Riku: Hi! Ok... so, here's the next chapter! You finally get to see Marth and Roy in the same scene, yeah! ^_^
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The sun peeked behind the mountains, the sky thick with fog as Marth and his troops traveled by horseback across the muddy plains. The sky was dull and gloomy, carrying a feeling of death in the air. Marth could see the Barrier ahead, it's dark, gray walls lifting from the horizon as they advanced.
Altea Gate was only about a hundred miles from the area of the last battle. If they were going to attack Pharae straight on, the only way through without a confrontation was Altea's gateway. However, Marth suspected treachery among his troops, which could obstruct the objective.
"Prince Marth," Someone called from behind. A man on horseback hurried to Marth's side. "Lieutenant Akuma requests that we withdraw, my lord."
"Akuma is a backstabbing coward," Marth snapped.
A low horn bellowed from atop the Barrier as Marth and his men approached the gate. The massive gate gradually creaked open, leading the way to the other side. Marth gazed up with his head back, examining the dark walls as they made their way through the gateway. He couldn't imagine any greater thing than this ominous wall, that cut the world in half.
Marth looked ahead. He could already make out the silhouette of the Pharae forts, towering over the trees of the forest. They would be arrive soon, but a horrible feeling crept over him as they ventured further into the depths of the forest.
* * *
Deadly silence filled the forest with dread as Marth gazed around the forest uneasily. They were near the forts, yet nothing approached them or challenged their arrival. Marth's stomach jerked nervously as they continued through the gloomy woods. Something wasn't right.
A clearing dwelled ahead and they slowly exited the thick forest, into a grassy valley. Marth looked around alertly, but there was nothing.
"There's no one here..." Someone whispered.
Marth hopped off his horse and walked further into the clearing, looking around guardedly. He blocked the sun's rays with his hand as he peered into the sky.
It happened all too quickly. Hundreds of soldiers leapt from the forest all around them, attacking the unsuspecting soldiers on horseback.
Marth glanced at his troops alertly, "Stand by!" He gestured with his hand to stay back. An enemy had taken Marth by surprise and knocked him to the ground. Marth stumbled to his feet, sword at hand, and glared at the fighter. His head was bleeding as he charged forward with his sword held high. The sword sliced through his enemy's flesh. Marth jerked the blade from the bloody corpse.
Another approached him and slashed forward, wielding a giant sword. Marth blocked the first and hurdled backwards to dodge the second. He glanced back at the others on horseback, "Head back! Regroup!" As the others fled, Marth blocked another blow from the enemy and swayed to the side. He had to find a path out, in hopes of regaining ground so that he could fight.
Marth was distracted as a stretching hum echoed throughout the forest and he veered around his opponent as a glowing streak of crimson flashed before his eyes. Suddenly, a sharp pain struck his head and he hit the ground, falling into blackness.
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They were fighting for freedom. Fighting was the only resolution to this tyranny. To achieve peace and harmony among opposing countries meant war and the slaying of innocent people.
Roy lifted his sword, his expression enraged as he thrust the blade forward into his opponent. Blood sprayed across his face as he wrenched the sword from his foes inert body.
Roy, breathing heavily, swayed to the left in hopes of finding more prey. His army had ambushed the enemy after careful planning. They used the advantage of knowing the land, and they were winning.
Another foe had reached Roy and their swords clashed. The other shoved Roy against his own sword and Roy stumbled backwards. A downward slope lay behind him and Roy tried to keep his balance on the edge fearfully. The enemy charged forward, but Roy met his sword again, his right foot digging into the ground as he tried not to be forced off the edge.
Roy's eyes glowed red, flames flashing in the irises. Roy pushed forward against his foe's sword as sparks of crimson flittered around him. He let out a roar as fire spread around the two and the other was flung backwards into a tree.
As the flames died down, Roy gasped for air, limping with his blade working as a cane rather than a weapon. He abruptly looked up as he heard a stretching sound echo throughout the forest. He gasped as a magical streak of crimson shot forward, striking Roy against his chest plate. Roy fell backwards, his sword flying further than him. He plunged to the bottom, rebounding against trees and boulders and gaping up at the edge of the cliff distressfully. Roy tumbled further into the underbrush, where he blacked out, fading into unconsciousness.
* * *
The soft music of the birds and gentle running of the river woke Marth, his head aching. He sat up and peered around slowly, for the sharp pain in his head panged if he moved too quickly. His mind drifted to the battle, but he couldn't remember much. He couldn't remember how he got here.
He staggered to his feet, holding his head in agony. He reached for his sword, but it wasn't in its sheath. His chest wrenched agonizingly and he placed a hand over his chest plate. He slid the chest plate off as he stumbled through the forest, his senses broken into little fragments of reality.
Marth jumped, slightly delayed, as he heard a low moaning. He stepped back warily and looked around. A small figure lay among the thick underbrush, moving slightly. Marth stumbled to the body and gazed down at a young boy with auburn hair matted with blood.
The young boy's breath was shallow as Marth leaned in closer. Blood stained the boy's shirt and was still trickling from a large wound on his chest. Marth impulsively reached forward and placed a hand on the boy's cheek. His skin was soft and warm with life.
Marth's cheeks flushed red and he pulled his hand away diffidently. He swallowed nervously, blinking in interest, as he gazed at the young boy. The boy was certainly handsome, even in his tainted condition. He glanced around for clues or something, anything that could help. He couldn't just leave the boy there alone.
"Damn, my head hurts..."
* * *
The flickering of a fire sounded in Roy's ears. He kept his eyes closed, afraid to open them because of a sense of unexplained dread from the pain in his chest. He was surprised to be alive and frightened of the possible consequences.
With a surge of courage, Roy opened his eyes slowly and gazed wearily into the sky. Suddenly, a young man was above him, looking down at him curiously with cerulean eyes, his blue hair hanging in front of his face sloppily. They blinked at each other curiously, too surprised to actually move.
Roy quailed, yelping in surprise, and the other did the same. Roy subsided, as the pain in his chest wrenched glaringly. The other youth fell backwards into the grass and peered at him uneasily. The two blinked in awkward silence.
Roy noticed, as he glanced down at himself, that he was wearing just his pants and a dark blue cape, that was wrapped around his wound. However, this cape wasn't his, for his crimson cloak was in a bundle at his side.
"You shouldn't move," The other said, lifting himself to his knees. His gaze was resolute, the blue eyes looking down at him intently.
"... Who are you?" Roy asked uneasily.
The other stared at the fire and Roy watched him fixedly. Roy turned to look at the ground and closed his eyes guiltily.
"Arigatou..." Roy uttered. "... for saving my life."
The other looked back at the boy, taken by surprise, as he hadn't heard kindness for quite a while. He gazed at the boy, whose red hair covered his face messily.
"Marth..."
Roy peered up at him in confusion.
"My name... it's Marth."
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Riku: I know, I know… it just ended right when it could've gotten good! Hehe, I did that on purpose! ^_~