No Forgiveness in Light
A/N Yep, I finally got around to writing a sequel to No Honor in Darkness. I wasn't entirely sure if I was going to, but people asked me to, so yeah. I thought about holding off until I finished Clouds of Ash, or one of my Phoenix Wright stories, but it's already been months since No Honor in Darkness finished up, so yeah... And for people unfamiliar with NHiD, I'll just write a little summary if you don't want to go back to read the whole thing. If you do want to go back to read it, don't read the summary, or you will be spoiled.
Summary: During an invasion of Terra Rex, Ravess captures Harrier. While playing a mind game with each other, they find that they were drawn inexplicably toward each other. After Cyclonis ordered Ravess to kill Harrier, she refused, injuring the Dark Ace as she and Harrier escaped. Harrier was injured in the process and was unable to testify in her behalf to the court on Terra Rex. While he was recovering, she was sentenced to death. Although torn on what he was supposed to do, he chose to follow his feelings, breaking Ravess out of jail the night before her execution.
And that's about it. ^^
He bent down, close to Ravess, willing his skimmer to go faster. He risked a glance back at his pursuers. They were close enough for him to identify now, and their identities sent a shock wave down his spine. The Rex Guardians; his squadron... Or at least... They used to be his squadron.
They were roaring through the forest of an unnamed terra. He wasn't entirely sure how they managed to find him so fast. Ravess had been scheduled to be executed at dawn, so they must have found the unconscious guard before then... He longed to stop, to explain everything to them, but he knew that his explanations would fall on deaf ears. He knew that if he stopped, Ravess would die... and who knows what would happen to him?
A rumble of thunder resounded overhead, and the rain began to beat down. It washed a few of stray hairs into his eye, but he didn't dare to take a hand off the handlebars of his skimmer to brush them out of his face. Feeling his companion shivering underneath him, he pressed closer to her, allowing their bodies to touch and share warmth.
A skimmer suddenly emerged from the forest in front of him and he had no choice but to pull to a stop, pulling his skimmer sideways, sending a spray of muddy water into the air. He stopped inches away from his squadron mate's skimmer and stared into her accusing green eyes.
"Why?" she demanded. "Why did you betray us?"
"I... I told you!" he stammered. "I love her."
"More than your own squadron? You didn't just betray Terra Rex, Harrier. You betrayed the Code!"
The rest of the squadron pulled around him in circle, shooting him glares. He could see the sting of his betrayal clearly in their eyes, and he swallowed, guilt building in his stomach. "I... This was the only way! The Code says you must do everything in your power to protect the ones you love."
"Even if it means betraying others that you love? For what? For a Cyclonian! She kidnapped you, Harrier! She kept you on a Cyclonian airship!"
"You don't understand," he replied, pulling Ravess close to him. A flash of lightning flashed overhead.
"You're right," she retorted. "I don't understand. But... The Code is clear." She drew her blade, as did the rest of the squadron.
As he drew his own blade, igniting the yellow blade, the sound of another skimmer became clear. His head turned just in time to see the Dark Ace roaring from the woods, his furoius crimson blade ignited. The rain sizzled off of it as he skidded to a stop next to Harrier.
His blood red eyes burned into the sky knight for a moment, before slashing his terrible blade down...
Harrier awoke with a start, aware that he was covered in a cold sweat. Outside, a flash of lightning streaked by, revealing the shadow of someone standing at the entrance of the cave they were using for shelter. His hand went for his blade and its light filled the cave, casting shadows on the gray stone walls.
Ravess half-turned to regard him, her expression unreadable. "You were making enough noise to alert half the terra to our whereabouts you know..." She ran her eyes down his body as he stood, taking in his disheveled hair and the bags under his eyes. "What was your dream about?"
"It was nothing," he lied. When she just gave him a disbelieving glance, he sighed. "Just a nightmare."
She made her way over to him. "Having second thoughts?"
He shook his head. "No... There was no other way. I could never live with myself if I let you die... After everything you risked to save my life..."
She turned from him. "After I caused all this to happen."
Harrier gently put his arms around her and pulled her close. "Well if you hadn't, I would never have met you."
"Exactly my point. I would still be a successful Cyclonian Commander, you a sky knight, and we wouldn't be on the run from both sides." She tried to pull away from him, but he hung on.
"I don't care about that," he said softly. Turning her around, he pressed his lips to hers and they kissed. After a few moments, he pulled back from her. "Understand?"
As a reply, she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him again.
"Stupid sky knight," Snipe snarled, bouncing his mace in the palm of his hand. Master Cyclonis had just given him a new mission; to hunt down Ravess and that sky knight. Dark Ace had been furious; he had wanted the job himself. If it were up to Snipe, he could have it. It was bad enough that his sister betrayed them, but now he had to hunt her down. Mother would not be pleased.
Snipe didn't understand much, but he did understand that Cyclonis was testing his loyalty. She thought he would betray her like Ravess did. There was no way he was going to do that. He was stupid, but not that stupid.
Scowling, he resisted the urge to smash something. If it wasn't for that sky knight, he wouldn't have to kill his own sister. Why? Why had she done it? Why had she chosen a sky knight over her own family? When he found her, he would ask.
Mr. Moss had offered him the use of his track beasts, but Snipe refused. They would be useful, but... Part of him didn't really want to find his sister. But if he didn't, it would be he who would die instead. Grumbling to himself, he made his way to the deck of his battle cruiser.
"We have arrived at Terra Rex, Commander. Their air defenses are mobilizing," the pilot informed him.
"Is there any sign of the Sky Knight?"
"No sir. Your orders?"
"Scramble the Talons." He bounced his mace of his hand again. Maybe smushing a couple of sky knight squaddies would make him feel better.