Chibby does not own Shining Force, or anything related to it in any way. All she has is a Sega Game Gear that, amazingly, still works, and the game cartridge.
Chibby: Gasp! I got reviews already! Two of them!
Mark: Whaddya know. They actually like your obsessive detailing.
Chen: I'm shocked.
Chibby: Shush. I can stop drawing you, you know.
Chen: (shrinks away) I'll be quiet.
Mark: (pats Chen's shoulder) There, there. It's okay, you know she won't really stop.
Chibby: Anyway, I made a little alteration to this chapter. I forgot to ask for suggestions for the main character's name at the end of the prologue. You see, the game doesn't give you one, which is usually what I use. I usually use the name "Rogan" in my game, but if someone else has a better name, please tell me. I cut out the scene I wrote when he wakes up in the castle and replaced it with Dawn and Natasha finding him just to ask that, so please, please give suggestions.
Mark: Chibby is a very bad student. She wrote the scene in her history class, when she was supposed to be taking notes. And it doesn't help that her teacher is probably going senile and grades arbitrarily.
Chen: No proof yet, but it's strongly suspected by all the students at Chibby's school.
Chibby: Hey, I'm still passing! So hush about my school classes! I know I'm taking two AP and three dual-Credit classes and that I should care more about school, but I just can't seem to.
Mark: Sorry.
Chen: Me, too.
Chibby: Regardless, I wrote this a while ago, and wasn't sure if I'd be able to put it in. I'm glad that I could though. So, here it is. My made-up scene, and the scene of the Cypress Army leaving the castle. Enjoy and leave me a review, please! And if you have a good idea for the character's name, that would also be much appreciated. Reviewer Acknowledgements will be at the end of this chapter.
It was a warm, sunny day in Cypress, the weather perfect for traveling. Two figures followed a trail that led near series of cliffs with trees along the bottom. One of them, a human woman, was Natasha, and the other was a centaur knight, Dawn. They were on their way back to Cypress Castle from a dignitary meeting with Gardiana to see Prince Nick off as he left for the war with Iom.
Natasha was fairly young, though that shouldn't be taken as an indication of her strength. She was a powerful mage, and though her weapon was only a simple rod, her magical potential was unparalleled within Cypress. Her clothes were only a simple white dress, a sky-blue cloak, and traveling boots. Her short, pale lavender hair fluttered in the wind, blowing gently out of her pale green eyes.
Her companion, Dawn, was also young, but still a fierce fighter. Her vivid green eyes shone out from under the circlet that she wore, keeping her short, bright red hair out of her face. The half of her body that was equine shone with a bright white coat, her hooves clomping as she trotted next to Natasha. She wore armor over the human half of her body, though none over her horse half.
Natasha sighed as she walked along the path beside the cliff. She stared up at the thin line of sky between the tree branches and the cliff wall.
"Something wrong?" Dawn asked.
"I just can't believe that Prince Nick is leaving today," the mage explained. "And he's going to Iom. He can't go there, not without his sword. And since his right hand turned to stone, her can't use his sword. He's the only one that can use the Sword of Hajya, but he's leaving it here." Natasha sniffed. "I'm just so afraid that something will happen to him, and that I'll never see him again."
Dawn nodded, understanding. It was no great secret that the prince and Natasha cared for each other. "The prince is bringing the whole army with him, you know. And Gyan, which may be better protection than that. You know Gyan would never let anything happen to Prince Nick while he's still breathing."
Natasha smiled faintly at the redheaded knight. "Thanks, Dawn."
"Who do you think enchanted the prince's hand, anyway?"
Natasha shrugged. "It would have to be one of Iom's Generals. I don't think Warderer would trust anyone else with it."
The female centaur nodded, her vivid green eyes closing for a moment. "It wouldn't be Barbara, she doesn't use magic."
"But I don't think Solo has that kind of magic," Natasha mused as she brushed some of her pale lavender hair out of her face. "What about Hindel?"
"The one that never takes off his armor? I don't know." Dawn shook her head. "Warderer may have done it himself," she said, biting her lip. "Lady Sarah said that the spell is one that can only be released by the caster. Whether willingly…."
"Or by the caster's death," Natasha finished. "If Warderer cast the spell himself, unraveling it may be much easier said than done."
"Mmm." Dawn suddenly smiled confidently. "But the prince will do it. And with Warderer's death, the rest of Iom will crumple. If not, Gyan might get upset." She laughed lightly. "Do you think he'd rip Warderer to shreds or just beat him to unrecognizable, quivering, bloody pulp?"
Natasha laughed. "Neither. He'd let Prince Nick kill Warderer."
"Okay, what about Hindel, then?" Dawn asked. "From all I've heard, he's Warderer's second in command, and the most loyal of the three generals."
Natasha laughed again, but it was cut short by a scream from above and behind them.
Natasha and Dawn both turned and ran back. There, near the base of the cliff and half-buried under a pile of small rocks, was a man. Natasha immediately cleared off some of the rocks and placed her head against the man's chest.
"He's alive!" Natasha said, peeling back an eyelid. The man's eyes had rolled back, so she could only see white. "But unconscious."
"I'll make a litter quickly and carry him back. You dig him out," Dawn said, galloping to the trees to find some good branches.
Natasha started digging the man out as quickly and carefully as she could. She winced when she saw all the blood. The man's clothes were cut all over, many of the cuts stained with blood. His left shoulder was bleeding badly, and there was a gash on his forehead. Most of the blood seemed to becoming from his right side. Natasha tore off her cloak and tied it around the man's middle, the pale blue cloth quickly becoming stained a dark purplish red.
"Hurry, Dawn!" Natasha called. She wiped away some of the blood on his face, but more came from the gash on his forehead and from somewhere on the back of his head, matting his black hair.
Dawn came running back, carrying the litter. "Load him in and tie him down. I don't want him to fall out before we get to the castle." She looked up and gasped.
"There's blood all the way up the cliff," she breathed. "What happened to him?"
"I don't know," Natasha said as she secured the man to the litter and the litter to Dawn. "But if we don't get him to Mayfair soon, he may die."
The Cypress Army was almost ready to leave. All that remained was to say good-bye.
The army was divided into two columns, a break in the middle. At the head, between the two columns, was Gyan, bodyguard of Prince Nick. He was almost dog-like in appearance, with dark gray fur covering his face. He had one normal eye, small and dark, and his other eye was large and yellow, pupil-less. A scar from an old battle. His spiked, golden armor glinted in the sunlight as he looked over the soldiers.
Gyan called out to the soldiers, his voice clear and commanding despite his dog-like face. "Today, Prince Nick and the Cypress Army will march towards Iom. In order to preserve the peace, the Cypress Army must conquer Iom." A cheer arose from the soldiers.
Gyan walked through the break between the columns to stand in front of Prince Nick.
"Prince Nick," Gyan said with a small bow of his head, "if you are ready. Shall we proceed?"
Prince Nick nodded. He was too young to be crowned King, though his pale eyes contained more than a normal amount of intelligence. His blonde hair was cut short, his bangs angling over his eyes. On this day, he wore his armor, shining steel plate mail, and a red cape embroidered with his family coat of arms. He turned to the woman beside him. "Mayfair, take care of things in my absence." He brushed his bangs out of his eyes with his left hand, revealing his nearly purple eyes. "You're in charge."
Mayfair nodded. She was the royal healer and an old friend of the prince. She wore all blue, her dress, her cloak, even her eyes were blue. "Prince Nick, please be assured that I'll not betray you're trust." Mayfair looked over to Gyan and smiled.
"Gyan," she said, a kind smile on her lips, "take care of the prince and look after yourself. Don't take any risks."
The berserker smiled his dog-like grin. "Thanks, I'll be careful," he said, laughing a bit. It was in Gyan's nature to take risks, but Mayfair still worried after him, like a mother worrying after a child.
Prince Nick sighed regretfully. "It's time, he said softly. Then he called out to the soldiers. "We must succeed…" He moved to the front of the column, followed by Gyan. "…In order to achieve true peace. There is no other way!"
The soldiers cheered as Gyan turned to the men operating the drawbridge. "Lower the bridge," he called. The drawbridge slowly clanked down into place. On the other side was a young woman in a white dress with pale lavender hair. Next to her was a female centaur with a white horse's body and bright red hair. The centaur was carrying a litter.
Prince Nick rushed forward at seeing the look on Natasha's face. "Natasha, what's the matter?" he asked.
"Prince Nick, come quickly," she said, pulling him towards the litter by his arm. "We heard some screams coming from the cliffs when we arrived."
Dawn came forward, carrying the litter. "We found this young man lying there unconscious."
"Is he hurt?" Prince Nick asked. He looked at the body lying on the litter. His clothes were cut, and while many of the cuts were stained with blood, most had stopped bleeding. Natasha's cloak was wrapped around his middle, and was now a very dark red, which seemed to be concentrated at his right side. His jet-black hair was matted with blood, which trailed down the side of his face. "Bring him inside and tend to his wounds. Mayfair will join the other healers shortly."
Dawn nodded quickly. "I'll take him." She pulled the litter across the drawbridge and into the castle.
Natasha still stood in front of Prince Nick. Her pale green eyes were filled with sadness. Despite her concern over the man she and Dawn had brought in, she was still more worried about the prince.
"Well, Prince Nick," she said, trying to sound braver than she was, "I guess it's time for you to go off to battle."
"Yes, it is," he said. Her saw her expression. "What's the matter? Don't be so grim." His voice was reassuring, soft. "This is for the good of Cypress. The battle is unavoidable." He lifted her chin and smiled softly at her. "You have to help Mayfair take care of things while I'm gone. You know I trust you more than anyone else." Then his face hardened. He hated to do this to Natasha, because he knew that she cared for him, and he cared for her, too. Bit now was not the time to be soft and tender. "Now, move to the side!" he said, perhaps harsher than he intended.
Shocked by the sudden change in tone of voice, Natasha moved before she really thought. Prince Nick turned his head to look at her as he passed and mouthed the word "Sorry." Then he, Gyan, and all the soldiers were gone.
Natasha walked slowly up the bridge, past the wall. Then she turned and watched as the soldiers marched off, leaving a rising cloud of dust in their wake.
"Don't worry," a voice said from behind her. "I'll take care of things." Mayfair walked over to stand by Natasha. "The prince and his party will be fine. They're stronger than you think." Mayfair put her hand on Natasha's shoulder. "They'll be back, victorious. I know they will."
Natasha turned her head to Mayfair. "Yes, that's right," she said, smiling faintly. "They'll be back."
Then both Natasha and Mayfair turned to watch as the soldiers disappeared over the horizon.
Chibby: Well, if you're feeling nice right now, leave me a review. I don't really care if it's a good review or full of criticism, as long as it's constructive. Just, please, no flames. And if you have a good idea for the main character's name, please tell me.
Mark: Anyway, to the reviews!
Reviewer Acknowledgments:
Meniel: Yes, the government is after Mark. Why? Because he somehow managed to hack into their closed network system from his home computer. Of course, it resulted in his computer exploding, so he didn't see anything.
Mark: The shrapnel nearly killed me.
Chen: Yeah, but you're okay! If they come after you again, I'll just scare them off again!
Mark: Why does that not reassure me?
Demonic Weasel: Yay, another Sword of Hajya fan! I'm really trying to stick to the story, but I'm going to try to explain why I think the main character was unconscious near some cliffs. I just hope I don't give away too much when I do.
Chen: If you do, I'll just have to use my stun ray on you and take over.
Mark: You never should have given her that.
Chibby: I didn't! One of her "connections" did!
Mark: Riiiiight. Does even Chen know who those are?
Chibby: I think she does….
Chen: Hee-hee-hee! Of course I do!
Chibby: (sweatdrops) It's scary when the voices in your head know something you don't.
Chibby: Anyway, I managed to put a link to my deviantart account in my profile. I have lots of pictures of Mark and Chen.
Mark: You should check it out. (Starts playing with the piece of hair in front of his face) I just don't know why you did this.
Chibby: Because it looks cool! And remember, some of my friends think you look hot now.
Chen: If you make this author's note any longer, people are going to forget the story.
Chibby: Gah! Sorry! Okay, that's enough! Please leave me a review!