Chibby does not own Shining Force
Chibby: Yay, I started another fan fiction. And I'm trying to stick to the original dialogue, even. Mind you, if you've played the game, it'll be pretty obvious when I put in my own.
Mark: Are you ever going to work on your other one again?
Chen: Really. It was just about to get interesting.
Chibby: Silence! Both of you!
Chen: Make me! (Sticks out tongue and runs away laughing)
Mark: (Puts head in hands) I guess you want me to go after her?
Chibby: If you would please.
Mark: Sigh. (Goes after Chen)
Chibby: Anyway, this is my interpretation of Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya. There is so much foreshadowing, it may as well be a spoiler, like it says in the summary. Here goes. Please note, if you've played the game before, don't leaving any spoiling information in the reviews. I'm sure everyone will figure everything out soon anyway.
The shrine to Iom wasn't dark, though its cavernous appearance made it seem so. The source of light, however, was not from lamps or candles. Rather, it was from the large pool of magma that took up most of the room.
A peninsula jutted out to the middle of the lava lake. At the end was a throne, though no one sat in it. In front of the throne was a stand, an alter almost. To each side of the stand was an Evil Bishop, and on it was the king of the Emild realm. In front of the alter were four people, one by himself, the other three standing in front of him, side-by-side.
The man by himself was Warderer, ruler of Iom. The other three people were Solo, Hindel, and Barbara, in that order form left to right. These were Warderer's Generals, and the deadliest people in Iom after Warderer himself.
The evil atmosphere had taken its toll on their outward appearance. Solo looked mostly normal, with flowing blue robes, pale skin, and white hair. His eyes, however, were almost like liquid, and completely red. Barbara's appearance was more dramatic, with red hair, green skin, and yellow eyes. Her armor was blood red, supposedly made that way by those she killed in battle. Contrasting her armor, she wore a bright yellow cape, matching her eyes.
The last of the Generals, Hindel, showed little of his appearance. He wore black armor, decorated with ornate gold patterns and linings. His helmet had a T-shaped slot, but did not reveal any of his features, save his blood-red eyes. The rest of his face was hidden in shadow.
Warderer was clearly the most affected, having spent much time in communing with the evil deity. His skin was purple, the shade of a half-decayed corpse. His face was sunken, his hair stringy and slicked back over his skull. His eyes were red, and had yellow around them instead of white. He wore an expensive, long, blue coat with red shoulders and gold tassels hanging from the shoulders.
He spoke, his voice seeming to come from a deep pit. "We'll now offer a human sacrifice to Iom." He walked over to the stand and looked down at King Emild. The king had been well groomed, with what used to be a neatly trimmed orange beard and hair. He wore now-tattered red robes, the patterns on which showed him to be royalty, as did the embroidered white clothed underneath. Around his head wad a circular gold crown.
Warderer tilted his head back, eyes closed, preparing for the sacrificial rite. "To Iom, our evil ruler, your servant, Warderer, offers you the blood of royalty. Accept my offering!"
King Emild struggled against his bonds, "No! Stop!" he shouted. "I'm still the king! I'll not stand for this! I demand you, untie these ropes at once!"
Warderer glared down at the insolent man. "Quiet! You disgust me," he spat. "Iom deserves royal blood. You'll become one with our deity. You ought to be grateful." Warderer signaled the two Evil Bishops, and King Emild floated in the air.
Warderer lifted his arms, head back and eyes closed once more. "Oh, truly evil Prince of Darkness," he said, opening his eyes. "Accept our offering!" King Emild floated over to the lava pit.
"Stop! Spare me…" the king begged, hovering helplessly. "Stop…" Warderer rolled his head down. His arms lowered. "Wa…." With that, King Emild fell in the magma pool.
Warderer turned from the magma pool, sensing his god's pleasure and satisfaction. He focused on his generals. "So, we were discussing Cypress…" he said in a voice that could almost be described as casual. "Barbara, you start."
The green-skinned General stepped forward. "Things are going as planned," she said respectfully. "They're marching towards Iom, not realizing it's a trap." A look of amusement crossed her face. "They think they can conquer us. What misguided fools!"
"What about the Gardiana Army?" Warderer asked.
"Don't worry about them," Barbara said dismissively. "They won't be ready when the Cypress Army leaves."
Warderer nodded. "Yes, things are going as planned. Solo, what about you?"
The blue-robed wizard stepped forward as Barbara stepped back. "Sir, the fort on the Alkian Plains is close to completion. We've also surrounded the fort with traps. All we need is to wait for the Cypress Army."
"Hmmm…" Warderer thought for a moment. "Good work, Solo." Solo stepped back.
Warderer turned to face the throne at the end of the peninsula. "Now all we need is the Sword of Hajya. How shall we do that?" He began to pace back and forth.
"Gordon!" he yelled suddenly. "Where is Gordon?"
A man rushed into the shrine, nearly a blur because of how fast he was moving. When Warderer called, people came.
Gordon stopped in front of Warderer. He was a strange sight. He wore green robes with a red mantle, and an odd blue hat. The hat had a red veil hanging behind it, and knotted strings dangling from it. Gordon's skin was a leathery tan, and his yellow eyes were far too wide.
"You summoned me, sir?" Gordon panted. "I'm at your service."
"I want your opinion about Prince Nick of Cypress," Warderer said. "Even if the Gardiana Army is not ready by the time the Cypress Army leaves, would the Prince still come?"
"Not to worry, sir. He's a man of honor." Gordon smirked, aiming a look over his shoulder at Hindel. "Even if his right hand has been turned to stone. He'll come."
"Since his right hand is useless, would he bring his sword?" Warderer thought aloud. He turned his attention to the odd man in front of him. "Gordon, here are your orders. After the Cypress Army leaves their castle, raid it and bring me the Sword of Hajya!"
"Sir!" Gordon said, dropping to a low bow. "As you wish." He turned and left, glaring at Solo as he passed.
"Barbara and Solo, go with him."
"Yes sir!" Barbara said. She vanished, like a curtain was being pulled in front of her.
"Sir!" Solo said, disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"By the way," Warderer said, studying what showed of the face of the remaining General. "Hindel, accept my condolences."
Hindel stared at his superior. "What do you mean?" he asked, confusion evident in his voice, which was cold enough to make you wonder why the room didn't get cooler.
"Your younger brother," Warderer explained. "I hear he died at the hands of a lowly swordsman."
Hindel's eyes didn't flicker with even the slightest trace of emotion, and his voice, if anything, became colder. "It couldn't be helped. It's said that if one is unable to protect oneself, one deserves to die." He paused, fixing his red eyes on Warderer. "That's the law of the land."
"You're absolutely correct," Warderer said. "As I had assumed, you are quite a man." He turned and started towards the throne, laughing quietly. Then he turned back, facing Hindel. "What we need most," he said, "is power. Power is the key." Then he threw his head back and began to laugh.
Chibby: Well, whatcha think? If you have any constructive criticism, I'd be happy to hear it.
Mark: (Is dragging a very reluctant Chen.) Okay, I got her. Barely. Why did you decide to draw her with wings?
Chibby: That's odd. The last time I drew you two, Chen was a cat person and Mark was a fox person…. I don't know how she found those wings.
Chen: Mark, you'd better let me go! If you don't, I won't help you next time the government comes after you!
Mark: (Quickly lets go of Chen) Sorry, Chibbs.
Chibby: Sigh. Oh well. If you liked this, leave me a review. If you didn't, tell me why. If you didn't read it, well, forget you. And if you just want to know what the heck Mark and Chen are talking about, ask me. In the form of a review.