Here is the sixth chapter of my ongoing fan fiction. The action starts here! This is going to be a lengthy chapter, I hope. Need to keep the fans (and myself) happy! Enjoy! This is going to be a LONG chapter, people.
Chapter VI: Captured
"Wake up. It's time to go. The troops are ready and so are we."
Those were the words Albel had woken up to. Nel had rushed him out of the castle to Peterny. The town was completely empty when he arrived. The only signs of life in the street were those of the Black Brigade soldiers awaiting their captain's arrival. Strangely, several runologists were among them. Fayt and the others were there as well.
"Sir Albel, we are ready to fight," said a Black Brigade soldier.
"Good. The plan is to mercilessly slaughter those Greeton scum," Albel ordered.
"Sir!"
That was the whole point of this battle and this war. Kill those who were fighting on Greeton's side and therefore save their sorry lives was all they had to do. Now if they could only get on with this fight.
The soldier that was always guarding the closed gate to the continent of Greeton reluctantly opened it. The Black Brigade soldiers began marching taking the first foreign steps in centuries on Greeton soil. Albel and the group followed.
Fayt seemed a little relaxed. Sophia, who was marching alongside him, acted nervously. Cliff, Mirage, and Maria were obviously ready. They walked on without a look of fear on their faces. Nel was calm as she always seemed to be. Roger and Peppita, being their young age, were hopping along after all of them. Albel could sense their hidden fear. He himself was ready. But he felt a little strange ever since he had been woken up. Something kept bothering his mind throughout the night but it never actually came out in the clear. It was hiding like a frightened rodent. What he didn't know is that it would reveal itself at a most inconvenient time. For now, it would just continue to bother him.
Greeton lands were not that much different from Gaitt. All of them had the pleasure of lush green scenery. They all knew after the battle that it would be a barren wasteland.
"How much farther do we have to walk?" asked Roger.
"Until we see the enemy," said Nel. "I just know they've been waiting for us to come into their lands. We may be walking straight into a trap."
"It will take a lot more than an ambush or trap to stop my brigade. It will also be that way for me," Albel said quite confidently.
"Don't get too cocky," warned Cliff. "We are all mortal, whether you like the fact or not. A single mistake of not parrying a blow could mean your death."
"I don't plan on losing to Greeton fools. It'll take a lot of effort to make me maggot food."
"Eww," said Peppita grimacing. "You don't have to be so descriptive."
"I just hope we all live through this," Sophia said generally quiet.
"Why did the runologists come?" asked Albel. "I thought it was just the Black Brigade and us fighting today."
"Her Majesty wanted them to accompany us. She said it would make her less worried if we had magic users that could heal any survivors after the battle," Nel said.
They all kept walking on in silence. They all started to tread upon wasteland. The landscape contained few signs of plant and animal life. All there was was towering rock formations. They'll get us here, he thought. I can feel it. They'll attack us here. It's the perfect spot and we're the perfect bait.
Just then, something black and nearly invisible flew straight into the neck of a Black Brigade soldier. He fell onto the ground dead.
"That's an...," started Fayt.
"An arrow. Everyone, pull out your weapons!" ordered Nel unsheathing her daggers.
"This is my brigade, Zelpher. You can order your subordinates around but not my unit," Albel said.
All of them pulled out their weapons looking for any sign of life. They all seemed to be alone until footsteps were heard. The sounds came from humanoids resembling living rocks in the shape of humans walking from a nearby rock formation. The ones in front held swords and other blades while the ones in the very back clutched their bows and arrows. A figure in a cloak lead them all. The leader's face was covered by a hood so no one could make out an identity.
"So, you've finally come," said the figure in a voice that sounded rather like a snake's than a human's. "Fools, do you really think you can win this war?"
"Bah, you talk big, worm. I'll be causing you so much pain that you'll beg me to just kill you instead of dying a slow, painful death," Albel hissed dragging out the Crimson Scourge.
"You dream big, mortal. But your confidence won't save you from death. Gaitt shall fall and Greeton will be all-powerful. We already know it and so do you. Since we have won already, we will go easy on you for now. We'll be nice enough not to use our more advanced weapons today. I can sense your fear. I can hear every breathe you take. I can see your frightened face. I even know the time you wil die. And that time is today. Attack!"
The figure disappeared in a flash of darkness as the enemy army charged. The archers fired their arrows in the air causing everyone to run away from range. A few more soldiers couldn't get away and were shot dead. The runologists started preparing spells.
"Those who can use runology," yelled Nel. "attack the archers!"
Soon, several Lightning Strike and Laser Beams spells appeared on the archers' side of the field. The Black Brigade and the enemies with bladed weapons clashed. Albel was the first to kill several of the humanoids. It only took a few swift slashes before penetrating their stone-like skin. Fayt was nearby casting quick spells and cutting through the approaching mass. Sophia was barely visible in the distance. She was using Meteor Swarm burning those nearby to death.
Albel focused on the small group rushing toward him. He lifted his sword ready to bring it down onto the enemy. But something stopped him. An image in his mind appeared. It was the thing that had been bothering him the way here. To his horror, it was another unpleasant memory.
Again, the fifteen year old Albel woke up aching all over but he noticed that he didn't feel anything on one of his arms. He looked at his left arm and almost screamed. An iron claw had replaced it. A nurse walked in with bandages in her arms.
"You're awake already?" she asked.
"What's going on?" he asked in panic.
"You've been unconscious for days now. You almost didn't make it. The dragons were very angry."
Dragons? Yes, he remembered dragons. He also remembered them breathing flame upon him... but they did not touch him. His father, Glou Nox, had stepped in the way. Was he alright?
"Where's my father?" Albel asked calming down a bit. "And why do I have this... claw on my arm?"
"Do you remember any pain in your arm?"
"I vaguely remember burning pain but then nothing."
"Yes, well you lost your left arm to the dragons. They had burned it so severely we couldn't use it. The next best thing was that claw you are now wearing. About your father, well... I am sorry to say he has... he... Glou Nox is dead."
"Dead? No, I won't believe it!"
Albel bolted out of the bed. His body ached with each step he took. The nurse tried to follow but couldn't keep up.
"Wait, come back!" she yelled. "Albel!"
He snapped out of his memory when Fayt ran in defending against the humanoids.
"Albel, what are you doing?" he said after driving off the group. "If I hadn't been here just now, they could've killed you!"
"What? Oh, I was just a little... preoccupied."
"Stop standing around!"
Fayt charged away slashing through the oncoming horde. Albel shook his head.
"Got to get it together," he mumbled. "Can't lose to these Greeton maggots."
He continued to fight.
"Air Slash! Double Slash! Dragon Roar! Hand of Doom! Palm of Destruction!"
He pulled off one attack after another bringing down more victims. He had to stop and recooperate for a second. It seemed like was no end to them. One after the other came. The only exception was the archers which seem finished off; the arrows had ceased. Albel glanced around at the battlefield around him. Black Brigade soldiers lay everywhere dead or just about to. Runologists also lay scattered upon the ground. The sounds of blades clashing and the rings of spells filled his ears. He hadn't fought in a battle this violent in a long time.
Albel lifted the Crimson Scourge again preparing another attack. But another memory distracted him.
He ran through the castle searching for any signs of his father.
"Father! Father! Father!" he kept yelling in vain.
Albel ran up the stairs to the audience chamber. He, being in the condition that he was, had overdone it. He fell upon the floor as he left the top step. Albel gasped for air and tried to ignore the pain he had caused by all the effort.
"Albel, what are you doing here?"
A younger Airyglyph XIII approached Albel and helped him up.
"You are not well. You must stay in bed or you will never recover. The dragons really released their fury on you," the king said.
"My... father..."
"Pardon?"
"My father... where is... he? The... nurse told me... he was dead... But it can't be... true... can it?"
"I'm afraid she is right. All of those who had accompanied you to your Accession of the Flame ceremony saw it with their own eyes. Glou Nox is dead."
"But... but..."
"He sacrificed himself to save you. He burned to death in the flames. We could not save him. We almost couldn't save your life. Luckily, we had air dragons waiting outside the Barr Caves to transport you back here."
Albel didn't know what to say now. He was speechless. All he did was push the king away and stumble downstairs. He ran outside not knowing what he was doing. Just outside the castle gates, he bumped into something. What he saw was a familiar someone.
"Albel, watch it!"
Albel reacted just in time. A swordsman had tried aiming for a severed head but Albel ducked and thrust his blade into the chest of the enemy. Cliff jumped in suddenly ending his Acrobat Locus attack. The blue shockwaves knocked the surrounding enemy soldiers.
"What is up with you?" asked Cliff. "You were just standing there. This is no time to daydream!"
The Klausian had nothing more to say and continued pummeling the mass. He had done it again. That was the second time he had almost died. The memories were coming back and when they entered his mind, Albel couldn't tune them out until they ended. He stood strong now angry. He hadn't earned the name Albel the Wicked by letting others save his butt. It was time to bring the old spirit back.
Albel charged through slashing any that came in his way. He had to make up for the time he lost. The ground became bloodstained wherever he went. One slash after another, one pool of blood for every successful death he made. He found himself covered in blood. And though most people considered this to be something they would rather avoid, Albel loved it. He wanted more death. He wanted more blood to stain his skin.
The humanoid soldiers were finally going down in numbers. There was a terrible price for all of this, however. Everyone had finally succeeded in bringing down the number but for every humanoid killed, three Black Brigade soldiers or runologists were lost. The battle's outcome seemed to be against them.
Albel ran into Nel and Maria. They looked tired out by the look of their faces.
"Too many...," groaned Maria.
"The odds are against us. We've lost more than half of our soldiers and runologists. Our enemy number has gone down but they still have a good number left," said Nel. "I'm afraid we may have to retreat."
"I refuse to run away from these worms," Albel said. "We must continue killing them. If we run away at the first battle, they'll think we are nothing more than cowards. And I didn't come here today to lose."
He left them behind seeing that he would not get anywhere talking to them. Albel continued cutting his way through the diminishing horde. He was a bit tired by now but the oncoming threat pushed him to keep going. Suddenly, several enemy soldiers surrounded him form every side.
"Couldn't get a scratch on me unless you cheated? Worms," he said. "Vampiric Flash!"
The ground became covered in dark energy all converging to his outstretched claw. The soldiers' lives were drained out of them and they fell deceased upon the ground. He smiled in his evil way. But then, the rest of his memory came into focus.
"I see you don't look where you're going," said a man's voice.
Albel looked up and saw Duke Vox and his dragon, Tempest. They both looked at him. Vox's lips were curved in an evil smirk.
"So, you survived?" Vox asked. "How's your father? Oh wait, he's dead."
"But... he can't-"
"He is dead. The proud Glou Nox is deader than dead. And it's all because of you."
"No..."
"Yes, because you failed to take your place among the knights of the Dragon Brigade, he died in the flames you should have burned in. Because you are a failure, your father sacrificed himself in hopes of prolonging your life so you can make something of yourself. He gave you a second chance at life. But I can already see that you'll waste it. His death was in vain. And you will remember that day forever. That claw is your scar."
"No, stop..."
"You are a failure."
"Stop saying that..."
"You will never be anything more than a lowly soldier."
"No..."
"You will never be like your great father."
"Noooooo!"
Albel was snapped out his memory by a sharp pain in his side. He looked and it was a humanoid stabbing him in his right side with a dagger. The entire blade had been thrust into his body. The pain made him scream. The familiar Levantine suddenly flashed it's way into the soldier's back and he dropped dead. Fayt became visible.
"Albel?" he asked glancing at the dagger still embedded in his side.
Albel was unable to say anything. He himself fell on his back clutching at the hilt of the weapon and groaned in pain.
"Oh no..."
Fayt bent down beside him. He lifted Albel's head.
"Are you alright? Hold on, I'll get it out."
Before he could do anything, another humanoid cried out with his sword held high above Fayt.
"Instanto Blast!"
A small explosion followed by a show of stars and moons erupted from behind the soldier and he ran off to avoid anymore of them. Peppita hopped by the two.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Fayt pointed to the dagger and she gasped.
"Those meanies! Fayt, do you need any help with him?"
"I don't think he can fight anymore for now. We have to get him somewhere safe. But first, I have to get the dagger out."
"I can cover for you. Just hurry!"
Fayt nodded. Albel refused to remove his hands but he eventually took them off. Fayt grabbed at the hilt and yanked out the dagger as fast as he could to cause as little pain as possible. It wasn't any use as it made the pain worse.
"Oh no...," said Fayt.
"What?" Peppita asked facing the enemies around them. "I can't look right now."
"This is a poisoned dagger."
"What? How can you tell?"
"It's strange, but there are small openings here. And the blade is unusually thick at the top. The hilt... unscrews to reveal a half empty vial of poison. It's an original design for a blade. The Greetons must have invented this because there aren't daggers like this in Aquaria and Airyglyph."
"What does that mean?"
Before they could continue, someone thrust ropes around their arms. They tightened.
"Lemme go!" cried Fayt.
"What's happening?" Peppita asked panicking.
Three soldiers that looked like humans instead of the others with the rocky skin hovered over them all.
"I've heard of you three. You're the blue-haired hero that appeared out of nowhere in Airyglyph," said one.
"You came along when the blue-haired one returned to Gaitt for the hundredth time," another said.
"And you," said the largest of them all, "you're the Black Brigade captain. Seems you aren't so great now. You are all our prisoners. You, carry the captain. Looks like he was stabbed with one of the poisoned daggers."
The three were dragged off. Even though Peppita and Fayt tried fighting back, they all knew they couldn't get away now. Albel hung over the shoulder of one soldier weakened from the poison and feeling slightly sick. He finally passed out as he was carried away from the battlefield.
"Retreat! Retreat!" yelled Nel.
The remaining Black Brigade soldiers and runologists stopped fighting. They started heading for the gate leading to Peterny. Cliff, Mirage, Maria, Sophia, and Roger met up with Nel and they all started running for Peterny as well. They didn't think of anything else but the thought of escape.
Soon, the gate to Greeton closed behind them as they entered Aquarian land once more.
"We barely got out of there alive," said Cliff.
"But we're all here now," Sophia said.
"No, not all of us," Nel said looking around for something. "Where's Fayt? And Peppita's not here either. Neither is Albel."
She was silent for a second. Nel glanced at the gate as if she could see through it.
"Two things could have happened to them. Either they were killed or they've been captured..."
Whew, I'm done! That was a lot of typing! (I'll say it again, WHEW!) Well, I'll just go now and start on Chapter VII. Please leave a review and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Ahh, my fingers are cramping! Ow, ow, owww!... Please log in for Chapter VII. (Cramping...)