I don't own Yugioh…but I down own the Hikari Senshi and the individual characters I made up. I should also give credit to the Fantasy Name Generator for helping me get some of the names. ^__^
Well, like I promised (some of you know what I'm talking about), PPF is back up, and a new chapter, too! Enjoy! ^__^
Chapter 52
Washi was introducing some of his men to the groups. He also declared that Seto was in charge of group One, Ryou was in charge of group Two, Jou was in charge of group Three, and Yugi and Yami were in charge of group Four. Obviously, Anzu was taking charge of group five, which consisted of herself and four others. Her group was already going through the strategy of what to do when they got in there while Washi cleared up things and everyone started to get prepared.
"But, sir!" one guy was protesting. He was a warrior, by the looks of his attire. Protection on his shoulders and chest, slightly heavier boots and pants, and an axe strapped to his back. He had black hair and brown eyes, and his face was of a young person, maybe in his twenties, but features stood out more, hardened by war, which made him appear in his thirties.
Washi glared at him, "What?"
"You're giving the command of the groups over to a couple…kids?!" the guy seemed aghast.
"Jumo," Washi gave the man a pointed look, "Those kids are the only thing between us and world annihilation! Don't you understand that!? If it weren't for these kids, then we wouldn't even have a plan."
"But…," Jumo protested again.
"No 'buts'," Washi grunted, "Which group are you in, Jumo?"
"One, sir," Jumo replied.
"One, eh? Well, then, figure it this way…you are to listen to that Seto kid, and you are going to follow his commands. If you don't like it, tough. Besides…Shinbu is in that group. You're in one of the best groups going in. No more complaints, is that understood?"
Jumo bowed, "Yes, sir."
"Good…now, get with your group and listen to his plan again," Washi stated, "Check your equipment. We set off tomorrow."
Jumo saluted, his pointer and middle finger out, the rest of his fingers in a fist, raised and touching his forehead. Then, when Washi nodded, he left.
Each group was going over supplies and strategy once more. More supplies then strategy, and answering any unanswered questions. And, some soldiers stood out more then others.
Group One had fifty total; thirty sorcerers, fifteen warriors, two healers, Seto, Shinbu, and Yokan.
Jumo didn't look too happy to be in that group, but relented after getting lectured by Shinbu when he refused to obey Seto despite what Washi told him.
Group Two was comprised of similar structure; thirty sorcerers, fifteen warriors, four healers, and Ryou.
Group three also had fifty people. Thirty-five archers, ten warriors, two sorcerers, two healers, and Jou.
Group Four was the largest group. It had over two hundred people, mostly warriors, along with some healers, Yugi, Yami, Washi, and Daisuke. The left over sorcerers, who numbered about twenty that weren't put into the other groups, were put in group Four.
Group Five, the Rescue group, consisted of only five members. Two sorcerers, one warrior, Malik, and Anzu. Both warriors were trained in the field of medicine, as well as search-and-rescue for the battlefield.
The numbers weren't optimal, but they didn't have many to work with. Ten warriors, two sorcerers, and one healer stayed back with Mokuba and Jade to construct defense buildings and keep any enemies out of the tunnels.
They were outnumbered, but if the plan worked, and they held onto the sight of victory, there was a chance they could beat the odds and come out victorious. A small chance, but it was there none the less. And they weren't about to pass it up.
* * *
Daisuke peered over the dead bushes that their group was hidden in and held up binoculars to his face.
"See anything?" Yugi asked.
"They have a good defense…I see soldiers and monsters all over the place," Daisuke whispered back.
Just then, Yugi's communicator buzzed. He picked it up, "Hai?"
"Yugi. It's Seto. Are you in position?"
"Yea," Yugi responded. He put a hand on his deck. "And we're ready."
"Good. All the other groups are ready, too. Wait for Jou's signal and then begin your attack."
"Got it," Yugi nodded, then signed off.
"News?" Yami asked.
"It's about to begin," Yugi said quietly.
"Dammit…," Jou looked out of the hole that led behind the castle to where they would take up their position, "We're completely out in the open…as soon as we get out of this hole, they'll notice us."
"What do we do?" one of the archers asked.
Jou thought for a moment, "Well…the others are counting on us. I've got it! I'll summon a fire monster and use it to set fire to the grass behind us, and we can go under the cover of the fire!"
"But how do we retreat if they start to overpower us?" a warrior asked, "The fire will block our exit."
Jou gritted his teeth, "We can't retreat. We gotta move forwards. Now, are you guys ready, or are ya chicken'n out?!"
The group looked uncertain.
"I'm ready," the archer who had asked the first question stated. He was young, no older then 15 with brown hair and green eyes.
"Awright!" Jou grinned, "What's yer name again?"
"Zuki," the archer responded.
"Well, then," Jou smirked, "You guys come'n with me an' Zuki, or are ya gonna stay here and let everyone die?"
The group looked at each other, then nodded to Jou.
"Yea! Well, here goes…," Jou searched through his cards and then pulled one out, "This one autta do the job…flame the grass and protect us as we get outta the hole." He concentrated, and threw the card out behind where they would emerge. "Twin Headed Fire Dragon! Burn the grass behind us!"
The dragon appeared and did as it was commanded.
Jou wiped sweat off his forehead and hoisted himself out of the hole, "Let's go!"
The group piled out as alarms could be heard in the castle. Troops of archers were already starting to line the walls of the back, and fighters were coming out with some monsters backing them up.
"Shit…," Jou whispered, then turned to the dragon, "Attack the troops! Zuki! You an' the other archers fire at theirs!"
"Gotcha!" Zuki grinned, then waved to the other archers, "Let's go!"
Arrows flew through the air from both sides. The Fire Dragon roared as it was hit by a couple, but they didn't seem to do much damage.
"Warriors, hang back for now!" Jou shouted through the carnage, " Don't wanna getcha burned ta a crisp!"
The dragon was doing a very good job of holding off the warriors, and the archers were doing their best to connect with the other archers. But the troops of the Kurayami group continued to pile up as more and more of them headed out.
"They're attacking from the back! Wipe them all out!" a commander of the Kurayami shouted.
Jou pulled out another card even though it was taking a lot of energy to keep up the powerful dragon, "Flame Swordsman! Join in with the warriors! Twin Headed Fire Dragon! Aim for their archers!" He threw the card out, and the Flame Swordsman appeared, brandishing its sword.
"Warriors!" Jou pointed, "Go now!"
"There's too many!" one of the warriors yelped, "There has to be at least fifty of them, and there's ten of us!"
Jou pointed to his Flame Swordsman, "Plus him. He's bigger, and can help take out more! So…it's like thirty ta fifty…"
"That's still too many!!" one of the warriors shouted as he locked blades with a Kurayami warrior.
"Five of you archers!" Jou thought fast, "Help out the warriors!" He pulled out another card and concentrated, "Giant Soldier of Stone! Let the archers on your hands, shoulders, and head so they can see over the battle to help the warriors!" The soldier appeared and nodded, scooping five of the archers up.
"More are coming out!" a warrior exclaimed, then got sliced back.
Jou gritted his teeth against the strain of keeping out the monsters and pulled out the communicator, "Yug!! Can ya hear me?! START!! Hurry!!"
Yugi blinked when his communicator rang, and then nodded at what he heard. He turned around to his group, "Okay! We've gotta move fast! Jou's being outnumbered! They're faster then we thought. Decoy group, head out!"
"Hai, Tenko-sama!" the fifty troops saluted, and exited the bushes, creeping around until they were halfway there, then burst out from the cover of the trees shouting at the top of their lungs and raising their weapons.
"Everyone get ready," Yugi whispered and held up a card.
Yami nodded and prepared a card of his own.
Yugi nearly winced when he heard the screams of some of the warriors that were being overwhelmed.
"Don't look away," Washi stated, "Honor their sacrifice."
Yugi wiped at his narrowed eyes.
"They're being overwhelmed," Daisuke said from his position with the binoculars up in the tree, "Shouldn't they start the retreat now?"
"They can't!" Yami realized, "There's too many…they can't get back!"
"Shit!" Washi swore.
"What do we do now?" Another soldier looked around nervously.
Yugi concentrated on one of his cards, "Winged Dragon! Go provide some cover fire!"
The monster appeared and flew over to the battle, then roared. The Kurayami group were momentarily stunned.
Go back now! the Winged Dragon shouted at the Hikari Senshi. Retreat!
The group nodded as the Dragon threw a fireball at the Kurayami group, then screeched as it was hit by weapons and spells. It vanished when it felt that the Hikari Senshi had a good head start.
"After them!" the Kurayami shouted.
Yugi thanked the card that returned to him, "Thank you, Winged Dragon. You were very brave." He looked up as Daisuke came down from the tree and nodded.
"Okay!" Yugi nodded.
Yami summoned the Curse of Dragon, which started to take out the Kurayami group.
"Now!" Yugi pointed.
With a shout, all of the troops that were hiding in the bushes and trees jumped out, attacking the startled Kurayami group.
"Seto!" Yugi called through the communicator, "We've launched our attack! You can start yours now! Have Anzu's group wait until I give her the signal to go in! We don't even have half their forces out on the field right now!"
"Roger!" Seto responded, "We're beginning our attack now!"
Seto turned to his group, "Okay, you heard him! Let's go!"
Their group emerged from bushes and tunnels, and the sorcerers started firing blasts at the castle walls.
"Ryou! Attack!" Seto turned the communicator to Ryou's frequency.
"Right!" came the response.
Seto concentrated and summoned a water monster as Shinbu did the same, letting the monsters go into the water and attack.
"Heads up!" Yokan shouted and cast a spell at a sorcerer that was getting ready to fire at them. "Incoming sorcerer group!"
"Right!" Shinbu pointed, "Sorcerers!"
The sorcerers nodded and Yokan led them in attacks.
"Seto, use your sorcerer abilities to create a shield for us," Shinbu instructed.
"Gotcha," Seto nodded and pulled the creature he had summoned back to create a shield from incoming spells.
"Warriors, stand back!" Seto commanded, "Wait until we have the walls down!"
The warriors nodded.
"Well, Jumo?" Shinbu smirked, "What do you think about this 'kid' now?"
Jumo let a smile slip out, and just watched and waited.
Ryou took a deep breath and let it out. He had never been in command of anything before, and it worried him a bit.
"Don't worry," Malik spoke up quietly next to him, "You can do it, Ryou. Just believe in yourself."
Ryou was startled, then remembered about Malik's ESP abilities. He nodded and grew determined, pulling out a card and concentrating. It felt so natural to him as he channeled his energy into it and tossed it out, "Destroyer Golem! Start attacking the castle!"
Malik was chanting and then cast a spell at the walls.
Ryou turned around to the sorcerers, "Follow Malik's lead!"
"Right!" they nodded.
Some archers came up from the top and started to shoot at them.
"Healers, stand by!" Ryou called, gulping in fear. He pulled out another card. I can't let fear rule me now…everyone's counting on me! He concentrated and threw the card out on the field. "Giant Soldier of Stone! Give us some defense!"
The monster appeared and held out its arms. All the arrows deflected harmlessly off of it.
"That's it!" Malik encouraged his friend.
Ryou smiled and nodded. I can do it…the monsters will help me. And my friends are all behind me!
Anzu waited in the trees with the four others in her group, the Skull Red Bird card in her hand and parachutes on their backs.
"Can we really do this?" a woman named Ielmi, of about 23 years old asked, her long black hair tied back in a ponytail and her brown eyes looking concerned.
"I believe in everyone else," Anzu nodded, "And I think we'll be just fine."
"The battle out front is heating up…that guy, Seto, was right. Now all their forces are going to the front. Oh…groups one and two just started their attacks," a boy of about 14 years of age with a pair of goggles on his head on top of a mop of unruly dark brown hair with white streaks in it. He held up a pair of binoculars to his eyes.
"Can you see how they're doing, Zeyl?" Anzu asked the boy.
"They seem to be doing well, considering we're outnumbered," Zeyl responded, lowering the binoculars and looking up with his blue eyes. "We have to wait for the signal…"
"Why?" a guy of about 19 years asked, trying to flatten his spiky blond hair, "Group four started their attack…"
"Because, Yunti," Zeyl grunted, "That would be stupid." He raised the binoculars back to his eyes, "Group four as now lured out about half of their troops. We need to wait a little while longer. Airi, do you have the card?"
Anzu frowned and looked at the last member of their team…a girl of about 13 years of age who didn't speak. She had long green hair and emerald eyes.
Airi nodded and held out a card to Anzu.
"She's been saving that card. It's her favorite," Ielmi informed Anzu, "It may come in handy in there."
"I can't possibly…"
Airi took Anzu's hand and put the card in her palm, then curled the girl's fingers around the card a bit.
"She wants you to have it," Ielmi stated.
"Thank you," Anzu looked at the card. "But this card…it's so powerful…"
"You need two people to summon it," Ielmi stated, "Airi found it down in the tunnels. She thinks it belongs to you. But we don't know who else it needs to be summoned."
"Well…that's alright," Anzu smiled, "Thank you…"
"They've drawn out three-fourths of the troops…I think everyone that's out there is the kid-and-caboodle," Zeyl put the binoculars down. "That's our cue."
Anzu nodded and concentrated, "Skull Red Bird! Take us above the castle!"
The bird screeched and they got on it. It took off high into the air and into the darkness that surrounded the castle like a miasma.
"Here we go…," Anzu took a deep breath. "Zeyl? Can I borrow the binoculars?"
"Sure," Zeyl handed them off.
Anzu looked down at the castle through the binoculars, and found the opening that they were looking for, "Okay…on my count, jump off. Ready…"
Ielmi, Yunti, Zeyl, and Airi prepared themselves.
"Now!" Anzu called and leapt off. The other four followed her lead, freefalling for a few feet before Anzu called the bird back to her and they opened their parachutes.
They landed in the courtyard and quickly shed the parachutes and hid around a tower wall.
"It's clear…they're all fighting," Zeyl stated as Anzu gave him back his binoculars and he put them on the belt around his waist.
Anzu held up the communicator and switched it to all channels, "Attention other groups…we're in."
TO BE CONTINUED…
Thank you to everyone who was patient while I got this story back online. And to everyone who notified me that the story disappeared in the first place. And to my friends. Oh, heck…thank you, everyone! Except whoever had my story taken off and was involved with that…