Disclaimers 'n' crap: Haihai peeps! I know you've been waiting for awhile, so here's something to soothe your nerves. This is a REALLY short chapter and it has a kinda corny ending, but I hope you like it anyway. Enjoy!
I didn't think I could show my face at that ceremony. I really didn't. But I had to. I actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. C'mon, who am I kidding? This is The Crystal Alliance we're talking about! Everyone here is like family. Everyone I talked to who knew what had happened was more than sympathetic to my situation. Well, most of them have lost loved ones too.
Raiden came up to the podium at the far end of the hall. The crowd went silent.
Well, time for Kiyamoto-san's big victory speech.
"Ladies and gentlemen," said Hayden "Head of the E-Maxen Secret Service: Raiden Kiyamoto." Raiden cleared his throat.
"My friends," he began, solemnly "Today was a day of great victory. Nearly 50,000 of the enemy's troops were wiped out thanks to the heroics of myself, General Sears, or Snake, whichever you prefer, and a surprise visit from our friend, General Christensen." The crowd erupted in cheers. Raiden held up his hand for silence. "However, today was also a day of great defeat. We all know of the great feats performed on the sidelines by General Barringer and his Special Forces Unit: Cliffhangers. Today, all of them, save General Barringer, were ruthlessly slaughtered by the enemy. Presumably Aelita." Most people gasped and whispered amongst themselves at this.
"All of them? Gone?"
"Oh, poor Scott."
"That little girl-bitch."
"While Scott succeeded in destroying General Elaine, he paid a heavy price, a price he wasn't willing to pay, but also a price he didn't know he would be paying," Raiden went on "I know that each and every one of us here has suffered likewise. Scott is no different. But remember, we have each other. We are not like the faceless armies that Snake and I once worked for. How are we to continue fighting if we believe that we are alone in our struggle? The Crystal Alliance is held together on this one simple principle. Remember it, and…" he paused, looking mournfully at Scott "…remember, forever, the Special Forces Unit: Cliffhangers." Everyone who had a wine glass, empty or full, raised it and chanted in unison:
"Remember the Cliffhangers."
It was an honoring feeling, and Raiden is absolutely right. We have to stand together as friends, we have to fight as one, and we must always remember our few fallen. All this said, I still have one person left to take care of: Aelita.
"WHAT?" yelled Scott a few minutes later "Why not?"
"I've already said," said Queen Hannah in her most official voice "The Realm Master wants to wait before you defeat Aelita. Look, I know vengeance is high on your priority list, but she says that you won't destroy Aelita until Connor is at least 20."
Terrific. Juuuuuuuuust terrific. I'm gonna have to wait about 7 or 8 years before I can avenge my best friends.
(About 7 Years Later...)
Just to refresh your memory, Connor is Scott's 12-year-old protégé. He plays a bigger role in the next chapter. IT WILL BE THE LAST!
