Note: Small bit from Stephen King's IT here, but mainly because it fits the scene. Geez, I'm churning these out! I'm on a kick right now, so I will ride it out. Here's hoping it lasts a while, as I am enjoying this. Plus, I guess it helps as I know what I'm doing for the most part. The basic plot is taken care of for me; I just need to embellish and pretty it up.
Riesz's Loss
There was a shift in the wind. It had been gradual, ever so slowly changing, but there was no mistaking it now. Something had changed. Something was in the air, a strange yet familiar howl in the dead of night. And a scent. Roses. Fresh roses on a grave.
"Father?" King Joster registered that someone was before him, and he needn't guess who. "Have you seen Elliot? It's time for his training."
The blonde king chuckled. "Curious question for a blind man." he then paused for a moment. "Rest assured, Riesz, he is on the grounds. And not too far away from what I feel. You should be able to catch up to him, no problem."
"Ah, that's a relief. Thank you!" with that, the Princess began to run off
"Wait." yet her father's words stopped her in her tracks. "Have you given some thought to our conversation earlier?"
Riesz bit her lip. "I've...been thinking about it, yes."
"It's all right," Joster assured. "Such a thing does not change overnight. Perhaps even for a good while. Yet please, do consider it."
"I...I will. Thank you, father." With that, Riesz exited the throne room, her first stop being Elliot's room. The boy thought he was clever in hiding there to escape her, yet she knew this castle like the back of her hand, even quarters that didn't belong to her. Yet as she went up the stairs- "Oof!" she was sent back by an object in her way.
"Oh geez, Riesz! Er, I mean Captain, er, Princess, I'm sorry!" The blonde saw a blue-haired girl dressed in low pigtails looking down at her. "Here, let me-"
"No, no, it's fine, Eliza," Riesz assured, getting herself back on her feet. Once again, the young woman wasn't watching where she was going. Typical. "On your way to practice?"
"Yeah." Eliza sighed. "I, uh, got a little lost." she sheepishly admitted, causing Riesz to moan internally. Honestly, this girl sometimes drove her crazy.
"Eliza," the Captain then asked. "Have you seen Elliot anywhere?"
"Uh, no. Why?"
"Well, it's time for his training. But, I'll admit, he's been finding it more difficult."
"What? Why would he want to hide from you?" Eliza regretted those words upon seeing the expression the Princess gave. "Maybe Auntie Alma would know?"
Yes, that could be a possibility. "I'll check in with her on that. Thank you." Riesz made her way upstairs to the handmaid's chambers, Eliza going on her way to practice. Though, in her mind, and she dare not say it openly, she was somewhat sympathetic to the boy. Amazonian methods weren't exactly forgiving. Sure, as her Auntie noted, it was necessary, but still, a part of her wondered.
Outside
He was exposing himself out in the open, yet his sister always managed to find him anywhere inside the castle he had hidden. And while he didn't have as much guarantee, maybe hiding somewhere outside would help him. The section in which Elliot was treading wasn't all that populated today, most of the soldiers had gone to practice and the castle staff working elsewhere, yet still, there was always the chance of being caught. Also, he was still quite sore from the last session, wondering whether or not Riesz was a little extra harsh due to him hiding until the time for training was halfway over. She claimed not to have extended it past its time limit, yet he knew well she kept him there an extra half hour or so. And if he was caught now, he didn't want to think of it.
"Psst! Hey!" Elliot turned to a nearby collection of shrubbery. "Hey, you! Yeah, you!"
"Come here!" wait...that was a different voice. So there were two people there? He backed up. "Oh no, it's fine!"
"Don't be scared!"
"Who...who are you?" the boy asked, torn between natural curiosity to uncover the unknown and obeying the instincts blaring off in his head.
"Oh, c'mon now!"
"We're good guys!"
"Here!" suddenly, a hand stuck out from the bush, fingers uncurling and revealing a wrapped bon-bon. "Have some candy."
Candy? Wow...Elliot began to reach for it but pulled back. "I'm...not supposed to take stuff from strangers. My sister says so."
"And that's very wise of her."
"Yep! Very wise indeed, Elliot!"
"Yeah, she's smart and-" wait a moment. "How do you know my name?"
"Because…"
"We're magicians!"
"Magicians?" Elliot asked, stumbling back as two darkly clad figures rose from the bushes.
"Yep! I'm Ben!" one of them said, getting into a position as if he was about to go into a sprint, arms spread out to the side.
"And I'm Bill!" the other said, standing above the other, spreading his legs out and taking a spread eagle pose.
"And we're magician extraordinaires!" Elliot watched in awe as sparkles and lights appeared behind them.
"Here," Bill said, holding out the candy again. "You look like you need this, little Prince."
They knew he was the Prince too? Geez, these guys DID see a lot! His sister's words echoed in his mind. Yet the candy looked so good. He inched his way forward, taking small, baby steps before swiping it from the man's hand. He unwrapped it and gave it a sniff. It didn't smell like it was poisoned or anything. He then gave it a lick. Wow, it was good. So good! Elliot needed no more before he popped it into his mouth. "It's delicious!" he told the two. "Thank you!"
"That's not all we can do!" Ben said cheerily, looking at his compatriot and nodding. This was going far better than either of them had planned.
But still, something bothered the blonde boy. "How did you get here?"
"Wind just blew us here," Ben answered. "We were nearly lost to it!"
"But thanks to our magic, we could come here!" Bill said afterward. "Hey, you have your castle that has its sort of magic, doesn't it?"
"Magic?" Elliot thought for a moment. "Well...I don't know if I'd call it that."
Bill and Ben looked at each other. It seems like they would have to step up their game. "Here." suddenly, another bon-bon appeared in his hand. "Have another." Elliot happily took it. It wasn't poisoned, so he was convinced it was safe. "And guess what?" Ben said, smirking under his mask. "We can do FAR more than just that."
"You can?"
"Of course!" Bill confirmed. "But...we need you to do a little something for us first…."
Inside
"Alma?"
A blue-haired woman dressed in a mauve linen cap and brown shawl fastened with a silver emblem and a dress of sandy brown with purple lining the ends of the sleeves with silver rings on them looked at the blonde Princess. "Have you seen Elliot anywhere?"
"Elliot?" Alma answered, going over to Riesz, an evident limp in her movements. "Hmm...not that I'm aware. Trying to get out of training again?"
Riesz rolled her eyes. "I don't know how he's gotten it into his head that he can, but you'd think he would realize by now that he can't hide."
"Not from you." Alma chuckled. "Still...he has been a bit more distant from you lately." Yes, the Princess was more than aware of that, as well as her father's words weighing more and more heavily on her mind as of late. "Riesz? Dear?"
"Oh! Um, yes. Well, thank you, Alma. I suppose I'll just look elsewhere." With that, Riesz exited the room, the nursemaid and former Captain looking on.
She looked down to the ground, the king's words having plagued her since he had said them. Indeed, the Princess pondered. Elliot, well, he didn't have much time to play. To go outside, to feel the wind in his hair, but times were becoming dangerous. More and more monsters such as those dreadful harpies were encroaching further and further on the kingdom's territory. What would he do if, Goddess forbid, he came across such a creature? True, Riesz doubted he'd be able to defend himself against such a creature properly, but still, at least he wouldn't be defenseless. After all, she had to learn how to use a spear since she was a mere ten years old, and he was quickly approaching the same age. Then again, her early training was more or less out of necessity. After all, Alma didn't receive that limp on her own. Still, was she being too forceful in her methods? Ugh, so many questions and so many directions, she felt herself being pulled in.
Ultimately, for now, she decided that the top priority was finding her brother.
"You like that candy, don't you?" Ben questioned, the boy having four bonbons stuffed in his cheeks.
"Yep!" He swallowed them all, much to the duo's shock. Geez, this kid could guzzle down sweets like no tomorrow. And they were running out of candy.
"You don't get a lot of candy, do you?" Bill asked; Elliot lowered his head. "Sister doesn't let you have any?"
"Well...she says that they're not good for you. Stuff like veggies and fruit is better. Especially stuff like broccoli and carrots." he grimaced. "I hate it, though."
"We were never fans either," Ben interjected. "Sounds like that sister of yours is a stickler for rules."
"Doesn't sound like someone who knows how to have fun." Bill then said.
"No...she's not," Elliot admitted. "But she's not a bad person!"
"Oh no, there's no question she isn't. Isn't that right, Ben?"
"Oh yes, Bill. After all, from what you've told us, being both Captain and Princess are tough jobs for someone to have. But," he continued. "She could afford not to be so hard on you."
Elliot was silent. True, what they were saying was registering with him, but still. He loved his sister. "Hey," he just remembered. "Didn't you say you wanted to show me some more tricks? And something about your friends?"
"Yes, that's right!" Bill nodded. "There's a way that the winds here are controlled, right?"
"Yeah. That's how the kingdom's kept safe. But how did you two get by them?"
"It wasn't easy," Ben admitted. "We had to climb a LONG way up."
"And go through an old tunnel. We thought it was going to collapse any minute!" Elliot was amazed. He wondered if even his sister knew of something like that being around the citadel. "We were afraid of everyone, so we hid. But we listened and heard a lot. And these people seem like good guys."
"Well, yeah. Everyone's nice, I guess."
"And our friends are magicians as well." Bill went on. "But they can't get in because of the wind and them not being as good of climbers as us. So," he then drew closer. "That's why we need your help."
Elliot shifted his eyes. "Well…"
"We want to help put on a party for everyone!" Ben said after Bill. "A big party! A party that everyone, even your sister, will enjoy! And hey, it might encourage her to have some fun finally!"
"You think so?" Elliot asked.
"We don't think!" Ben said.
"We know!" Bill said after. "But first," he gestured to the hallway before them. "You need to give us a little help…."
"Elliot! Elliot!?" Riesz shouted, her throat beginning to become sore. No luck. She had looked nearly everywhere, and still no sign of the little blonde boy. As irritated as she was that he had once again skipped a lesson, she was at least getting a good workout running around the place. Perhaps she should make him run a couple of laps around the citadel when she found him. Through these thoughts, her father's words returned to her and Alma. Still, her father was at the forefront of her mind. But once again, she pushed them back. For now, she had to find Elliot. Only then could she muse on those things. After training finally got underway, of course.
Still, where could he be?
From what she could remember, there was only one place she hadn't looked, but for what reason would he have to go down there?
"Um, hey," Elliot asked, Bill and Ben, turning to him. "Aren't you going to show me another trick?"
"Oh, yeah! Sure!" Bill answered, all three standing in front of a large door.
"But first...we need your help," Ben said, placing his hand on the door. "Is what controls the winds in here?"
"I think so." the young Prince thought. "I've only been here a few times, so I might be wrong."
'You had better hope you're not.' both ninjas thought in unison, then opened the door together. Inside of the chamber, centered near the northern wall, rested a platform that held a shimmering, perfectly shaped, and floating x-prism-shaped crystal with what appeared to be swirling energy around it. "So...this is it," Ben observed, the three approaching the crystal.
"What controls the winds…." Bill added. The two then reached in to touch it, only to have the wisps surrounding it slash at their hands. They drew their hands back immediately, minor cuts in their gloves being made, but so far, no blood was drawn.
"Ouch! Are you ok?" Elliot asked.
"Yeah. We're fine." Ben answered. "But, how will we turn off the wind now?"
"Well," the Prince began. "There IS a way to turn it off."
Both ninjas looked at the boy. "Is there now?" Bill asked.
"Yeah, but only Riesz and dad know how to do it. They said something about the crystal only 'responding' to the touch of the royal family or something. I don't know what 'responding' means, but…."
"Well then, it should be no problem for you!" Bill told the boy.
"That's right!" Ben added. "You're part of the royal family! You're the Prince, your sister's a Princess, and your father's a king! And your mother-" Bill hit him in the shoulder at the mention of 'mother'. Oh yeah, that was right. From what they had heard and seen, there was no mention of a queen. And the boy's face cemented that fact. "Oh. I'm sorry." Ben apologized.
"No, it's ok," Elliot said. "Truth is, I didn't know her at all. Only sis did. I mean, I do miss her, but really, I don't know what kind of person she was."
Bill and Ben then looked at each other. Perhaps they just found their ticket to make this operation a success. "Here's a secret." Ben then said. "We were going to save it later to show everyone, but just for you, we'll do it early."
"Do what?"
Bill and Ben looked at each other, both smirking under their masks. "We're going to bring your mother to see you."
Elliot was left speechless for a good while. "Wh-What?" he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Th-That's not funny."
"It's no joke," Ben said.
"Yeah, we can truly bring your mother back, and then you can meet her in person."
They couldn't. No way. And yet, he had seen them do nothing like anything he had seen before. "...how?"
"You believe that the spirits of the dead travel with the wind, right?" Bill asked, Elliot in turn nodding. "Well, your mother's with them, right?" again, Elliot nodded. "Well, have you ever thought that maybe she can't come to visit you because of the winds surrounding this place?"
"What?"
"The winds are strong around here, right?" Ben asked. "It's to protect you, but maybe they're too strong. Maybe so strong that your mother's spirit hasn't come to visit you because of it." he then looked to the crystal. "If you turn off the winds, just for a second, then maybe she can come and finally see you. And then, our friends can come up and show her to everyone."
"Really?" Elliot asked, growing more and more intrigued.
"Of course!" Bill confirmed. "Your sister and father will be so happy! As will everyone else! All you have to do," he then moved to the side, allowing Elliot to see the crystal fully. "Is to turn the winds off."
"That's all?"
Bill and Ben nodded. "That's all."
Elliot thought about it but, frankly, didn't know what to think about any of this. First, these guys were magicians, then they wanted him to come down here, and now they said they could show him his mother. He didn't know what to believe. True, these guys had shown him they were pretty cool, but could they do something like that? Has that been why his mother hasn't used the wind to come to see him? Or Riesz or dad? His large, blue eyes looked at the shimmering crystal, then at his tiny hand. "If I do this…" he began. "You promise you can do it?"
"Promise." Bill and Ben answered together. Elliot stepped up and drew closer to the crystal. "Go on. Your mother's waiting." Mom was waiting for him. he reached for it, his hand passing through the wisps, and they felt like little more than cool air on his skin.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?" all three turned around to see a blonde, long-haired young woman in a green dress, spear in hand and glaring daggers at them.
"Sis?" Elliot said, startled by her appearance and the fact that she had found him like this.
"Elliot! What are you doing with these two?! Come here, now!" She then turned her attention to the ninjas. "How did you manage to get in here!?"
"Well," Ben began.
"We're not telling!" Bill finished.
"Step away from my brother this instant!" the Princess demanded. "And Elliot, what do you think you're doing with the crystal? Get your hand away from there!"
"Aw, but the little Prince wants to see his mother," Ben told her.
"Yeah, all he wants is to see his mother."
"That's impossible and ridiculous! Stop spouting nonsense!" Riesz shouted, drawing closer. But it was then that she saw the glint of something on their person. Indeed, it seemed that these two weren't as foolish as to come unarmed. "Elliot, come here, now!"
"But...but they said they could get mom to come." the boy protested. "They said mom hasn't come to see me because the winds are too strong."
"That's absurd!" Riesz replied.
"Then why hasn't his mother visited him?" Ben asked.
"Why hasn't she visited you?" Bill added on. Riesz grew silent, her lips tightening in anger. "You know...maybe your sister needs some convincing." the ninja told Elliot. "Or maybe…"
"She doesn't WANT you to see your mother." Ben then said.
"What?" Elliot asked.
"The spirits ride on the wind, but the winds are too strong, so she can't come to see you. Or anyone else. So, maybe your sister's grown bitter because of that." Bill turned his eyes to the young woman intending to skewer both of them. "If she can't see her, then neither can you. Neither can anyone."
"Th-That's not true!" Elliot protested.
"Oh?" Ben responded, looking at Riesz. "Then ask her,"
"Yourself." Bill finished. Elliot looked at his sister, his face fighting between confusion and hurt.
"Riesz…" he began. "Why hasn't mom come to visit me?"
"Elliot…"
"Why?"
Riesz found herself with nothing to say. "Elliot...just...just come here. Now." her tone grew more forceful, though she realized this was a mistake. The boy drew closer to the crystal. "Elliot, wait!" there was nothing that could be done. "Elliot, no!"
Joster's eyes shot wide open, his hands gripping the sides of his throne until his knuckles turned white. "Your Majesty?" Alma asked, having come down from Riesz's quarters. "Joster, what is it?" it had been so long since she had called him by his first name, yet it had also been so long since she had seen such a look on his face.
"The wind," he said, rising and looking upward, eyes widening in horror. "The winds have stopped."
The look on his sister's face. Whatever would happen next, he would never forget it. He screwed up and was just about to figure out how badly.
"Well, thank you, kid," Ben told Elliot, suddenly taking the Prince tightly by the arm.
"Now the 'Castle that Never Fell' loses its title this day!" Bill roared triumphantly. "He then looked to his compatriot. "Take the kid!" he then turned to Riesz. "I'll deal with this one."
"Sis!" Elliot cried out, powerless against Ben's superior strength.
"Elliot!" the young woman made a mad dash for her brother, yet Bill leaped upward and landed right in front of her. "Get the hell out of my way!" Elliot's eyes widened at that, having never even heard his sister outright curse before.
"Heh." The ninja drew out both daggers. "I have to admit, I was worried whether or not we'd get this far." his eyes then turned back to his brother and the captured Prince. "Yet I'm glad we were able to find a little side help." he sneered from underneath his mask. "Now then, get ready for the magic show of your lives!" he leaped forward; Riesz forced the staff of her weapon to block the incoming weapons; they clashed against the material that composed part of it. While she could fend off the blades, she wasn't given much chance to get in an offensive strike herself. Instead, she received a kick to the side, blocking it with her spear.
"GAH!" only to have a dagger slice into her right arm.
"Sis!" Elliot cried out, yet Ben held him back.
"Bill, we need to get going!"
Bill looked back to him, then to the young woman getting back on her feet. "Fine." he huffed. "Belladonna will want this area scouted for the Stone anyway."
Stone? As in Mana Stone? "W-Wait!" Riesz called out, running up to Bill again. Not a wise move, making the first strike, yet still, her logic left her at the sight of her brother in the hands of these two. "Elliot!" there was nothing that could've been done. Before her, a cloud of smoke appeared, blinding her completely. And when she fumbled and felt her way through it, it eventually dissipated, only to find that she was the only one in the room.
"ELLIOT!" Riesz hollered, running up the stairs and nearly tripping over herself as she did so, yet as she reached the outside, only more horror awaited the Princess. Several figures similar to the two that had spirited her brother away were running everywhere, striking down soldiers emerging from the castle and attempting to defend it, and several more on the ground. "Hey!" the Princess rushed up to one with blonde hair tied in a ponytail. "Hang in there!"
"C-Captain…" she weakly moaned.
"What happened?!" Riesz asked.
"Sl-Sleep." the soldier choked out. "Sleep power. Poured all over the kingdom. Not like the somnosa flowers. made up of foreign chemicals." Sleep power, Riesz thought, looking at the several women lying down. Though, she sensed that not all of them were affected by the powder, not the ones lying next to puddles of red. "H-His Majesty." the woman gasped, Riesz then realizing she was holding her side, a large gash. "Go! His Majesty…"
Oh, Goddess! Father! It shamed her into doing so, yet the Princess left the woman's side and made her way to the castle's entrance, only for several strange individuals to surround her. Getting into position, the hoard threw themselves at her; she ducked and let them all but heads with each other. She had little time to deal with them, yet luck was not on her side, as more only came. It seemed for every one of them; there were two. Yet, for her, there were now three. All of them charged at her, a smoke bomb going off and blinding her. Riesz felt an arm grab her own and responded with a kick. Another component grabbed her leg, stroking it with her weapon. And then, someone leaped upright upon her, forcing her to the ground. The smoke had cleared and revealed the visage of an assassin holding her down with one hand and pinning her with her spear and a dagger. They fought against each other, exerting their force; she pushed up to get the blade away from her, forcing it down to bring it closer and closer to her throat. As this was happening, she saw someone going through the castle entrance in the corner of Riesz's eye. Father! She momentarily lost her focus; the dagger came down on her. Thankfully, she tilted her head to the side, the blade only slicing through the skin on the left. This also momentarily left her aggressor open; she brought her leg up and, with a swift kick, delivered a blow to his lower stomach, throwing him off her. True, she could've aimed lower, yet such a tactic was dishonorable, her code standing strong, even in such circumstances. Rising, Riesz rushed into the palace, stopping to see everything around her set ablaze. The fire seemed to overtake everything, dancing flames surpassing her vision. Yet this far from deterring her, the Princess continued to the throne room.
And upon thrusting open the doors, a terrible sight awaited her.
"FATHER!" she screamed at the sight of King Joster on the floor, the carpet soaked with his blood from a deep wound in his chest. Riesz scrambled to him, the smoke becoming too much to bear. Yet still, she persisted. "Father!" she knelt by his side, trying to rouse him. Thankfully, he opened his eyes, though whether or not she should be thankful was yet to be seen, as it was clear that she had been too late already.
"Ri-Riesz…" Joster choked out. "I...I'm sorry."
"What?"
"The wind...the wind spoke of this day. But...but I wasn't willing to believe it."
"Father, please. No more talk." the young woman began to hoist him over her shoulder. "We need to go."
"No. It's too late. I see her," Joster coughed. "I see your mother already."
No...no! It couldn't be! Not like this! "Father, please! Let's just get outside! Then...then I can-"
"Riesz, get out. Get out, now." the king breathed out. "Mana...the changes in Mana have brought this upon us."
Mana? What of it? Whatever! That could wait! She...she needed to…" Father…" she choked out, biting down on her lip. No. No tears. Not yet. Not ever. "Father...Elliot...he-"
"He is far. I know." Joster said softly. "Taken...but rest assured...he is alive."
"Wh-What?!"
"Riesz...escape from here. Run."
"Father…"
"Your mother and I...we will meet again." the king then grew silent and still.
"Father? Father!" Riesz shouted, only to receive no answer. Then, "Father…" suddenly, a beam from above fell, forcing her to jump back, separating her from the king. One last act of cruelty against her.
"My, my…" a feminine voice suddenly said. "Such a young thing." Riesz turned to see a young, beautiful woman with long red hair and foreign attire on her person, notably a hat with feathers in it and a shawl with stripes. "Do you rule this place?"
"Wh-What?" Riesz asked.
"Well, that is your father...oh, excuse me. WAS your father, yes?" the woman asked, pointing to the recently deceased king. "And since he is no longer with us, that would make you Queen, yes?"
Riesz was silent yet still; the woman's calmness unnerved her. There was no mistaking it. She had something to do with this. "You…" she snarled. "This is your doing, isn't it?!"
"My, my, such a presumptuous young lady!" the woman laughed. "But yes. This IS my operation, although…" she pointed to her. Or rather, behind her. "THEY are the ones that killed your father. I merely gave the order." indeed, behind her stood the two ninjas she had witnessed abduct Elliot. "I leave her to you. Only, make sure this one isn't brought back alive." with that, the woman made her exit from the flaming palace.
"Wait!" Riesz bellowed, yet she was stopped by Bill stepping in her way, Ben behind her, trapping her between them. "Bastards…" she hissed. "All of you…."
"Such a mouth for such a pretty lady," Ben observed.
"Good thing your brother hasn't picked up any of that language," Bill added.
"Don't you speak of my brother!" she roared, a pair of daggers being thrust in her direction. She blocked them yet felt another pair slicing against her back. Riesz winced yet continued, delivering a kick to Bill's stomach and then turned to face Ben, only for the ninja to leap up and go to his partner.
"Maybe we should show her a trick that we didn't show her brother," Ben suggested to Bill, who looked up at him, then to the Princess.
"Oh yes, of course! Indeed, we should!" Before she could ask, Riesz witnessed the two lock hands with each other and run around in a circular motion, their movements so fast she couldn't keep track. As if they blended in with each other. Yet during the whirling, she saw something happening. Two figures were becoming one? And indeed, when they stopped, in place of two, there was only one.
"Wh-What is this?!" she questioned, raising her spear.
"Our secret trick! And it's just the beginning!" the figure replied, both Bill and Ben's voices speaking as one. "And don't worry, we'll be sure to tell your brother that you saw it!" they rushed to her; she put up her spear to block them, only to be surprised at the strength that met her. What the?! How did they grow so strong?! Then it hit her: she had to contend with the power of two now! "First trick! Abyssal Slice!" their daggers sliced upwards, nearly knocking Riesz's spear from her hands. Then, as they were up in the air, the fused ninja delivered a somersault kick to her abdomen, knocking the air from her and sending her back a few feet. "Second trick! Spike Freeze!" they threw several pellets to the floor, all of them beginning to grow blue. Soon, spikes of ice protruded outward from the spots, Riesz just seconds away from being impaled before she rolled out of the way. "Third trick! Lucent Beam!" they clapped their hands together, a ball of light forming between them. Then, several beams emitted from it, each striking Riesz. There was no time, let alone anything she could've done; the rays seemed to aim directly for her and track her movements. Finally, on the last beam, the Princess fell to the ground on her stomach. She attempted to stand, but a foot pressed down hard on her back, keeping her in place, and another on her hand clutched her spear.
"No…" she weakly moaned. "Not like this…" she felt a sharpened piece of metal against her throat, knowing well what was intended for her. She had no more energy, let alone any way to fight against her far more robust opponent. "E-Elliot…" she moaned, finding everything, the flames, her aggressor, everything going black.
Note: I think Riesz's and Hawkeye's chapters were the longest, yet please don't let this be seen as favoritism. I just want to get everything in that I can. Again, liberties are taken here with Riesz, yet for the most part, it's accurate to how it happened in the game. Rest assured, she'll be fine (heck, she's one of the main characters after all), yet I hope you all like it!
