Highland Rebellion
Disclaimer: I don't own Suikoden, Suikoden II, or any of their characters, period.
"Are you sure that's going to work?" Lepant asked.
"Of course, Meg taught me," Eileen replied.
"You mean that girl that was really, really young?" Lepant asked.
"Yeah… Lepant, she was an experienced trickster," Eileen said.
"That was seven years old, or something," Lepant said.
"Ten years, now eighteen," Eileen corrected.
Lepant spoke up, "Eileen, I starting to get a bad feeling about this. You've been trying to pick that lock for nearly twenty minutes. What if a guard came in now? Maybe we should stop. Eileen? Eileen, are you listening? We ought to stop, I don't think you can pick the lock. Just stop Eileen."
"Stop being such a fuss," Eileen scolded as she stood up. The door silently opened.
"Okay remember, you have to ambush the guard," Eileen said.
"I haven't forgotten you know," Lepant said.
"Good," Eileen said.
Then footsteps echoed down into the small dungeon they occupied.
"Three… two… one…" Eileen counted.
Lepant jumped out. The guard didn't even have a chance to react. Lepant pushed the tray of food into the guard's face. He fell back. Lepant raised his boot high and smashed it into his face. The guard wouldn't be waking up for a long while, if at all. Lepant didn't even check for life signs as he knelt down and unbuckled the sword belt on the guard. He strapped it across, but it felt wrong somehow… "Too light," Lepant grumbled.
"Come on, we have to go," Eileen said.
Lepant charged ahead.
Eileen shook her head. "Boys with sharp objects…" she muttered and took off after her husband.
*********
Victor and Flik stared at the walls.
"Big, eh?" Victor asked.
"Taller than I remembered," Flik said.
"Well, if the wall's too high to climb, then tunnel a way in," Victor replied. "Okay, blue-boy, let'er rip!"
Flik sighed and held up his right hand. Lightning began to shoot out in erratic lines. It all zapped the same spots on the wall, and soon stone, mortar, and other debris was flying everywhere. After a good fifteen seconds, Highland finally began to shoot down arrows. Victor laughed as the arrows were all severely off.
"That's what ya get for not lettin' your eyes get adjusted to the dark!" Victor exclaimed.
Flik muttered something and a large blue bolt leapt out and finished the job of chiseling and then some.
"The Star Dragon Sword would've loved this," Victor said. "Too bad I stuck him in that cave again."
"I don't think that was a wise decision," Flik unsheathed Odessa++.
Victor charged in. Flik once again shook his head but followed anyway.
*********
Yuzu was a mess. She hadn't stopped crying, and wouldn't even talk. The same was true of Bright. As soon as he knew that Futch wasn't coming, he had curled up on the ground and let out soft, mournful cries.
"Poor girl," Mazus said.
"It is natural, but a sign of weakness as well," Genshu said.
Even Genshu couldn't dodge the stone Yuzu threw. He reeled around off balance, but regained his composure quickly.
"Good one," Mazus said.
"GRRRROOOAAAAN!" Abizboah agreed.
Yuzu just cried harder.
"What spirit," Genshu murmured. His sword flew out of its sheath and he deflected Yuzu's next stone. "I do not wish to fight you." He deflected another flying rock.
Yuzu screamed.
Mazus whipped around and saw the ground beneath Yuzu trembling. "What the…?" he trailed off.
Yuzu leapt aside. Suddenly her face changed to a look of pure happiness.
"I do not understand," Genshu stated.
"…Bonaparte…" Yuzu simply said.
Genshu still looked uncomprehending, but Mazus had figured it out now.
The ground finally finished heaving and Bonaparte crawled out. He opened his mouth, and a badly wounded Millie, Koyu, and Futch tumbled out.
Yuzu squealed in delight.
"Ugh," Koyu said. He was the only one moving. He looked around. When he realized he was in a huge mouth, he jumped out as fast as he could. Realization dawned on him and he said, "You are good for something, aren't you?"
Bonaparte just sat there. Genshu rushed forward and pulled out Millie, while Mazus and Yuzu pulled out Futch.
The next thing Koyu knew, he was being hugged. "You're alive!" Yuzu exclaimed. She hugged Koyu a little longer, then pecked him on the cheek. She jumped up and ran over to Futch, who was now coming around. Koyu could only rub his cheek in astonishment.
"Futch is alive!" Yuzu stated. She then rushed over to Millie.
"Oh no!" Yuzu stared in horror at the wound covering Millie's body. She looked up. "Can anyone do anything?"
Mazus pulled out a medicine. "It's all I have." He knelt down and began to apply it to her wounds. Slowly, her wounds faded. The major ones were lessened, but the minor scrapes and cuts had vanished.
"I don't know if the girl will make it," Mazus said.
*********
Alen yawned tiredly. It was tough, ranging out on patrols and defending camps and such, but it was his duty.
Duty…
He yawned again. He was too tired to ponder such a thing right now. His fellow comrade-in-arms, Grenseal snickered.
"Does the little baby need some sleep?"
"Oh lay off, I know you are tired as well," Alen shot back.
"Tough day?" Grenseal asked.
"Tough life," Alen said. "I never expected this, you know, when I was knighted and everything. I always thought it was about noble deeds and heroic exploits."
"Well, I was born into knighthood, so I kind of knew what to expect," Grenseal said.
"Yeah, well I thought it was a dream come true for me, being born in a poor family and all," Alen said.
Grenseal looked at Alen sideways. "And it wasn't? C'mon so you work a little. You get to be the person people look up to. People want to be like you, become honorable knights and defend the kingdom. If a little fatigue is the cost, then I would gladly do it, to inspire the people to fight for what they believe in. Alen, it's not about the fanfare and decorations. Its about the honor and chivalry of being a knight. It is a beacon of hope for the people, and if you show them that you can no longer bear the burden, they lose heart, but when you rise to the occasion, they are inspired and follow you. It is our duty to show them true spirit and that they too can make a difference."
"Thank you , my friend," Alen said.
Just then, a soldier ran into their tent. Grenseal raised an eyebrow at the soldier's lack of courtesy but let him talk.
"Sir Alen, Sir Grenseal, Gregminster is under attack!"
"So much for peace and quiet," Grenseal stood up.