Chapter 9: Heirs Of Fate 4: Light's Sacrifice 1
Zack: I shall tell you a story of another realm that I will never forget. Abigail and the American heir awakened the Flaming Erebus. The Japanese prince thought it prudent to withdraw his forces in the face of it's might. Worried about his wounded allies, he was hesitant to press the attack again. Woe to the weary prince! For he was yet unaware that without taking up arms, he would never uncover the truth.
In the fortress that Abigail, Dil, Francine, Prudence, and Harold had found themselves in, the enemy commander that had retreated, who was actually a prince named Chuckie, made his way up to his allies.
"Was anyone seriously hurt?" Chuckie asked.
"Nah, we're fine, more or less." a black haired mercenary named Savannah replied.
"I'm just glad no one died. Who the heck WERE those guys?" a knight named Darryl asked.
"It looked like they got bored of chasing us partway and left." a blonde haired half-wolf girl named Angelica replied.
"Lucky thing for us, huh? If they'd kept at it, I don't think any of us would have made it!" a male wyvern rider named Dean said.
Chuckie sighed.
"I'm sorry, everyone. I'm to blame here. This wouldn't have happened if I hadn't strayed too close to them." Chuckie said.
"I thought it seemed strange for you to put yourself in harm's way. Couldn't you tell they were enemies? The same ones who attacked us all, no doubt." Darryl asked.
"I know. I knew even then. It's just... it was hard to think of them that way. I saw a strange light, and when it faded, the blade and bow their leaders carried were glowing faintly. The light they cast was so gentle and warm... it felt reassuring somehow." Chuckie replied.
"Okay, but then they turned around and used that blade and bow on us. I hate to say it, but it sounds like that light was a trick to lull you into giving up." Savannah said.
"Hmph. Be that as it may, I don't see our next move from here. With my father gone, the kingdom must be in an uproar." Chuckie said.
"Hey, I've got an idea! What if we run a little recon? I bet I could learn all kinds of things from a dragon's-eye view." Dean asked.
"That's smart. We could get the drop on the enemy if they were still lurking around." Darryl replied.
Chuckie shook his head.
"No. Let's not exert ourselves anymore then we must." Chuckie said.
"Do you not think we can win?" Darryl asked.
"I'm sure Chuckie's just tired. Let's wait here and leave the fighting to someone else." Angelica replied.
"Uh, like who?" Dean asked.
"Oh, anyone. Whoever. Who cares? The King of Japan going missing is a pretty big deal. It doesn't have to be us who goes looking for him. I'm sure someone will get to it. Not us, though. We don't even know which end of a sword is up." Angelica replied.
"But what if there isn't anyone else? That means it's up to us to save the day!" Dean asked.
"Nope. Your wrong." Angelica replied.
"What makes you so sure?" Darryl asked.
"Because I've heard the sounds of fighting for a while now. Isn't that a relief? Now we know we're not the only ones here." Angelica replied.
"What? They could need our help!" Darryl said.
"I don't know..." Chuckie started to say.
"Really? Your not coming?" Savannah asked.
"I'll, er, see the rest of you off. But we barely survived the last battle. I've little confidence we can win this one." Chuckie replied.
"Oh." Savannah said.
"I'm behind Chuckie 100 percent. As bad as me dying would be, losing him is even worse. He's next in line for the crown if King Chaz has croaked, after all." Angelica said.
"Croaked? That's tactless even for you!" Dean said angrily.
"Would it be better to keep pretending that he might be around? I don't even think my daddy's alive." Angelica asked.
"Don't say that!" Dean replied.
"But it's true. He took on all the enemies himself so I could get away. I was there. I saw what he was up against. So I know there's no way he survived. Didn't you tell me the same thing happened to your daddy, Dean?" Angelica asked.
"Yeah, but..." Dean started to reply.
"So your daddy's probably a goner too." Angelica said.
"Stop saying that." Dean ordered.
"Just a big ol' slab of worm meat." Angelica said.
"STOP IT!" Dean yelled.
"Cripes, Angelica! Enough is enough!" Savannah said angrily.
Angelica sighed.
"Fine." Angelica said.
Dean started sobbing quietly.
"Um... there, there?" Darryl asked weakly.
"AAAAARGH! A-Angelica's right... Pop's probably dead! I thought heroes never died, but... he stayed behind so Dectar could fly away. And now I'll never see him again!" Dean said angrily.
"Calm down, Dean. There's a chance he could have survived. My mother faced odds just as bad when she was protecting me. But I know there's no way a woman with her strength died that easily. What kind of sons would we be if we didn't have faith in them?" Darryl asked.
Savannah sighed.
"Look, Angelica, what happened to you happened to me too. Dad handed me a sword and then went off to act as bait so I could escape. I don't think there's any chance he could have gotten away. But I tell myself he's safe and fight on, because if I didn't, I'd fall apart. That goes for most of us, I'd bet. So what were you thinking?" Savannah asked.
"I was just being realistic. If your going to get like that about it, I won't bother pretending to be friends." Angelica replied.
"Angelica..." Savannah started to say.
"Your Chuckie's retainer, right? Then you already know what's best for your liege." Angelica said.
Savannah frowned.
"Yeah, I do. I'm going out to fight. And my "liege" is coming with me." Savannah said.
"You can't be serious!" Angelica said in shock.
"What are you saying, Savannah?" Chuckie asked.
"I know you too well by now for that act to fool me, Chuckie. So I'm calling your bluff. You want to go and fight them more then any of us, huh? So what's holding you back? Are you afraid we'll get hurt in the process?" Savannah asked.
"Not precisely... I hesitate to admit to my shameful true feelings. But as a prince, I must have my priorities in order. Were I to act out of self-interest, as before, and we all met a bloody end... I would be a disgrace to my father. To the entire Japanese royal family." Chuckie replied.
Savannah growled.
"Oh my gods, no you wouldn't!" Savannah said.
"Savannah, really now..." Chuckie started to say.
"There's no disgrace in going after what you really, truly want! What were you going to do, wait patiently for someone else to fix it for you?" Savannah asked in exasperation.
"Of all the..." Chuckie started to say.
"Nope, not arguing time now. It's fighting time. Saddle up, Chuckie. I guarantee we'll be fine. You'll have me watching your back, for one thing." Savannah ordered.
"Am I to have no say in this?" Chuckie asked
"Sure you do! If you can look me in the eye and tell me you don't want to fight, I'll obey you. I'm waiting." Savannah replied.
"I... I don't want to... hrmph! Very well. It's true, I want to join in the battle. I've been eager to do so this whole time. I want to live up to my father's legacy... to be as strong as he was." Chuckie said.
Savannah smiled.
"Attaboy!" Savannah said.
Angelica scowled.
Hmph. Don't run crying to me when you come back with your tail between your legs." Angelica said.
"I'm sorry, Angelica. I know you had my best interests at heart. Perhaps my eagerness to prove myself in battle makes for a poor prince. All the same... I'd be grateful if you'd fight alongside us." Chuckie said.
"I dunno. What's the point of it all?" Angelica asked.
"A fair question. Whether dead or simply missing, my father is gone. His naginata is all that remains. A pragmatist would proceed under the assumption that he will never return. But hope has its place, too. I believe our loved ones are still alive. And though this may be a delusion, if we can draw strength from it... why not? Angelica, I ask you to have the faith in your father that I have in mine." Chuckie replied.
Angelica thought about it.
"Everyone seems so sure Daddy is alive. If he is... and I could save him... I would chase Daddy anywhere... yeah, your right. I shouldn't give up the hunt while the trail's not yet cold. I'll follow your lead." Angelica said.
Chuckie smiled.
"That's all I ask." Chuckie said.
Angelica turned to Dean.
"Sorry, Dean. And, um, everyone else too. I didn't really mean any of that." Angelica said.
Dean smiled.
"Water under the bridge! We've gotta look forward, not back!" Dean said.
"Besides, we know you were hurting, too. We don't hate you for that." Darryl added.
"Yeah. Plus, your way too cute to ever stay mad at." Savannah added.
Angelica chuckled.
"Heh... thanks." Angelica said.
"Let's waste no more time, then. We will fight, we will survive, and we will get our parents back!" Chuckie said.