Chapter 7: General Mycen
Mycen Village
The barricade keeping the rest of the monsters out continues to stand firm while the few that manage to slip through are quickly dispatched. One such fighter manages to rally the villagers into fighting them off.
"I told you already; no solicitors!" Gray (a young man with tan skin, black unkempt hair, green shirt and bandana, black undershirt, dark green pants, light brown boots and belt, brown fingerless gloves and a left shoulder guard) shouts as he shatters a stalfos with his sword. "Seriously, how many more of these things are there?"
"Too many." Tobin (a young man with brown hair, off white shirt, brown over clothes with matching fingerless gloves, light brown pants, dark brown knee high boots and a left shoulder guard) shoots several keese flying over the barriers with arrows. "Why, you getting tired, old man?"
"You wish. Alright, get the boards back on the barricade!" Gray shouts to several villagers holding hammers, moving to reinforce the weak spots while others back them up with pitchforks to keep the monsters at bay. While they're working, a small group of lizalfos climb the barrier at the same time to overwhelm them all, until a Pegasus rider swoops in and swats them off with her lance.
"I'm afraid the village is closed, lizard men; toddle off now." Clair (a young woman with fair skin, wavy blond hair in a ponytail with a metallic headband, a light blue blouse, shoulder guards connected with a chain holding a dark blue cloth, black leggings and armored boots) says in a dismissive tone before flying off to continue her securing of the perimeter.
"What did I do to deserve her?" Gray comments in an enamored tone.
"Got me there." Tobin quips before turning his attention back to the barricade. "Uh, Gray? You might want to take a look at this."
Both of them look past the barricade and see a large moblin (muscular pig like creature with black boots and loincloth, brown gauntlets and metallic shoulder guards and helmet) walking towards the gate, dragging a massive, metal club.
"Well, that sucks…" Gray glumly comments. The moblin reaches the barricade and begins hitting it with its club. "Everyone, forget the weak spots; put some more beams on the barricade! Clair, go get Kliff and Faye; we need all the help we can get!"
"Right away!" Clair acknowledges as she flies off towards the village interior.
Tobin shoots several arrows at the moblin, but it doesn't even flinch when they embed on its hide. "What the hell is that thing?!"
"Gray, Tobin!" Kliff (a young man with short, white hair, a white long sleeve shirt, purple vest lavender pants, brown boots and gloves, hip guards and a left shoulder guard) arrives on horseback accompanied by Faye (a young girl with long light blond hair with two bangs ending in ribbons, a short sleeved pink dress with a white apron, brown knee high boots and a dark brown cloak over her shoulders), just in time to see the moblin hitting the quickly weakening barricade. "That's a new one."
"Gray! The barricade isn't going to hold much longer!" One of the villagers shouts, pointing to a beam that's beginning to break.
Thinking through his options, Gray looks at the villagers and then to his friends. "Ok; We're staying here to wait for them to come to us. I need everyone else to get all the way to the back of the village." The villagers run back after heeding Gray's words. "Faye; as soon as the barrier falls, hit that big guy with the strongest spells you have. Tobin; you shoot down the ones that are further away. Clair and Kliff; you both are my heavy hitters. So I need you to take out the larger ones above the rest. Got it?"
"Got it." The four say in unison as they prepare for the barricade fall. After several tense seconds, it finally falls and Faye wastes no time in firing off a Sagittae (barrage of magic arrows) spell that bombards the moblin and kicks up a dust storm. Following this, Faye conjures fire spells to hit the monsters in the dust.
"Easy everyone; we're not done yet…" Gray comments, waving away dust in his face and looking at the eerily quiet dust cloud. "Faye, how's your magic?"
"I have plenty left." Faye answers. "I hope I got the big one."
Eventually, a large number of monsters swarm the village, bypassing the others.
"Hold them off!" Kliff shouts, charging many of them on his horse. "They're going towards the people!"
"Not if I have anything to say about that!" Clair shouts, commanding her Pegasus to chase after the monsters.
Faye continues launch spells at the lizalfos, stopping them from advancing. "This is not easy!"
"I know, but we don't have much of a choice!" Gray retorts, beheading a lizalfos. "Tobin, watch out!"
"Huh?" Tobin turns around after shooting three stalfos from going into the village, in time to see another about to plunge its sword into his chest. "Oh hell!" Tobin falls backwards and prepares for the inevitable. However, he opens his eyes slowly to see the stalfos halted as a pointed chain had impaled its head from behind before being pulled back towards the dust and destroyed. Both sides stop fighting as Link emerges from the dust on horseback, dismounting soon after.
"You're trespassing." Link announces before drawing his sword and shield. From behind him, Celica blows away the dust with an Excalibur spell, revealing a small battalion of soldiers along with her.
"Men! Secure the village!" Celica commands and the soldiers shout in acknowledgement, charging at the monsters while Link runs off to intercept the ones that have already entered the village center. "Everyone, are you alright?!"
"Celica! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" Gray happily exclaims.
"Huh, here I thought there wouldn't be any more miracles." Tobin comments after regrouping with Gray and Celica.
"We can save the pleasantries for later; we need to clear out the monsters!" Celica conjures a fire spell to incinerate the keese above her.
"Where did all these monsters come from though?" Kliff shouts from his spot near the village entrance before riding off.
"The same place he came from." Celica points to Link by the center.
"Same place as him?" Gray asks, before realizing the obvious. "….who is 'him'?"
Mycen Village center
The monsters begin attacking the boarded up houses and Clair is having a hard time reaching every single one, pushing her Pegasus to its limit.
"Easy girl; our back up will arrive soon." Clair assures her Pegasus, stroking its mane in an effort to calm its heavy breathing. A lizalfos attempts to blindside her, but is taken out by thrown lance from Link, accompanied by several soldiers. "What in the world?!"
"Is that horse flying?" Link briefly questions before shrugging it off and pulling another lizalfos off of one of the houses and impaling it on the ground. Picking up its sword, Link runs over to other monsters and engages them with two swords.
"Thank goodness." Clair comments in relief as she descends just in time to see Link finish off his enemies. "You there; the young man in green shall be praised for his well tuned aim."
"Uh, you're welcome?" Link answers, confused by Clair's mannerisms.
"Oh dear." Clair comments in surprise. "You are not from around here, I presume?"
"Clair!" Kliff shouts, swatting another monster off of a house with his lance. "Monsters in village now, mingle with the new guy later!"
"Your friend's right, Clair; we'll talk later." Link politely dismisses before running off to secure the village with the soldiers.
"Hey, it's Lady Clair or Milady!" Clair pouts before stabbing a stalfos creeping up behind her and her Pegasus. "How rude…"
The number of monsters begins to finally lower as the soldiers vanquish more and more of them. Link, for his part, garners the attention of a dinolfos, screeching at him and dragging its axe through the ground in a threatening manner before breathing fire at the air above it.
"They shoot fire now?!" Kliff asks in alarm.
"That one does!" Link answers. "I'll handle it; you just keep the others off of my back!"
"Alright, be careful!" Kliff concedes and draws the attention of other monsters away from Link. Beginning the fight, Link throws the lizalfos sword at the dinolfos, only for it to grab the sword in its mouth and toss it away before charging at Link. Jumping up, it slams down its axe on Link's shield, making him stagger backwards and leaving him open to the dinolfos fire breath. Thinking fast, Link drops to his back and shoots his hookshot to stop the dinolfos from shooting more fire. Jumping back on his feet, Link blocks the recovered dinolfos axe with his shield; parrying it before following up with a hit from the shield and making it fall down. Seizing the opportunity, Link jumps down on it with his sword; only for the dinolfos to move its head away from the thrust and bite down on Link arm.
"Green boy!" Clair shouts from across the village center, seeing Link struggle with the dinolfos on his arm.
"Handle the rest! I've got this!" Link shouts, stopping Clair and anyone else from interfering in his fight. With a mighty pull, Link tears his arm out of the dinolfos jaws. The dinolfos spits out parts of his glove, before noticing that Link's arm isn't bleeding; in place of exposed skin, a silvery shine protrudes from it. Link pulls off the upper parts of both gloves and reveals a surface of four silver plates connected to a red, diamond shaped gem on the back of his hands, much to the dinolfos confusion. "Yeah."
Screeching, the dinolfos swings its axe down on Link, but he dodges it and lands a heavy hit on its head with the silver gauntlets, giving him the time needed to retrieve his sword from the ground. The dinolfos rushes up and attempts to breathe fire on Link and he quickly turns around and drives the sword into its mouth, exiting out the back of its head.
"Finally…alright, who's-" Link removes the sword and the dinolfos drops to the ground before looking around to see the soldiers and able bodied villagers taking down the remaining monsters. "-next?"
"Don't worry; we were able to handle the rest. But, not bad with the fire breather." Kliff comments, leaning the lance on his shoulder.
"Agreed. Very well done, green boy." Clair trots over on her Pegasus before commenting.
"Well, since it's over, my name is-"
"Link!" Celica shouts from the village entrance, catching Link's attention. Looking over to the entrance, Celica and the others are facing the moblin; having survived the onslaught of magic with cuts and burns all over its body. "We need back up!"
"To be continued…" Link comments to himself before looking at Kliff. "Would you mind giving a lift to them?"
"Sure, hop on!" Kliff allows Link to jump on his horse and takes him to the entrance. "My name's Kliff, by the way!"
"Nice to meet you, Kliff; I'm Link!" Link answers before leaping off of the horse and slashing the moblin on the leg. Sliding next to Celica, Link watches as the moblin kneels down in discomfort. "You called?"
"What is this thing? It's hide stops arrows." Celica informs. "And our spells just aggravate it."
"You've got to get in close; swords do the trick." Link answers before noticing the moblin slowly standing back up. "I'll lead you through it; call your friend over."
"Alright. Gray, we need you here." Celica waves over to Gray and he runs up to her.
"Celica, new guy; what's the plan?" Gray asks, keeping his sword ready.
"Ok, that club of his is the pain in the neck right now; I'll stop it and you two get in and hit him with your best shots."
"How are you going to stop it-"
"If you'll excuse me!" Link cuts Celica off as he runs and slides below the moblin swinging its club horizontally, just missing him. The moblin continues to miss the far more nimble Link, until it slams the club down. To it's surprise, it can't lift it back up as easily; Link is holding it down with the strength the silver gauntlets gave him. "Alright, I can just barely hold him; stab him through the back!"
"How are you doing that?!" Gray asks in shock.
"NOW!" Link retorts. Shaking off those thoughts, Gray runs up and impales it through the back. The moblin, in distress, drops its club and begins to stomp around the open area, trying to swing Gray off of its back.
"Guys, was this part of the plan?!" Gray shouts, trying to get a firm grip on the sword and moblins back.
"Freeze!" Faye shouts, conjuring a spell that restrains the moblin. "Please hurry!"
"Celica!" Link kneels down with his shield up. Taking the hint, Celica runs up and jumps on the shield; allowing Link to toss her up and drive her sword into the moblins head. The moblin growls weakly as it begins to fall forward and Celica jumps off to keep it from falling on her. Once on the ground, the moblin evaporates in a cloud of dust and blue wisps, leaving Gray in its place.
"That was gross…" Gray complains, swinging his sword to rid it of the moblins blood before sheathing it.
"Your Highness! The village is secure, save for a few injured villagers." A soldier runs up to Celica to inform her of the status.
"Excellent. Make sure they are tended to immediately." Celica commands as the soldier retreats back into the village to give the order.
"Now then, to what do we owe this visit from the queen? Besides the backup?" Gray amicably comments with his arms open.
Smiling, Celica embraces her old friend. "I missed you too, Gray."
"Nuh uh, don't forget about us." Tobin, gathered with Kliff and Faye, quips. Gray and Celica then reunite with them and chatter among themselves, indicating familiarity as Link fondly looks on.
"Hmph. And pray tell; why I am the only one left out of this social gathering of long time friends?" Clair remarks with a raised eyebrow, dismounting her Pegasus and grabbing everyone's attention.
"Right, we shouldn't do that." Gray breaks away and walks over to Clair with a repentant expression. "I'm really sorry, Clair."
"I should hope so, it is unwise to leave a lady out of these types of affairs." Clair crosses her arms and lifts her head in a gesture of superiority.
"Agreed…so get over here!" Gray quickly finishes as he sweeps Clair off of her feet and twirls her around in his arms.
"Oh! Gray!" Clair exclaims in surprise. "What are you doing?!"
"Showing that the princess is above all of us." Gray answers, still twirling her around and making his friends (including Link) laugh at the silly scene. "Have I been forgiven, Excellency?"
"Yes, yes; you're forgiven!" Clair shouts, laughing even. "Now please, put me down; I'm getting dizzy!"
"Right away, Your Majesty. Thank you for humbling me." Gray slows down and sets Clair back on her feet. "I think that's why I fell for you; your forgiving nature."
"Last time, you said it was my prowess with a lance and Pegasus riding." Clair corrects, trying to focus her vision.
"Eh, I guess it's all of the above." Gray quips.
"Hmph." Clair pouts as Gray hugs her, much to her giddiness.
"Alright, this is all very nice. But we're leaving somebody out." Kliff interrupts, gesturing over to Link. "I thought we'd see Alm as well, but instead we get a new guy that you said 'came from the same place' as these monsters. Can we get an explanation?"
"Yeah; where is Alm?" Faye asks, clearly concerned.
"Ah, right." Celica remembers after finally having the village safe and stands beside Link. "First, introductions are in order; this is Link. He's from a land called Hyrule. Link, these are my friends; Gray, Clair, Tobin, Faye and Kliff."
"Nice to meet all of you." Link greets in a clear voice. "Now, you all want to know about what's been going on as of late, yes?"
Gray's house
"Unbelievable…I've met several carpenters before, but you don't smell at all like lacquer! How do you do that?" Clair asks, wanting to know more about Link's profession.
"I…bathe often." Link answers.
"Of course." Clair snaps her fingers in realization.
"Fascinating…now, can we get to the point?" Gray asks, uninterested in the conversation.
"Yes, of course." Link straightens up in his seat before continuing. "This may be hard to understand, but I'm not just from another land; I'm from another world." Link then looks at everyone and notices that none of them question this. "This doesn't surprise you?"
"Not really." Faye adds. "Two years ago, we saw a lot of things that anyone would think are crazy."
"Yeah, so hearing this isn't all that weird." Tobin comments.
"I guess we're all on the same boat, Link. Please continue." Celica states.
"Right. Anyway, Some people working with the Duma Faithful conspired to bring me here, along with another person. But, they only managed to get me and, through that same magic, Alm was sent in my place."
"But why?" Kliff asks. "No offense, but a simple carpenter with fighting skills doesn't seem like a huge catch for anyone; unless, you've got some sort of secret."
"I'll be honest with you too, Link." Celica adds. "Never mind your title, but what do these people want with you? I never thought to ask, but now…"
"I wasn't trying to hide it, but I couldn't just go around showing it off." Link states before walking around the house and lowering the curtains, much to everyone's confusion. "This is what they want." Link brings up the back of his left hand and the Triforce symbol appears with the lower right triangle glowing brightly, surprising everyone present. "This is the Triforce of Courage."
"That's one fancy tattoo." Gray comments, looking intently at the Triforce of Courage.
"Is it like the brand that Alm and Celica have?" Faye asks.
"I'm unfamiliar with their brands, but this is one of three; Power, Wisdom and Courage."
"If you have one, then where are the other two?" Clair inquires.
"Power is kept safe, thankfully. But Wisdom is in possession of the other person they were after; Princess Zelda."
"Princess, huh? Is she single?" Tobin asks, earning a shoulder bump from Kliff in annoyance. "What?"
"So, she's a target as well. But, I'm fairly certain that's she's being guarded. I just…wish I was there."
"And what would happen if all three parts are gathered?" Celica asks, growing suspicious of the Duma Faithful's intentions.
"If one gathers them, then they will have their desire granted. Koume and Kotake probably told them about it, but what the Duma Faithful want is anyone's guess." Link concludes his explanation and leans back on his seat. "That's about it."
"Our current destination is Fear Mountain. Perhaps Sonya can figure out some way to get him home." Celica explains. "But, hearing what was going on in Mycen Village, Link and I had to come and settle it. Now, we're no closer today than yesterday."
"Yeah, Fear Mountain isn't exactly close by." Gray adds.
"I have a suggestion; why not go there by Pegasus?" Clair states.
"Pegasus?" Link asks, leaning forward.
"Yes. I suggested to Clive that Mycen Village breed them, but this land isn't really suitable for them. So, we have another area for them to be bred properly." Clair explains. "Right now, my own needs to rest today, but I can teach you how to ride one in the morning. Would that be alright?"
"That would be brilliant; I think that's a great idea." Link beams.
"I can have a battalion of soldiers set up barracks while the rest return to Zofia Castle. That way, everyone here will have a better chance if we get anymore uninvited guests."
"That would be appreciated. Thanks." Gray comments. "For now, everyone should take it easy for the rest of the day."
Conceding, everyone exits Gray's house and go to different directions to help out around the village.
"Alright, I guess I should pitch in wherever I can." Link comments to himself, looking around the village. Unbeknownst to him, Celica had wandered off to a house at the back end of the village. Reaching the house, her eyes begin to gloss over.
Mycen Village, late afternoon
"Alright, that should hold." Link states as he descends a ladder from the roof of one of the villagers house. "It wasn't too bad, so there shouldn't be any leaks."
"Thanks so much for your help, sir." The elderly villager humbly comments before retreating inside to rest.
"I think that makes four people to this point." Link comments to himself before stopping Gray as he walks by. "Hey Gray, have you seen Celica?"
"Celica? Yeah, last I saw, she went to the back of the village. That's where Alm's old house is." Gray answers as he points to the houses direction.
"That makes sense. Thanks." Link waves goodbye as he heads off. Reaching the house, Link looks it over and checks its exterior; covered in vines and branches from lack of upkeep. Before he can enter, Link hears Celica humming from the left side of the house and heads over there; witnessing Celica cleaning a stone of the fallen leaves and dried flowers on it, replacing them with new ones. "Celica?"
"Hmm? Oh, Link." Celica addresses Link, turning around to face him. Though she's smiling, Link can see that she has dried tears on her cheeks; indicating that she's been crying.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Link asks, moving closer to Celica.
"Oh, I was just cleaning up this; my grandfather's tombstone." Celica moves aside to show Link the tombstone; General Mycen. Loyal soldier of Valentia, beloved grandfather.
"Ah, I'm sorry. Maybe I should've waited for you back at the village." Link remorsefully says as he rubs the back of his head.
"No, it's fine. I could use the company." Celica dismisses Link's statement. "Everyone in the village always puts in new flowers for him and clean up his resting place. Since we're here, I took the opportunity to do so." As she says this, Celica continues by grabbing a rake and clearing out the dried leaves around the house and, to her surprise, Link sets down his weapons on the porch and picks up another rake to join her.
"A pair of hands makes the work go faster." Link comments with a smile.
"Thank you." Celica warmly says as they both continue their labors.
"Hey, why don't you tell me about your grandfather?"
"Sure. For starters, he was a Rigelian soldier who became a Zofian general, known throughout all of Valentia as one of the greatest soldiers to have ever existed. He eventually settled in Ram Village with Alm and then I arrived."
"…And then you arrived?" Link asks, confused by that last part.
"That…part is a little more complicated. Grandfather saved me from a fire at the Royal Villa I lived in set by the corrupt Chancellor of Zofia, Desaix, in an effort to wipe out all heirs to the throne. Mycen arrived and tried to save everyone he could, but he only found me. So, he took me to Ram Village, renamed me as Celica and took me in as his granddaughter. That's where I met Alm and the others. Yes, we were not related by blood, but he truly was my grandfather; end of story."
"Wow, that's quite a lot to take in. But, Celica; they tried to kill you?"
"When you want power, one will do anything to obtain it." Celica answers with a serious tone.
"I know…But, there is something good that came out of that." Link adds, using the rake to entangle some vines on the houses walls.
"Like what?" Celica asks, stopping her leaf sweeping.
Before answering, Link tears the vines off of the wall and tosses them aside. "I got to meet you."
Pausing for a moment, Celica breaks out into a smile over hearing Link being earnest. "Likewise."
"Well, don't stop now; let me hear some more about him." Link requests as he moves to another end of the wall to remove more vines.
"I didn't know too much after he left me at the priory to live with the priests to prepare me for the pilgrimage to the Temple of Mila, also to keep me safe from Desaix's men. But, he was there for our fight against Duma, as well as my and Alm's coronation and wedding. He moved on back to Ram Village afterwards and then, six months later, Alm and I came to the village to visit him and our friends." Celica regales and she looks down at the ground in sadness. "I didn't know that would happen…"
"Celica?"
"We just wanted to visit our old home. It didn't occur to us that we were being tracked by remnants of the Duma Faithful. We arrived here and it descended into chaos…"
Ram Village, 18 months earlier
A small squad of Duma Faithful supporters had followed Alm and Celica to Ram Village, attacking while they were distracted; setting fire to several houses and plantations.
"Raze it all! Flush out the false king and queen!" Slayde (A man with a scarred face, unkempt purple hair and goatee, tarnished dark red armor with purple accents and a torn up dark purple cape and black gloves) shouts from the center of the village on his horse. "Come out wherever you are!"
"Slayde!" Alm shouts from behind Salde, joined by his friends and Mycen. "How dare you come here?!"
"King Alm…how nice to see you again. "Slayde spitefully comments, being joined by several soldiers. "And where is Anthiese? Did I scare her off again?"
"She's protecting the people from you; your business is with me."
"We're not the same kids back then, scarface." Gray comments, pointing a sword at Slayde.
"Why don't you try fighting us now?" Tobin adds, aiming at Slayde's head.
"If you think you've got what it takes." Kliff states, gripping his lance tightly.
"You won't hurt Alm or Celica! Not while we're here!" Faye shouts, welling up magic in her hand.
"You see now, Slayde?" Mycen (An older man with short grey hair with a matching mustache, silvery armor with gold and red accents, black leather joints and gloves) declares. "These 'children' you threatened once upon a time are no longer afraid of you. They've faced greater dangers than a hollow shell of a man like you."
"Hold your tongue, Mycen!" Slayde angrily shouts. "It doesn't matter if these fools grew up a bit; they're still the same low born rats they always were! Only Anthiese mattered and now- wait a minute." Slayde stops his tirade to inspect Alm from afar.
"You look like you've seen a ghost, Slayde." Alm says with uncertainty.
"I swear, I've seen you earlier on…" Slayde comments. A few seconds later, he gasps in realization. "You! You're that little brat that stopped me from seizing Anthiese!" Looking at him, Slayde's memories go back to that time when Alm was a little boy in the path leading to Ram Village.
"It took you that long to remember me?" Alm scoffs.
"It wasn't enough that you led the Deliverance to victory was it?!" Slayde shout in anger, balling up his fists. "You've made a mockery of me since you were a boy!"
"You were a Zofian knight who conspired to overthrow the kingdom, you and Desaix killed all those people at the villa." Alm states in quiet anger. "You tried to kill Celica; you tried to kill Conrad!"
"Are you going somewhere with this?" Slayde asks in a bored tone. "Trying to appeal to my better nature?"
"That went out the window; you have no shame."
"Oh and you would know that, wouldn't you?" Slayde retorts with a smirk.
"Watch your words, Slayde." Mycen orders, just barely keeping his composure.
"Ah, the hypocrite speaks!" Slayde exclaims. "You didn't know about any of it, did you Alm?"
"Back away from me…" Alm quietly demands, holding on to his swords handle tightly.
"About Emperor Rudolf? About Berkut?" Slayde comments, enjoying Alm's quickly souring expression. "I guess I'm not the only one with demons, am I? Though, I'm comfortable enough in my skin to admit it, what about you?"
"Alm, don't let him get to you; he's just a coward for saying all of that." Gray interjects. "You're a good man."
"By the way…would Anthiese be next?" Slayde comments and finally pushes Alm to his boiling point; charging with his sword drawn.
"Alm!" Mycen shouts as he and the others charge Slayde's men to keep them from attacking Alm.
"Come and get me." Slayde rides off on his horse, ignoring the villagers and even disregarding his own men, wanting Alm to follow him. Reaching Mycen's house, Alm looks around but only finds Slayde's horse left by the entrance.
"Where are you?" Alm says to himself, drawing his sword. Hearing the villagers screaming, Alm decides to abandon his search and aid them. However, Slayde had other ideas.
"Why didn't Mycen tell you the truth?" Slayde, from an as of yet unknown location, calls out and Alm stops in his tracks. "Would it have changed what happened in Rigel Castle if you had known the truth?"
"Come out!" Alm shouts, disregarding Slayde's words.
"Sure, he had to hide Anthiese's identity not just from you, but from everyone else. That's fair enough. But, he kept you in the dark about who you actually are."
"He had his reasons." Alm answers. "I put it behind me."
"Did you? Are you sure that you can sleep soundly at night? Knowing what you did, regardless of your knowledge?" Slayde pauses briefly, wanting to gauge Alm's reaction. "Do your friends know? Do your soldiers know? As a matter of fact, does your beloved wife know how bloody your hands are…your own blood, as it were?"
"Don't talk about her!" Alm, now losing his patience, shouts and begins looking everywhere for Slayde.
"Albein Alm Rudolf II, to think that was your name. Did your blood run cold when you learned the truth at that very moment? When you plunged that sword into-"
"SHUT UP!" Alm shouts in anger. "Come out and face me!"
"As you wish." Slayde appears from behind Alm, startling him and immediately blocking an attack by the former. "Did I strike a nerve?"
"You don't know me!"
"What's to know? You'll be dead soon." Slayde retorts, forcing Alm's back on the house, cornering him. "Just so we're clear; after I kill you, I'm going to kill all of your friends. Then, I'm going to take my time ending Anthiese. Take that knowledge with you to the grave, kin-slayer!" As he finishes his threats, Slayde is struck from the right by a fireball, forcing him to release Alm. Looking back after putting out the flames, Slayde spots Celica glaring at him.
"A scoundrel like you is beyond salvation, Slayde." Celica declares, welling more magic in her hand.
"I suppose I can change my plans a bit, now that you're here; Anthiese." Slayde declares, ignoring his burns. Looking at Alm, who is slowly standing back up, Slayde backs away from them both and slowly reaches for his horse. "Tell me, Alm; does she know what you did? Would she still stand by you, knowing just what kind of man she wed?" As he says this, Celica conjures an Excalibur spell to scare off Slayde's horse, preventing his escape.
"I know what kind of man I gave my hand to; the only one who truly knows me." Celica, now livid over Slayde's words, walks over to Alm to pull him back up on his feet. "I know what torments him and my opinion of him is the same; I will stand by him, shouldering his pain."
"How romantic…I'll bury you both together!" Slayde shouts before throwing the lance he recovered from his horse at them both. Alm pushes Celica out of the way before jumping backwards to avoid the lance as well, just in time to block Slayde's sword from piercing him. Reinvigorated, Alm manages to push Slayde back and leaves a cut on his arm.
"Let's end this." Alm declares, swinging his sword as Celica gets up off the ground.
"Yes, King Alm; let's end our misery!" Slayde shouts before locking swords with Alm again. Bringing both swords down, Alm elbows Slayde in the face with his free arm, making him stagger backwards and leaving him open to a slash from Celica and yet another from Alm, forcing him to back away. "Almost got me. Try again."
Back at the center of the village, Mycen and the others are keeping the invaders at bay while the former notices two other soldiers heading off to support Slayde. Knowing full well that the others have the situation under control, Mycen rides off to aid Alm and Celica, before being thrown down by another soldier, using a lance, with the added consequence of his horse running off. Quickly getting back on his feet, Mycen blocks the soldier's lance and quickly finishes him with a vertical slash before kicking him away. Refocusing, Mycen runs off on foot to reach Alm and Celica.
While Alm grapples with Slayde once again, Celica prepares another fire spell to launch at the latter in an effort to overpower him.
"Ok, let's tip the scales." Slayde comments before whistling, much to Alm and Celica's confusion. Before anyone can react, an arrow strikes Celica's left thigh, making her drop to the ground. Alm looks back in shock at seeing Celica screaming as she grips her bloody leg in pain. Infuriated, Alm tries to reach the two mounted soldiers walking up behind Celica, giving Slayde the chance to seize him. "Don't get distracted!"
"Celica!" Alm shouts, unable to escape from Slayde's grip before having a dagger brought to his throat.
"Don't fret; they're not going to kill her; that's my job." Slayde states, smiling sinisterly. "I don't want you to miss this."
"Then how about this?!" From behind the mounted soldiers, Mycen smacks both horses to make them run forward towards Alm and Slayde; the latter of whom steps aside and allows the former to escape as well. The riders jump off and joins Slayde as they observe Mycen cradling a still injured Celica with Alm beside him. "Attacking my kids was a bad move…"
"Oh, this is getting tiresome; finish him, you two." Slayde, in an indifferent tone, commands his two soldiers to attack Mycen, who grunt in acknowledgement.
"Alm, get Celica inside and then join me." Mycen orders as he passes her over to Alm, who only nods as he enters the house. "You're not walking out of this one, Slayde…"
The two charge at Mycen, who blocks one sword with his shield and parries the other with his own, maneuvering around the other and kicking him down. The other soldier recovers and blocks an incoming attack from Mycen whole the other gets back up only to be intercepted by Alm, who plunges his sword through his chest.
"You can handle this now, grandfather." Alm declares as he removes the sword from the dead soldier. "I'm going after Slayde!"
"No Alm; we need to face him together!" Mycen retorts, struggling with his opponent as Alm runs off to fight Slayde. "ALM!"
"Slayde!" Alm shouts in fury at his opponent.
"Come and get it…" Slayde quietly comments, gripping a sword in one hand and pulling out a dagger from behind him. Alm strikes first and Slayde answers with a parry to the right and blindsides Alm with a slash to his face with the dagger, forcing him to back off. However, as he does this, Alm begins to feel lightheaded and his vision blurs.
"What…what did you do to me?" Alm asks, dropping to one knee, unable to keep himself focused.
"Ooh, feeling a little queasy, are we?" Slayde remarks slyly, slowly pacing in front of Alm. "It's that cut on your cheek; it's a potion. A little gift from Nuibaba."
"What…?" Alm looks up, barely able to look at Slayde.
"I don't know anything about magic or spells and such, but I found out you can apply them to weapons. So, you can imagine my excitement when I got my hands on one of her potions that she left behind before you slew her." Slayde explains. "Don't worry; it won't kill you and the effects only last a few minutes without someone healing you. But, that's the least of your problems." Concluding his explanation, Slayde stomps Alm in the chest, forcing him onto his back. "I'll enjoy what little time I have beating you."
Shaking, Alm tries to get back on his feet, only for Slayde to hit him on the back with his lance handle. Back on his knees, Alm looks up at Slayde, who smiles before hitting him across the face with the lance, flooring him. Before Slayde can do any more, Mycen arrives and forces Slayde to the wall of his house.
"Grandfather...?" Alm questions, looking up despite his bruises.
"I'll rip you in half." Mycen declares, angered that Slayde would dare hit Alm.
"Please, old man; you would've been a bigger threat had we been standing here 10 years ago." Slayde retorts, slashing at him with a concealed knife in his sleeve before kicking him away. "End of the line, general."
"Think again!" Celica shouts as she throws herself from the second story window and onto Slayde's back, gripping tightly around his neck. "Grandpapa, help Alm!"
"Unhand me!" Slayde shouts, trying to loosen Celica's grip. Taking the chance, Mycen shambles over to Alm and help him get back on his feet.
"I told you to wait for me." Mycen states. "Just because you're a king, that doesn't mean you can't rely on me."
"I know…" Alm answers in repentance.
"Anyway, look." Mycen points to the village, gesturing to the Zofian soldiers that have arrived to quell the invaders. "Clair made it; the invasion is finished and so is he."
"I'm sorry, grandfather…"
"Don't be, come on; we have to apprehend him now-" Mycen's speech is cut off as a lance erupts from his chest and he exclaims in pain.
"NO!" Alm shouts in horror as Slayde appears behind Mycen; the one responsible for the attack. From behind them, Celica holds on to her injured leg, as Slayde had hit it to get her off of him, and shouts in despair. Mycen uses one hand to keep the lance from piercing Alm as well and the other he uses to shove him away. Frustrated, Slayde tosses Mycen aside and draws a sword to attack Alm, who managed to recover his own and block the incoming attack.
"Got some feeling back, did you? Good!" Slayde shouts in an almost psychotic voice. "Then you'll feel everything!"
Alm kicks Slayde off of him and gets back on his feet, albeit a bit sluggish from the dagger. Slayde throws away his shield and lays down a barrage of unorganized downward slashes, allowing Alm to block all predictable attacks.
"You've lost it completely, Slayde!" Alm shouts, locking blades with Slayde.
"You're right; I have! Those hateful knights of Zofia are here to take me in or send me to the gallows!" Slayde raves. "I don't care about what happens to me anymore…AS LONG AS I SLAUGHTER THE BOTH OF YOU!"
"Enough!" Alm retorts before forcing Slayde's sword down and landing a heavy punch to his face, a knee to his chest and a right hook to his face again.
"Is that all you've got?!" Slayde derisively asks. Before he can attack again, Celica had managed to shamble over and slash at his back with her sword, forcing him back on his knees. Alm, weary of this fight, moves quickly and plunges the royal sword into Slayde's chest. Gasping, Slayde looks down to see the sword in his chest, coughing up blood as Alm brings it deeper.
"You're finished." Alm declares as he callously removes the sword and gets Celica back on her feet, offering her his shoulder.
"But…so is he…" Slayde weakly states, observing the spilt blood on his hands. "One more on your list…kin-slayer…" Slayde smiles slightly as he falls to the ground, exhaling his last breath.
Dismissing Slayde's final insult, Alm and Celica look over to the center to see a few soldiers, plus their friends, coming over to aid them, while the rest apprehend the surviving invaders. Looking down, Alm and Celica kneel down to attend to the grievously wounded Mycen, flagging down the soldiers to make them hurry.
Two hours later
With the crisis averted, the villagers are tended to by the healers while the soldiers form a perimeter around the village. Near Mycen's house, Alm was being treated for his injuries and confirmed that the daggers effects have long since worn off, giving him the all clear. Celica had her injured leg patched up, though still needed some aid to walk around until fully healed. Before either one can talk to their friends, the healer treating Mycen in his home steps out, telling Alm and Celica that Mycen is conscious and that he wants to speak with them. Helping her stand up, Alm leads Celica inside and they close the door behind them. For his part, Gray stops the healer and asks him about Mycen's condition. The healer quietly answers and Gray walks over to the others.
"Gray? How is Sir Mycen?" Clair asks in concern.
"Yeah, don't keep us in suspense." Tobin adds.
Exhaling deeply, Gray readies himself before answering. "Guys, he's awake right now and he's a strong old man. But…they told me that…his heart won't take it."
The atmosphere around them immediately sours upon everyone hearing Gray's words.
"What?" Kliff asks in shock, dropping his lance.
"No Gray, no…" Faye, in tears and disbelief, tries to deny.
"He…he wants to talk to Alm and Celica before…it happens."
"Oh Gray…" Clair comments in remorse.
"You know, I always joked that he'd outlive all of us." Gray states, trying to keep his composure. "I didn't think that I wanted to be serious. This…this is not happening…"
Gray lowers his head in sadness, unable to accept what come next and Clair can only comfort him as the others slowly come to terms with the inevitable.
Mycen's house
Alm and Celica ascend the stairs, the former helping the ladder up them and they enter Mycen's room; he was laying down on his bed with large, bloodied bandages covering his chest. Slowly, they approach him.
"Grandfather?"
"Grandpapa?"
Slowly, Mycen opens his eyes and looks at the two, smiling ever so slightly. "There you are…"
"We're here, Grandpapa." Celica comments with a sad smile upon seeing his bandages.
"How are you feeling?" Alm asks, moving Celica closer.
"I've been better…" Mycen answers. "How about the two of you?"
"We're fine, my leg is feeling better and Alm is back in top form." Celica answers, sitting down at Mycen's right bedside.
"She's right; you'll be feeling better soon as well." Alm adds, sitting down on the left side. "Grandfather, forgive me for being reckless…"
"There's nothing to forgive, boy…" Mycen retorts, holding Alm's hand. "You fought well, just like I taught you. Where is Slayde?"
"He can't hurt us anymore, Grandpapa." Celica answers. "We won."
Mycen's breathing begins to slow down upon hearing this. "I knew…you could do it. Valentia is…in good hands."
"Can we get you anything? I'll call one of the healers if you don't feel good." Celica comments as she tries to get up, but Mycen stops her.
"Shh, don't worry…Celica…I have all that I need…right here with me." Mycen gives her a soft smile as he says this before turning to face Alm. "Alm…what Slayde said to you…I know you must…resent me. The price…you had to pay…to know the truth. I'm sorry…"
"No Grandfather, don't apologize. I don't resent you." Alm states, beginning to understand what's about to happen and just barely keeping himself together. "I don't care about what he said anymore; I'll deal with it. I won't let it take me down."
"That's my boy…I'm proud of you." Mycen looks at both of them and grabs each hand. "I'm so proud…of you both. Alm; you're the king I always hoped you'd become since the day I cradled you…in my arms. Celica, since the day I saved you…from the villa, every day has been a blessing. I hope you believe me…when I say that I thought about you every day…when I sent you to the priory. How I wanted to see you again…" Mycen strokes Celica's cheek and smiles weakly; the former grabs his hand and lets loose a small tear after hearing this. "With you both here…I am finally whole."
"Grandpapa…" Celica sadly whispers.
"I won't let you down; we won't." Alm swears to Mycen, holding his hand tightly.
Mycen places his hand on Alm's head and looks at them one more time as his breathing slows even more. In his eyes, Mycen sees himself in the flower fields outside of Ram Village, with Alm and Celica as children and his hands on their heads while they smile at him. Mycen sheds tears of joy upon seeing them both as children. "There you are…not as the king and queen…but as the children I raised…the boy and girl I love so deeply…welcome home…" Mycen gives them one more smile as he exhales and closes his eyes for the final time, dropping his hands from their heads. Celica softly catches his hand and cries on his chest. Alm grabs his other hand and brings it up to his forehead and lets loose his own tears. For the final time, the family was together.
Present day
Upon finishing, Celica places a flower crown, like the ones she used to make for Alm and Mycen when she was a child, on the latter's tombstone. "We gave him a funeral in the morning after. We all decided that he should be interred near his home." Celica stands up and pats herself of any dirt from the ground. "For his service and loyalty to Valentia, we had Ram Village renamed in his honor; Mycen Village."
"Your grandfather sounded like a great man." Link fondly states after hearing Celica's story. "I really am sorry about this. But, he loved you, that's the important thing."
"I'll never forget all that he has done for us. He was more of a father than my own." Celica states as she bows her head slightly at Mycen's tombstone. Link walks up and softly pats her back in understanding, which she appreciates by smiling at him. "Oh, you'd have enjoyed sharing stories with him about your exploits and so would he."
"I'm sure I would." Link smiles back before frowning. "But this Slayde guy, who was he to say those things; he didn't know Alm. Whatever he thinks he knew, I'm sure it was in error; kin-slayer, what does that even mean?"
Thinking it through carefully, Celica decides to tell Link what she knows. "He…wasn't entirely wrong Link; I can tell you."
"No, it's fine. It isn't any of my business." Link retorts.
"Please, let me tell you the truth. But when I do, please don't think any less of him. He didn't know…"
Although slightly apprehensive, Link allows Celica to tell him what she knows about Slayde's accusation. Celica decides to whisper in Link's ear to make sure no one else listens in. Upon hearing her account of events, Link's eyes widen in shock, unable to comprehend what he just heard. Concluding her words, Celica breaks away and sadly lowers her head. Link looks at her for a few moments before his expression changes to one of sadness. Though still thinking things through, Link helps her to refocus.
"Come on, the others must be waiting."
Celica smiles slightly before following Link back to the village proper. Taking one final look at Mycen's grave, Celica and Link move on.
To be continued.
Author's Note: Boom, chapter 7. This is the chapter I really wanted to get down due to my fondness of the characters you recruit in Ram Village, sans two of them. I actually forgot that Link didn't tell anyone about why the Duma Faithful want him, but I think that this would be the better place to do so. Now, I'm already working on chapter 8, back in Hyrule. Alright, guys/girls, take care. :)