Fire emblem 20
Blade of vengeance.
"Well, shall we move on?" Koneko said, after her little display. The rest of us nodded after recovering from our shocked stupor.
"So still wanna try to woo her Sain?" I heard Kent whisper behind me. I turned behind me to see Sain fervently shaking his head.
"Not a chance." The shaggy haired knight replied. "I have a bad success record and a failure here could actually be lethal." Thinking like a knight for once eh? I thought to myself, smirking. Then I turned to Lyn.
Although I was shocked at what I saw.
Lyn was there, still beside me walking strong and proud as always. But the warmth in her eyes as gone, not a trace of it left.
"Lyn, you ok?" I asked her, concerned.
"Yes." Was the curt reply. That's a lie.
"Lyn, don't lie to me. I know you well enough to know that this isn't normal for you to be like this."
"Then why did you ask?" Ouch. That felt like a blow. "Look, Ken, I know you care for me, and I'm thankful for that. Really I am. But this, this is something that cuts down deeper than just the loss of my family." What the heck could that be? "Here" she said holding out the Mani Kati. "He'll be able to explain better than I can."
"Oh I see." With that, I turned to Kent. "Hey Kent secure the entrance for us. I need to speak with Lady Lyn alone. Have Wil, Bane and Kura bring up the rear as backup."
"Hmm?" Kent looked at me, confused. Confused, but accepting as always. Good ol Kent. "Very well. I will obey." He turned to the enemy gates spear held aloft. "Let's ride!"
"We'll that'll get taken care of. Kent's capable to lead."Lyn nodded, agreeing with me as I took the blade from her hand. Time stopped once again as I did. I could see the looks of shock just forming on the guards of the gate.
'Welcome back, Ken'
"Um, hi Father Sky" I said, unnerved by the lack of good will I was feeling in his voice.
'Forgive me for unnerving you Ken. I'm feeling a bit upset at the moment.'
"You're upset? Dang, that ain't good for anyone. What happened?"
'The destruction of the Lorca.' His emotions were strong enough to feel, without any voice to go with.
"I don't understand." I said back. "I mean, sure they were a tribe of Sacaens, but would you get upset with any genocide? If you know my world, you'll know they unfortunately happen a lot."
'Well Ken, it's like this. The Lorca was the tribe that priesthood of the spirits were born from.' OH SNAP! 'Indeed' oh right the mind reading thing. I forgot. 'I never claimed to be a benevolent god.' He continued. And these bandits attacked my own. So I'm using my own to smash them.'
"Is that why Lyn is so mad? She seemed ready to snap at a moment's notice."
'Yep. She knows how this will affect the Sacaens.' He clarified. 'Without a spirit leader, they'll be lost and easily fall into civil war.'
"But this won't help that situation any." I said, unable to quite wrap my head around the fact that I was defending the monsters that robbed Lyn of everything. "Why go this far?"
'She can't move on until she does this. You know her by know hopefully.'
"Yeah, I do." I said somberly. "Alright I understand now."
'Truly? Lyn will be happy to know that. She didn't want to tell you her reason because she didn't believe it had any worth to you.'
"Really? Oh Lyn… why would you think something like that?" I murmured to myself, not aware that my connection with Father Sky had been cut off. Time had returned right where it left off, like it did last time. There's Ken charging up the path, spear aloft, Wil just releasing his first arrow, Lyn holding the hand I was using to hold the Mani Kati in her own hand. Dang her hands are soft. Ach!
"Ken, err did you say something?" Lyn said, curiously examining my face.
"Uhh no. but I will now." I said after getting myself back under control. "Lyn, how come you couldn't talk to me? We're friends right? "
"Huh? Ahh-h, yes. Yes we are." Lyn stuttered.
"Then trust me ok?" I said gently cupping her cheek in my hand and looking at her softly. "I'll follow you whatever the reason is, there's no need to hide anything from me."
"Ken…" She breathed out softly.
"Oi Ken! We're done up here! Just thought I'd let you know!" Sain's voice called out, shattering the moment in one fell sweep.
~sigh~ note to self, spike Sain's next meal. "Alright Sain! We'll be up there in a sec." I called back out. Shaking my head out of pure annoyance, I stood up and took Lyn's hand giving her a quick hug, before walking up the hill to the base. "So, the Lorca were spirit priests then?"
"Yes," Lyn said, becoming open again in her expression. "If things continued the way they had, I would be the next spirit priestess. Being the chieftains' daughter, that is my right."
"Gotcha. But right now, you're Lyndis, leader of this band of mercs. And we've got a job to do. You ready?"
"Yeah. Let's do this!" she said, then chuckled a little. "I see why you say that now Ken. It's invigorating even if it is only a few words."
" Hahahaha, alright let's go!" I smiled, turning to the base to find the rest of the team waiting for us to arrive. Most, if not all of them could see the obvious change in Lyn's demeanor.
"Glad you're back with us Lady Lyn." Sain said. "Now what say we get this infestation done and eliminated?"
"Agreed. We will follow, so lead us." Kent said solemnly.
"Ok! Got a plan Ken?" Lyn asked me
"Simple one this time actually." I said with a feral grin. That same infectious grin he always has Lyn though smiling to herself. The same grin echoed on the faces of battle starved warriors Gavin, Bane and Koneko. "Remember what we did to the Ganelon? Let's do that here too!" the infectious nature of his optimism and Lyn's change of heart got everyone else determined as well, confident smiles all around. With a triumphant roar, we charged into the base determined to win.
~Gavin POV~
Inside the base there were bells ringing a bandits pouring out from everywhere. Every single ugly half-monkey in all of Elibe was out for us. Not that it mattered, seeing as wave by wave they were getting pushed back as if it were nothing. Gotta hand it to Ken, I thought to myself as I hammered a mercenary charging me, broadsword already batted aside by the blood-eyed Bane. Only he could have turned such a motley group such as ourselves into what we are now. "Thanks for the help Bane." I called out, getting only a nod of acknowledgment.
Koneko was working a hallway down, somehow in that mess of people, able to only deal with one person at a time. She looked beautiful as always but even more so when she was fighting. Is it still fighting I thought taking a moment to watch her. When she looks so alluring doing what she's doing. "Hey, hang on." I called out to no one in particular "I had a moment to relax in the middle of an enemy base. Where are the bad guys?"
Koneko, still busy with her opponents was surprisingly the one who answered. Even more surprising was the fact that she could still talk normally despite being attacked constantly.
"They're dealing with Ken and Lyn. They're the unlucky ones I think." –Dodge, cut, dance- "take a look." She flicked her arm towards the other hallway, the one that looked like the main one, sending someone's neck tissue floating that direction. ewww
Although that seemed little detail seemed like nothing after watching Ken and Lyn.
Ken could only be seen in glimpses in between the blur of his twin katana. I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it, even after being exposed to the best fighters of Caelin. His twin blades flashed a curtain of pure silver death shredding any foe that came at him.
Lyn outstripped even that. She wasn't as flashy, but she made up for it in pure speed. The legendary Mani Kati was glowing orange. No. It was flashing between yellow and red way almost too quickly for me to tell the difference. She dashed from one foe to the next so quickly that all I could see watching her fight were the after images of where she had been and her opponent falling to the ground. Brr. I'm glad I'm on her side. "I know we don't need to give them a hand. But I'm getting bored sitting here."
"Yeah me too." Koneko sighed, rending another bandit to the abyss of death.
"You're still doing stuff!" I yelled exasperated.
"You seemed distracted." Bane muttered in a bored sounding voice. "So we covered for you." I turned to face him and saw that he was situated at a hallway teeming with bandits too. But nobody wanted to rush the red eyed myrmidon.
~sigh~ "Hey Bane. I'll take those guys. They don't wanna get near you. But we can't have them take off. Take Kura and back up Ken, he's the one in the thick of things."
Bane nodded without complaint then stepped down and started walking towards Ken's battle group. Kura started to follow, but just before she left, she turned back to us and called out with an impish smile. "You sure you won't need someone else here? Seems to me you just want to get rid of us for something."
Spluttering at being found out, I was scrambling for a valid reason to send support away in the face of a horde of enemies. "It's, well, uh… y'know." Smooth Gavin. Real smooth.
At least Koneko decided to save me at this point. "We can handle these guys no problem. Right Gav?" she said with a cheerful note.
"Uh Yeah! Just leave this to us." I said, trying to sound like I knew what was going on. "Go on. Get out of here!" I smiled, feeling a bit better. "Thanks Koneko" I whispered after they let earshot.
"No problem bud!" she replied. "I'll be expecting he favor back sometime. For now, I think we've made these bandits wait long enough."
"Hey, you're right, how come they didn't like attack us when we were talking?"
"I told them too!" One voice called out from the back of the pack.
"I bet they didn't wanna wreck the mood." Koneko purred. "I'm glad they left us just the two of us alone together."
"Ummm maybe it was another reason, they're still here."
"Oh?" she said feigning ignorance. "Well we'll have to change that, I want to spend a little alone time just with you."She said before flitting, yes flitting towards the scrum of bandits.
"Ok then…" I said locking my tonfas in place. "Let's get this over with." With that I charged the other hallway of bandits and let rip.
Y'know in hindsight I'm really lucky this is a single file hallway.
~Ken's POV~
We were fighting for the better part of half an hour, going through wave after wave of bandits. But we were untouchable throughout it all, it was incredible. Although it was a little weird.
"Hey Lyn. You feel alright?"
"Yeah! Great!" she said bounding with the same energy I seemed to have.
"You two both seem better than usual." Kent remarked.
"Well." Lyn began. "He said he's giving us a little boost."
"This is a little boost?" I said incredulously. "This feels great! I could tear into another full base of bandits based on how I feel right now."
"Err Ken I don't think you need me here." Sain said timidly. "I'll go to our other forces and give them support ok?"
"What are you talking about Sain?" Kent asked the wayward knight. "Our duty is firstly to protect Lady Lyn, why are you leaving her side?"
"Cause Kens scaring me right now…" Sain muttered. Laughing slightly to myself I turned to the team. "Ok let's regroup for now. There can't be very many more bandits, but we'll get killed if we get too cocky. Kent and Sain, would you guys try to find the rest of our team and if possible bring em here. We'll hold this position and wait for you guys to show up."
"At your command Ken." Kent said before riding off. Well, they're gone. Just me and Lyn.
"You holding up ok Lyn?" I asked, trying to start up some conversation.
"I'm doing good Ken, thanks." Lyn replied.
"Well we've got time, anything on your mind?"
"Actually yeah." Lyn said thoughtfully. "I've lived in the castle for about a year and it's been great being together with everyone. But I'm not sure that's where I'm supposed to be, you know what I mean?"
"Well that's news, I was just getting used to knowing you as the princess of Caelin." I said teasingly.
"Hey! That's not funny." She said smiling a little. "I want to go back to the plains. Live my life as it should have been. Possibly revive the Lorca tribe."
"That sounds like a good plan. So when do we tell your grandfather?"
"We?" Lyn stared in shock.
"Yes. We. You don't think I'd leave you alone out there would you? I promised I'd stick with you, no matter what happens." I said firmly.
"Thank you Ken." Lyn smiled. "I'm starting to feel bad that I'm dragging you all over the continent to keep your promise."
"There isn't anywhere on the planet that you could go where I wouldn't want to be." Lyn could only smile at that and I gave her a quick hug. "So back to my original question. When are we gonna tell your grandfather we're moving out?"
"Umm, I was thinking we would tell him a little bit after this bandit uprising wears down. Don't need to upset the peace one event after another right?"
"Haha sounds good." I said. Hold on, there is supposed to be another unnatural event happening soon right? "You gonna end up picking an heir?"
"Ha! Talk like that makes it seem like I'm dying." Lyn chuckled. "I'll let the nobility settle that, even though personally I'd give the spot to Kent."
"Yeah? Well he'd fit the bill nicely. Loyal, hardworking, honest, better than a lot of royals, yourself and your grandfather omitted of course."
"Thanks? I think?" Lyn asked curiously.
"Oops my bad." I said abashed. Luckily for me, Kent and Sain came back right then with our gathered team. Thank goodness for timely arrivals.
"Hey Ken." Gavin called out. "Me and Koneko, err liberated I guess you can say, some supplies. It's not much, but we've got some medicine, a heal staff and a couple of axes."
"That's good actually. Everyone stock up on Vulneraries. Down a little regardless of anything, there might still be a lot of bandits left, we don't know. Let's keep the axes, we might need em soon."
We stocked up, healed up and moved up within the better part of 5 minutes. But as it turned out, we only had one more fighter left to face. Their boss. We burst into the former throne room, assuming he'd be there just like the rest of them were. Turns out we were right. We were in the room silent for all of ten seconds. Then,
"You! I remember you!" Lyn roared out upon recognizing him.
He sneered at us, then rose from his throne to his full 6 foot height and shook his hair out of his face, revealing a single scarlet red eye.
Beside me, Bane stiffened in recognition. "It can't be." He growled. "Not even you would sink that low."
"Bane, who's that?" I whispered to my apprentice.
Bane whispered to me, "That bastard was my father." Almost simultaneously, Lyn growled out, "That bastard killed my father!" Woah… I was shocked speechless after that bit of news, much like the rest of the team.
Of course, true to villain form, he just laughed at our accusations. "I've killed many men little girl. And you are no son of mine."
"Yeah, you'd say that after I took out your eye." Bane sneered.
"I will be paid in full for that. Although it seems exiling you was best for you. You're less of a pathetic whelp than you were destined to be under me."
"Why did you join a bandit group anyway?"
"Silly fool. I made the Taliver bandits!" He finished with a roar. "And you took that way. I'll have to finish you!" an inhuman growl escaped him as he drew two blades and rushed Bane.
Quickly I moved into position realizing Bane still had his blade sheathed. I was lucky Lyn ran to his other side. I could only catch one blade.
Unfazed that his quick strike was blocked, he held his blades put and took stock of his two opponents. "Why, Lady Lyndis of Caelin. I didn't recognize you until now. I'm surprised that a noble like you would come to the front lines like this."
"Hey. Right now I'm the leader of Lyndis' legion, just on a job. A personal one." Said darkly.
Then he turned to me. "And you must be Caelin's legendary sword. Ken Senki if memory serves correctly."
"I don't know about legendary, but I'll take that title." I smirked.
"But my business isn't with either of you." He jumped back and lowered his blades slightly, just enough to look civil. "It's with that scrawny brat behind you too. So if you'd be kind enough to let me and him have a little talk-"
"Not happening bud."
"But Ken" Bane protested, having drawn his blade. "I can end this, end him, right n- auugh." I shoved Bane back a little. ~A/N. See shove command in FE 10~
"There's a test I have in mind for you when I feel you are ready to become a full fledged swordsman." I said, an admonishing note in my voice. "This isn't the time, nor are you ready, for a fighter like him." then I turned to Lyn, sheathing one of my blades. "You ready?"
"Are you?" she quipped back smiling back. I nodded, then turned to our opponent, although my next words were for Bane. "Eyes on us my apprentice." With that, we charged our opponent. I struck high while Lyn struck to the side. Bane's father blocked both of us with relative ease and begun to attack, striking high and low with each blade, each strike faster than the last.
Still no matter how fast he was, he wasn't as good as me and Lyn together. Each pass he made, we were able to defend against. After a few of his attacks, I saw one coming for Lyn that I could trap. I locked his blade against the dirt with my own, leaving my back wide open to his other blade. But seeing this Lyn jumped over my back towards him forcing him to draw back and defend. Quickly I joined her in attacking our foe. When one struck, the other covered. If we saw an opening, we took it, sometimes at the same time. We never tried to attack the same area, but neither did we stay attacking the same side. Bane's father was always able to block us, but his defense was quickly flagging.
Noting this, Lyn pressed her attacks with a renewed ferocity. I did as well, although I almost couldn't keep up with her. Bane's father became more and more desperate, taking extremely risky chances to try and hit us. Many of the times they failed and we scored a light hit along his side or arms, but a few times he got lucky and gave us a scratch or fair cut.
It was only a matter of time though. After a fierce struggle I was able to sever a tendon in his sword arm and he dropped to a knee clutching his arm. Me and Lyn jumped back, covered in shallow cuts and slightly tattered clothing.
"Give up. It's over" I said, panting heavily, but still good to go.
"Haa… I suppose this is a just reward." Bane's father said softly.
"This is for my father." Lyn said choking back a small sob, as she lanced her father's killer upon the Mani Kati. His life fled his eyes in a moment and he dropped to the floor. "Father Sky, it is done." She stopped for a moment, and then sank to the floor in exhaustion.
I limped over to her then sat down beside her and wrapped her shaking frame in my arms. "It's done." I whispered "Rest now."
"You felt it too?" Lyn whispered back.
"Yeah. Father Sky made us fight as we are."
End chapter
Extra Skit. Scary stuff
Normal is bane. Bold is Gavin. Underlined is Koneko. Bold underlined is Kura.
Wow… and you wanted to fight him alone.
Hnn… yeah that would have ended badly.
No kidding! It took Ken and Lyn to take him down!
Actually I think Ken or Lyn could have taken him alone, they just chose not to.
Come to think of it, Lyn wasn't moving like she was fighting the bandits.
Yeah and Ken was only using one blade.
I think there was a reason they worked together on him.
Awww they wanted to share the experience! That's so sweet. ~sappy grin~
~Everyone else~ wow, that thought's scarier than the fight…