Chapter 15
The Stampede Strikes!
*********************
Fox was going in and out of conciousness as he slept, still unaware of what had happened to him.
Apparently, the Sand Worm must have drained his energy as he was in its sand storm. He didn't even want
to think about where he was at or how he got there. When his strength was finally restored, Fox woke
up to find himself in a bedroom with wooden, green walls and an open window with sun light streaming
out of it. He looked to his left and saw Cloud sitting on a chair beside the bed.
"Morning," he said simply.
Fox was surprised to see him. "Cloud?" he said in surprise. "But, I thought we were gonna meet
in Second Miltia!"
"We were," started Cloud, "But we had to rest here and we saw Martin and the rest at the tavern."
"Is Ray here?" asked Fox in eagerness.
Cloud nodded cheering Fox up. "But, if you want to see him," Cloud started, "don't you think you
should put on some pants?"
Fox blinked and suddenly realized he was completly naked under the sheets. He yelped and did
his best to cover his whole entire body. "S-sorry." he said blushing complete red.
Cloud laughed and started out the door. "Come to the tavern when you're finished." he said. "Also,
we met a new friend. You'll notice him in red."
Cloud exited leaving Fox alone.
*************************************
As Fox started for the tavern, he noticed that the town looked like an old western movie. The
whole town was at a medium sized range in the middle of the hot desert. The villagers spoke politely,
however the serious looking ones would always say, "Uh-huh...," or: "Yep...."
The tavern was just across the hotel. Fox took notice at the wooden houses all decorated in either
blue or green. Some had store signs, while others had inhabitants hanging clothes in the air or just
peering out the window waving to fellow villagers. Fox entered on to the tavern bar and saw a sign
that cathced his eye. 'Sixty-billion Xen man on the loose', it said, 'Vash the Stampede; wanted DEAD.'
Below the ad showed a picture of a man pulling down his lower eye lid sticking his tounge out.
The man had green eyes, pale skin, and blonde, spiked hair. Fox was curious as to what could be dangerous
about a man with a sense of humor. 'He looks innocent enough,' said Fox starting for the tavern door.
The tavern wasn't really as packed as he thought it would be. Some old men were playing cards at
one table while some men were sitting at the bar drinking away. Fox looked over and saw Wolf, Bill, Cloud,
Martin, and Ray sitting at a table with a rear view of a man's head with spiked, blonde hair and wearing
a large, red coat. 'Could it be...?' thought Fox. 'Nah....'
As Fox walked up to the table, he looked and saw the true identity of the man. It was the same
man on the sign he had just seen: Vash the Stampede! He looked exactly like he did on the wanted sign.
"But you're...!" said Fox pointing a finger at Vash in surprise.
"...Is the infamous Vash the Stampede," said Ray finishing Fox's sentence. "Don't worry, he's
not wanted anymore."
"They just keep forgetting to take the signs down," said Vash in his sly voice as he took a
sip from his drink.
"Vash," started Ray, "this is Fox. He is the newest bearer of the Light Short Sword."
Vash made a grin and stretched his hand out to greet Fox. "It's a pleasure seeing a fellow
Light Weilder."
Fox shook Vash's hand and asked, "Do you have a Light Weapon also?"
"You bet," replied Vash as he withdrew his hand.
Vash stretched his other hand into the air and a bolt of lightning jolted from his hand. Sparks
kept flashing and flashing until the weapon became complete. It was a pistol with a green shine to it
and a red gem flickered from the gun's handle. The gun had different symbols and runes embedded on it
giving the gun decoration. "This is the Light Pistol," replied Vash as he showed the gun around to
the group.
Martin was amazed at seeing a weapon like this. The Abbey had so many restrictions toward new
technology, Martin and the abbey dwellers haven't even seen as much as a clock! He had never known that
a weapon like Vash's could have even existed. "Now, once you're done showing off," interuppted Ray
waking everyone of their awe, "we have a very important matter to discuss."
Fox sat down next to Wolf who seemed in a much lighter mood than before.
Ray stood up and said, "Okay, it appears as if a very dear friend to me and Martin, Abbot
Masidus, has been murdered three nights ago. This is not good. One of the Six Rulers of the Branches
of the Exile Forces has been murdered and a country to the Exile Forces is gone as well. Now we are
in danger. One country will lead up to the whole entire border between us and the Light Fellow.
"Seeing as things aren't shaping out well, we are to now draw to a very dire strategy. We must
overthrow the country of Dram!"
Martin and Wolf stared at Ray as though he were to be some wacky stranger. "What are you talking
about, Ray?" asked Martin. "Dram is the most powerful continent out of the Great Four on Oarth! You can't
just go in and destroy it!"
"Yes," replied Ray, "but I have a plan. See, Dram will most likely attack the other continents and
our main connection continent, Luferus. The other continents will have to see this and take charge at the
enemy. So, I believe we should form a...a rebellion kinda."
"You're talking nonsense!" said Martin doubting the plan. "Plus, how will we be able to gain
contact with the other continents? For all the gods know, Dram could have taken over our connection to
Luferus."
"They haven't taken over the borders yet," replied Ray. "Martin, have my plans ever failed before
in a situation within the battlefield?"
Martin sat back and crossed his arms. "Ray," he started, "this is a real war! We cannot depend on
Dram anymore then we can of the Lightfellow and or the Lylatians. I have faith, but this all seems
within the impossible."
"How can you even think it's over when we haven't even tried yet?" asked Ray in disbelief. "Martin,
I have known you for a long time. I know Masidus was really close to you, but now he's gone. We have
to live up to his wish and make peace throughout the land. Isn't that something you think he would
ask you?"
Martin closed his eyes for a while and looked back up at Ray. "Just do what you can...." replied
Martin.
"Please have faith, Martin." said Ray looking concernly at Martin. "Now, if we are to even do
anything, we should start by first doing what we were ordered to do: Investigating the Geist. We still
have no information in regards to the Geist or to Dram. We will wait until we see suspisions or hear
rumors about Dram. In the meantime, we will go to Second Miltia and take a look at their library.
"We shall go there and then we will think of another course of action later. Second Miltia isn't
that far off. After the Green Border, we will make a quick rest at New Jerusalem and leave IMEDIATELY
after that. We do not have time for side tracking once we get beyond the Green Border, understood?"
Everyone nodded.
"Okay," replied Ray. "You may look around the village if you wish, but tomorrow, its time to go.
Vash, will you come with us?"
Vash sat up straight and leaned over onto the table. "You sound so confident in this type of
situation." he said grinning. "Alright, I'm all yours."
*******************************************************
Night entombed the village with a clear sky and a full moon leering down at the village as almost
everyone was resting in their homes or in the taverns. Fox entered the hotel and went up the stairs
leading to his room. He opened the door and saw Wolf sitting on his bed instead of Bill who was expected.
"Hey Wolf," said Fox catching Wolf's attention.
"Oh, this is your room?" said Wolf surprised.
"Maybe we're bunking together?" said Fox.
"Nah...I had my own room." said Wolf.
Silence entered the room.
"Wolf?" asked Fox. "What happened after I passed out."
Wolf was in thought for a moment and then looked at Fox. "After you passed out, Vash came in
and shot the Sand Worm down with ease." replied Wolf. "You might have heard the gun shots as you were
passing out."
Fox recalled the loud bangs he heard as he drifted into sleep. "Yeah, yeah," he said. "Also,
what did the Worm do to me?"
"That was a popular skill the Geist in the desert know called Sand Storm," said Wolf. "It sucks
the energy from you and brings it back to the host. Most cases like lead up to deathes because of suffocation.
For a moment, I thought you were gone."
Fox chuckled as he sat down in a chair near his bed. Silence was again midst in the atmosphere.
"Why were you acting all serious?" asked Fox.
"What?" said Wolf almost imediately.
"When we escaped Redwall, you started acting all serious and very strict. I never saw you like
that. Why were you acting that way?"
Wolf looked down and said, "I have always been troubled by my past experiences within my family....
When Ray met up with me, and I say this as my personal opinion, I was just a cry baby. Whenever he had left
for a mission leaving me alone, I always weeped. The crew never really liked it, so Spike and Ray had
to 'toughen' me up. After that, I changed greatly.
"I always acted tough around people. But when I was alone a lot of times, I had to let my pain
out. I would cry myself to sleep at times. So, to answer your question, I act tough whenever I am
alone to fend for myself. I try to take charge and always make the plans."
Fox felt strange. Wolf never shared his feelings with anyone ever. He always remained a mystery
toward others. Fox was actually amazed to see this side of Wolf.
"I'm sorry if I forced a lot out of you." said Fox.
"Don't worry." replied Wolf. "It's hard enough hiding it from the world."
They both chuckled ad let the silence enter the room.
Wolf got up, started for the door, and said, "I'm getting tired. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Night." said Fox as he wet under the sheets of his bed.
********************************************************
The team was already waiting at the southern entrance of the town when Fox and Bill finally came.
"What took you two?" asked Cloud.
"We looked everywhere for you guys and saw you here," explained Bill.
"Forget it." said Ray. "At least we're all here. Does everyone have what they need? Once we leave,
we cannot go back until we have reached New Jerusalem. Okay?"
Everyone nodded their heads.
"Let's move out." said Ray as he started out the village.
They all followed Ray as the last view of the desert village was slowly disappearing within the sand
dunes.
The Stampede Strikes!
*********************
Fox was going in and out of conciousness as he slept, still unaware of what had happened to him.
Apparently, the Sand Worm must have drained his energy as he was in its sand storm. He didn't even want
to think about where he was at or how he got there. When his strength was finally restored, Fox woke
up to find himself in a bedroom with wooden, green walls and an open window with sun light streaming
out of it. He looked to his left and saw Cloud sitting on a chair beside the bed.
"Morning," he said simply.
Fox was surprised to see him. "Cloud?" he said in surprise. "But, I thought we were gonna meet
in Second Miltia!"
"We were," started Cloud, "But we had to rest here and we saw Martin and the rest at the tavern."
"Is Ray here?" asked Fox in eagerness.
Cloud nodded cheering Fox up. "But, if you want to see him," Cloud started, "don't you think you
should put on some pants?"
Fox blinked and suddenly realized he was completly naked under the sheets. He yelped and did
his best to cover his whole entire body. "S-sorry." he said blushing complete red.
Cloud laughed and started out the door. "Come to the tavern when you're finished." he said. "Also,
we met a new friend. You'll notice him in red."
Cloud exited leaving Fox alone.
*************************************
As Fox started for the tavern, he noticed that the town looked like an old western movie. The
whole town was at a medium sized range in the middle of the hot desert. The villagers spoke politely,
however the serious looking ones would always say, "Uh-huh...," or: "Yep...."
The tavern was just across the hotel. Fox took notice at the wooden houses all decorated in either
blue or green. Some had store signs, while others had inhabitants hanging clothes in the air or just
peering out the window waving to fellow villagers. Fox entered on to the tavern bar and saw a sign
that cathced his eye. 'Sixty-billion Xen man on the loose', it said, 'Vash the Stampede; wanted DEAD.'
Below the ad showed a picture of a man pulling down his lower eye lid sticking his tounge out.
The man had green eyes, pale skin, and blonde, spiked hair. Fox was curious as to what could be dangerous
about a man with a sense of humor. 'He looks innocent enough,' said Fox starting for the tavern door.
The tavern wasn't really as packed as he thought it would be. Some old men were playing cards at
one table while some men were sitting at the bar drinking away. Fox looked over and saw Wolf, Bill, Cloud,
Martin, and Ray sitting at a table with a rear view of a man's head with spiked, blonde hair and wearing
a large, red coat. 'Could it be...?' thought Fox. 'Nah....'
As Fox walked up to the table, he looked and saw the true identity of the man. It was the same
man on the sign he had just seen: Vash the Stampede! He looked exactly like he did on the wanted sign.
"But you're...!" said Fox pointing a finger at Vash in surprise.
"...Is the infamous Vash the Stampede," said Ray finishing Fox's sentence. "Don't worry, he's
not wanted anymore."
"They just keep forgetting to take the signs down," said Vash in his sly voice as he took a
sip from his drink.
"Vash," started Ray, "this is Fox. He is the newest bearer of the Light Short Sword."
Vash made a grin and stretched his hand out to greet Fox. "It's a pleasure seeing a fellow
Light Weilder."
Fox shook Vash's hand and asked, "Do you have a Light Weapon also?"
"You bet," replied Vash as he withdrew his hand.
Vash stretched his other hand into the air and a bolt of lightning jolted from his hand. Sparks
kept flashing and flashing until the weapon became complete. It was a pistol with a green shine to it
and a red gem flickered from the gun's handle. The gun had different symbols and runes embedded on it
giving the gun decoration. "This is the Light Pistol," replied Vash as he showed the gun around to
the group.
Martin was amazed at seeing a weapon like this. The Abbey had so many restrictions toward new
technology, Martin and the abbey dwellers haven't even seen as much as a clock! He had never known that
a weapon like Vash's could have even existed. "Now, once you're done showing off," interuppted Ray
waking everyone of their awe, "we have a very important matter to discuss."
Fox sat down next to Wolf who seemed in a much lighter mood than before.
Ray stood up and said, "Okay, it appears as if a very dear friend to me and Martin, Abbot
Masidus, has been murdered three nights ago. This is not good. One of the Six Rulers of the Branches
of the Exile Forces has been murdered and a country to the Exile Forces is gone as well. Now we are
in danger. One country will lead up to the whole entire border between us and the Light Fellow.
"Seeing as things aren't shaping out well, we are to now draw to a very dire strategy. We must
overthrow the country of Dram!"
Martin and Wolf stared at Ray as though he were to be some wacky stranger. "What are you talking
about, Ray?" asked Martin. "Dram is the most powerful continent out of the Great Four on Oarth! You can't
just go in and destroy it!"
"Yes," replied Ray, "but I have a plan. See, Dram will most likely attack the other continents and
our main connection continent, Luferus. The other continents will have to see this and take charge at the
enemy. So, I believe we should form a...a rebellion kinda."
"You're talking nonsense!" said Martin doubting the plan. "Plus, how will we be able to gain
contact with the other continents? For all the gods know, Dram could have taken over our connection to
Luferus."
"They haven't taken over the borders yet," replied Ray. "Martin, have my plans ever failed before
in a situation within the battlefield?"
Martin sat back and crossed his arms. "Ray," he started, "this is a real war! We cannot depend on
Dram anymore then we can of the Lightfellow and or the Lylatians. I have faith, but this all seems
within the impossible."
"How can you even think it's over when we haven't even tried yet?" asked Ray in disbelief. "Martin,
I have known you for a long time. I know Masidus was really close to you, but now he's gone. We have
to live up to his wish and make peace throughout the land. Isn't that something you think he would
ask you?"
Martin closed his eyes for a while and looked back up at Ray. "Just do what you can...." replied
Martin.
"Please have faith, Martin." said Ray looking concernly at Martin. "Now, if we are to even do
anything, we should start by first doing what we were ordered to do: Investigating the Geist. We still
have no information in regards to the Geist or to Dram. We will wait until we see suspisions or hear
rumors about Dram. In the meantime, we will go to Second Miltia and take a look at their library.
"We shall go there and then we will think of another course of action later. Second Miltia isn't
that far off. After the Green Border, we will make a quick rest at New Jerusalem and leave IMEDIATELY
after that. We do not have time for side tracking once we get beyond the Green Border, understood?"
Everyone nodded.
"Okay," replied Ray. "You may look around the village if you wish, but tomorrow, its time to go.
Vash, will you come with us?"
Vash sat up straight and leaned over onto the table. "You sound so confident in this type of
situation." he said grinning. "Alright, I'm all yours."
*******************************************************
Night entombed the village with a clear sky and a full moon leering down at the village as almost
everyone was resting in their homes or in the taverns. Fox entered the hotel and went up the stairs
leading to his room. He opened the door and saw Wolf sitting on his bed instead of Bill who was expected.
"Hey Wolf," said Fox catching Wolf's attention.
"Oh, this is your room?" said Wolf surprised.
"Maybe we're bunking together?" said Fox.
"Nah...I had my own room." said Wolf.
Silence entered the room.
"Wolf?" asked Fox. "What happened after I passed out."
Wolf was in thought for a moment and then looked at Fox. "After you passed out, Vash came in
and shot the Sand Worm down with ease." replied Wolf. "You might have heard the gun shots as you were
passing out."
Fox recalled the loud bangs he heard as he drifted into sleep. "Yeah, yeah," he said. "Also,
what did the Worm do to me?"
"That was a popular skill the Geist in the desert know called Sand Storm," said Wolf. "It sucks
the energy from you and brings it back to the host. Most cases like lead up to deathes because of suffocation.
For a moment, I thought you were gone."
Fox chuckled as he sat down in a chair near his bed. Silence was again midst in the atmosphere.
"Why were you acting all serious?" asked Fox.
"What?" said Wolf almost imediately.
"When we escaped Redwall, you started acting all serious and very strict. I never saw you like
that. Why were you acting that way?"
Wolf looked down and said, "I have always been troubled by my past experiences within my family....
When Ray met up with me, and I say this as my personal opinion, I was just a cry baby. Whenever he had left
for a mission leaving me alone, I always weeped. The crew never really liked it, so Spike and Ray had
to 'toughen' me up. After that, I changed greatly.
"I always acted tough around people. But when I was alone a lot of times, I had to let my pain
out. I would cry myself to sleep at times. So, to answer your question, I act tough whenever I am
alone to fend for myself. I try to take charge and always make the plans."
Fox felt strange. Wolf never shared his feelings with anyone ever. He always remained a mystery
toward others. Fox was actually amazed to see this side of Wolf.
"I'm sorry if I forced a lot out of you." said Fox.
"Don't worry." replied Wolf. "It's hard enough hiding it from the world."
They both chuckled ad let the silence enter the room.
Wolf got up, started for the door, and said, "I'm getting tired. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Night." said Fox as he wet under the sheets of his bed.
********************************************************
The team was already waiting at the southern entrance of the town when Fox and Bill finally came.
"What took you two?" asked Cloud.
"We looked everywhere for you guys and saw you here," explained Bill.
"Forget it." said Ray. "At least we're all here. Does everyone have what they need? Once we leave,
we cannot go back until we have reached New Jerusalem. Okay?"
Everyone nodded their heads.
"Let's move out." said Ray as he started out the village.
They all followed Ray as the last view of the desert village was slowly disappearing within the sand
dunes.