Imppala: And we get to see Matthew and Serra again.
ShadowedTactician: Earplugs?
Grim/Imppala: Yes please.
ShadowedTactician: Grim, you don't have ears.
Grim: (grumbles)
Gijinka Renamon
ShadowedTactician: Sure I'll keep going. And I won't be needing the script, but thanks for the tip anyway.
ShadowAngelUmbreon
ShadowedTactician: Actually, people who study the support conversations would remember that line from Bartre/Canas C-Level Support.
Grim: And ShadowedTactician did mention what Hector was getting in Siblings Abroad/VS Gastly... Squirtle was sitting on a table as Hector polished his axe.
Lao Who Mai
ShadowedTactician: Thanks for the praises. Truthfully, I was thinking of giving Wire something electric (yes, it's a bad pun), then remembered that Hector would have to fight Wire from the north and that's where Nosepass came in. I came up with something new because everyone's probably bored of the nailing-Nosepass-when-it's-unbalanced tactic.
Imppala: Technically, Wire doesn't always stay where he does. Whittled to a small enough amount of health, he will shift to the left and use a vulnerary. Not that it helps.
FadE
ShadowedTactician: Well, I decided to put Hector's story in because I've noticed not many people do. Makes it more interesting anyway.
Grim: And now, on we go...
After speaking with the village magistrate, Eliwood and company set their sights on Laus. The road from Pherae to Laus passes through Santaruz. Eliwood suspects his missing father must have visited Santaruz en route to Ostia. Eliwood arranges a meeting with the local ruling lord to see what he can learn. Meanwhile, Hector leaves Ostia, moving towards Santaruz to meet up with Eliwood as quickly as possible. Worried that the mysterious black-robed group he encountered in Castle Ostia might have turned their blades on Eliwood, Hector hurries south, praying for his friend's safety.
At Castle Santaruz, a mysterious and disturbing conversation was taking place...
"What?" exclaimed an old man sitting on a throne, none other than Lord Helman, marquess of Santaruz. He was talking to a strange person whose features were mostly covered by dark purple robes, except for his glittering, golden eyes. "Eliwood is here?"
"Yes," answered the other man in a unnervingly calm tone. "He has set camp up on a hill south of here. He seeks permission to enter Santaruz. He seeks an audience with you."
"Could it be... Do you think Eliwood's come to ask of his father?" Helman felt his brow crease with worry. "If that's the case... I... I know not what to tell him."
"Tell him you know nothing, and let him be on his way," The enigmatic man suggested calmly.
"Yet... I know young Eliwood well," Helman said doubtfully. "His father, Elbert, and I are old friends. I've no children of my own, and I've already treasured Eliwood... I do not believe I could look him in the eye and..." Holding his forehead in his wrinkled hands, Helman realised, "I could not lie to him. I could not."
"We've no choice then." Pursing his lips unpleasantly, the strange person suggested another alternative, "Let us chase the boy away. If you do not speak with him, you need tell no lies."
"Wait!" shouted Helman as the robed man proceeded to exit the room. "Do you mean to harm Eliwood?"
"Not harm. Frighten," answered the person without looking back. "A scratch or two will leave no scars. He will run home to Pherae and be done with his adventure." The man chuckled softly to himself, "He is after all, all that Pherae has left..." After speaking, the mysterious man left the room, leaving Helman on his throne with none of his worries alleviated...
Meanwhile, Eliwood's group entered Santaruz after talking to a soldier guarding the gates and seeking permission to see Lord Helman.
"Instead of entering Laus with such a small group, we should meet with Marquess Santaruz and request his assistance..." Marcus repeated as he stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I see the sense in that. It's a good plan, Shadow." The veteran smiled.
"Truly so," nodded Eliwood. "I tell you again, I'm pleased to have you with us."
"Please, gentlemen," laughed Shadow. "I merely did what Lord Eliwood or Sir Marcus would have done."
"Lord Helman..." Eliwood looked into the distance, reminiscing. "He's not only my father's friend. I've known him since I was a child. I'm sure that he will help us," said the Pheraen noble confidently.
"What?" Marcus suddenly noticed a group of men running from the city, headed directly for them. "Lord Eliwood!" shouted Marcus, riding in front of Eliwood. "Beware!" As the bunch of strangers approached, Marcus and Shadow could see that the group was headed by a tough-looking fighter in peasant's clothes. He held a steel axe in his hands and had a peculiar Pokémon running alongside him. This Pokémon had a rather cute face, and a yellow body which spread outwards like a dress of sorts. Its hands and feet were the colour of metal, as well as the strange-looking horn atop its head that looked a bit like a huge peapod.
"Heh heh heh... noble sirs." The fighter bowed humbly in front of Eliwood's group, as did his Pokémon. "Alms for a poor villager."
"Poor villager? You look nothing like an honest man," snorted Marcus. "Clear the road. Step quickly or..."
"Step quickly? Heh heh..." sneered the stranger as he looked up. "Good advice. Maybe it's you who should follow it!"
"What?" Marcus exclaimed.
"Someone wants the boy in an early grave," said the fighter, Zagan, as he pointed to Eliwood. "A shame if you ask me, but he'll die here today." Giving a whistle, he beckoned, "C'mon, boys! Earn your keep!" From the hills beyond swarmed a motley crew of bandits, mercenaries, archers, fighters and soldiers. Zagan himself retreated to take his position at the back.
"Fall back!" cried Shadow. "We'll need to come up with some plan for taking them on!" Quickly, Marcus and Lowen ushered the others behind a group of hills so that Eliwood and Shadow could think of a way to handle the enemy.
"Here we go again, eh, Shadow?" smirked Dorcas as Shadow patiently waited for Grim to come down from above. "Just like old times... seems like our fates are bound."
"Sure looks like it." Shadow smiled back, then asked, "So, how're Natalie and Smeargle?"
"Natalie and Smeargle? Oh, they're still in Pherae," assured Dorcas. "I'm working for you this time, so she wasn't too worried when I told her. Guide my axe, Shadow."
"That I will," nodded the tactician as his Duskull gently descended from above and floated besides him. Shadow brought out a piece of paper, and Grim performed his cartographic magic. "Hmmm..." Shadow studied the new map Grim had created. "There appears to be more of the enemy than we can handle at once. Our best bet here would be to wait here and..."
"What!" Bartre exclaimed indignantly. "Are you trying to say that we can't handle a bunch of weaklings!"
"Better safe than sorry, Bartre," shrugged Shadow. "You, Dorcas and Lord Eliwood will stand guard near the eastern fortress. Lowen, Sir Marcus and Rebecca shall back you up. When I'm confident that we can take on those bandits in the open, I'll let you know... and allow you to lead us with Lord Eliwood."
"But..." Bartre wanted to protest, but a stern look from Dorcas silenced him. He withdrew himself, still grumbling away.
"Ah, there seems to be a village in the north." Pointing to the golden knight, Shadow asked, "Could you please warn them of the danger, Lowen?"
"Ye-Yes, Shadow!" bowed Lowen as he rode off into the distance. Bartre grinned as he swung his weapons around like playthings.
"Now, who's first?" he sniggered as a small collection of mercenaries and soldiers made their way towards the group.
Meanwhile, Lowen was already at the village he was assigned to.
"Hmmm..." The old man that had come out to greet him studied the paladin novice from head to toe. "You look like you've some experience in battle."
"I..." Lowen was astonished by his analysis.
"No need to conceal it," chuckled the man. "I've fought in many a battle in my time, I assure you. Let me tell you one thing about combat, though... the most important thing is technique. If you've no skill, you'll rarely strike your enemy." Lowen nodded in agreement; he remembered Marcus telling him about this principle among others during their training sessions together.
"My instructor gave me this secret book long ago," continued the retired warrior as he produced a small manual from his pocket and passed it to Lowen. "It will improve the fighting prowess of the one who reads it. I'm too old to make use of it, so why don't you take it?"
"Yes. Thank you," Lowen said and bowed. As the village gates slowly closed, Lowen looked at the book with a confused expression on his face. "Maybe Sir Shadow will have an idea of what to do with it..."
"Ahh!" Rebecca's scream suddenly shattered Lowen's thoughts. The cavalier pocketed the secret book and rushed over to Eliwood's group. Some brigands had ambushed Rebecca, Marcus and Shadow from the mountains and were preparing to strike.
"Graveler!" Several of the Rock Pokémon were released from their Pokéballs as the brigands raised their axes.
"Roselia!" yelled Rebecca. "Sunflora!" added Marcus.
"Bullet Seed!" They commanded together.
"Defence Curl!" As the seeds struck, the Graveler curled themselves into balls, reducing the impact from the attack. "Rock Throw!" came the order.
"Grav!" Jumping into the air, the Graveler came tumbling down at the two Grass-type Pokémon, who were helpless at the hands of such an overwhelming assault. They would certainly be squashed to bits...
"Icy Wind!" From behind, Lowen's Swinub breathed a powerful tornado of swirling ice crystals. The tempest caught the Graveler in mid-air and coated them in ice, also blowing them away from Roselia and Sunflora. Noting that the enemy Pokémon were temporarily disabled, Rebecca and Marcus moved in for the kill.
"GAH!" The brigands screamed as they fell. At the same time...
"Ha!" Eliwood blocked the spear of an incoming soldier. "Charmander, Metal Claw now!"
"Char!" The nails of the Lizard Pokémon shone as it slashed through the soldier's body.
"Mega Punch, Zangoose!" Bartre's Zangoose sent a critical blow into a mercenary.
"Poliwhirl, use Ice Beam!" Dorcas had the Tadpole Pokémon fire an icy ray that formed a frozen replica of an incoming bandit.
"Bah!" grunted Zagan when he saw that several of his brethren had fallen. "He puts up a good fight for a pampered noble pup." Motioning to his Pokémon to move on, the Caelin bandit licked his axe. "It's up to me to finish him."
"Whew..." Eliwood panted as he drove his rapier through another mercenary. Although he and the others were keeping up with the attacks fairly well, they were visibly tiring. "How many of these people are there? This looks..."
Meanwhile...
"Lord Hector! I have it! I know where Lord Eliwood is." Matthew reported, "He entered Santaruz not too far from here."
"Is that so? We've read his movements fairly well, then." The Ostian lord then ordered, "Let's move due south and cross the border. We'll meet up with him in Santaruz!"
"Ah! There you are, Lord Hector!" squealed a female voice. It belonged to a bubbly cleric that Matthew knew all too well. "Oh, no..." he groaned.
"Serra?" Even Hector was taken aback. "W-What... What are you doing here?"
"You're going to meet Lord Eliwood, right? Well, I want to go, too!" pouted Serra.
"Go home!" barked Hector. "This is no game."
"But Oswin told me it was alright to come!" whined the cleric.
"Oswin?" Hector's eyebrow twitched.
"Yes, my lord. On the marquess' orders." The orange knight walked huffily besides Serra. "Serra and I will be accompanying you."
"What!" Hector looked at Matthew, who was whistling nonchalantly. "So that's why you packed all that extra stuff, didn't you."
"Er... yes... I had a hunch Lord Uther would send Oswin after us." Matthew answered sheepishly. "I just didn't expect him to send that loudmouth too," muttered the thief to himself.
"Bah. This is ridiculous," grumbled Hector. "Always have to have the last word, eh, Brother?"
"No matter what you think, he's just worried about you, Lord Hector," Oswin coaxed gently. "You're the only family he has."
"I know..." Hector sighed from Oswin's bitter reminder.
"Lord Hector!" Matthew cried. "Up ahead! There appears to be fighting!"
"Where? Is it Eliwood?" Hector quickly sprang to his senses. "Come! Let's get closer! Hurry! Oswin! Matthew!"
"Yes, my lord!" Oswin and Matthew quickly followed the running Ostian noble.
"Oh! Wait for me!" Serra squealed. "I'm coming, too!"
"Hey! What's going on over there?" Hector barked at the soldier guarding the gate. "You! Soldier! Are you just going to stand there and watch?"
"Who do you think you are?" snorted the soldier. "This is Santaruz. What occurs here is no affair of any foreign lordling!"
"I believe I'm going to have to disagree with you." Hector said in the calmest voice he could manage as he confronted the soldier. "You see, the man they're attacking happens to be a friend of mine."
"A friend? What?" Before the soldier could say anything else...
"HA!" Hector brought down his Wolf Beil.
"...Urrrgh!" The soldier gasped and fell to the ground as Hector clonked him over the head. "Sorry," Hector apologised, "but I'm in a hurry." At the same time, Oswin, Matthew and Serra managed to catch up.
"Ewww! That's terrible!" Serra said as she stuck out her tongue in disgust. "I loathe violence!"
"Nicely done, my lord! You're a fighter born," complimented Matthew.
"I cannot condone resorting to violence so quickly..." frowned Oswin.
"Chastise me later, Oswin." Hector interrupted, "First, we deal with these brigands! Come! We must help Eliwood!"
"Help Eliwood?" Oswin almost smirked. "Sounds like a convenient excuse for more violence."
"Oswin!" Hector sounded extremely irritated.
"Yes, yes. I'm coming!" sighed the knight.
"Matthew!" the Ostian lord ordered. "Bring Serra and follow along. Keep behind us at all times."
"What!" Matthew exclaimed. "With... Serra?"
"No! I want to go with you now!" protested Serra.
"Absolutely not! You'll slow us down!" retorted Hector. Serra could do nothing except stand beside Matthew, grumbling. "Oswin!" Hector beckoned. "Let's go!"
"Curses! What are you waiting for?" snarled Zagan as he charged forward. "Let me show you boys how it's done!"
"You call that little titch a Pokémon!" Bartre mocked at Zagan's Pokémon as it stepped forth. "This'll be easy! Zangoose, False Swipe!"
"Zan!" With its claws gleaming, Zangoose leapt at the mysterious Pokémon, when...
"Mawile... now!" Zagan called. At once, the small creature turned around, so that its back was facing Zangoose. Just as Zangoose was about to land a strike on the Pokémon, the peapod on its head suddenly opened up, revealing several rows of sharp fangs, and stopped Zangoose in its tracks!
"What!" Both Bartre and Zangoose were taken aback from this surprise manouvre.
"Crunch!" The fangs rushed in, clamping directly onto Zangoose's left arm, causing it to yelp in pain and surprise. Zagan's Mawile then neatly flung it aside into Bartre. "Oof!"
"What... what was that?" Even Eliwood was astonished by the peculiar Pokémon.
"Mawile's 'fanged jaws' are actually its steel horns that underwent transformation over time," Shadow explained hurriedly. "Using them, Mawile can execute surprise attacks when its enemies lower their guard!"
"Mawile, Mud-Slap!" commanded Zagan. Mawile turned around to face Eliwood's company, and used its hands to spatter sand and mud all over Eliwood's company.
"Charmander!" Eliwood cried over the mud storm. "Use Flamethrower!"
"Charr!" Valiantly, the Lizard Pokémon tried to shoot its streams of fire, but it kept missing the mark.
"Charmander's accuracy has been reduced from Mud-Slap!" Shadow shouted as he tried to shield himself like the others. "At this rate, we'll be buried under all this mud!"
"Charman!" squealed Charmander as it was struck by another mudball. Being a Fire-type Pokémon meant it was most prone to Ground-type attacks, and it didn't seem too long before the fire lizard collapsed.
"Eliwood! Are you all right?" shouted a voice. The Pheraen youth turned to see a couple of armoured men running towards him. To be accurate, one of them was running and the other was shuffling across the landscape as fast as his armour allowed him.
"Hector!" exclaimed Eliwood, both in surprise and relief. "What are you..."
"Later!" said Hector as he rushed beside Eliwood. "First, let's take care of this lout!"
"Right!" Eliwood nodded.
"Bah... Nobody told me that two men in scrap metal would be protecting the pansy-boy!" Zagan grumbled. "Mawile, keep up the Mud-Slap!"
"Maw!" The Deceiver Pokémon continued to hurl mud at its targets. By now the mud rain had turned into a full-fledged storm.
"Ugh!" Hector had his face spattered with a missile of mud. "We'll need to find some way to hit this knave, and fast! Isn't Charmander strong against Steel-types like Mawile?" asked the Ostian noble.
"Yes!" replied Eliwood. "But under this rain of mud, it can't see clearly enough to attack!"
"We'll put a stop to that! Squirtle!" Hector sent out the Tinyturtle Pokémon. "Protect Charmander and use Foresight!"
"Squir!" Squirtle ran in front of Charmander, blocking any mudballs flying towards it. The small Water-type then waggled its tail in the air.
"I get it! Squirtle is using its tail to detect Mawile's position!" realised Shadow.
"Squir!" Squirtle suddenly pointed to its right. It had managed to locate Mawile!
"Flamethrower, Charmander!" shouted Eliwood.
"Chaaaaaaaar!" Squirtle quickly crouched down as Charmander's mouth burst open with a pillar of flame that torched through the mud storm, striking Mawile and Zagan squarely in the gut and frying them to a crisp.
"Oh... aaurr..." Zagan coughed out several puffs of black smoke. His face had been burnt beyond recognition, and his hair and clothes were still smouldering. "This... was not... so easy... as it seemed..." He gulped before collapsing on the ground.
"Whew..." Hector breathed as he and Eliwood polished off several remaining enemies. "Is that all of them?"
"Hector! Where did you come from?" asked Eliwood.
"Well met, Eliwood." Hector answered with a smile.
"Yes, but... what are you doing here?" The Pheraen youth kept asking.
"You wound me!" smirked the Ostian noble.
"How do you mean?" Eliwood seemed confused at Hector's reaction.
"You're looking for your father, right?" frowned Hector. "Why didn't you send word?"
"Your brother was named Marquess Ostia. He's going to be very busy setting up his court council," replied Eliwood with concern. "Lord Uther must need your support. You are his brother, after all."
"My brother is not so weak," Hector snorted. "Oh, he has mentioned some things in public, but... he knew exactly what I was planning, and he let me go."
"Is that so? Well then, it would be unwise to refuse his kindness!" Eliwood smiled in relief. "It does me good to see you, Hector. Thank you."
"Think nothing of it," shrugged Hector. "You know Oswin, don't you?" he said as he introduced the Ostian knight.
"Well met, Lord Eliwood," bowed Oswin.
"It is good to see you again, Oswin." Eliwood shook hands with the knight. "So you came as well?"
"Yes," Oswin replied. "Lord Uther was worried about Lord Hector travelling alone. I've been ordered to keep an eye on him."
"Ha ha ha! Of course! Good to have you with us." Eliwood laughed goodnaturedly as Hector gave Oswin a withering glare.
"Lord Hector!" Serra ran up from the north. "Why didn't you tell me the fighting was done!"
"I apologise for the interruption," said Matthew. "I couldn't restrain her any longer!"
"Are these your companions, Hector?" Eliwood asked.
"Oh... yes, I suppose they are," sighed Hector. "One might have hoped for better, but..."
"That was uncalled for! I can't believe you said that!" Serra said annoyedly. "Matthew, did you hear what he said about you?"
"Me? He was talking about you!" Matthew retorted.
"Hector, why don't you introduce us?" Eliwood suggested.
"The noisy one is Serra," Hector began. "Believe it or not, she's a cleric."
"Yes, I am Serra, my lord. Pleased to meet you," Serra said in her sweetest voice possible.
"And that's Matthew. He does a lot of... sneaking around." Hector finished after pausing a bit to select his words.
"My lord." Matthew bowed humbly in front of Eliwood.
"Sneaking... around." repeated Eliwood.
"Well... I, er... gather information, open doors, chests, and such," Matthew explained sheepishly. "I've got... nimble fingers."
"That sounds... like a thief's work..." Eliwood frowned.
"Well, don't let it worry you." Hector patted his friend's back.
"But..." The red-haired noble began to protest.
"This journey... I suspect it will be harder than you imagine." Hector said with folded arms. "You may have to accept things like this if you want to survive."
"What is it, Hector? Do you know something?" Eliwood felt that Hector was not telling him things he needed to know.
"Nothing specific. Rumours abound, though... A league of assassins from Bern has been moving around in Lycia. Experienced bounty hunters and mercenaries are vanishing," Hector muttered darkly.
"That reminds me..." Eliwood remembered, "One of the men who attacked us said something odd."
"What was it?" asked Hector.
"Lord Eliwood, if I may." Marcus volunteered to tell Hector what he had heard.
"Marcus! Good to see you!" Hector greeted.
"Lord Hector, it's been far too long," nodded Marcus as he smiled serenely. "Your assistance is greatly appreciated."
"Come now, Marcus. No need for such formalities," Hector raised his hand. "Just tell me what you heard."
"Of course. The apparent leader of that gang of thugs... he indicated that someone was watching Lord Eliwood... that someone needed him dead," Marcus reported gravely.
"Hmmm... that is troubling," murmured Hector as he rubbed his chin. "Actually, a captain of the guard was watching the fight when we arrived. He was a knight of Santaruz, and yet he just stood there and let a lord be attacked. I think he was planning on seeing you die."
Faced with such serious news, Eliwood's brow began to crease with doubt. "So, Shadow... what do you think?" he asked the tactician.
"Right now, I'm not completely sure what to make out of this..." Shadow began to speak, "...but if even Santaruz's guard is acting suspiciously... I think something's happened at the castle."
"Eliwood! Who is this?" Hector finally noticed Shadow's presence.
"This is Shadow," introduced Eliwood. "I required tactical aid in the search for my father, and..."
"Oh, I see. So this is who directed the battle plan back there, hm?" The Ostian noble studied Shadow's features. "You know, Shadow, you're very young. We've many strategists in Ostia, but none so young. Eliwood, are you sure about this one?"
"Shadow is still a student of military strategy, but... we've received nothing but sound advice so far," Eliwood assured. "Shadow has my trust."
"Alright. I suppose I shall witness your skills firsthand." Hector smiled as he shook hands with the tactician. "Well met, Shadow."
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Lord Hector," Shadow replied. "Kull!" Grim said in agreement.
"Hello! How have you been, Shadow?" Matthew greeted just as he noticed the young man in the green cloak.
"Fine." smirked Shadow. "So what's this I hear about you being more than a thief?"
"Eh? My secret's revealed? Oh, that." Matthew almost blushed in embarassment. "Yes, it's true. My guise as a common thief was but a ruse. I've served House Ostia for some time as a spy of sorts! Surprised?"
"I certainly didn't see it coming," Shadow remarked.
"Well, regardless, it looks like we'll be travelling together again. Here's to our mutual survival!" cheered Matthew.
"Agreed!" nodded Shadow. Grim and Aipom made contact with their palms and grinned at each other... or in Grim's case, gave a friendly purple aura.
"Eeeeeeee!" Just then, Shadow was caught unawares from behind as Serra hugged him tightly. "Shadow!" she squealed. "Is it really you? It's been far, far too long! You missed me, didn't you? Of course you did! I knew it!"
"It certainly has been a while since we saw each other," Shadow managed to speak breathlessly in Serra's tight grasp. "So what are you doing with Lord Hector?"
"Hm? Didn't I tell you before?" At last the cleric let Shadow go. "I'm in the employ of Ostia, Lycia's ruling territory. I'll be here to help you just like before! Aren't you lucky!" Shadow only looked at the bouncy girl, and was instantly reminded of all the times she had screamed, yelled, shrieked and made other assorted loud noises at the expense of her colleagues' ears.
"Yeah. Lucky me," he muttered.
To be continued...
ShadowedTactician: We can take off our earplugs for now.
Imppala: Pardon?
ShadowedTactician: We can take off our earplugs for now!
Imppala: Pardon?
ShadowedTactician: We can take off our earplugs for... Oh, forget it.
Grim: ...Review.
