Highland Rebellion

Disclaimer: I don't own Suikoden, Suikoden II, or any of their characters, period.

Author Note: This takes place 5 years after the war with Highland. If Suikoden III presents any inaccuracies with my

story, please don't nag me.

"Lord Shu…"

No answer.

"Umm… Lord Shu?"

Still no answer.

"It's important Lord Shu…"

No reply.

"Umm… Shu?"

Shu looked up. "Yes."

The young boy that had been continually addressing him fidgeted.

"Well out with it, boy!" Shu exclaimed.

"Lord Shu…"

"Don't call me that," Shu said.

"Uhh… Shu… Gregminster has fallen…"

Shu's eyes widened. "Who? Who could do such a thing?"

The boy swallowed nervously. "…Highland…"

* * * * * * * * * * *

"GROOOOOOAAAAN!"

"Oh do be quiet," Mazus snapped at Abizboah.

"GROOOOOOAAAAN!"

"Honestly! How should I concentrate with you… creaking like that!"

"GROOOOOOAAAAN!"

"Just because Crowley bested me, it doesn't mean that I can't shut you up," Mazus growled.

Abizboah suddenly whipped around. Right behind Mazus was a massive army of undead. Abizboah's tentacles lashed out furiously and began to pummel zombies.

"What the…" Mazus said. He had only seen worse when Neclord's armies marched through. This could be bad…

"Out of the way, Kraken! It's my turn!" Lightning began to crackle around Mazus as he entered the battle.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"Two rooms. One for me, one for the ladies," Futch said.

"200 potch," the innkeeper said.

Futch forked over the amount and said, "Okay, let's get some sleep."

"Okay," Yuzu said happily.

"Bonaparte is getting anxious," Millie said. She was petting the overweight mammal.

"That thing has feelings?" the innkeeper asked in disbelief.

Millie's glare quieted him.

"Maybe he's hungry," Futch said.

Then the ground trembled.

A young boy, a local by the looks of him, ran in. His face was flushed and he looked out of breath. "To the southeast! It's beautiful! A thunderstorm like I've never seen before!"

The ground shook again.

"Let's go see!" Yuzu squealed.

"This isn't good," Futch said, as the earth shook again.

The trio went out of the small inn. Just like the boy had said, thunder was arcing off in the southeast. But it was definitely not a thunderstorm, unless you were talking about the rune spell. All the lightning was focused in one area: the collapsed mine tunnel southeast of Tinto. Blue bolts shot across the landscape, igniting small fires across the dry brush on the mountainside. Even from here, Futch could see the smoke.

"That isn't good," Millie reiterated.

"There are only two people I know that could cause that: And one's in the Toran Republic. That must be Mazus!" Futch exclaimed.

"That creepy old man?" Millie said. "He's just… well… creepy."

"Well, creepy or not, it has to take a lot to cause that!" Futch said.

"Finally, a real adventure!" Millie said.

"You're starting to sound like Meg," Futch grumbled. "But let's go!"

"Uhh… what does Yuzu do?" Yuzu asked.

"Come with us, of course," Millie said, twirling her High Boomerang.

"Yay! Yuzu gets to come!" Yuzu said, delighted.

"Why did you think you couldn't?" Futch asked.

"Well, Yuzu can't fight, so Yuzu thought she would have to stay here," Yuzu said dejectedly.

"It's okay, just stay behind us," Futch said.

"Okay," Yuzu said.

The group set off to the south. Not counting the unruly skeleton, there wasn't much in the way of excitement on the way to the mine. Upon arrival, the first thing Futch noticed was that they weren't alone.

"Hey guys!" Koyu waved.

"Oh… hi," Millie said.

"Hey, forget about earlier," Koyu said, his easy-going grin plastered on his face. "Some light show, huh?"

"Uhh… yeah," Futch said.

"Hey, I'll bet that whatever's causing that is a real troublemaker! How about we take it on. We can do it," Koyu suggested.

"Well, I dunno," Millie said skeptically.

"Then I'm goin' solo," Koyu said. He twirled his One-handed Greataxe and began to walk in.

"Hey, I'll come along too," Futch said spinning Sigurd.

"Hey I'm not staying out here alone!" Millie exclaimed.

"Of course not," Koyu said smugly.

Millie glared at him.

"Yuzu goes in too!" Yuzu exclaimed.

"Two lovely ladies, both coming in with us, what do you think of that, eh Futch?" Koyu asked.

"I think we should take care of whatever is in there and then get some sleep," Futch replied.

"Good philosophy," said Koyu, rubbing his chin.

"Well are we going to chatter all day, or go in?" Millie asked.

With those last words, the group plunged into the darkness.