Immortality's Journey
By Slim Gohan
Disclaimer - Don't own Suikoden, but, like many others, I wish I did.
Summary - 70 years after the Second Flame Champion Wars, crisis and Yuber rises once more. Hugo, Chris Lightfellow and Geddoe go on their final journey together.............
Romance - Chris/Hugo, and many other implied pairings.
A/N - Thanks for reading this far! There are a few chapters left, so please stay with this story. Thank you for all of your reviews, and please keep reviewing. They all have boosted the morale or have been very helpful. Well, onward with the chapter!
*(&#*)(&)#($&*$&(*)&$(*&#$(*#&$(*$&(*#$&*(
Chapter 5 - The Time For Action
*)@*&#*(&)@(#)(&@#)&@#)&@)(#&*(@#&@#
"........Uhh......Hang on Ruby III......Brass is close, we can rest there. Damn Yuber and his ambush..........err..........I hope Lord Thomas is safe..........."
The man and his giant bug companion, both injured, were stumbling and limping out of the forest toward Brass Castle. Both were in desperate need of medical attention, and yet, were going forward out of sheer force of will. Their will was running out, however. This is why when the castle guards found them they were relieved.
"This day has suddenly become quite busy. Run and get the doctor......and what ever mantor medication, or wind rune you can find! Either or shall do!"
"Right!"
The guard looked at Franz. "Everything will be alright."
Franz smiled, and added, "The worst is yet to come." He then fell unconscious in his arms.
"What did he mean by that, I wonder?" The guard said as he brought Franz and Ruby III into the castle.
(*)&#$*)#&*&$#)*$&)*($&(#*(*$
Leo, Geddoe, Chris and Hugo were walking back solemnly to the castle inn. The mourning had taken quite a toll on the true rune bearers, Chris especially. She was staying close to Hugo on the way back.
"Geddoe?"
Geddoe looked at Chris, and answered with a "Hmm?"
"How do you get used to it?"
"Get used to what?"
"Long life. I mean, you lose everyone around you.......especially those closest to us. Does this get any easier? Does this burden loosen? I don't know what to do. This is killing me inside." Chris stopped, and the rest did the same. She raised the fist, which contained the true rune, and looked down at it. "This is killing me."
The rest looked at her in silence. Hugo agreed with her, albeit silently. He had wanted to know the answers to those same questions. The spirits in which he believed in had not given him an answer, the one he needed most.
Geddoe, who was in front of the others, turned his back to them. He felt this was the only way he could answer them.
"It never gets easier. The burden never becomes lighter. It is hard watching your loved ones die, while you never age."
"Trust me, I've been doing this for close to 200 years. The way to deal is to become indifferent to it, and to spend time with those people you care about most. Because you know they will eventually waste away, and you will live on. This is why they say the true runes are a blessing and a curse."
Geddoe paused for a second, then continued.
"The other option is to do what Luc tried to do. Defy God at the cost of over a million lives just so this pain could end. However, that is what we fought against all those years ago. To do that would be hypocritical of ourselves...........but I have been tempted to do the same thing as him. I saw where he was coming from. There are times where these memories of the rune have been overbearing, and the road that I've chosen to be hard to walk. But, I know this road is the only way to go, so I keep walking."
Geddoe was silent, then said, "Let's go."
"Yes, good idea. I'll have them bring us something warm when we get back." Leo added.
Hugo and Chris brightened up somewhat at the idea. The group then continued their trek toward the castle.
*_)&@#*&@)(#&)(*&$&@#$*@&#)
"AHHH!!!!"
Thomas sat right up, and looked around. Sweat was pouring off his face, as if he had a nightmare.
"Oh no, where is Franz..........."
"I'm right here, Lord Thomas. But thank you for worrying."
Thomas looked to the bed right of him, and saw Franz sitting up, and smiling.
"Thank the Lord. You saved my life back there."
"Don't think much of it. Who would have known we would be ambushed by Yuber on our way here?"
"I thought we had lost him in Vinay. I was wrong. Is Ruby alright?"
"Yes. There used a water rune to cure her. She's ready for anything now."
"And you?"
"I'll live."
Thomas nodded in agreement. However, he suddenly realized what was going to happen.
"Oh no........"
"What is it, Lord Thomas?"
"If we were ambushed on the way here by Yuber, using all logic, one must assume that he is on his way here."
"Or worse, he already is here." Franz interjected.
Realizing what this meant, they both looked at each other and at the same time said.
"Oh shit."
)&^@#*(@#(*&^$(*&@^)#*&#
The four were silent all the rest of the way back. Geddoe's revelations were quite emotionally straining to them all, not just the rune bearers but Leo as well.
'This is the burden of the true rune.......This is what Lady Chris is going through. We could not help her after all, but we tried to help. Was she shielding us from what she would suffer by leaving? I only wish to understand........."
Leo was knocked out of his thought by a solder passing by.
"Lord Leo!"
"Oh, hello. Any news?.......You can stop saluting now."
"Yes sir!" The nervous solder said. "There is some news. There were two men brought to the infirmary recently. One of the men had a mantor, so we assume he was native to Le Borque. Well, it seems that they both were travelling together, even though they arrived at different times. Both were saying that they were ambushed."
"How strange. Where are they?"
"The inn, sir."
"Alright, thank you."
"Sir!" The young solder ran off, going back to his duties.
"Geddoe, would you like to check it out?"
"Yes, I would. Chris? Hugo? Are you also interested?"
"You know it."
"Yes, let's look."
"Lead the way Leo."
"Geddoe, I'm sure you don't need a 100 year old man to lead the way."
"I'm about 200."
"You look younger."
"Touché."
"Could we go now, please!" Hugo interjected.
)(@#*&(*$&)*&@$)@*&#)(#@&)@#&*)@(*#
As they expected, Franz and Thomas were soon interrupted by the other rune bearers.
"It's about time you three arrived."
"Thomas! What happened?" Hugo said, with some concern, looking at Franz, he added, "Who is he?"
"First, this is Franz. He is the grandson of Franz and Iku of Le Borque."
"Nice to meet you all."
They all nodded in agreement with Franz.
"And next, we were ambushed by Yuber on the way here. He was hiding in the Zexen forest with several of his Azodesses and bone solders, and we fell right into his trap. However, we fought our way here. We took a few bumps and bruises though."
"Damn him...." Geddoe muttered.
"That's not the worst part. Franz and I concluded that Yuber may be heading here, or is already here."
"That is not good."
"No Lady Chris, it is not."
At this moment however, several solders ran by, yelling that all solders in the area grab some sort of weaponry and rush out to defend the castle.
"WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! FIENDS ARE ATTACKING THE CASTLE! HURRY OUT, AND EVACUATE ALL CIVILIANS TO SAFETY! I REPEAT, WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!"
Several solders were yelling this. Needless to say, the people got the message quite quickly.
Solders were evacuating all civilians, and fighting off the beasts and fiends that were attacking.
"Yuber has made his strike." Geddoe concluded. "Now let us make ours."
"Agreed. We find Yuber, and attack him from all sides." Chris added.
"His Eight-Fold Rune might be a problem also. So keep that in mind, just in case you forgot." Thomas put in.
"I could use a good fight. I'm ready for the demon. After that last duel we had, I'm ready for some revenge!"
"Hugo, you never told me you dueled Yuber." Chris said, with a quizzical look.
Hugo froze up, and then laughed a nervous laugh. "Don't worry about it, dear. I'll tell you all about it later. I promise!"
"I'm sure. Now, How about we confront our guest?" Thomas suggested
"Let's not keep him waiting. Franz, defend the inner halls. Leo, do what you possibly can."
The large, yet old man held up his axe. "I'm old, but if they dare to cross me, I will cut them in two Geddoe."
"I'm with him."
"Excellent. Let us go, and make our stand! Hugo, Thomas, Geddoe, let's go."
They nodded, and were off.
(&@)(*&#(*&(*&$)@*@$&)*@&)*#@(
"Ahh! They are endless, aren't they?" Thomas said, as he cut through a bone solder.
"Stop complaining, and keep cutting through their ranks!" Chris yelled back, and she cleanly cut a Ghost Holly in two.
"I wouldn't have it any other way!" Hugo yelled. He was currently giving the Blazing Wall to two Red Mantix. After that, he cut through the hard shell of the third.
Geddoe just laughed silently as he fought through a group of Azodesses. Cutting through them as if he were a hot knife cutting through butter.
They had made their way past the weapon shop, and the blacksmith, and were making their way towards the eastern exit. Why not the other way? The four could sense the Eight-Fold Rune, and it was in the east. If not, Yuber would face them anyway, since he would not miss the chance to kill them and raise hell.
For what seemed like an eternity, they fought through the ranks for beasts and fiends.
Then, the beasts and fiends stopped fighting. This caused the four to do the same.
"At last, we meet again."
The ground suddenly became like liquid, and a man in black armor appeared.
"What's wrong? Didn't like your modern outfit, so you went back to your armor?"
"No, I just felt that this was a fitting time to reuse it. But I feel that the two swords are a must, if you don't mind, Geddoe."
"I don't care."
"I wouldn't have it any other way!"
"Hugo, haven't you learned your lesson by now?"
"What do you think?"
"Hugo, when this is over, you are telling me what happened between you two. But for now, your time has come to an end."
"Not bad, Lady Chris. Your boast was quite good. However, I don't think you can stop me. And Thomas, don't even try on boasting."
"I wasn't really planning on it. Plus, they took all the good ones."
"I believe that is enough idle chatter. This burning castle is a good background for your end, now please, let us begin!"
Yuber then made the first move, invoking the powers of the Eight-Fold, and changing from one, to four.
"Now, you die!"
They all charged the four elemental True Rune Bearers, who had every intention on defending themselves.
"Alright, this ends here......" Hugo said to no one in particular, with a smile on his face.
12 swords clashed, and the battle began.........
()&@#*&$@)_&$)_(@&*$_@*(#@#&(#@)&)_$@&_@#(_#@&#@_(*)#@
Well, I hoped you enjoyed it! Keep watch for the next, and probably final part!
Please review!
Disclaimer - Don't own Suikoden, but, like many others, I wish I did.
Summary - 70 years after the Second Flame Champion Wars, crisis and Yuber rises once more. Hugo, Chris Lightfellow and Geddoe go on their final journey together.............
Romance - Chris/Hugo, and many other implied pairings.
A/N - Thanks for reading this far! There are a few chapters left, so please stay with this story. Thank you for all of your reviews, and please keep reviewing. They all have boosted the morale or have been very helpful. Well, onward with the chapter!
*(&#*)(&)#($&*$&(*)&$(*&#$(*#&$(*$&(*#$&*(
Chapter 5 - The Time For Action
*)@*&#*(&)@(#)(&@#)&@#)&@)(#&*(@#&@#
"........Uhh......Hang on Ruby III......Brass is close, we can rest there. Damn Yuber and his ambush..........err..........I hope Lord Thomas is safe..........."
The man and his giant bug companion, both injured, were stumbling and limping out of the forest toward Brass Castle. Both were in desperate need of medical attention, and yet, were going forward out of sheer force of will. Their will was running out, however. This is why when the castle guards found them they were relieved.
"This day has suddenly become quite busy. Run and get the doctor......and what ever mantor medication, or wind rune you can find! Either or shall do!"
"Right!"
The guard looked at Franz. "Everything will be alright."
Franz smiled, and added, "The worst is yet to come." He then fell unconscious in his arms.
"What did he mean by that, I wonder?" The guard said as he brought Franz and Ruby III into the castle.
(*)&#$*)#&*&$#)*$&)*($&(#*(*$
Leo, Geddoe, Chris and Hugo were walking back solemnly to the castle inn. The mourning had taken quite a toll on the true rune bearers, Chris especially. She was staying close to Hugo on the way back.
"Geddoe?"
Geddoe looked at Chris, and answered with a "Hmm?"
"How do you get used to it?"
"Get used to what?"
"Long life. I mean, you lose everyone around you.......especially those closest to us. Does this get any easier? Does this burden loosen? I don't know what to do. This is killing me inside." Chris stopped, and the rest did the same. She raised the fist, which contained the true rune, and looked down at it. "This is killing me."
The rest looked at her in silence. Hugo agreed with her, albeit silently. He had wanted to know the answers to those same questions. The spirits in which he believed in had not given him an answer, the one he needed most.
Geddoe, who was in front of the others, turned his back to them. He felt this was the only way he could answer them.
"It never gets easier. The burden never becomes lighter. It is hard watching your loved ones die, while you never age."
"Trust me, I've been doing this for close to 200 years. The way to deal is to become indifferent to it, and to spend time with those people you care about most. Because you know they will eventually waste away, and you will live on. This is why they say the true runes are a blessing and a curse."
Geddoe paused for a second, then continued.
"The other option is to do what Luc tried to do. Defy God at the cost of over a million lives just so this pain could end. However, that is what we fought against all those years ago. To do that would be hypocritical of ourselves...........but I have been tempted to do the same thing as him. I saw where he was coming from. There are times where these memories of the rune have been overbearing, and the road that I've chosen to be hard to walk. But, I know this road is the only way to go, so I keep walking."
Geddoe was silent, then said, "Let's go."
"Yes, good idea. I'll have them bring us something warm when we get back." Leo added.
Hugo and Chris brightened up somewhat at the idea. The group then continued their trek toward the castle.
*_)&@#*&@)(#&)(*&$&@#$*@&#)
"AHHH!!!!"
Thomas sat right up, and looked around. Sweat was pouring off his face, as if he had a nightmare.
"Oh no, where is Franz..........."
"I'm right here, Lord Thomas. But thank you for worrying."
Thomas looked to the bed right of him, and saw Franz sitting up, and smiling.
"Thank the Lord. You saved my life back there."
"Don't think much of it. Who would have known we would be ambushed by Yuber on our way here?"
"I thought we had lost him in Vinay. I was wrong. Is Ruby alright?"
"Yes. There used a water rune to cure her. She's ready for anything now."
"And you?"
"I'll live."
Thomas nodded in agreement. However, he suddenly realized what was going to happen.
"Oh no........"
"What is it, Lord Thomas?"
"If we were ambushed on the way here by Yuber, using all logic, one must assume that he is on his way here."
"Or worse, he already is here." Franz interjected.
Realizing what this meant, they both looked at each other and at the same time said.
"Oh shit."
)&^@#*(@#(*&^$(*&@^)#*&#
The four were silent all the rest of the way back. Geddoe's revelations were quite emotionally straining to them all, not just the rune bearers but Leo as well.
'This is the burden of the true rune.......This is what Lady Chris is going through. We could not help her after all, but we tried to help. Was she shielding us from what she would suffer by leaving? I only wish to understand........."
Leo was knocked out of his thought by a solder passing by.
"Lord Leo!"
"Oh, hello. Any news?.......You can stop saluting now."
"Yes sir!" The nervous solder said. "There is some news. There were two men brought to the infirmary recently. One of the men had a mantor, so we assume he was native to Le Borque. Well, it seems that they both were travelling together, even though they arrived at different times. Both were saying that they were ambushed."
"How strange. Where are they?"
"The inn, sir."
"Alright, thank you."
"Sir!" The young solder ran off, going back to his duties.
"Geddoe, would you like to check it out?"
"Yes, I would. Chris? Hugo? Are you also interested?"
"You know it."
"Yes, let's look."
"Lead the way Leo."
"Geddoe, I'm sure you don't need a 100 year old man to lead the way."
"I'm about 200."
"You look younger."
"Touché."
"Could we go now, please!" Hugo interjected.
)(@#*&(*$&)*&@$)@*&#)(#@&)@#&*)@(*#
As they expected, Franz and Thomas were soon interrupted by the other rune bearers.
"It's about time you three arrived."
"Thomas! What happened?" Hugo said, with some concern, looking at Franz, he added, "Who is he?"
"First, this is Franz. He is the grandson of Franz and Iku of Le Borque."
"Nice to meet you all."
They all nodded in agreement with Franz.
"And next, we were ambushed by Yuber on the way here. He was hiding in the Zexen forest with several of his Azodesses and bone solders, and we fell right into his trap. However, we fought our way here. We took a few bumps and bruises though."
"Damn him...." Geddoe muttered.
"That's not the worst part. Franz and I concluded that Yuber may be heading here, or is already here."
"That is not good."
"No Lady Chris, it is not."
At this moment however, several solders ran by, yelling that all solders in the area grab some sort of weaponry and rush out to defend the castle.
"WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! FIENDS ARE ATTACKING THE CASTLE! HURRY OUT, AND EVACUATE ALL CIVILIANS TO SAFETY! I REPEAT, WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!"
Several solders were yelling this. Needless to say, the people got the message quite quickly.
Solders were evacuating all civilians, and fighting off the beasts and fiends that were attacking.
"Yuber has made his strike." Geddoe concluded. "Now let us make ours."
"Agreed. We find Yuber, and attack him from all sides." Chris added.
"His Eight-Fold Rune might be a problem also. So keep that in mind, just in case you forgot." Thomas put in.
"I could use a good fight. I'm ready for the demon. After that last duel we had, I'm ready for some revenge!"
"Hugo, you never told me you dueled Yuber." Chris said, with a quizzical look.
Hugo froze up, and then laughed a nervous laugh. "Don't worry about it, dear. I'll tell you all about it later. I promise!"
"I'm sure. Now, How about we confront our guest?" Thomas suggested
"Let's not keep him waiting. Franz, defend the inner halls. Leo, do what you possibly can."
The large, yet old man held up his axe. "I'm old, but if they dare to cross me, I will cut them in two Geddoe."
"I'm with him."
"Excellent. Let us go, and make our stand! Hugo, Thomas, Geddoe, let's go."
They nodded, and were off.
(&@)(*&#(*&(*&$)@*@$&)*@&)*#@(
"Ahh! They are endless, aren't they?" Thomas said, as he cut through a bone solder.
"Stop complaining, and keep cutting through their ranks!" Chris yelled back, and she cleanly cut a Ghost Holly in two.
"I wouldn't have it any other way!" Hugo yelled. He was currently giving the Blazing Wall to two Red Mantix. After that, he cut through the hard shell of the third.
Geddoe just laughed silently as he fought through a group of Azodesses. Cutting through them as if he were a hot knife cutting through butter.
They had made their way past the weapon shop, and the blacksmith, and were making their way towards the eastern exit. Why not the other way? The four could sense the Eight-Fold Rune, and it was in the east. If not, Yuber would face them anyway, since he would not miss the chance to kill them and raise hell.
For what seemed like an eternity, they fought through the ranks for beasts and fiends.
Then, the beasts and fiends stopped fighting. This caused the four to do the same.
"At last, we meet again."
The ground suddenly became like liquid, and a man in black armor appeared.
"What's wrong? Didn't like your modern outfit, so you went back to your armor?"
"No, I just felt that this was a fitting time to reuse it. But I feel that the two swords are a must, if you don't mind, Geddoe."
"I don't care."
"I wouldn't have it any other way!"
"Hugo, haven't you learned your lesson by now?"
"What do you think?"
"Hugo, when this is over, you are telling me what happened between you two. But for now, your time has come to an end."
"Not bad, Lady Chris. Your boast was quite good. However, I don't think you can stop me. And Thomas, don't even try on boasting."
"I wasn't really planning on it. Plus, they took all the good ones."
"I believe that is enough idle chatter. This burning castle is a good background for your end, now please, let us begin!"
Yuber then made the first move, invoking the powers of the Eight-Fold, and changing from one, to four.
"Now, you die!"
They all charged the four elemental True Rune Bearers, who had every intention on defending themselves.
"Alright, this ends here......" Hugo said to no one in particular, with a smile on his face.
12 swords clashed, and the battle began.........
()&@#*&$@)_&$)_(@&*$_@*(#@#&(#@)&)_$@&_@#(_#@&#@_(*)#@
Well, I hoped you enjoyed it! Keep watch for the next, and probably final part!
Please review!