This chapter is going to be a bit shorter than the others, partially because I'm running out of time again with the laptop, (I don't think I'll get lucky enough to keep it another week this time.) partially because I need to work on other stuff, and partially because the next chapter is going to be... Very dark... And Sane fans will cry. Remember, the underlined text is the evil Sane talking.

I felt on edge being assigned the task of watching Emmeryn. Something in the back of my head kept screaming 'Danger, danger, danger!' And it wasn't 'Livvy' either. When the group defending Emmeryn was attacked, everyone died.

'As much as my life kind of sucks, I don't think I'm ready for it to end.'

Some of the Pegasus Knights were willing to help me train, one even taught me tricks for fighting flying foes.

"The most common misconception is the underbelly is a foes weak point. Not at all, it's the legs."

Apparently pegasi and wyverns take after birds in the fact their bones are less dense compared to their mass. Because of this, one good impact could cripple them.

"How would a magic user do that? Aren't Pegasus Knights and Wyvern Riders protected against magic?"

The woman I was talking to nodded.

"They're protected, yes. Just like you would be if you wore armour. But even if you had the best armour ever created, I'm sure you'd be staggered if you took a sword or two."

I nodded. "You have a point there."

Cordelia seemed wary to socialize with me, but by pestering her for a while I was able to have a short conversation with her. Cordelia seemed like she was trying her hardest to be more impressive than she really was. I tried not to be angry with her, knowing how hard she was trying to impress her fellow Pegasus Knights.

'Besides, aren't I notorious for trying to appear more badass than I really am?'

I heard a commotion from further ahead and my blood ran cold.

'Oh *no*, are those the Plegians?'

"Cordelia! I think we're under attack. I need you to warn everyone!"

She looked over towards the noises.

"How could we be under attack? The Hierophant told us this was the safest route we could take."

The noises grew louder, and a loud cry pierced the surroundings.

"Damn!" Cordelia hissed.

I wasted no time in getting to Emmeryn's side. The women guarding her were surprised to see me in such an obvious state of panic.

"Is something wrong?" One asked.

"We're under attack, keep Emmeryn safe."

I had no idea where Cordelia had run off to, but honestly I wasn't too concerned. What I was most concerned with was my own safety.

'Hell... I've got a contingency plan, if thing go south I'm legging it!'

One of the Pegasus Knights beside me suddenly shrieked and fell off their mount.

"No!" Emmeryn cried.

The other Pegasus Knights were killed just as quickly by hidden archers. I panicked and tried to find them, but either they were great at hiding or my beast observation skills were kicking in at the worst possible time.

"Sane, were surrounded..."

Barbarians and Fighters began appearing alongside us and closed in.

"Gangrel said we had to bring the Exalt, he didn't say anything about another girl."

"Should we kill her?"

"Maybe we can bring her with us?"

One of them reached toward me. I took my tome and sent a bolt of magic his way. He lept out of the way with a curse.

"You stay back!" I shouted at them.

Several laughed and inched closer.

"I mean it!"

"Why even bother Sane? You can't change how things are meant to play out... All you can is watch."

'Shut up!'

The Plegians before me didn't pay my threats any heed and continued to advance.

"How does that make you feel?"

'Shut up dammit!'

I felt so scared, more scared than I'd ever been before. There had to have been at least twenty Plegians, all of them ready no doubt to kill me or worse.

'Dammit...'

"Don't lose faith Sane!" Emmeryn urged.

More of the Plegians began to advance with their weapons drawn.

'You bastards are about to see some major Phantasy Star action!'

I stepped closer to Emmeryn.

"You might want to cover your face, this could get intense."

Flames swirled around Emmeryn and I, creating an impassable barrier. I saw the Plegians cringe away from the flames and allowed myself a sadistic smile.

"You think you're so untouchable, don't you?"

Casting the flames out, I scorched any Plegian that wasn't able to move away quick enough. The smell of burnt flesh was sickening and made me nearly gag.

"No! Stop it! You're not changing anything!"

I don't know if it was my nerves or that god forsaken voice, but it was getting hard to focus and my head hurt.

'Shut up... Shut up damn you!'

I sent more magic towards the Plegians, killing even more of them.

"Sane, watch out!"

Emmeryn was at my side holding a wind tome in an instant. A hail of arrows, no doubt fired by the same Plegians who killed the Pegasus Knights, was about to rain down on us. Emmeryn used her tome try and to send the arrows away from us. She was successful, mostly. If she hadn't acted quickly I most certainly would've been killed. However, despite the fact Emmeryn's quick thinking saved my life, I wasn't lucky enough to avoid getting hit. An arrow embedded itself in my left shoulder and I dropped my tome as a searing pain coursed through me.

"*Damn*!"

I had no idea what the heck to do. Was I supposed to pull out the arrow, or leave it in? I tried to move my arm, but the arrow must've severed the nerve connections.

"No, Sane! Are you alright?"

The Plegians wasted no time in rushing Emmeryn and I. She didn't bother using her tome and allowed herself to be captured. I on the other hand drew my sword and tried to fend them off.

'Damn, this thing is heavy one handed!'

My efforts were useless however. I was roughly grabbed and forced to the ground with my hands held behind my back.

"You think you're tough don't you? Well you're going to die just like the rest of those useless Knights."

One of them hefted an axe and pressed it against my neck.

"No, spare her you must!" Emmeryn begged.

The axe against my neck twitched and cut me. I felt the blood ooze from the wound and stain my clothes. I began to shake and whimper in pain.

"Look at this, nothing but a baby!"

"Stop this, don't hurt her, I'll do anything!"

"Ohhh, hear that?"

A Plegian roughly grabbed my face and forced me to look at Emmeryn.

"She must be someone special for the Exalt to beg like this."

I felt something sharp pressed lightly at the base of my throat.

"Who is she?"

Emmeryn looked unsure as how to answer. The sharp thing was pressed against me with more force.

"Who is she?"

I could tell this was not going to end well for me at all.

'Think fast Sane...'

"Fools, I am the vessel of your God!"

I don't know if it was my sudden exclamation, or if the blokes really believed me, but a couple of the Plegians jumped.

"Be silent! What kind of idiot do you take me for?" The one holding me said.

"My proof is on my right hand, in the form of a purple insignia."

The Plegian scoffed. "Fine, let's see your proof."

He jerked my arm abound to look at my hand. I cried out in pain as he did so and a sob escaped me.

"Pah! This brand means nothing to me."

The Plegian grabbed the arrow embedded in my shoulder and yanked it out. Another anguished cry escaped me. The Plegian pulled me to my feet and brought me nose to nose with him.

"You cry again, and I'll make sure it's the last sound you ever make."

He threw me to the ground at Emmeryn's feet.

"Put both of them in the caravan. King Gangrel can decide what he wants to do with the other girl."

Emmeryn pulled me gently to my feet and held me as the Plegians led us away. We eventually reached several hidden caravans and were loaded into the back of one. Four Plegians went in also, no doubt to guard us.

"Emm... I hurt..." I whispered.

Emmeryn held me against her protectively and kissed the top of my head.

"You're going to be fine... I promise."

"I failed... Supposed to... Protect you..."

"Sane, you did all you could."

She gingerly touched my shoulder before looking at the Plegians.

"She's still bleeding. Do you have any bindings?"

One of them grinned sadistically.

"Oh yeah. I can bind her real good, you just give her here."

His friends laughed.

"Bastards..." I mumbled.

Emmeryn gently turned my head so they could no longer see my face and gently caressed my cheek.

"Everything will be alright Sane, I promise."

I was in too much pain to say anything. I kept hearing the occasional splatter of liquid on wood, no doubt my blood hitting the floor. After awhile, Emmeryn began to hum a gentle melody. It sounded strangely familiar and I felt myself drifting to sleep. I opened my eyes a crack for one final look at Emmeryn. Her head was leaned towards me and her eyes were closed. I snuggled against her, ignoring the perverse snickers of the Plegians. In my last moments of consciousness before finally drifting off, my brain was able to put words to the soothing lullaby.

'Happy kitty, sleepy kitty. Purr, purr, purr.'

The ending of this was definitely rushed... Sorry guys, stuff happens. Anyway, I have a Dreamcast at home, and one of my favourite games for it is Phantasy Star Online, came out in the year 2000. One of the spells, either RaFoie or GiFoie (I can never remember the prefix) is supposedly this hurricane of flames that will swirl around your characters for a few seconds dealing massive damage to any enemy close enough to you. Well, the animation for it sucks in the game, but in theory it's a great idea. In the game it just looks like a ball of fire that passes around you like a comet. So what I did in the chapter was more like a hurricane type thing that blocked Emmeryn and Sane before Sane just flung it at the Plegians.

Might be a while before I post more, but I promise I'll keep working.