5/31/14

Well, my younger sister graduated from high school today as the Salutatorian (2nd place). She and I both attended and graduated from PATHS in Florida, though she clearly did better than me (I was in the 20s somewhere) now we have one more graduation next year, wow, time flies.

In regards to the story I've actually written up to Chapter 27, that's why updates are consistently every 2 days (except that one time).

I didn't really intend to go that long but at the same time past Chapter 20 is the really interesting stuff and as long as this story remains fun to write, I'll keep going.

Conflicted?

Castle Seliora

"You're certain? Damn. Alright, rouse everyone!"

Ike commanded as Titania took off, running past Heather.

"H-hey! What's going on?"

"Begnion's here, we're fighting for our lives again, what's new."

At that Heather turned and descended, she noticed Oscar, Boyd and Rolf running outside as well as Shinon dashing past her.

Turning a corner she almost hit Brom and Gatrie "You guys shouldn't stroll around together! No one can get past you!"

"Sorry bout that Heather."

As the rogue continued she reached her room and picked up her discarded daggers and knives. As she left she noticed Nephenee's door ajar.

"Neph?"

Peering inside she spotted Nephenee looking out the window, fully armed and ready to go.

"Neph?"

Approaching her she tapped the Halberd's shoulder.

"Neph we-"

"Oh! Heather! Hey! Yes. Right!"

Quickly the Halberd ran past her and out the room. The rogue raised an eyebrow but shrugged off the strange interaction before rushing to the Castle's defense.

Castle Seliora Exterior

Now outside of the castle, Heather had pieced together from the other Mercenaries what was going on.

"Apparently, some worthless Senator sent in his general, a hideous man named Lombroso who demanded the castle ceded to Begnion or he'd wipe everyone out. Suffice to say, the battle won't play out that way."

As the Mercenaries prepared to defend themselves the enemy general gave them one last warning and demanded the castle back; Ike curtly denied his request.

As the battle erupted it became painfully evident that the Greil Mercenaries defense was far stronger than Begnion originally thought. The Mercenaries were able to secure the Castle quicklyt enough that they broke away from the castle walls and took the fight to Lombroso's forces, surprising the Begnion general.

Cursing he turned as one of his knights approached him "W-we're being pushed back! Sir! What do we do!"

"Keep going! We outnumber them! Look! There are only two left on the right flank!"

Lombroso pointed to Gatrie and Haar, the knight shook his head "Those two ARE the right flank!"

"Lombroso!"

The general turned to see Levail "Withdraw your forces this very second! You are acting against Zelgius' wishes!"

"Quiet boy! You there, continue the fight and watch your general work!"

Ignoring Levail's calls, Lombroso charged into the fray, swinging his axe he struck Brom, pushing the general back before his horse leapt and crashed into the ground near Boyd.

Seeing this Rhys cast a spell to blind Lombroso, giving Boyd enough time to leap away as the enemy general's axe hit the ground.

"Whose this joker?" Heather commented, leaping onto his horse "Hey buddy!"

"W-what!? You!" Stabbing him with her dagger, Heather leapt away as he tried to strike her "How dare you!"

"Don't take it personally ugly, I just don't like men like you."

As Lombroso charged, arrows from Rolf and Shinon downed his horse and he fell over.

Standing he swung at Heather who easily leapt aside, the rogue noticed Nephenee out of the corner of her eye, watching her and an enemy approaching.

"Neph! Look out!"

Heather spun her dagger and threw it in her direction. The weapon bounced off an enemy Halberd's shield but gave Nephenee the opportunity to roll away from his strike and kill him.

"What will you do now!?" Lombroso yelled, slamming his axe into the ground. Heather flipped over him, tearing her first dagger out of his neck "That's mine."

Turning Lombroso was faced with Heather again "You are weak! You cannot defeat me! I am Begnion's-"

Heather rolled her eyes and dove aside, revealing Rolf and Shinon who fired several arrows into Lombroso. As the general fell dead the enemy forces called for retreat. Shaking his head, the Sentinel Levail took off.

In the aftermath of the battle Janaff and Ulki arrived and began speaking with Ike, Titania, Soren and Reyson.

Heather saw them talking and spun her dagger around before sheathing it. Turning she walked over to Nephenee "Neph. Are you-"

Nephenee jumped and turned to her "Fine? Yes. Thanks."

As Heather opened her mouth to speak, Nephenee walked away quickly, the rogue started to reach for her arm but decided against it.

Shaking her head she turned away "Neph…"

The Halberd sat in her room thinking to herself, completely unaware of Mia standing behind her. The swordmaster cleared her throat causing Nephenee to jump "Heather, I-"

"Heather? No, it's me…Neph are you okay?"

Nephenee glance at Mia and nodded "Fine."

"No offense but I saw you out there…you didn't look fine."

Mia pointed to the wounds along Nephenee's left side "You took way more blows than you usually do…you know you can talk to me."

Titania appeared at the door "Get ready, we're moving out in an hour, the Laguz Alliance is crossing the Ribahn."

Mia nodded to her and after the Axe Paladin vanished she turned to Nephenee. Walking over she sat next to her friend "Neph. Come on, what's wrong?"

"I…had a…strange…"

"Strange…what?"

"D-dream…I guess…"

Mia exhaled "Oh, I thought something terrible happened to someone you knew or something…a dream is more manageable. What was so strange about it?"

The image returned to Nephenee's mind, she shook her head to try to get it out but it wasn't helping "I was…with someone I know…"

The two remained silent with Mia thinking to herself "With someone you know…in what regards?"

At Nephenee's continued silence Mia put an arm around her "Hey, its fine. It was just a dream, regardless of what happened in it, it wasn't real. Unless…you wanted it to be real…in which case, make it so."

"Make it so?" A blush grew on Nephenee's face and she shook her head "No it's…its fine, thank you Mia. We should get ready."

East of the Ribahn

What should have been an easy task exploded in the faces of the Laguz Alliance. During their attempted retreat they ran into the Daein army led by the Silver Haired Maiden, Micaiah.

The Laguz forces that battled Daein were led by Lethe, Mordecai and Kezhda, while they fought well the Daein army fought back with a fervor never seen before. If the battle continued both sides would have lost far too many soldiers so Ranulf ran out to the front lines and ordered Lethe to pull her forces back.

Heather sat outside watching the big players enter the strategy tent, they needed to devise a way to get around the Daein forces and continue their retreat to Gallia.

Heather turned to see Mia sit next to her "Heather…do you know what's up with Nephenee?"

The rogue turned "No…we haven't spoken since the Castle Seliora battle. Why?"

"She's been a little…out of it…she was hit quite a few times during that battle…more than usual. I think she's distracted but she wouldn't tell me why."

Heather ran a hand through her golden hair "I can't say…you're her best friend…if she doesn't tell you why would she tell me?"

Mia looked at the rogue "I'm not sure but…I feel that you two have just as close a connection…for me, please?"

Heather couldn't help it, not with Mia putting on her best begging face. "I can't resist such a caring girl, alright. I'll go see."

"Neph?"

The Halberd looked up to see Heather "H-hey…"

"Listen, it may not be any of my business but Mia's worried about you. She says you've been distracted…and with the war we're in the middle of…that isn't good to say the least."

"I-I know. I'm sorry."

Heather shook her head "You've got nothin to apologize for…but if there is somethin you want to tell me, I'll listen. Whatever it is."

Nephenee looked down and asked "What do you think of me?"

"Wha?"

"What do you…think of me? Just…what are your feelins about me?"

"Feelings? Where is this coming from?"

"Uh…"

"Can someone yell contact out there!? Get me out of here!"

"Well…I…think you're…a great dutiful, honorable and strong person. You have a wonderful personality, I love talking with you and I think you're beautiful…"

Going silent Heather waited a few moments before Nephenee giggled and stood up "Thanks, Heather."

"I-is that it?"

Nephenee walked up to the rogue, standing very close to her. Heather swallowed, looking into Nephenee's eyes this close again; she swore she could feel gravity pulling her towards the Halberd.

"Neph-"

Nephenee embraced her, Heather remained still even after the Cerulean haired woman released her. Ranulf's voice called from the outside, a team was moving in to distract the Daein forces while the Alliance crossed the Ribahn again. Nephenee smiled at Heather "Well, let's go."

After the Halberd left, Heather resumed breathing normally, still incredibly warm despite the cool air around her.

This is how I play the Retreat! Chapter, I set up a defense...then 4 or 5 turns later I just charge out of the castle and rout the enemy. More EXP for me.

Though usually the right flank is just Haar...adding Gatrie is like kicking the puppy that is Lombroso's army.