Chapter 41: The Start of Ending B

The Feral One leapt at Trigger, and he sidestepped to the left. His left arm brushed against the wall again; and this time the pain rushed through his entire body. He cringed, and stopped movement; and the Feral One took advantage.

It leapt at him again; making a slash for his chest. He brought up his right hand again to block; but the beast didn't stop. It grazed across his arm; leaving three parallel gashes. It retreated back; and Trigger looked behind him. He was nearly sidling the wall; but he was out of the corner. Which gave him more room.

It didn't help that both of his arms were out of comission. He looked at his right arm; and only then noticed that his hand was empty. He couldn't move his arm; nor even squeeze his fingers into a fist. The beast had cut something; a nerve perhaps?

He looked back up; and smirked. His right arm paralyzed; and his left arm broken, he wasn't able to do much more than run. He felt tears sting his eyes, and laughed softly at himself.

"Look at you, Trig..." He said, as the Feral One lunged again. He easily evaded by hopping back; but without arms he had no balance. He teetered back until he hit a pillar. "You're a mess..." He said, laughing a little more.

The beast lunged again, and he ducked. As expected; the beast had gone head-first into the pillar. At the speed it had gone at; Trigger knew that it had knocked itself out. He got up to walk away, and his gaze met that of a bishop. The bishop shook, barely holding a tome in his hands. Trigger looked at him, then smiled. He shrugged; motioning his gaze to his hands, and shook his head.

"If you're going to kill me, do it now. As you can see, I can't fight back. I'm also way too tired to run anymore. This is your chance." Trigger said. He looked back at the bishop, and stared angrily. "What will you do?"

He heard the bishop yelp and mutter a few words. Soon, Trigger saw floating balls of pure light and smiled. He stared at the bishop, and the holy man nodded back. He sent the balls of energy flying, and Trigger smiled. Tears ran down his face, and he sighed.

«Sorry... everyone... I wanted to do so much more...»

Chapter 42:

Mist found just who she was looking for, and tugged on his arm. He acknowledged her presence; and smiled down at her.

"Something wrong, Mist?" He asked. She pointed back to where she had came.

"Trigger! And a Feral One!" She said. "Muarim, you have to help!" She added, tears streaming down her face. Muarim knelt by her, and looked her in the eyes.

"Trigger's here? Are you sure?" He asked. She nodded. "You have to tell me everything." He added. Mist shook her head, and pointed again.

"There's no time!" She said, running. Muarim looked over his shoulder; and saw that they were getting outnumbered up here. Could he just leave?

He felt someone hit his back and he whirled around; to find Ike in a defensive stance. He cracked his knuckles; but the Lord waved his hand.

"There are other places you should be." Ike said. Muarim nodded, and ran off. Ike turned back to the bandit he was facing. "Now, let's dance!" He said, charging at the bandit.

---

Trigger stood, awaiting the final blow to be dealt; and he saw the balls of light fly at him. He instinctively tried to raise his arms in defence; but he remembered that they had been taken out of comission.

However, the balls of light never made contact with him.

He watched as they whizzed by, and he heard something behind him. He whirled around weakly; and saw the Feral One pierced by arrows of light. He smirked; it hadn't knocked itself out after all, it just stunned itself for a few seconds. He stared back at the bishop, who was smiling.

"You don't think I'd kill a friend, do you?" The bishop said. Trigger looked at him again; and realised he knew the face. He walked forward at the holy man; who outstretched his arms.

"P-Peth'Mael?" He said weakly. He fell into the awaiting arms, and smiled. "I thought... that you had left me..." Trigger added. He heard the bishop chuckle, and found himself being lifted up to stand.

"I'm sorry for the fall; I've never used that magic before." Peth'Mael replied. Trigger smiled; and glanced back at the fray. The fighting near the front seemed to have gotten thicker; and someone seemed to be approaching fast. He urged Peth'Mael aside; but the bishop stepped in front of him.

"I'd heal you if we had the time; but we don't. Your arms are going to do you no good here." Peth'Mael replied. Trigger stared as the incoming assailant leapt into the air. This Feral One seemed to wish to bypass the bishop; and head straight for Trigger.

The flash of green alerted him.

Peth'Mael was about to shoot off more arrows of light, when Trigger ran at the bishop. He side-checked the holy man; disrupting his spell.

"Trigger! What are you-" Peth'Mael started; but then he saw Trigger walk up to the beast. "Trigger! No!" Peth'Mael cried. The beast assumed a sitting positiong and Trigger smiled. The tiger nuzzled against his arm, and Trigger winced; pain rushing up his left limb.

"It's okay... it's my brother." Trigger said. Peth'Mael looked at him oddly; then the tiger assumed his beorc form. Trigger smiled, stepping closer to Muarim. "You came..." Trigger said. Muarim smiled, and ruffled his hair.

"Mist told me you were here. I wanted to make sure." Muarim replied. Trigger smiled; then looked back at the fray. Muarim turned around; glancing too. Peth'Mael slowly got up from the ground and walked over. Trigger laughed softly, and shrugged.

"Sorry about that." He apologized. Peth'Mael waved his hand, and looked at Muarim intently.

"Your brother is alive; but this is no place for a reunion. You should go; they need you out there." Peth'Mael said. Muarim looked down at the bishop. His robes weren't the same as the ones from this chapel; so where had he come from? He decided to ask later; the bishop was right. This wasn't the time. He looked back once at Trigger; who nodded as well. Muarim transformed back into a tiger, and bounded off into the fray.

"Hey, Peth..." Trigger started. The bishop looked at him with curiosity. "Enough time to heal my arms yet?"

Chapter 43:

Ike hopped backwards, evading large swings made by the bandit leader. He was a skilled fighter; unlike his underlings. Ike ducked under a heavy swing made for his head, and rushed forward. He brought his sword up to stab at the bandit's stomach; but he had to evade. The axe had stopped mid-swing, and now came crashing down upon him.

He rolled to the side, panting. The bandit leader sneered at him, and heaved his axe onto his shoulders.

"You can run all you like, little mouse. I'll squish you eventually." The bandit leader said. Ike grit his teeth, and rushed in.

The bandit leader brought his axe down hard for Ike's left shoulder. Ike rolled to the right; but he was too slow. The bandit leader had already brought his axe up to the right at a crescent angle. Ike brought his sword vertically to the left; hoping to block. The swing was too powerful, though, and he felt his sword starting to shatter.

In desperation, he leaned back. He brought the sword over his body and watched as he guided the axe to careen over his stomach. He threw the bandit leader's sense of balance off, and quickly made a lunge for his open shot.

At least, he thought it was an open shot.

The bandit leader brought forth his free hand and unlatched the axe on his back. He swung it at Ike; and the Lord didn't have any room to dodge. He leaned to the left; trying to deflect the best he could; but the axe still made contact with his right arm.

It didn't go very deep; and Ike looked at the axe again.

"Venin..." He said. The bandit leader laughed, and drew the axe up high to cleave at Ike's head. Ike stood to get out of the way; but the poison was already working it's magic. He felt dizzy, and dropped his sword, and looked back at the bandit leader weakly. He closed his eyes; suddenly losing energy.

The axe never came; but instead Ike heard a grunt. He opened his eyes weakly, and saw Muarim in front of him. The laguz had caught the axe with his right hand, and had already occupied the bandit's other arm with his left. Ike reached out weakly for his sword.

The bandit kicked it away; but Muarim used this time to push the bandit off balance. Before the bandit fell; Muarim took him by the arm and whirled him around. He let the bandit go skidding across the ground, and retrieved Ike's sword.

"You dropped something." Muarim said. Ike took the sword weakly, and let himself be propped up by Muarim. The two turned to the bandit leader; who was just getting up. "Give it up. Your cronies are dead; and you're the only one left. No one can help you." Muarim said. The bandit leader laughed.

"You seriously believe that? Look around you! Even without those fools; I still maintain the power in here!" The bandit leader said. Before they knew it; Ike and Muarim had been restrained by priests. Two had to restrain Muarim; but Ike was too weak and simply let himself lean against the priest. "See? Now, hold still while I chop you into mince meat!" The bandit leader said; taking his Venin Axe.

Ike started to breathe erratically; the poison starting to work. He tried to wriggle free; but his body couldn't do anything.

Then, suddenly he felt warm. He looked to the priest behind him; who winked. He started to move his right arm; and he glanced over. The wound was closing, and the poison was losing it's effects. His sword, however, was still on the ground out of his reach. He knew the priest couldn't let him go; the bandit leader was already in position to strike if they made a sudden movement.

He didn't expect, however, a blur of purple.

He heard a yell and glanced over at the bandit leader. He had a dagger stuck in his forearm of his right arm. He quickly switched weapon hands and swung at something.

Trigger.

The young Branded used the outstretched arm as a step and vaulted over the bandit; withdrawing his dagger from the bandit's arm. He landed behind the bandit; and before the leader could whirl around he had a dagger in his shoulder. Ike watched as Trigger drew the blade out; but at an angle, which made the bandit leader fall back.

He caught the bandit; and placed a dagger at his neck. The bandit leader dropped his axe, and sighed. The priests immediately let go; and Ike retrieved his sword. He stood above the bandit, and smiled.

"Unfortunately, I don't consider my underlings any lower than me. They're all my equals; and they can all best me at something. This one, in particular, is quite speedy; wouldn't you say?" Ike said. The bandit leader grumbled; and Trigger gave him a thumbs up.

That was the only opening that the bandit needed.

Neither Muarim, nor Ike, nor Trigger were expecting the bandit to make a desperation move. He brought his left arm up; his axe somehow in his grip again. He crushed Trigger's hand with the handle of the axe, and the branded screamed out in pain.

Ike realised what was happening; and moved in. Muarim made a dash as well; but he wouldn't get there in time. The bandit had regained balance and turned his back to the Lord; not seeing the incoming attack. Ike was about to thrust his sword into the bandit's back; when something poked out at him. Trigger had planted his dagger into the bandit's chest. The bandit fell back; but Ike saw that Trigger had not gone unscathed.

Trigger stood; with the axe cleaved into his right side. His face showed pain; and he coughed up blood. He took a firm grip on the axe and drew it out; and a scream of pain came with it. He dropped the axe, and it clattered against the ground. He fell to his knees; coughing up more blood.

Ike bent down to pull Trigger's dagger out of the bandit's body, and felt a rush of air as Muarim dashed past. He looked up, to see the laguz kneeling beside his brother.

"Did... did I get him?" Trigger said. Muarim held his brother in an embrace, and nodded. Trigger looked up to see Ike standing; his dagger in an out-stretched hand. Trigger smiled; and reached for it; but lost consciousness.

He hit the ground with a disgusting thud.

Chapter 44:

"Trigger..." A voice said eerily above him. He was laying on his back; and he opened his eyes slowly.

Nothing but whiteness all around him. He looked to the ground, and found himself on a stone pathway; but apart from that there was no colour. He stood up, dusting himself off, and realised that he wasn't in his normal clothing. Well, he was; but it too was white. The only colour, was the stone pathway.

And his skin, of course.

"Trigger... wake up..." The voice said. It sounded familiar; but he could place it. It was soft, and serene; a definite woman's voice. He whirled around, as the voice called out. "Walk again... Trigger..." The woman called out. Trigger shivered a little.

He was scared. He was alone. He had nothing to protect him. He looked around again, and decided to walk down the pathway. What else could go wrong?

He came to a small clearing of stones; with stone benches around a great, stone fountain. Though, no water ran through the fountain; it seemed to be more for decoration. Trigger walked up to the fountain; and saw that there was water in it, but it wasn't working. He looked at his reflection.

He looked exactly the same as when he looked at himself normally; but something felt different. Something was missing. He didn't know what; but something just felt like an empty space. He sighed, looking down again.

He noticed that his clothes seemed to save inwards on his right side. He looked down, and found that he was missing part of his side. Then, his memory rushed back. He had been cut by the bandit and...

"That's right." The voice said from behind him. Trigger whirled around, and faced a woman. She had long, flowing green locks, and her face felt so familiar. She smiled, and placed a hand on his side. "You got hit here, after you hit the bandit here." She said, pointing to Trigger's chest.

"Who are you?" Trigger asked. The woman was dressed in the same whiteness as he was; but she looked like she was wearing a nightgown. The woman smiled, and sat on the edge of the fountain. Trigger sat down beside her, and she pulled him in. She embraced him lightly, and he let her; it felt so right. Then, he understood. "Mom..." He said.

"It seems I'm not forgotten." She said. Trigger stood on the edge of the fountain, and it dawned on him. His mother smiled, and took his hand in hers. She was warm, and her touch was gentle.

"I'm... dead?" Trigger asked. His mother shook her head. "No? Then... why can I see you?" He asked. His mother smiled.

"You wanted to see me. So, here I am!" She replied, standing up. She placed her hands on her hips; smiling - striking a pose as well. Trigger smiled.

"Yeah, I did. I found him, mom." Trigger started. His mother glided gracefully back over, and smiled. "And now I think I've lost him... if I'm here." Trigger said, sadly. He felt his mother's soft hand on his chin, and he looked at her.

"I pulled you here to thank you, Trigger." His mother started. Trigger sat back down on the edge of the fountain, and looked up at her. "You see, when I died; I told you to find your brother, right?" She said. Trigger nodded, not quite understand. His mother chuckled. "Amidst all your hardships; you still pursued that goal. And, not only that; but you've become a fine idealist. I'm so proud of you." Trigger stood, his mother fading.

"Wait, mom!" He said. She disappeared in a flash of light, leaving a green pendant on the ground.

"There's still some explaining to do, isn't there, Trigger?" He heard his mother say. He smiled, and picked up the pendant. Then, the whole world exploded into an array of colour, and he found himself falling.

---
"Trigger... wake up...Walk again... Trigger..." Muarim said. A priest had come and treated Trigger; but his robes were different. No one knew who he was; but he said that he knew Trigger. Muarim thought back to what happened.

"Let me treat him." The priest said. Muarim backed off, and simply gazed at the priest. "You... uh... Tomenami?" The priest asked. The archbishop nodded, and came closer. "You house the great Ashera Staff here, right?" The priest inquired. The archbishop quickly understood, and sent one of the priests to retrieve it.

The priest had returned; with a great staff in hand. Adorned with two garnets at the top, and a small one at the tip; the staff curved and twisted oddly; and still fit perfectly in one's hand. Runes down the side, and a carving of the goddess Ashera herself in between the garnets. Muarim simply stared at the staff; already feeling the staff exude great power.

They handed the staff to the unknown priest, who stood up. His whole body had glowed yellow; and he said a prayer to Ashera. Then, he started an incantation; and Trigger's body lurched.

At first, Muarim was scared; but then he looked at Trigger more intently. His veins seemed to pop out into his skin; but what was more interesting was that they were pumping something vigorously. All the veins pumped something towards the axe cut; and soon Muarim saw it. Droplets of the Venin poison gathered, and floated in a small ball.

He sat in awe, as the unknown priest apparently finished. The ball of poison floated in front of his open palm. He closed his hand into a fist; and the ball imploded; the poison disappearing from existence. Then, Trigger coughed up some blood. Everyone turned to Trigger; and soon priests began to tend to him.

The unknown priest had left as soon as he had arrived; the Ashera Staff left on the ground. Muarim ran outside to thank him; but there was no sign of him anymore. Was it a miracle? A gift from Ashera? Muarim didn't know; but he was thankful for it anyway.

Muarim smiled, and took the pendant Trigger had left with him; when they were in almost the same situation, but their roles had been reversed. He placed it in Trigger's hands, and closed the Branded's fingers slowly.

As soon as Muarim had made Trigger's hand into a fist; Trigger bolted upright. Muarim yelled; at first out of fright. But doing do had scared Trigger too; then both realised where they were. People came to the tent; wondering if everything was okay.

They were greeted with the sight of Muarim hugging Trigger very tightly.

Chapter 45:

Trigger had gotten better; the camp started moving again, and soon enough the group found themselves outside Daein Castle. Pre-battle preparations were being made; and Trigger found himself at Muarim's tent.

"Hey uh... Muar?" Trigger asked. Muarim turned around; his headband clutched in his fist. Trigger smiled. "You still got that pendant I left here a while ago?" Trigger asked. Muarim nodded, and unclasped the necklace, handing it back to Trigger. The young Branded shook his head, and Muarim looked at him confused. They stepped outside, talking a walk.

"Didn't you want it back?" Muarim asked. Trigger shook his head again.

"That pendant is yours." Trigger replied. Muarim still didn't understand. "When a laguz is born, it is said that they are born cluching a stone; that very stone you have in your hands. The stone is the same colour as your hair, and skin while transformed. It's your own personal keepsake; and apparently it has the ability to boost your powers." Trigger explained. Muarim held the pendant in front of his face, and stared. "Also..." Trigger started. Muarim looked down.

"Trigger? What's wrong?" Muarim asked. Trigger smiled, and shrugged.

"That stone is supposed to be given to the person that you want to spend your life with." Trigger said. Muarim looked at him, quizzically. "You know, that one person that only being around you makes you happy. That's what mom said, anyway." Trigger said. "Oh!" He exclaimed, suddenly.

"Oh? Did you remember something?" Muarim asked, as they walked. They proceeded past tents upon tents, and soon found themselves in the brush of the nearby forests.

"Mom... talked to me while I was asleep." Trigger said. Muarim nodded, and soon they came upon a small cliff. Trigger walked up to the edge, and sat; Muarim stood behind him. "She said, that she wanted to thank me for finding you. This whole time Muar... I've been finding you for mom. I haven't realised that I wanted to find you for myself too. You're the only family I've got..." Trigger said.

"Mom... I don't remember her. All I can remember is that she stood in the way of lashes for me... and she didn't yell out in pain; nor did she ever cry. She was so strong, and yet so gentle. Afterwards, she wouldn't shed a tear in secret; but went back to work. She told me once, that 'holding back tears of pain may save you from trouble later. Crying inside your heart allows you to absorb more pain.' I think I'm beginning to understand what she meant." Muarim replied. Trigger smiled, and looked back.

"Yeah. We'll vsit Mom's grave after all this is done. We'll put some flowers at her tombstone." Muarim said. Trigger sobbed, and Muarim looked at him oddly. "Trigger?"

"Mom was... buried in a giant hole with other dead slaves. She was given no respect... no care." Trigger said, tears streaming down his face. Muarim placed a hand on his shoulder, and Trigger looked back.

"Then we'll bring enough flowers for all of the slaves." Muarim said with a smile. Trigger nodded, and looked back into the sunset. Suddenly, there were arms around his neck. He looked down, and found Muarim's pendant clasped around him.

"Muar... this is for..." Trigger started.

"I know. The person that I'd rather spend my entire life with." Muarim smiled. Trigger shook his head.

"I... my pendant was stolen... and sold a long time ago..." Trigger started. Muarim ruffled his hair, and he started to cry. "And... Tormod... Shouldn't you give this to him?" Trigger started again. Muarim smiled.

"Tormod and I have a bond that's different. We don't rely on stones, or pendants to tell each other we'll always be there for each other." Muarim said. Trigger wiped his eyes, and nodded. "Come on, let's go back. We'll be moving out soon."

---

Epilogue to Ending B:

Trigger, Muarim, and Tormod walked down the streets of a city in Daein. After the war, Daein began to prosper again; the lands forgiving it, but never forgetting. That didn't mean they harbored any ill feelings, however.

Laguz, beorc, and branded all roamed free throughout Tellius; and Daein welcomed all three with open arms. Rumors of two certain wyvern riders becoming the future rulers of Daein spread out; and no one was sure about the future.

But the focus was on the present, anyway.

A glint caught Trigger's eye, and he looked over in a bazaar.

"Trigger! Come on; we can't stop at every shop!" Tormod said, annoyed.

"Hold on!" Trigger said. Muarim shrugged and Tormod and the laguz walked over; to see Trigger holding a purple stone in his hands. It was tied to a silver chain; made into a sort of locket. "Is this..." Trigger started.

"A thief came and sold it to me. I haven't been able to sell it; so I'll sell it to you for cheap!" The bazaar owner said. Trigger smiled, and bought it; leaving more than enough for change. The three began to walk down again, and Trigger eyed the stone cautiously.

"Is that yours?" Muarim asked. Tormod had been told the story, and pondered.

"If you're a Branded though, would you still carry out a stone with you at birth?" Tormod asked.

"Mom said I did... and..." Trigger started. He opened the locket, and inside was a small, pink flower. Trigger pulled it out, and smiled. "Dad had these all around the house... said they were mom's favourite..." Trigger said. He whirled around, and clung to Muarim's neck.

"Trigger! Hey, get off!" Muarim said; and soon a purple stone was dangling at his chest. Tormod smiled.

"Man, I wish beorcs were born with stones..." He said, pouting. He had been jealous before; but they had worked it over.

"Why? Would yours be pink?" Trigger said. Tormod blushed, and as they walked; they began to run circles around Muarim.

The laguz simply stared at the stone, and smiled.

"Okay! Okay, I'm sorry!" Trigger said, as Tormod sat on him; poking at his sides. Muarim pulled the mage off, and both dusted themselves off; and laughed.

This was their family.