A/N: Sorry for the very-very-very (well you get the point) late update. I was mostly focused on my studies and projects that I forgot about this fanfic. I am Really Truly and Deeply sorry.
Chapter 2: Where is the hope?
As we return to the story, our heroes have reached a hill to see whether the Gradian forces had already arrived or not
[Scene: A hill near the castle]
"Hmmmm…" Rei looked around the place and it seems to be safe until she saw a squad of red armored men "Ummm…Pri-err Eirika, Sir Seth I think we are too late; I see a lot of red armored men coming towards the border castle."
"We are too late. We must hurry to the castle, we have no time to lose."
"Wait Seth we mustn't ignore the situation." The princess then looked at Rei and Alice then looked back at Seth "We all saw what happened to Renais, to the people that suffered because of the Gradian soldiers. Their homes were destroyed, possessions that were stolen, women kidnapped and to those who resisted them where executed without question and without hesitation." As she said that the two girls were terrified, since their only mother was, in a way, resisting the occupation of the Grado soldiers
"…" Silence was Seth's answer but then the princess said "Please Seth, I will not allow what happened to Renais happen here. I cannot bear to see more people harmed by Grado's atrocities." After she said that there was silence for only a moment
"Alright Princess. I understand. Perhaps we can liberate Mulan. However-" Seth then took a short look to Rei and Alice then back to the princess "-we must be cautious. Alice cannot fight she is too young, Rei, even though she may know how to fight, she might not have much experience in the battlefield and most importantly your people need you princess."
"Of course, Seth. Now come on, let us go!"
"Wait! We can't rush in without a plan." Rei said
"Well then, come up with a plan as we are rushing to the border." Seth said as he was helping Rei and Alice get on his horse which apparently is not weighed down by the four people
[Scene Change: The castle Mulan]
"Commander Breguet, an enemy mercenary appears to be fortifying its position in the castle." A soldier said pointing at the mercenary
"Hmph. They're tenacious, but they have no hope of stopping our advance." A man in heavy armor named Breguet said
"What are your orders, sir?"
"Ha! Orders? You just stand here and watch. I'll crush them myself!" He said "As you command, sir." He said as he killed the mercenary and then entered the castle
[Scene Change: Inside the castle Mulan]
"St-stop right there!" Breguet then looked at a girl "Call off your forces and turn back, or you'll have me to deal with!" The blue haired girl said
"Is that so? And who might you be?"
"Who-? I am Tana, Princess of Frelia. I will not permit you to abuse my country any longer." The girl named Tana said
"Frelia's royal brat, huh? Well that's convenient…heh."
"Leave this castle immediately. If you harm me, my father and brother will chase you to the earth's end."
"Yes, I've heard how King Hayden dotes on his precious little daughter. Let's see how true that is. You'll make us a fine hostage, my dear." Then he looked at the soldier near him "Seize the girl and lock her up!"
"Sir! *salute* Right away, sir!"
"No! Let! Me! Go!" She screamed
[Scene Change: Outside the castle Mulan]
As Breguet got out of the castle he looked at the horizon
"Hmm…." He noticed four figures rushing to the castle "Is that the Princess of Renais and her knight? HA HA HA! It must be my lucky day! The bards shall sing my accomplishment today! Although I thought that there was only one knight that escorted the princess, no matter." Then he looked at his army
"Quickly men!" he yelled "Go to your positions, we cannot let the princess or her knight get to Frelia! And kill the other two people!" he ordered
[Scene Change: A hill to the right of the castle Mulan]
"Sir Gilliam, is that Mulan? Have we already reached Frelia's border?" A blonde man in green armour asked "Aye, we have. Her Highness, Princess Tana should be inside the castle." Said the blue armored man named Gilliam
"But look-" The man said as he was surveying the battlefield "-the countryside is crawling with Grado soldiers! Where's the castle guard? Has Mulan already fallen? Are we too late?
"Too tough to say from here. Princess Tana's in no danger if they want her as a bargaining tool. We men of the Eastern Watch will see her to safety."
"Yes…Yes, of course. We must not give up. We must move onwards and reclaim the castle, then we shall ride forth to Princess Eirika's aid.
"Don't be hastily. I have stronger armor than you do. I shall take lead, you watch my back."
[Scene Change: The lower fort near the castle]
"Ummm…Sir Seth, Eirika Did you two understood my plan?"
"I shall divert the bulk of the army while you two will attack the knight in the castle's gate. Although I am impressed by the way you thought of things."
"Err…" Rei blushed "I-it's rather simple really most of the soldiers move more quickly than the knight in the gate and that even though their objective is either to kill or capture Eirika they'll be focused on you since you would pose a bigger threat to them."
"Bu-but Sis!" Alice tugged her sister "What can I do? I could help you fight." She pulled out an Elfire tome "Mother trained me on how to use this."
"NO! Even though Mom trained you, you're too young to fight and that I can't lose you, you're my only sister."
"But sis!" Alice yelled "No buts! Please Alice I don't want you hurt and I promise when you have a safer tome to use and an easier battle I'll let you fight alongside with me, ok?."
"Ok sis. But please be careful!" She said as she hugged her sister
After an hour or two of fighting Seth had noticed his student fighting alongside a knight and began to gallop to talk with him
"Franz, is that you? I'm relieved to see you're still in one piece!"
"Y-yes…and you as well, General. As long as you lead us, sir, the Knight of Renais cannot lose!" The cavalier named Franz said
"Franz, you and I must work together to protect Princess Eirika. I want you to ride with us."
"Sir, Yes Sir! With honor, sir!"
As the fighting continued Breguet noticed that his men are dying
"Bah, what a worthless lot of curs I've been assigned!"
Then he noticed Eirika and Rei are charging at him
"Huh? This is new, the princess and her protector are charging at me? Do they want to die quickly?" As he said that he didn't noticed an arrow flying towards him but it had bounced off his armor
"Uh-Oh! My arrow just bounced off him."
"Don't worry. It's just a minor setback to the plan but you'll get him eventually."
As Eirika fought him Rei studied his movements and noticed something about it "Hmmm….He swings as he walks, he swings first his right then his left exposing the unarmored parts." She thought then noticed Eirika downed "Oh no Eirika's in trouble!" She rushed to Eirika's side "Eirika? Eirika are you ok?" Then she stood and got ready to fight him "Come at me!"
"Brave girl wants to die, huh?" He charged as Rei expected then she shot an arrow to the exposed part and he winched in pain "ARRGGGG! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS GIRL!" he yelled not long as he noticed an arrow coming at him and then hitting his leg then he moved closer to attack her
"He-he can still move?" The now scared Rei said but remembered her mother's teachings "No. I won't be scared. I must remain focused at the battle." She said as she took a defensive stance while studied the now wounded knight then came up with a plan
"I'll have to use this then." She unsheathed her family's heirloom then looked at the side of it then read "Masamune…" As the wounded knight got into range she sliced and then cutoff his hand with a swift attack "AGGGRRRRR!" the knight then fell to his knees then punched Rei which sent off the girl flying just a few meters of where she stood earlier
"Rei…" Eirika noticed that Rei is not moving an inch then looked at the one armed knight walking towards her then shouted "Leave her alone! I'm the one you want!" Then she attacked the knight and he fell without much resistance and then quickly got Rei up
"Is-is it over?" Rei asked "Yes."
Then the two noticed four figures coming to help them and then one of the figures came running to Rei
"S..sis. *sob* I...I thought you were going to die…" Alice said as she began to cry "I'm sorry for making you worry Alice." She said as she was comforting her sister
"Now let us go into the castle. Her Highness must be in trouble." Gilliam said as he
"Umm…Sir Knight-" Rei asked then she noticed the green armored cavalier "-and Sir Green Knight. I am Rei Hikari and she is my younger sister Alice." She pointed to Alice "Now that you have known our names, may I ask yours?" She pointed to the two
"My apologies milady, I am Franz a knight of Renais." Said the green cavalier
"And I am Gilliam."
The six, after the introductions, have gone into the castle and had found Tana then they went on to Frelia's capital
End Chapter 2.