Legacies
A Sequel to Crossing
of the Paths
By MMM/AJ
A/N: Whoa, early chunk! This one took me practically no time at all, but that's because I got a little ahead of myself before by saying that we were going to dive right into the action. I've still got a little more building to do here, but that doesn't make it any less interesting!
Part II - Resurrection
Chapter XIV – R12
"The deed is done." Isaac said calmly, and a wave of electric excitement washed through Ruru's mind.
"Tell us everything." Onta said eagerly, climbing up out of his pool.
"I came into Ianalka's chamber under the pretense of delivering a message from Anmor. She was sitting on the Dantunian Throne, idly reading some book. I closed and locked the door after waving the guards out. They saw Ares' symbol on my forehead and obeyed without question. I approached Ianalka and kneeled, taking her hand into mine and kissing it. She told me to rise without looking up from her book. I took the opportunity to pin her and muffle her voice with a pillow. I pulled out a dagger and stabbed it through her heart. She thrashed and tried to scream, but I held her and the pillow kept her screams from being heard. I then escaped through a side door and made it to a regiment of Dantunian troops, who I told that revolution had started." Isaac said.
"How is the revolt proceeding?" Ruru asked.
"The first stage is already complete, and it couldn't have gone any better!" Aquel said, grinning.
"Can you describe it?" Onta asked.
"It was like we started a landslide with one rock!" Aquel began, "As soon as word spread of Ianalka's death, Dantunians everywhere picked up their weapons and rose up against the Iresians in the palace. The Iresians were caught completely off-guard; they were still scrambling to figure out who had killed their leader when the Dantunian army converged upon them. They didn't have a chance to hitch up a single dragon to fight back or escape. They didn't even manage to get a messenger out to inform Ares and Anmor of the attack. We killed them by the hundreds and took miniscule losses. It was their arrogance and complacency that was their downfall, most of them had not even considered the possibility of an uprising, so none of them were even close to being prepared for this. Many were still putting on their armor as we pressed our assault. It was a flawless battle for us."
Ruru outwardly smiled in an optimistic manner, but now she felt the icy cloud of doubt beginning to curl around her heart. Her imagination began to paint pictures of Iresian Dragons slaughtering the Dantunians just as they had done to the Gorons. She still tried to hold onto some hope in her heart, but the Triforce of Wisdom unconsciously told her that she was walking into the greatest folly of her life.
"We've already started arming those who didn't take up arms already, and the movement into the Dead Lands is starting to get underway. We should be ready in five days, and since no messenger made it to report the rebellion, we predict it should take another four days after that for the Iresians to respond." Aquel said.
"What about your citizens? Who will protect all the unarmed civilians while every able body in Dantun is over here in these wastelands? Surely the Iresians will take a very bloody revenge on your country's innocents!" Onta said angrily.
"Well, we originally planned to move them into hiding in the caves under the Dead Lands like you." Aquel said.
"No! Absolutely not! We cannot give Ares and Anmor any reason to search the caves whatsoever! He will surely find me and the Triforce if you do!" Ruru said angrily.
"Then what? Just let all my people get slaughtered like a herd of cattle?" Aquel asked, his anger rising as well.
"Neither plan will work." Isaac said calmly.
"What do you suggest then?" Aquel, Onta and Ruru all asked in unison.
"Evacuate the people into the neighboring countries. If Bensor is sending their dragons to help us fight, then surely they would be willing to take in our refugees for a few weeks. Even if they don't, it's likely that at least one of the other countries will." Isaac said.
"Shouldn't we have discussed this before starting the war?" Ruru asked angrily.
"I thought you knew what we were planning!" Aquel said defensively.
"And I thought you knew that I wouldn't allow anything that might lead to me being discovered!" Ruru replied.
"Easy! Easy there. No need to argue." Isaac said coolly. "We've already found the solution, so there's no problem."
"Oh yes there is! Now I'm going to have to resubmit the plan to the Dantunian Council, and there's no guarantee that they'll approve it." Aquel said.
"Oh they'll approve of it, I'll see to it." Isaac said confidently.
There was a short pause before Aquel spoke again, "At any rate, there's more good news. We've managed to capture all 300 of the Iresian Dragons that were stationed here with the garrison."
"They're not refusing to let Dantunians ride them then?" Onta asked.
"Apparently the Iresians broke their spirits so thoroughly that none of them care who rides them." Aquel replied.
"So…taking into account the losses the Iresian took fighting the Gorons 40 years ago…and assuming that no new dragons have been born or captured since then, that makes around 27,000 Iresian troops and dragons against our 50,000 troops and 7,300 dragons." Ruru said.
"There's still the possibility of aid from Theria and Il'Nead as well, we expect word to return from them anytime." Aquel added.
"Men don't matter as much as dragons in this battle Aquel. We cannot depend on our troop numbers alone to grant us victory, we'll need a genius tactician and expertly coordinated attack plans in order to exploit the dragons' weaknesses and win." Ruru said.
"Don't worry, I can fill the role of tactician, I know all of their strategies, all of their formations, and all the ways we can counter them." Isaac said confidently.
"The council's already approved of that." Aquel said.
"Aquel, something strikes me all of the sudden. Didn't you say that there would be a new Dantunian King on the throne after the rebellion?" Ruru asked.
"It's a bit soon for that, the council wants to finish war preparations first." Aquel replied.
"I should like to meet this man that's been chosen to be king, both personally and diplomatically." Ruru said.
"I can arrange it as soon as war preparations are completed and his ascension to the throne has been sanctified." Aquel said.
"Tell me…do you have a backup plan should this war fail?" Onta asked, changing the subject.
"You should know that there's no turning back from this. If we lose, all of Dantun and possible Bensor as well will be burned to the ground in retaliation. If the other nations aid us, they too will be destroyed. But, that will not happen. We will stand free again! Dantun, Hyrule, and all the other nations will be freed from the shackles of oppression that Iress has placed upon us! And you, you will be able to stand proud upon your homelands once more!" Aquel said.
Those words single-handedly stifled the aching worry in Ruru's mind, replacing it with shining memories of the Gerudo plains and hope for seeing them again soon. She turned to look at her mural and the grey stone where she would paint her home. She felt now the need to finish it, and her hand ached for the brush.
Onta followed her gaze and spoke, "Do you think you can finish it before the battle? If we win, we're going to leave this cave for home. If we lose, I'm certain death will find us. Either way, the mural will go unfinished unless you finish it beforehand."
"Trust me, I'll finish it. The only reason it's taken me so many years so far is the fact that there hasn't been any looming deadline for me to worry about. Now that I have motivation to get moving, I can finish it in a week easily." Ruru said.
"It makes me want to see Hyrule myself." Aquel said.
"You can come with us when we go home!" Onta said cheerfully. "Certainly you and your people will be hailed as heroes in Hyrule if you achieve victory. I can guarantee you that the Zoras will provide you with a warm welcome."
"I'll look forward to it!" Aquel said happily.
"I can't wait to have some fresh fish straight from the Zora's River again." Onta said, closing his eyes gently.
"I can already feel the sun warming my skin again." Ruru said, joining him in reminiscence.
Chapter XV – J7
Jenna, Felix, Piers and Kalana all sat around a smooth carved oak table in the dimly lit inn of Madra once more. The innkeeper sat drowsily at his desk, puffing on a charred cigar. The fire in the fireplace was beginning to burn down, causing the light in the room to fade further and curls of smoke to drift through the air. The scent of spices still lingered in the air from dinner, and all was still as everyone else in the town slept cozily in their beds. The rings under Kalana's eyes were striking as Jenna observed them, and the four of them sat in whispering council for hours on end.
"I still can't believe what I've seen." Jenna said quietly. "Ares has technology that outdoes even what the Lemurians have. I've never seen entire buildings constructed out of steel before."
"He's got more of this technology than you can imagine, he just does not share it with the rest of Weyard's people because he's afraid we might use it against him." Kalana said.
"He certainly doesn't hide the fact that he has it though." Piers said, commenting on the great steel fortress that Ares had built on the southern tip of the Gondowan Continent.
Jenna made a disgusted "harrumph" noise before speaking. "What a vile thing to do, keep people technologically in the dark and still require them to give tributes of food and resources. His greed knows no bounds."
"I can scarcely imagine what kinds of weapons he possesses. Even with our most powerful psynergy, we still couldn't penetrate fortresses like those." Felix said grimly.
"Well, I think that we've gathered more than enough information to please the Lemurian Senators, it should certainly keep them from ordering anyone else out here." Jenna said.
Piers sighed heavily and frowned. "What a grand irony that they actually banished me for leaving Lemuria once like this, and now they're forcing me to do it for them. It enrages me how fickle they can be with their perception of justice."
"The news we brought for them when we first came to hiding caused quite a shock, especially when King Hydros chose to believe it. Apparently popular support can really cause them to eventually change their opinions a little." Felix said.
"I've seen thousands of years where they remained stoically determined to hold one spot of ground though, that's what makes it hard to believe." Piers said.
"At any rate, the fact that we've got an insider from Ares' Navy will help to prove our position and perhaps even inspire change." Jenna said.
"That'll be quite the big news indeed!" Piers said.
"Whatever they decide though, it's not like it'll make any difference anyway." Kalana said. "As you said, your abilities are no match for Ares and his technology. The only hope you have of defeating him is to infiltrate his headquarters and steal the Stone of Sages."
"Ah, the Stone. I had forgotten about it. So Ares has it now?" Felix asked.
"Of course, it and the Djinni he stole from Isaac are what give him immortality." Kalana said.
"Of course, if we steal the Djinni from him, we might stand a chance of defeating him. Take the stone of sages, he will become mortal, and then we kill him with the Djinni. The only problems that are left are his Acolytes, and actually being able to infiltrate his base." Jenna said.
Kalana grinned. "I can take care of both of those problems. I know all the hidden access tunnels, all the nicks in security, and all the vulnerabilities of his base."
"I thought you said you were just a ship captain in his navy?" Felix asked, suspicion rising in his voice.
"Oh, I worked patrol in his main base for a few years before being moved to naval duty. I can find us a way in, disable the security systems, and lead you straight to him." Kalana said.
Jenna frowned again. "It sounds unbelievably dangerous and unlikely. How can you guarantee we'll be able to defeat him?"
"Without his minions or the Djinni, Ares is still powerful, but if you possess the Djinni and group attack him with your Psynergy, you might stand a chance of overcoming him. You'll have to be quick and strike him down before he can summon the Acolytes, making for a very close battle. But, the possibility is there, and very real."
"I still have my doubts." Jenna said.
"Can you think of the glory though?" Kalana asked, "This would be the second time your group of friends had saved the world, and this time you could be rich and famous for it!"
"But, it would be the first time our group saved the world without Isaac." Jenna said, sadness suddenly welling up from within her. "I miss him so much."
Felix patted Jenna on the back, trying to comfort her. "We all still feel his loss Jenna. Before he was corrupted like that, he was one of the brightest and strongest young men that I've ever met. He was like a brother to me."
A new idea burned to life in Jenna's mind. She knew that this opportunity to kill Ares might provide a way to avenge Isaac's death. Ever since that fateful day at Air's Rock, she and her friends had assumed Isaac to be dead. The prospect of avenging him caused Jenna's mind to burn like the fires deep in Magma Rock.
"We'll do it." Jenna said quietly.
"Are you sure?" Piers asked in slight disbelief.
"We'll need to sail back to Lemuria as quickly as possible and share everything that we've learned so far, and then get Sheba, Ivan, Mia, Garret, and Kraden packed. We'll need our entire party with us to stand up against Ares, and Kraden will undoubtedly want to witness the event." Jenna said.
"We'll sail for Lemuria first thing tomorrow morning." Piers concluded.
Chapter XVI – T14
Tanis groggily rubbed his eyes as the alarm clock next to his bed went off. The buzzer was intolerably loud, and he slammed his paw down on the button to make it stop. He had set it early intentionally so he could get up and read some more that morning. The clock blinked to 6:02 AM as he splashed some cold water over his face to wake himself up. He knew that getting only 2 hours of sleep probably wasn't healthy for him, but he had slept well over the last few days, and had slept quite a lot during his stay in the stasis tube. Right now he felt an unquenchable thirst to read, and he found his fix in the online database.
It seemed that only a few minutes after Tanis sat down to read that someone came and knocked on his door. As he turned around to answer it, he saw that his clock now read eight past noon. He choked a gasp at how fast time flew when one was reading and went to answer the door. He found Ashley waiting there, in what appeared to be the first change of clothes since he had met her.
"Morning sleepyhead! Mind if I come in?" Ashley asked, sounding especially perky.
"Certainly!" Tanis said, stepping aside to let her through. "Say…did you bathe?"
Ashley rolled her eyes. "For the first time in four weeks, not counting the time in the stasis tube of course. I was tired of driving John off with my shabby looks."
"You look…great." Tanis said, feeling odd that he hadn't complimented Ashley like this before.
Ashley threw him a sideways smile. "Thanks. I see you've been on the computer again."
"Oh yes, I wasn't sleeping in this morning. I've been reading for about six hours." Tanis said.
Ashley's eyes widened a bit. "Reminds me of my college days. You know my dad made me go early and get a master's degree in Pokemon Care before letting me become a trainer. I swear, there were three or four tomes written for each single species of Pokemon, and I'm sure I read most of them."
"Were there any on my kind?" Tanis asked, his curiosity having now been piqued.
"Actually no, we only had a few mentions, and they only included what few sightings trainers had of your father. Professor Oak apparently took some power readings of him while he was sleeping too, but that's the only solid data about your species on the record." Ashley said.
Tanis nodded, knowing that it was like his father not to allow humans to know much about him. That was one of the major things he remembered from seeing his memories in the Time Medallion.
"What kinds of books are you reading?" Ashley asked.
"Very ancient stuff, Shakespeare, Greek Mythology and the like. I've read about 9 books so far now." Tanis said.
Ashley looked shocked again. "Just this morning!"
"Oh no, I was up almost all night last night too." Tanis said, feeling twinges of tiredness creeping over his eyes.
"Again, been there, done that." Ashley said, nodding understandingly.
There was a brief knock on the outer door and John's voice announced "Breakfast's here!"
The three of them sat down and ate together, and Tanis noticed that Shakara was absent from their table. "Where's Shakara?"
"I think she's still asleep." Ashley said nonchalantly.
"I'm here." Shakara said, having seemingly materialized in the doorway.
"Well come on! Join us! I brought you some waffles!" John said.
Tanis was very glad to see that John had already become so comfortable around him and Shakara in such a short time, but the next series of events cut Tanis's happiness short.
Shakara walked up to the table and shot John one of the most venomous looks Tanis had ever seen. "Why don't you take your bountiful food and feed it to your poor, you hypocritical swine!"
With that Shakara grabbed one of the sacks of food off of the table and shoved it over John's head forcefully. She began striding towards the door, but Tanis cut her off.
"What are you thinking, being rude to our hosts like that?" Tanis bellowed.
A glimmering fire of rage sparkled in Shakara's eyes. "Why? I'll tell you why! Because this man and all the men who lead this colony have no regard for the welfare of the poor and less fortunate!"
"What are you talking about?" Tanis shouted.
"Didn't you wonder why his little 'tour' didn't take us into any detail of the residential areas of the city? Well I know! It's because he didn't want us to see the homeless men and mothers dying in the streets from starvation!" Shakara fumed.
Tanis was taken aback, but he felt he needed to drive a point home and thus continued.
"Listen! Our only hope of helping these people is if we defeat Ares! We can't defeat him without the gunship, and unless we're continually polite and conciliatory with the human leaders, then they won't give us the gunship! Understand!" Tanis yelled.
"Yes. But I also don't understand why we can't just take it either." Shakara said, her voice low but still dangerous.
"Because both you and I know that none of us want to sink to your father's level of sheer thievery!" Tanis said.
Anger of a supreme insult filled Shakara's gaze, but her arguments were quelled and she visibly relaxed a little. "I'll be in my room." She growled and walked off.
Tanis was left standing at the door, utter embarrassment flooding his mind. He looked over at the two humans sitting at the table. John was only now starting to take the paper bag off of his head, and Ashley's face was painted aghast. She tried to give Tanis a reassuring look as John took the bag off of his head, but it failed to help Tanis feel any better. At that moment he wished that he was the one with the paper bag over his head. He finally overcame his utter mortification and sat back down at the table next to Ashley.
"I'm very sorry." Tanis said as John slowly wiped the butter off of his face.
"Listen. You've got nothing to worry about." John said, his voice faltering terribly. "I'm not going to say anything to the council. I want you to succeed just as badly as anyone else could. But…" John utterly ground to a halt.
"Is what Shakara said true?" Tanis asked emotionlessly.
John suddenly looked as if he were about to cry. He hid his food smeared face in his hands and stood from the table. "I'm…I'm…I'll be in my room too." He said, his voice trembling and breaking.
Tanis couldn't find it in himself to get up or even speak as John walked off. What had just transpired had given him much to digest, and all he could to was look to Ashley to see her reaction. He could see her face painted with the bright palette of disbelief and shock as well. He suddenly couldn't bring himself to touch his own bag of food either.
Tanis let his elbows rest on the table and laid his face in his paws, trying to get a total grip on everything that he needed to comprehend. As he sat in disbelief, Ashley's witty voice chimed in with perfect timing, just as it always did.
"Looks like a great start to another fantastic, fun-filled day."
A/N: Not as much excitement in this one as I expected, but that's ok. If you were on your toes, you might have caught a couple of really subtle things buried here and there in this chunk, and I'm pretty happy about how the character drama is playing out. I can't say I can accurately predict what the next chunk's going to look like, but don't let that discourage you from reading and reviewing! I always enjoy hearing what you think!
