Usual Disclaimers Apply, you should know what I do and do not own.
Well, I got this one done in time...let's see if I can make it a habit!
[Warren] "You have as much chance of making it a habit as Soccer does of becoming more popular than American Football in the states."
That has to be the strangest version of the proverbial Snowball in Hell I'll ever hear...
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Andrew's Story - Chapter Twenty One
Zapping Zombies & Nuking Neclord...at least that's the plan...
(Location - The Ruins of North Window)
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Andrew stood in shock as he gazed around the ruins of North Window City. "It's even more horrid than I imagined..."
Viktor nodded grimly. "Everyone knows the story of what happened here...Especially me."
Andrew looked momentarily confused, "Viktor was born here...and he witnessed the whole thing..." Nanami explained.
"Enough chatter. Let's get the vampire." The Star Dragon Sword said angrily.
"Indeed. We must vanquish Neclord once and for all." Kahn agreed.
"You think it was okay leaving Freed outside the Cave of the Wind?" Eilie asked.
Viktor managed to stifle the laugh. "It's for his own good. Let's go already."
The remains inside North Window castle were just as eerie as the outside. They passed through the main hall, where rubble was littered everywhere; everything was in a state of erosion. It was genuinely the creepiest place Andrew had ever been in. The statues were horrid, probably even before they had started to crumble. The torches flickered - casting eerie shadows everywhere. It was, in whole, a nasty place to be.
And that was before the Zombies appeared...
"Gross!" Andrew said, before slicing the nearest one down with his sword.
Andrew stared as the remains of the Zombie kept wiggling. Supressing the extreme urge to be violently ill, he chopped down another one, wisely closing his eyes before contact. Meanwhile Nanami and Riou were double teaming another Zombie, Viktor was hacky-slashing any that came near him, Eilie was picking off the further away Zombies with her throwing knives...
And Kahn was using magic; unlike any Andrew had ever seen before. The magic glowed eerily, and it easily tore through the Zombies. His weapon, Shadowbane, quickly picked off any Zombies that got nearer to Kahn.
Eventually a path was cleared, and everyone ran through. Andrew and Viktor led the charge, taking down any Zombies that got in the way. The room they entered seemed devoid of Zombies...and an Exit.
"Dammit, dead end!" Viktor yelled.
Nanami was looking around, "I bet you there's a secret passage or something...there is ALWAYS secret passages in old castles like this!"
Andrew looked at the girl sceptically, "That only happens in stories. This is real life; there won't be any passages. We just took a wrong turn, those Zombies diverted us."
Andrew sighed as he leant against the nearby statue. He almost screamed as the statue moved under his weight. He fell on his butt, and the wall in the top left of the room opened. Nanami walked past Andrew smugly, leaving Andrew to curse all things bratty as he got up and followed the rest of the party.
They entered another room; it too appeared empty...until a beam of magical energy zipped past them, barely missing them all. Looking up, they saw two mysterious figures.
"Sorcerers!" Kahn shouted, as he jumped out of the way of another magic blast.
"They're blocking the exit!" Viktor yelled.
Another blast shot through the room. Eilie dived to the ground, and rolled into her fall. She threw two knives at the Sorcerers as she came out of her roll, catching both of them right in the head. Both Sorcerers fell to the ground, their threat no longer a problem. Eilie retrieved her Knives, before putting on a smug look. They entered the next room.
"Another dead end?" Viktor said, looking around.
Nanami opened her mouth, but Andrew covered it with his left hand. "Shut up and look for the secret passageway."
Further examination of the room, which simply contained a set of candles on large candlesticks. All were lit...apart from one. Common sense took over, as Andrew walked over and lit the unlit candle. The wall in the top right of the room flew open.
Andrew looked over at Nanami; "Maybe I should read some of the stories you read..."
Nanami giggled as she followed Viktor and Kahn into the passageway. Andrew went in, with Riou and Eilie close behind. Andrew frowned..."Does anyone else hear that...sounds like a piano."
Everyone stopped to listen...and the faintest sound of the piano being played could be heard.
Viktor's face turned into one of rage; "He's close."
"Not even, that Piano playing is AWFUL!" Eilie said, before realising what Viktor meant..."Never mind..."
They walked through the castle, the "awful" piano playing increasing in volume. Soon enough they entered a darkened room, with a large piano at the back. Being played by a caped figure.
"So good of you to come, so prompt." It said, turning around.
Andrew gasped at the hideous vampire known as Neclord. It, like the castle, was much more horrid than he could have imagined.
"Ah, I sense that you have brought that Star Dragon Sword with you...and is that the Marley boy too? My, my...what a reception!" Neclord laughed.
"Your time is over vampire!" Came the voice of the Star Dragon Sword.
Neclord laughed some more. "Oh, how I've missed that wit. But before you, ahem, destroy me again...there's someone I'd like you to meet...someone you know quite well Viktor."
From the ground came a figure, which morphed into an attractive brunette girl. Andrew heard Viktor gasp.
"D...Daisy? You bastard..." He said, looking right at Neclord.
"Ah yes, I figured you might be interested in seeing her again. I have a proposition for you...hand over the Star Dragon Sword, and I'll give you Daisy back. Isn't that a wonderful deal, Viktor?"
"Don't give him the sword!" Riou yelled, surprising everyone.
"Young master Riou is correct, without the Star Dragon Sword we have no chance to defeat Neclord!" Kahn added.
Viktor looked at the Star Dragon Sword. "What do you think?"
"Do what you will." It replied.
Viktor looked at the others, then back at Neclord. He closed his eyes, and threw the sword towards Neclord.
"You fool!" Kahn roared.
"Now Eilie!" Viktor said, ignoring Kahn.
Eilie took out one of her knives and threw it right at Daisy, going right through her face. The zombified body fell to the ground. Viktor then let out a small laugh.
"You must think I'm stupid or something. I know that once someone has died, you cannot bring them back." He said.
Neclord picked up the sword, looking slightly puzzled. "Then why did you throw me the Star Dragon..." Neclord looked at it..."This is a FAKE!!!"
Neclord looked back to see Andrew rushing towards him, the Star Dragon Sword in his hand ready to take down Neclord once and for all. Neclord was taken by surprise, and tried to teleport away as Andrew swung the Star Dragon Sword down in an arc. It just missed, taking off some of the fabric of Neclord's cape. Andrew cursed as he turned to where Neclord had reappeared. Neclord had a grin on his face.
"A very clever plan. But for now I have more pressing matters to deal with. I'll leave you with this..." Neclord pointed to the opposite wall.
Andrew turned, and saw the worst thing he could possibly have imagined. "Elaine!" He yelled, rushing towards the bound and gagged Elaine - who was trying to shake her head.
"And this." Neclord laughed, before disappearing.
"Dammit!" Viktor said, retrieving the sword he had thrown down.
Then the Abomination dropped down from the ceiling, landing right in front of Andrew. Seeing Elaine trapped like that was the worst thing Andrew could've imagined, but the Abomination was without a doubt the most hideous thing Andrew could've imagined. It had two heads for starters, and horrible legs with evil looking feet...that looked like hands...ew.
"Things cannot get any worse than this." Andrew said, backing away from the Abomination.
"We could be taking on a 30 foot tall robot alien ninja with two heads that breathe fire and ice respectively." Eilie replied.
"I stand corrected..." Andrew said, laughing in the faces, both of them, of adversary.
Andrew jumped back as the clawed hand of the Abomination swiped at him. He couldn't see Elaine, as the looming Abomination...well, loomed above everyone. Then it jumped into the air.
"Ack! It's gonna land on US!!!" Andrew yelled, unnecessarily. Everyone else had already moved out of the way.
With a sweatdrop, Andrew quickly moved too, as the Abomination crashed to the ground. The impact knocked everyone down. Eilie tucked and rolled, again, and quickly threw two knives at the Abomination. One of them caught it in one of its legs, but it managed to knock the other one away. Andrew used Eilie's distraction to strike on of its heads with the Star Dragon Sword. The Abomination roared in pain, before swatting Andrew away with its free leg. Andrew tumbled back, but managed to land on his feet. Viktor had run in, swiping at the Abomination's legs, but he too fell victim to a swatting. Not being as dexterious as the treasure hunter, Viktor landed on his back. Hard.
Then it opened both of it's mouths, something Andrew wished he had never seen, and inhaled. Inhaling wasn't the problem; it was when it exhaled a hideous cloud of gas that was the major problem. Not taking any chances, Andrew covered his nose and mouth, until the gas dissipated into the air. He saw Riou and Nanami whacking the Abomination with their respective weapons, before jumping out of the way to avoid the swatting.
They learn quicker than Viktor anyway...
Andrew saw Kahn standing in the background, which could only mean one thing...he was going to use that Rune again.
"Resurrection Rune...lend me your power...Charm Arrow!"
Andrew stared dumbfoundedly as a series of blasts struck the Abomination. The thing staggered under each bolt, and fell to its knees. Andrew looked over at Viktor and nodded. As one they charged, swords held high. The Abomination had no chance to recover as Andrew and Viktor swung their swords, each one taking of a head. The body of the Abomination fell motionlessly to the ground, as the heads rolled harmlessly away.
Andrew walked over to Eilie. "Eilie...what the hell is a robot?"
Eilie retrieved her knives, "Um, is that really the issue right now?" She said, pointing over to where Elaine was still chained.
Andrew slapped his forehead as he ran over to Elaine, and managed to hack through the chains with the Star Dragon Sword. He ignored it's plaintive cries of "That's not how you treat someone like me!" as he freed Elaine.
Elaine stood up, and stared at Andrew huffily. "What took you so long you bastard?" She said, punching him in the shoulder. Then she gave him a big hug. Elaine looked down at the remains of the Abomination. She kicked it.
Andrew stared at her, nothing but a confused look on his face. He looked at the Star Dragon Sword with an apologetic look on his face. "I'll make sure to shine you up really good for helping us."
"See Viktor, now this is how someone like me should be treated." It said, with a little laugh.
Viktor simply let out a "bah" as he left the room, the others following suit.
---
They reached the exit without incident, all the Zombies gone with Neclord's departure.
"Well, I shall be leaving you for now. When I find anymore information about Neclord's whereabouts, I shall let you know." Kahn said suddenly.
He walked off. "Thanks for your help." Viktor said, still angry that Neclord had escaped them.
Then they saw Freed running up towards them. "What happened? Why did you leave me behind?"
Viktor patted Freed on the shoulder. "Relax, we took care of it...Neclord's gone."
Freed looked surprised, then relieved. "Then we should go inform Lord Granmeyer immediately!"
Andrew watched everyone walk out of the castle, Viktor, Eilie, Riou and Nanami, but he grabbed Elaine by the arm before she could walk away.
"What the hell was up with the hug back there?" He asked.
Elaine spun around, brushing her hair off her shoulder. "Well, it was either that or punch you harder."
"What does that mean?" Andrew asked.
"Well, I guess it means..." She replied, "I guess it means that...I really, really like..."
"SOUTH WINDOW HAS WHAT???"
Elaine closer her eyes, and once again cursed all things Viktor. "Another time." She said, before walking off.
Andrew looked even more confused than before. He looked down to see a group of people had entered North Window. Rina and Bolgan, Leona, Apple, Flik, Kahri, Warren and Malcolm, with that kid Pilika on his shoulder.
Flik sighed, "South Window has fallen to Highland."
Freed looked like he might faint, "WHAT?"
Viktor looked even more pissed off. "What happened?"
"When the Highland army approached...well, Lord Granmeyer surrendered..." Flik said, looking really unhappy.
"What happened to Lord Granmeyer?" Freed pleaded.
"...Killed...by Solon Jhee."
"No....." Freed said, looking like he was about to start crying.
"We'll tell you everything inside." Flik said.
Viktor nodded grimly, before leading everyone inside. Malcolm set Pilika down, she quickly ran over to Riou and Nanami.
"I don't think you'd want to hear Flik's story...it might be too graphic..." Warren said eventually.
"Hmph, I don't think there is any possible way of telling it nicely." Malcolm said, angrily.
Kahri sighed, "But we'll try anyway..."
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The story of how South Window fell to Highland, from Kahri, Malcolm and Warren's perspective is our next chapter.
