Highland Rebellion

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

It flew like a brushfire from person to person, house to house, village to village, city to city, region to region, country to country. The words flared up from the island countries of the south, to Harmonia in the north. Grassland and Zexen, Phalena and Duwaine, Kanakan and the Nameless Countries, all knew it: Gregminster had fallen. Of course, that didn't mean that the Toran Republic was conquered, in fact it was far from it. Already, attack forces of Elves, Kobolds, and even a few Dwarves were going north. Naval forces were being mustered in Shasarazade and Kirov. A legion of warriors was prepared to leave the Warrior's Village. Cavalry was embarking from Moravia and Pannu Yakuta was sending an army of its own. Whoever those armies that claimed to be Highland were, they will be in for quite a surprise when they find the rest of Toran knocking.

At least, that's what Lepant hoped.

"Of course that is what will happen dear. Do you think the rest of the country would submit meekly?" Eileen said to Lepant.

"With me being held ransom they won't move their armies, you know that Eileen," Lepant said. "We're stuck in this dungeon and there is no way out."

Eileen couldn't even find the courage to smile. "Lepant, don't talk that way. Maybe Gregminster is already falling, and we'll be free soon."

"Not likely, with the way they used those bloody Blink Mages like that. Face it Eileen, we don't stand a chance."

"What about the rebels outside of Gregminster? Led by Alen, Grenseal, and Lotte? What of them?" Eileen was trying her hardest now.

"Merely a rumor. How do you know the truth of it, Eileen? If you heard that Jowston, ur… Duwaine, fell, then what would you say to that? If the whole world fell to Highland? Eileen, you can't just choose which rumors to believe, because then your putting too much faith in one thing that could be totally wrong."

Eileen stared off in the distance. She rarely was this downtrodden, but Lepant couldn't help it. It only fitted his mood.

Eileen whipped around. She was smiling again. "Lepant, I can get us out! Just listen to me!"

Eileen quickly told Lepant her plan.

For the first time in a long while, Lepant smiled. "Leave it to me, Eileen."

* * * * * * * * * *

Flik was astonished. He would have never expected to see a soldier in that kind of uniform again, ever. But the blue and white of Highland was in his vision and wasn't going away.

"C'mon, we're just travelers," Viktor said.

"I don't care if you're High Priest Sasarai, I'm not letting you in," the guard said.

Highland's tactics must have been brilliant. With Gregminster gone, Highland's army cut through what was left of the northern forces. In a short amount of time, Moravia had fallen, and Kirov wasn't too far behind. Highland hadn't picked any fights with Shasarazade, but it was only a matter of time before the naval superpower and that army got into a fight. Whoever led Highland had to be a genius, but all the logical choices were accounted for. Shu was in Radat, Apple somewhere in what was Highland, Klaus was training under Shu, plus those people wouldn't fight for Highland anyhow. Leon was recently heard in Kanakan, and that did it in for all the strategists. Unless there was a new strategist. Flik shuddered.

"Plea-ease," Viktor pleaded.

"No-o," the guard replied.

"Why not?" Flik demanded.

"It's not my law, but General Rowd isn't allowing anyone in or out of his holdings in Toran," the guard said.

Viktor's jaw dropped.

Flik stood still, in mute shock.

"You mean, Rowd from Kyaro, leader of the Unicorn Brigade?" Viktor croaked.

"One and the same," the guard said, looking at Flik and Viktor askance.

Flik and Viktor burst out laughing.

The guard's eyes narrowed. "And what is so funny about that?"

The two laughed more.

"Okay, wise guys, you're under arrest in the name of Highland!" The guard blew a whistle and drew a sword. Highland guards came out from the guard tower.

Viktor still chuckled as he drew out the Star Dragon Sword.

Flik grimaced and pulled out Odessa++.

The two charged into battle.

* * * * * * * * *

The cave was slimy, wet, treacherous, and not fun.

Futch was using Sigurd more as a walking stick, than spear. Koyu plowed ahead, and Millie brought up the rear. Yuzu was just in front of Futch. Yuzu's light frame made even this hazardous terrain easy for her. Millie however was lagging partly due to her inability at climbing, and partly because she stayed back with Bonaparte. The obese animal was simply waddling along and taking its time. Seeing those two made Futch miss Bright, but the dragon had to stay outside, it was much too big for the small passages in the cave.

Koyu finally stopped and waited.

After catching up Futch asked, "So I thought you were on Border Duty. How were you allowed to leave your post and come here?"

Koyu grinned, "Shift change. Even if I was still on duty, I would have left my post. This is too good to miss."

Futch stared at Koyu, "But then anybody could have gotten in while you were gone!"

Koyu considered. "Oops! I didn't think of that one!"

Millie came up. Her once clean blue skirt was now wet and brown with cave mud. "Can we… take… a breather… I'm… exhausted." She collapsed in an ungainly sprawl.

"I'm just warming up!" Koyu exclaimed and took off in the cave again.

Futch wearily pulled himself up and began to walk again. He was about to turn the corner when Koyu came back around. Futch almost fell over. Yuzu ran into Futch and then he did fall over. Millie came up last and asked irately, "What is it?"

"There's a lot of creepy things beyond here. They have four arms, that almost act like legs, and it has three skulls with eyes that roll around all crazy-like."

Millie paled.

"What is it?" Futch asked.

"Well, in the period of time where Flik and Viktor fled to South Window, they learned about disappearances near North Window. Viktor, Nanami, Riou and some others went to check it out. What they found was Neclord. But instead of killing him there, they fought one of Neclord's minions: the Abomination. Apparently it wasn't 'the' Abomination, rather 'an' Abomination," Millie concluded.

"Yeah, yeah, tell that stuff to Marlowe, I don't care what it is now, but it'll soon be dead, let's go!" Koyu tossed his axe, turned, and dashed down the tunnel. Futch followed as best as he could, with Millie in the rear. Futch just hoped he wasn't biting off more than he could chew…