My Third Chapter in three days! Wow! I guess i'm speeding along, desperately trying to get to the good parts, and out of the set-up. Oh well.
For my first story of this franchise, i must say i feel pretty confident. I hope that no Elias lovers come after me though.
If you read this and say "Why doesn't Ant speak funny?" I would say. "Read the previous chapters." And "I speak French, it's really hard to do a fake accent for a language you hear all the time! I can't do the random z's and the mispronunciations, because i actually speak the language."
Twan: The story is going in a straight line on a 4 dimensional graph. for now.
Well, here is part three. I hope you enjoy. READ AND REVIEW.
One of the most important parts of being a leader is knowing your men, preferably before you're forced onto the battlefield with them. Most successful leaders had the opportunity to bond with thetroops, and then were sent to fight. Antoine would not get that chance. Elias realized that his plan, which he kept under his arm at all times, called for an early deployment. Ant was herded into an APC with the other lieutenants. He pulled the General aside.
"Can I ride with my men?"
"Sorry Antoine, the plan calls for the officers to ride together, so they can go over the Intel." Elias waved his papers for dramatic affect. There was no point in arguing, and Lt. D'Coolette stepped into the metal vehicle. Seething with anger.
APCs were designed to transport troops, while also protecting them from most dangers going on outside. Antoine was more worried about what could happen inside the vehicle. He looked around. He knew that there was a lot of animosity towards him, and it didn't help that the one senior officer hated his guts. He hoped that the intelligence reports would spark some conversation, but it seemed that no one actually had the reports. This news caused a mass complaint about the incompetence of "His Majesty-to-be." Antoine remained silent. The groans died down after a while, and then except for the roar of the engine, the trip was silent.
He wanted to write to his wife, but the bumpy ride and the lack of privacy prevented it. He was cramped up in-between two other lieutenants. The one on his left wore a brand new uniform, but was older. It seemed that he had finally gotten the promotion he wanted. The Lieutenant on his left was much younger, and could even be the same age as Antoine. Ant didn't feel like trying his luck with a conversation. He kept to himself for the whole 6 hour journey. Deciding that a philosophical self-journey would be a good use of his time.
Ok, where to begin. Why am I so mad?
You aren't very confident. No, not quite.
You can't ride with your men. Yeah, that sucks, but I'm not enraged over it.
You think the plan is stupid. Now we're getting somewhere.
You despise those that despise you. I- I guess I do.
You won't admit your hate. Hate?
You hate the General's plan. Yes, but that doesn't mea- He cut himself off.
You hate the General. Oh my.
You hate the Prince. …
You hate the King. Stop it! His lack of sanity slowly dawned on him, but too late, he finally got to the big point
You hate the Royal Family. … He was stunned, he simply wanted to meditate, and now his mind turned on him, revealing a truth that he had spent so long ignoring.
With a lurch, the APC stopped, literally shaking Antoine out of it. They had reached the Sand Blaster's Camp. The officers all gave silent thanks for the end of the grueling journey, and proceeded to leave the vehicle. Antoine stepped into a blinding light, only amplified by the bareness of the landscape. It took a while for his eyes to adjust. The barren landscape only added to his depressed state. With a quick look around, Antoine noticed that the troops were at attention, waiting for orders.
"At Ease!" They all took a slightly less rigid stance. Ant saw Elias leave the main APC, with the royal flag flying high on the antenna, the two weasels at his side. They whispered something to him. He nodded, and continued walking; his uniform was that of the Prince, but with a few stars sewn on as an afterthought. Antoine looked at him in a new light, inspired by his mental match of tennis.
Do I really hate him?
"Glad to see you showed, but a warning would have been appreciated." A gray rabbit, with one eye missing, stood before Elias, his men behind him.
Elias straightened out his papers, and gave them a quick glance over before looking up. "Jack." He waited for a bow that would not come, realizing this he extended his arm. Their firm handshake was a sign of at least some mutual respect. "I hope this shows that the Kingdom of Acorn is fully prepared to help anyone in the fight against Eggman's forces."
"I'm glad the King could spare us a battalion. I didn't know you had such a large force to spare. What about defending home?" Jack Rabbit inquired. His men shifting silently behind him.
"We benefit from having a large population, and citizens patriotic enough to serve." Elias motioned towards the troops. "I have full confidence in their abilities."
"Hmph. Well, your majesty, shall we discuss our strategy?"
In response, the king held his plan aloft. "That won't be necessary, just look over this." Without a word, the smallest weasel scurried forward to present a copy of the plan to Jack. He was taken aback.
"Well wait just a minute! You have no idea of the situation, and you've already made a plan?" Jack was taken aback, he flipped through the pages, and stopped. "What is this? You want to launch a two pronged attack from the oil refinery at the D.E.L base?"
"Yes, it will catch them by surprise, the key is tha-" He didn't finish his sentence.
"We DON'T HAVE the oil refinery!" The leader of the Sand Blasters threw the papers on the ground in disgust. "The D.E.L took it back!"
"Wait, what?"
"You heard me! We do NOT have control of the Oil Refinery! I told you there would be new Intel upon arrival!" Jack took several steps forward, rage evident in his voice. The Prince took a step back, his hands trembling. The three weasels frantically ran to Elias, and whispered something to him.
The General was in damage control, he feebly attempted to take control of the situation. "I see. Then I guess we should rethink our strategy. Thank you for sharing this crucialinformation at such a convenient time."
"Any time, sir." Jack got in the final word, he gathered his men and departed, leaving Elias standing there.
The troops were witnessing a defining moment of weakness, and they realized it. "Antoine!" Prince Elias called.
Oh now what? I don't want to be chewed out for your failures!
"Come with me." He looked to the other officers. "Get with your men; I'll be with you all in a minute."
"Yes sir!" The Officers turned and began barking orders at the enlisted men. Antoine followed the General into the tent.
"What is it sir?"
"Fuck that Rabbit! He couldn't save the Intel for later? He just HAD to play me, right in front of the men!" Elias paced around the room, almost as if searching for something lost.
Fuck? Antoine was more focused on the language than the message. A new word, judging from the tone, it isn't very pleasant. I Guess I should only use it when-
"Antoine? Are you fucking listening to me?" The Prince was in his face, the look in his eyes was almost frightening.
"Oui!" Ant snapped to attention. "What's the plan, sir?"
"I'm not going to let that bastard make a fool of me! I'll show him that this plan can't fail!"
He's still going on about that idiotic plan? Oh God. This is why I hate him… he corrected himself. This is why I'm so frustrated, the stupidity.
"I trust you Antoine, the D'Coolette name has never let us down. I need you to do something for me."
"What?" Antoine did not like where this was going.
"You're getting assigned to head up Alpha Company."
"Doesn't someone else already have that job?"
"Yes, but I need YOU to do this, understand?"
"Yes,sir" This is not going to make me any friends "What will I be doing with Alpha Company? Surely the plan cannot go forward as… planned?" He failed to find a better choice of words.
"It will!" Elias was adamant.
"How so?"
"You will take the Oil Refinery!"
"QUOI?" Ant was stunned. "Je ne voit pas mes homes! Comment…" He took a deep breath "How can you expect me to take the refinery under these circumstances?"
Elias looked 'twan in the eyes, and took a step foreward. "Because you CANNOT fail me, do you understand Antoine? I have had enough disappointment, if you cannot succeed, I will find someone who can, and your ass WILL end up on the front lines. This operation WILL take place posthaste."
"But I-"
"I'm glad you are so optimistic." Elias walked past Antoine.
"Sir, I don't th-" Ant turned, trying to plead with the King.
"You are dismissed. If you will excuse me, I must speak with the other officers, I believe that Johnson should be informed of his demotion."
Prince Elias, Heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Acorn, left the room. Leaving Antoine by himself.
Je le Hais.
Oh SNAP!
If you speak french, good. if you don't , let's just say that the final sentence is a repeat, he said it before, but in english.
I hope these first couple of chapters help show 'Twan's development as a character.