Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch
While Bit, Leena, and Harry were trying to escape the emperor's clutches, the others were back at the rebellion base. Everyone figured the duo had been caught - - although no one had seen the annoying pest running through the sewers. So they had been planning their rescue mission.
"With this many soldiers, we can run right through the front gate," exclaimed Julianna, "Trust me, it's the only way to save our friends."
"Finally, some real action," said a starry eyed Fara. But then Jamie gave her the look, and she stuck her tongue out at him.
Stoller told the warriors, "It's settled then, we leave immediately and march on the Imperial Castle. Hopefully, we're not to late. . ."
* * *
It wasn't too much longer before they had arrived at the castle. No one much cared to mess with several dozen armed soldiers, so even the die- hard fanatics were hiding in their houses. That was just fine with Naomi. She didn't much feel like hurting civilians if it could be helped.
But at the castle, there stood a sizeable amount of soldiers. They had just found out that the three prisoners had picked the lock on their cell and had escaped. Not wanting the two groups to unite, they had prepared a search for the trio. Of course, no one had counted on running into the other warriors and the rebel forces at once.
"Charge men and women of the resistance!" screamed out Stoller. At once, the fighting began with neither side showing any hope of giving in.
* * *
"Oh Bit," whispered Leena, "Do you really mean it?" But Bit's gentle smile and loving embrace had already told her everything she needed to know. It was at that moment that he pulled her close and gave her the kiss she had been longing for.
But the romantic mood was broken when Harry began yelling, "How dare you take my girl away from me you filthy swine. Fight me Bit, we'll see whose worthy of Leena's love and affection. I hope you know, this time I won't lose."
Leena knocked him over the head with Selena. Then she began to drag him through the tunnel. "Challenge Bit on your own time, not when we're neck deep in the enemy's stronghold. Jeez, I guess his intelligence level is even lower than I thought initially." They continued on their path, and soon arrived at the hidden exit to the sewers.
* * *
Meanwhile, the fighting was going on back at the castle. Soldiers from both sides lay wounded and dying. But luckily, Jamie and Fara were experts at healing magic - - elves were trained in powerful magic since birth. So most of the rebel soldiers were going to survive even the heaviest wounds.
One of those hurt was Leon. He had received a pike to the soft part of his chest where his armor offered no protection. Surprisingly, the first person on hand wasn't one of the elves, but Julianna. Leon was amazed that the Berserker even took five seconds out of a battle - - since that was the favorite activity of her race - - let alone tend to his wounds.
"Leon, please. . ." she begged, "I couldn't stand it if something happens to you." Leon's eyes opened wide. Was the young woman who'd showed such reluctance to their quest and company now worrying over his own safety. "Julie, I didn't know you cared. Don't worry, I've had worse in my life, and I'm still here, ain't I?" he told her.
While Leon was having his tender moment with Julianna, Brad and Naomi were fighting the enemy in another area by the castle. The duo moved like lightning, and even the Lightning Squad was sitting up and taking notice. Everyone noticed that they always seemed to stick together whenever there was a fight in progress. The few people closest to the two had already figured out the reason why, at least most of the reason.
"I couldn't believe it was you when we found you by the gates of my village," commented Naomi, "I haven't even had the chance to thank you for what you did for me last year without the others overhearing our conversation."
"Why are you thanking me now, we still can be overheard here?" inquired Brad.
Naomi answered, "We may lose our lives on the battlefield today, and I wanted to tell you in case that happened. I've loved you ever since you saved my life when I fell in the rapids. It's because of you I became a mercenary, because of my hope to see you again."
Brad smiled. "I love you too, Naomi. Don't worry, we'll make it through this battle alive. And then, we can be together forever."
Maybe they would have kissed then, if they hadn't been fighting an entire army at the moment. But neither very much felt like dying at the moment. Instead, they turned their attention back to the battle in progress, and killed a few more guards.
Both sides continued their relentless attack. More were wounded, and Jamie and Fara were practically at their limit for their magic. They were being given several bottles of Magi Cola, a drink that could restore MP to the user. But if the rebel's supply ran out, they would be in so deep, it would take an army of search and rescue dogs to dig them out.
At that moment, the entrance to the sewers began to shake a bit. Leon turned his attention towards it as it began to open. Out came Bit, Leena, and a still very dazed Harry. They - - well, Bit and Leena at least - - looked ready and raring to go and tackle the emperor.
"Need some help you guys?" asked Bit.
"The more the merrier," replied Pierce, "We must attain victory or the world will be doomed to annihilation at the hands of the demon."
- - - -
I was originally going to have someone standing on the manhole cover and be thrown off when Leena and Bit opened it, but then I remembered that Harry was with them, and I had no other expendable force to put on top of it. Lots of fluff added to the battle scene in this one. I've always noticed that danger seems to bring out romance in not just games, but anime and movies too.
While Bit, Leena, and Harry were trying to escape the emperor's clutches, the others were back at the rebellion base. Everyone figured the duo had been caught - - although no one had seen the annoying pest running through the sewers. So they had been planning their rescue mission.
"With this many soldiers, we can run right through the front gate," exclaimed Julianna, "Trust me, it's the only way to save our friends."
"Finally, some real action," said a starry eyed Fara. But then Jamie gave her the look, and she stuck her tongue out at him.
Stoller told the warriors, "It's settled then, we leave immediately and march on the Imperial Castle. Hopefully, we're not to late. . ."
* * *
It wasn't too much longer before they had arrived at the castle. No one much cared to mess with several dozen armed soldiers, so even the die- hard fanatics were hiding in their houses. That was just fine with Naomi. She didn't much feel like hurting civilians if it could be helped.
But at the castle, there stood a sizeable amount of soldiers. They had just found out that the three prisoners had picked the lock on their cell and had escaped. Not wanting the two groups to unite, they had prepared a search for the trio. Of course, no one had counted on running into the other warriors and the rebel forces at once.
"Charge men and women of the resistance!" screamed out Stoller. At once, the fighting began with neither side showing any hope of giving in.
* * *
"Oh Bit," whispered Leena, "Do you really mean it?" But Bit's gentle smile and loving embrace had already told her everything she needed to know. It was at that moment that he pulled her close and gave her the kiss she had been longing for.
But the romantic mood was broken when Harry began yelling, "How dare you take my girl away from me you filthy swine. Fight me Bit, we'll see whose worthy of Leena's love and affection. I hope you know, this time I won't lose."
Leena knocked him over the head with Selena. Then she began to drag him through the tunnel. "Challenge Bit on your own time, not when we're neck deep in the enemy's stronghold. Jeez, I guess his intelligence level is even lower than I thought initially." They continued on their path, and soon arrived at the hidden exit to the sewers.
* * *
Meanwhile, the fighting was going on back at the castle. Soldiers from both sides lay wounded and dying. But luckily, Jamie and Fara were experts at healing magic - - elves were trained in powerful magic since birth. So most of the rebel soldiers were going to survive even the heaviest wounds.
One of those hurt was Leon. He had received a pike to the soft part of his chest where his armor offered no protection. Surprisingly, the first person on hand wasn't one of the elves, but Julianna. Leon was amazed that the Berserker even took five seconds out of a battle - - since that was the favorite activity of her race - - let alone tend to his wounds.
"Leon, please. . ." she begged, "I couldn't stand it if something happens to you." Leon's eyes opened wide. Was the young woman who'd showed such reluctance to their quest and company now worrying over his own safety. "Julie, I didn't know you cared. Don't worry, I've had worse in my life, and I'm still here, ain't I?" he told her.
While Leon was having his tender moment with Julianna, Brad and Naomi were fighting the enemy in another area by the castle. The duo moved like lightning, and even the Lightning Squad was sitting up and taking notice. Everyone noticed that they always seemed to stick together whenever there was a fight in progress. The few people closest to the two had already figured out the reason why, at least most of the reason.
"I couldn't believe it was you when we found you by the gates of my village," commented Naomi, "I haven't even had the chance to thank you for what you did for me last year without the others overhearing our conversation."
"Why are you thanking me now, we still can be overheard here?" inquired Brad.
Naomi answered, "We may lose our lives on the battlefield today, and I wanted to tell you in case that happened. I've loved you ever since you saved my life when I fell in the rapids. It's because of you I became a mercenary, because of my hope to see you again."
Brad smiled. "I love you too, Naomi. Don't worry, we'll make it through this battle alive. And then, we can be together forever."
Maybe they would have kissed then, if they hadn't been fighting an entire army at the moment. But neither very much felt like dying at the moment. Instead, they turned their attention back to the battle in progress, and killed a few more guards.
Both sides continued their relentless attack. More were wounded, and Jamie and Fara were practically at their limit for their magic. They were being given several bottles of Magi Cola, a drink that could restore MP to the user. But if the rebel's supply ran out, they would be in so deep, it would take an army of search and rescue dogs to dig them out.
At that moment, the entrance to the sewers began to shake a bit. Leon turned his attention towards it as it began to open. Out came Bit, Leena, and a still very dazed Harry. They - - well, Bit and Leena at least - - looked ready and raring to go and tackle the emperor.
"Need some help you guys?" asked Bit.
"The more the merrier," replied Pierce, "We must attain victory or the world will be doomed to annihilation at the hands of the demon."
- - - -
I was originally going to have someone standing on the manhole cover and be thrown off when Leena and Bit opened it, but then I remembered that Harry was with them, and I had no other expendable force to put on top of it. Lots of fluff added to the battle scene in this one. I've always noticed that danger seems to bring out romance in not just games, but anime and movies too.