.
Wild Arms: To the End of the Wilderness
Chapter Twenty Three: Murdering Princess
Written by Estrelita Farr
.
Now that the whirlpool blocking the natural canal had disappeared, the Sweet Candy was free to sail to the Outer Sea in the general direction of their destination. It was to be a long journey so everyone aboard prepared to deal with Jack going mad from idleness, but this time he remained silent as he leant against the bulwark, distant eyes focused on the horizon. The last time he was like this was when they were on the way to the Photosphere, so perhaps it had something to do with the encounter with Lady Harken, the person who had the same Fast Draw skills as he did… his companions said nothing, only casting concerned glances in his direction.
Many days later, with the mark on their map and the Guardians' words to guide them, the wanderers arrived.
The Fallen Sanctuary, roofless ruins of an ancient temple shrouded by a dense forest, the brick walls covered in moss and ivy. The gentle sun rays shone between the trees as birds chirped among the leaves, deer grazed among the bushes. Calm, peaceful, as though the conflict with the demons was a mere story of old, yet there was a hint of melancholy in the air, a quiet sadness.
The crunch of their footsteps was loud in the air, yet no monsters attacked them. The walk was quiet all the way to the deepest area of the temple, a large area enclosed with high stone walls. There, three statues of armour-clad figures stood high upon stone pedestals.
A grand dragon, arms crossed, four folded wings at its back.
A great lion, with a heroic cape, a clawed hand holding the giant greatsword stabbed into the pedestal.
An angelic maiden, feathered wings folded, hands clasped in prayer.
A fourth pedestal stood empty, as though its statue had moved away.
"The Guardian Lords…" Cecilia whispered as she approached them–
Flash.
A pillar of light struck the lion statue. When the dust settled, the wanderers looked up to see a familiar figure standing on its head – Boomerang, arms closed, trench coat billowing in the wind.
"You!" Jack growled.
Hanpan's fur bristled. "How did you find us here?!"
The demon glanced to the side. "Luceid led me."
Her purple-and-red fur gleaming in the sun, Luceid appeared in a flash atop the fourth stone pedestal – her rightful place as the Guardian Lord of Desire.
Cecilia gripped her magic staff. "If you're planning on exterminating the Guardians, you have to get past us first!"
Boomerang gave a curt nod. "If that is what you want. I thought it would be boring to hunt the Guardians that had lost their power, but this is fun… it is fitting that I fight you for them." He leapt and landed on the ground before them, drawing his black blade. "I will fight you, and then annihilate the pitiful Guardians that support this world!"
"A fight to the finish!" Jack cried as he lunged. "It's time to settle this!"
Cecilia raised her staff, the Crest on her back shining as light enveloped Jack and enhanced his speed and strength. He broke into a grin and disappeared in a blur, instantly appearing in front of Luceid with a shining slash. A howl and the wolf leapt back with a bleeding cut in her shoulder, baring her teeth.
Boomerang's sword spun towards the sorceress as she prepared another enhancing spell, but Rudy stepped in front of her, catching the blade with his ARM. As light enveloped him and boosted his strength, he sent the blade flying away with a swing and fired, only to miss as his target sidestepped.
One hand grabbing the returning curved sword, the demon lunged at the boy. Rudy gritted his teeth – no way he could match his speed even when enhanced – but Jack's Speed Fang came rushing from the side, forcing Boomerang back.
With the new enhancing spell, the wanderers felt a rush of confidence as they charged. Unlike their last bitter defeat, this time they could defeat the demon and wolf!
Then, Boomerang's eyes glowed. A swing of his sword sent a wave of force that sent the humans skidding backwards with a gasp. They looked up sharply as he appeared right in front of them, sword gleaming. Jack gave a cry as he blocked with his sheath and retaliated with a flurry of strikes, yet the demon countered with his own.
Blade against blade, ringing loudly in the air.
At the far back, the air around Luceid began crackling with dark crimson sparks. Just like that time when she summoned thousands of swords to strike the humans down. They shuddered at the thought of the pain and defeat… they had to stop her.
Rudy fired at her, but Boomerang sliced the bullet into two. Cecilia started preparing an offensive spell but stepped back with a gasp when the curved sword came flying from the side. Jack took the opportunity to charge at the wolf, sheath shining, only for Boomerang to send a burst of light in his direction that sent him flying back.
The air continued to crackle. The wanderers continued their attacks, yet the demon alone was pushing them back. Again and again, reminding them of the difference in their power.
And, finally, as Boomerang somersaulted to the back and straightened, he gave the command.
"Luceid, Dark Renegade."
A burst of crimson light. The air crackled with pulsating power. Thousands of blood red swords hovered in the air, waiting to rain onto their wide-eyed targets.
But this time Cecilia was prepared. Drawing upon the power of the Teardrop, she called into the Guardians' abyss and a great buffalo responded.
Castle Guardian Zeldukes. Brown body shining, the large frontward horns at his sides gleaming, the agate jewel on his head shone as he sent a great bellow across the battlefield and summoned a shining green barrier around them. The first wave of swords bounced off and disintegrated.
Yet the swords were relentless. Again they struck, again and again.
A crack appeared in the barrier. And another. And another. Then a split snaked across the barrier's surface. It shattered in a burst of light, as the fading Guardian roared… as the remaining swords struck their targets down.
Silence.
Slowly the wanderers rose to their feet, chest heaving, body trembling. Unlike before, the Guardian's barrier and Cecilia's enhancing spell had helped to reduce the pain. Hands tightening around their weapons, they faced the demon and Guardian Lord once more, ready for another round.
But Boomerang sheathed his weapon. "It is as I suspected. You are surviving day to day and steadily making great progress… but when will you match my power? I allow you a future. It is my gift to you, but it is also a gift for my own delight. You should cherish it and be prepared to sharpen your fangs… the next time we meet will be the last."
Jack's eyes narrowed. "Are you letting us go?"
A chuckle. "Letting you go? More like a death sentence." He crossed his arms. "I concede. I will not exterminate the Guardians for now."
Cecilia looked up. "What are you–"
"West of the Photosphere, on a deserted island, Alhazad has one of his laboratories. He must be researching weapons to battle the Guardians."
A pause as her eyes narrowed. "Why… are you telling us this?"
"Such a battle is not my style. It matters not if you disrupt Alhazad's research… and if you fight him, it will sharpen and build your strength. You need more time on the anvil." Boomerang whirled around. "I look forward to our next battle."
A flash of light, and the demon and wolf disappeared.
The wanderers breathed a sigh of relief. At least the Guardian Lords were safe for now.
They approached the three statues, each flickering with a sphere of light – blue from the dragon, gold from the lion, red from the maiden.
"It is impossible… for us to crystallise our power…" a quiet voice spoke from the blue sphere into Cecilia's heart. "Evil is not what has stolen our power, it is the weakness of the heart. But, if you believe that our power will return someday… hold the body of my will…"
"If love, courage and hope fill the minds of all humans," a firm voice spoke from the gold sphere, "The world would never perish. If the world wastes away, it would be because these qualities have disappeared. If you believe they will return to the minds of all humanity, then you believe in my will."
"Shaman and her warriors," a soft voice spoke from the red sphere, "If the spark of your mind shines, we will regain our power. Do not fear love, do not misunderstand courage, and do not lose sight of hope. In your hearts, if you believe in yourselves you will soon hold our power." The red sphere floated towards them. "When love shines, Raftina will answer."
The gold sphere joined the red. "When courage shines, Justine will answer."
The blue sphere rose among the other two. "When hope shines, Zephyr will answer."
A flash of light, and the spheres turned into three stone idols that fell onto Cecilia's hands – idols in the shape of an angelic maiden, a great lion and a grand dragon.
Cecilia relayed the Guardian Lords' messages to her companions, and their eyes darkened.
The once peerless Guardian Lords were even more powerless than the other Guardians…
.
-o-o-o-o-o-
.
As the Sweet Candy sailed back towards the Inland Sea, the wanderers discussed their next steps. Now that they knew the location of Alhazad's laboratory, they could not leave it alone… not after Saint Centaur and Court Seim. But they had left Asgard where the Photosphere was before it surfaced, and without it they couldn't enter Arctica…
Once again, it was Nicholli Maxwell who solved their Golem problem. When they returned to Court Seim and waded through a sea of excited children undeterred by flustered adults, they found Asgard already waiting for them at the back of the Maxwell home, letting out a low rumble as they approached.
"How did you get him here?" Hanpan asked. "Doesn't he only respond to Cecilia?"
With a smile, Nicholli held up an ocarina made of wood. "I had this Golem ocarina made based on Asgard's voice recognition data I obtained when I last worked on him. I tested it for a day or two, and to my surprise, Asgard arrived a few days later!"
Cecilia's eyes shone. "That means we can call him from anywhere!"
After thanking the ARMs meister – and taking part in another feast – they boarded the Golem and entered the snowy lands of Arctica.
With Ice Guardian Aru Sulato keeping the weather mild, it didn't take them long to return to where the Photosphere had been, now just an empty crater in the icy ground. When they arrived, however, the Teardrop crystal shone a brilliant white light, and Cecilia closed her eyes as a soft voice called out to her.
"Fallen from the Sea of Stars, I am but the Star Guardian… let me stand guard over Filgaia as the impregnable shield against falling stars. Though my light shines but faintly, I, Rigdobrite, shall answer should you convince me of your need…"
A gentle sparkle in the ground, then it disappeared. Cecilia could see the Star Guardian among the others amidst the abyss connected to her heart, a seemingly shy creature whose golden eyes shone through a crater in the asteroid it hid in. Two claws extended from two more craters and a long star-tipped reptilian tail from yet another, bearing a faint resemblance to a chick just hatching from an egg.
Gratitude filling her heart, Cecilia whispered, "Thank you, Rigdobrite."
In high spirits from getting another Guardian's help, they headed west from the crater.
A couple of days later, on a rocky island across a shallow strait, hidden among the rocky hills was a stone building that seemed like any other ruin at first glance, with ivy crawling all over its yellow walls. But, as they approached, the front door slid open to reveal an entrance hall well-lit with crystals floating atop pillars, as though to invite them in.
Jack frowned. "This is that demon's lab, isn't it? The door opened for us…"
Hanpan shook his head. "Just what is he planning?"
"I bet a horrible research is being conducted here," Cecilia whispered.
Rudy gripped the handle of his ARM.
They glanced at each other, nodded, then stepped inside.
.
-o-o-o-o-o-
.
The room was silent, illuminated by stone walls emitting an eerie green glow. The dark purple crystal hovered quietly in the centre, the Darkness Tear. Lady Harken stood before it, closing her eyes to draw strength from it, yet her heart was a whirlwind of confusion.
That human warrior, that man with golden hair and blue eyes… why did his swordplay mimic hers? Who was he? Had she met him before? He felt so familiar, yet she remembered nothing of him… only her own sword techniques, her battle tactics… just fragments of memories…
"You know everything… only forgotten…" the Sea Guardian had said. "Think back and speak your name… it was a tribute to your existence!"
The memory sent a jolt through her body, through her heart. She sank to her knees, wrapping her trembling hands around her upper arms.
This body… it did not feel like hers… what was this place? What had happened to her…?
At that moment, a familiar crackle as Alhazad appeared from his warp. "You are you. You are Lady Harken. Nothing more than that."
"Alhazad…" she hissed under her breath. "What do you know…?"
"It is the stress on your spirit and flesh. You must take care, you are just working too hard." He floated closer as his voice dropped to a near whisper. "You are so beautiful… every time I see you, I feel ashamed… but also glorious pleasure. I must hide my ugly figure under my robe. Your body is like a crystal… in fact, you are like the black crystal itself, beautiful and breakable…"
She leapt away with a snarl, scythe raised. "How dare you! You should watch your words or it will be the end of you!"
A chuckle. "Was it something I said? I am just saying what was on my mind, nothing more…"
She clenched her teeth, then took a deep breath – she should not let that creep Alhazad rile her up. Her eyes narrowed as she straightened. "What do you want?"
"There are trespassers here in my research centre."
"The shaman and her warriors?"
"That is correct. To better protect the Darkness Tear from them, I thought you should know." Another chuckle. "That is why I came to see you…"
"I need not any warnings! I will just slice them to pieces when they arrive!"
"I see. I am quite busy, so I will leave it up to you." He disappeared once more into the warp, leaving behind a final note. "I must stress this… do not damage the Darkness Tear…"
And his chuckle echoed in the room before fading away.
Lady Harken tightly gripped her scythe.
So, they had arrived… no doubt that golden-haired man would be with them. If she waited here, they would meet again… and she might be able to finally learn what the connection was between them.
.
-o-o-o-o-o-
.
The laboratory was a building carved into a rocky hill, with floating crystals atop stone pillars lighting the hallways. The stone walls emitted an eerie green glow, the brick floors lined with strange carvings that looked like the heads of a bird with huge eyes… creepy like that demon Alhazad. It made Rudy and Cecilia shiver, and they tried not to look at them as they walked.
Slowly, cautiously, the wanderers made their way through the hallways, with Jack scanning the way forward before motioning them over. Often they met more of those mechanical monsters Hanpan called robots, firing white-hot lightning from their single golden eyes as they ran on four metal legs, but it didn't take the humans long to take them down.
Then, a locked metal door blocked their way. And another. And another. No switches, no buttons, nothing, and no amount of banging and yelling from Jack would get them to open.
"Let's look around nearby," Hanpan suggested. "There should be a master console that unlocks these doors."
They soon found one. One of the hallways led to a room with walls covered with huge display screens larger than the wanderers put together, with equally huge control panels beneath where several demons worked, eyes glued to the screen.
Jack grinned and faded into a blur. A flash, and another, and another. By the time he straightened, the blade back in its sheath, the demons lay in a crumpled heap on the floor, allowing Hanpan to hop on the console keyboard with shining eyes.
Clicks filled the air as words scrolled down the display screens, words like "Teardrop", "generator and connector" and "negative tuning of waveforms", then eventually, "Unlock all doors in Area 1." The Wind Mouse hopped onto one last key, then a loud click sounded in the distance.
"That should do it," he said as he returned to his usual spot on Jack's shoulder.
They continued further into the laboratory, dispatching more robots and researcher demons, accessing consoles to unlock more metal doors. They didn't have time to read the research information in the consoles, much to Hanpan's disappointment, though they did manage to read a few words here and there – such as the reboot of Lolithia and another golem, the beginnings of their research on the Laylines. Recalling what Lucadia had said about the Laylines being the lifeblood of Filgaia, the wanderers' eyes darkened. They quickened their pace, tightly gripping their weapons.
But this felt easy… too easy. It was as if the demons were not serious about defending this place, and the front door of this laboratory had opened as though to invite them in… what was Alhazad planning?
Just as they were beginning to doubt, they emerged in a large room. The brick flooring continued, leading to a raised platform over which a gigantic dark purple crystal hovered.
The Darkness Tear. Emitting a dark purple glow that cancelled out the Teardrop's blue glow. The Teardrop in Cecilia's hands glowed feebly, as though it was afraid.
A red blur. Lady Harken appeared before them, scythe leaning on her shoulder. "It is a duplicate of the Teardrop, yet more powerful, optimised to send out negative light… it is the Darkness Tear."
"Harken!" Jack growled, a hand at his weapon. "I was waiting to see you again! Who are you? Your Fast Draw–"
"I could ask you the same question, but I will not." She raised her weapon towards him. "Words are unecessary between warriors! In battle, your skill is all that matters!"
He clenched his teeth, tightened his grip on his sheathed katana… but she was right. Rather than let thoughts distract him, the surest way to get his answers was to battle it out!
He gave a cry as he faded into a blur, feeling Cecilia's spell enhancing his speed. A flash as he drew his blade, as it struck the shining scythe.
Golden eyes focused on blue eyes.
A burst of light. A flurry of slashes, a rush of wind. An arc of light, striking another arc that exploded in midair.
The more they clashed, the more he was sure. Their Fast Draw styles were the same, as though they had the same teacher. As though they had fought together like this before. Many, many times before. As if–
No, this time he pushed the questions away. This time his eyes focused forward, at the enemy he had to defeat!
"Harken!" he yelled as he brought his blade in a shining upward slash.
Her eyes widened.
Another burst of light. They both skidded backwards, shoulders heaving, eyes glaring.
"Faster…" she muttered. "I must be faster…"
The Darkness Tear gleamed. Dark purple mist flowed from its core and encircled her, pulsating. Then it seeped into her.
Flash.
Jack gasped as blood droplets escaped from his shoulder, as he barely dodged the scythe glowing a dark purple. She had gotten faster–
Flash.
Another gasp, more blood droplets.
He gritted his teeth and faded into a blur, stepping back to grow more distance between them. But that scythe kept reaching for him–
ROAR.
Lady Harken leant back as the bullet went past her. Her eyes narrowed as she focused on Rudy, as she charged–
Flash.
A wall of fire burst from the floor, forcing her back.
"You two?!" Jack exclaimed as his companions joined his side.
"We may not be able to match her speed," Cecilia admitted, her staff glowing with remnants of magic. "But we can still support you! We're in this together, aren't we?!"
Rudy nodded, eyes narrowed with determination, the ARM in his hand smoking.
"You're right…" Jack grinned. "Let's do this!"
Suddenly the Darkness Tear shone. Dark purple light swept across the room, sending a chill into them. From amidst the darkness, Lady Harken spread her hands as black mist rushed into her, circling her like a vortex.
"Power!" she cried. "I need more power!"
The Darkness Tear responded with even more dark mist.
The Teardrop glowed feebly, its blue light fading.
Jack clenched his teeth. He forced himself forward despite the strengthening chill within. It felt like he had to do something, like he shouldn't let her do this–
The dark purple light faded. The black mist escaped from Lady Harken in a pulse of energy that shot across the room, leaving her open. She gasped as her body froze up, trembling hands dropping the scythe.
"This… this is utter nonsense!" she exclaimed. "Not now… what is happening… to me…?"
She clutched at her head, at her chest. She took a heavy step, another step, then collapsed. Her helmet fell and rolled a few steps away. Her appearance blurred, as though unable to remain in this world, and, as the same long brown hair spread on the brick floor, her face changed.
Jack froze. His eyes widened as he stared at her, as memories rushed into his mind.
"So you call throwing your life away courage?" she had cried then. "You think fighting an unbeatable enemy is courage? I won't hear of it!"
She had turned away from the closed grate between them, the corners of her eyes glistening. "Besides, the ribbon I wrapped around your arm is expensive… I can't die until I get it back."
His last memory of her whirling around to face the demon, raising a gleaming blade like a lynx refusing to go down without a fight. "Have courage, Garret! Go on and take this memory with you! Deliver the Fenril spirit to our friends!"
"No… it can't be…" he muttered. "El… Elmi–"
FLASH.
The Darkness Tear shot another pulse of dark energy across the room and sent the wanderers crashing into the wall, then the floor. Jack clenched his teeth, raised his head against the pain.
Right before him, Alhazad hovered over the fallen Lady Harken, chuckling. "I still need her, you cannot have her yet. My apologies. I would have liked to thank you for providing useful test data on the Darkness Tear… but too bad."
"NOOOO!" Jack screamed as he forced himself forward, as he reached out with one hand. "ALHAZAAAAAD!"
But a warp swept both Lady Harken and the Darkness Tear away from his reach. And, with an echoing chuckle, Alhazad disappeared with them.
"No…" Jack whispered as he closed his eyes.
Again… that demon had taken her from him…
Again… he had failed to protect her.
"NO!" He slammed a fist onto the floor. Again and again. "What was I doing?! My revenge… who am I avenging… her Fast Draw…" Another slam, and another. "I'm so stupid! Why didn't I realise?! WHY?!"
He raised his fist once more, then stopped at the sight of the Wind Mouse in front of him.
Hanpan shook his head. "Is punching the floor going to help? Calm down, Jack… it isn't wise to hurt your fist right now."
Shoulders heaving, he glanced at his fist – the knuckles were already bleeding – and back at his partner. "Hanpan…"
A smile. "I will keep my big nose out of it, because we are friends."
Friends. He had been so caught up in his own anger and despair that he had forgotten… he was no longer alone. Not as he had been when he had first lost her.
Drawing a deep breath, he straightened. "Sorry… I'm cool. Thanks." As the other two approached with concerned looks, he closed his eyes. "Sorry… I haven't told you anything about me… I'm such an idiot…"
Cecilia shook her head as she healed his hand with magic. "Don't say that… let's get moving, we might catch up to him."
Rudy nodded with a smile.
The swordsman scratched his head sheepishly. "You're right. Forgive me."
They turned and started back towards the entrance, though Jack paused to let the Wind Mouse climb back onto his shoulder.
"Hanpan," he said, "When the time comes… I will tell you everything. Because we are partners."
The Wind Mouse smiled. "And I will listen, partner."
.
End of Chapter Twenty Three: Murdering Princess.
Author's Note:
You may have realised I changed how you obtain the Golem ocarina! I know in-game you can get it at the Forgotten House, but I decided to leave that place for later and let Nicholli, our Golem expert, help out again. I think it makes more sense than having a random NPC tell them where it is and they just waltz in and take it, plus I have an idea in mind for that place later on. :D
And I've always liked those two lines between Jack and Hanpan. :)