5/21/14
Just stopped by another job fair, those things are pretty dumb, no one takes resumes or conducts interviews, whatever
Just watched Bonds Beyond Time for the 3rd time (with my youngest sister) can't get enough YuGiOh goodness.
The Defenders Stand
"You aren't coming?"
Heather asked, walking alongside Lucia who shook her head.
"I've got a few more things to square away."
"More security measures? Geez…"
Lucia just laughed the statement off "It truly is better to be safe than sorry. I'm entrusting the Queen to all of you until I return."
Heather raised an eyebrow "Even me?"
"Of course. You clearly have Brom and Nephenee's trust and after that mess in Felirae, I know I can trust you."
A short silence fell, ended by Heather muttering "Not many people I know…trust me."
"Well, now you've got quite a few that do. Thank you for your help, Heather."
The rouge smiled and nodded "No problem, the Queen will be safe and waiting for you, don't stay away too long."
After the swordmaster took off Heather looked to the rest of the troops moving down the road towards Alpea, in addition to the Laguz allies there was a somewhat lazy looking man on top of a massive wyvern going along with them.
Falling into step Heather looked around for Nephenee mainly only to bump into Brom.
"Hey there, lookin for someone?"
Heather smiled "Just Nephenee…"
"You two hang out together a lot, it's good to see her continue to make new friends, even now. She's still pretty shy if you couldn't tell."
Heather glanced over to the troops then back to Brom "Was she always like that?"
Brom thought for a moment "Not especially…well, not back in Ohma anyway. After joining the army and meeting up with all our other friends and comrades she became very self-conscious about her country accent."
"Really?" As Heather thought about this Brom continued "She is still comfortable around her close friends and family but meeting new people also makes her shy, she also isn't one to command attention so when someone gives it to her, she ain't too sure how to respond…oops, I shouldn't be sayin all these things behind her back. Forget you heard anythin."
Heather shook her head "It's alright. It's good to know Neph has someone close watching over her."
At that Brom nodded as Heather looked up "So…what can you tell me about the lazy wyvern dude up there?"
"Haar? Quite a bit…let's see…"
"Is his wyvern flying lazily too or is that just me?"
"Nope, the darn things as lazy as he is."
Fort Alpea
"Why not?"
"I…I just don't-"
"You may not think this of yourself but you are a warrior! A very skilled warrior as am I and I wish to spar with you!"
"I'm not so…sure that-"
"How can you still be like this?"
Nephenee continued to play with her scarf as Lethe's hands went to her hips "Come on, I saw you fighting during the last war and even now in Felirae, you're still relentless and powerful! It'd be an honor to spar with you!"
Nephenee looked up at Lethe "I…I appreciate you saying that Lethe, I really do…"
Lethe sighed and sat down, tapping the spot next to her. As the Halberd sat Lethe looked out over the fort "To be honest, I'm bored…I know we shouldn't be expecting or wanting a fight but I'm a Laguz, you know how we are."
Nephenee nodded "I do, I'm not trying to…ignore your needs…I just…"
"You've fought Feral Ones before correct? Even some real Laguz in the Grann Desert during the whole Tormod and Maurim incident…the only difference is I know you're an ally and you know that I'm one as well."
Nephenee glanced over to her shield and lance then to Lethe "You're right…if it'll help you out."
The Halberd stood and retrieved her gear, turning to face Lethe who smirked "I saw a great spot in the courtyard! Follow me!"
"Wow…how could anyone be scared of this?"
Heather commented as she sat down on the ground in front of Haar's wyvern. The creature's eyes found her and it let out a snort before closing its eyes again.
Haar yawned "I don't know either, we just do what we do when we have to do it…you know…"
Rolling her eyes Heather was about to respond when she spotted what looked like Nephenee and Lethe walking somewhere.
Standing Heather started walking away while waving at Haar "Well, see you around Eye-patch."
Yawning Haar nodded "You as well."
Hearing a loud clang of metal and the hisses and growls of a cat, Heather began walking a little faster until she came out to a ledge overlooking the front courtyard.
She watched in silence as Nephenee rolled across the ground, avoiding the swift orange cat. "Nephenee. Lethe." Turning Lethe growled and launched at Nephenee's shield. With a massive push Nephenee sent Lethe sprawling and leapt forward.
Regaining her footing Lethe leapt and kicked Nephenee in the chest, sending her to the ground.
Heather was about to move when Nephenee flipped onto her feet and swung her weapon, striking Lethe before charging forward with her shield up.
Heather watched the combat so intently it seemed to slow, she could see Nephenee's tight grip on her shield and lance as well as the fierceness in her eyes, and her long hair whipping out behind her as she tried to bash Lethe with her shield.
"She's like a totally different person…"
At that moment a bell began to ring and men started shouting and scrambling all around.
Nephenee and Lethe stopped sparring with the latter shifting back into beorc form "What's going on?"
"Heather?"
The rouge turned from the bell sounds to see Nephenee looking at her "We should go; I think something bad is happening."
Lethe ran past the rouge quickly, shortly followed by Nephenee "Were you…watching?"
As they walked to the rear of the fort Heather nodded "Yeah…sorry I didn't say anything, I didn't want to interrupt."
Nephenee remained silent as they reached the back of the fort and saw the rear gates open and Ludveck's rebels pouring inside.
"Shit." Heather turned to see the Fort Defenders moving out to their positions and sealing the inner gates.
The two eventually found the rest of the group gathered around Elincia, who decided to lead the defense herself alongside everyone else including the newly recruited Sage, Calill.
As the defenders formed up Calill spotted Nephenee and waved "We have some catching up to do when this is over!"
The Halberd smiled and nodded.
As Ludveck's forces made their charge, Marcia flew in and notified Elincia that the Royal Knights were on the way.
When the inner doors were breached, Brom and Mordecai used their brute strength and defense, along with Crimea's generals to hold back the influx of rebels.
The ones that got past them were taken down by Nephenee, Heather and Lethe while Calill used her magic to support, Nealuchi, Haar and Marcia to the west.
Heather noticed a Warrior break through and throw his axe at Nephenee, the Halberd brought her shield up and stopped the weapon but stumbled several feet back, Heather could tell that Nephenee was in pain.
"She hasn't been hurt though…not that I know of…unless…"
She recalled the sparring match and Lethe striking her shield, "That's when she must have injured her arm!"
Flipping over Heather struck the warrior with several knives before landing near Nephenee.
"I'm fine-"
"Just shush." Taking out some Olivi Grass, Heather pulled Nephenee's shield arm and applied it to her.
The Halberd winced "How did you know?"
Heather looked up to her "How come you didn't? It isn't smart to proceed with a strain like this."
Nephenee nodded slowly as Heather broke away and returned to the battle alongside Calill.
"Thank ya…"
A smile came over Nephenee's face before she became serious and charged into the fray.
Like Marcia promised the Royal Knights reached the battle and with Geoffrey, Kieran, Makalov, Astrid and Danved's support, the Defenders carried the battle and captured Ludveck.
With the battle wrapped up Heather walked over to Nephenee who was examining her arm. "Better?"
The Halberd nodded with a smile "Thanks again…"
As Heather waved it off Nephenee approached her and kneeled down in front of her "What are you? Hey!"
"Hold still." Nephenee stated as she applied some Olivi Grass to the other woman's leg "I saw you limping over here…"
Heather blinked a few times before asking "I was limping?"
"Yeah, how come you didn't notice?"
Heather remained silent as Nephenee stood and smiled. "Well, I suppose it's long overdue for me…thanks Neph."
The pair turned upon hearing a raging crowd outside of the fort.
"What's going on?" Heather asked no one in particular.
As she walked away, Nephenee followed, the pair scaled a wall and saw Lucia, in the hands of the rebels about to be hanged. One of the rebels was yelling at Elincia to free Ludveck or watch her friend die.
Heather cursed "Those men are cowards…"
"What can we do?"
Heather turned to see the worried expression on Nephenee's face, she wanted to calm her down but wasn't sure how. The situation was extremely dire.
Out of options she just said "I'm sure it'll be fine…somehow…"
Before Nephenee could respond Lucia fell, something cut through the rope around her, out of nowhere Ike appeared, grabbing her and slashing through several guards.
Unable to speak Nephenee watched as the Greil Mercenaries emerged from all around and cut down the rebels eventually forcing them to retreat.
Seeing this Heather just remained silent in awe "Wow…they're so…strong."
With Lucia safe and their deeds done, the Greil Mercenaries rounded up and began departing Fort Alpea.
Nephenee watched them go with a smile as Heather came up to her "You aren't going to talk to them? Aren't they your friends?"
Nephenee nodded "I'd love to…I just…"
The Halberd glanced at Heather and shrugged before walking past her "I guess we're done here…"
Running her hand through her golden hair Heather followed Nephenee "I guess so…we stopped some crazy rebel scum…I think that put us in someone's good graces. Everything worked out."
Heather gasped as Nephenee fell to the floor "Woah! Neph, you okay?"
The Halberd just smiled and let out a massive sigh of relief.
Chuckling, Heather laid down next to Nephenee "What now?"
Nephenee thought for a moment "I could…go for some more cake…if you don't mind…"
Heather turned to Nephenee who was staring at her and smiled "Of course not."