Chapter 17
I don't own destiny
I don't own Rising of the Shield Hero
Love your reviews L
I too hated how Idol had such as easy death...though it was kind of ironic being killed by the same monster that he summoned so I put that in (though I guess I could have also done by having the monster break out when it 'feels' the other crystals nearby.
Callum won't be doing much fighting the t-rex and it's not because he is weakened but more tired (and also another reason which will be said later) the way I see it he could still defeat it but it's like a boxer who just did an intense work out before the match
I never said it was Keel that was becoming the defender :) I wanted it to be a surprise
As for the filolial queen, originally I was just going to have Callum show her his fights but using your idea, I will add onto it
Also, it had started to slip my mind about having more guardians show up so thanks for that, also I think why Naomfumi didn't say why he wouldn't say anything about how bad the other heroes are was because not many people chose to listen to him
Story start
"What's wrong?" I ask
"The heroes of the past built that stone monument to seal a monster away." Answered Reichnott
With that, the ground started to shake even more, and strange symbols appeared around the monument before it began to break up in a beam of light, and out of that light came...
"Is that a fucking T-rex?" I ask
"ROOAAARRRR"
As it stepped towards us, it thoughtlessly crushed the cloaked figure beneath its foot.
Swinging its head around it started to sniff the air
"What's it doing?" asked Raph
At that point it whipped its head around to face me, eyes looking directly at me as its chest began to glow, and I felt a familiar energy that reminded me of the crystals that I got from the dragon.
'Oh, you must be joking!' I thought as it stomped his way over to me
"Okay everyone we need to get that bastard of this village...judging from the look of him he won't go down easily and because it seems interested in me I'll lead him away, catch up to me when you can." with that I quickly summoned my sparrow and sped away, making sure that it was still following me
With the majority of the party
"Daddy wait!" as Filo starts after Callum
"Filo! Stay with us, we need you to help these people." ordered Ar'na
"...Yes aunty." She said reluctantly as she stared angrily at the T-rex chasing her father
At this Raph and Ar'na starting to help the children onto Filo, once they were loaded up, they quickly headed to the village gates.
"Wait, is Callum going to be okay? I thought what he did back there tired him out?" asked Ino in concern
"He can still fight, he just won't be able to go full out for very long...but still the sooner we get to him, the better."
Just then the gates come into sight
"Halt!" ordered a troop of guards as they readied their pikes
"Ino take them out!" ordered Ar'na
Muttering a short incantation a powerful whirlwind appears in the centre of the guards blowing them away
"Its Lord Reichnott!" shouted one of the demi-humans on the other side of the gate
"Reichnott sama is alive!" cried out another in joy
As the villagers continued to celebrate at the safe return of their beloved Lord Ar'na was using her knife to break the locks keeping the gates closed
"Okay gates opened, lets hand these kids over and get back to Callum!" spoke Ar'na
Before they could leave though Raph quickly ran over to where the children and Reichnott were standing, with Reichnott holding the sleeping form of girl that had been turned.
"Keel please get Rifana and the others out of here before the guards notice that you have escaped. Here is some extra medicine it, heals you and will give you the energy you'll need to get away." She said as she hands them a small bag "There is also medicine that Callum has made into small tablet form...it's very potent so don't have more than two a day...there also enough for everyone."
With that, she jumped onto Filo with Ino as Ar'na summoned her sparrow and they followed the trail of destruction left by the dragon, soon enough they came across Callum and the dragon fighting near a lake. Callum with his sword drawn and on the defensive, with the dragon worse for wear with one eye blinded by a nasty looking cut running from its crown to its snout. Seeing the group he disengages with the dragon and blinks to the rest of the party.
"Ok teaching time, Raph, Ino, Filo and Melty you are to take this guy down without the help of either Ar'na or myself. We aren't always going to be around to help you out, and we need to know that you can take care of yourselves."
"WHAT!" cried out Raph, Ino, and Melty
"YAY!" shouted out Filo happily as she charged at the monster kicking it repeatedly in the face
"Filo don't just run off and attack like that!" shouted Raph as she opened fire with her assault rifle while Ino casts fireballs into the face of the dragon whenever Filo gives her an opening
"We aren't doing any damage, is armour like hide is too thick to pierce! We need something heavy...wait my charged attack I can use that." holstering her assault rifle Raph draws her sword and starts to charge her mana into the sword...unfortunately this gains the attention of the dragon, and it is more than happy to attack a non-moving target.
"Shit he won't give me the time I need to charge my attack enough to hurt him." as Raph she is forced to disengage before the dragon could deal its heavy blow
"Here's a hint, what happens when a heavy, slow animal falls in the mud?" I shout out
"There isn't any mud; there is only a...lake! Melty, Ino use the water in the lake to create a deep and wide mud pit around him to sink into!" ordered Raph as she once again begins to charge her attack
Looking at each other Ino and Melty gives the other a short nod, and together they create a whirlpool around the dragon using the water taken from the lake with the dragon at the centre. Soon the clear whirlpool begins to turn brown as it mixes with the surrounding earth, as one Ino and Melty cancel the spell leaving the dragon neck-deep in mud.
"Ino dry it!" ordered Raph
One incarnation later a wave of fire sweeps over the mud and the dragon, doing no damage to the dragon but cooking the ground enough to walk on and further trapping the dragon.
She was charging at the dragon with sword glowing a bright orange Raph unleased her attack sending a crescent-shaped wave of energy into the flank of the monster opening a wide gash along its side, critically wounding it.
As the beast roars in pain Raph pants
pants" That took more then I thought." pants "But a few more attacks like that and he will be finished."
Before things could continue an ominous glow started to build up in the throat of the monster causing everyone to retreat to a safe distance immediately...but before it could unleash its attack what had to be the biggest bird came falling out of the sky and stamped of its face. A combination of the blow and the fact the dragons own attack had nowhere to go caused its head to explode.
Reaching down the enormous bird pulls out a large crystal from the corpse of the dragon. Turning to face us the bird asks
"The shield hero I take it?" the female bird asks
"How can I help you?" I ask
"I wish to discuss many things with you, but this form isn't suitable for conversation." replies the bird
"Yeah looking up that far for along conversation will be awkward." I agreed
"Indeed, please allow me a moment." she said as she begins to change when it was over a young-looking with wings much like Filo stood in front of us, though I did notice that her wings were bigger. "Allow to introduce myself, I am the queen of all the filolials in the world, but you can call me Fitoria."
"Fitoria?" asked Melty in shock
"You know her?" asked Raph
"Yes, centuries ago, a hero was said to have raised a filolial. Her name is legendary."
"Centuries ago?" asked Ino in shock "Is she really that old."
"I am." came the calm reply of Fitoria
"Wow will ever be that big?" asked Filo in amazement
"If you ever got that big, you wouldn't be able to pull the carriage." I said much to Filo's alarm
"It would also take dozens of filolial lifespans to get to my size, so don't worry about it." added Fitoria
"Awww." pouted Filo
'So she has really lived that long.' I thought to myself
"Now it is your turn to introduce yourselves, Party of the Shield Hero."
"My name is Callum and this is my adopted daughter Filo." as I ruffle Filo's hair
"Nice to meet you!" beamed Filo
"My name is Raphtalia, though everyone calls me Raph."
"Ar'na, I'm the second in command around here."
"My name is Rino...but due to certain circumstances I've been going by Ino to protect myself."
"And I'm Melty."
"I remember you, last time we met you helped me. Thank you for your aid at that time."
"You met each other before?" I ask curiously
"Yes, I ran into her on the way back to the capital after a diplomatic visit." answered Melty
"So pretty much how we met. Anyway, what are you here for?" I ask
"It's a long story and this isn't a great place for a chat." as she jesters towards a carriage
"When the hell di...you what never mind, everyone in the magically appearing carriage. But before that, I'm going to get some materials from this guy." as I walk towards the dead body of the dragon
"I don't like the idea of a Cardinal Hero using dragon material for his equipment." said Fitoria
"Yeah I know all about the dragon-filolial rivalry thing that's going on from Filo, it took a while to stop her from running to any dragon she saw to challenge them...I would have thought though that someone of your age would have gotten over it."
"It's cursed and while cursed powers are immense so are the consequences they come with!" warned Fitoria
"And that's why I cleanse anything before I put it in the shield...with how things work here the last thing I want is some sort of shield STD." I said to reassure Fitoria that there weren't any risks here
"What's an STD?" asked Raph curiously
"...you get it off someone who hasn't been hygenic." I said hurriedly while ignoring Ar'na glare
"Please get in the carriage, I'll need you to answer several questions when we get there." spoke up Fitoria
"Wait, what about my carriage? We left it behind at glasses manor?" asked Filo tearfully "It's got a lifetime of memories in it, we can't possibly leave it behind!"
"I'll send my family to pick it and the rest of dragon meat up, no need to worry." answered Fitoria
As we entered the carriage and closed the door, I could feel the magic of the carriage activate, and when the door opened a moment later, it revealed that we were in a completely different location.
"W-what just happened?" asked Raph
"Some sort of transportation magic it seems." I spoke up
"We travelled instantly!" said Melty amazed
"What amazing ruins!" exclaimed Ino
"It looks like a dump." said Filo bluntly
"I hear that it's believed to be the ruins of the first civilisation that the original heroes defended." said Fitoria
"Only believed?" asked Ar'na curiously
"These ruins existed long before I was born. For what it is worth I have been watching over them." continued Fitoria
"Is this a filolial sanctuary?" asked Melty
"Yes...I'm not supposed to bring humans here."
"Wow!" beamed Melty
Just then we heard the rumbling growl of Filo's stomach.
"It looks like someones hungry." I laughed
"I think you should all get some rest, please make yourselves at home." offered Fitoria
"Thank you, it has been a long day, and everyone is hungry and in need of some sleep." as went to get the cooking started
"I wonder if Keel and Rifana are okay." worried Raph
"They would be fine they are with a lot of other people including Reichnott, and by this time they should be back home." assured Ar'na
An hour later
"I can't believe that I had to cook for all those filolials." I then felt the presence of Fitoria behind me "I'm sorry, but there aren't any seconds...I know how much filolial queens can eat from Filo."
"It's not that, I think it's time we had that talk." replied Fitoria
With that, we walked away to have our chat...though the way she walked on the wall reminded me of Filo.
"I want to know how that monster was released from its prison." asked Fitoria
"Short answer some dipshit released in and some dipshit was then stepped on. Though from the way you said that you didn't expect to see that monster." I queried
"No, I was looking for you and your party because I had heard that a new queen candidate had been found." replied Fitoria
"By that are you referring to Filo?"
"Yup." came her simple reply
"Why is here growth so different from other filolials? I have my suspicions, but I want to me sure." I asked
"Its because a hero is raising her...so tell me why the seal was removed?" asked Fitoria again
"If I had to guess the person who released it intended me to die fighting it...a lot of people in power have been trying to get rid of me and the fact that they knew I would not abandon the people of that town to die and the fact that the monster was so powerful must have been a sure bet to them." I answered, sighing I continued "I'm not sure that what is worse...the people that are using the waves or the Cardinal Heroes squabbling among themselves while the people they are supposed to be protecting die."
"I know that the human supremacist countries have always scorned the Shield Hero."
"Yeah I've noticed that." I responded dryly
"Enough!" turning sharply, she faces me "You need to talk it out. As much as humans and demi-humans hate each other, it is unacceptable for the heroes to be fighting." said Fitoria strictly
"Their childishness is pathetic." I agreed
After that, she climbed up on one of the columns nearby with me following soon after
"Do you hero's know about the hourglass?" she asked
"You mean the ancient dragon hourglasses? I sure do."
"Then why haven't the Cardinal Heroes been fighting the Waves across the world?"
"Because until recently I had no idea that the other kingdoms were facing the waves...it seems that a certain king would rather that we not know that Melromarc wasn't the one in trouble."
"I'm not surprised, the Four Cardinal Heroes the to be summoned to one kingdom each and help them fight the waves...instead the King of Melromarc went against protocol and summoned all of them. Because of this I have been going wherever I am needed, but your heroes aren't taking part in any other battles. If I am honest I couldn't care about what happens to the humans, I only fight because the hero who raised me asked me to."
"So you are doing this for your father."
"My job is to protect this world...but I can't do it all by myself. I need the help of the other heroes."
"At a certain point, a daughter must realise what she wants to do may not be what her father wants, and to be honest, you are far more qualified than the three stooges."
"While I might be able to handle things for now it will come a time that all the heroes are needed."
"So that is why you want the heroes to work together."
"Yes...the heroes are meant to work together, this is necessary in order to protect this world." said Fitoria
"Yeah...that's not happening, I've tried to work with them but they are either too nieve, too stubborn, too stupid or too much of all three."
"Very well, then...it was so very long ago that my memory of it has faded, but I can still remember. But I still remember what I need to do, if the heroes insist on fighting each other instead of fighting the waves together...then for the sake of the world, I will kill all the heroes so that new heroes can replace them."
"Hahahahah...arrr" I laughed "That is so cute!"
"I don't see what is so amusing?" asked Fitoria
"You think you could kill me, Fitoria I have faced and killed things more powerful then you or that dragon and though I do not doubt that you could kill all the other Cardinal Heroes even if they attacked you together."
"Then why was the dragon still alive?"
"It was a learning experience for the rest of my party in how to handle stronger opponents then they were used to...though I am wondering why you would go through the effort of killing all the heroes when you can just reassign them to people that are qualified to be called heroes."
"You can do that?" asked Fitoria curiously
"It as easy process, Ar'na has already technique been the shield hero for a short than before I took the shield back. Of course, that was only just a temporarily reassignment, unless the first user dies they can easily take back the weapon for others we need a permanent version otherwise they will be able to take back the weapon."
"And how can you do that?"
"Each weapons records the people who has used it and writes them done on a list if you will, a list of who can use it deep in the weapons design if their name is removed they seize to be able to use the weapon as it no longer recognise them and they will not be able to use the weapon any more."
"It is really that simple?...by the way what do you mean that you have faced more powerful then the Tyrant and me?"
"Here, let me show you." placing my hand on her head I show her my fights with Crota, Oryx and Gaul as well as the more recent row along side Saint 14
After it it is Fitoria took a moment to compose herself
"You have given plenty to think about...could you please give me some time to adjust to this new information?"
"Of course." and with that, I left Fitoria with her thoughts and wandered off to bed
I had barely settled down when I felt someone presence near me, rolling over I saw that it was Raph
"Raph what are you still doing up...are you ok?" I asked concerned
"I-I was wondering if I could sleep next to you tonight...its just that.." trailed off Raph
Understanding what she was trying to say I immediately agreed and gave her room to settle next to me.
That night I said nothing as Raph's silent tears soaked by shoulder as she mourned for her parents, her village and her friends...but most of all the childhood she could never have.
I said nothing; I only comforted her.
Hey if anyone wants to preview the next chapter of Harrys destiny PM me
