Chapter 15: Kain
Firedude: Next chapter all ready to ship out, but first!
FireemblemPRO: Pakistan? Sweet! Hope you had a good time there!
Zeek72: Thank you so much Zeek.
Disclaimer: I do not own fire emblem or any of its characters. I own Chikage, Alderoffe, Shadow, Quill, Onimaru, Inomaru, Yuan, Vren, Marco, Dopple Ganger, Girfu, Ziroka, Alicia, Marie, Lean and Kain. Kota, Gustaph, Mystic, Tyrana and Zega Verdan are owned by friends and family.
Firedude: Ready? On with the show!
Mark awoke in his tent in a daze. He sat up felt a sharp pain in his chest. He saw that almost every inch of his body was covered in bandages. He felt his forehead where the third eye jewel used to be. He felt the indent in his skin through bandage. He sighed and laid back down. Alicia was a hell of a lot stronger than I remembered and I don't think that it was because of Hell blazer. Mark noticed movement in the corner of the room. He looked over and saw Lyn sleeping with multiple vulnaries and rum bottles lying around her. Mark smiled and closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
Gustaph took a count of everyone since Mark was injured. No one had died during the battle, but there were multiple injuries. Gustaph sat down and rubbed his eyes from lack of sleep. Inomaru walked up to him and handed him some water. "We should move out soon sir. We might not make it to Ostia on time if we stick around." Gustaph nodded in agreement. "True, but Alicia said that Hector and Eliwood are coming to give us an escort."
"Are you really going to trust that witch's word sir?"
"I know I know, but what would she gain from lying to us?" Inomaru thought for a few seconds and sighed. "I understand sir but-."
"Lord Gustaph!" Onimaru ran over to Gustaph out of breath. "The escort from Ostia is here sir!" Gustaph stood up and walked over to them with Onimaru. Inomaru cursed under his breath and followed.
Eliwood and Hector finished speaking to Pent and turned their attention to Gustaph. Eliwood shook hands with Gustaph and smiled. "You must be Gustaph. Pent told me about the current situation." Gustaph nodded and then shook hands with Hector. "Is it true that words about the weapons got out to civilians?" Hector nodded grimly. "Unfortunately yes, Girfu couldn't keep his mouth shut about it. So it is absolutely imperative that you are escorted to Ostia. Many people are desperate for power and there is no telling what they would do."
Eliwood looked around the camp. "Where's Mark?" Gustaph frowned at the question. "He was injured during the last battle and is recovering in his tent. Eliwood was shocked by hearing this. "Will he be alright?"
"Well he tried taking on the bandit group leader. She also had the Hell Blazer so it's hard to say. His tent is over there if you wish to see him." Gustaph pointed to the large tent in the center of the camp. Eliwood and Hector walked over there with Gustaph, Inomaru, and Onimaru.
Mark couldn't fall asleep. He just laid in his bed roll starring at the top of the tent. He heard his tent flap open and saw Hector and Eliwood walk in. He tried to raise his hand to wave, but a sharp pain erupted in his elbow causing him to drop his arm and hit the ground. He yelled out in pain and clutched his elbow. Gustaph sighed and slapped his forehead. "Not the sharpest knife in the drawer aren't you?" The yell woke Lyn up.
She rubbed her eyes and looked around. She sprung up to her feet surprised to see Eliwood and Hector. "Hector! Eliwood!" She hugged the two of them out of happiness. "It's been so long!" Mark sighed and took a swig of rum. Sure hug them. She then turned to Mark and sat down next to him. She spoke in a soothing voice. "Are you okay Mark?"
"Yeah I think I'm okay." She smiled happily when she heard the reply. She put her hand on his pillow. "Good." She then pulled out the pillow from under his head hit him so hard with it she went flying out of the tent. "Don't you dare ever do some thing like that again! You had me so worried!" The camp looked on in astonishment as Lyn scolded Mark who was lying in a daze on the ground.
About a minute or two away from the camp Wil was hunting for the camp's next meal. He spotted a large hog that he had been stalking for an hour. Finally I got him! Wil took aim and pulled the arrow back. He then released the arrow just as Tyrana jumped out of a nearby tree onto the boar. The boar noticed both the attacks and fled into the woods. The arrow struck the ground of where the boar once stood and Tyrana's slim sword also struck the ground. Both Wil and Tyrana gripped their heads in frustration. They both stomped over to each other and shouted at once. "I've been following the hog for hours! What the hell were you thinking?"
They both then realized who they were shouting at. Wil blushed and looked at the ground out of embarrassment. "I-I-I'm sorry I didn't mean it!" Tyrana also blushed and replied quickly. "N-No I'm sorry!" They were both silent for a few minutes. Wil spoke first. "I better follow that hog…" Tyrana snapped out of her trance too. "Oh! Okay I should go check up on Mark!" They both ran off to do what they said they would. Tyrana thought to herself as she ran back to camp. Why do I have so much trouble talking to him! I usually don't have trouble speaking my mind!
Mark successfully limped back to his tent after being smacked around by Lyn. He laid back down and down a whole bottle of red rum. Lyn sat down next to Mark refusing to even look at him. Eliwood hoping no more out bursts like that would happen began to speak. "So Mark how did you know the bandit leader?" Mark remained silent for a minute. "We used to work together before I helped Lyn get to Caelin."
"Then why did she do this to you?"
"…I don't feel like talking about it." Eliwood was starting to get annoyed. "A former comrade cuts you to ribbons and you're not interested in why she did it?" Mark thought for a second. "That's pretty much the jest of it." Eliwood sighed and walked out with the others. They all walked away from the camp to the edge of the forest.
Lyn spoke first. "I don't like this. Mark isn't ever like this." Hector nodded in agreement. "He's hiding something." Just then Tyrana came out of the forest. "Hi everyone, what are you guys doing?" Eliwood looked at her puzzled. "Who is this girl?" Lyn waved her hand towards Tyrana. "This is Tyrana, Mark's apprentice."
"I never knew that Mark had an apprentice, but back to the subject. Mark was beaten within an inch of his life by someone he said was an old ally and he doesn't question why. Do you have any ideas Tyrana?" Tyrana thought for a minute. "Well… I remember him saying something to that girl. Something about "What would Kain say if he saw this."
Inomaru cringed at the mention of the name. Onimaru noticed this and pulled on his sleeve. "Brother? Do you know what she's talking about?" They all turned towards Inomaru who started to feel uncomfortable. "Well… I'm not entirely sure if it's the same person, but I met someone with the same name a few months ago…"
3 months ago: Inomaru, Onimaru and Gustaph were shopping at a bazaar in Bulgar. Gustaph was reading off a list of food they needed. Inomaru zoned him out while he was checking out a group of local girls. Gustaph hit him in the back of the head. "Are you listening to me?"
"Yes! I heard you old man!" Gustaph hit him again. "Don't lie to me you idiot!" Inomaru grumbled something and followed them through the bazaar. Gustaph ripped the list in half and gave one piece to Inomaru. "Get what's on the list and meet back here in one hour." Inomaru took the list and looked it over. Gustaph then thrusted a bag of gold into Inomaru's hands. "Don't spend it all on useless junk again!" Inomaru rolled his eyes and walked away. Beer and women aren't junk. Inomaru walked for a few minutes and then spotted a crowd in the center of town.
Inomaru walked over to see five bandits were holding a twelve year old girl hostage. She had short blue hair wearing Sacaen clothes. Police surrounded the bandits, but didn't make a move out of fear that they would harm the girl. "Give us five hundred thousand gold and we will give the girl back! You've got five minutes to get our money!" shouted the leader of the bandits. The crowd was panicking, because no one could afford that.
Inomaru looked into his bag and looked at the gold. I don't have even nearly enough! If I try to fight them they might kill the little girl. What should I do...? Just then a twenty year old with blue shoulder length hair that covered his eyes emerged from the crowd. The bandit leader tightened his grip on the little girl and pointed his axe the man. "Who the hell are you?" The man pulled out a green spear and got into stance. "I'm Kain…and I pretty sure that's my sister you're holding…" The bandits all laughed.
"And just what are you going to do abo-?" just then a kunai knife was thrown directly into his jugular vein killing him instantly. The girl tried to run away when another bandit tried to grab her. Kain planted his spear in the back of the bandit's shoulder. The bandit stumbled forward and gripped his injured shoulder. "I-I can't feel my arm!" Kain then stabbed his spear into the bandit's liver killing him instantly. A bandit swung his axe at his head, but he was stopped by a swift kick to the face from Inomaru. The bandit stumbled back and Inomaru continued with an onslaught of kicks and punches. He then jumped back and threw a shuriken into his forehead. Inomaru admired his kill for a few seconds. Although this gave the bandits enough time to sneak behind him.
They jumped into the air and swung their axes down upon Inomaru. They were blocked by Kain and his green lance. He then pushed the bandits back and shouted. "Third eye!" A purple jewel identical to Mark's revealed itself on his forehead. He then stared into he bandit's eyes stopping them in their tracks. They clutched their ears as though someone was screaming in them. They screamed like wild animals. There was then a bang and the two bandits dropped dead on the floor.
Inomaru walked over and inspected the bodies. He then turned to Kain in astonishment. "What the hell did you do to them?" He smiled slightly. "I just made their brains implode." Inomaru looked at him in horror. The little girl ran up and hugged Kain while the Police disposed of the bodies. "Are you okay Lean?" The little girl cried into his shirt while trying to get out an answer. "No! They were going to hurt me!" Kain patted her back and tried to get her to calm down. The police had broken up the crowd when some else approached them.
"Kain I've been looking every where for you!" A woman who looked like the little girl but Kain's age stomped towards them. "This is exactly what happens when you don't watch Lean! She could've died because you weren't smart enough to look after her!" Kain scratched the back of his head trying to ignore the woman. "Sorry Sis I-." The girl grabbed his hair and dragged him away still shouting at him.
She stopped next to Inomaru talking in a calm sweet voice. "I don't think I caught you name." Inomaru smiled nervously. "I'm Inomaru."
"I'm Marie, thanks for saving my sister. I hope I see you around." She continued to drag her brother away with her giggling little sister right behind her. Inomaru watched them walk away. What a weird bunch... He walked away to meet back with Gustaph and Onimaru.
When Inomaru was done with the story Gustaph punched him in the face. "So that's what you were doing!" Tyrana laughed at the Inomaru for getting hit. Eliwood spoke first. "It still doesn't explain how Mark and Alicia know him!"
"It's not about how they knew him any more…" They all turned towards Lyn. "Hector was puzzled. "What do you mean?" She slapped herself on the forehead not believing what he said. "The big question is no longer how Mark knew all of them. The green lance… was it a mythical weapon…? What about the third eye jewel? Mark said that there was only one and that it was in his family for generations!" They all finally realized this. Lyn started to walk away. Hector called after her. "Lyn! Where are you going?"
"To get some answers…"
Mark sat in his tent quietly sipping rum. Lyn walked in with a serious look on her face and sat down next to him. "Come to beat me up again?" Lyn sighed and lowered her head slightly. "I'm sorry it's just that it was the second time you almost died on this trip…" Mark frowned and put an arm around Lyn holding her close. "Mark… if you won't tell anyone about Kain at least tell me…" She then told Mark the story Inomaru told them and repeated her questions.
"Mark sat there taking in what Lyn had said and asked. "I guess I can't hide it now. The lance Inomaru spoke of was the Scorpio. If the blade penetrates the skin that part of the body will become numb." Lyn took in the information. "So how do you know Kain and what about the third eye jewel?" Mark rubbed his temples and continued. "I guess I better tell."
Three months ago: A man and a woman walked along a path to the outskirts of Bulgar. "It's been so long since we've seen cousin Kain! I wonder how he's been." The man laughed. "He's probably giving Marie a hard time like always." They both laughed at the comment. The woman spotted a house over the hill. "I think that's it!" She ran ahead of the man to the house. The man continued to walk at a steady pace disregarding what the woman did. When he made it he was greeted by his cousin Kain. He smiled and shook hands with his cousin. "Cousin Mark, how are you?"
He then gave Marie and Lean a hug too. They then went inside and talked for a while. Lean then came up to Mark and pulled on his arm. "Cousin Mark, can you teach me how to fight?"
Mark laughed to himself before replying. "I'm just a tactician I don't fight that much so I don't think I can teach you anything useful." Lean pouted a little and then turned to her other cousin. "Cousin Alicia, can you teach me to fight?" Alicia smiled at her younger cousin. "Sure, but can you give me a couple minutes okay?" Lean smiled and ran outside.
Mark turned back to his other cousins. "Why is she so interested in fighting all of a sudden?" Marie laughed a little. "Kain over here allowed Lean to be kidnapped by a group of bandits." Kain smashed his fist into the table. "It's not like I wanted her to be kidnapped!" They all began to laugh. Just then an explosion was heard outside. They grabbed their weapons and ran outside. A group of bandits were attacking Bulgar and Lean was standing there watching the city go up in flames. Marie grabbed Lean and ran inside the house, while Alicia, Mark and Kain ran into town
Before they could make it to Bulgar's gate an elfire spell enclosed them within a twenty yard circle of flame. A lone man dressed in Scarlet armor stood in front of them. He had a matching helmet covering his face. Fear suddenly shot through Mark, because he realized that his armor was just black and covered in blood. Mark swallowed the spit in his mouth and drew a slim sword. They stood at a stand still for a minute. Then the bandit raised his head revealing his only visible feature. Sharp fangs dripping with blood. The bandit floated off the ground and flew at them. The bandit brandished a large red axe. He dive bombed straight down at the three.
He swung the axe down propelling multiple waves of flames upon them. They all dived out of the way just in time. The Bandit landed on the ground and took a swing at Mark. He attempted to block it with his sword but it exploded into shards. He jumped back just in time to avoid damage. Kain lunged forward and stabbed Scorpio into the bandit's shoulder. It screamed such a hideous wail that it almost made Kain's ears bleed. He stumbled back as the monster took flight. Alicia swung wildly as it flew around her.
It caught her off guard and bit her neck. The monster flew away into the night, but not before dropping Hell Blazer. The bandits had retreated from the town. Mark and Kain tended to their wounded family member. Suddenly her eyes shot open and took a swing at the two of them. She threw her axe at Kain who deflected it. She ran through the fire back towards the cabin regardless of the burns she suffered. "What the hell is wrong with her?" exclaimed Mark. Kain leapt through the fire receiving multiple burns. Mark called after him. "What the hell are you doing?"
"She is going back to the cabin! Marie and Lean are in danger!" Mark realized his point and jumped through the fire as well and caught up to Kain. Kain kicked open the cabin door to find a dead Marie and Lean on the floor and Alicia standing over their bodies with a wood cutters axe. She smiled at them and dashed out the back door. Kain walked over to the remains of his sisters. Mark looked on upon this and wept. What was my sister thinking...?
Lyn sat there on the verge of tears. "Alicia… is your sister?" Mark nodded solemnly. "What happened next…?" Mark sighed and covered his eyes with his hands. "We buried the two of them and we went our separate ways. Kain had Zantetzugen in a secret room in his basement. I took it and he took Scorpio and we set out to find Alicia." Lyn took a second to take in everything she had just heard. "That doesn't explain to me how you got the third eye jewel." Mark was about to answer that when he heard a noise. He turned his attention to the far corner of the room.
"Reveal yourself!" After a few seconds Chikage came out of hiding. "Why do you have to be so smart?" An urn on the other side of the room morphed into Dopple Ganger. "We were just interested in what you were talking about…" Lyn stood up and drew the kattis. "You were probably going to assassinate Mark weren't you?" Chikage laughed at her accusation. "Very perceptive of you, but no we aren't. We were simply eavesdropping, but don't mind us please continue." Mark sighed and continued. "A month later Kain had found her and attempted to fight her. I made it too late. She killed him and took the jewel. I tracked her down a month later. I couldn't defeat her, but I obtained the jewel."
"…I'm sorry." said Lyn leaning up against Mark. Mark hugged Lyn close and enjoyed the weird feeling he got when they hugged. Dopple Ganger sighed and spoke up. "If you don't mind I have my own story to tell." They all turned their attention to him. "It's not really a story more of information. The weird bandit you fought was a monster known as Ziroka…" Chikage became suspicious. "You know of him DG?"
"…He is the source of virus Z" They all looked at each other. Mark cleared his throat. "What is that Dopple Ganger?" He tried to find the words to say. "It's a virus given to those who seek power. The symptoms are random, but as you may have figured out Alderoffe was simply a general under him."
"So Alicia is infected with this?"
"Yes, a full transformation takes three years. Alicia is in the earlier stages so she will just get stronger and eventually turn into something similar to Alderoffe." Chikage laughed. "How do you know all this though?" Dopple Ganger went silent. "I'm infected with the same virus. I gained the power to bend my shape and luckily I kept control over my mind unlike others who were infected. Ziroka, along with three other generals with virus Z are called the four horsemen."
Mark thought it over and then answered. "Is Alderoffe one of them?"
"Well he was, but you killed him so not anymore."
Miles away at the Mythical door Alicia returns. She kneeled before a throne situated in front of the door. She kneeled in front of the throne and presented the Scorpio. Ziroka stood up from his throne in anger and hissed. "Where are the other three you promissssssed?" Alicia lowered her head. "I'm sorry War, I had more trouble than expected even with the local bandit's help." War sat back down. "It'sssss okay Pestilence. It was not a complete failure. We were able to recover the bodies of Famine and Death." He snapped his fingers and Quill and Alderoffe walked out fully healed and alive. Alderoffe also and both arms. "I want the three of you to go to Ostia. Take as many soldiers as you wish and bring back Zantetzugen, Silva, the Life Staff, and the Air Piercer. Failure will not be tolerated!"
Firedude: Tadaaaaa! One seven page monster all ready for you! I hope this will keep you satisfied until I get back from vacation!