Notes: This has spoilers for Goblin Slayer. It also alludes to rape etc etc, so if that's not your thing, hit the back button.
Goblin Slayer: Survivors
Fighter was a survivor.
She, Wizard and Warrior, along with Priestess, went on a goblin slaying went into the cave unprepared, and paid for it dearly. Wizard was stabbed with a poisoned blade... Warrior was cut down... and she...
They were 'saved' by the silver ranked adventurer Goblin Slayer. Her and Priestess, along with some village girls. The poor girls had been 'brood mares' for the goblins. Fighter had been destined for a similar fate, if not for Goblin Slayer coming. She had 'just' been raped.
Just.
They, along with other survivors had been taken in by the Temple of the Earth Mother, where the devotees cared for them. Most of the girls had arrived catatonic, and it took much efforts to care for them. Fighter herself had retreated from reality, for a time.
Oddly, it was a sort of frustrated annoyance at the Sisters fussing over her that started Fighter forward again. Her pride as a martial artist demanded she at least TRY to care for herself. So she forced herself up from her cot, began to bathe and feed herself. And, once she was up, Fighter was pressed into helping care for others.
"How does this keep happening?" Fighter burst out as she gently cared for a young Adept. Her party had been exploring ruins and we set upon by goblins.
"Goblins aren't seen as a serious threat," the nun sighed as she helped wash the woman. "And Adventurers don't want to do it as the pay is poor."
"So we keep sending in children to fight," Fighter sighed.
"Hmm," the nun sighed, nodding.
As Fighter cared for the others, she realized that her muscles had faded with disuse. Every morning she resumed her training, practicing her martial arts. The IDEA of facing a goblin again made her weak in the knees, but...
Wizard was buried not far away in the city Warrior... there hadn't been enough to recover, he had been torn to shreds. Fighter would go to the graveyard every few weeks, to pay her respects. She had barely knew the girl, and now would never have the chance.
"Big Sister!? How! HOW?!" the Wizard Boy cried, lingering by the grave.
Fighter hung back, wondering who the redheaded boy was. He ranted about goblins and how the magic school now looked down on her. Fighter realized the kid was Wizard's little brother, and felt a pang of grief.
"I swear... I will kill all the goblins!" Wizard Boy vowed, and Fighter winced.
Weeks passed, and Fighter returned to fighting fit. In body at least... the idea of facing a goblin again terrified her. She remembered Warrior's death, seeing Wizard stabbed by a poison knife. She loathed the creatures, even as they frightened her.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
CRACK! The robber's face splurted blood as he staggered back.
'How did this...?' Fighter wondered bleakly.
The novices were often sent on errands, and a few asked Fighter to accompany them. While the town was 'safe' by most standards, there were still ruffians about. And even some Adventurers could be kind of seedy, too. So they felt better having her along.
(Fighter also suspected a few of the girls liked her. In a romantic way. Which she wasn't sure how she felt about it, honestly...)
"BITCH!" one of the robbers pulled a knife.
Fighter smoothly kicked out, sending the blade flying. The man looked stunned, right up until she slugged him unconscious.
Then the City Guards arrived...
"Fighter, Porcelain rank," she identified herself as they grabbed the crooks. It felt odd using her Adventurer rank, but...
"Thank you for your assistance," the lead guard nodded. "May I ask what happened?"
"SHE WAS SO COOL!" Advanced Novice cried, then gave a blow by blow account.
Fighter fought back her embarrassment, while the guards looked amused.
"You did well," the guard conceded. "We'll pass on the information to the Guild Hall," he added mildly.
"I'm... not an active adventurer any longer," Fighter admitted.
The guard looked thoughtful, "Considering how well you handled this, you might want to reconsider that."
"Thank you," Fighter waved that off.
"You were INCREDIBLE," Advanced Novice clung to her arm, gazing up at her adoringly.
'Uh oh,' Fighter thought.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Senior Sister was the head of the nuns caring for the women at the temple, and was the one GFFighter found herself taking requests from. Anything that didn't require a High Priest or higher rank, tended to fall on her. She was a kindly woman, but firm, and thankfully had a sense of humor.
"Eeeek!" Advanced Novice had yelped when the older woman caught them.
'Eeep,' Fighter paled.
Senior Sister paused in the doorway. "This is not, actually, against any commandments," she noted. "Please don't disturb the other Sisters, please."
She shut the door as Fighter and Advanced Novice puffed out relieved sighs.
Now Fighter was in her office, and fidgeting nervously.
Senior Sister smiled, "Relax, you're not in trouble."
Fighter nodded, "Yes, ma'am..."
The older woman continued, "From how quickly gossip spreads here, I assume you know we're sending a group of Sisters to Frontier Town?"
"The novices are all talking about it," Fighter admitted.
"They'll need a escort, but all we've been able to hire are beginner, Porcelain adventurers," Senior Sister sighed.
Fighter realized what she wanted, "Me...?"
"I know it will be hard for you," Senior Sister said quickly, "but the odds are you won't be attacked. And even if you were, it would likely be bandits."
"You realize just saying that has jinxed us," Fighter sighed.
Senior Sister winced.
Fighter was torn. On one hand, she still felt that... bone deep terror for goblins. The memory of them, the sensation of their touch, the rest of it, it sickened her.
On the other, she had successfully protected the novices several times and had faced two attempted robberies, winning both times. Plus, while the Church would never SAY anything, she did owe them for caring for her.
"All right," Fighter agreed with a grimace. "Is there at LEAST a senior adventurer along to lead us?" she asked.
Apologetically Senior Sister said, "I think you will be the senior one..."
"Oh great," Fighter sighed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Gwaaarr!" the goblin screamed as the band burst from cover and charged them.
The group had had a relatively quiet trip, really. Fighter had ended up in charge of the Adventurers, Rhea Dagger, Novice Archer and Beginner Knight. They had run into one small group of bandits, and Fighter and Beginner Knight had engaged them wile Novice Archer shot them, and Rhea Dagger threw knives.
Now as goblins charged them, Fighter once again felt fear and horror. And a simmering RAGE that surprised her a bit. She wanted SO MUCH to just beat them all to death with her bare hands...
"Fighter?" Beginner Knight yelped.
Fighter shook herself, "Right! You, me and Rhea Dagger engage them. Look out for the knives, they're usually poisoned!"
"Right," Rhea Dagger tossed a throwing knife, missing the throat but hitting the goblin in the face and stunning it.
Arrows arced up over them, stabbing down at the attackers. Novice Archer wasn't THAT good yet, but the goblins were clumped together and made easy targets.
'Ten of them, we've taken out three... might be others sneaking around,' Fighter thought grimly. "Novices, staffs at the ready!" she ordered.
Behind them, all the nuns produced staffs or clubs. Knowing what goblins were like, and worrying they'd be outnumbered, Fighter had armed all the girls. They weren't THAT good at it, honestly, but a staff or club could keep the goblins back until they got rescued...
Fighter and Beginner Knight smashed into the attacking goblins, cutting them down swiftly. As she fought Fighter was careful to use short, powerful strikes. She clearly remembered over-extending when she fought goblins the first time, she wouldn't make THAT mistake again.
"I'm out of arrows," Novice Archer said, switching to a staff and joining the fight.
Fighter pounded another goblin into the ground, then realized there were no more coming. She looked around wildly, panting, and realized the fight... was over.
"Hurrah!" Beginner Knight cheered, raising his sword.
The nuns were surrounded by broken goblins, the clubs and staffs having done their jobs. One girl was praying for the fallen goblin souls...
"THAT WAS SO COOL!" Advanced Novice squealed as she glomped Fighter.
Novice Archer murmured, "You are SO getting some tonight..."
Fighter fended off Advanced Novice as she ordered, "Any injuries? We need to move on, the bodies will attract scavengers..."
"Aww," Advanced Novice pouted but backed off.
To be continued...?
Notes: MIGHT just be a one shot, I haven't decided.
One think that bugged me in Goblin Slayer is you almost never see heroines recover. YES there's Noble Fencer, and the Elf Scout (tho she's still traumatized as heck) but other than that, no one ever comes back from a goblin attack. I also felt bad for Fighter, so... there's that.