Chapter 4: Bowerstone Resistance

Blade's next mission was to clean up the streets of Brightwall by catching escaped prisoners. While looking for one fugitive, something caught Blade's eye. When she turned to see what it was, she saw the most horrifying sight: Andrew was flirting with a village girl! Blade stared at them, her eyes burning with jealousy. She stormed off in a huff, luckily unnoticed by Andrew. She stumbled across the convict, threw him over her shoulder, and carried him to the guards, where she dropped him on his keister.

"There's your fugitive," she muttered and marched away, quite ill-tempered.

Time flew, although Blade didn't notice. She was too busy earning Brightwall's trust. A woman asked her to find her missing child, a pair of theater fans requested that she find an ancient play, and a man wanted her to round up his scattered chickens. The latter quest earned Blade a puzzled look from Jasper as he remarked, "You're dressed as a chicken." With a shake of head, he asked, "Wha- what are you planning on doing dressed as a chicken?"

When Blade finally gained Brightwall as an ally, she returned to Sabine and the Dwellers.

"You did it?" he asked. "You got rid of the mercenaries?"

"Saker promised to leave you alone," Blade told him. "I don't know if his word means anything to you."

"I guess we'll see," Sabine shrugged. "What about Brightwall?"

"They're willing to share," Blade said.

"And the artifact?" Sabine asked.

"Right," said Blade. She turned to Walter, who stood behind her holding the music box. Blade reached for it, carrying it to Sabine.

"Well," Sabine smiled. "You've proved yourself worthy enough to follow."

Blade smiled.

"But," Sabine added, "promise to do what Logan did not. Help restore the Dweller Camp to its former glory."

"I'll see what I can do," Blade answered.

Blade had forgotten all about Andrew within the time that had passed. That is until she bumped into him while hurrying through town one day.

"Oh," Andrew said and looked at her, "hey, Blade."

Blade shot a glare at him before sprinting away, angrily. Andrew watched her with confusion. Thinking she lost him, Blade stepped across the Brightwall border into Mispeak Valley just as someone grasped her hand and pulled her back. Blade glowered at the blue-grey eyes that peered back at her. Andrew regarded the rage that flared in her green eyes.

"Let go!" she screamed.

"Tell me why you're upset with me," he compromised.

"No! Let go!" Blade struggled out of his hold.

Andrew's grip grew tighter. Blade let out a cry.

"I have all day, Blade."

"Well, I don't!"

"Then tell me."

Blade pouted. Andrew yawned.

Seeing as her efforts were useless, Blade gave in.

"I saw you holding hands with someone," Blade said, quietly, "almost as though you'd given up on me."

"You know," Andrew said, "you could've just told me."

Blade silently disagreed. That subject was delicate. If poked, the entire relationship could possibly fall apart.

"I can't ask you out, Blade," Andrew pointed out, "It's out of my place."

Blade nodded, "besides I've been busy planning a rebellion so that hasn't exactly been on my mind."

They were quiet, for a moment. Then, Andrew spoke up.

"So, where are you headed?" he wondered.

"Walter wanted me to meet him at the monorail station in Mispeak," Blade explained to him.

"Would you mind if I tagged along?"

"Actually, it would be my pleasure."

Together, Andrew and Blade fought their way to the station.

Blade and Walter patiently waited to ride the monorail to Mourningwood. As the machine pulled into the station, though, a commotion started in which the machine exploded and its remains fell to the ground. Among the excitement, Walter and Blade raced to the mechanism, to investigate what had happened and rescue any survivors. However, a group of hobbes beat them to the crime site. Walter and Blade attacked the creatures. Blade tackled one and pulled out her sword to stab him. Three ganged up on Walter but before he could draw his sword, Blade blasted them with her will.

Walter looked at her, unimpressed, "Show off."

Blade shrugged at him. Without her, Walter would be ambushed.

Slowly, they made it to Mourningwood, where Walter lead Blade to a colossal fort. Inside, an army of soldiers welcomed them. Out of all the soldiers Blade was introduced to, Captain Ben Finn and Private Jammy caught her eye. Ben was funny and Jammy was charming. In any case, Blade made friends quickly at the fort. She learned how to use a mortar, which became her favorite weapon by far. Night fell and the fort was raided by hollow men. To Blade's disappointment, Andrew wasn't there to watch her back. By dawn, Jammy was dead but the fort was secure. Blade mourned over the death of her newly-made friend and gained an army of allegiance.

Blade followed Walter through Mouringwood to Bowerstone Industrial where they would meet their toughest resistors yet.

Blade was hit with the cruelty of reality while in Bowerstone. She watched as a protester was shot to death for speaking out on the unfairness of his work conditions. His shooter, an industrial figure known as Reaver, noticed Blade. He must have recognized her by her close resemblance to her mother, Sparrow. Blade had heard of Reaver before; her mother had a certain relationship with him while trying to save Albion 50 years ago. What surprised Blade most was how young Reaver looked. She remembered something her mother once told her: Reaver sacrificed the youth of others to stay young and immortal. Blade never understood what she meant until now, after seeing Reaver face-to-face. Reaver smirked down at the young princess before turning and reentering the building behind him.

The Bowerstone Resistance wouldn't be swayed to Blade's side very easily. In order to make them trust her, Blade would need to gain renown and perform good deeds for townspeople. Of all the things Blade did, assisting locals was not her favorite. She wasn't comfortable with volunteering to fetch items and assassinating innocent people. Walter tried to persuade her; It was to gain followers and such. Words of persuasion didn't change Blade's mind. She still had to speak to strangers.

Shortly after earning the Bowerstone Resistance trust, Blade was given a chance to see Andrew. It had been weeks since he escorted her to the monorail station, so, naturally, Blade was excited.

Blade walked into the Brightwall blacksmith, coincidentally, at the same time Reaver did.

He smiled down at her, "Princess, please," he bowed her in, "ladies first."

Blade watched him cautiously as she walked inside.

"How...?"

"You remind me of your mother," Reaver answered her before she could finish her question, "besides, why else would a young lady be shopping for weapons?"

Blade blushed, "Good point, Mr..."

"Reaver, just Reaver."

"...Reaver."

"So, tell me, princess, what were you doing in Industrial?"

Blade forced a smile, "I was there on business. And call me 'Blade,' please, Reaver."

"Well, Blade, did you like the show I put on? I sure hope so; it was in your honor."

"Quite honestly, Reaver, I did not. That poor man did not deserve such a fate."

"On the contrary, that man was protesting against me. What would you have done?"

Blade gave Reaver a sharp look. Her smile faded.

"I, Reaver, wouldn't have had such strict working conditions to begin with."

Reaver picked up a pistol and twirled it in the air, effortlessly catching it.

Blade stared at Reaver, who grinned back at her.

Andrew entered the blacksmith and stole Blade away from Reaver.

As she left the blacksmith, Blade heard Reaver call after her, "See you soon, princess."

Hopefully not too soon, Blade thought to herself.