Author's Note: I'm a little surprised by the reaction at just how much of a rip off this is, to be honest. Especially to the extent that Dark Axem said 'I was just able to predict almost all of it' because the plot I follow is not the plot of the Three Musketeers at all. I simply took the idea of a Cardinal trying to usurp a King. The plot in the Three Musketeers (which I haven't read all of, I must confess, so this is what I guess from what I did read) is that a young man travels to a city to join the royal guard (musketeers), and ends up making three loyal friends, who then get into fights against the men belonging to the Cardinal who has plans to blackmail the King (or the Queen at least) into giving up the throne.

This plot is that a war has left a city without its King, and in light of this, the Cardinal attempts to take the throne by using the crisis as an excuse. However, there's no evidence that the King is dead, and the last surviving Royal Guard teams up with a traveller (Olose), who has come to stop the execution of his friend, to try and find the King before its too late and the Cardinal takes control.

As you can see, the plots are entirely different. They have a similar set up, but that's for a few reasons. According to FFXI lore that I read in research for this story (yeah, I know, I'm impressed I did any kind of thinking too!) San d'Oria got plunged into civil war after it lost to Bastok. I decided to take this idea and see what I could do. I thought the idea of the Temple Knights and the Royal Guard was interesting, so set them against each other, the church versus the crown, as it were. I also wanted to have the royalty of San d'Oria being the good guys for once, too often they're the bad guys, so I tried to change that.


The actual plot takes more from Robin Hood than the Three Musketeers! A missing King, somebody taking charge, and somebody making trouble for that guy. Now, I'm always the first to admit I am ripping things off, but I just wanted to explain (I hope I don't seem too arrogant) that I did think the storylines were different, and I wasn't just telling the Three Musketeers in FFXI. Although I did steal 'all for one and one for all', but that's because that's actually one of my favourite quotes, one I really like to believe in.

Oh, and Dark Axem, you said if d'Mil was the guy with the eye patch, the answer is no, she's not. I needed a captain of the Temple Knights, so made up a character. I then tried to come up with an elvaan sounding name (since Treville for the Cardinal and Richard for the King were not!) so made it 'd'Mil' which I got by taking 'd'Oria' and trying to create something that sounds similar. To be honest, I can't even remember the guy with the eye patch past vague images from a movie I saw years ago ( a really crappy version of the Three Musketeers). But no, she's not supposed to be him at all. For starters, she's female (I needed another female character in this story, they were all male for the most part), and also I wanted her to be a bit of a tough character to work out, after all, she's only following her orders, but being ordered to do bad things. Will she turn good? Urm, I haven't decided yet.

And you definitely haven't seen the last of the crew! That's all I'm saying though.

I hope I don't seem too arrogant about my own ideas here, or not too defensive or hostile. I just wanted to explain the differences, mainly because I'm worried. If it's too much of a rip off, I know people won't enjoy reading it, and I really appreciate everybody who reads, so want to make sure you enjoy it. This means I wanted to explain how I saw it, then see if anybody can offer any advice on improving it so it isn't such a rip off so that people can enjoy it, or whether it's okay once I explain it's not supposed to be the same plot. So hopefully I wasn't too arrogant or anything, I'm the first to admit I steal far far too much and aren't actually a very good writer, so please don't read it that way. I just wanted to see if people understood what I was doing with the plot, and whether you guys think its still too much of a rip off.

That's a long author's note, so I'll be quiet now. Sorry if I sounded like I was attacking my reviewers or being really arrogant, I'm just looking for help in getting this good! Anyway, I'll shut up.

CHAPTER 34

RESCUE

Dartian opened his eyes painfully. His body was aching all over. His memories slowly filtered back into his head and he remembered exactly what had happened previously.

"Where am I?" He asked quickly.

"Lord Tarrak's manor." Came a casual reply. "Your safe."

"Tarrak?" Gasped Dartian. "Father!"

"Father?" The figure turned around; it was Olose. "You're Tarrak's son?"

"Yeah. Where is he? What's happening?" Dartian sat up in bed painfully.

"He's due to be hanged. When he found out you were dead he tried to set things right between him and the Cardinal." Olose explained. Dartian paused.

"We must save him!" Dartian began to get up.

"Hold on a second, you're supposed to be dead. What happened?" Olose asked.

"My entire regiment were wiped out. The Royal Guard is no more, I am the last. The King is still missing. I suppose the Cardinal assumed I died with the regiment, I only made it back to the city yesterday." Dartian explained.

"Well, that makes sense." Olose shrugged. "But we have to stop the Cardinal from hanging your father."

"On what grounds has he been arrested?" Dartian asked.

"Attempted assassination." Olose admitted. "Which is why we must save him through force and force alone!"

"Allow me to help." Dartian offered. "I'm pretty handy with a sword." Olose examined Dartian's blade in the corner of the room. It was unusually thin; a rapier. "They're the best duelling blades in existence." He explained. "That's why we don't wear armour. We want to move quickly, and use speed."

"Here we will be against many opponents." Olose told him. "A duelling blade is not the best."

"It's what the Temple Knights use." Dartian pointed out.

"Either way, I think you should stay here. I can save your father, but you will probably be more useful if you do not get involved. You haven't committed any real crimes, have you?" Olose could tell that his scuffle with the Temple Knights hadn't been a major one for committing a serious crime.

"No. I was attacked because I tried to leave the city." Dartian answered.

"Then you are still innocent, and the Cardinal will find you much harder to deal with in that state." Olose pointed out. "And he'll have a hard time catching me. Besides, you still need rest."

"I'm fine." Dartian snapped.

"You don't look it, you took quite a fall, and we can't all be immortal." Dartian shot him a puzzled glance. "Arcadia will take care of you. She's downstairs at the moment looking over the details of the execution."

"Lady Arcadia?" Dartian repeated. "Wow. I haven't seen her since I was-" He made an appropriate height with his hands. Olose laughed.

"Yes. I remember last time he met Tarrak he said that you were too young to fight." Olose explained. "You've come quite far in these last few years."

"Save my father." Dartian told him. "And then together we can find the King and restore him to the throne."

"It is possible the King is dead, in which case we shall have a severe problem." Olose said bluntly.

"There is still another possibility. But for now, you should focus on the original task at hand." Dartian decided. Olose paused. Another possibility? He shook his head, deciding to focus on that at a later date.

"Right. I'll be back when I have your father. But from there we'll have to move rapidly. The Temple Knights will doubtlessly come here searching for him." Olose guessed.

"True. We'll move across town. I know a place we can hide out." Dartian explained.

"Right. I'll see you later." Olose grinned. "This should be interesting."

Arcadia heard somebody thunder down the stairs rapidly. That could only be Olose. He ran into the room and skidded to a stop.

"Olose." Arcadia said almost wearingly.

"Anything I need to know?" He asked, clearly hyper with energy.

"Only that it takes place in an hour." Arcadia told him. "And that the mightiest of the Temple Knights shall be there."

"Let's see if these elvaans live up to their reputation then." Olose laughed.

"No killing!" Arcadia warned. "These people are confused. They are only doing what they think is right."

"I know, I know." Olose sighed. "I'll do my best to not hurt any too badly." Arcadia gave him a stare that told him she didn't entirely trust his judgement. "I'll be fine. Just tend to Dartian, and make sure you're ready to leave when I get back." Arcadia stood, and nodded.

"I shall." She agreed.

"Right. I'll be back before you know it." He smiled. He turned and exited, and Arcadia watched longingly for a moment, hoping that he wouldn't do anything stupid.

Captain d'Mil stood holding out a long parchment in front of the crowd, and read from it in her most formal tone of voice.

"For the crime of attempted assassination of his eminence, the Cardinal Treville, Lord Tarrak Loneheart is to be hung until dead." She read, before folding up the parchment again and wondering just what the point in it was. "Commence the execution." She ordered to a largely built man in a brown executioner's mask. He nodded and stepped in, but before he got there an arrow thudded down in front of him. He looked up, startled. The shooter was in plain view.

"Not so fast." He warned. Multiple elvaan archers drew their bows and fired arrows at him. The shooter leapt from the castle wall on which he was stood and sailed down, crashing into the crowd. He ran through the crowd and burst up onto the platform. D'Mil drew her sword, and attacked. The figure drew his own and blocked, backing away. The executioner came up behind him and grabbed him over the arms, pinning him. The figure smirked.

Olose burst out of his grip as he forced his muscles outwards with incredible strength. The executioner stumbled backwards. Olose leapt into the air and delivered a roundhouse kick to his head, knocking him clean off of the platform and to the ground below. Tarrak watched in shock, still with the rope hooked around his neck. D'Mil ran in, and kicked away the stool on which he was stood, causing him to drop. Olose swung his blade and cut the rope, and he landed below.

"Do not interfere in our affairs, rebel!" D'Mil cried. "Surrender now and we shall grant you a quick death."

"I am no rebel." Olose grinned. "My name is Olose Sampson, and I'm loyal to the one true King of San d'Oria." Honestly, he was just involved to save a friend, but he thought it sounded cool.

"You have broken the law and will be pay!" D'Mil spat. "Seize him!" Temple Knights began to run up to the platform. Olose smiled, spinning his blade and moving in to attack them.

They ran up the steps as quickly as they could, but Olose made sure they didn't get far, sweeping down with his sword and cutting the steps away so that they collapsed. D'Mil let out an angry cry from behind, and charged Olose. Olose swung aside, blocking her attacks. She fought with a rapier, and was much faster than Olose, her red Temple Knight tunic flowing behind her as she jabbed at him. Olose took each hit undeterred and began to fight back.

"Surrender." Olose warned. "I only want my friend's freedom."
"Impossible." She panted, unable to understand how Olose was still standing. "You will die!" She attacked him again, but this time Olose dove past the blade and elbowed her in the face. She stumbled back and fell off of the platform, crashing down in the crowd. Olose jumped off of the platform, ready to look for Tarrak.

To his surprise Tarrak was stood next to the fallen body of the executioner, who had been soundly defeated in combat, beneath the platform.
"Well, this certainly is exciting." He grinned to Olose. Olose laughed.

"C'mon, we have to get out of here!" Olose signalled.

"Any plans?" Tarrak asked as the Temple Knights began to surround them.

"Many." Olose answered, slashing at the two structural supports of the execution platform. It fell forwards, its supports gone, and the gallows built on it slid off, crashing down on the knights. Olose gestured the other way, and they ran into the crowd, still being pursued.

Olose led Tarrak out of the grounds of the castle and into the street. Temple Knights blocked their way, apparently having heard the commotion. Olose drew his sword, and Tarrak readied his own one he had borrowed.

"So, who are you?" Tarrak asked casually as the knights dove in to attack.

"Olose Sampson, at your service." Olose answered.

"Sampson?" Tarrak exclaimed. "But you don't look anything like him!" He blocked an attack and swung around, slicing one of the guards legs.

"Long story." Olose shrugged, ducking a blade and blocking another behind him, before kicking one of the knights down. "Werewolf regeneration. It's a bit odd."

"I'll say!" Tarrak exclaimed as he fought back another knight. "Oh, come on! What does the Cardinal teach you?" He taunted his attackers, forcing them away. "I used to be a Royal Guard you know, in my younger days. You fools are nothing!" He knocked another one away. "You must have got lucky when you stopped me!"

"Your son lives." Olose quickly told him. "The only survivor. We've still heard nothing from the King."

"You hear that?" He cried to the Temple Knights. "My son lives! The Royal Guard are not eliminated yet! And the Cardinal will not take San d'Oria as long as he lives!" He kicked another back.

"That alleyway!" Olose cried, pointing to a darkened path. "Now!" The two bolted into it and the Temple Knight gave chase as fast as they could.

Arcadia eyed the bowl of hot soup, and tried to decide if she had done everything right. Tarrak's servants had left since he was arrested, leaving her to make something for Dartian by herself. She wasn't sure how she had fared, but it looked and smelled edible, which means she decided it was worth feeding to Dartian in an effort to restore his strength. She walked out of the kitchen area, struggling to keep the soup balanced on the tray she held. She reached the staircase when the door behind her was kicked down. She spun around started.

An elvaan women, dressed in the tunic of the Temple Guard, marched in. She drew her sword.

"A hume?" She remarked, surprised. "I should have guessed that Bastok was involved in this crime!"

"Crime? Bastok?" Arcadia stuttered. "I am Lady Arcadia De Lily, from Tavnazia. I know nothing of this crime you speak of."

"You lie poorly girl." The elvaan woman, clearly Captain d'Mil, told Arcadia. "I assume however, by the lack of anybody coming to your rescue, that your friend and the escaped assassin have not returned here yet. Therefore, I shall wait, and then kill them upon arrival." Arcadia peered down at the soup in her hands.

"I cannot let you do that." She said calmly, before throwing the hot liquid all over d'Mil. She screeched as it burnt her, and Arcadia ran up the staircase as fast as she could run, helplessly tripping over her dress as she neared the top. D'Mil ran after her, drawing her sword. Arcadia turned around, being lifted to her feet in surprise. Dartian moved her aside, and then drew his sword.

"Captain d'Mil." He smiled from the top of the stairs. "How's it going?"

"Stand down Dartian, and I will spare your life!" She spat.
"I'm afraid I appear to have the high ground, Santia." He used her first name, just as she had used his. "Combat 101, you could be in trouble."

"You are just a lowly lieutenant and I am a captain." D'Mil laughed. "You can't win."

"Actually, I'm now Captain of the Royal Guard of San d'Oria, and that makes me above you and your Temple Knights." D'Mil paused, listening to Dartian speak.

"The King has not been found. The Cardinal and the Temple Knights rule at the moment." She explained. "I am only doing my duty, and you are plotting to free an assassin. I have vowed to protect the Cardinal, as you have vowed to protect your King. If that man had attempted to assassinate the King, you would have no hesitations." D'Mil stood, sword in her hand, staring into Dartian's eyes.

"You are an aide to the Cardinal. You could make him stop this madness! He wants to rule all of San d'Oria and you know it!" Dartian cried.

"He will not listen to me. I am just a knight." D'Mil told him.
"So that makes it alright then, to go about and help his stamp on our crown and our beliefs, and take over?" Dartian asked. D'Mil paused.

"I serve him loyally!" D'Mil finally decided. "It is my duty."

"You'll serve him better in one piece." Came a voice from the bottom of the stairs. D'Mil spun around. Olose and Tarrak stood there, swords drawn. Olose had that irritating grin splattered across his face.

Olose spun the blade in his hand and held it extended. Tarrak stood as backup. Dartian smiled, trying not to be distracted by seeing his father again.

"You serve the Cardinal, but you will not if you are dead. So return to him." Dartian told d'Mil. "Do not stay here and die. Go back to the Cardinal and tell him what you wish. Perhaps you'll tell him we bested you, or perhaps you'll lie, say we weren't here, it'll come off better for you that way." D'Mil dropped her sword with a sigh.

"You haven't won." D'Mil told them. "I uphold peace for the Cardinal. You disrupt that peace. That makes you my enemy. Next time I will not come alone." Her words were brave, but the speed at which she left suggested she was not as courageous she claimed.

Tarrak ran and embraced his son as soon as she was gone. Arcadia ran into Olose's arms.

"Are you alright?" Arcadia, Olose, Tarrak and Dartian asked in perfect synch, causing them to laugh slightly.

"Son, I'm so glad your safe." Tarrak said warmly to Dartian.

"You're one to speak!" Laughed Dartian. "What were you thinking, attacking the Cardinal!"

"Somebody has to end his madness!" Tarrak replied. "I thought he had you killed."

"Had me killed?" Dartian repeated, confused.

"He sent no reinforcements, no food, no new weapons, while the King was out on the battlefield. Like he wanted him to lose the battle." Tarrak explained.

"He threw the war with Bastok just so that he could take over?" Dartian cried in surprise. "Damn him! My friends, they're dead because of him!"

"Exactly. That is why we must stop him." Tarrak told his son.

"We cannot harm him, that would make us enemies of San d'Oria. We must restore the King!" Dartian cried.

"That means we need to find him, if he's still alive." Olose sighed. "You said there was another option."

"There is another who is destined to take the crown, but I do not know if it is wise." Dartain told Olose. Olose paused.

"Destined? So the King does have an heir?" Olose sounded quite surprised.

"Yes. But I do not know if it is a good idea. I suppose I should explain." Dartian began.

"Yes." Arcadia said bluntly. "I never knew the King had a son. I would have thought I would have heard." Dartian chuckled.

"He doesn't have a son." He laughed.

"But you just said-" Arcadia began.
"He has a daughter." He smiled as he saw Arcadia's 'oh, of course, why didn't I think of that?' reaction. "But there is a complication. Allow me to explain." Arcadia and Olose sat on the stairs, waiting patiently to hear the problem.