Sighhh...chapter twenty-two...and I got plenty left! (evil laughter) Let's see...update here: we got about a half-foot of snow. So, sweetness. Been out playin' in it... Got my Radiant Dawn copy back from my home-girl, ElementalGuardianProtector! Took her long enough! (love ya, Stini!) I believe it was either last night or the night before that I had a rush of even more twists... Long story short, this means I'm going to torture my readers and reviewers even more! (more evil laughter)
Iline: Aww, don't cry! As for my chapter sizes...they've both been getting slightly shorter and you're just scrolling too fast! (wink) As I just mentioned above (does anybody read that stuff?), I'm not sure how much longer it'll be...but it's heading towards at least 35 chapters. Spread the word! Tell your friends! Sylph's getting down with the writing!
Predator Drone: Hehehe...how did I know at least one person would agree with that? The whole nothing-being-cleared-up deal. I'm evil. Thanks for the encouragement and review!
NasiraWolf: Yay, new reviewer! ...Argh, Saints fan! (Just messin'. Nothing personal, just wanted Vikings to go...) ...Oh, dear...she's a RABID REYSON FANGIRL!!! Ha, I liked writing the part where Sylvia poked their wings. (Btw, she belongs to vampireizzy) And this story is pretty much a rough draft. I go "AHHH TYPE TYPE GET UP THE CHAPTER!!!" and don't do a lot of proofreading. Eventually, I may go through and fix it all, haha. Thanks so much for reviewing! I hope you like the future chapters!
Disclaimer: See previous chapters. Also, at the end of the chapter, I do not own Irea! She will have a bigger role in the next chapter and on. She belongs to my best friend, ElementalGuardianProtector! She is HERS. Not MINE. HERS. NOT MINE. Got it? Good!
XxXxXxX
Chapter 22
Ranulf grumbled, "It's just one damned thing after another... My leg still hasn't fully healed, yet here I am, running my ass off..."
Sylvia snapped at the feline, "Such language! C'mon, it's for Mihara!"
"That's the only reason I can bare it."
Since Sylvia was only a beorc, she couldn't keep up with Ranulf's insanely fast speed. Therefore, he demanded that she ride on his back. Momentarily, Ranulf could still smell Mihara's scent as though she had just flown through the area. However, the scent was fading faster than it usually would. Because of that, Ranulf was pushing through his pain and running as fast as he could.
Mihara...I will find you. I know that Ashera is forcing you to do stuff against your will...but I will rescue you. I won't let that dream become reality...
There was a clap of thunder in the distance and both Ranulf and Sylvia winced. "Oh, great."
XxXxXxX
"So...the goddess Ashera has been released once again?" Keenan's ears flickered.
"There's no proof. But, just in case, we thought we should warn you." Janaff looked back and forth between the Horse Lord and Aislyn. "We may be leaving shortly."
"To do what?" Aislyn inquired.
"We should find King Tibarn. He needs to know what has happened here," Ulki responded. "However, I'm sure he already knows about Ashera."
"If anything major's happened with her," Janaff added.
"...I see. While you're gone, we shall remain close to the castle." Keenan nodded. "We will watch your people for you."
"Thank you-"
"Janaff!! Ulki!!" Ginia ran at the four as fast as she could, her face flushed with worry and exhaustion.
"What's wrong, Ginia?" Janaff demanded.
"It's Vlas!"
"Vlas?" Ulki's eyes narrowed. "What has happened?"
"When the fire first started, he told me that we would split up to find you two to alert you two, but since then, he's been missing! Then, just a short while ago, I found a guard outside of the castle who said Vlas had attacked him!"
"What?" the two hissed.
"The guard said that Vlas didn't seem himself...but... What shall we do?!"
"Did he see which way Vlas flew?"
"N-no..." Ginia's eyes flickered downward. "He was knocked unconscious before he could tell."
Janaff growled under his breath. "We need to leave right now."
As Ulki nodded silently in agreement, and the two turned to take to the skies, Ginia begged, "Wait! Please, take me with you!"
When the two turned and gave her questionable looks, she explained, "Please...I'm worried about Vlas. I can keep up with you..."
"...Very well. Let's stop stalling. We need to go," said Ulki.
XxXxXxX
Tibarn avoided the muramasa as it swung at him again. Kyo chuckled. "You really are as good a fighter as I've heard, Hawk King. But what about your son?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Kyo shot at Shoen, making no sound as he ran across the ground. The Hawk Prince barely jumped into the air to dodge the blade in time.
Once Ranulf had left with Sylvia, Kyo had began attacking the father and son again in the castle of Gallia. The two managed to lure the laguz outside into the sea of trees to avoid the castle and its residents from getting injured. Ike had been ordered by Tibarn to stay out of it, so the hero had gone to get Skrimir to let him know what was happening. So, Ike and Skrimir were standing by at the castle, watching the fight, even though to two wanted desperately to help their friends.
Tibarn finally shifted, now that they were a safe distance away from the castle. He charged at Kyo with his talons ready, demanding, "What is your problem?!"
While Kyo blocked the attack, Shoen took the opportunity to shift, as well. Kyo pushed his blade, trying to force Tibarn away from him. "I simply wanted a fight. Have you got a problem with that?"
"Kind of." Tibarn narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice menacingly. "See, those that threaten my family piss me off so much that they never come out alive."
"Is that so? I suppose we'll see, won't we?" Kyo's mouth pulled up on one side, forming quite an evil grin.
He and Tibarn broke away from their stalemate. Kyo jumped backwards and turned to face Shoen again. With his free hand, he grabbed the neck of his cape and threw it off, revealing his black, scaley wings. That puzzled Tibarn and Shoen. No dragons – even black dragons – had wings like the bird tribe. However, the two didn't have time to ponder too long. Kyo jumped into the air, still bearing his beorc weapon, flying swiftly after Shoen.
Shoen easily dodged Kyo's swings in the air since he wasn't as fast as the Hawk Prince. Still, Kyo kept Shoen on guard. While the two spun around, Shoen mostly dodging, Tibarn flew at Kyo, ready to tear him apart with any means at his disposal. Kyo saw him coming and quickly dropped his altitude, making Tibarn just barely pass over him. Although, while he was regaining his balance, Shoen had time to make a move. He was waiting for Kyo and charged with his talons pointed lethally at the dragon laguz. Kyo caught sight of him at the last moment and brought up his blade to block. Shoen's talons just barely scraped Kyo's skin.
Sloppy, the assassin cursed in his mind. Out loud, he said, "Well, well, well, Hawk Prince. It seems you have some moves, too. Not bad for someone who's never fought in a real battle before. Still...you're nowhere near as challenging as the king himself."
Shoen's eyes narrowed at Kyo. He knew that he wasn't anywhere near as great as his father! His father was over a hundred years old and fought in a few wars. He wasn't the king for nothing. He was the strongest of the bird tribes. He had even challenged and fought the previous Goldoan King. Not to mention the goddess Ashera. Shoen had no experience. Not near as much as his sister, even, who had only been in one real, yet serious, battle. One way or another...I will eventually live up to Dad's name... Just like Mihara had been working on...
Shoen screeched a battle cry and flew at Kyo again. He smirked and dodged to the side, raising his blade. He swung at Shoen when the young laguz missed his target. The muramasa just nicked Shoen's body, yet it was enough force to make him falter one wingbeat. Tibarn was instantly between Shoen and Kyo, screeching with anger at the assassin. "You must be after something other than just a fight! What do you want?!"
"A fight. Nothing more, nothing less." Kyo swung at Tibarn and the two locked in combat again.
Tibarn insisted, "Then someone had to send you."
"Had to are such strong words, Hawk King." Kyo glared up at Tibarn.
"I'm not ignorant, dragon. Who sent you?" Tibarn rumbled, "Ashera?"
"Ashera, as in the goddess? Don't be stupid- argh!" Damn it! I let my guard down...
While Kyo was engulfed in conversation with Tibarn, Shoen had snuck behind Kyo and grabbed him with his talons. He had Kyo's arms pinned down and momentarily lost his grip on his muramasa, but that was more than long enough for Tibarn to throw it to the ground. Tibarn then aimed his talons at Kyo's chest. "Any last words?"
"I feel sorry for you," was what Kyo said.
Before Tibarn and Shoen could tell what he meant, Kyo shone with the light of transformation. Shoen instantly released him and he and his father backed away. When the light faded, Kyo was a small black dragon with a purple chest. An evil smile was on his features and even though he was small, he was easily a bit larger than Tibarn. He thundered, "Now...we can really fight, hawks."
XxXxXxX
"I think we're getting closer, but...this rain is going to make it harder," Ranulf reported to Sylvia.
"Will it make her scent go away?" Sylvia inquired with worry.
"Yeah. We're not too far behind her, but...the rain is already strong up ahead."
Sylvia flinched atop Ranulf as soon as a cold drop of rain hit her head. She murmured again, "Great."
Ranulf scoffed. "You don't wanna get wet? I'm a cat, for goddess' sake."
"Tch. Yeah, yeah. Whatever..."
XxXxXxX
Dang it... He's getting closer.
Please, Ranulf...I don't know what Ashera may make me do to you. I joined her of my own free will, but she seems to have power over me...like I can't disobey her orders. She said she wouldn't kill anyone, but...she never said she would harm anybody. She could hurt you worse than when...Karoline and Stasik attacked you. You wouldn't die...but the pain...
Ranulf... I don't know when it was that I started feeling like this for you. Maybe it was after the first time I got to 'go home'. I simply couldn't stop thinking that I thought I was stuck there...and that I'd never get to see you again. All I know now is that when I saw you so hurt and sick and I knew I couldn't do anything...and then when I found out it was Karoline and Stasik...I feel so guilty, for some reason.
Mihara looked ahead towards the rainclouds. Not too far ahead, she could see the rain pouring down. She hoped she could fly in it okay. Not to mention, there was lightning. She might land and walk through the storm. Momentarily, she had protection from the trees. She knew that she would sooner, rather than later, leave the forest of Gallia. Then, the forest of Serenes. Once she cleared them, she would have to cross the Grand Desert to get to Begnion and the Tower of Guidance...
She also knew that sooner, rather than later, Ranulf would catch up to her. He didn't have to worry about getting struck by lightning while flying. She couldn't quite smell his scent, but she could sense his presence. She knew that there was someone else with him, but she wasn't quite sure who it was. All she could tell was that the person was beorc. She couldn't let them catch her. She beat her wings harder, determined to speed up and pull away from those two following her.
XxXxXxX
Tibarn and Shoen beat their wings in perfect time, watching Kyo carefully. The completely shifted dragon laguz assassin was looking back and forth between the two, trying to decide which to attack first.
The son. He inflicted a wound on me.
Kyo smiled. For the first time in so long, he could unleash his full power. So what if the forest burned? It wasn't like anyone present could stop him. With a deep inhale, he blew out his fire, aimed at Shoen. The Hawk Prince gained altitude as fast as he could, attempting to dodge the dragon's attack. The bottom part of his talons felt like they were burning. The fire had missed, but only just.
Shoen then heard a curse from Tibarn. He looked down frantically. His father hadn't been hurt, but the fire had caught on some of the trees. Shoen hoped that Ike and Skrimir were watching so that they could get the fire put out.
Since Kyo was aiming at Shoen and not Tibarn at the moment, Shoen flew up higher in the air. Maybe, just maybe, he could lure Kyo higher to avoid setting Gallia aflame.
Luckily, Kyo watched Shoen cautiously and flew after him, moving quickly. He slashed his claws at Shoen when he was within reach, but Shoen moved out of the way. Repeatidly, Kyo swiped at Shoen, forcing him to stay on the defensive. Shoen narrowed his eyes with concentration. I just need one opening...and then I can get a chance to attack back...
His chance came when Tibarn flew up behind Kyo. The dragon had sensed him behind him, so then turned and shot out his flames from his mouth again. Tibarn dodged with ease, moving off to the side. He kept moving, circling Kyo, getting closer. Kyo turned, keeping his eyes locked onto Tibarn. When his back was turned once more, Shoen shot at him as fast as he could. At the same time, Tibarn charged at him.
Kyo knew that they were both trying to attack him at once. With one swift movement, he shoved Tibarn away by swiping at him with his right claws. Tibarn winced with slight pain and was forced away, trying to regain his balance. Kyo, with his left claws, grabbed Shoen's talons. He gripped them as tight as he could, causing Shoen to screech with pain.
Tibarn's eyes flashed with anger and hatred. While he flew back at Kyo faster than he had ever moved before, Kyo spun around once and threw Shoen towards the ground – a good hundred and fifty feet below them. Tibarn sliced across Kyo's back with his talons. However, they didn't go in as deep as he'd hoped they would. Kyo's dragon hide was thick. His eyes glanced to Shoen below, who was still falling.
I can't get my balance back... Shoen swiftly realized. He was rushing towards the ground too fast to right himself. He winced and prepared himself for a hard impact on the ground. A mere two seconds later, Shoen's back slammed through the trees, breaking multiple branches on his way down. He then crashed to the ground, landing on some of the thick branches he'd broken. It took a few moments before the real pain registered. Shoen's body ached from the fall and his right leg and foot (the one Kyo had grabbed) hurt even worse. He breathed heavily, trying to catch his breath. He winced and tried to move. He found that he could, but he was lightheaded and it hurt extremely.
Above, Tibarn roared, "Shoen!!" and ignored his fight with Kyo to fly down to his son's aid. However, Kyo moved faster and got between Tibarn and the ground, slashing at him.
"You're fighting me, Hawk King. Don't you dare turn your back on me."
"Get the hell out of my way, dragon," Tibarn ordered.
While Tibarn attempted to get Kyo out of his way, Shoen had managed to right himself on the ground. Although, when he tried to apply pressure to his right leg, it came close to giving out on him. Argh...I can't use my right-side talons anymore... It hurts too much. Still...I can't let this guy win.
Shoen looked back upward at Kyo, his eyes narrowed with anger – a splitting image of Tibarn's expression. He felt two warms spots on his body – one on the back of his head and the other on his lower back. He knew that he had landed hard enough to draw blood. Now, he would get payback.
XxXxXxX
Mihara inhaled sharply. Her right leg stung a little and her heart pounded heavier in her chest. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
-Shoen. Dad.- She felt deep inside that they were the main part of 'something wrong'. Still, it wasn't like she could turn around and go help them with whatever was wrong. She couldn't. She couldn't disobey Ashera's direct order of getting to her as fast as she could.
-However, my little servant...you won't be going back until I say you can. Understood?-
Mihara growled to herself. She knew that she had done this to save her father and Shoen, but...was she really aware of what she had gotten herself into? Probably not.
Either way, she had a plan. While she was with Ashera, she would be able to try and find a real weakness for the goddess.
Hopefully.
XxXxXxX
Micaiah looked at Leanne with worry. "How's Lord Lorazieh doing?"
Leanne's gaze fell to the forest floor. "Not good. He's stable, but he's so sick. Just after he got healed from being bedridden..."
"...I'm so sorry."
Sothe looked at Micaiah. "I'm guessing it isn't good?"
"Leanne says he's stable, but he's very sick." Micaiah hesitated. "Leanne...if you're that worried about him, I can-"
"It's okay, Micaiah. I don't want you to hurt yourself, either, using Sacrifice."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Rafiel is watching over him now. We're hoping that small verses of our galdr of rebirth will help."
"I see. Well...I hate to leave you all like this..."
Leanne gave Micaiah an assured smile. "It is alright. You have a country to look after. Especially since the reconstruction is nearing an end. We will be fine. Empress Sanaki and Lady Tanith are staying a little longer, as are Lady Laurel and a few other swans. We have plenty of help."
Micaiah smiled back. "Okay. That makes me feel better."
"However," Leanne added, "Don't be a stranger, Micaiah. Feel free to visit us as often as you wish."
"We will. Thanks, Leanne."
Leanne nodded. Then, in modern tongue, she said, "Please be careful...on your way home. Storm is close."
Sothe smirked. "We will be. Thanks, Leanne. Take care, okay?"
She gave another nod. Then, Micaiah and Sothe got on the pegasus they had flown on to get from Daein to where Yune had wanted them all to meet. With a wave at Leanne, they took off into the air.
The heron princess watched after them, hoping that Ashera wouldn't target them on their way back or something horrible like that. Once they were out of view, Leanne began walking back inside to take over for Rafiel. However, a horrid feeling grasped at her chest. What was it?! It felt almost like...Ashera. Not the way her order had an effect on Tellius, but her presence in the Tower of Guidance.
Leanne looked up at the sky with fear. There was another presence mixed with Ashera's... Someone was headed their direction. She ran inside to warn her brothers and the others still in the Serenes Forest as it began to rain outside.
XxXxXxX
Shoen gave off a great screech and shoved off the ground. With how fast he moved, you could never guess that he had just been slammed into the ground and injured. Tibarn had Kyo distracted once more, attacking him feircely with both his talon and his sharp beak.
Kyo was caught off guard not once, but twice, now, when Shoen dug his left-sided talons into his right wing. Kyo grumbled with pain and spun around, trying to throw Shoen off. However, he held on tight. Tibarn took that chance to stab Kyo's other wing, causing Kyo to become extremely angry. He twisted his head around and shot fire at Tibarn first. The Hawk King had no time to move, so he was thrown away and fell some twenty feet before he caught himself. He looked back up with alarm, seeing that Kyo was aiming his flame at Shoen next.
Suddenly, there was another bird call and a raven dug its talons into Kyo's tail before biting it with its beak. Kyo thrashed his tail around and shot fire at the raven, deciding that he could still easily knock Shoen off after he dealt with the raven. Tibarn's eyes widened at the familiar raven as it balanced himself. "...Naesala?! What are you doing here?"
Naesala seemed to shrug. "Just flying through the area. You guys looked like you could use a hand. That's your boy hanging onto that dragon, right?"
"Yeah."
Tibarn shot back up to Kyo and Shoen, where Shoen had lost his grip on Kyo's right wing, which was now dripping blood from the puncture wounds. Naesala flew up right behind Tibarn, the two fanning out. Shoen flew in and then latched onto Kyo's left wing. The assassin roared with impatience and reached over his shoulder, grabbed Shoen by his wing, and threw him off. Shoen winced with pain, but he righted himself and ignored all pain calls. Kyo looked around at the three birds.
"Reinforcements, hmm? Well, I suppose I've played around too long with you. I should be going."
As he turned a different direction, Tibarn got in his way. "What the hell makes you think I'm about to just let you waltz away? You'd better be ready to face the music."
Kyo glared at Tibarn. He reached out to slash at Tibarn, but the Hawk King moved out of the way. Kyo then did a one-eighty and faced Tibarn again. He blew out fire with no warning, slightly startling Tibarn. It slammed into him, throwing him backwards into Naesala. While the two recovered, Kyo shot away, flying faster than the two heroes. Before he was completely out of their hearing range, he stopped and turned. "Good luck finding your little Hawk Princess, by the way. We will meet again."
He was then gone.
Tibarn growled in his throat, fury bubbling up inside him. However, his bloodlust vanished when he heard a sharp inhale from his son. He turned quickly to Shoen, demanding, "Are you okay?"
Shoen winced each time he flapped his wings. "...I'll be okay."
Naesala shifted back to his half-form. "Do I even want to know what that was all about?"
"I wish I knew," Tibarn hissed, shifting back, as well. He observed Shoen's wing, then told the two, "C'mon, we need to land."
They slowly made their way down, Tibarn watching Shoen with worried eyes as his son shifted back. He knew that Shoen was hurt much more than he was letting on. The next time I get my hands on that damned dragon...
When they landed on the ground, Shoen carefully landed on only his left foot. He restrained his hiss of pain and balanced himself. Tibarn mumbled something under his breath, then said, "Get on, Shoen."
Shoen's eyes shot to his father. "I can walk, Dad," he insisted. However, when he tried to take a step, he stumbled and his right side fell against a tree.
Tibarn walked over in front of him and gave him a knowing look. He then turned around, pinned his wings in as close as he could and knelt down slightly. "Get on," he repeated.
Shoen hesitated a moment before climbing onto his father's back. Tibarn took care to not hold too tightly to Shoen's right leg. He began walking towards the castle, Naesala silently following. Tibarn inquired, "Where all are you hurt at? And don't lie," he added.
"...My right foot and leg...my left wing, a little, since he grabbed it. The back of my head and my back, both from when I landed." Shoen's voice lowered as he kept talking.
Tibarn nodded silently, making a note of all what he had said. Naesala then asked, "So, you have no idea what that was all about? Not to mention, where's your daughter?"
Tibarn and Shoen both flinched. The Hawk King then answered, "It's a long story, Naesala. Are you going to hang around?"
"Well, I'm not on any business right now. Don't see why I can't."
"Alright. I'll explain it to you in the castle."
XxXxXxX
There was another flash of lightning, followed quickly by a clap of thunder. Sylvia looked up while she walked beside Ranulf, only getting slightly wet. "These trees are really thick, huh...?"
"Thank the goddess," Ranulf muttered darkly, in his half-form, taking a rest. "Getting soaked is one of the last things I want right now."
"Can you smell Mihara?"
"It's getting fainter. The rain is messing everything up. Still...I may have an idea where she's going." Ranulf sighed. "I just hope I'm wrong."
Sylvia looked at him with alarm. "...Where do you think she's going?"
"...The Tower of Guidance. To Ashera."
"How are you so positive that she has something to do with this? I mean, I don't doubt it, either, but..."
"It's like I said in the hallway. I had an insanely real dream about it all."
"...What happened in it?"
"You didn't hear all of it while you were eavesdropping?" Ranulf's tone was slightly teasing.
Sylvia flushed lightly. "Uh, no..."
"Then you don't need to hear it. All I'm going to tell you is that it's not going to come true."
Silence fell between the two. Sylvia's walking slowed slightly and she watched Ranulf continue walking at his same pace, still limping slightly. She wondered if she should ask him... Probably not, with things like they were now...
Ranulf turned to look back at Sylvia. "You okay?"
"Ranulf, do you like Mihara?" Sylvia blurted before she could stop herself.
The question caught Ranulf off guard and he stopped walking, his eyes slightly wide. "...Where did that come from?"
Ahh, dang, dang, dang! I didn't mean to ask him yet...! "Uh, well... I just need to know. Do you care for her? Like, more than...friends?" Sylvia stopped beside Ranulf.
"Why protect her?"
"You know damn well why."
"Because you love this creature who can barely be called laguz?"
Ranulf flinched when those words came back to him. Still, he paused, then said, "...Yeah. I do."
Sylvia smiled slightly. "Ah. Okay. I was just wondering." She started walking again. "All the more reason we need to help her, right? C'mon, let's go!"
Ranulf watched after Sylvia for a moment before following after her.
XxXxXxX
"So...do you understand, Irea?"
"Yes, my goddess."
"So, when Mihara gets here, you will go and accompany her to me."
"Yes, my goddess."
"You are dismissed."
"Yes, my goddess. Thank you."
When the cloaked girl left, Stasik and Karoline watched after her. When she left Ashera's room, Karoline demanded, "What do we need that parentless thing for?"
Ashera glared at Karoline, making the daughter of Petrine shiver slightly. "I have no real need for her. However, she is more loyal than you two. She will play a role in this."
"What role?"
"I do not need to explain myself to you."
"Still, Lady Ashera... We must cooperate with the Hawk King's daughter?" Stasik inquired.
"Yes. Only until I am finished with her. Then, my trusted underling will dispose of her."
Stasik nodded. "I understand."
Karoline grumbled in her mind and choked out, "Lady Ashera...may I ask you a question?"
Ashera looked at her. "What?"
"How come you granted your underling's wish all those years ago? Ever since you sent the Hawk Princess to the other world, you've done nothing but target the Hawk King and the Hawk Prince, along with the princess."
Ashera smirked evilly. "That is a question I will gladly answer. You see..."
XxXxXxX
This is the end of chapter twenty-two! Hopefully, you won't all kill me... Because otherwise you won't know how this entire ordeal turns out!
Does anybody have any guesses as to why Ashera always went after Tibarn after the whole sending-Mihara-to-Earth thing?! Feel free to share your ideas!
Please review!
