Chris: It's me! Again! I feel like updating this faster than everything else...Mainly because I feel like it.
Mia: You still update slow. Really slow. Slow as a snail.
Chris: Nyah. Now...umm...Nothing really new I need to announce. Just reader reviews and then we can get to the story. Mmmkay?
sonicfreak2004: Wow...Thanks for the compliments...You really thought that last chapter was good...Wow. I'm amazed...Well, not that amazed. But still. And Farina is happy that you're not dissing her anymore.
Lord Slasher: I'm assuming that means the chapter was good, right? Well, I'll try to keep the next chapters up to the standards.
Kiyoko-chan: Okay, thanks for confirming he isn't a Gary-Stu...I don't want him to become one. And thanks for the compliments!
DotDotDotMan: You'll just have to find out, won't you? I actually have a plan for this sword, so yeah.
Angel of Fate1: I'm assuming "HOLY CRAP!" is good, right? And don't worry, a lot of my friends will get cameos, or might even join the party. We'll see. And yes, you're in it. And yes, I do owe some credit to you about the half-vampire thing.
Charlie: Yes, you have. Thanks for reviewing.
Golden Emblem: Well, here's an update. And Hector and Raven aren't going to be in this for a long time...Like maybe 3-5 chapters ahead or something? I don't know. And thanks for reviewing.
Reiko5: Okay. Good. My character isn't a Gary-Stu. Thank whoever made the rules for that.
" "- dialogue
' ' - thoughts
- location
A worn, old path
Lyn and her little group traveled on to the city of Caelin, the home of her grandfather. Her new sword, the Mani Katti, hung on her belt and rattled in its sheath as she walked. Chris's Sange was hidden in his bag, clanking softly as he tried to muffle it. He hadn't told anyone about what happened in that temple when he stayed inside. He thought it was a dream, but the sound of Sange rattling in its scabbard reminded him it was not. Sain and Kent were leading their horses, trying to conserve their energy for whatever battle that might happen in the future. Heather was busy cleaning her sword as she walked. Unfortunately, she didn't keep her eyes on the road and often crashed into trees amidst the laughter of her comrades. They stopped for a while to talk about their route.
"I know you wanted to go to Ryerde for the tournament there, but I really need to head for Caelin. I'm sorry, Chris." Lyn said nervously. "I know we could have trained there a bit, but meeting my grandfather is my first priority."
Chris just shrugged and smiled. "Nah, it's okay. I understand that you want to go meet your grandfather. It's no problem to me. I can always visit Ryerde later." He looked at Sain and Kent, who were trailing behind. They quickly caught up and nodded at Lyn. Chris sat down and waited for their report, his eyes closed.
"Milady Lyn, it is imperative that we find a place for our horses to rest. They are tired out from out last battle and we also need a place to stay for the night. The sun is going down and we need to find some shelter." Kent said as he walked up. He pulled out a rolled-up piece of parchment and spread it out on the ground. "According to this map, it says that there's a small town close by. We could head for there for the night."
Sain leaned over Kent's shoulder and nodded. "Listen to Mr. Strict here. He might not have much of a personality, but he sure is good at finding cities and towns to find aid and rest. I'm able to do that too, but I'm just too modest. I wouldn't like to make my partner have no duties." He grinned and winked at Lyn. Lyn blushed again and then started laughing as Kent pushed Sain off his back. Sain landed on the floor with a big WHUMP and started laughing. "Nice one, Kent! Maybe I shouldn't mock you so much." He stood up and brushed the dust off his armor. "Nah, forget what I just said. It wouldn't be the same without you to mock."
Kent rolled the map up again and stuffed it in his pocket. "I have no time for your childish pranks. We need to head for that village and get protection soon. The sun is almost down and night is approaching. So, let's head out!" Everyone looked at Chris. His eyes were still closed, but they gradually opened and he noticed everyone looking at him. He looked around guiltily and hoped they wouldn't find out what he was doing.
"Why are you all staring at me? Is there something on my shirt?" Chris checked his garments for anything that looked out of place, but he couldn't find anything. "So, where are we going to stay? I sure hope it's a good place!" Unfortunately for him, those were not the words that he should have said. Everyone figured it out and started laughing and chuckling. Chris grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head.
"You were sleeping?! Our tactician was sleeping?! Imagine what would have happened on the battlefield!" Tears of laughter were creeping out of Heather's eyes as she leaned on Kent for support. Kent was trying to keep a stern face, but the laughter was contagious and soon he struggled to keep a smile off his face. Lyn and Sain were laughing together, tears also coming out of their eyes. A couple of minutes later, they calmed down, the occasional laugh escaping their bodies. After Kent filled Chris in on where they were going, they headed to the village where they would spend the night.
Meanwhile, northwest of where Lyn's group was, a lone girl on a pegasus was flying toward the same village. Her orchid colored hair streamed out behind her as her pegasus, Huey, pumped her wings. She looked at the ground nervously, trying to find a figure. Tied to her back was a small, thin lance. Not very heavy, it also didn't pack much of a punch. She also carried a pouch with three vulneraries. Her blue armor glinted in the sun as she spotted the village. On a tiny bit of hope, she flew there, hoping to find her friend.
A run-down, old town
Lyn's group reached the village and looked shocked at their surrounding. The building were run-down, some even crumbling to dust. Whatever walls that were standing were in bad need of repair. Some houses that were standing had holes bashed into them and in some places, the roof had caved in.
"The entire place is in ruins! Why doesn't they marquess do anything to help?" Kent asked, as he looked at this sad-looking town. Lyn looked at the mountains nearby and shook her head.
"We're near the Taliver Mountain. It's home to a gang of vicious bandits. No marquess can hold power hear. My village was near here...on the other side of the mountain. My people were...The Taliver bandits came during the night. It took only one night. The survivors numbered less than ten, including me. They're soulless beasts. I will never forgive them. Never." Tears of sorrow crept in her eyes as she recalled the event that had killed her parents. Sain looked at her sadly.
"Lyndis..." He said sadly. Kent remained silent. Lyndis shook her head and brushed the tears from her eyes.
"I am not running away. I will be back...someday! I'll be stronger...I will break their swords beneath me like twigs beneath a stallion's hooves. I will avenge my people. I'll do everything in my power."
Sain looked at her and nodded his head. "When the time comes, take me with you. You might be able to use an extra helper."
Lyn looked back at him, tears forming in her eyes. "Sain..."
"Don't forget me, either." Kent said.
Lyn faced Kent, tears falling unchecked. "Kent..."
Chris, who had been listening in silence, thinking about his own family, stepped up as well. "Count me in. I might not know how to fight now, but I might learn later."
"Oh! You, too, Chris?" Lyn was smiling happily, although tears still fell.
"Hey! Don't forget about me! I want to help, also!" Heather said. She, too, had been listening in silence. "We've got to stick together! Plus, I can't let you be the only gal around!"
Lyn sniffed. "I...You're...Thank you." Sain smiled and brushed some of her tears away.
"It's no problem at all. Come on, let's go." He said as he patted her on the back. Lyn smiled and nodded.
"Yes, let's go."
Elsewhere through the city, two bandits were crowding around a small girl. There was also a pegasus nervously flapping its wings. One of the bandits had brown hair that reached the back of his neck and had a blood-red headband and a ragged looking shirt.
"Wait right there, little lady! What are you going to do to apologize?! Huh?!"
The girl shrank back from him, holding her hands to her chest as she stammered, "Uh...I...That is, I..."
Another bandit crept up and took a good look at her, his eyes looking across her body, lingering on her breasts. "Hey, she's quite a catch, eh, buddy? I'd bet the boss'd give us a pretty penny for her! She's built beautifully."
The brown-haired one laughed. "Yeah. She roughed me up a bit, so I figure fair's fair. It's no more'n she deserves. But let's have a little fun with her first, eh?"
She shrank back from them more, fear in her eyes. "I...I..."
The second bandit looked at the girl's pegasus. "What are we gonna do with her flying mule?" The girl's eyes blazed as she pointed at the bandit.
"Don't you dare touch her!"
The bandit looked at her in surprise, then scorn. "What? Just watch your mouth, girlie!" The girl seemed to lose some of her courage, but she still stood strong.
"You can do what you want with me, but please...Let her go. Please, I beg of you." The bandit with the headband let out a loud guffaw.
"Ha ha ha! Silly twit! Pegasi can only be found in Ilia. They're rare beasts, worth more than you by far! We can sell it for a mountain of gold! Let it go? HA! However..." He looked at her lustfully. "I will let the beast go on one condition."
"W-What?" The girl said, fear in her voice.
The bandit leaned closer to the girl, his breath flowing over her face. "You will have to be mine."
She let out a frightened squeak and looked at her pegasus. "No, you can't...be serious..." The bandit let out a sigh.
"Fine with me." He turned to his comrade. "C'mon! Let's move! Take the pegasus! We'll sell it at the nearest market!"
The girl sighed in defeat and turned teary eyes to her pegasus. "F- Fine...I...agree."
Lyn and her friends continued through the town and eventually heard sounds of shouting and screaming in the distance. They ran over and spotted a few bandits harassing an orchid-haired girl. The girl was trying to keep her distance from them and the bandits were closing in. Kent caught a brief glimpse of the crowd and turned to Lyn.
"There seems to be some sort of commotion over there." Lyn moved forward and gasped as she saw something that caught her eye.
"That's...That's a pegasus! Could it be?" She ran to where the bandits were. "Florina?!" The bandits turned around in surprise and looked at this new distraction for them. Lyn ignored them and moved closer. "Is that you, Florina?" Florina looked up and surprise and happiness.
"Ah! Lyn?"
"Florina! What are you doing in a place such as this?" Lyn looked shocked at seeing her.
"Lyn!" Florina rushed to Lyn and stood by her. "Is it really you? I...I..." Tears started to well up in her eyes.
"Come now, no crying!" Lyn said as she hugged Florina. Florina shook her head and stopped.
"I'm sorry."
Everyone else had finally reached Lyn and Kent rode up. "You are acquaintances?" Lyn nodded. Chris, Heather, and Sain rode to the bandits and made sure they wouldn't move by holding swords or spears, or in Chris's case, a book.
"She's my friend. This is Florina, a pegasus knight in training from Ilia. She's a little uncomfortable around men. Tell me, Florina, what happened here?" Lyn asked. Florina looked at the ground.
"Well...um...When I heard that you had left...I decided to follow you. Then I saw this village...I flew down to see if you were here or if anyone had news of you. I didn't see these two, and...well..." Florina blushed and scuffed the ground with her boot.
"Did you pegasus land on them?" Lyn asked.
"Well, I...A little..." Florina scuffed the ground a little bit more with her boot.
One of the bandits looked up and shouted. "Aha! You heard her! She admits her fault!" Florina was so scared by this sudden outburst that she immediately ran behind Lyn and hid. The bandit continued his rant. "She stepped on my friend, and now she's got to pay!"
Lyn looked at Florina. "Did you apologize?" Florina nodded slightly.
"Yes. I told them I was sorry many times over. They just wouldn't listen..." Florina started to cry again as she remember what they were going to do to her.
"Don't cry. It's all right." Lyn comforted Florina and held her in her arms.
"Lyn..." Florina sniffled and looked up at her.
"Listen, she's obviously sorry. Can't we just let this pass?" Lyn looked at the bandit that had shouted. "You don't appear to be injured or anything." The bandit with the headband spoke up now.
"No chance! The girl goes with us! By force if need be!" Both of the bandits found a gap and ran off. The headband faced a house they passed. "Hey! C'mon out now, boys! The men are fair game, but don't put a scratch on the girls! The purple haired one is mine! The other one can be your pick!" Many men poured out of the building and soon Lyn's small group was in a precarious situation. To their south and west was a wall, and to the north and east were bandits. Lyn turned to Chris.
"Chris! We've got to fight back!"
Florina looked at Lyn. "Lyn...I..."
Lyn faced Florina now. "You're a pegasus knight, aren't you? You can fight, can't you?"
Florina's faced brightened with courage and she took off the lance from her back. "...Yes!" She left to mount her pegasus and Lyn faced Chris again.
"Listen carefully, Chris. We're facing bandits. They're underlings, but we can't take them too lightly. Let's clear them out of here! Are you ready?" Sain and Kent mounted their horses and awaited orders. Heather cleaned her sword one last time and practiced a few strokes with her sword. Chris nodded and stuffed the book he was holding inside his pouch. "The layout around here may make it difficult to fight. However, the same is true for our foes. If we can manipulate our surroundings, we can ensure our victory. Come on Chris, let's go!"
Florina flew over to Lyn. "Lyn...Who's that?" She pointed at Chris.
"This is Chris. He's still an apprentice, but he's my tactician." Lyn looked with pride at Chris while he blushed with embarrassment. Florina turned to him.
"Oh, I see...Uh...Chris? I'm pleased to meet you." With those words of greeting, everyone got in position and stood ready to beat off the bandits, with death as one conclusion, and honor as the other.
Chris: Yay. I'm done. Yes, I realize I need to update my other fics. I'm trying to update as fast as I can...Which isn't fast enough. Anyway, review and tell me if I'm making a mistake anywhere. And if I'm not, that's good. Now, to tell you. I am having cameos in this story. My friends will be in this story. They probably will not join the main army, and will be there for extra scenes and humor and some other stuff. Yeah, and also, if you're a loyal reader to my fics, you might get a cameo also. Just tell me the name you're going to use (It has to be a real life name or something like that), and describe yourself relatively well. It doesn't have to be very descriptive, just the basics. Yeah, and that's it.
Mia: If you didn't get the message, R & R.
Rebecca: Right. What she said.
Farina: When am I going to be in it?!