just enough to pull out his weapon, Kefka snarled. "Gah…! Pests at every turn!" He swung the weapon around over his head. "Guess I'll have to take care of you, too!"
The three, Shadow, Sabin and Interceptor, split up as Kefka swung the spiked ball at them. It smashed into the cliff side to their right and broke chunks of rocks free. The clown twirled around and lunched the weapon forth again, this time nearly catching Sabin's back. Rolling away from Kefka, Sabin jumped to his feet and jumped up toward the stacked barrels, to avoid being struck.
Shadow flung a set up knives at Kefka, but the clown threw up his cape. The knives hit the cape and fell to the ground, as if Kefka had armor underneath the fabric. The laughing clown swung the spiked ball toward Shadow, but before the ball could smash into his chest, Interceptor jumped off from the cliff above and landed on the middle of the chain so the ball fell to the floor in a load cracking sound. Kefka snarled, pulled the weapon back and began another swing, but Sabin flung his fist against the side of his arm. The clown cried out and jumped back, turned and ran. Sabin growled, chasing after him.
"Kefka! Wait!"
Laughing as he ran, Kefka mocked. " 'Wait', he says! Do I look like a waiter?" he charged off around the corner.
"He's heading for the river!" Sabin shouted to his crew. "We have to stop him, quick!" they ran around the corner and spotted Kefka resting against Magitek suits, panting. The circled him, and he gasped.
"…you just don't give up, do you?" Sabin answered with a flying fist, but the mad clown avoided it and tried to fling his spiked weapon at the monk, but Interceptor snapped at his arm, causing the clown once again to cry out in pain and run off. Sabin once again chased after the clown while Shadow lingered behind, shaking his head.
As he ran from the bulky monk, Kefka cried out. "Gah! How long do you expect me to put up with this? Next time I won't hold back!" Just then he spotted and a soldier working and jumped behind him, sniveling. "Oh, gripe! This is getting tiresome. Hey, you! Handle the rest!" he pushed the soldier toward the oncoming monk.
Kefka was leaning over the river, pouring the bottles of poison into the luscious water, giggling to himself. "Hee-hee…Nothing beats the sweet music of hundreds of voices screaming in unison!" as the last of the poison drifted through the river bed, Kefka erupted into laughter. "Uwee-hee-hee!"
"Sir Cyan!" a voice called out, worried.
Standing on the edges of the castle wing, watching the Imperial camp to the east, was a tall, old man with a long, raven colored hair tied in a short pony tail. He was clad in blue and blue armor with a long katana secured safely to his side. His face was old, withered with battle and knowledge. His dark brown eyes were hidden underneath bushy, black eyebrows set against tanned skin. His soft eyes turned from the smaller camp to the soldier calling him. He hurried down the steps until he stood beside his soldier.
"There's a great deal of activity in the Imperial Camp." Cyan glanced ahead of him, toward the largest camp. "I think they may be preparing another assault!"
Cyan noticed the water and frowned, rubbing his chin. "Hmm…? Does the water not look a bit…odd?" The soldier beside him raised his hand to cover his eyes from the sun. He noticed it too, but what happened next made him forget. They watched as, one by one, soldiers began falling to their knees and backs, gasping for air, bleeding from the nose and mouth and the skin around the eyes turning black. Horror struck Cyan as he watched two little kids hiding behind their mother drop to the floor, dying. The mother too, was dying, but she was clinging to her children, crying and coughing until finally, she died. What…what is happening? The soldier beside him broke him from his trance. "Sir Cyan!"
This all…it couldn't be…? How could…they? "It must be…" he eyes went back to the water and then understanding hit him. "Poison!"
The soldier gasped. "What low-down, contemptible…!" The soldier shook his hand at the camp, swearing he would personally kill them all for what they have done. Suddenly, Cyan jumped up.
"We must warn the king!" he ran off ahead, barged through the door and hurried down the flight of stairs. When he made it to the hall room, the soldier barged in from behind Cyan and took a breath.
"To the king, with all haste!"
"Yes! The throne room is just ahead!" he took off in a sprint, pushed the two doors open with all his might and ran toward the throne, his heart racing. Tears filled his eyes as he saw his lordship, the king, laying face down by the statues that guarded the throne. He was dressed in a regal red and green outfit, his honey-brown hair stuck to his face in drenches of sweat. Cyan gasped as he leaned down and helped his lord up, on his back. "Your Highness!" he called out, holding his face up so he could look into his king's wandering eyes.
The king coughed, blood dripping down his chin. "Who's there…?"
With a cry, Cyan answered with: "Cyan, Your Excellency!" he realized the king couldn't see him.
"Oh, Cyan…My sight is failing…I cannot see your face…" he reached his hand up to grab for his face, tears filling his own eyes.
Cyan took his hand and gripped it, trying to stop his sobs. "Excellency! Please, you must be strong!" The king gripped his hand and coughed again, trying to gather strength to speak without faulting.
"Cyan…" he took another breath. "You have defended this realm since the days of my father before me…I thank you…for your service." He groaned, taking his hand away to hold his chest."F-forgive me…I failed to protect our kingdom…"
Cyan shook his head, trying to keep his king talking. "No, Excellency, the fault lies not with thee!"
The king paid his knight no attention, and said in a dying breath. "I fear for your family…Ohhh…my chest burns…" he took a breath. "with every breath…"
Helping his king up to breath better, Cyan gripped his shoulder. "Speak not, my lord! Save thy strength!" he shook his head, wildly as he coughed up blood.
"Go…to your family…" he coughed once more before his breathing weakened and then slowly stopped. His hand fell off his chest and to the floor, his eyes wide…dead. Cyan's eyes overflowed with tears.
"Excellency…" he stood up, looking down at the king's body. Anger and sadness swelled up inside him. The soldier ran in then, slowing when he saw the scene before him.
"Sir Cyan…" his eyes glistened.
"There may still be survivors in the castle!" Cyan barked, trying to calm himself and be rational.
"Let's split up and search then." The soldier ran off with Cyan.
Cyan pushed the door to his family's room open softly. He could hear the fire inside roaring with life and the smell of his wife's beef stew cooking. He heard the music player he got his son playing as well, gently. When he walked into the room, he saw them. His wife had fallen off the chair by the window and onto her face. He ran over and turned her over on her back. "Elayne!" he shook her. "Do not leave me, Elayne!" he cried, tears once again filling his eyes. When there was no reply, he stood, his fists clenching. "This…this is unpardonable…" and then he remembered his son in that instant and started toward the bed.
"Owaine!" he pulled the sheets up and saw his son roll off the bed's edge and onto the floor. "No…No…!" He sobbed, nearly falling back. "This is not possible…" the tears flowed down his face. "This cannot be happening!" rage filled his heart. The need to kill made his tears stop, the want to rip Kefka, Leo, the emperor and the Imperial troops into pieces made him grab his Katana. "I will not forgive them…! The Empire must pay for this!" He charged through the doors yelling.
"I am Cyan, retainer to the king of Doma!" he shouted as he charged into their camp, Katana in hand Two soldiers charged at him, but he struck them down easily in two swings. Their heads fell to the floor rolling as the next round of soldiers came.
Sabin came running up, his breathing a bit shallow. He saw the old man fighting against two soldiers, taking them down easily only to have more replace them. He needs help… he realized. He wished Shadow hadn't disappeared when he did, he could use his help right now! He ran up and took one soldier attacking his left by the arm and then lifted him above his head to throw him hard down on the floor in a crunch. The monk glanced at the old man fighting off the last soldier at the moment. "Let me give you a hand!" the old man nodded, desperately.
"I know not thy name or allegiance, but I welcome thy aid!" Just then Shadow appeared, throwing a knife into the back of a soldier who was about to strike Sabin on the head. He fell dead as Cyan shoved his Katana through another soldier's back, killing him instantly. Sabin back grabbed a soldier's sword as he swung it toward him with his palms and then twisted the blade left and then quickly right to rip it from the soldier's hands. With a quick kick, Sabin sent the man to his back. He was unconscious, so Sabin left him alone to punch a man square in his back and then grabbed his neck and twisted until he heard a 'snap'.
With the last gone, Cyan turned and ran to the center, his face stained with blood and tears. "Garr! Who poisoned the river!" he shouted, shaking his Katana in the air, wanting to kill them all. Two soldiers jumped out from behind barrels to attack Cyan, who easily dodged their attacks and began to defend himself. Sabin ran ahead as Shadow circled around them.
He twisted a man's arm back until it cracked and said, "Look, I think we're gonna have to do this together!"
Reluctantly, the old man agreed. "The thought had occurred to me as well!" he finished off the last soldier after Shadow killed two more heading toward them. Tiredly, he turned to Sabin and Shadow. "I am in your debt."
Sabin chucked, scratching his neck sheepishly. "No need for thanks!" he held a hand out toward him, which Cyan took to shake honorably. "I'm Sabin, from the Kingdom of Figaro." He heard shouting and frowned. "We should get out of here!"
Cyan looked horrified. "But I must avenge my family and my countrymen…!"
Sabin growled, shaking him from his grief. "If we stick around any longer, we'll have an entire regiment down our throats!" he heard more shouts and then grabbed Cyan's arm and dragged him up the cliffs toward two suits of Magitek Armor. Shadow sighed and then took off by himself with Interceptor. Cyan hesitated.
"Sir Sabin! What manner of armored beasts might these be?"
Gasping in impatience, Sabin pushed him toward a suit. "I'll explain later! Just climb in!" he pushed him again until he fell into the suit. Startled, Cyan touched the buttons and sticks.
"Sib Sabin! How does one manipulate these abominations?" Sabin jumped into a suit beside him.
"Oh for—" he growled. "Thou art getting to be quite a pain in the—Great, now I'm even starting to talk like you!" he showed Cyan a lever. "Listen! See that lever? The one right by your hand? Push it down!"
When Cyan pushed it down, it went around in crazy circles. "Sir Sabin!" He shouted, frightened. "It appears to be in reverse!"
Jeez…what's up with this guy? Sabin thought as he turned his suit. "Yeah, yeah…Come on!" He pressed a red switch, hoping it was a destructive button and then randomly pressed a few more until the speed dial flew up. He grinned and pulled the levers to maneuver the metal beast. Just then a soldier ran out of the tent, pulling his trousers up and holding them to himself for he forgot his belt. His face was red with embarrassment, but he kept his cool.
"Hey!" he shouted, getting their attention quickly. "What do you think you're doing!" The soldier yelled when the suit Cyan was piloting jumped in a start and knocked the man to the ground. Cyan panicked and pressed different buttons, only to fuel the beast's movements.
"Aahh!" he pulled the lever back and then forth, hearing Sabin yelling for him to stop just behind him. "I cannot stop this monstrosity!" His suit charged toward a group of soldiers practicing a patrol walk and knocked them to the ground and then his suit started to run in small circles. Sabin shouted something over to Cyan about a red button, in which Cyan pressed all three red buttons. The machine hissed, shifted and shook until steam rolled out of the pipes on its back and then it stopped mid-step. Sabin came up behind Cyan, shaking his head just as Shadow appeared in his own suit, Interceptor running along beside him.
Old people! Sabin thought bitterly. How does Edgar ever put up with them? No no…not all old people are like that…Master was brilliant. "Okay, let's bust our way out of here!" Shadow paid him no attention as usual and started off, once again expecting Sabin to follow silently just as his dog did. Sighing, Sabin motioned for Cyan to follow and started after the blackened assassin. Sabin paused when he saw Shadow shooting a beam of bright red fire into a group of guards, killing them instantly. Sabin almost puked, but held it together. No…I have to be strong….but they were just kids. No! They murdered people! Its…it's not my fault if they are in the Empire. Sabin closed his eyes and then opened them to march on, this time following behind Cyan who had taken the chance to go ahead and question Shadow.
When Sabin caught up again, he had managed to catch Shadow and Cyan in time to see their assault on two more groups of young men. But…they are forced into the army…this isn't fair, we shouldn't be killing them. Frustration filled him as he found himself firing a beam of electricity through a man's chest. What would Edgar do? What…what would dad do? He stopped his suit and took a deep breath. I need to stay rational…Master said to keep a clear mind. But he also said don't kill off what makes you human, what separates you from beast. How can I do both? I know it's needed to save the world and stop the Empire, but how can I end so many lives? These men have families…wives, children, siblings…how can I be so unjust as to end their life for something they can't control? Is this…is this how Terra feels? Sabin watched Shadow kill three more men. I can stop it…when the Empire falls, no more. But how can I say I'm better than them if I ended so many lives? He suddenly remembered something his father had said to him before he had died.
"Remember son…there isn't always an easy answer to painful situations. There will never be one, only the answer that leads to a better life. To something that will lead the lives of other generations to improve their morals…their standards and what makes them human. Remember that it's impossible, my brave son, to pick an answer that doesn't harm someone else. If you can remember that, you will grow to be a brilliant young mind, just like your mother."
Tears filled his eyes. I'll do it dad…I remember now. I will fight, for the great good of the future. Thank you dad, for everything. He smiled as he stopped on the bridge, his team behind him now. He opened the pilot window and jumped out, suddenly cheerful, hopeful for a better future, ready to find his brother. "Okay, I think we should be safe now!" he shouted, turning to his friends who started to leave the machines. He looked over at Shadow, a small smile on his face. "So, how do I get to Narshe from here?"
Cyan frowned, rubbing his chin. "Narshe?" the two looked over at him. "I believe the only route passes through the forest to the south, but—"
Sabin grinned, jumping into a sturdy pose. "All right!" he looked at the magitek suits with disgust. "If we're going into the woods, I guess we won't be needing these hunks of scrap metal anymore." When Cyan dropped to his feet, Sabin smacked a hand into his back. "Let's get going!"
Sabin could see the woods not far from the camp and asked Cyan if they were the correct woods. The old man nodded, though his face lost some of its color. "Aye." He frowned. "It is. Should we not prepare first, Sir Sabin?"
"Prepare?" the monk asked, giving the elderly man a strange gaze. "What for? Just a short trip through the woods, right? It doesn't look too big, from this hill." He scratched his neck tiredly as he analyzed the woods.
"I think the old man is worried for the battles, Sabin." Shadow muttered from his seat on a round rock. Interceptor sat at his feet, chewing on a stick. "I heard tales about these woods…Monsters that can leave you unconscious after a sudden mind rip."
"Mind rip?" Sabin asked, frowning.
"Aye," Cyan nodded to the assassin, ignoring the "old man" comment. "The monsters shan't be easy to battle, my Sir."
"They can 'possess' you, in simpler words." Shadow added, standing up. "We'd best be careful. It is only a short trip through the woods, so I don't want time wasted having to knock you out of their grip. Best we ignore and avoid as many battles with those monsters as possible and stop as less as we can."
Sabin nodded, agreeing as he tightened his fighting gloves and tied the sash around his waist tighter. "Alright then, let's go. If any of you spot any of those wicked beasts next to us, shout a word. I know a trick that should keep them at bay."
The woods had left Sabin in an unfriendly feeling mood. It was dark, silent save the hoot of owls and howl or wolves, it was moist with rain that did not dry yet, hot and sticky. The trees were breaking apart, molded to the point where they couldn't stand. Fallen logs and giant mushrooms littered their path way, scattered patches of thick mud and deep puddles made their path difficult and the smell of death filled the air.
They had run into a few of the creatures Cyan and Shadow had warned him about, but nearly all wanted to avoid them and seemed to have been heading to a direction. As they traveled deeper into the forest, they could hear distant hums and voices, which Sabin tried to convince himself was just a trick of some sort, but Shadow had told them to be alert in case of an ambush or some sort.
Cyan was unusually silent, his hand pressed tightly against the handle of his Katana, his eyes wide, his face palm and sticky with sweat not born from heat but from worry. His arms shook and his eyes quickly shot from left to right, searching for anything, anyone who might jump out at them. Sabin noticed his mood and became a little jumpy himself. When Shadow had appeared out of nowhere near his left and whispered that he could see a train, Sabin had nearly jumped out of his skin and thought that he would puke his heart out. Luckily the assassin didn't care for him and ignored his fear and hurried ahead, his dog sniffing around, searching for something his mastered had muttered to him.
Cyan spotted the train and gave a worried 'hmm'. When Sabin asked what was wrong when they arrived by the train, Cyan knew for sure. He jumped up and shouted. "A train!" Sabin and Shadow surrounded him. "I thought all of Doma's railways had been destroyed in the fighting…"
Sabin glanced around and then nodded. Maybe someone got it to work again after the battles… "There could be survivors. Let's take a look inside." Shadow hesitated, not really wanting to look but shrugged. He was interested, despite him hating it. He followed behind Cyan as Sabin backed his giant fists into the door of the train. "Hey!" he smashed the door again and sighed in relief. Doors aren't locked. "Looks like we can get in through here."
Suddenly Cyan jumped and grabbed Sabin's arm and tried to yank him back. "Sir Sabin!" he tried to pull him again, but the monk pulled away.
"We can't just wander around out here all day. We have to check inside!"
Cyan's already pale face lost more of its color. "Sir Sabin!"
Sabin shooed him and shook his head as he opened the door. "Don't worry; it'll only take a second!" Jeez…what's wrong with him? He's been spooked ever since we arrived here. He opened the door all the way and walked inside, hearing Cyan call him 'sir' again.
When Sabin arrived inside, everything was new, clean…perfect. There was no sign of battle, blood – nothing! Everything wasn't…right. His head burrowed into lines. "What in the world…?"
Cyan barged in, nearly tripped and grabbed his arm. "We must leave at once!" he pulled at his arm. "This is the Phantom Train!" the train hooted and started up, causing the group to fall to their knees at the sudden jolt. Sabin got up quickly.
"It's moving!" he shouted, ignoring Shadow's 'no duh, idiot' look. Cyan pushed pass him to run to the door.
"We must get off this train at once!" he started to pull on the door, but it wouldn't budge. When Cyan failed, Sabin tried but it wouldn't open. He panicked.
"The door won't open!" he turned to look at Cyan, for more guidance but he saw the old man looking tired, beaten. He asked what was wrong, and the old man answered calmly.
"I fear we are too late." His voice was a mere whisper, his eyes full of grief. Sabin grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him.
"What did you say this train was?"
As if they were on a little trip through the beautiful woods, Cyan replied. "This is the Phantom Train…" he gestured at the seats and windows, shaking his head. "It carries the souls of the departed to their…final destination."
Sabin laughed at first. "Wait a second…" he looked around and then back at him. "You're saying this train's giving us a one-way ride to…the afterlife!" he nodded.
"Unless we find a way off, I am afraid that is exactly where we will end up…" Sabin chuckled once more, causing the old man with no hope to stare at him in astonishment.
"Well, I'm afraid that's a trip I'm going to have to pass on!" he grinned and then punched his first into his open hand. A devious spark danced in his eyes. "If it won't let us off, then we'll stop it ourselves. Let's make for the engine."
Cyan grabbed his arm to stop him for a moment. "Sir Sabin, I think it best thy listen—"
"Don't worry Cyan!" he slapped the man's back. "I have everything under control. We'll tear the engine right out of the train!"
"You really think that's smart?" Shadow asked, his eyes watching something outside the train windows. "I think we need to figure out how to stop it without destroying the train. If this really is a vessel for the afterlife, it shouldn't be stopped. We could be overrun by the dead."
Sabin 'hmm'd', crossed his arms and started tapping his foot against the wooden deck of the train, a thoughtful glow on his face. If I can't destroy the engine…I can try to stop it. If only Edgar had fallen off with me…I would be able to turn this thing off easily! He sighed, looked at Shadow and uncrossed his arms. "Alright then, I won't destroy the engine. So, do you know anything about train engines?"
"No," he answered quickly. "But I'm sure the engine room will have some sort of manual for it. You can read, can't you?" His simple question, not meant to be taken the way Sabin took it, set the monk ablaze in embarrassment and a little anger.
"Of course I can read!" he snapped. "Alright, to the engine room! I know enough to know that the engine room will be at the front of the train, so let's head on."
Sabin decided to take the lead since Cyan was a little spooked and in a weird mood and Shadow was busy hanging to the back, searching around the rooms they passed by, entered in and rested. There were so many train cabins, so many it seemed Sabin had led them around back to the same train cabin until he spotted a lone cabin, attached to the train but offered no bridge to the next piece. Cyan muttered for them to be careful and Shadow readied his throwing knives as Sabin pushed his weight against the old, noisy door until it cracked under his weight and opened, slowly, to reveal a dark, dusty and cobwebbed full cabin. The sets were bright blue, doubled up and by the windows, but were in the worst condition he remembered seeing on the train. They were torn, bloodied in some areas and lost color in some spots. There were old jackets and women's dressing items still hanging on the wooden frames behind the seats, they too were worn with age and dirtied with dust and webs.
The carpet beneath their feet was thin, worn with constant walk and torn. Blood was spilled on various parts of the carpet, blood that took footprint form in most places. Sabin took a calming breath. This must be where the Imperials did the…slaughter. He jumped at a howling sound that mimicked a woman's scream and turn to see Cyan and Shadow staring directly at him, wide-eyed and holding their weapons. "W-what?" he managed to whispered. In unison, Cyan and Shadow lifted a hand to point at him…no, behind him! Sabin twirled around and gasped as he saw ghosts floating out of the carpet.
They had long, wry faces, bleached by death and fear. They worn long garments, white, about their fleshless bodies. Long, bony arms rang out of the long sleeves of their white tunics and the hoods did little to hide their monstrous faces. One groaned and reached out for Sabin's shoulder, but the monk jumped back, shivering. "W-W-what is that?" he remembered the beasts Cyan and Shadow warned him about. "Are they the mind rips?"
"No," Shadow replied dryly, putting his weapons away. "They are far worse…they are the undead. Untouchable monsters our attacks will just go through. We need to get out of here, and fast."
Sabin turned for the door, but a ghost floated in the way. Before he could bark a command at the ghost, it groaned in pain. "…no…escape…" it repeated it three times before Sabin panicked and threw a fist at it. It collided, surprising Cyan and Shadow, and knocked the ghost against the door. It groaned once more and turned transparent and launched out toward Sabin, arms out and opened like claws. It swiped four times at the monk before it turned to Shadow, causing the assassin to back against the wall, avoiding only with his fighting dagger. Cyan unsheathed his sword and ran a finger down the blade, his eyes closed. The ghost disappeared into the flooring, reappearing behind Sabin, about to stick its ghastly claws into his back. Cyan could see he took a harder form and released the power he was sealing in his Katana. With a charge and one long slash, he Dispatched the ghost with one swing. A long cut slivered through the body of the ghost, causing the body to split apart into two sections and then it exploded into dust.
With a quick jump, Sabin ran to the door and slammed into it until it swung open. When his team managed their way out of the cabin, Sabin locked the door and shivered, his body cold. "Whew…What do you suppose that was all about?" he was expecting Cyan to answer, but neither answered. Shadow had his thinking face on and Cyan was as silent as the dead. With the thought of the ghosts still on mind, Sabin swore at their timing. The ghosts started to pour out of the cabin's sides, windows and train deck, moaning and clawing at them, reaching and searching to take the four with them to the Afterlife.
They all started to moan the same phrase "…no…escape…"over and over and over again as they slowly started toward them. Sabin grabbed hold of the ladder to his left and nodded to his team.
"They're coming after us!" he shouted to his friends. "Hurry! Go!" Cyan went first, then Shadow – who's dog had managed to jump on the railings and then on top – and then it was Sabin's turn. As his feet hit the fourth step, one of the ghosts grabbed his leg.
"…no…escape…"
With a start, Sabin kicked his feet rapidly until the ghost was thrown aside, over the railing of the train. With a hurry, Sabin made it to the top only to see Cyan and Shadow looking over at the other piece of the train. When the monk arrived by their side, he saw Interceptor. He didn't have to ask Shadow to know that the dog had jumped on his own. They could hear the ghosts cries.
"Nowhere to run…"
"Nowhere to hide…"
"No escape for you…"
I wish those things would give a rest! Sabin growled. There are too many to fight…We wouldn't win, we'd die. But now we're stuck on top of this piece of cra…Sabin grinned. Interceptor! He had jumped! If a dog could do it, a monk and assassin can! Wait…What about Cyan? As if the old man read minds, Cyan shook the monk's shoulder.
"I believe we have reached a dead end, Sir Sabin!"
He can make it…he's a retainer, isn't he? We'll just have to chance it… "All right!" he chirped, walking to the edge of the cabin.
"Hast thou an idea?" Cyan asked, hopeful.
"Yes…" he hesitated, getting unsure. No, this is our only way out. If we don't try, we're dead anyway! "The time has come to put my training to use!" He grabbed Cyan's arm, nodded to Shadow and smiled. "Come, Cyan!" before the old man could ground himself and resist what Sabin was about to do, he was thrown the distance between the cabin they stood to the next, where Interceptor sat barking at the ghosts. Shadow ran ahead of Sabin and with a graceful leap, landed besides the frightened old man and his dog. He ordered his partner to go ahead and pulled Cyan out of the way for Sabin.
The brute of a monk ran to the end of the cabin top and then back to the tip and jumped. He made it, nearly slipped over the side but was lifted up by Shadow. "Come," he muttered. "They are gaining on us." Sabin nodded and watched Cyan slipped down from the roof and careful walk across the giant chains holding the train pieces together. Shadow had made his jump with Interceptor, leaving him on his own. Sabin attempted another jump, but when his feet touched the roof of the next cabin, it collapsed on him and he fell to the train deck in a daze. The next moment Sabin was being helped up by Cyan and Shadow. Oh…that hurt. He leaned against the train wall, grateful for the moment to rest his body, but the screeching sounds of the ghosts put him back on guard.
"…no…escape…"
Sabin growled. "…They couldn't still be…?" he asked, getting a sharp 'yes' from Shadow. "They just don't let up!" Sabin snarled as he turned around and started to search around. Panic never suited him, but he couldn't help it now. "We'll have to detach the rear cars!" he shouted over to Shadow. For once on their journey, Shadow took and order and ran inside of the train cabin with his dog, knowing that Sabin had to stay behind to give him some back up and time if they came to overflow the cabin. Sabin and Cyan watched as the ghosts neared the last car. Shadow…hurry up! Just then, they heard a loud snapping sound and watched as the car behind them, the one carrying all the ghosts, was detached and left behind. With a sigh of relief, Sabin fell against the wall of the train once more as Cyan seated himself on the deck, calming himself. "That should be the end of that…"
When they entered the cabin Shadow had went in, they found him standing by a switch, trying to push it down. When Sabin asked what was wrong, Shadow explained it wouldn't budge. The giant bear of a monk grinned, spat on his hands and asked him to move aside. When he pushed as hard as he could down on the lever, it budged, activated and then snapped in half in the middle. The cabin rumbled with movement and the wall beside them shot open in a quick motion. Sabin gave his team a sheepish smile and then peaked around the corner. It was a long, empty cabin, which was nearly perfect in condition. "Looks safe enough…" he whispered, leading the way.
At the end of the hall, they saw a ghost, friendlier looking in demeanor, sitting in the corner, hunched in a ball. Its tunic and garments were fairly new and covered the face entirely. All they could see was a shimmering, purple light where the neck would be. Getting ready to strike it while it was aware, Cyan stopped when the ghost looked up gently. Sabin pushed Cyan's Katana down and looked over at Shadow. "What's with this guy?" the assassin shook his head, completely at ends.
The ghost reached out to Cyan, shaking hands, to his sword. The old man smiled, fondly. "He seems to want to accompany us."
Sabin rubbed his chin. His little friends chanced us around… "Sorry…We're in a hurry. But we thank you for the offer." it nodded and disappeared into the floor, reappearing behind Cyan in an instant. Before they started off again, the kind monk gave the friendly ghost a long stare. Something about this ghost was different…really different. Its shape was thinner, the head smaller from what he could spot from the hood's size and the way it moved made him curious. Bah! I have no time to sit around thinking about some dead man…I need to get back to Narshe, to my brother! He nodded to the ghost and turned his back, hoping he didn't make a big mistake, and pushed through the last door to the cabin. When he looked over his shoulder to see the ghost again, it was watching them and just as Cyan closed the door behind him, Sabin saw the face of the ghost. It was a woman, pale faced and wide-eyed, frowning. It wasn't a guy…but who was she and why did she want to help?
Cyan's shout of relief awoke Sabin from his thoughts. He looked up and followed the old man's eyes to the head of the train. A small cabin sat at the tip, smoke pouring from the top. They had made it to the end of the train. Finally…I'm one step closer to Narshe. Sabin kicked the door to the last cabin open and stepped in, cautious. All there was in the room was a chair with a note on it and three levers on the back wall. "Let's just end this already," he muttered as he reached for the middle lever. Cyan took the note off the chair and read it.
"Wait, Sir Sabin!" the monk faltered, thinking something had appeared behind him. "Thou should read the note beforehand." He read it once more. "It orders 'first and last', but the rest is smeared, Sir."
"Hmm," Sabin grabbed the first and last lever. "Here's hoping this is what it means." When he pushed them down, the train screeched but didn't stop. Cyan said the note had nothing else written on it and handed it over to the monk. Damn it…so close. "Alright then…let's head to the front. Maybe we could do something there."
"Are you sure you pulled them all the way down?" Shadow inspected the levers and found them activated. "Maybe there is a pipe we could bust or maybe another switch or lever near the head of the train. I heard that's how the trains worked in the Empire…"
Following Shadow's suggestion, Sabin led them up to the front of the train and helped them to the top without falling over the side and onto the tracks. When Sabin's own search came up empty for the lever or switch he was supposed to be looking for, he turned to Shadow and asked if he knew what it looked like. The assassin's blue eyes darkened as he thought. "The lever should have a red or blue ring around the center with a circle over the color, with an 'x' on the inside of the circle." Sabin found four of them.
"There are four! Anything more distinctive than that?"
Shadow frowned, shaking his head. "No, not that I can recall."
"Sir Sabin, why not pull the levers in such a way that mimicked the levers in the control room?"
"There are four here though, and they have switched underneath that I think activates once the lever is pulled." He replied, tiredly. The first and last is certainly easy to see, but one lever was split into two, so the first counted as "two" and the second the third and then the last. Would he pull the first lever of the merged two, or both to count as the first? The merged levers were both of the same color…Hm, I wonder if there is a reason for the two. Sabin rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Maybe the first lever is split into two for the engine and another form of motion that we haven't seen? That could be it; it would explain why they share the same characteristics. The monk grabbed the first two merged levers and took a deep breath. "The train should stop if we throw this switch." At least I hope it does.
A sudden jolt from the train set the team on their backs, struggling to hold onto the various pieces of the train head. A dark, mystical voice cracked around them. "So!" the voice rang, annoyed. "You're the ones who have been slowing me down!" another jolt sent them to their knees when they had gotten up.
The train laughed when Cyan tumbled over the side and onto the deck and did another jolt, trying to knock Sabin off onto the tracks and Shadow in front of him to squash him flat, but it didn't work. Sabin grabbed a hold of the pipe that released steam and used it as a way to swing his weight into a kick at the gears running in front of him.
The train shook at the hit, but recovered enough to set a cloud of white smoke upon them. Interceptor had begun ripping pipes out of the side of the train when the smoke had hit him. The poor dog collapsed, seemingly paralyzed. Calmly, thought Sabin thought he saw rage in his eyes, Shadow dropped a few circle objects down the pipes of the train, grabbed his dog and jumped to the lower deck. Sabin, alarmed, climbed up the side of the train trying to get away from the area so he didn't suffer from whatever Shadow had done. He jumped to the right of the train and rolled onto his back just in time. The objects Shadow had dropped inside the pipes exploded and shook the entire train. Green smoke puffed out of all sides of the train, drastically slowing the giant metal slug. When the monk got back up on his feet, he saw Shadow order Cyan to do something and watched as the old man stuck his Katana into one of the larger pipes poking out of the side of the train. He made a cut large enough for a fist to enter and pulled away to do the same to another pipe that went deep into the head of the train. Shadow shouted over the roaring engines and the wind to Sabin. "Attack the head at my signal!"
Sabin jumped up and grabbed the siding of the cabin where the engine room was and lifted himself up and over to get back on top of the train since the entrance he took earlier was on the other side. He found the spot he was in before, where the levers were, and grabbed a hold of the biggest pipe he could so he would be launched away again and waited for Shadow's signal. With their new activity, the train howled in frustration. He watched Shadow stuff two more of the circle objects into the pipes Cyan had cut open and then turn to him, making a quick gesture of his hand just as his bombs exploded inside the pipes.
Sabin took a breath, closed his eyes and concentrated on mana. When he felt his energy stored, he pulled his arm back and held it high above him and waited for his fist to glow completely red before he smashed it into the top of the train, on the very tip. The area around them flashed in red for the longest moment before the sound of fire omitted. The Phantom train hissed and slowed down before the sides exploded into jets of flames and smoke. From the shock of the hit, Sabin was thrown backwards over Shadow and Cyan and nearly rolled off the train, but he had caught the railings in time. When the train jolted about once again a defeated, worn voice echoed around them. "I will let you go…" Cyan helped Sabin over the railing and back onto the deck as the Phantom Train began again, this time his voice impressed. "But first there is something I must do…"
The next time the train stopped, they were waiting inside of a small, empty room. Each of them was sitting in a separate corner, silently. Shadow was holding Interceptor's head in his lap, waiting for the medication he gave him to take effect. Cyan was looking out a window, his face tired and full of sorrow. Sabin was sitting crossed legged, meditating when the train completely pulled to a stop. Cyan could see the docking station and looked back to his friends. "It seems we have arrived."
As soon as Sabin's foot touched the docking station, he jumped up, suddenly full of energy. "Whew!" Cyan slowly walked by him, his eyes still watching the train. Shadow carried Interceptor off the train and gently laid him down to dig through his bags for another remedy to hurry the process along. "Glad to be off that thing!" Though I still want to know what was up with that ghost… "The faster we leave that train behind, the better!" When his two team mates didn't say anything, he turned to see what was wrong and found them staring at the line of people walking aboard the train at the end of the docking station. So many people…they must be from Doma. The thought sickened him. Kefka killed so many…He needs to be stopped, the whole Empire! And then Cyan gasped.
"Is that…!" he frowned, tears forming in his eyes as he saw a beautiful woman and adorable little boy board the train. "Elayne! Owain!" it was them! They were…they were taking the train to the next world.
Sabin and Shadow came to stand by him, though Sabin was the one to ask the question they both wanted to know. "Cyan! Was that your wife and son?" the train hooted and started to move, so Cyan pushed pass Sabin, not even bothering to answer.
"…The train's leaving!" he shouted. He ran along the side of the train, the same place his wife and child had entered. "Please wait!" The train started to speed up just as his wife and son appeared from the cabin, looking at him with love and happiness on their faces. "Elayne!" he shouted, reaching his hand out to her in desperation. She didn't reach for it. "Owaine!" he sobbed, trying to grab the railing to the train. He chased the train to the end of the dock before he could no longer stand beside it.
"My love…You made me so happy. Thank you…" a beautiful, loving voice rang out. Cyan heard a bang, as if iron hit metal. He could see them, standing by the edge of the train, waving at him.
"Dad! I'll keep practicing with my sword so I can keep mom safe!" another bang, another sob. He cried as the train disappeared into the fog of the forest, as his little family and life left the world…
That's it for this chapter! There is still more Sabin pieces, obviously, that needs to be written and I am writing them now. But it is the 16th chapter, right after the last I posted. I hope this was good...it took me forever to write. xD
If you have any suggestions, or anything, I would love to read them! Thank you so much for bearing with me and reading this! Please review *but kindly?*