White Knight Chronicles: Fledgling Phoenix

by Shogun of Ransei

This is the story of White knight chronicles one told from the perspective of a mercenary who takes the place of the games avatar character.This will be story one of a story trilogy. Rated M for blood, gore, and minor language. White Knight Chronicles is owned by Level-5 productions

3. Chapter 2

Chapter 2-Party Crashers!?

"Wow!" Yulie practically shouted, "This place is huge!"

"Damn it," I hissed, "Do you want to get us caught?"

"No but-," She began.

"Then shut up," I snarled, "If we get caught here then we'll get to admire how well the stones in the dungeon fit together."

"You're such a meanie," she said sticking her tongue out at me.

"Yulie, he's right," Ginger sighed, "We don't want to get arrested."

"I can't believe your siding with him Leonard!" Yulie shouted.

"Look both Ginger and I agree," I whispered, "You need to shut your mouth."

"Hmph, fine," Yulie pouted.

We were walking around the outer edge when I saw something I couldn't believe. A Farian in white Yggdra guard armor, his sword sheathed at his side, and a bow on his back.

"Look can you two stay out of trouble for a couple of minutes?" I inquired.

"Yeah, why do you ask?" Ginger questioned me a gleam of curiousness in his eye.

"None of your damn business," I snarled, "and stay out of trouble."

"Yes sir," Yulie said in a mocking tone, "Jackass."

I heard the insult she hurled at me but I couldn't care less at the moment because I had something much more important on my mind. As I approached the Farian I noticed he was talking to two Farian heavy soldiers equipped with a shield and spear.

"Farlend," I called out to him.

"Hmmm," was the only sound he made as he turned around, "Eddoe…is that you?"

"It's good to see you Farlend," I laughed genuinely extending my hand.

"It's been to long Eddoe," Farlend grinned shaking my hand, "You should've kept in contact with us…we missed you."

"What did you miss about me?" I inquired jokingly, "my sparkling personality or the fact that without me you haven't had a landslide win in years."

"Well if you're going to be a smartass about it I guess won't tell you," He chuckled.

"Fine," I said feigning hurt, "So tell me where's the Archduke?"

"He's upstairs," Farlend answered, "He'll be glad to see you after all these years."

I said my goodbyes to Farlend and headed up the stairs to meet with the Archduke. When I arrived in the box I found there were no guards which I found odd but then again the Archduke was a very skilled fighter. I saw him wearing ornate yellow and green robes, an extravagant headdress, and green face tattoos.

"It's been a while Archduke," I stated with a slight bow.

"…Young Eddoe…it is good to see you," The Archduke said with a bright look in his eyes.

"You look good," I said smiling, "I mean it's been what ten years since we last saw each other, Archduke?"

"Please child call me Dalem," The Archduke said, "I've known you since you were a small boy."

"It's not proper sir," I told him, "I've not been in Faria for ten years."

"It does not matter," Dalem stated, "I consider you family…even though many would see you as a traitor."

"Let them say what they will," I sighed, "I've got to pay for my crimes."

"You're not responsible for her death," He tried to comfort me.

"If I hadn't attempted to break in she would still be alive." I stated having trouble keeping the anger out of my voice, "and you wouldn't have had to give up so much to secure my life."

"You don't know that," He stated calmly, "anyone with enough determination could breach the castles defenses…you are proof of that."

"I may not have put the sword in her," I practically shouted, "But I'm the reason she's dead, the reason why a little girl has no mother, why a nation is deprived of a leader, and a man of his wife!"

"I know it hurts," The Archduke tried to comfort me, "but it is but a scar…one of many you must bear now…don't let these destroy all the good you've done."

"What good?" I inquired, "I've killed hundreds if not thousands…and not all of them were on a battlefield."

"I've heard about what you've done," the Archduke sighed, "but many people have killed but you've killed in self-defense or trying to clear your conscience."

"So you've been spying on me," I snarled.

"Yes," He answered simply, "but only because I've worried about you and what you were doing."

"I've taken cases of rebels guaranteed to lose," I barked, "people who've had their possessions stolen, and many other things."

"How long are you going to sacrifice your life?" the Archduke questioned, "Are you going to continue this till you're nothing but a husk."

"What I do with my life is my business," I told him, "and you've no say in how I act or handle it."

"…I know," he sighed catching me completely of guard, "You're no longer the little boy I brought into Faria and showed that there was still good in the world."

"…I'm sorry…Dalem," I apologized, "It's just I've carried this guilt with me for the last ten years and it's done nothing but eat away at me."

"I understand…better than most," Dalem sighed.

"I bet," I laughed.

"I sent you, a young boy into a hostile city with orders to capture her and put an end to the conflict," Dalem sighed looking considerably older, "but all that came from this was more conflict and I lost you to the very thing I tried to protect you from."

"I know Dalem," I told him, "but I was wondering if you could tell me what's going on in Faria nowadays?"

"Not much has changed since you left," Dalem sighed, "Some want peace with Balandor while others want only war."

"You can only make war for so long," I commented leaning against the balcony railing, "before you destroy everything you are."

"I wish you would have stayed," Dalem stated smiling, "You would have made a good leader."

"The people would never allow a human take a place of power within their government," I laughed.

"I know," Dalem laughed with me, "but maybe in a future where people are not so blind you can be the leader you're meant to be."

"A future without racial prejudice," I chuckled, "That, Dalem is nothing but a pipedream."

"I know what you are capable of," Dalem told me, "You are the last one who can unite your people from the scattered vestiges of the fallen."

"I'm not the leader my people deserve," I sighed despondently.

"No you are not the leader they deserve," Dalem comforted, "but you are the leader they need…a warrior to reunite the people and reclaim your homeland."

"I'm no use to anyone," I stated with no emotion, "not till I cleanse myself of my crimes."

"Punishing yourself for another's crime won't solve anything," Dalem sighed.

"I don't care what it solves," I stated trying to hold back tears, "They deserve to know my involvement in her death."

"You'll be executed," Dalem stated, "and what will that gain the world…nothing but sorrow."

"I see no other way," I stated, "to cleanse myself of these crimes…Dalem I'm ready to live with my descion…whether it ends in my death or not."

"Look I know I can't dissuade you," Dalem sighed, "if there's one thing you can be known for its your stubborn resolve to follow any descion you make."

"I guess it's the one thing we have in common," I laughed.

"I agree," Dalem said joining in on my laughter.

I turned to gaze at the crowd of nobles, dancing, laughing, and just enjoying themselves completely oblivious to the dangers of the outside world. I missed this, the calm and comfort of a safe home, warm bed, and good food. I also missed the company, I had friends back in Faria including Dalem's granddaughter who always loved the stories I would tell her about the legends of my homeland.

"She misses you," Dalem sighed.

"Who misses me?" I questioned completely caught off guard.

"Miu," Dalem laughed, "She says she especially misses your stories."

"If I see her again I'll make sure to tell her some of my new ones," I commented lightly.

"She would like that," Dalem said a smile on his face, "She's been so lonely since you disappeared after the incident."

"You're trying to persuade me to come back to Faria with you," I chuckled, "aren't you?"

"It depends," Dalem chuckled, "Is it working."

"If I survive this," I began calmly, "I'll make sure to go to Faria and tell her a couple of my stories."

"It's been wonderful to talk to you again," Dalem told me, "but I sense that you have somewhere else to be."

"Yes," I told him, "Dalem I've had a wonderful time talking with you but I've no more free time to spend."

"You're here on a job aren't you?" Dalem questioned me.

"Yeah," I answered, "I'm protecting a couple of teen from getting themselves thrown into the dungeon."

"I understand," Dalem told me nodding, "go and do your job but I would like you to come and see me after this event…we have much to talk about."

I nodded and walked down the stairs leaving the balcony and reentering the main hall, getting a nod from Farlend as I strode across the hall to were both Ginger and Yulie where talking to each other about the princess who had only appeared moments ago. As I approached I caught their conversation.

"…Faria attacked Balandor?" Yulie questioned Ginger not noticing I was there.

"I don't remember much," Ginger stated, "But yeah I remember enough."

"Well you see Faria had a plan kill the royal family and force an end to the war," Yulie continued, "but their armies would have to siege the city for weeks before the gates would ever collapse but they only sieged the city for three days before the gates were penetrated."

"So wait are you saying," Ginger asked paling, "that someone with in the city opened the gate for the Farian army?"

"Yeah," Yulie said shaking her head, "It's also suspected that this man penetrated the defenses of the castle and assassinated the queen right in front of the Princess."

"She saw that?" Ginger asked staring at the princess.

"Yeah," Yulie said with a sigh, "She hasn't said a word since."

"An experience like that will do that to a person," I said revealing myself.

"Eeeeek," Yulie shrieked, "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough," I told her, "You shouldn't believe all the rumors you hear about the siege."

"Oh and how would you know what happened?" She questioned suspiciously.

"I was there," I told her resting my hand on the hilt of my sword, "and I saw firsthand how the Farians got in."

"How did they get in then?" Yulie inquired the look of suspicion never leaving her eyes.

"That is a story for another time," I began when all of a sudden there were gasps from the floor below us, "Something's happening below us."

As we all turned I saw a wounded soldier stumbling towards the king saying something that I barely heard and they were words I did not want to hear… "We're under attack".

"What's going on?" Yulie questioned as there was panicked shouts all around us.

"We're leaving!" I shouted over the roar of fear spreading throughout the crowd of nobles.

"Why what coul-," Ginger began before he was cut off by the deafening explosion rent the air.

"What the hell was that?" Yulie yelled as panic filled screams could be heard all over.

I ran over to the banister and say something that drained the color from my face.

"Shit," I shouted, "It's a Pyrodaemos."

"A what?" Ginger yelled over the shouts and screams.

"A huge monster with a cannon mounted on its back," I answered continuing to look down at the battle unfurling below me as soldiers were accompanying this monster and then I recognized the enemy soldiers and felt my anger rise, "You two have to go now."

"But why?" Yulie inquired again showing her defiance, "We can help!"

"No, you two will leave now," I turned to emphasize my point when I realized someone was missing, "Where the hell is Ginger!?"

"What…Leonard!" She called out to him, "Damn it Leonard where did you go?"

"Look you get out of here I'll go find him," I said pointing and turning towards the upper exit we had entered from only to see Magi flooding through the door, "Shit…can nothing go right today."

"I guess not Yulie said drawing her bow as I drew my broadsword.

"Let's just end this quickly," I shouted charging the Magi soldiers.

As my charge caught them unprepared I was able to easily cut a couple of them down easily the next few had turned their drawn swords on me and raised their shields but this would not halt me I easily sidestepped their sloppy thrusts and used my greater strength to cleave through the first soldiers shield and body. Before his two halves had even hit the floor I had already pierced the second soldier's chest with my blade but as I pulled it out I felt something was wrong with it. I turned towards the final soldier and swung aiming for his neck hoping to remove his head from his shoulders but he blocked it with his own sword and that's when I heard the crack and saw the greater part of my blade go spiraling over the banister. With only the hilt left of my sword I knew I had to reach for my magic and as I prepared my spell an arrow appeared in the soldier's forehead. I turned to see it was Yulie who had fired the arrow with pinpoint accuracy. Maybe I've underestimated her and her abilities. I walked towards her and extended my hand.

"I owe you my thanks," I said.

"Don't expect me to shake hands with you after you've been such an ass," She glared at me.

"I didn't expect you to," I told her, "But I just thought you should know."

I turned away and begun walking towards the door when all of a suddenly I heard it. The sound of heavy metal footsteps and then it appeared through the doorway. It looked pretty much like a troll covered in thick black metal plates armed with a giant cruel looking cleaver.

"What the hell is that?!" Yulie shouted panicking.

"It's called a Black Knave," I shouted back tossing aside my sword hilt and drawing my War Fan, "It's a Magi weapon…I don't know how the construct them but they're much stronger than any troll."

"So how do we beat it?" Yulie inquired blanching considerably.

"You leave that to me!" I yelled over the battle continuing to rage below us, "Burn in the fire of retribution!"

When I yelled this I raised my fan pointing the tip at the black knave which when the spell activated caused a bird made entirely out of flame to come roaring out of the fan and fly head on at the monster which when it struck it did not seem to cause any harm. Then fire began bursting from every crack and crevice in the armor as it was being burned from the inside out and then it burst completely into flame. Its weapon had now melted into molten slag so I decided to end it. Waving my fan I summoned a huge gust of wind throwing it off the balcony where it crashed into the combatants on the floor below.

"That was incred-," She began before I cut her off.

"We don't have time," I snarled at her, "You need to get out of here now."

"But wha-," She began again.

"Get out of here now," I snarled turning and running away from the exit, "Ginger will be fine."

I wasn't about to waste my time looking for Ginger when I knew that someone else was endanger. Dalem don't you dare die on me…don't you dare die! I was sprinting towards the stairs that led to the Archduke's balcony where both guards lay dead. Shit…no,no,no,no. This can't be happening; he's got to be alive! I ran up the stairs two at a time and when I arrived I felt the air leave my lungs. There lay Archduke Dalem a dagger protruding from his chest. I gazed at the door on the other side of the room and saw a midget in strange attire running down the stairs accompanied by Magi soldiers. I ignored them and ran to the Archduke's side.

"Dalem," I whispered as I kneeled next to him.

"Eddoe…it's good to see you," Dalem wheezed.

"I'll get you a healer," I whispered, "We can save you."

"Don't…worry Eddoe," Dalem wheezed on, "Death is a…natural part of…life."

"But there's so much I wanted to tell you," I told him the tears welling in my eyes, "I wanted to explain myself…to apologize for my arrogance."

"Eddoe…it doesn't matter," Dalem whispered, "I forgave you…long ago."

"Dalem, I'm so sorry," The tears now freely falling from my eyes, "I'm sorry I failed you."

"Promise me…something," Dalem wheezed, "Promise me…that you…will go and…protect Miu."

"I promise you Dalem," I whispered, "I will give my life to defend her."

"Good…she is…the future of Faria," Dalem said the light beginning to fade from his life, "It is…good to know…that she has such…a powerful guardian."

His final words were directed to me, I saw the light finally leave his eyes, and felt the world around me shatter. I've lost him…I'm alone now…Please let this be a horrible dream, please let this not be happening. I stood up hiding my fan again within my armor and drawing my father's sword Radiance and heading down the stairs where I bumped into a Balandor captain.

"Who the hell are you," He shouted.

"Get the fuck out of my way," I hissed shoving him out of my way.

"How dare you!" The captain shouted moving to draw his sword.

"Stay out of my way or you'll meet the same fate as the Magi," I snarled bringing my sword to his throat, "I will kill all who dare impede my vengeance."

"What are you talking about?" the captain shouted.

"The Magi have killed the Archduke," I hissed, my blade still pressed against my throat, "They must pay for their crimes."

With this I removed my sword from his throat and continued down the stairs till I reached the Main hall where the Magi had become firmly entrenched. I stepped down the stairs where I saw the numerous corpses of fallen Magi and Balandor soldiers. As I reached the entrance area several Magi soldiers attacked me. I side stepped the first and brought my sword slashing through his helm, the second thrust at me with his spear which I caught and tore from his grip only to impale him through the chest with it, a third soldier used this time to attempt to flank me only to fall feeling the bite of my sword in his neck, and the fourth did something I didn't expect.

"Please, show mercy," He begged falling to his knees and throwing his weapons aside, "Please I beg you show mercy.

"There is no place for mercy in this world," I whispered the venom practically dripping from my voice.

"No you can't," He wailed as I brought my blade back to end him.

As my blade ripped across his chest the blood gushing from his wounds I felt a sick kind of glee rush through me that can only come from slacking the thirst of vengeance. The vengeance I had been denied fourteen years. I heard the tramping of boots as more Magi soldiers rushed into the castle and they had made the mistake of marching in a tight formation.

"Watch as the wrath of the apocalypse ends your pathetic lives!" I roared unleashing the Apocalypse spell.

As the spell took effect a purple glyph appeared on the floor where the Magi stood and soon they were lifted off of the ground by purple spires of energy and soon after this an explosion rent the air as the spell overloaded itself killing all the Magi soldiers caught in the spell and raining their pieces all over the room.

"My families radiance shall shine throughout the ages," I shouted to what I thought was an empty room.

"Aren't you powerful," A deep voice sounded behind me.

"Are you here to die as well?" I inquired the bloodlust clearly apparent and turning around to see a man clad in black armor with a black Farian sabre clutched in his hand.

"My name is Dragias," he told me, "and my master is looking for people with your kind of power."

"Go to hell," I snarled, "you Magi trash."

"Pity," He sighed, "and you seemed like such a smart young man."

With that he lunged at me his blade aiming for my heart which I promptly halted by knocking his strike aside with my own. He'll need to better than that poor strike to beat me. I kicked him in the gut causing him to back up a couple steps so I could back step and put some distance between us. I brought my sword up in a defensive stance knowing that this would be a long battle as my enemy was no longer the fodder I'd been slaying but a trained officer, the legendary Dragias. He ran at me again his blade thrusting at me recklessly and without much precision but he had enough skill to block my own counterattacks. What the Hell…he's toying with me…what the hell does he want! I was getting angry that this man didn't take me serious and that was a mistake. He struck without warning piercing my armor with one thrust to my left side and quickly withdrawing it allowing the wound to bleed freely. Damn it…damn it…I refuse to die here…at this beasts hands! The pain cleared my anger and my head allowing me to focus clearly on my enemy. He had no noticeable physical flaws I could exploit nor was there any mental instability I could detect and exploit. Who the hell is this guy…There's no flaws I can detect…but there's got to be something. I could only think of one thing to do in this situation, throw everything I could muster at him. I ignored the pain in my side and feigned a slash at his leg only to redirect it towards his sword arm where it connected cutting through his armor and drawing blood.

"Ahh," He snarled, "You've proven that you can handle a blade well and might even beat me in a one on one duel…a pity it's not one on one."

As he said this Magi soldiers who had been waiting out of sight to spring the trap on me. Shit there's too many of them to handle on my own.

"How does it feel," Dragias taunted knocking me to the ground, "How does it feel to know that you're all alone in the world."

As Dragias stood there laughing I felt disgusted with myself, I've been so driven by vengeance that I've lost sight what's important.

"Like a phoenix I shall rise from the ashes to strike you down Dragias," I taunted right back getting to a knee.

"What is that supposed to mean?" He snarled at me.

"I've survived the fall of my homeland, the siege of Balandor, and so much more," I taunted, "What are you but a puppet to the will of your master."

"You are nothing but swine," Dragias snarled approaching me with his sword slamming down into mine as I blocked and then his soldiers began screaming, "What?"

White feather arrows were sticking out of the Magi soldier's necks and bodies.

"For Faria," A familiar voice behind me shouted.

"You see unlike you Dragias I've real allies who are willing to fight," I snarled forcing myself up from my prone kneeling stance, "You can kill me but others will rise up to fight your ilk."

"You will die like your kingdom," He snarled at me.

"For Valeria!" I roared the name of my homeland proud that if I should die now I shall do so fighting for my true homeland.

I had gotten to my feet and forced him back only for him to charge at me again. Our blades crashed against each other along with the opposing forces of Farian heavy soldiers and Magi warriors. I noted that the Farians were led by Farlend his normally white armor stained red with the blood of the enemy. I'm no longer alone…I'll accomplish Dalem's dying wish and protect Faria and Lady Miu…The Magi will not burn another land as they did my beloved Valeria…I'll destroy all who will harm Faria or its people. My attacks struck with a force unknown even to me, I smashed aside his defenses as if they were simply no even there, and I buried my blade into his left side.

"This is the power of my resolve Dragias," I snarled as our blades locked together again, "and I will see you fall for the crimes against my homeland and for your crimes against Faria!"

He snarled at me as he spun away from our lock trying to gain distance on me which was one of the worst decisions he could make as the Farians outnumbered the Magi so the twang of Farian style longbows was not a surprising sound and the arrows struck right on target. Three arrows protruded from his back causing him to stumble and allowing me to easily close the distance. He whipped around catching my attack on his own blade. He's strong to fight through the wounds I've given him…wait…he's limping…jackpot damn it, jackpot. Another arrow was protruding from his right leg and I used this to my advantage striking at his right side and attempting to cripple him. His moves were becoming sluggish while mine remained quick and powerful, I battered his feeble defense I aside and struck his knee at the space for the joint in the armor cutting through the flesh and crippling him. He existed at the fall of Valeria…He has to be getting up there in age.

"Do you think you can stop the Magi," He laughed, "We are the insurmountable wave that will wash away the filth of the world!"

"Why don't you just die already damn it," I sneered at Dragias raising my blade for the killing blow as he was on his knees.

I was bringing my blade down when the very floor began shaking throwing me off balance and allowing Dragias to take of running which was an amazing feat. How the hell can he still run…scratch that what the hell is causing this shaking. As I stood there trying to keep from falling on my face which was difficult with the floor covered in fresh blood which was both mine and my enemies. I looked around and saw Magi fleeing left and right as the Farians tried to drag their wounded to the side out of the main floor and as I attempted to make my way I felt a sharp pain in my leg bringing me down again and so I looked and saw an arrow sticking out of my knee.

"Eddoe!" Farlend shouted running towards only to stumble as the shaking grew worse.

"Farlend stay back," I screamed afraid that my friend would get hurt.

Then the unexpected happened, the spot where I knelt, erupted sending shards of stone and me flying. I flew a good twenty feet where I crashed into the banister and flipped onto the stairs. I lay there in pain hearing the fight going on just yards from me. I forced myself to stand through sheer will and saw something that took my breath away. Holy Shit…it's an Incorruptus. I tried to continue to stand but my knee gave out on me. That's when I looked over and saw Farlend running towards me. As he approached he knelt down and examined my wound.

"How are you doing?" Farlend questioned as he removed the arrow and began healing my leg.

"Oh I don't know," I said sarcastically, "I've only been stabbed in my side, shot in the leg, and oh yeah I've been caught in a shower of razor sharp rock…so I've been better."

"Look I can heal your leg now but we need to get you to a healer," He stated worriedly.

"I'll be fine," I snarled through the pain in my side, "We need to keep up with that huge walking suit of armor."

That was when the Pyrodaemos was thrown through the front gates and was quickly followed by the white Incorruptus. As I sprung to my feet I took off after them followed by Farlend, several Farian archers, Balandor Knights, the guard captain from earlier, an older man in green, and Yulie. Damn it what is she doing here…well I didn't expect her to abandon Ginger. I was the first out of the now ruined gate and stood there gazing at the white Incorruptus fighting with its blade.

"What the hell is that?" Farlend yelled.

"It's an Incorruptus," I answered, "an ancient weapon of The Dogma Wars."

"Hmm," came a sound from the older man in green.

"Is it on our side," the captain said.

"It depends," I answered, "Who's in the armor."

"It's Leonard," Yulie said running up to me.

"You're telling me that's Ginger?" I asked incredulously.

"Yeah," Yulie said the fear clearly in her eyes, "Will he be alright?"

"If that thing doesn't kill him then he should be fine," I answered this new question, "That thing is just a Pyrodaemos…it may look big but it's weaker than it should be."

"How do you know that," the guard captain snarled at me.

"If it had been at full strength we would've been dead in seconds," I told him, "and that would have been after it incinerated the city."

"You seem to know a lot about this creature," the older man commented.

"I've seen them before," I said remembering the fires, "When at full power they can turn even a stone fortress to nothing but ash in a matter of seconds."

"I'll take your word for it," the man said.

"You'd better," I sneered, "I've been through more in a decade than most people go through in their whole lives."

We stood there watching the battle as Leonard and the Pyrodaemos exchanged blows. How the hell is Ginger controlling an Incorruptus…they only obey a chosen few and those few have been dead for thousands of years. It's one of the old ones too.

"Hey Ginger," I shouted as I saw the barrel begin glowing.

"What?" sounded the echoed voice of a person in an Incorruptus.

"You've got to stop it from firing that cannon," I yelled.

"How do I do that?" He yelled back.

"You need to focus on your energy," I yelled over the battle, "and then focus it into your blade."

The Incorruptus paused a moment and then its blade began glowing with a blinding white light.

"Now what?" He questioned me.

"Now you attack the thing damn it," I snarled not believing that this kid was holding one of the most dangerous powers in the world and had to ask such a question.

As he struck there was a flash knocking the monster off balance where Ginger quickly followed up with a couple of quick thrusts felling the weakened monster easily and then he knelt down as a light enveloped the Incorruptus where it was replaced by Ginger himself. As some of the people ran towards Ginger to congratulate or question him, I on the other hand remained on the stairs with the Farians, and the guard captain noticed this but ignored it. I just stood there staring at the kid, this kid had achieved what my people never could, and that was the ability to bond with an Incorruptus. This isn't possible…how can he have gained the strength to overpower the arks guardian…he has trouble fighting kibble and polkan so where did this strength come from…I need to keep an eye on this kid. I was torn from my thoughts by the piercing scream of a woman. I whipped around to see the wounded black knight holding the princess with her hands bound behind her back. The Balandor soldiers moved to try and grab her while the Farian longbowmen did not move knowing it was futile to even attempt it and they were much more disciplined than the Balandor soldiers. As the soldiers closed in a giant anchor came crashing down crushing or scattering the approaching soldiers and as it rose there was the wounded Dragias, the midget clown person, and the bound princess standing on one of the arms.

"Cisna," Ginger yelled standing up and running up the steps.

The Farian archers raised their bow to fire as I yelled, "Hold your fire!"

The archers still had their bows drawn but didn't fire, they had trained their arrows on Dragias and the midget but they wouldn't fire unless instructed. I haven't been in Faria for a while but apparently I still held some sway over the soldiers. As they rose higher I noted that they were getting on a black monoship.

"Why didn't you fire on them!?" The Balandor guard captain screamed at me, "Farian archers are the best the world!"

"It's still too risky," I retorted my hand on my side trying to contain the bleeding, "If we shoot there's still a good chance we'll hit the princess and there's no one here in good enough condition to catch her if she falls."

The guard captain fell silent glaring at me now apparently taking in the fact that I had some control over the Farian soldiers. As we stood there staring each other down but we were soon interrupted by Ginger chasing after the departing Monoship.

"We have to go after her!" Ginger yelled, "We have to do something!"

"And what would you propose we do Ginger," I laughed, "We've no idea where their taking her."

"So you're saying we do nothing!" He yelled at me turning, "That we just sit here and twiddle our thumbs!"

"Pretty much," I continued unable to contain my laughter.

"Quit laughing you son of a bitch," He snarled at me.

"And what if I don't Leonard?" I asked the laughter continuing, "Are you going to attack me?"

"Shut up," He snarled his anger apparent.

"No," I said the laughter vanishing from my face, "You're an insignificant speck in this world and the same goes for your dear princess."

I was attempting to goad him now, I was sick and tired of his pampered attitude, and I was planning on putting him in his place.

"You son of a bitch," He yelled his sword drawn and raised over his head.

I simply grabbed his arm with my non-bloodied hand, flipped him over my shoulder while twisting his wrist so that it dislocated, when he hit the ground I wrenched his arm viscously so his shoulder dislocated, and then drove my heel into his elbow joint also dislocating that. He wreathed in pain as he glared at me simple hatred in his eyes.

"You've just been crippled," I snarled, "by a man who's just fought through one of the most trying battles of his life."

"Leonard!" Yulie yelled running towards us but with a slight gesture the Farian soldiers barred her path, "Get out of my way you Antler headed creeps."

"You'll have to do more than that to insult us miss," Farlend told her, "He wishes to explain to your foolish companion that heart alone will not save the princess."

"He's right Ginger," I laughed, "I'm bloodied, exhausted, and don't possess an Incorruptus."

"What does that have to do with anything?" He snarled getting up while favoring his arm.

"You need to know that just because you've all this power you're not invincible," I answered a gleam in my eyes, "and if you die think of all the people you'll leave behind."

"The princes-," He started to say.

"Look, if you die you lose her, Yulie, your friends, and everyone who values you," I snarled right back, "and besides if you die your princess loses the best chance of rescue."

"I just want to make sure she's safe." He said quietly.

"You just met her what an hour ago?" I sighed, "but if you want to go off halfcocked then at least wait until morning."

With that I walked back into the castle with the Farian soldiers following after me sort of like a set of bodyguards. I was walking towards the upper level where Dalem's body would be so it could be given rights but first I needed something's.

"Can someone get me a healer?" I inquired, "And could someone also look for my sword."

I'm going to need new armor damn it…and I doubt that Balandor readily sells a Master Lorica. I needed a healer before I bleed out all over the nice palace floors and I'd lost my sword when Ginger erupted from underneath the floor. The new armor was needed because I doubted that mine could be repaired with all of the damage it suffered. I was walking up the steps gazing at all of the wanton destruction and remembering the last time I had gazed upon so much death which was a decade earlier. I'd never wanted to relive that kind of carnage but apparently fate had different plans for me. I had made a promise to protect Lady Miu and would accomplish this no matter the cost but I also knew that they kidnapped the princess for a reason, this was not my first dance with the Magi after all, and I was sure it wouldn't be the last. I knew that Ginger would go after her and I knew I would be right there with him. This was the perfect chance to gain precious resources for my true mission and I could not pass up this opportunity. I found Dalem's body and knelt next to it and began reciting the rituals to pass his spirit on into the ether where he could rest in peace and I knew I was in for a long night.

Chapter 2-Party Crashers!? Ends here and I hope you've all enjoyed the trip as the next chapter is titled The Journey Begins. I hope you all continue to read, review, and enjoy the story. White Knight is owned by Level 5 productions. Some events may be different from the actual game and whenever an important new character is added I'll create a new character page. The Nation of Valeria will be very important to this fanfiction later on. Valeria is pronounced Vale-re-a.