I'd like to thank LemmingRebel for reviewing. Don't worry if you have an account or now, all of you who read, I have anonymous reviews on. And reviews make me want to update more than once every three months.
Begin Chapter
"How was your trip to our fine city?" the king asked after the meal.
"It was interesting to say the least," Blues replied. They had all retired to a small sitting room off of the throne room. The room was decorated with blood red wallpaper, a wooden floor with elegant rugs, and large leather couches. On one wall was an old style fireplace. A large armchair was placed near it for the king. Rock and Roll shared a small couch, Blues, Enzan, and Forte sat on another, and Laika, Searchman, and Maylu sat on the third, and the rest of Rock's team on a couch. Gutsman and Deako sat on the floor by Maylu, and Netto had stretched out in front of the fireplace. "Comfy Netto?"
"Very," he yawned as he laid his head on his arms. Rock snickered at his Op.
"Interesting? That's it? Yeah right," Forte said. "Your majesty, the trip was long, hard, and boring."
"Manners Forte," Roll whispered to him. The king laughed.
"Well, at least he's honest. Most honest opinion I've heard in a while; well, outside of the main people I see everyday." He smiled at Rock. "You've become more open as well, Lucio."
"I guess stress does that to people."
"That it does. Now, I need to ask you a few questions," the king looked to Forte, Searchman, Blues, and Gutsman. "Do you know about when the army will get here? Have you run into the Bastok army at all?"
"Yeah, we ran into some scouts in Windurst, but Forte and me took care of them," Netto said.
"What happened?" asked Rock.
"Two of them got Meiru and me when we were walking, and tried to kill us," he smiled at Rock's face. "But I got one of them, and Forte scared off the other one."
"You took on two Bastok fighters?"
"Yeah, he did," Forte interjected. "He took one out and seriously injured a second. If he hadn't he would've died."
"I'm not saying he shouldn't have done that Forte, it the fact that he was capable of taking them on. Well, I guess taking on fifty at once is much harder than two," he glared at Forte, and the gesture was returned. Roll was looking in between the two, hoping that a fight wouldn't break out.
"Boys, boys, calm down," the king said. "I don't want to have any fights before the war."
"Sorry sir," Rock said as he sat back in the sofa. Roll leaned her head on his arm.
"You were asking about the army before, right?" asked Searchman.
"Yes, did you see anyone else?"
"Well, when we were in Bastok, it seemed to me that their army was quick on their feet. And they didn't have but a day or two to mobilize before we left so they are probably five days behind, if they decided to trek through the jungle," Searchman told him.
"I'll get everyone to start preparing the city for the fighters. Thank you for your help," he smiled. "Now, I bet that you're all tired. Get some sleep, and Lucio, I'm going to need to talk to you in the morning. How does 10-ish sound?"
"I'll be there," he replied with a slight bow. Everyone stood and started to file out of the room. A few minutes later and they were back in the tower. Tabor looked at the clock and yawned.
"Hey guys, it's 10, time for bed," he said. Netto groaned.
"Do we have to? I'm not tired," he whined.
"I say you do, and what I say goes as long as you're sharing a room with me," Rock said as he messed with Netto's hair. Netto suppressed a yawn as he went down the stairs to his room. Rock rolled his eyes as he followed his Op down the stairs. He entered his room and changed into his pajamas and crawled into bed as Netto crawled into his. "'Night Netto."
"'Night."
------------
The next day, Rock woke up early, gotten dressed, and made breakfast for everyone. Since today was his team's day off, they were all sleeping in, and no one had woken up by 9:50. "Oh well," he thought as he put the food in the oven to keep it warm. He wrote a note and placed it on the counter before heading to his meeting. Five minutes later Forte entered the kitchen looking for food.
"If I were food where would I be?" he asked himself. "I'd be in my stomach because I would have eaten me already." He snickered at his joke and saw the note.
Food's in the oven. Plates are on the counter with the silverware. Don't make a mess. I'm meeting the king now.
Rock
9:55 am (jeez, how long are you people going to sleep anyway!?)
Forte rolled his eyes as he took a plate and sat down to eat. A few minutes after that, Blues, Enzan, Tabor, Laika, and Lykaios entered the kitchen, took some food, and joined Forte. "Rock left already I suppose," Lykaios yawned.
"Well, his meeting did start three minutes ago," Forte said in between bites.
"Yeah, and he's never late to anything," Tabor replied. "Oh well."
---
"If we start locking down the city now, and making sure that Windurst will come to our aid, we should be able to fend off any attack," the General said.
"Still, I think that we should build some smaller walls around our larger one just in case," Rock said. "If Bastok takes the majority of their forces, there will be around one million forces. We have ten thousand if we take every single mage that is capable of fighting, and all of the creatures that are on our side. We are depending on Windurst to come with backup."
"Are you volunteering to start the out of city fortifications?" the king asked.
"Yes sir."
"Very well. Take the best land manipulators, including Lykaios and Alger, and if you want, your brother, and get started right away." Rock bowed and walked out. "Now, what should we do with the rest of the army?"
---
Rock decided to grab Alger before Lykaios, and so he headed to their floor. He found their room and knocked on the door, and was almost instantaneously glomped by Min. "Oh Lucio! I knew you'd come to me!" Rock, who had hit his head on the floor, just groaned.
"I need to talk to Alger, so would you please GET OFF!" he growled. Min hugged him one last time before moving. He glared at her and saw Alger at the door.
"Min, why do you only attack him? He obviously doesn't like you that way," Alger sighed as he helped Rock up. "You needed to see me?"
"Yeah, I need you to get some other mages that you trust to help build a smaller wall outside of the big one."
"I trust that you're going to get people too." Rock nodded. "Well, I'll get going then. See ya out there." The two walked towards the opposite exits. Rock made it outside to the stables, and got a ride up to the tower from Orinda. He told the dragon he would only be a minute, and went inside.
"Lykaios, Netto, come'ere," he yelled. A minute later they appeared.
"Morning Rock. We missed you at breakfast," said Lykaios.
"Yeah, well, you should have woken up sooner. Anyways, we need to go and round up some earth movers and go build a small wall around the city."
"Why?" asked Netto.
"Because we're going to strengthen our defenses. We don't have that many fighters in the city, so until backup arrives, we're going to be on the defensive, and we need to go now." Netto sighed and followed Rock and Lykaios out the door and down to the ground.
---
"The walls need to be at least three feet high, and surround the majority of the wall. These are just for slowing the fighters down, and buying some more time," Rock told the leaders of the project, mainly Alger, Lykaios, and two other mages named Joshi and Shounen.
"Wouldn't building them higher be a better defense?" asked Shounen.
"Yes, but time is of the essence. We don't know how fast they can travel, or how many of them there are, so we need to work quickly, and if we have time, go back and strengthen them. So each of you go and start building, and distributing orders." They saluted and walked away, leaving Netto and Rock alone. "Ok, we're going to start building here."
"How can you? You're powers are fire."
"Yes, but Earth and Fire don't have a problem with each other. Its Wood and Fire that don't work together. Now, let's build a wall."
---
"Sir, we have located around fifteen mages outside of their protective walls. What are your orders?" asked a sergeant of the fighter military
"Begin the attack before they have a chance to retreat," said the general. The sergeant saluted and left the tent. He looked around the jungle, rounding up the mages that they had captured, and pulling some forces.
"Everyone, we're moving out. There's an excellent opportunity that we can't pass up. There are some foolish mages who have decided to leave their city to do something, and we have an attack of opportunity. Mages, your job is to get their defenses down. If you don't, you will be killed." A collective gulp ran through their little group. "MOVE OUT!"
---
"There, we're just about done with this part, I'll just go and check the other side," Rock said as he crawled over the five foot wall. As he started to search he heard a yell. Spinning around towards the tree line, he saw five mages running towards him. "Netto, go and find Lykaios and get inside the wall."
"What's wrong Rock?" he asked.
"There're some mages running, and I just want to be safe. Tell everyone to start getting into the city."
"Sure thing," Netto said as he started running. Rock waved to the mages, calling them. They quickly made it to him.
"Thank you so much. We are trying to outrun the fighter army, but one of us got captured by them. He's the weakest of us, and we're worried about him. Could you help us find him?"
"Sure, in fact, go to the city and tell them to send some of the Coeruls. Tell them that Lucio sent you." They thanked him as they ran off, and Rock headed to the jungle. When he was completely behind the tree line, he heard something crack up ahead. Cautiously, he approached the sound. He found a shred of a mage robe on the ground. Suddenly, he felt something hard connect with the back of his skull. He fell to the ground, and was roughly shoved over. When he looked up, he saw two fighters standing above him.
"Ooh, look at the little mage. So you thought you could save the 'little lost mage' did you? Well guess what, there is no other mage. Those mages are part of our army, and are no doubt starting to destroy your city as we speak." The fighter kicked him in the stomach. "So, are you going to defend yourself?" Rock started to stand up, but was kicked down again. When he looked back up, he saw that he was surrounded.
"Come on, defend yourself," one of the other fighters said. Rock started to prepare a spell, but stopped when he felt a sword enter his shoulder. The fighters laughed as he cried out in pain.
"Whoops, I guess we forgot to tell you no spells," said the fighter whose sword was in Rock's shoulder. "Now defend yourself like a man!" He ripped the sword out. Rock quickly got up and dodged another sword. He then punched one of them in the face, which earned him a sword in his back. He cried out again as he fell.
"Damn, if he keeps screaming, then the others will know where he is. Where's that white mage of ours? I could of sword he was here just a second ago," said the one who had just attacked Rock. Suddenly, a flash of light filled the area, and the white mage appeared.
"You called?"
"Yeah, we need to send a message to the mages through this guy. Didn't you say that there was a part of the body that produces magic? Like an organ or something?"
"Yes, and it is located right next to the heart," the mage said kneeling down next to Rock who was trying to get up. The white mage pulled out his iron staff and hit Rock at the base of the neck, knocking him out. "Now if you cut through here, you could get that out in one swipe." He marked the spot, and the fighters removed the magic producer. "Now let's get out of here before something comes."
"Like what?" one of the fighters asked. He was answered by a giant roar. Orinda came crashing through the trees, followed by Tau and five other Coeruls. They promptly dispatched the fighters and the mage, and approached Rock.
"L-Lucio?" Tau asked, nuzzling him, trying to get him up. "Come on buddy, wake up."
"Rock-kun? Please wake up," Orinda said through their link. "Tau, help get him on my back." Tau and the others carefully sat him in the saddle, and they took off towards the city.
---
Back at the city, the five mages who Rock sent were trying to get everyone to believe them. "I'm telling you, the fighters are in the woods and are about to attack!"
"Why should we believe you?" asked Alger as he walked up. Lykaios and Netto stood in the background.
"Because we were captured by them!"
"Where's Lucio?" Lykaios said as he watched the skies for a sign of the dragon or the Coeruls that had left.
"The only way that we could get out was if we told someone that there was another mage in the forest! You have to believe us!"
"We do believe you. Come with me to the castle and you can tell your tale," Lykaios said as he guided them through the crowd, followed by Alger. Netto, however stayed behind. "You coming Netto?"
"No, I'm going to wait for Rock." Lykaios shrugged and walked away. Netto sighed as he went to sit by the gate. Twenty minutes later, he saw the shadow of Orinda overhead, and he saw the Coeruls running.
"Close the gate," the one called Tau shouted. Netto ran over to him.
"Tau, where's Rock, I mean Lucio?" He watched as Tau's face dropped.
"Kid, you had better come with me to the castle." Puzzled, he followed. A few minutes later the castle came into view. He watched as Rock was carefully lifted from the saddle, looking a little red, placed on a rolling table, and was whisked into the castle. "I'm sorry, but he was like that when we got there. The fighters show no mercy to anyone that they capture. But cheer up, I'm sure that he'll be fixed up in a jiffy and back in time for dinner." Netto sat down on the grass in utter shock, looking at the door, barely noticing when Tau came over and laid down beside him and when Orinda came up behind him. He looked up and saw the huge dragon lick his cheek to try and cheer him up. He leaned against the dragon, idly petting Tau.
---
"What's Orinda doing down there?" asked Tabor as he looked down at the courtyard.
"What's it look like he's doing, he's spending some 'quality time' with Netto," Forte said sarcastically.
"Yeah, but I don't see Rock anywhere." This piqued the attention of Roll and Meiru. They hurried out of the kitchen and onto the balcony.
"Where is Netto? Isn't he supposed to be helping Rock with something" the white mages asked. Suddenly Lykaios appeared, riding his little 'elevator' with a sullen face.
"Uh Roll and, could you come with me for a second, we need your help with something down in the castle." She nodded and followed him. When they reached the main hall, they saw it in an uproar. Strategic commanders were running to give orders as fast as they could. "Through here," Lykaios said as he led her to a smaller room off to the side of the hall. Medical scrolls lined the walls, some White mages were standing around a figure on the table. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was Rock.
"Wh-what happened?" she asked, looking at the pale, comatose mage on the table.
"According to the escapees from the fighters, he was lured into the forest while he sent the other mages to get some help. When the Coeruls found him, he was like this. How much do you know about hume anatomy?"
"Enough to know how to heal it," she replied.
"Then you know about the magic producing organ." She nodded. "The fighters removed that from him. And when the mages in here tried to heal him, all he got were some magic burns. We need everyone's help to save Rock." Roll nodded and started to stitch him up.
---
"What's wrong Hikari?" Enzan asked as he walked over to Netto, who was still sitting by the two animals. He saw the usually happy-go-lucky kid staring at the door of the castle as if he was waiting for something to explode.
"Nothing," he mumbled as he looked down to the grass.
"Nothing my ass. First you're down here throwing a pity party, then Roll disappears, and then I get word that the fighters are right on our doorstep. What's bothering you?" Netto looked up at the older teen and sighed.
"I don't want to talk about it." Enzan sighed angrily.
"Tell me now. What happened out there?" "Jeez, I'm just trying to be nice for once in my life," he thought.
"Rock was attacked by fighters and is currently in critical condition in a healing room. That's what happened out there," Tau explained. Netto sighed and closed his eyes.
"Well Netto, we should probably get back up to the tower where it's safer. That's what Rock would want. Plus, Meiru is worried and sent me down here to get you." Netto snickered.
"Meiru ordered the 'almighty' Enzan on an errand. Things are starting to look up. Well, we had better not keep Meiru waiting," Netto said with fake mirth. "I just want to wait for Rock a bit longer."
"Nope, Min says that it's going to rain soon, and that you need to get inside."
"So, who are you more afraid of?" he asked as they were picked up by Orinda. Enzan thought about it for a second be fore replying.
"Yes."
End Chapter
Well, I'm sorry if it's a little choppy. I have been working on this over the past months, so it's hard to keep the flow right. Review please.