Author - TheresNoTime@aol.com
Rating - PG
Classification - adventure
Spoilers - maybe a little bit of SII. if you haven't played the games, this will probably make no sense.
Summary -The Star Dragon sword has been cursed by a strange force on an even stranger island, and not even the team of Flik and Viktor can fix the mess they're in. The two must enlist old friends to get to the bottom of the mystery - and many more twists and turns await.
Written: December 19, 2002 - ?
Dedication: To all Suikoden Fanfiction writers and readers!
Note: I hear that Suikoden IV will be based in an island setting as this is, but I don't know anything more about the new game, and this is not a spoiler of that game and I have no foreknowledge of events in it.
CHAPTER ONE:
Flik brought the boat forward through the silent sea. A heavy fog hung around him, muting the blue in his cape and bandana to silver. There were no sounds, not even of birds, as the fog pressed in on all his senses. Breathing took effort. Suddenly the sound of another oar being moved through the water reached his ears. Flik put his hand on his weapon, concealed behind his cape.
A shadowy figure appeared in the silhouette of the boat ahead, and Flik gently knocked the bottom of his own boat with his oar to alert the hidden figures within. He did not check to see if they heard, instead placing the oar on the bottom of the boat and maneuvering his body to the best ambush position he could.
The man in the other boat appeared not to see him, and Flik drifted towards the boat as it gradually drew near. It would be a tremendous battle, but Flik had come well prepared with his friends, the bodyguard Oulan, and the archer Ayda, both brought in anticipation of this moment and many more future conflicts. But for now, Flik concentrated on the task at hand, bringing his weapon to his side and at the ready...
Suddenly from above Flik came the cry of a hawk, leading the shadowy man in the boat ahead to turn around and give out a shout upon seeing Flik.
"NOW!" Flik hollered, and from the hidden foundations of the boat arose the heads of his two companions. Flik grabbed his own weapon - a bailing bucket full of the briniest, brownest lake water he could find - and dumped it all over the enraged figure in the boat before him. Immediately Flik retreated as far as he could from the now soaking wet and muddy Viktor, choking all the while on his laughter.
"But Flik," Ayda said, her bucket in hand but unused, "Where is Viktor's shipmate?"
"Look ou--" But before Flik could finish, a hand reached up from the water behind him and dragged him under. Flik could hear Viktor's laughter even while struggling below the surface of the lake. The hands released him and Flik made a break for air, reaching the top, choking, no longer on laughter but water, glaring at Viktor while adjusting his soaked bandana as it drooped in his eyes.
"I should have known..." he mumbled, then looked around to see who had pulled him under.
Flik was struck silent by the figure treading water before him. It was Tir McDohl, the now-reclusive former Liberation Army leader, partaking in a bit of horseplay. Of course Flik knew McDohl better than many people, people who thought of the leader only in the visage of the statue erected of him which stood impressive in Gregminster's hallowed halls. Yet Flik had witnessed the transformation of the young boy into a full-fledged legend, and it was a strange kind of comfort that washed over him to see the care-heavy Tir laughing as heartily as the others around them.
And Gremio must be here too, Flik thought, and caught a glimpse of him in Viktor's boat, patiently waiting for them to continue on with their errands.
"It's good to see you again, Flik," Tir said. Flik nodded in assent and soon turned away to climb back into his boat, helped aboard by the strong arm of Oulan so as not to make any more dents in his already decreased pride.
Remembering old allegiances and the time that had passed, Flik was quiet as the rest of the companions paddled to shore, introducing new faces along the way. But as they approached shore he somberly interrupted the carousing of the others.
"No, no, not there," he said. "That's no good." He pointed to the clearing they had been heading for. "Too many ants. Keeping paddling, there's a better place just a little further down."
"So you've been out here before, Flik?" Ayda asked as she bent her back to adjust her course.
"Certainly," he replied. "A long time ago, it seems. There's a wooden totem that marks the spot. Keep your eye out for it." They found the clearing Flik remembered and landed their boats. Oulan built a fire, while the others put up tents to sleep under for the night. Gremio began to cook the evening meal. Soon enough they were all gathered around the fire to dry off and get warm, laughing and chatting, at home in the elements as the sun sank below the horizon. Dragonflies whirred busily over the surface of the lake in the twilight.
As the meal ended, Gremio interrupted the merriment with a question he'd asked many times since being sought and led out here by Viktor, along with his Young Master. When Viktor had showed up in Gregminster, Gremio took his coming as nothing but an ill omen. When he'd asked for them both to come along on a strange journey for a reason he wouldn't explain, the Young Master had agreed to go with no question.
That immediately sealed Gremio's answer as well. But now that they had sailed up the river and met Flik at this appointed spot, where he had also assembled some help, Gremio was eager for answers.
"I'm sorry, but I'd rather not get into it til tomorrow," Flik responded, all eyes on him in expectation. "You'll find out soon enough, until then let's all just relax. How often do we get to be care-free, really?" Although Gremio was not satisfied and worried about the safety of the Young Master, he deferred to Flik and Viktor's decision. He couldn't imagine either of them putting anyone in needless danger.
"Anyway, you have nothing to fear," Viktor stated as he munched on a piece of bacon. "As long as I'm around, there's no room for danger."
"Only because the size of your inflated ego leaves room for nothing else," Oulan broke in, eyes glittering from the firelight, and the rest of the group laughed.
That night, Oulan fulfilled on her promise to Ayda that she would teach her how to braid, a promise she had made on the way to meet Viktor as they had traveled down the river early in the day.
"Thank you for teaching me," Ayda told her after the lesson. "I've just been twisting it all up the best I could but it always came loose and distracted me from getting a good shot."
"That's all right," Oulan said as she tied Ayda's new braid tightly. "I learned long ago to keep it short. Less of a problem then."
"Next our little warrior will be wearing make-up and dresses," Viktor laughed.
Ayda awkwardly grinned. "I hope it doesn't come to that."
Soon after, Flik withdrew from the fire, sitting alone at the edge of camp, sharpening his sword with head bent. Laugher from behind him echoed off the trees.
Viktor kept an eye on him.
One by one each snuck away to sleep for the coming day's journey. Soon Flik was the only one left, and he moved towards the fire. He began picking at it with a stick. The embers weren't giving off much heat and, from the gloom of his tent, Viktor observed that Flik was visibly shivering. Viktor gathered up his warm blanket, glancing towards Master McDohl's tent to check that he was sound asleep. He meandered over to the fire, threw the blanket over Flik's back, and sat down with a heavy thump on the trodden ground next to his companion. Frogs sang loudly from the shore of the lake beyond them.
"Frogs keeping you awake?" Flik mumbled at Viktor. "I don't know how anyone can sleep through that racket..."
"I don't mind. It means these woods and this lake are flourishing, since the frogs live on the land and the water. The more frogs, the more healthy things are out here. They survive . . . life goes on."
"Humph." Flik waved his hand dismissively.
"I think I know what you've been thinking about lately," Viktor began. Flik turned towards Viktor and gave him a stunned, cold look. Viktor just stared back unflinchingly.
"No one can ever replace Odessa, Flik," Viktor told him, smiling at unknown memories. "But I know you see it - I do too. There are reminders. Her strength, or a place like this with her memory in it ... and her kindnesses too."
"Why did you bring him here?!" Flik said hysterically. "If I could do it, Viktor..." He knew it was impossible. But sometimes he dared to think of it.
"You won't do it," Viktor reassured him. His voice was unsteady. Flik pulled his knees to his forehead and buried his closed eyes into his crossed arms as they burned with sudden, stinging tears.
"You can't kill McDohl just for his rune. No matter how much in your desperation you think it would bring you closer to her..."
"Shut up," Flik stated sharply, and he threw off the blanket and began to stand. Viktor stood too. Flik had not yet sheathed his sword, and the metal sang as he brought the blade up as if to challenge Viktor to try and stop him. Viktor only watched impassively. Flik crossed the little clearing near McDohl's tent. He sighed and stared at his sword. Its light shined crisply in the darkness. He sheathed the weapon quickly and made for his own tent, where he surrendered to the cold ground.
Sitting back down, Viktor tended the fire, bringing it back up to its previous strength. When he thought Flik was asleep, or just passed out from exhaustion, he moved silently to his friend's tent and put the blanket back over him. Then he returned to the fire to wait for the sunrise.
The next morning as Flik awoke, he peered through bleary eyes towards the center of camp and saw Viktor and Oulan whispering as they began breakfast. Their stifled laughter at some joke of Viktor's made him smile a bit, and he crawled out from under the tent. The cold greeted him as he untangled himself from the blanket and picked it up.
"Good morning," Oulan said to Flik, and Viktor nodded to him. Flik nodded back.
"You two are up early," Flik said, smiling wryly. He folded up the blanket and gave it to Viktor. The fog had lifted; breathing was easier. The day was spread before him, reflected in the glassy waters of the lake. "Let's see where the day takes us."
Rating - PG
Classification - adventure
Spoilers - maybe a little bit of SII. if you haven't played the games, this will probably make no sense.
Summary -The Star Dragon sword has been cursed by a strange force on an even stranger island, and not even the team of Flik and Viktor can fix the mess they're in. The two must enlist old friends to get to the bottom of the mystery - and many more twists and turns await.
Written: December 19, 2002 - ?
Dedication: To all Suikoden Fanfiction writers and readers!
Note: I hear that Suikoden IV will be based in an island setting as this is, but I don't know anything more about the new game, and this is not a spoiler of that game and I have no foreknowledge of events in it.
CHAPTER ONE:
Flik brought the boat forward through the silent sea. A heavy fog hung around him, muting the blue in his cape and bandana to silver. There were no sounds, not even of birds, as the fog pressed in on all his senses. Breathing took effort. Suddenly the sound of another oar being moved through the water reached his ears. Flik put his hand on his weapon, concealed behind his cape.
A shadowy figure appeared in the silhouette of the boat ahead, and Flik gently knocked the bottom of his own boat with his oar to alert the hidden figures within. He did not check to see if they heard, instead placing the oar on the bottom of the boat and maneuvering his body to the best ambush position he could.
The man in the other boat appeared not to see him, and Flik drifted towards the boat as it gradually drew near. It would be a tremendous battle, but Flik had come well prepared with his friends, the bodyguard Oulan, and the archer Ayda, both brought in anticipation of this moment and many more future conflicts. But for now, Flik concentrated on the task at hand, bringing his weapon to his side and at the ready...
Suddenly from above Flik came the cry of a hawk, leading the shadowy man in the boat ahead to turn around and give out a shout upon seeing Flik.
"NOW!" Flik hollered, and from the hidden foundations of the boat arose the heads of his two companions. Flik grabbed his own weapon - a bailing bucket full of the briniest, brownest lake water he could find - and dumped it all over the enraged figure in the boat before him. Immediately Flik retreated as far as he could from the now soaking wet and muddy Viktor, choking all the while on his laughter.
"But Flik," Ayda said, her bucket in hand but unused, "Where is Viktor's shipmate?"
"Look ou--" But before Flik could finish, a hand reached up from the water behind him and dragged him under. Flik could hear Viktor's laughter even while struggling below the surface of the lake. The hands released him and Flik made a break for air, reaching the top, choking, no longer on laughter but water, glaring at Viktor while adjusting his soaked bandana as it drooped in his eyes.
"I should have known..." he mumbled, then looked around to see who had pulled him under.
Flik was struck silent by the figure treading water before him. It was Tir McDohl, the now-reclusive former Liberation Army leader, partaking in a bit of horseplay. Of course Flik knew McDohl better than many people, people who thought of the leader only in the visage of the statue erected of him which stood impressive in Gregminster's hallowed halls. Yet Flik had witnessed the transformation of the young boy into a full-fledged legend, and it was a strange kind of comfort that washed over him to see the care-heavy Tir laughing as heartily as the others around them.
And Gremio must be here too, Flik thought, and caught a glimpse of him in Viktor's boat, patiently waiting for them to continue on with their errands.
"It's good to see you again, Flik," Tir said. Flik nodded in assent and soon turned away to climb back into his boat, helped aboard by the strong arm of Oulan so as not to make any more dents in his already decreased pride.
Remembering old allegiances and the time that had passed, Flik was quiet as the rest of the companions paddled to shore, introducing new faces along the way. But as they approached shore he somberly interrupted the carousing of the others.
"No, no, not there," he said. "That's no good." He pointed to the clearing they had been heading for. "Too many ants. Keeping paddling, there's a better place just a little further down."
"So you've been out here before, Flik?" Ayda asked as she bent her back to adjust her course.
"Certainly," he replied. "A long time ago, it seems. There's a wooden totem that marks the spot. Keep your eye out for it." They found the clearing Flik remembered and landed their boats. Oulan built a fire, while the others put up tents to sleep under for the night. Gremio began to cook the evening meal. Soon enough they were all gathered around the fire to dry off and get warm, laughing and chatting, at home in the elements as the sun sank below the horizon. Dragonflies whirred busily over the surface of the lake in the twilight.
As the meal ended, Gremio interrupted the merriment with a question he'd asked many times since being sought and led out here by Viktor, along with his Young Master. When Viktor had showed up in Gregminster, Gremio took his coming as nothing but an ill omen. When he'd asked for them both to come along on a strange journey for a reason he wouldn't explain, the Young Master had agreed to go with no question.
That immediately sealed Gremio's answer as well. But now that they had sailed up the river and met Flik at this appointed spot, where he had also assembled some help, Gremio was eager for answers.
"I'm sorry, but I'd rather not get into it til tomorrow," Flik responded, all eyes on him in expectation. "You'll find out soon enough, until then let's all just relax. How often do we get to be care-free, really?" Although Gremio was not satisfied and worried about the safety of the Young Master, he deferred to Flik and Viktor's decision. He couldn't imagine either of them putting anyone in needless danger.
"Anyway, you have nothing to fear," Viktor stated as he munched on a piece of bacon. "As long as I'm around, there's no room for danger."
"Only because the size of your inflated ego leaves room for nothing else," Oulan broke in, eyes glittering from the firelight, and the rest of the group laughed.
That night, Oulan fulfilled on her promise to Ayda that she would teach her how to braid, a promise she had made on the way to meet Viktor as they had traveled down the river early in the day.
"Thank you for teaching me," Ayda told her after the lesson. "I've just been twisting it all up the best I could but it always came loose and distracted me from getting a good shot."
"That's all right," Oulan said as she tied Ayda's new braid tightly. "I learned long ago to keep it short. Less of a problem then."
"Next our little warrior will be wearing make-up and dresses," Viktor laughed.
Ayda awkwardly grinned. "I hope it doesn't come to that."
Soon after, Flik withdrew from the fire, sitting alone at the edge of camp, sharpening his sword with head bent. Laugher from behind him echoed off the trees.
Viktor kept an eye on him.
One by one each snuck away to sleep for the coming day's journey. Soon Flik was the only one left, and he moved towards the fire. He began picking at it with a stick. The embers weren't giving off much heat and, from the gloom of his tent, Viktor observed that Flik was visibly shivering. Viktor gathered up his warm blanket, glancing towards Master McDohl's tent to check that he was sound asleep. He meandered over to the fire, threw the blanket over Flik's back, and sat down with a heavy thump on the trodden ground next to his companion. Frogs sang loudly from the shore of the lake beyond them.
"Frogs keeping you awake?" Flik mumbled at Viktor. "I don't know how anyone can sleep through that racket..."
"I don't mind. It means these woods and this lake are flourishing, since the frogs live on the land and the water. The more frogs, the more healthy things are out here. They survive . . . life goes on."
"Humph." Flik waved his hand dismissively.
"I think I know what you've been thinking about lately," Viktor began. Flik turned towards Viktor and gave him a stunned, cold look. Viktor just stared back unflinchingly.
"No one can ever replace Odessa, Flik," Viktor told him, smiling at unknown memories. "But I know you see it - I do too. There are reminders. Her strength, or a place like this with her memory in it ... and her kindnesses too."
"Why did you bring him here?!" Flik said hysterically. "If I could do it, Viktor..." He knew it was impossible. But sometimes he dared to think of it.
"You won't do it," Viktor reassured him. His voice was unsteady. Flik pulled his knees to his forehead and buried his closed eyes into his crossed arms as they burned with sudden, stinging tears.
"You can't kill McDohl just for his rune. No matter how much in your desperation you think it would bring you closer to her..."
"Shut up," Flik stated sharply, and he threw off the blanket and began to stand. Viktor stood too. Flik had not yet sheathed his sword, and the metal sang as he brought the blade up as if to challenge Viktor to try and stop him. Viktor only watched impassively. Flik crossed the little clearing near McDohl's tent. He sighed and stared at his sword. Its light shined crisply in the darkness. He sheathed the weapon quickly and made for his own tent, where he surrendered to the cold ground.
Sitting back down, Viktor tended the fire, bringing it back up to its previous strength. When he thought Flik was asleep, or just passed out from exhaustion, he moved silently to his friend's tent and put the blanket back over him. Then he returned to the fire to wait for the sunrise.
The next morning as Flik awoke, he peered through bleary eyes towards the center of camp and saw Viktor and Oulan whispering as they began breakfast. Their stifled laughter at some joke of Viktor's made him smile a bit, and he crawled out from under the tent. The cold greeted him as he untangled himself from the blanket and picked it up.
"Good morning," Oulan said to Flik, and Viktor nodded to him. Flik nodded back.
"You two are up early," Flik said, smiling wryly. He folded up the blanket and gave it to Viktor. The fog had lifted; breathing was easier. The day was spread before him, reflected in the glassy waters of the lake. "Let's see where the day takes us."