"Unlikely Bedfellows"
Namy met us when we arrived in Windurst. Mourn had sent an urgent request for us to come. The situation was tense in Windurst. The entire Windurst Elder Council save one had been killed by a powerful explosion during their battle with Icon. I, Tiny Heart, Wolferine and Twinki came to assess the situation. When we reached Windurst Walls, we saw the devastation caused by the explosion. The upper part of Heavenly Tower was now in ruins. We met Mourn in one of the houses near the tower. The surviving Mithra Elder was recuperating there.
"Thank you for coming in such short notice." Mourn told us.
"In these times of crisis, let us dispense with pleasantries. How is the situation in Windurst?" Wolferine asked.
"With almost the entire Elder Council dead, the morale of Windurstians is pretty low. If Icon decides to attack again, I think Windurst won't be able to withstand it." Mourn replied.
"Are you sure it was Icon who attacked the Elder Council?" I asked Mourn.
"Look here Tiny Heart; I've had enough of your doubts whenever Icon's name is mentioned. Yes we fought together with him before but he has changed. You saw it yourself more than once how evil he has become. So if you still continue to ask those stupid questions I suggest you either leave or shut up!" Mourn angrily said.
I stayed silent and didn't answer back.
"Okay everyone cool down. We are all tense from the crisis. We shouldn't be fighting amongst ourselves." Wolferine said to calm the atmosphere.
"Sorry I snapped at you Tiny Heart. I've had a few rough days behind me." Mourn apologized.
"It was my fault. No need to apologize." I answered back.
The Elder Mithra rose from the bed to face us. "We may have a weapon against Icon. The emissary who came to Windurst, a female Elvaan named Umbra seems to be carrying the Shadow Lord's offspring. He seemed to care much about her."
"Reports have it that before Icon attacked Windurst. Our scouts stationed near Castle Oztraja heard a battle being fought inside. Around the same time the battle ended in Castle Oztraja, Icon appeared in Windurst." Mourn added.
"Plus Umbra and the child in her womb were protected by an invisible magic barrier. Our magic attack couldn't hit her. She must be that important for him to retreat from Castle Oztraja and come here to Windurst to save her." the Elder Mithra said again.
"That certainly is important information. We will need every advantage we can get. Icon has become too powerful for us to defeat." Twinki said.
We heard a knock on the door. Sylvaria, the Mithra Samurai stepped inside. She had a worried look on her face. "Commander Mourn, our scouts have reported that the Orcs and Quadavs have crossed the great bridges of Jeuno and have started streaming towards Meriphataud Mountains. I think they are coming to invade Windurst."
Mourn started to pace back and forth, deep in thought. Finally she said. "We need to engage the enemy before they reach Windurst. If we lose the populace of Windurst will have enough time to evacuate."
"I agree with Mourn. I will send word to Bastok and see if they can send as much reinforcements as they can through the Crag of Mea." I said.
"Wolferine, I want you to meet someone. You will surely find it interesting to meet him. Sylvaria take Wolferine to Tien." Mourn said. "The rest of us prepare for battle."
-O-
The Crag of Mea was already teeming with the Windurstian Army when we teleported in. More and more troops teleported in to get ready for the defense of Windurst. Wolferine was with a group of Tarutaru who looked like Beastmasters. "I didn't realize Windurst had Beastmasters on their army." Wolferine said to Mourn as he approached us.
"After the Great Tarutaru Hero Moui was stripped of his command, the Elders secretly trained groups of Beastmasters over the years. They saw how powerful Beastmasters were." Mourn replied.
The leader of the Windurst Beastmasters, a Tarutaru named Tien approached us. "Commander Mourn, I together with Wolferine and my men will go ahead and see if we can ambush the enemy."
"Be careful Tien."
"I always am."
"I will go with you Tien." Twinki said.
"Twinki, it has been years since you left Windurst. Glad to fight by your side again." Tien replied. They saddled up on their chocobos and rode off.
-O-
Wolferine and the others watched as hundreds of Quadavs and Orcs streamed into Meriphataud Mountains. To their amazement instead of going towards Tahrongi Canyon, they moved towards the direction of Castle Oztraja.
"Are they headed towards Oztraja to join up with the Yagudos or to attack them?" Wolferine asked.
"Beastmen fighting other beastmen? It is unlikely." Twinki replied.
"Let us go and see what they are up to." Tien said.
Hundreds of Yagudos were massed at the entrance of Castle Oztraja. The Quadav and Orc army stopped a few meters away from the castle. A Quadav and Orc stepped forward and walked towards the Yagudos. One Yagudo also stepped forward and met the two halfway. They seemed to be talking at first then signs of agruement could be seen after. The Orc suddenly raise its sword and struck the Yagudo. It seemed to have missed at point blank range.
"Ninjitsu, the Yagudo is a Ninja warrior. I still can't believe the Orcs and Quadavs are attacking the Yagudos. Should we help the Yagudos?" said Twinki.
"Help the Yagudos? Are you out of your mind Twinki?" said Tien. "You forgot the Yagudos and we Windurstians have bad blood between us."
"Look Tien the only reason I see the Yagudos are being attacked is because they must have refused to join Icon. Ever since the crisis started there have been no reports of the Yagudo attacking anyone. In these times every ally we can get, the better it is for us." Twinki replied.
"Twinki is correct Tien. We should not look at the past transgressions between Windurst and the Yagudos. If we help the Yagudos and in turn gain an ally in them, it would be a huge bonus for us." Wolferine added.
"I cannot decide on this matter. I needed to consult Commander Mourn. I still think you two are nuts." Tien said as he took out a link pearl to talk to Mourn.
"Better hurry up because the Yagudos don't have time on their hands." Wolferine said as he pointed to the scene in front of him. The Orcs and Quadavs had started their siege of Castle Oztraja.
-O-
"Are you sure of what you are seeing?" Mourn asked talking to someone through a link pearl.
"Is there something wrong Mourn?" I asked.
"Tien reported that the Orcs and Quadavs objective wasn't Windurst but Castle Oztraja. A battle has already started between them and the Yagudos." Mourn answered. "Plus Wolferine and Twinki suggested we help the Yagudos."
"We should help them. If we help them and in turn they are grateful, we will have a new ally on them." I said.
"That is what Wolferine and Twinki said also but I tend to agree with Tien that the idea of helping the Yagudos is ridiculous and crazy." Mourn replied.
"Why do you say that? Do you know we Bastokans went to rescue the Sandorian King? It also sounds crazy and ridiculous that we helped Sandoria considering the numerous wars that happened between us." I said. "In these times you have to think out of the box in order to win the war."
"And what happened afterwards? Didn't the Sandorian King turn his back on you after you rescued him and refuse to help us in our fight?" Mourn countered.
"At least we tried. It was worth it." I replied back. Mourn and I were starting to get annoyed with each other.
"It is so easy for you to say that Tiny Heart. Whatever I decide now will ultimately affect the fate of Windurst. What if we help them and in the end the Yagudos stabs us in the back. I will be held accountable for that. I will be charged for high treason for my actions. If you were in my shoes can you just say yes to help the Yagudos that easily? Tell me can you?" Mourn said now clearly irritated.
"I would say yes in an instant if I were in your shoes." a voice behind us answered.
Both I and Mourn turned to see who said that. It was Zeid. He had arrived with reinforcements from Bastok. "If you aren't willing to help the Yagudos, we will. Come Tiny Heart let us not waste our time here arguing. If you aren't willing to join us Commander, can you at least lend us chocobos so we can reach Oztraja faster?" Mourn didn't say anything but just nodded her head.
-O-
"So what did Mourn say?" Wolferine asked Tien.
"She hasn't given me an answer yet." Tien answered.
"Damnit we do not have the luxury of waiting. The Yagudos won't last long at the rate the siege is going." Wolferine said.
"Sorry, without Commander Mourn's go signal I cannot help the Yagudos." Tien answered back.
"Give me the link pearl and let me talk to Mourn myself." Wolferine said.
"Wolferine I warn you. Do not cause any trouble or else I will have to order my men to restrain you." Tien said.
"Shut up both of you, listen." Twinki said.
They heard sounds of chocobos galloping towards them. A dust cloud could be seen from afar. Wolferine's face beamed when he saw it was us riding the chocobos. "Where are Mourn and the Windurstian Army?" Wolferine asked.
"She couldn't make up her mind so we left without her." Zeid answered.
Wolferine looked at the troops behind Zeid numbering about 200. "We will have to make do with what we have. I will be right back." He then went to find something.
Zeid yelled to the troops. "Get ready men."
Tien held Twinki's arm as we were preparing to attack. "Surely you a Tarutaru aren't planning to go and help the Yagudos, the enemy of Windurst?"
Twinki took Tien's hand off his arm and replied. "My loyalty isn't to Windurst alone; it is for all of Vanadiel. It will be hard for you who has been serving Windurst all your life and not seeing the changes happening all around Vandiel to understand why we should help the Yagudos. I wish you well my friend. I do not know if I will survive this day." With that said Twinki walked away from Tien.
Wolferine came back and behind him was a raptor. "I charmed our friend here to fight for us. This should be fun."
We then proceeded to attack the Orcs and Quadavs. As we got near, Wolferine commanded the raptor to attack. It ran towards a group of Orcs. The Orcs not natives to this part of Vanadiel didn't realize how fast raptors were. The raptor surprised the Orcs with the ferocity of its attack. Seeing their comrades being shred to pieces, the Orcs moved backwards.
We then stormed the Orcs and Quadavs. At first the Yagudos, bewildered seeing us attacking the Orcs and Quadavs, stopped fighting. They didn't know whether we were friend or foe. Soon when they saw that we meant them no harm, they rejoined the battle.
As good as the Bastokan fighters present were, we were still badly outnumbered by the combined forces of the Orcs and Quadavs. Slowly we were pushed backwards into Castle Oztraja.
"Zeid there are too many of them. We won't be able to hold them back much longer." Wolferine yelled.
We were cornered at the entrance to the castle when the ground around us started to explode. Orcish Firebleachers were raining projectiles towards us.
"Tiny Heart punch a path through those Orcs and take out those cannons." Zeid ordered. I and Twinki together with Bastokan troops fought our way towards the Orcish Firebleachers. The sea of Orcs in our path was too many for us to break through. As we defeated a group of them more would take their place. The Yagudo's numbers were fast being destroyed by the bombardment from the Orchish Firebleachers.
Suddenly we saw dozens of raptors jump towards the Orcs and attack them. We turned and saw Tien and his Tarutaru Beastmasters running towards us. They finally came to their senses and decided to help us. Mourn and the rest of the Windurstian Army that was massed at Tahrongi Canyon arrived minutes later.
The Yagudos were even more bewildered seeing their natural enemies the Windurstians helping them. Realizing they needed all the help they could get, the Yagudos immediately drop all their doubts on the Windurstians motives. What a sight it was, two former adversaries now fighting side by side.
I was starting to tire from the battle that I became careless. I got hit on the head by a wayward blow and was dazed momentarily. With my vision foggy, I saw a Quadav in front of me raise his sword ready to strike me. I couldn't raise my weapon fast enough as the sword came bearing down on me. Luckily someone else's sword blocked the Quadav's attack before it could fatally hit me. I looked up and saw it was Xyphos, the Elvaan Paladin who recently joined our ranks, who saved me. As he finished dealing with the Quadav, he extended his hand and said. "Are you okay?" I smiled and said yes then took his helping hand to stand up. We quickly returned to join the battle at hand.
For the next two hours, every move, every swing of the weapon, every blood shed by both sides had a very important goal, Victory. It would be a huge psychological victory for whoever won the battle. Even if we were outnumbered, we bravely fought and refused to yield. In the end, seeing how determined we were, the Quadav and Orc Armies finally decided to retreat. We had won the day.
Mourn approached us and said. "You were right and I was wrong. This battle was worth fighting for. I shouldn't have thought of Windurst's fate but the fate of all Vanadiel instead."
"We may have a problem though." I pointed towards the Windurstian troops and Yagudos.
With the battle over, the two sides reverted back to their suspicious ways. Both sides formed a line opposite one another. Each side was ready to strike the other. A path opened on the Yagudo side, a Yagudo holding a staff emerged and walked towards the middle of both sides of the line.
"The Yagudo High Priest. He is the Chief Yagudo inside Castle Oztraja." Mourn told us. She quickly weaved through the Windurst line and met the Yagudo in the middle. Both of them stood for quite sometime in the middle and stared at each other.
Mourn was surprised with the Yagudo High Priest's next move. The High priest extended its hand towards Mourn. "Peace." the Yagudo said. Mourn at first hesitated but then extended her hand as well and both shook hands.
That handshake sealed it all. Both sides yelled in jubilation. Peace was forged between two old adversaries. We had gained an ally this day. As I saw the happy faces and the jubilation of everyone present, there was now even greater hope we can win the war.