Chapter 5: Zill Attacks
Cephiro Castle
It had been several days since the skirmish, and Hikaru and her friends had been preparing as best as they could. In addition to hunting down monsters that had popped up recently, they'd also been doing some sword training with Lafarga. Now they were taking a well-earned rest.
"Ugh, my everything is sore," said Umi, wiping sweat from her forehead. "That made fencing practice feel like a breeze."
"I admit, it was rather rigourous," said Fuu, trying to catch her breath. "But it will all be worth it if we can be more prepared for the battles ahead."
"Yeah, that's the spirit!" said Hikaru, who didn't seem at all worn out. "When Zill decides to make their move, we'll be ready for them!"
"You're as chipper as ever," said Ferio. "I take it practice has been going well?"
"It's been great! We'll have no trouble with those War Wolves the next time we see them!" said Hikaru enthusiastically.
"Good to know," said Ferio with a smile. He came over to Fuu, offering her some cold water. "I thought you might be thirsty after all that work."
"Oh, thank you," she said as she accepted it, blushing faintly.
"Lucky, what do I have to do to get treated like that?" Umi asked.
"Umm, here you go," said a voice behind her. It was Ascot, looking bashful.
"Oh, thank you Ascot!" said Umi with a smile. "Thanks for looking out for me!"
"Oh, uh, it's no trouble, really," said Ascot, blushing furiously.
Just then, the girls all heard Clef's voice in their head. "Magic Knights, come quickly! Something is happening!"
The girls all looked at each other, then raced to the observatory to see Clef.
"Clef, what's the matter? Is it the Zill?" asked Umi.
"Yes, it is! Several of their ships have advanced and are in the skies over Cephiro now! They must be launching a preliminary attack," he replied, looking up at the ceiling. They could see a single battleship and three smaller ships, likely support craft. They weren't attacking, but that could change in a heartbeat.
"Come on, girls, we need to stop them, whatever they're doing!" said Hikari, turning to her friends.
Once again calling upon the Rune-Gods, they flew off to face the Zill ships. Little did they know what awaited them.
As soon as they were in range, the support ships began launching fighters to attack them. Nimble, triangular craft with short wings, they swarmed out like bees from a disturbed hive.
"Hang in there, everyone! There's a lot of these things!" shouted Hikari, slashing through fighters while dodging gunfire.
"No kidding, it's like mosquitos in the summer!" Umi responded, using her Sapphire Whirlwind to blast away some of the fighters.
"There's so many of them! How are we going to stop them all?" Fuu cried out, using her Winds of Protection to shield herself.
"Don't give up, we can do this," Hikaru said, blasting a line of fighters with Crimson Lightning.
The battle continued for a while, but to their surprise the fighters began to fall back. Not only that, but Hikaru saw something coming towards her and the others. Three very familiar mechs were speeding towards them fast. "Look alive, the War Wolves are back!" she shouted to her friends.
"Great, just what we needed now," groaned Umi. "We've already taken a beating as it is!"
"There's nothing we can do about that now! We have to fight," said Fuu, looking determined.
Kefka zoomed ahead, energy blade already flashing as he clashed with Hikaru. "So we meet again, Hikaru," he said. "I've been looking forward to seeing you again."
"Glad I gave you something to look forward to," said Hikaru, slashing at him. "I see you brought some friends with you this time!"
"Not exactly my idea, but yes," said Kefka. "Personally I prefer a straight fight to all this zipping around like a mad wasp, but we soldiers have our orders."
Meanwhile, Umi was fighting the pikeman yet again. "I've got a score to settle with you!" she shouted, dueling him.
"I never got the chance to introduce myself in our last fight," he responded. "I am called Raxx, member of the War Wolves. What might your name be?"
"Umi Ryuzaki, Magic Knight," Umi replied, "and this time, I'm going to send you packing! Water Dragon!"
Raxx threw up his shield, blocking the attack. "Impressive move there! I knew you were stronger than you appeared!"
"You'll find I'm full of surprises, buddy!" she said, smiling in spite of herself.
Meanwhile, Shakku was battling with Fuu, longsword against battleaxe. "I am Shakku, War Wolf of Zill," he said, pressing hard against her blade. "What is your name?"
"Fuu Hououji," she answered, "and I too am a Magic Knight."
"Then I am honored to know you," said Shakku. "Now face me with honor!" He swung the battleaxe, narrowly missing her.
"Tell me, Hikaru, what drives you?" asked Kefka. "I know you fight for your home, but what makes you so determined?"
"Cephiro isn't my home," replied Hikaru, locking blades with him. "But it's precious to me! So are its people, and I'll do anything to protect them! Not just because I'm a Magic Knight, but because I value their lives!"
"You would sacrifice everything for a world that isn't even your own?" asked Kefka, pushing back against her blade. "You truly are remarkable. I haven't seen that level of courage in my whole life, even among my fellow Zill."
Hikaru felt her heart jump at what he said. "Kefka...why are you doing this?" she asked. "These people have done nothing to you, they only want to live their lives in peace. Why would the Zill want to do anything to harm them?"
"Like I said, we Zill learned long ago what happens to prey," he said, knocking her back. "We lived for eons as weaklings, enslaved and devoured by our enemies. But we learned their ways, learned to use them against our enemies. Now we are strong, we are unbeatable, and we will never let ourselves become the prey again. And we will do anything we must to ensure that."
"I see...so you were hurt long ago, and now you want to prevent that hurt from happening again," said Hikaru, readying her sword again and charging. "But you have to see that this isn't the way! Becoming an aggressor isn't the same as being willing to defend yourself! What you're doing is wrong!"
Kefka dodged her strike, countering with one of his own. He said nothing, but his mind was beginning to race with new thoughts. What she was telling him, it made sense. But all his life, he had been trained, indoctrinated to understand that the Zill way was the only way. That it was the key to their survival, their strength. Surely they couldn't be wrong...could they?
Before he could say anything, several loud cracks sounded in the air. Everyone, both the Magic Knights and the War Wolves, all turned just in time to see the Zill battleship open fire. Massive energy bolts struck the ground below, punching massive flaming craters into the beautiful green fields and forests. Over and over again it fired its guns, glassing the landscape, and the unfortunate souls who lived there.
"No!" Hikaru screamed in horror, eyes wide and tears beginning to form.
Kefka stared, first at the destruction and then back at the battleship. Nobody had told him there was going to be a bombardment! What was the captain thinking? Or had this been the plan all along? Even Raxx and Shakku were caught off guard by the carnage. This hadn't been the plan at all.
"How...how could they?" Umi asked, her voice trembling.
Fuu was so horrified she couldn't even speak, she could only cover her mouth as tears flowed.
A booming voice filled the sky as they all watched. "We are the Zill. This is but a taste of our power. You will surrender or you will be destroyed. Bow before us! Submit to us!"
Kefka stared at the battleship for a few moments before speaking. "Squad...fall back."
"Sir?" inquired Raxx. "Are we retreating?"
"You heard me, soldier," said Kefka, his voice almost a growl. "Return to the ship at once." As they flew away, he turned back to Hikaru. He would swear he could feel her pain and disbelief at what she'd just witnessed. And when she turned to look at him, he could feel her gaze like a crushing weight. Slowly, quietly, he said the only thing he could think of to say.
"I...I'm sorry, Hikaru..." He turned and blasted off at full speed for the battleship. All the while his insides were twisting and knotting up in a way he hadn't felt since his first battle. For the first time since he was a child, he was feeling remorse...and it hurt.