Author's note: ok here's chapter 12. I hope you all enjoy. And there is a lot on tension in this chapter, plus, Ryoma gets chewed up and spit out by Sapphire. (figurative speaking.) ok I LOVED chapter 12 of Conquest so I just had to pit it in my story some how. so I did! well I hope you all enjoy. GOODBYE AND GOODNIGHT!
Chapter 12 - Kidnapped?! Are you Kidding Me?!
How did this all go so wrong? Why did it all go so wrong? Their questions ran through my mind while I was here. Trapped like a rat here in this stupid prison cell.
It was tiring to spend the entire the day in a prisoner cell, doing absolutely nothing. But this wasn't the icing on the cake OH no. This was nothing compare to the cold treatment they gave me here, AND with a certain eldest Prince glaring down my back. Not to mention I was stripped of my armor and thoroughly searched from head to toe to confiscate any hidden weapons or items.
They only gave me a simple white dress with no shoes. Apparently, my feet were too small for any adult shoes or too big for any kid shoes. My feet were bruised and bloody from walking around this miserable cell. When I couldn't stand the pain anymore, I just sat down in a corner pretty much the entire day.
In this prison cell, I wasn't tied or chained at all, but, not without the fair warning. If I tried to escape, I would be cut down. But it didn't matter anyway, I lost a lot of blood and I was severely injured as well. Not to mention I lost a lot of weight, I didn't eat practically anything the entire time I've been here.
The Hoshidan army secretly took over a fortress somewhere in Nestra's territory, apparently, they were going to lend help to the rebellion in Cheve. Sound familiar doesn't it. Boy, how I hated that place. Filled with so many painful memories. If I had chosen Hoshido, I would be there to help with the rebellion, but, if I had chosen Nohr...things would end badly.
It's been over a week since I've been taken hostage by the Hoshidans, more specifically, the High Prince of Hoshido, Ryoma. Ever since I got kidnapped, nobody within the hoshidan army had spoken to me, ninjas silently watched over me, and Ryoma probably ordered everyone not to interact with me unless it was necessary.
These people made a conscious effort of isolating me from what was happening with the war, even the vaguest rumors. Maybe this was Ryoma's way to punish me since I didn't side with the Hoshidan royals.
I didn't have a bed in this stupid cell so I had to make do. Letting out a sigh, I laid down on the rock floor in my cell. My entire body ached with pain, from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. Nobody would come and help me, to everyone in Hoshido, I was a traitor and a murder. They all blamed me for one leaving Hoshido and two murdering my mother.
I looked down at my chest and traced a large scar from my left shoulder down across my chest. When I touched it, immense pain course through my body. They said that I was really lucky to survive one single struck from the Raijinto, but I knew that its owner held back just to not make it lethal; Ryoma didn't need me dead.
As I continued to trace my scar, memories of what happened came back to me. Each and everyone...
.x.X.x.
My best friend from my world named Juliana had just joined us. Juliana had changed her name to Priscilla, and also the person who called us here turned her into a Malig Knight. She even got a dark wyvern who she named Shadow. Priscilla, Aika, and I had a vision, we all saw Anankos. And then the voice called out again and told us that we need to undo it all for us to go home. So that's what we planned to do. Just end the war between Hoshido and Nohr, defeat Anankos, don't know about that man Chaos and go home. Simple right? Wrong.
I didn't this path in my visions so there was no help. Plus...me being kidnapped by Ryoma. I deeeeeeefinitely didn't see that coming. I suggested that we gather more allies in order to help us. Because I knew that Ryoma and Xander were much too stubborn to help us, let alone listen.
I suggest we go to Macatrade in Nohr. I knew the daughters of the Duke and Duchess their. Jill and Kris, Jill was one of my partners when I worked with Charlie. Heck, we both still do. I knew instantly that Jill and Kris would believe me and would help me end this horrible war. Jill was a Strategist and Kris was a Dark Knight, Jill's horse was named Starlight and Kris's horse's name was Black Beauty.
Priscilla and Aika were happy to know that someone else would believe and help us. I sent a letter to Jill to tell her what had happened so far and that we were coming to see them.
We arrived in Nohr and then in Macatrade. Jill and Kris welcomed us with open arms. I told Jill the whole story...well kinda...buuuuut they still wanted to help. Nohr was in trouble and it was their duties as Duchesses of Nohr to save their kingdom. At least Jill and Kris had sense...unlike Xander and Leo. To them, I was still a traitor...
While Jill and Kris got ready, I wrote a letter to the other angel in our group. Sabrina, the daughter of the Daimyo of Shunko. She was a Falcon Knight, and the best in all of Hoshido. She was even better then Hinoka, with a lance and flyer her Pegasus FeatherWing. What was funny was that "Sabrina" was a Nohrian name, but her mother wanted her child to be named after an old friend. Well, that's what Sabrina always told us.
When Jill and Kris finally finished getting ready, we left Macatrade and headed straight for Shunko. Aika and I rode Saphira, Priscilla rode Shadow, Jill rode Starlight, and Kris rode Black Beauty.
I wrote in the letter that Sabrina she should meet us at Palace Macarath. Because Macarath was closer to Shunko and we needed medical supplies. And Palace Macarath has the best in all of Nohr. So it was official, we all would meet at Palace Macarath and figure out what to do next. I told Saphira to wait for us outside of the Palace. Then my friends and I went inside.
"We finally made it to Palace Macarath. Thank goodness." I sighed.
"Thank GOD! I am utterly exhausted!" Priscilla explained.
"Why are you tried?!" Jill and Priscilla. "You rode on you Wyvern the ride time."
"Riding a wyvern can be very exhausting, I didn't think it would be this tiring," Priscilla replied.
"What do you mean? Haven't you been trained to ride a wyvern?" Kris asked.
Priscilla and I went pale. We couldn't tell, even Jill and Kris that we were from an entirely different world.
"A-well-ah-you see, yes I have been riding for awhile. But-ah-it always tires me out." Priscilla laughed sarcastically.
Jill and Kris just looked at each and shrugged. Priscilla and I let out a sigh of relief. Jill and Kris went downstairs to get some supplies, Aika went with them, while Priscilla and I stayed up here, to wait for Sabrina to show up.
"Listen...Sapphire, did you hear that?" Priscilla asked.
"Hear what?" I answered
"Don't you hear it?"
"The sound of a steady, relentless, curthump, curthump, foreshadowing the approach of something terrible happening?" I answered.
"That's right!" She smiled.
"No, I don't hear it," I said. Priscilla frowned.
"Look there's a crowd over there." Priscilla pointed.
"Priscilla th-that's not just a crowd. It's the Hoshidan army! And there not alone..."
A man with wild brown hair and a stout expression on his face, wearing bright red demon like armor with a white jinbaori with golden embroidery with the emblem of the Hoshidan royal family walked in front of the Hoshidan soldiers.
"Hello, Sapphire. I've been waiting for you." He said.
"Ryoma..." I muttered under my breath.
"Sapphire...do you know this man?" Priscilla whispered.
"It's a long story, my friend," I whispered back.
"It's been a while, Sister. I haven't seen you since that fateful day on the border. And since you are alive and well, I guess that all was a Nohrian trick after all." Ryoma sneered.
"I tell you this Ryoma, that was no Nohrian trick." I hissed. "I don't want to argue with Ryoma. But how did you know we would be at Palace Macarath?!"
Ryoma closed his eyes for a while, then he opened them calmly. "I will tell you this. One of our spies saw you alive and well in one of our villages, and saw you take a Hoshidan priestess. Then you were headed back to Nohr and we saw you with three Nohrian women and we overheard you were meeting someone else here. Looks like you have joined the Nohrians once again."
"Ok, one, I never took anyone, and my friends are here with me because they want this war end just as much as I do. AND I have not joined Nohr thank you very much. So I really wish you would stop making false accusations towards me."
"What about number two?" Priscilla whispered.
"What?"
"Well usually when people say there's a number one, there usually a number two."
"Point taken. Weeeeeell not in this case."
Priscilla and I giggled. Ryoma coughed and we turned our attention to him. Priscilla got her Silver Axe and I drew my sword.
"If the sting of my blade is the only thing that can bring you back to your senses, so be it!"
"Ryoma, please! I'm begging you!"
"I won't back down today, Sister! You're coming home. Now!"
So many things flashed inside my head, and one big thing was the only thing standing in their way was the red anger of prince Ryoma. He would attack Priscilla and me without hesitation. Ryoma held his sword close and skyward, the attacking stance and his red horned chin armor gave him the likeness of a demon. I clearly underestimated his capacity to hurt me from afar.
The power imbued in the legendary katana of the Hoshidan Heir was the thunder, and it would rarely if never misses. I was never good with a sword, so it was no surprise when I fell to the ground as I felt my heart stop for a single moment, not understanding what in the world just hit me; I could feel my chest burning and the air left my lungs all at once, a pain, unlike anything I had ever experienced before coursed through my body, it made all my limbs shake. I tried to get up but my body just wouldn't listen to me, I was gasping for air because of the overwhelming pain spread quickly throughout my body.
The deadly determination in Ryoma's eyes was frightening, and there would be more like that one hit if she didn't lower her sword.
"Sapphire!" Priscilla screamed. She rushed over to my side.
"Priscilla." I painted out. "I think I just found another problem."
"That you and I have no idea on how to use these things and fight?" She said.
"Yep." I stood up. Putting my hand on the large cut that covered my chest. My clothes have absorbed most of the blood, but it was still bleeding out.
"So what do we do now?" She asked.
"When I give the word, run." I panted out.
Priscilla nodded and lowered her Axe. Shadow stayed by her side and growled at the Hoshidans. I was gasping for air, and Ryoma righted his grip on his sword.
"Run!" I yelled.
Priscilla ran off into the courtyards with Shadow right behind her. I-with little strength I had ran off into the palace. I heard Ryoma order his soldiers to go after Priscilla and look for everyone else, while Ryoma chased after me.
I didn't know what became of Priscilla and my friends after that. I was too busy running away from Ryoma, not to mention the fact that I was bleeding like crazy. I hide behind a marble pillar, hoping that if I stopped running it would slow the blood down. I heard Ryoma footsteps no far behind me. I took a quick peek to see where he was, and how far away he was from me.
Well, he wasn't that far away and he was really close. That man wasn't even tired from this chase. Stupid Ryoma...
Suddenly, I felt very light headed. My vision became blurry, and the room started to spin. I could feel my body go cold and numb. Then, I fell down, and I could see more blood coming out from my wound. I heard Ryoma's footsteps rush towards my fallen body. He picked my bloody body up in bridal form before the darkness finally took me. I look into the eyes of the Hoshidan prince dressed in red demon-like armor, they were filled with worry and fear. And before I finally passed out, I heard him whisper few words.
"Please don't die. I don't want to lose you again..."
.x.X.x.
When I woke up, pain course through my body, in remembrance of how I got it. I had noticed that they left me a new tray of food, far more elegant than any of the previous ones since I got here. It contained a jar of water, a piece of bread with cheese and an apple. They weren't starving me, I was starving myself. I never eat the bread, I only drank the water and barely ever ate. I was nothing but skin and bones. Every day they brought me the same thing. Water and bread every night and every day, but today it was special; why?
I heard the sound of a distant door opening, I thought nothing of it,just another guard come to check up on me, but, the guard outside my cell stiffen and quickly kneel towards the unseen visitor.
"You are in presence of the High Prince of Hoshido" announced the guard.
Oh, don't make my puke.
All I did was just sit in the far corner of the cell, I didn't even touch the food tray, not even the water. I was in no mood for formalities. My mother told me never bow to anyone, so I want going to bow to him, not as my brother, nor as the prince who captured me.
He was wearing his demon like armor, with his faithful Raijinto at his side.
"I see you haven't tried to escape after all this time, surprisingly," he said, his low voice was somewhere between amused and neutral. His posture was perfectly still with his hands resting on his katana's hilt while it stood on the ground.
"Ryoma I may be naïve but I'm not stupid." I sneered. "I know that in my condition I would have no chance of escaping, or out running any of your soldiers."
I saw that Ryoma's shoulders stiffened. But Ryoma was far too unreadable, it was impossible to make out what he was thinking.
"I wonder how you truly feel, Sapphire. Have you ever stopped to think about what would have happened if you stayed with us? Have you ever thought of how would it have been if your heart didn't turn away from your true family's love? In account of all the things you did for them and feel for them, would you change your heart if you could? Would you have stopped before betraying us?"
I scowled at the obvious guilt-inducing questions as if he already knew the right answers. "Oh, quite the charade Ryoma." I sneered.
"What!" His voice was louder this time.
"I know for a God-given fact that you know you're not my true family. You're not even my blood family, we have no blood ties whatsoever!"
Ryoma clenched his fists and his body stiffened.
"You say that the Hoshidan royal family is my blood-related family, well I know that you're wrong. I know the truth Ryoma. Your father Sumergai was not my real father but my STEP-father. I was already born when my mother came to Hoshido asking your father for help. Then after a while, your father married my mother and he became my step-father and you all became my step-siblings. I'm not sure if the others know, but I know for a fact you know. You were there, and you were old enough to remember everything. From the time my mother and I arrived in Hoshido, to the time I was kidnapped by King Garon."
Ryoma was completely taken back at what I had said. He was probably surprised that I remembered everything. But I wasn't done "lecturing" him yet.
"Tell me Ryoma, do you think it was easy for me to do it I did? Do you have any idea how much pressure I was under, to be thrown on the spot like I was? I was right in the middle between both my family and you both wanted me, and you both wanted me to make a decision right there and then, right on the spot. I love you all, you, Hinoka, Takumi, Sakura. Just as must as I love my other family, Xander, Camilla, Leo, Elise. I'm pretty much sure that you will hate me now because I didn't choose a side because I didn't use a family. You saw how much pain you all are in, but have you ever stopped to wonder how much pain I'm in? You think I betrayed you just because I didn't choose a side. Is that so wrong, I mean, I understand if I chose to go back to Nohr, but I didn't I didn't make any choice. You, people, are so blinded by your hatred for Nohrians, that you're blinded to the truth that is right in front of you. Maybe if you stopped and think about what you're doing, and what actions it could lead to, maybe then you'll understand why I didn't choose a side Ryoma. I want to end this war, that's all I want more than anything else in this world. And the friends that I gathered, want the same thing, they are not traitors to Nohr. And I am not a traitor to Hoshido. All I want is peace for both my families. That is all I ever wished for, and that is all I ever dreamed of. So until you're ready to listen to what I have to say Ryoma, don't come back and lecture me about this, because believe me, you have no right to say that you're my true family."
With the tension in the air, Ryoma stormed out of the prison, and I fell on my knees and burst into tears. My scar began to hurt as my mind revived their confrontation at Palace Macarath, dreading the touch of that lighting katana all over again...