Next chapter! Gosh I hate typing this all.
I am not rich, nor am I japanese. So as it would seem, I am not Satoshi Tajiri and don't own Pokémon.
Chapter 6: Goodbye my friend
"Hey Drew, we're stupid, aren't we?" Ash asked.
Drew kept his eyes pointed at the ground before him as they were making ground fast. "We are," he responded. And then he smirked, "And we're totally screwed."
"Then why are we doing this again?" Ash asked nervously.
Drew shrugged as he pulled the reigns some more, "I believe, there is a girl up those rocks you'd want to protect. And this might safe a lot more people too," he said.
Ash gave him half an smile, "Like there is some girl you want to protect?"
But there wasn't anymore time to talk as their horses came in contact with the first line of enemy soldiers. Before long Drew was pushed of the back of his horse, and though he hoped that the fine horse would survive he had no time to spare any thoughts as he was engaged in the fighting.
He lost track of Ash and all he saw were the sword and the people around him. It was only then Drew could come to himself. 'Ironic, that I'm the youngest soldier yet I'll be the first to die or discharged,' he thought by himself. He defended himself from a warrior coming from the back by a swift turn and intercepting the sword.
The suddenly the soldier on his left dropped down. Drew looked up in the shining eyes of Roran. The old geezer was enjoying himself!
"What were you thinking, lad? That there was glory to gain?" he asked goodnaturedly and stabbed at the same time two opponents.
Drew pulled a face, "I'd thought I'd go humor myself and safe the army," and then he laughed. "I'd loved to see Gar's face though, when he found out," he said.
Roran grinned back at him, "It was priceless," he said.
Drew turned and slashed at another enemy. They kept coming relentlessly. He started to wonder if this diversion, had been useful. There hadn't been any blows on the warhorns.
"Who was that girl you talked about?" Roran asked as they fought back to back.
Drew frowned nervously, "Sure this is the exact time to discuss this?" he yelled over the shattering noise of clashing swords.
Gar laughed as his sword flashed again, in the clean sweeps he made. "Contrary to the believe, there ain't a better time to discuss women troubles than on the battle field, kiddo!" he yelled back.
Drew hesistated and then decided to throw it all to hell. Little chance they got out of this alive anyway. A swift kick to the man infront of him, bought him time and he stabbed the one on his side, as he pulled the man's arm passed him, effectively stabbing the man at his back. Roran grumbled approvingly.
"The king's daughter!" he yelled at the veteran.
Roran laughed at him, "You got an expensive taste! Good luck with that kiddo!" he snorted. "Someone as charming as you shouldn't have any trouble scaring her away," he said.
Drew snorted, "Gee thanks!" he replied as he and Roran worked together to sweep a circle around them. The old man grinned at him.
"Anytime!"
But they hadn't seen the incoming opponent from the right. Drew saw the shining blade and the only thought that struck him was: 'I'm done for.' He amazed himself with the fact he seemed to comply in the inevitable, and closed his eyes.
But the impact never came.
He heard the warcries calling and feintly noted that the attack had started. Opening his eyes he saw however something that would remain etched in his memory forever.
Soldiers around them fell as the rest of the king's army had taken use of their diversion, and had caught the enemy on surprise. But Drew only saw his old friend pierced by a sword through his stomach.
The enemy soldier wasn't able to enjoy his victory for very long as his head was separated from his body by Drew's sword. Drew dully felt his sword arm littered by the blood.
"Roran," Drew said hoarsely as he crouched down next to the man. Roran coughed up blood and life left his eyes slowly. "Why did you safe me, Roran?" Drew asked.
Roran smiled softly, "Don't close your eyes, fool. I'm just an old man. You are young and have so much to live for still. A princesses heart to win. Don't worry, this death...is the way...I wanted...to...pass on." He coughed up blood again, and then his breath stopped.
Drew clenched his teeth as he swallowed the tears away. He closed the eyes of his friend with his fingers, and prayed he would be given the honor to dine with the great warriors from long ago. Then he stood up and with Roran's spirit in his mind, he let out a battlecry himself and lifted his sword to continue his battle.
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The morning seemed to come very late, and the first sunrays shone over the tired and bloody bodies of the royal army. Like a miracle, the most of his men had survived.
May stood up herself, her own clothes covered with mud, grease, and blood. As the battle had lasted, she had fought too. All those hours she had spend watching soldiers, paid off as she had managed to survive. Misty stood next to her.
They looked at the sight before them.
The dew made the ground and the bodies shimmer in the faint light. A fog covered the area. "How can it be such a quiet morning after such a horrible night," Misty whispered.
May sighed, "I am just glad it's over," she said softly.
"May...?" Misty started, "Can I?" she asked.
May nodded, exactly knowing what she wanted, "You go," she said. Once again, Misty took off, in search for the stable-boy. Then May realized she had someone she wanted to see alive too.
Just as she wanted to take off between the bodies, a hand grabbed her shoulder.
"Didn't I forbid you to come?" the sharp voice of Norman came.
Hesistatingly, May turned around and faced the calm face of her father. Yet in his eyes was the burning anger visible. "But Father...!" May protested, but a hand slapped her in her face.
Disbelievingly she looked up as tears appeared in her eyes. Never had her father hit her, so she set her jaw stubbornly. "I am sorry father, I have more important things right now," she said softly and wriggled from his grasp. She took off in a run.
'I have to find him, no matter what!' May thought as she searched between the corpses and the wounded.
"Oh, you'd better not be dead!" May growled under her voice.
"Who's dead?" another voice interupted her stream of thoughts. Turning around, May saw the boy she was looking for sitting on the ground, against a pile of bodies. His green hair was colored red with blood, but that cocky smirk gracing his lips.
"Drew!" May called and tackle-hugged him.
"To me, it appears you're glad to see me?" Drew muttered.
May blinked her tears away, "Of course I am you idiot. I thought you were dead," she said, blush creeping up her cheeks, as she released him.
Drew tried to move and groaned, "Well, I ain't dead, but it seems my legs are injured," he stated.
May looked down at his legs, and saw his knees had been slashed open, and were probably broken judging from the strange hook. The person had probably been something short of a giant. "It should be able to heal those correctly," she muttered.
Drew grinned at her, and May couldn't believe how happy she actually was.
"Princess, step away from that traitor," another voice interupted the somehow peacefull moment. May looked up to see who had spoken to her that way and saw the conceited grin of Commander Gar.
"Wha...?" May let out as she stood up, not leaving her place.
"May, this boy ignored a direct order, therefore he'll be treated as a deserter," Norman said sternly as he came up from behind and grabbed May's arm tightly.
Commander Gar hinted some men, "Seize him," he said., very pleased with himself.
Drew was pulled up roughly by the two soldiers, and looked as if he could scream in pain. But he bit away the apparent pain and glared up to Gar, supporting himself a bit in his fellow combattants. "You egoïstic..." he spat.
Gar slammed his fist in Drew's stomach, "You are in no position to be talking to me like that," he said as he watched Drew coughing up blood, hanging in the arms of his captures.
"No!" May yelled, "He saved the army, he is..."
"He is a traiterous deserter, sweetheart," Gar said with a unpleasant undertone. He grabbed her chin, tightly so May was unable to pull away, "Not every pretty guy is as good as you think he is," he said.
May looked up desperately at her father, but King Norman didn't even blink, staring at her with empty eyes.
"No, leave...her...alone!" Drew said painfully.
Gar turned around, "Get him away from here. The looks of him despise me. I will decide his punishment later," he ordered. The two men nodded and dragged Drew away, his legs useless behind him and his head slumped down.
Commander Gar turned to Norman, "I hope you will reconcider my...request," he said before he walked away himself. May wondered for a second what he was talking about, but then was roughly pulled out her ponderings.
"Max, take care of your siter. Bring her to Misty or whatsoever, but don't let her leave you sight," King Norman said as he passed over his daughter to his son. The said one grabbed his sisters hand, made a small bow, and pulled May with him.
"You know this is going to be the end of the little freedom you had?" Max asked sharply. He felt sorry for his elder sister, he knew the Gods knew, she didn't deserve to be treated like that.
May pressed her lips together in a small line, "I know," she answered shortly.
Max sighed, "Dad is going to marry you off as soon as possible now, knowing there won't be a lot of chances left. You have most likely trown you heritage as a queen now," he said.
May huffed, "I am sure you would make a just as a fine king. I wasn't looking forward to it anyway," she said stubbornly.
Max nodded, and stopped at a tent, "Misty is in here, but for God's sake, be quiet," he said as he folded back the sheet before the entrance.
May went inside, and saw Misty kneeling next to a bed with a boy on it. His black hair was colored red too, and his eyes were closed. For a moment May's heart stopped beating, as she saw his chest bandaged, but he was still breathing, raggardly.
"Misty," May whispered. Misty looked up and May noticed her eyes were red from crying.
"Hey, May," she answered dully. Absentmindly she stroke some hairs from Ash' face.
"Misty, is he going to be alright?" May asked softly.
Misty bit her lip, but broke down within the second. "I don't...know. This is the state I found him in. The medic say...they say...they don't even know if he's going to last till the evening, or if he will survive the night," she cried.
May was baffled, she had never seen her friend cry. She put her arms around the redhead, who clinged at her for comfort. "It's going to be just find, Misty, you'll see. I don't believe Ash will go down without a fight just like that," she said as she released Misty.
Misty laughed weakly, "He won't huh, and he's not even an soldier," she said as she returned to Ash. "I just think he wants to be free," she murmured.
May smiled softly and went outside, where Max was still waiting for her. "You ready?' he asked. May nodded and Max guided her to the one of the larger tents.
"Do you think Ash will make it?" she asked.
Max shrugged, "To be honest with you, I have no idea. He's tough. I've seen him kicked and thrown of horses, but he just stood up, grinning as a fool. I never heard him complain," he said. They stayed silent for a few moments, in sibling understanding.
"Hey Max, what will happen to Drew?" May finally asked what was burning on her tongue.
Max looked away, "He'll be locked away for now, and then he will be punished. And not mildly. Desertion ain't a small crime, especially in times of war," he admitted. But then he looked up sternly at her. "But you'd better worry about yourself. I don't think your future is looking bright after this," Max said.
May looked up as well, "What do you mean exactly?" she asked.
Max frowned at her, "Well, you have only verified your commonly known spirit, finding a husband won't be easy now. And if you find one, your marriage won't be happy, or easy for you," Max said. "I am afraid your spirit will be tamed, and after a year, I don't think I'll recognize you anymore," he told her.
May paled and let her head hang, suddenly tired of all that was around her. "So that's how business is huh?" she asked.
Max nodded and pushed her in the tent. "Go clean yourself. We'll leave for the castly this afternoon," he said and left May alone.
Silently May undressed herself. But the she stopped and looked at the reflection of herself in the water. A pale girl that had only reached adulthood lightly stared back at her.
"What will become of me?" she asked, but the silence was her only answer.
Well, that was that. I hope you liked it. Next chapter made me cry, so toughen up people! You might be interested in my twitter too! I don´t tell much important stuff, but you can follow me! It´s easy to find. I am Riikani there too!
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