Disclaimers - Konami own Suikoden, and I do not. Just making that minor, yet very important point, very clear.
Yesterday I felt nothing less than uninspired. While others have muses and suchlike, I only have my imagination and my brain...both of which seemed to fail yesterday. Maybe I need muses after all...
[Elaine] - (Sarcastically) SURE you do...I mean you got, what is it now? Six created characters you could turn to for inspiration. And we don't get any say in what happens....meanie.
*Sweatdrop* Okay...I think I'll veto the muses idea for now...
[Elaine] - See what I mean! Sheesh...(storms off)
*Ahem*
Because all the created characters, so far, are in this story (meaning they wouldn't all fit in the chapter title), it's just generically named chapter thirty five. Although for the record and for all you purists out there, it is Kahri Chapter Twenty, Andrew Chapter Seventeen, Elaine Chapter Thirteen, Avara Chapter Seven, Malcolm Chapter Two and Warren Chapter One.
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Chapter Thirty Five
The Biggest Fight Yet! Excited?
(Location: Kuskus)
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"Well, what's with all the commotion over on the docks?"
Kahri stopped rowing with his Spatula to take a look, he didn't like what he saw. "It's...Highland soldiers...here? Oh great, how are we supposed to get past them."
Malcolm peered at Kahri over his shoulder. "I'd say physical violence should do it."
Kahri started rowing again. "You were being sarcastic, right?"
Malcolm grabbed his whip and cracked it into the water. "Unless you got any better ideas there kid..."
Kahri felt his head fall forward. "Oh! Good plan, CHARGE! Just the two of us? You gotta be kidding me."
Malcolm pointed. "Doesn't look like it'll just be the two of us, there's already some fighting going on over there."
"ELAINE!!!"
Kahri's head rose sharply. "That was Andrew's voice, and Elaine is there too...this is great."
Malcolm began docking the boat. "Some of your friends?"
Kahri shrugged. "Maybe...Andrew's a bit of a jerk."
Malcolm got off the boat first, whip at the ready. "Well, if we don't help out he's gonna be a dead jerk. You coming or not?"
Kahri hopped off the boat, Bonaparte in his arms. "What's your problem with Highland anyway?"
Malcolm shrugged. "No reason. They're just a nation of crummy bastards who need taking down a peg or two...million."
Kahri took his Spatula and held it ready to attack. "Good enough."
---
Elaine took advantage of the soldiers' momentary distraction to lash out at the nearest one with a quick slash to the throat. Quick and simple. Warren set his ball down, and mightily kicked it towards the nearest soldier - it struck him full in the chest, sending him flying backwards, causing a pseudo soldier domino effect. Quite comical if it wasn't for the fact there were still many, many more. Warren turned round to face Elaine, punching a soldier in the face as he turned.
"We gotta get out of here. Now would be good."
Elaine nodded as she kicked another soldier, before slashing his face with her knife. Warren built up a bit of a run, jumped into the air and started sliding on the ground with his leg extended, taking down a row of guards in front of him with a mighty tackle.
Surely that's a red card?
Even so, the soldiers kept closing in, for every soldier Elaine took out another two seemed to materialise.
Where the hell are they all coming from anyway? Is it that important that we all die? Like...no...best not think about it.
She kicked the nearest guard in the groin, before Warren nailed the bent over guard with a somersault kick - catching him right on the chin and sending him flying backwards into more guards, tumbling them down in a heap.
"Nice move." Elaine said, catching another soldier with a knife slash.
"Good teamwork." Warren added, kicking another soldier down.
"No time for compliments there." Elaine responded, elbowing a guard right in the collarbone.
"Good point." Warren finished, before whapping a guard over the head with the ball, before using his head to volley it into even more guards.
"We could sure use the Calvary right about now..." Elaine said, as another guard fell victim to her knife.
"You mean...them?" Warren pointed, also catching a soldier in the eye. He punched him down afterwards.
Elaine looked, and saw a stream of fire engulf some of the soldiers. She saw an oversized knight on a horse, charging through the soldiers with a lance. She saw a girl with short black hair throwing knives at the soldiers with pinpoint accuracy. She saw the largest man she had ever seen punch his way through the soldiers.
She saw Lord Riou and Nanami plowing through guards together, with practised synchronised moves.
She saw Andrew taking down any soldier foolish enough to get in his way.
"Yeah, they'll do." Elaine said to Warren, trying to conceal the smile forming on her face.
So it was Andrew who called out for me...should've known. If only...oh, no time for mushy thoughts - more slashing.
And that's just what she did, unfortunately for the poor soldiers who dared attack the already scorned woman.
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Andrew showed no mercy to the soldiers, they had tried to kill Elaine - something he could never forgive.
I've never felt this way before...it's making me crazy...focused or something...different. Love is such an adrenaline booster.
Two guards rushed him; one caught a full on sword thrust while the other took a mighty kick to the stomach. Precision strokes took out the majority of the soldiers who tried to take him out, I doubt anything could stop a determined Andrew was on the warpath...
Although his blind rage meant he didn't see the arrow flying towards him...
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Millie didn't see the guards sneak up behind her, she was too busy with summoning help with her Blue Gate Rune.
So it was deliciously ironic that the guards never saw Bonaparte loom above them, bringing his oversized mouth down over them. They screamed, but only once...
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"Good to see Bonaparte back with his master, right Kahri?"
Kahri had turned really pale after seeing Bonaparte engulf the soldiers. He nodded shakily before rushing in to join the battle. The soldiers approached with caution - after all, it's not every day you see a kid about to whap you with a spatula.
Malcolm used this distraction to use his whip. With a deft stroke, he made it wrap itself around one of the soldiers' ankles. One quick tug later and that soldier and the ones directly behind him were down in a heap. A group of guards started charging at them.
Kahri smiled. "Not a problem...Spatula Spray!"
Kahri spun around expertly, and as he finished his spin he thrust his spatula forward...and it shot out an array of smaller spatulas at the soldiers. They looked slightly confused, but not for long. The spatulas hit them with considerable force, throwing them backwards.
"Well...that IS something you don't see everyday." Malcolm said, giving Kahri the thumbs up.
"Come on, we gotta help everyone." Kahri said, rushing in.
Malcolm nodded, as he struck a soldier across the face with a whiplash inducing whip shot. He pulled it backwards, and it wrapped itself around a soldier's throat. Malcolm pulled, forcing the guard to fall forward. He caught him with an elbow to the back of the neck as he fell.
Malcolm brushed his fringe backwards. "Brutal. They almost messed up my hair."
Kahri came back and whapped him over the head with the spatula. "Less vanity, more dropping soldiers."
Malcolm rubbed his head..."I was being sarcastic...ouch."
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"We almost cleared a complete path outta here, thanks to your friends." Warren shouted, as another soldier fell victim to his ball skills.
"Oh great, they're bringing in archers...we gotta get out of here quick." Elaine said, ducking under a soldier's attack and rising with an uppercut...with the knife in her hand...
Yuck, don't make me draw you a mental picture...
Elaine saw the archer aim an arrow...straight for Andrew, who by this time had almost reached her.
"Look out!"
He didn't hear her, and she let her emotions took over...
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Andrew didn't see the arrow fly off the archer's bow. He was too busy taking down more soldiers. Andrew didn't see Elaine charging towards him. It wasn't until she shoved him down and screamed:
"Get down you stupid fool!"
He fell to the ground, only to see the arrow impale itself into her shoulder. She screamed as she fell to the ground, the arrow twitching in it's new holster.
"Elaine! Why did you...never mind."
Andrew picked up Elaine and hoisted her over his shoulder. And he started to run through the soldiers taking them down as he went. He was too busy plowing through to notice the others following him.
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Warren ran over to the others. "Come on guys, we gotta get out of here. That maniac with the sword is leading the way."
Warren, of course, didn't know any of their names - but mentally categorised them as "Kid with Spatula," "Man with Whip," "Girl with the Throwing Knives," "Beautiful Girl," "Girl with the very strange outfit," "Monster," "Girl with Three Part Rod," and "Kid with Tonfa." Warren kicked the ball as hard as he could into the group of Highland soldiers. It rebounded of each soldiers' helmet, hitting a hella lot of them. Warren gave himself mental thumbs up, as he ran through the confused soldiers. Taking a quick look behind he saw the others following suit, occasionally striking the soldiers with their strange array of weaponry.
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Soon enough they had broken away from the group of Highland soldiers. Andrew led the charge, with Elaine protesting at being carried out like a meek girl all the time. Warren was close behind, with Riou, Nanami, Eilie, Rina, Bolgan, Millie and Bonaparte close behind. Kahri and Malcolm trailed a bit behind the others, taking care of the soldiers who chased after them.
"Go on. Run ahead." Malcolm said to Kahri, "I got an idea."
"I have no faith in your ideas anymore..." Kahri said.
Malcolm pushed him forwards. "Just go! I'll handle it."
Kahri eventually ran to catch up with the others, however reluctantly. Malcolm stood his ground as the Highland soldiers got closer and closer.
I REALLY hope this works...
He raised his right hand, and a pretty blue glow emanated from it. Kahri stopped, he couldn't help it. He noticed the others had also stopped, and were all staring at what Malcolm was up to.
"Oh Water Rune...lend me your strength..."
And then it happened. The lake that ran through the centre of Kuskus had suddenly risen, and was now surrounding Malcolm in a tornado (or should that be typhoon?) effect. The guards, as well as the others, looked dumbstruck. Just as suddenly as the water had engulfed Malcolm, it suddenly fired itself at the Highland soldiers in a powerful blast. The soldiers were swept away by the mighty wave.
"Let's get out of here already!" Malcolm yelled.
"No need to tell us twice!" Andrew answered.
But Elaine shook her head. "What about Avara...he was...and we...we just can't leave him here!"
Andrew took her by the hand and started running, dragging her with him.
"No time. He'll just have to fend for himself."
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Meanwhile...
The Highland guards were regrouping around Kuskus dock. They had failed miserably, only getting one of their targets. One guard walked over to the kid in the blue robes, who hadn't moved at all.
Then the wind picked up...the soldier looked confused. "But...where did that wind come from?"
He didn't get an answer, as without warning a series of hurricanes attacked the remaining Highland soldiers. They were blown everywhere, it was a devastating attack.
A green glow emanated from the dock, and a cocky looking boy in loose green robes appeared. He walked over to Avara's body and shook his head.
"If you think I'm going to leave you to die like this before I get the chance to kill you - you are sadly mistaken."
The boy, just as mysteriously as he appeared, disappeared again - this time with Avara's body...
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That was hopefully worth the wait. It answered no questions, and poses many more. What happens next?
[Andrew] - I wish you'd tell us, imagine leaving it like that with Elaine hurt!
[Elaine] - Please, it's just a flesh wound.
[Andrew] - Stubborn girl...
Anyway...find out in the next chapter. And I also wish to apologise to Kyuohki for stealing her muses idea for additional comedy.
