Authors' notes: This will probably contain spoilers for Suikoden 1, 2 and 3. So please play the games first if you don't want spoilers. And the flame champion's name will be Hikaru.

Request: Beta reader please…If anyone is interested please e-mail me. I know this is a bit selfish, but I don't want to do this alone. As some of you can tell my grammar isn't good and neither is my story structure, despite I'm a native English speaker. I'm more of a script writer, and I wish this story to look like a novel style. Thank-you.

A leaders burden

Chris and Tir continued to run through the ruin. They arrived at the Sindar ruin where a large guardian beast was waiting for them. A two headed hydra was their opponent. The head on the left was colored in red, the other had shades of blue. The creature looked at them and began to give out a warning roar.

"We should try to avoid fighting it." Tir took out his staff just incase the monster did attack them.

"How can we avoid it if we want to get to the other side."

"I don't know. I doubt a sleep spell will work on him."

Suddenly the monster turned to the left and gave out another warning roar.

"Why is it roaring in that direction." Chris asked.

"I don't think we're the only ones here."

"Whoa!" said a young familiar voice.

Chris and Tir took a peek inside the Sindar ruin to see the other entrance from the other side. Hugo, Geddoe, Queen and Fubar were on that side.

"Where did this thing come from." Hugo growled as he took out his knife and went into a fighting position.

"I don't think we're alone either." Geddoe grumbled.

They turned their head to see Chris and Tir on the other side.

"Tir! Are you two alright?" Hugo called out.

"We're alright!" Chris answered.

"If we can confuse the hydra we can defeat it without using our magic."

Geddoe nodded. "If it tries to attack us at the same time then it'll get confused on where to aim."

"Alright lets go." Hugo jumped on to Fubar and they both flew towards the monster. Fubar clawed it with his strong claws, while Hugo slashed it with his knife.

Chris started to chant and then preformed Phoenix. She charged towards the Hydra and did multiple stabs on its side.

The monster turned around to hit Chris, but Geddoe attacked it making it turn back their side. Tir used a double-beat rune and was able to strike it twice before it could counter. The monster roar and spat out Ice breath at Geddoe's party. They took the hit, but Tir and Chris did a combo. They both hit the monster at the same time with multi hits. Since, they both did equal amount of damage, Chris didn't become unbalance like she usually did with Phoenix. The Hydra monster turned back to them once more, but before it could, Queen preformed the last attack and poisoned the monster with her rune. The monster moaned and collapsed on the floor, when it fell to the floor and started to disappear.

Chris looked up at the others. "I'm glad that you're alright."

"We're fine." Hugo said getting off Fubar. "I didn't really expect to see you two together though." Hugo smiled at Tir and a blushing Chris.

"Do be quiet." Chris snapped while blushing.

"The important thing is everyone is alright." Tir said shaking his head. "I didn't mean for this to get this far."

"Queen…" Geddoe whispered.

Queen nodded and grabbed Hugo from behind.

"Queen! What are you doing?" Hugo struggled to get out of her grip, but Queen twisted his arm and held her sword against his neck.

"Don't move." she whispered. "Otherwise I'll really kill you."

"What the hell you doing?" Hugo demanded and struggled. "Let go."

"Geddoe!" Chris cried. "You can't be."

Fubar was about to pounce on Queen, but Queen gave Fubar a look that she would kill him if he dared make a move on her.

Tir stood there looking straight at Geddoe's one eye. The two stood there like statues, never leaving one's glare. They continued to stare into each other until Geddoe made his move.

"What do you plan to do with the True Wind Rune."

Tir gave him an emotionless stare and then glanced at Hugo. "If I tell you, you'll let him go?"

Geddoe looked at Hugo and then back at Tir shaking his head. "He's just insurance for now. Tell me. Why did you steal the True Wind Rune. If you have a reason, then say it."

"Geddoe! Stop it!" Chris said growling at him. "This is wrong. You can't use hostages."

"We're mercenaries, not knights."

Chris gritted her teeth for even thinking of such a man as a friend.

Geddoe continued to stare at Tir's eyes who was merely standing there like an emotionless figure. "Fine, how about a duel." Tir said holding his staff in front of him. "If I win, you let us go. You win, I'll give you the rune and tell you my reasons."

"Tir don't do it!" Hugo yelled, while still trying struggle out of Queen's grip.

"Tir, you stayed up all night." Chris whispered to him. "You can't take him on. Geddoe is strong."

"Its alright." Tir said with a serious face. "I don't think he'll actually hurt Hugo."

"What makes you so sure."

"He reminds me of someone I met a long time ago."

Geddoe smirked and took out his sword. "You got guts kid. I accept."

"Please stand aside." Tir swirled his staff and positioned it behind him. Chris stood back as the two men got ready to fight.

The first part of the duel, Tir and Geddoe both kept blocking incase the other attacked first. Then Tir attacked Geddoe while was blocking. Geddoe then attacked Tir and Tir did wild attack on taking more health points (hp). Geddoe attacked again, but this time Tir blocked and let his staff take some of the hit. Tir tried wild attack again, but Geddoe blocked and countered. It was hard to tell what each of them would do since they never said anything before or after they attacked blocked. Geddoe seemed to be winning though. Then Geddoe decided to end this with another attack. Tir risked this and let himself take the hit, but did a Wild attack and knocked Geddoe to the floor.

Geddoe was kneeling on the floor and he looked up at Tir who was panting and equally tired. "I lost." a small smile crossed Geddoe's face which was a rare occasion. "I see you're determined to go through what you have planned all the way through then."

Tir smiled back and nodded. "You're a good match."

Queen let go of Hugo and Hugo jumped away from her, he then turned to Tir and smiled. Tir nodded and helped Geddoe to his feet. When Tir pulled him up, Geddoe looked at Tir in the eye. He saw the determination in Tir's eyes about completing his mission.

"What is it that you want to do?" Geddoe asked Tir once more.

Tir merely smiled kindly and said, "For you to trust me."

"Its hard to trust when you don't know what is at stake."

"I know. All I can tell you is that I want to break our curse."

"Curse?"

"What kind of curse would that be?" asked a soft voice. They all turned around and saw Sasarai with the Harmonia army and the Zexen knights behind him. Along with a few soldiers from Budehuc castle. "Geddoe I'm glad you found them. Now confiscate the wind rune." Sasarai smiled.

Hugo got in front of Tir as well as Fubar. "Tir! Get out of here!"

"What? I can't leave you two." Tir protested.

"You have no choice. We'll hold them off."

"Why are you protecting him." Sasarai growled.

"Because I believe in Tir. That's enough for me to protect him."

"You don't stand a chance." Sasarai shaking his head. "Just get out of the way and no harm will come to you."

"I won't let you." Geddoe frowned.

"What?" Sasarai said in shock.

Geddoe took out a small bag and tossed it in front of Sasarai. "Keep your money, since I'm protecting Lord Mcdohl, I can no longer accept it."

"Why…" Sasarai asked shaking his head.

"Everyone attack." Borus cried. The Zexen knights charged towards them.

"Lady Chris, get out of the way. We've come to rescue you." Louis shouted.

Chris shook her head. "Wait!"

Her knights didn't listen. They started to fight against Hugo and Geddoe.

"Tir, please go." Hugo shouted at him. "We can't be caught like this."

Tir gritted his teeth and nodded. He didn't want to leave them, but he felt that he had no choice. He ran into the ruin and yelled, "If you die there, I'll never forgive you."

Hugo nodded and smiled at him. "I don't plan on dying today. Geddoe, lets go."

Geddoe smiled and drew his sword in front of the men.

"I didn't think we would fight again like this." Leo frowned at Geddoe.

"We have our reasons."

Sasarai shook his head again. "Even though we fought together years ago, I won't hold back."

"That's fine." Geddoe frowned. "We won't either."

Borus attacked Hugo first. Hugo blocked the attack with his knife and jumped to counter him.

Louis in the meantime grabbed Chris' wrist and pulled her up on to his horse. "Are you alright Lady Chris. Did the thief hurt you?"

"No. I'm fine. Please stop this at once."

"Why? It is our job to arrest them for stealing the True Wind rune."

"I-I know. But…"

"I know they were our comrades from the last war, but we can't show them any mercy when they break any Zexen laws. Especially one this large."

"I know. We are the authority of Zexen."

"Come on, I'll take you back to the surface." Louis shook the lace around the horse's head and they began to gallop to the top of the hole Sasarai created.

Leo cut and slashed Fubar with his axe. Fubar fought back by using his claws and beak to hit knight. The Harmonian soldiers swung their weapons at Geddoe and Queen. Geddoe blocked while Queen dodged. Geddoe swung his sword left and right slicing through the enemy. Percival charged and used an upper cut technique with his sword to hit Geddoe. Geddoe held the place where he was bleeding and merely growled at Percival. A pile of blood began to taint the floor. Cecil looked around at the sheer horror of everyone fighting.

"Stop it." She pouted.

Sasarai looked at her and closed his eyes. "It can't be helped. They're trying to protect the thief. If we can't get through them, we have no choice."

"But…" Cecil whined.

"We won't kill them. We just need to arrest them and make them talk." Sasarai then used the Pale gate rune and summoned Pale Palace.

The Summon did some damage on Geddoe, Hugo, Queen, and Fubar. It was enough for them to actually give up.

"That's enough." Sasarai called out. Geddoe and the others could barely move. "Take them in now."

Geddoe gritted his teeth as the Harmonian men were getting closer to arrest him and Queen.

"Boss!!" Ace yelled. On top of the ruin Ace, Aila, Joker and Jacques were standing with their weapons aimed at the army. "Cover your eyes."

Aila and Jacques fired two arrows with flashers on them. When they exploded everything turned white. Sasarai covered his eyes as well as did everyone else. When the flasher cleared up, Geddoe and the others were gone.

Sasarai snarled. "What are they up to?" Sasarai frowned and waved his arm to everyone. " Search the area! Don't let them escape."

Borus looked ahead and spotted them heading towards one of the caves. "There! Charge!"

The small army continued to chase for the thieves, while Geddoe and the others were running away.

"So what took you so long." Queen frowned.

"Hey, we got lost okay." Ace said rubbing his head.

"We wouldn't have gotten lost if you didn't lead." Joker snorted.

"Hey I got us here didn't I?"

"Guys they're coming." Aila growled and turned around. She took an arrow from her back and aimed it at the men.

The arrow men got their bows ready and fired on Geddoe and his group.

"If they want a fight so badly, lets give them one." Ace growled.

"I'm with you." Hugo nodded and ran towards the enemy.

Geddoe sighed and took out his sword. The continued to battle everyone that came into the cave. One by one the men came into the cave and fought their hearts contents. Aila and Jacques preformed Heaven's rain. While Ace and Joker did mercenary attack. Even though the soldiers were much weaker, they were eventually getting tired from the amount of fighting. Fight after Fight after fight, it seemed almost endless.

Joker began to pant heavily. "You know. This is starting to remind me of Senai Mountain."

"That's what I was thinking of too." Ace huffed.

"There's still more coming, Geddoe!" Queen called.

"Lets continue to run." Geddoe place his sword back into its cover and began to run in the opposite direction.

"Oh yeah, this is different from the time at Senai Mountain." Ace still panted while they ran.

"We got them!" Borus said. Borus and the rest of the knights came in just in time to see the whole group tired from all the fighting. "Give up now."

"We have no choice." Ace said hunching over and breath heavily.

"No way." Hugo said. "I won't turn myself over, especially to the likes of them."

"Always a stubborn barbarian." Borus frowned.

Aila snarled at him. "At least we don't go raiding dead people's corpses."

"That's not for us to decide." Leo said shaking his head.

"That's right. You're Zexen's dogs." Hugo hissed.

"What did you say?" Leo growled.

"Surrender now." Percival said calmly. "We just want the rune back. We don't want to fight."

Hugo shook his head.

"Listen…" Borus drew out his sword and was about to attack when he heard a strange swirling sound. A strange dark glow started to surround the area. "What's that?" The glow grew larger and larger, soon everything became black.

When Hugo and the others opened their eyes, they saw everyone was knocked down. They weren't moving either.

"This power.." Hugo shook his head when he realized who had done this. "TIR!!" he yelled.

Tir was near the entrance of the cave, staggering on his feet and clinging to the wall for support. Tir was slowly breathing and calling for Hugo. Tir fell into Hugo's arms.

"Tir! Tir!" Hugo shook Tir to make him open his eyes.

"Hugo…" Tir said weakly. "Find a boy named Thomas. He should be the castle master of Budehuc castle."

"Thomas?"

"Yes…This was Luc's…last request. No…this was what …the true rune…wants. It's already bee decided." Tir held out the wind rune and placed it into Hugo's hand. "Please go."

"No I won't leave you."

"As a friend I beg of you. There are more men coming. They'll think I'll have the rune. That should be enough time for you to hide in Budehuc castle."

"No I can't. You're my friend, and I won't let you get captured."

"You're kind. But please go. They're coming Hugo…" Tir closed his eyes and his head dropped down.

"Tir! Tir!!"

"They're in the cave. Lets hurry." Said one of the other men.

Geddoe grabbed Hugo's arm. "We have to go."

"No, I…"

"Hugo!"

"Alright." Hugo said shaking his head. "Tir hold on. Once we give the rune to Thomas we'll come rescue you."

Hugo then ran towards the others and they went farther into the cave. The tunnel became darker and darker until Ace bumped into something. Ace nearly fell to the floor.

"Ace, what happened?" Queen asked.

"I don't know…" Ace then felt the area ahead of them when he realized it was a dead end. Ace gasped. "It's a dead end."

"What should we do?" Aila asked in a worried voice.

Suddenly the rune Hugo was holding started to glow. The wind rune did a cyclone and drilled a hole through the wall to make a new tunnel. "How…?" Hugo was a bit puzzled and wondered if this was Luc's doing.

Geddoe went in first and went to the other side of the tunnel. Then the others. One by one they went through it. Fubar was a bit hard to fit. Hugo pushed Fubar into hole, but it seemed Fubar was stuck.

"Fubar, when we get back home, I'm putting you on a diet."

Then Hugo heard footsteps coming closer. Hugo pushed Fubar even harder until Fubar burst through out of the other side. Hugo dashed through the hole and then closed it with the wind rune and seal it with his fire rune.

The soldiers got to the end of the tunnel but only found a dead end.

"Where did they go?"

"They must of given us the slip again, come on, they can't be far."

The started to run in the other direction to look for the rest of the group.

Hugo sighed and looked around. "Where are we now? This place seems familiar."

"Yeah it does." Queen frowned.

"You're on the bottom floor of Budehuc castle."

Everyone turned around and saw Eike. The Librarian of Budehuc castle. He was still as the same ever. Pale skin, droopy eyes, skinny and bland taste in clothing.

"Eike." Hugo gasped. "Its nice to see you again. What are you doing here?"

"Oh I come here often to read quietly by myself. Is that the wind rune?"

Hugo drew out his knife ready to fight, while the others placed their weapons on Eike.

"This seems familiar." Eike mumbled.

Geddoe frowned. "Are you with the Zexen army?"

"No. I don't really care for them. Are you on the run from them?"

"Yeah. Did you know about it?"

"I only heard rumors. I guess Zexen wouldn't go out and say that they raid corpses out in the open. So they didn't officially announce this."

Everyone put their weapons away trusting the pale faced man.

"Then will you help us?" Hugo asked.

Eike nodded. "I received a message from Tir Mcdohl for me to meet him. But he didn't show up yesterday so I assumed it was a joke. I see why he was so secretive about it. This is for master Thomas isn't it?"

"How did you know?" Hugo was surprised that Eike even knew that Tir wanted to give it Thomas.

"Thomas seems to have a kind heart. He is suited for the wind rune, that is why I thought Tir was referring to him."

"Can you take us to Thomas then?" Queen asked.

"I can't. That would cause too much suspicion. The Zexen knights might come here since I saw Cecil leaving with them earlier."

"Fine, we'll wait here." Geddoe said folding his arms.

"There's no need for that either. Just make sure you're drawing attention to yourself. You can go around the castle as long as no Zexen soldiers see you. Its probably best if you spoke to Lord Thomas during the night time."

"We can't wait that long." Hugo protested. Eike titled his head curiously at Hugo. "Tir, Tir was taken by them. He used all his strength to save us. So we need to give this to Thomas so we can plan for Tir's rescue."

Eike shook his head. "I think Tir will be fine."

"What? He's with those iron heads. How can you say that?"

"Those iron heads are just like you. Taking orders from the people they believe in." Eike turned to the other direction and started to walking towards the elevator. "Besides, I believe Tir can take care of himself. Despite all the pain, he still stays positive. A truly admirable man."

"So you want us to leave him." Hugo growled.

"Do what you like, just be careful. I must be off. If the others look for me, they'll probably find you here." Eike went into the elevator and left them.

"Tir…I won't let him be killed like Lulu and Jimba was. I won't let another friend die." Hugo sighed to himself.

The soldiers started to come out of the hole. Borus, Percival and Leo were knocked out. Chris got off Louis' horse and ran towards them. They were knocked out cold much like she was when Tir used soul eater on her.

"Borus! Percival! Leo!" Chris frowned and turned to Roland. "What happened?"

Roland shook his head. "There was a black light. By the time our men arrived everyone was like that. To take down half an army, he must have a very powerful rune." Roland turned his head to the man who was carrying Tir.

"Tir!" Chris gasped. She felt the boy's head, but he gave no response. She felt his neck for a pulse, and was relieved when there was one. "He's okay."

"Why are you worried about him?" Louis asked. "He was the one who did this to you, Percival, Leo and Borus."

"Uh right. Sorry. I guess I was excited that he was alive that's all. We can question him back in Zexen."

"We'll come with you." Sasarai smiled softly.

"Uh there is no need for that." Chris said looking back at Sasarai and shaking her head.

"Its no trouble." Sasarai smiled kindly. "We want an answer from him too."

"Lady Chris?" Chris turned around to see Louis holding Chris' horse by its strap. "Are you ready?"

"Yes. Lets go." Chris hopped on to her white horse and they rode to Vinay del Zexay. Chris couldn't help but think, now more then ever, she wanted to be free from the binds that Zexen was holding her.