Chapter 8 is now going on! Here we will have an EPIC fight, as epic as I can try to make it though, a fight between Anakin Skywalker vs The Knights of Favonius. Still trying to come up with a few more ways to make the story better, and longer, open to ideas. Oh a side note, I'm thinking of ways to have Anakin fight the Fatui, or some more mages, for extra action and a bit of story building. Moving on, time for the main action.
Going for 4K words on this chapter!! Should I pair someone with Anakin?
Anakin POV - Mondstadt(Cathedral courtyard)
"Prisoner O66! Stand down and surrender yourself!" A guard commanded towards me, surrounding himself with reinforcements of different shapes and...colors?
"Huh, no way those people are guards, city officials maybe?" I wondered, analyzing the situation and keeping an eye on those strangely-dressed people.
"Huh, could use Obi-Wan right about now...he'd know what to do..." I thought to myself as I counted my odds against them. "Could've said that nicer, either way, it's a no thanks. I don't do prisons anymore" I tell them, keeping my guard up.
"It wasn't up for negotiation" The blonde woman declared, not in a good mood.
"*sigh* Not surprised" I told myself, "Not here to fight, just helping a...friend out with something" I answered, not too sure how to explain it. "Something about a dragon and getting home" I explained, not too sure about myself.
"You know of Dvalin? Did you cause this terror?!" The woman demanded an answer.
"Obviously not, I'm trying to help that Traveler guy fix this, something I'm not seeing from you" I shot back, annoyed by this meaningless conversation.
After a moment of silence, someone speaks up "Why are you here? What do you mean about, going home? ...Who are you?" A girl in red asked, concern written all over her face.
A real question, finally, someone who isn't trying to attack me. "sigh I'm not here by choice, some random lady dragged me here, just like that blonde guy" I explained, not sure about any of this.
"Blonde guy? You mean Traveler? You're with him? How do you know him?" The red girl continues to ask.
"Not exactly, I've only known him for less than a day but-"
"Some mysterious woman? Doesn't that sound like the description the Traveler gave us?" The purple woman told the blonde, seeming to know something.
"You're not from here, are you?" The blonde woman asked, now confused about everything that was going on now.
Well, at least they're listening now. "...No, I'm not. And I don't want to be here any longer" I told them, feeling something about to happen.
"We can help you!" The red girl yelled out, truth laced in her words. "Our friend, Traveler, wants the same! To find his sister and go home! We can help all of you!" She explained.
"Amber, we don't know if we can trust him" The blonde woman told the girl, slightly upsetting her. "Just...turn yourself in, and we'll see what we can do" She said to me.
"No. I can't. I've been in too many prisons and controlled my whole life, I can never go back to that!" Thinking hard about my choices, I know that avoiding a fight is necessary, besides, Luke showed me better. "...No weapons, no restraints, I will follow you, willingly" I reassured them, making sure not to appear threatening.
"Thank you, kind sir" The girl in red, Amber? Said to me, making her way past the wall of soldiers to make a path. "I'm not sure about the others, put I can promise you that you'll be okay" she assured me, extending her hand and putting on a confident smile.
"Brave, she doesn't seem to be scared of me, she almost reminds me of her, almost" pushing my thoughts away I walk over towards her, cautiously. "...Thank you, for your...hospitality? I guess" I told her, gazing back at the other 'visitors'.
"You'll...have to excuse them, they're a little on edge about this morning, prison break and all" Amber explained, finding the situation slightly humorous. "By the way, you never gave a us a name? Prisoner doesn't seem to suit you" she joked, smiling a little with a hint of kindness in her eyes.
"I guess it couldn't hurt to answer that" I wondered, trusting her enough. "...Skywalker, my name is-"
"Anakin! Watch out!!" Venti yelled from behind a pillar, looking towards somewhere specific.
"A trick!?" I don't have time to think about it before I'm struck in the chest by something electrical!
"Hey! Jean! What the heck?!" Amber yelled out in panic, disbelief and hurt in her eyes.
"Who fired?!" Jean yelled, demanding to know an answer while looking for whoever fired that arrow.
Kneeled down and in pain, I try to look. Did they lie to me..? I knew it..." Lost in my own thoughts, the electricity dies down over my body, but that's not all.
"...the Force is strong with you..."
"No...no! The Force is deceiving me..!!" Looking around for the culprit of my attack, their faces are all of confusion, and then I see him! In the shadows, he smiles at my pain, drawn to it, he taunts me in my misery! "Lies...all of it!" I mutter through the pain.
"Sir! Mister Skywalker? You're hurt! Are you alright?!" Amber asked, not that I could hear her now.
"Watch out!" A knight yelled, warning as another arrow came down, startling the red girl.
"No!" Standing back up I destroy it, cutting it down with a quick strike of my lightsaber, its glow illuminating the courtyard despite the sun. "Forgive me Master, but I cannot remain peaceful in this moment" I apologized to him, even if he couldn't hear me in this world.
"Mister? Mister, are you alright!? Can you hear me?" Amber asked me, hoping I wouldn't be in a sour mood, but with no luck.
"Lies! All of it!" I shouted, slowly succumbing to my anger.
"Wait! It wasn't us! You have to belie-" Amber pleaded.
"I've had enough of your trickery!" I cut off her sentence, deactivating my lightsaber before blasting them all away with the power of the Force!
Venti POV - Mondstadt(Cathedral courtyard)
"Prisoner O66! Stand down and surrender yourself!" The voice of a knight commanded, specifically to Travelers' new companion.
"Whoa! Time to get out of here!" I told myself, running off and hiding behind one of the many statues around the cathedral.
"...kid better know what he's doing..." the wind carried a whisper to my ears, "I hope so too". Watching from a safe distance, the situation doesn't look like it's going to get better, it's strange, why are they so interested in this guy?
As hours passed by, minutes really, things seemed to be eventually settling down. "...Somethings not right, I think there's someone else..." There! On the roof of one of those houses, a Fatui Mage!
"Anakin! Watch out!!" I warn him, watching as the Fatui Mage shot an electro arrow, striking him! And through the confusion, another arrow fires, and to EVERYONES surprise, he strikes it down with his...electro sword?
And unsurprisingly, to everyone, he attacked back, with a burst of Anemo!
Aether POV - Mondstadt(Cathedral)
"How much longer?" Paimon asked, floating behind one of the many pillars.
"Not too long, just until night" I answered her, hiding behind a wall, waiting for nightfall. And now that I think about it, this doesn't sound like a good idea.
"Uhh Paimon thinks this idea is a bad one" My flying friend said, watching as the sun began to set.
"Don't give up, we have to help Dvalin" I tell her, keeping an eye out for anymore guards. "Besides, if we do this, we can save Mondstadt!" I remind her.
"Okayyy for Mondstadt, but Paimon better get something delicious out of this!" She demanded.
"Okay, okay. Just...wait after this alright?" I asked of her. "sigh I just hope things are going better on that Anakin guy's side" I said to myself, wondering what could possibly be happening.
Amber POV - Mondstadt (Cathedral Courtyard)
*BOOM*
"That blast...that power..."
Returning my attention on the situation at hand.., I dodge statue and stone as I'm thrown through the air, using my wings to glide and land safely back down.
"He...really ISN'T from this world...and neither is the Traveler" I was fine, but I couldn't say the same for my sanity. "This dust...I can't see a thing..." I said to myself, trying to look through the large dust cloud.
"Is everyone alright?! Lisa?! Kaeya?! Where's Amber?!" A voice, definitely Jean, called out in distress.
"I'm over here!" I answered here, waving my arm around, seeing them come into view. "What...just happened?" I asked them, still recounting everything that just occurred.
"...Koooo...Paahhh..." (faint mechanical breathing)
"Ehhh, Kaeya?" I ask him for answer, because only he could cause this effect.
"It's...not me" He answered, disbelief laced in his words.
Cold. That's what I'm feeling, a cold and uncomfortable sensation, both in the air and within me! "Jean I...feel cold" I tell her, having an unfortunate clue of who's causing this.
"Kooo...Pahhh..." (faint mechanical breathing now more audible)
"...I have a bad feeling about this" Jean whispered to us all.
*Pshhhhh!* (Lightsaber ignited)
"...Whoaaa..." The light of his sword illuminates the venue despite the dust, like a lighthouse in a storm. "The power from earlier? It's him! It has to be!" With the dust settling everyone can see each other, more importantly, the one at the center.
"Is that...?"
"Skywalker" Kaeya answered Jean's question.
"...Anakin" I mutter his name, memorized by the aura of his sword, and armor he now dawns. "Is it just me, or did his clothes just...?"(Clone Wars Armor)
"Amber, get some distance with Lisa. Kaeya, stay on me" Jean ordered, brandishing out her sword.
"Jean, wait! Maybe we can still reason with him?" I pleaded, not wanting to escalate things.
"I'm sorry Amber, but you have to stay back" Kaeya apologized to me, worry in his eyes. "Take the lead Jean, let's go get this man" he tells Jean, who in turn nods back at him.
"But he's not our-"
"Amber, dear. We have to keep our distance now" Lisa told me, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"But" Turning around, I see my two friends begging to face off against the warrior from far away. "...But he didn't do anything wrong...I think" I said to her, not wanting to accept how things turned out.
Following Lisa to a safe distance, dread fills my chest, knowing how this might end. All I can do I wish my friends luck "sigh. Be careful guys..."
Aether POV - Mondstadt(Cathedral)
Waiting. That's what we still have to hold on to now. "Alright, almost time now" I remind myself, readying my mind for the heist that's about to go down.
Floating above me, Paimon keeps on eye on a nearby clock. "Paimon still thinks this is a bad idea..." She tells me, tapping her tiny fingers together in nervousness.
"Just stay hidden Paimon" I tell her, looking around to form a plan. "Hmm...try to find some small rocks for me, maybe I can use them to distract the guards" I ask for her, seeing how I can get this plan to work.
"Okaaaaay? Paimon doesn't know how rocks will help, but okay" she reluctantly agrees, flying off. Now then, only two hours left to go, now that I think about it, what are the others up to today?
Jean POV - Mondstadt (Cathedral Courtyard)
"Hyaah!!"
It's been minutes since our duel had started, and already I seem to be in a losing position. "Kaeya! At the same time!" I shouted to him, trying to gain an upper hand against this mysterious duelist.
Nodding, Kaeya jumps over debris and leaps above to strike down the prisoner just as I lock blades with him, the light of his mysterious blade beginning to superheat my sword.
Not even facing his attacker, the man moves his hand behind him, throwing Kaeya back with a power resembling Anemo!
"Kaeya!" I yelled in worry! Moving backwards and jumping away from the man, putting some distance between me and him. Looking at my sword, I'm shocked to see the damage on it, what the heat has done to the metal, "By the gods...what are you?" I ask, confused running through my head.
"Had enough yet?" The man taunts, slowly spinning his blade in hand as he slowly walks over to me.
"Tch! Not even" I answer him, using Anemo to lift the dust and disorient his vision, charging forward to land a strike to which he blocks. "That symbol...!" Gazing at his armor for a moment, the red symbol on his shoulder catches my attention "That symbol is definitely important to him...!!"
"Agh!" The man grunts in slight pain as ice forms around his right foot, keeping him in place.
"Jean! Take the shot!" Kaeya yelled, freezing the man's leg and getting ready for another shot at him.
"Go Kaeya!" I shout, landing a few hits on this stranger before I get my ass handed to me. Regaining his footing he starts blocking my punches, head butting me and kneeing me in the stomach with his good leg.
"Agh!! Oof!" The sharp pain throwing me back before getting blasted away by an invisible force, slamming me against the stone railing. "Oh! Agh..." my head slams against the stone, the pain flashing through me as I slump over onto the ground, my consciousness leaving me.
Kaeya POV - Mondstadt (Cathedral Courtyard)
"Jean!!" I shouted in panic, watching her take a hard beating before getting slammed against stone! Leaping over rubble, I fire a few more Cryo blasts at the man, who seemingly blocked and struck them all down with ease.
"Unbelievable, I don't think I've ever seen a dueling style like his before! Nor such a weapon!" I thought to myself as he spun his blade around, destroying the ice on his leg and blocking the arrows flying at him.
"Fellow knights! Move back and maintain a safe distance from the man!" I command them, not wanting to put them in harms way. As the rest of the knights move back, I lock blades with the foreigner again, shocked by the sudden sparks as my sword begins to heat up rapidly.
"Ready to give up?" The man asked, not a once of struggle on his face. "Not good..!! At this rate, my sword will turn to slag!" I told myself, trying to find a weakness in his defense.
*whoosh*
"Tch!" The foreign warrior grunts in annoyance as a Pryo arrow strikes his shoulder, followed by strikes of Lisa's Electro! "sigh Thanks for the assist guys" I muttered a thanks, before returning to the fight, landing only a single shot before he regained the upper hand.
Blinding me with his saber he flips over and lands behind me, knocking me down by the knees and breaking my concentration but butting me in the head with the hilt of his blade.
Fighting back the pain I slowly get back up to see him block the oncoming attacks of fire and lightning. Dodging every hit, I see him move his hands around, and to my surprise, see large chunks of stone float up and shield him from the attacks.
"That's...not Anemo" The stones begin to face a certain direction "...Oh...sh-"
"Haah!!" The man yells as he motions the stones forward, the rocks falling down onto the homes below and more specifically, onto Lisa and Amber! "Lisa!! Amber!!" I call out to them, running to the edge to get their attention before I'm stuck by a large chunk of stone, knocked to the floor as a sharp pain engulfs my shoulder.
"Agh!! Damn it..!!" Holding my shoulder tightly I turn to face the man, sprinting along the railing before flipping down onto the rooftops, hunting. As my fellow knights help me back on my feet, panic rushes through me "Knights...! Help Jean, and follow that man!" I ordered, making my way over to the railing.
"Call in our reinforcements...We're going to need everyone" Were going to need help, Amber and Lisa NEED help...he's coming for them.
Aether POV - Mondstadt (Cathedral)
"This is crazy" I thought to myself, carefully hiding and making my way around the Cathedral, avoiding the guards.
"Paimon..." I whispered for her, watching my friend float near the ceiling, keeping an eye out for anymore night guards.
Waving her hands around, she signals for me to stop moving, guards are ahead. "This is going to take a while" waiting for a few minutes, I continue my mission, sneaking past a few more guards, closer and closer to the Holy Lyre.
"*sigh* Venti better be right about this" Looking around and rushing forward to another hiding spot, only 20 feet away from the entrance!
Lisa POV - Mondstadt
"Jean..." I whispered her name, watching as the Cathedral's courtyard exploded in bursts of Elemental power. "sigh" This whole situation has completely fallen apart, and I'm worried for my friends, after all, there is nothing ordinary about that man.
"Lisa?" Amber's voice breaks my thoughts, equally worried about our friends. "...Do you think they're...?" She left her question unanswered, not wanting to know the answer herself.
"No" I sharply answered, knowing the worst hasn't happened...yet. "I know Jean and Kaeya, they can handle the toughest of battles, no matter how hard things get" I calmed myself down, brushing the dust off my clothes.
"As for now, we need to find out who-"
"Lisa!!"
*CRASH!!!*
Amber screamed as she pulled me around the corner of a building, shielding us from the chucks of rock and metal crashing down.
As the sound of the falling debris stopped, I peaked over to see what had happened, not to my surprise, nothing good did. "My goodness..." I whispered, unsure of what to think, "Amber, keep everyone inside, I will see if anyone needs...help"
I hear Amber gasp behind me, at the sight we both see.
"Miss Lisa, Lady Amber" A wounded knight announced our name, stumbling towards us as blood runs down the side of his head. Only a few feet away, the knight explains himself "Sir Kaeya deep breath he need you both to-Hngh!?!"
"Lisa! Get back!" Amber warned.
"By the gods..." I muttered in shock, placing a hand over my mouth, eyes widened.
"Urk! Ack! Agggh!" The knight was chocking himself! Unable to breathe as he had his hands on his neck! "No...he's not doing that to himself...someone is..."
*Thump...Thump...Thump..!!*
"gasp Uhhh Lisa?" Amber's faint gasp draws my attention, but the man behind the knight takes it instead "...Oh...my..." I can only muster a whisper.
Him. The man we've been after, now turned the tables on us, now walking towards us, slowly lifting his arm as the choking knight begins to float!
"You will answer my questions" The man, Skywalker, demanded from us.
Moving towards Amber I move her behind me, "Stay behind me Amber" I warn her, facing this monstrosity. "That's close enough, sir" I state, eyes full of caution, and Electro running through my fingers.
"...Hmm" Dropping the knight, he stands only less than 10 feet away. It's quiet now, it's uncomfortable, the sensation between me and him causing me to lose my nerve a little.
"Did you shoot me?" Skywalker simply asks, not a sign of aggression in his eyes.
"Pardon me?" I ask, confusion masking my face.
Frowning slightly, he asks again, annoyed about having to repeating his question. "Did you shoot me? Your power is similar to that of my attacker" the man explains, keeping his attention on us.
"I-"
"It wasn't her!" Amber interrupts, moving away from me and confronting this 'Skywalker' man.
"Amber wait!" I try and warn her, worried for her safety. "I can't believe that girl sometimes" I wonder, shaking my head only a little.
Amber POV - Mondstadt
"It wasn't her!" I plead with Anakin, "This is insane! He's already defeated Jean and Kaeya! Maybe there is no reason with him, but I have to try"
"Amber wait!" I hear Lisa call out from behind.
"Don't worry I got this" I tell her, trying to hold up a smile. "I don't think she's buying it, I can feel her Electro from here"
"sigh It...wasn't her" I told him, ready to stand my ground. "Whoever attacked you, wasn't with us, I don't know who, but it wasn't any of us" I explained, hoping this goes well.
"Your enemy then?" He speaks ups, taking us by surprise. "I may not be from here, but I'm no stranger to these conflicts" Anakin explains, crossing his arms.
"...You've done this before, haven't you" I tell him, putting the pieces together.
"Judging from the armor, I'd say so, Amber" Lisa answered, not as cautious as before, "Maybe she trusts him?"
"And judging from your response, I'd say I'm right" Anakin answers, keeping an eye on the rooftops. "Consider yourselves lucky, I didn't have to force you to listen to me. And while I'm here...so is your 'enemy'"he said, arms still crossed, "...Also, your friend dropped this" he says to me, handing over Lisa's hat.
"Wait! When did I?" Lisa whispers in the background.
"As for your friends..." the sound of oncoming guards takes his attention "...I'll try not to hurt them too much" he smirks, igniting his weapon, just before back flipping high into the air and into another fight.
"Wait! Anakin!" I trying to get his attention again, he probably heard me, but he wasn't coming back either way.
"Dang it...worth a try" A slow sigh escapes from me.
"Amber" Lisa tapped my shoulder, hat on her head again "We should get to the others now. We need to show them who's responsible for this" she reminded me.
"Oh! Right! Jean and the others are definitely in trouble! Come on!" I yell, grabbing my bow and running back to the others, with Lisa following close behind.
"If what I'm thinking is correct, then whoever attacked Anakin is probably still here. An Electro arrow like that! It wouldn't surprise me if it was who I think it was"
"The Fatui!!"
Aether POV - Mondstadt(Cathedral)
"Almost there!"
We've made it past the guards, took long enough, but we're here now. "Paimon!" I loudly whispered for her, moving my hand in a 'come on' fashion.
"Let's go!" She cheered.
"There it is!" I tell her, both of us only a few feet away from The Holy Lyre, just before a mysterious intruder swipes it before us!
"Huh?! Who're you!?" Paimon questions the mysterious stranger, who doesn't say anything but a simple finger motion to silence us.
*verm...verm..verm..vermvermvermverm...!!!*
"Run!!"
Both Paimon and I charge at this stranger, who disappears in a flash just as Anakin's 'Electro' sword whirls past us and slices off a chunk of stone where that person was just standing!
"Heh, so that's what that sound was" I thought to myself, watching the sword spin back to Anakin, making his way to us.
"She...disappeared!?" Paimon calls out in confusion.
"I can she that" I whispered, still looking around.
"Freeze!" A knight orders from behind us, "What are you doing here!?" He demands!
"Oh no! Run!" Paimon cries out in panic, flying away as Anakin sends the knight flying back as we both escape the Cathedral.
"Oh nooooo... We're busted! Run!" Paimon yells at Venti, who's been waiting outside for us.
"What!? Follow me!" He tells us, jumping off the ledge as we all follow suit, leaping into the air, onto a courtyard of chaos!
Chapter 8 end! This somehow felt less than 4K words, probably should've gone for 5K. On a side note, the reviews aren't appearing on the app, so I have to use the website, so yes, I do enjoy reading them.
The ideas I'm looking at now, there is a high chance that I will add the Sith into this story, to show Tyvet the Power of the Dark Side.
Anakin will travel with Aether and Paimon, and on the rare occasion, go around solo, hunting for clues and enemies.
Oh yeah, I forgot about the whole, sense things with the Force, I'll keep that in mind thanks.
High Ground Anakin, I'll save that idea for the Harbingers, or perhaps Knightfall Vader for them.
does anyone actually read these???