(Ch. 15) The Annals of Y.C. - Intertwined Fates

[Anjil]

I probably won't be making any artwork for this chapter, since I still have a load of other work to do. Sorry 'bout that!

But great chapter, Kurtis! I'm really digging the personality you gave our Koopa girl XD I'll probably be drawing her a lot once I figure out her color scheme

[Yoshiken]

(A little longer of a wait than what I would have liked, but at least it is finally finished. Not too much excitement in this chapter, but I do like how it came out a lot. I think I am slowing improving in my writing style. Please tell me what you guys think ^^. Enjoy!)

Ch. 7 - Regroup and Report

Jath, Lexington, and the unknown yoshi that they had captured some time ago continued to wait in their designated spot midway up a small mountain. It was the same spot that Jath had transported to after his attempt to recruit Ra. They had been waiting on this cliff-face for a few hours now, because they had sent a squad to go scout out a nearby village to see if there were any rebels recuperating there. They gave orders to the scouts to report back at this same spot, and so they had no choice but to stay until the scouts returned.

Jath had been reviewing over mission blueprints and maps of the nearby areas to make sure there were no flaws in his plan. If the rebels escaped somehow, he had to find a way to cut them off. Lexington had been interchanging between fidgeting with her equipment and daydreaming about her days in Mocimaf. Sometimes a conversation would strike up between them, but it would usually be short, and infrequent.

The rustling of bushes could be heard among a thicket of trees near Jath and Lexington that piqued their attention. A familiar figure appeared out of the forest.

“Jath! You bloody wombat! You never mentioned that I would have to take on a whole militia!”

Jath smiled. “Greetings Jan, I take it that the mission was a success. I have been waiting for quite a while for your return. So tell me, was Yoshiken and any of the other rebels in the village?”

“Not only were they in the village, but I think they messed with me gun!” Jan bellowed. “She never jams on me when I need her most. This is more than just a mercenaries code of loyalty now. This is a personal offense! I will make sure to fill them full of bloody holes next time.” Jan stomped forward, infuriated.

“Did you take down any of the rebels?” Jath asked, already assuming the answer. “Did Ziarre and her men escape?”

Jan had begun to calm down, but not completely. “No, those drongos were lucky enough to survive. Next time though, they won't be so lucky! As for Ziarre, I don't know what happened to her and her men, but I gave her the message to retreat. I am guessing they probably escaped through the back of the inn that they were positioned in, but I could be wrong.” Jan looked back to the unknown yoshi tied up and still unconscious. “Who is the dingo all tied up?”

“I am unsure of his identity myself. He had decided to follow me at one point, and so I brought him here. When he wakes up, I wish to question him. Obviously, he must know something of value if he took the risk to follow me.” Jath replied, pondering on the matter.

Jan turned towards Lexington, who was now staring out over the horizon. “What is with her?” Jan asked Jath, lowering his volume.

“Her emotions are the combination of longing for home, as well as the feeling of not belonging here.” Jath replied. “I have tried to make her feel comfortable, but it has proven to be a difficult task. I am sure she will adapt to these conditions soon though.”

After a short moment of silence, Jan changed the subject, and engaged in a conversation with Jath regarding the details of the mission. A few minutes later, the unknown yoshi started to gain consciousness.

He tried to move his arms so that he could push himself up, however, he found that a rope had been tied around him. He remembered overhearing a conversation between two individuals where one was trying to recruit the other for help with some kind of rebellion. After hearing this, his curiosity was aroused. It was especially interesting because this man had traveled to Strux to get help to stop a rebellion, when it is usually Strux that starts rebellions.

He recalled following this man to the outskirts of Strux, and then feeling a really heavy force on him as everything started spinning. However, after that, he could not remember a thing. He looked around and saw two men talking. One of them was a koopa, and the other was the man that he had been following earlier. He did not recognize the surroundings at all though. He also found that they had not removed his swords from their individual sheathes. He concluded that all he needed to do was to sneak himself into the thicket of trees, and somehow get these ropes off of himself. He slowly rolled himself towards the forest, but after only a few feet, a foot rested on him, stopping his movement.

“What 'ave we 'ere! A prisoner?”

The yoshi looked up to see what had stopped him. It was an undead koopa, with the bones and shell clearly viewable, but nothing in terms of flesh covering them. He could tell by the voice that this figure was a woman. She had a hat with a lengthy feather sticking out at the top of it. She also had a cutlass strapped to her back.

“Ah, Ziarre, so you made it back just fine. I was beginning to worry that we may have lost you. What happened to your crew?” Jath asked, having turned in her direction.

“I ordered them to keep watch at the base of the mountain. I want you to know that I lost some bloody good men back in the village!” Ziarre snarled.

“Please forgive me for not assuming that the rebels would still have their strength. I must say, though, that I am surprised to see that kind of caring attitude towards others coming from you.” Jath replied, crossing his arms.

Ziarre laughed. “You have me all wrong, mate. I mentioned me loss because I expect to be compensated, either in money or wine. Preferably both.

Jath shook his head and smiled. “I shouldn't have expected anything less. By the way, what are you doing with your foot on top of that captured yoshi?”

“I found this bloke trying to escape! You let down your guard Jath. If I wasn't here, then you would 'ave lost him.” Ziarre said pridefully.

Jath walked closer to the yoshi, and continued to speak. “So, you are finally awake. You should have turned back from following me when you had the chance.”

The yoshi had no idea what to do next. He gathered up all the energy he could, and tried to squirm away quickly. He hardly got anywhere before he felt a hand grab one of the strands of rope wrapped around him.

“Not so fast, my friend. I need answers.” Jath said, raising the yoshi to his feet. “What is your name anyways?”

The yoshi cast an angry glare at Jath. “You expect me to just have some kind of friendly conversation with the man who is keeping me hostage? I am going to take a guess that your friends never regarded you as the smart one of the group.”

“Quite a mouth you have there. You should learn to control yourself. You are not in a position to be speaking in such a manner.” Jath said, calmly.

The yoshi was about to reply with some witty remark, but stopped himself before doing so. He paused for a few seconds before saying anything. “Fine...my name is Sanjo, and-”

Sanjo was going to say more, but Jath interrupted. “Well, Sanjo, what provoked you to make the mistake of following me?”

“Look, I overheard you talking to someone about stopping some rebellion, and I was curious at what kind of rebellion this could be. Strux is a strange place to be conducting an anti-rebellion movement like that. I thought to just follow you to find out for myself.” Sanjo said.

“Well, you will understand soon enough, because now that you are here, I will have to give you a job.” Jath replied, with a smirk on his face. “Don't worry about your safety. I am not one to take the life of one who performs his duties appropriately.”

“You think I am some kind of slave!? I-”

“Precisely.” Jath said, cutting him off, with a grin. “And if you fail to obey...”

“I get to add a new head to me collection!” Ziarre said, laughing obnoxiously.

Sanjo didn't doubt in the slightest that Ziarre was being truthful. She seemed like someone who could take the life of another while feeling neither guilt nor regret. He had definitely gotten himself into the wrong situation now.

“Fine, you win, I will do what you want, for now anyways...” Sanjo replied, making sure to put emphasis on the last part of his statement.

Jath ignored the witty remark that Sanjo had made. “Good. Rest easy, for your only assignment now is to follow us. Once we arrive at our destination, however, you will be given a much more significant task.”

Sanjo just stood in silence, with a loathing expression on his face. He would aid Jath now, for he had no other choice, but he was going to make sure that Jath would pay for his actions it in the future.

“Untie him, without cutting the rope. We might need it again.” Jath said as he walked back to his supplies. He stuffed some maps and documents, as well as small miscellaneous items into the pockets of his jacket. “Alright, it is time to move out now. Everyone gather up whatever you need. Jan, you will cover the rear, and be ready to open fire just in case our new friend decides to abandon us.”

“My pleasure, mate.” Jan replied with a grin. He quickly untied the knot on Sanjo, and then made sure that he had everything he needed on him.

“Oh, and Ziarre, your crew will be accompanying us. please keep those men under control. If any of them act out of hand, I will hold you accountable, and make sure they suffer as well.” Jath warned.

“Don't you worry, me crew understands that I don't take disobedience lightly. Me personal shelf of jars is evidence of that!” Ziarre said, with an irritable cackle.

“Lex, I would like you to be airborne for this.” Jath asserted. “You will fly low though. I will need you to survey the best routes for us, as well as we will be able to keep up a better pace when you are in the air.”

Lexington, who had been silent for a while, turned and nodded in agreement. “alright. I will get my balloons ready.”

Lexington had heard what was going on, and walked over to Sanjo as everyone was gathering up their supplies. She looked at him and smiled. “Don't worry, I know Jath. He may not appear or act like the greatest person, but he definitely has integrity. He never breaks his promises.”

Sanjo cast a strange glance at Lexington as she said that. He was not expecting this form of care from anyone in the group. Individually, he had a fixed mindset of their attributes, but as a whole, he had no idea what to think about them.

Jath placed the last document into a large pocket inside his jacket. “Alright, no more time to waste. It is time to move. Those rebels will not escape again.”

[andrevus]

So our adversaries have regrouped and so to say quite a colorfull bunch they are just like us

i wonder what comes next...

[Sanjo]

Haha, Yoshiken. Spot on! =D

I may not have commented on the last couple of chapters, but I have been reading! I'm glad this isn't dieing out yet, your work is great! And sure, maybe not as much excitement is in the chapter, but the suspense and anticipation are the goals here. I'm looking forward to what's planned next! ;D

[YoshiAgent]

Interesting... Who's Raul? And why does he mix Spanish with English?
Anyways good work, I'll be reading the next chapter when you post it.

[andrevus]

Check the signup thread if you want some info on Raúl or any character

[Yoshiken]

(Almost 3 weeks without a submission! Forgive me! XD. School has been crazy lately! No worries though, I will keep going! Anyways, Ch. 8 is very long, one of the longest. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it ^^)

Ch. 8 The Legend of Aeryphel

Moonlight dropped through the openings in the trees of the forest, as the darkness of night permeated the horizon. Yoshiken and the group with him had just set up camp, and were in the process of making a campfire. Each person was either gathering firewood and kindling, or preparing the grounds of the area so that everyone could sit comfortably around it. Each individual had their own magnitude of supplies. Some had tents, while others just placed mats on the flattest ground they could find, and used their packs as pillows.

After everything was in place, Yoshiken finished their efforts by starting the fire. The light of the fire and the shadows of the forest seemed to be involved in a never-ending dance with one another. The embers would slowly fall to the ground and burn out. It was going to be a tranquil night in contrast to the action of the day before.

Two of the men from the town's militia accompanied Sho-Hoshi on this journey. For the most part, they communicated only among themselves and with Sho-Hoshi.

Zyph was quietly sitting away from the group, meditating on his own thoughts. He wasn't one to socialize with a crowd, and frankly, he wasn't completely trusting of all the members of the group.

Andrew, Latie, Yoshiken, Anjil, Sho-Hoshi, and his two bodyguards sat close to the fire. Yoshiken and Andrew began to tell exaggerated stories about their past travels and adventures, each trying to out-do the other with tales that grew more intense, and more ridiculous, every moment. The others responded by laughs, sarcastic remarks, and the rolling of their eyes. For the most part, everyone enjoyed each other's company.

“Now that I think about it,” Yoshiken said, staring at Andrew, “you look kind of young. How old are you?”

“Sixteen!” Andrew replied, with a grin.

“Sixteen!?” Yoshiken shockingly bellowed. He switched his attention to Latie. “Were you aware of this!?”

Andrew immediately answered in her place. “She is also sixteen.”

“You two are practically kids!” Yoshiken replied obnoxiously.

“I may seem mature, but I am actually 16 as well.” Sho-Hoshi added, giving a small chuckle at the thought of Yoshiken's reaction.

“This has to be a joke,” Yoshiken muttered, already knowing that it wasn't. “How can I be expected to protect this world if I have to babysit a bunch of children at the same time!”

“You should feel lucky.” Andrew asserted. “You have youth full of strength and vitality fighting by your side!”

Yoshiken didn't reply, but simply bowed his head and sighed.

Anjil, hoping to keep the cheerful atmosphere alive, nudged Yoshiken. “Hey, I have a great idea. Why don't you tell us a story? More specifically, why don't you tell us the legend of Aeryphel? I know you love explaining it, and I bet it would help unify us if they knew more of the truth.” Anjil said, keeping the last part a whisper so that only Yoshiken could hear.

This piqued everyone's focus, including Zyph, who rose up so quickly in shock at the sound of the name. “Did he just say Aeryphel? Could it be the same person?” Zyph thought, listening intently on the story.

Yoshiken stared straight into the flames, seemingly mesmerized by its motions. “Yes, it is indeed one of my favorite stories. It is not just a child's tale however; it is true. You might know the story Sho-Hoshi, because, at least where I am from, it is fairly popular.”

Sho-Hoshi nodded in agreement. “In my travels I have heard his name, and some details of his accomplishments. However, my knowledge on the subject is still fairly dim. I am curious to hear the whole thing. Please continue.”

“that name sounds familiar, and I am not even from this world.” Andrew thought. “I can't put my finger on where I have heard it though. I doubt it is the same story.”

“There are many versions of the story, some completely different from the original. The true and original story is hardly known.” Yoshiken responded.

“And what makes you so sure that your version is the original?” Andrew questioned.

“I will be able to answer that at the end of the story.” Yoshiken replied. “Anyways, it is time I begin.”

Yoshiken once again stared into the flames still full of life. He closed his eyes, and silence dominated the camp. After a short pause, he opened his eyes, and spoke in a very serious tone. “It all began about 3000 years ago, on a continent far from the Yoshi Archipelago. War desecrated the land, but it wasn't just any war. It eventually affected every being in existence. Mages had pushed themselves into the forbidden depths of the darkest magic. They began to bring creatures from across time, space, and dimension to fight their battles.”

Anjil threw a log into the fire to keep it from dying, while Yoshiken continued. “The war enveloped many worlds, and eventually, the gods themselves became a part of it. You see, it all started with a man who set his ambitions on gaining power. He already held the position of king over Xeebyrot, one of the more prosperous kingdoms of the time. However, it wasn't long before he craved more influence, more control, more dominance. He rapidly expanded the borders of Xeebyrot, invading the smaller kingdoms surrounding it. He portrayed himself as an honorable and good-natured king, convincing his people that these invasions were necessary, so that everyone could be united under one empire, ending conflict, and ultimately bringing peace to the land.”

“What was this king's name?” Sho-Hoshi asked, pondering on the events in the story.

“His name was Soshom...King Soshom.” Yoshiken replied. “His empire was well-known for its research into the arcane. Magic was the fundamental cornerstone of the kingdom. However, his expansion earned him many enemies, and threats of a large-scale war loomed over him. As a result, he had underground societies of mages look into forbidden magic. As I said before, they eventually were able to summon creatures from across space and time. It was even said that they eventually started to summon demons from hell itself. Nevertheless, there were great consequences to these actions.”

Zyph finally emerged into the light produced by the fire. “What were these consequences?” He inquired. Zyph still gave himself some distance from the rest of the group as he sat down. He had an expression of concern on his face as he listened.

“It is good to see that you have finally decided to join us Zyph.” Yoshiken said.

Zyph didn't reply, but simply waited for the story to continue. Zyph's lack of participation and distant personality made Andrew's suspicion of him grow. Andrew continued to put most of his focus on Yoshiken and his story, but he made sure to not let Zyph out of his sight for the time being.

“The consequences were that with such a great amount of summonings being done across space and time, there would be occasional rips and deformations in the continuum. This caused chaos in the kingdom, and many of the mages that had first agreed to the summonings now attempted to put a stop to them. However, King Soshom became so controlled by his addiction to power, that he violently stopped anyone from attempting to close such portals. But he still had many supporters, and the summonings continued. He wasn't content with just this world though. He used the ability to warp space and time, allowing easy travel through the continuum, and attempted to take over other worlds as well.”

“Did he succeed?” Andrew questioned.

“Well, as to be expected, a rebellion began, being led by a powerful mage, named Delvik, who had been against the idea from the beginning. They were eventually defeated though, and Delvik was sentenced to death. Just before his execution, he uttered a prophecy that Soshom's destruction would not come from armies or nations, but from a single individual with hidden powers far beyond his own. This is where Aeryphel comes into the picture.

“I know I have heard that name before...but where?” Andrew pondered, having been bothered by this from the very beginning. He tried to ignore it, and refocus on the story.

“Aeryphel was just a simple farm-boy, living in a very rural area far from the capital of Xeebyrot. He grew up in a poor family, living his life without much of anything. However, people were amazed when they met him. He had an uncanny ability to know exactly what was going on around him. He never gave up, and his strong desire to help anyone in need granted him many friends. Aeryphel's personality and characteristics were not the only thing that attracted others to him. He sort of had an aura about him that made people feel like he could bring them hope again. Because of his family's living conditions, he made the decision to join the kingdom's militia. He advanced quickly because of his unique abilities. This is where he first learned of King Soshom's 'ideals.' He wouldn't accept them, and many orders went disobeyed. He was accused of treason, and his own superiors turned on him, hiring assassins and mercenaries to take him out. This is where his inner powers revealed themselves.“

Yoshiken paused, expecting someone to interrupt or ask a question, but they were all listening intently. “No matter how strong the men were, or how many of them attacked, no one could defeat Aeryphel. He was able to fight with something much greater than even the strongest magic available. It was beyond the abilities of any living being. He never looked for opposition, but it never ceased from coming. King Soshom threw everything he could at Aeryphel, and the small force he had collected. He was never successful though. Aeryphel finally understood the amount of corruption he was up against. It was a difficult battle, with many casualties on both sides. Aeryphel eventually fought against Soshom himself. The king had adopted all of the arcane from the many worlds he had fought to control. He had pushed himself into the lowest depths of dark magic, and had trained himself with all of it that was known to be one of the most powerful individuals in existence. The battle was unlike any other. The outcome would affect the entire universe. According to the legend, Aeryphel destroyed Soshom, but was fatally wounded in the battle. His powers included the powers over space and time, and so he was able to use the last of his strength to restore the continuum to its original condition. The kingdom was overthrown, and peace restored itself to the land. This is the legend of Aeryphel.”

Silence reigned for a moment, as everyone absorbed what they had heard. The only noise that could be heard was the crackling of the flames in front of them.

Sho-Hoshi took a quick glance at the stars, and then faced Yoshiken. “Well, it was definitely an enjoyable story, but I am curious, what was this hidden power that Aeryphel had? You never really made that clear.” Sho-Hoshi said.

“I am sorry, but I don't know every detail of the legend. I can't say exactly what this power was.” Yoshiken replied.

“It would be great if there was such a power. It would make everything so much easier, that is for sure.” Andrew muttered.

Anjil looked at Yoshiken as if he was going to say something, but he just nodded his head to Andrew's statement. She stared at him with a baffled expression on her face. She seemed as if she expected Yoshiken to say something in return.

Yoshiken stood up and stretched his body. “Yeah, it definitely would help. I am sure it exists though, because the story I told you isn't a myth. It is true.”

“Once again, why do you say that your version is true?” Andrew reiterated, remembering what Yoshiken had mentioned before the story.

“Well, let's just say I have talked to a witness of the actual events.” Yoshiken replied, with a smile on his face.

Andrew didn't really believe it, and frankly, not many of the others did either. They decided to let Yoshiken keep his own opinion unscathed though, and didn't say anything to deny the story.

“Well, we better get some rest. It is going to be a long day tomorrow, and I don't want to start the hike too late.” Yoshiken said, changing the conversation so that doubt did not linger in their minds. “Who knows if any of our enemies are still on the hunt, and so we will take turn standing guard throughout the night.”

Everyone agreed, and after they were all was assigned individual times throughout the night, they all went to go set up their own bedding. Zyph waited until everyone was busy, and then approached Yoshiken. “Yoshiken, I need to speak to you...in private.” Zyph whispered.

“Alright.” Yoshiken replied, with a tone of uncertainty.

They walked about 20 feet away, before Zyph stopped, and glared at Yoshiken. “Where did you come across that story at?” Zyph asked, assertively.

Yoshiken cast a wary expression on his face. “Why do you ask?”

“I have heard the name of Aeryphel before, in multiple dimensions and worlds.” Zyph replied. “It wouldn't have caught my attention if I only heard it a single time, but that isn't the case. I have heard people mention his name in many various worlds, some even connecting that name with a legend, such as yours. It can't be mere coincidence.”

“Simple.” Yoshiken responded. “There are many versions of the legend in this world, making the general name very common, as I explained earlier. I remember you mentioning that you had the responsibility of protecting dimensions when we first met. I am sure you are not the only one with such a duty. Someone with the same job could have brought the story from here to other worlds. ”

Zyph was about to reply, but Yoshiken interrupted before he could say anything. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have to make sure everything is prepared for the night.” Yoshiken walked back to the rest of the group. Zyph just stood there, contemplating on what secrets Yoshiken could be keeping.

As Yoshiken returned, he found Anjil setting up her bedding for the night. “Could you help me with this Yoshiken?” She asked, seeing him nearby.

“Sure, no problem.” He replied.

As soon as Yoshiken was near, she stopped what she was doing, and stared at him. “Why didn't you explain to them what the hidden power was?” She whispered sharply.

“I am sorry, I just couldn't” Yoshiken responded.

“Why not?” Anjil questioned. “If they knew the full truth of what it was, then I am sure they would be more willing to help.”

“What if they didn't believe me? I would be seen as a gullible fool that had lost his mind, if it hasn't already come to that. I am sorry, they aren't ready for that kind of knowledge yet. They just...aren't ready.”

Anjil simply sighed, as she prepared herself for the short rest that she, as well as everyone else, would receive that night.

[Sanjo]

Well worth the wait, so don't worry about the series being timely! I know exactly what you mean; school is definitely putting a strain on my schedule as well.

One thing that I loved in this chapter was your attention to detail. It was very clear what was happening, and your writing produced some great images in my head. The only thing about that bit that was a tiny bit off was when you had Anjil put a log into the fire. It sorta broke the flow a little bit I thought, but I can understand why you put it in there, so it's not too big of a deal.
The other thing I liked was the tension you built between Zyph and Yoshiken. I thought that was very well done, and it left me wondering what was going to become of that tension, whether or not it would build up over time or just settle there.

All in all, awesome job! I can't wait for the next chapter, but obviously, take as much time as you need.

[andrevus]

great as ever it is definitely the best chapter so far and the story was really great in all portions of it.I do wonder what those secrets Yoshiken is keeping...

But that kindergarden joke was really disturbing XD

[Yoshiken]

(Oh man, almost a month later than the last one XD. I promise! This won't keep up! Once school is over, I will definitely be more consistent ^^).

Ch. 9 - Fatal Confrontations

Storm clouds covered the sky, bringing heavy rain to those below. It was mid-day now, but with the lack of sunlight coming through, it was almost impossible to tell. Jath and his group had quickly taken shelter under the canopy of the forest that they assumed Yoshiken was hiding in. Jan was still keeping his watch over Sanjo, while Ziarre was doing the same with her men. They both were growing impatient with Jath's pace though. Jan wanted revenge for the embarrassment he suffered back at the village when his gun jammed. Ziarre simply had a thirst for the blood of those opposing her. Sanjo had not spoken a word since the descent of the mountainside.

Lexington was forced to stay on the ground when they entered the forest. She wouldn't be able to see much through the thickness of it if she was airborne, as well as it would prove to be dangerous with such a storm. This forced Jath to lessen his pace, because of her limp while walking. However, Jath knew that they had to catch Yoshiken and his group before they got too far ahead. At one point, He told Lex that the group would continue on and let her catch up. They would make it so that the trail could be easily followed, and they assured her that she would eventually meet up with them.

Lexington didn't mind too much though. This would give her time to really contemplate her situation. This also gave her a better chance of not being in a fight where she would have to harm someone that had not wronged her, which would have weighed heavily on her conscience. She definitely was not in a hurry to catch up.

There was also a new face added to the group though. When Jath had previously reached the base of the mountain, he had received a message from Zerroda via a holographic image communicator band on Jath's wrist. The message indicated to Jath that he would be receiving a new unit to add to the group, one that would surely prove to be effective. The unit was dimensionally warped to Jath almost immediately after the communication ended.

The new member was a yoshi with copper colored skin, named Jericus. His eyes were red, and constantly bloodshot. All he wore was a battered, tan robe. Thousands of small scars covered his body. He always seemed tense and paranoid, to the point of shaking, often muttering words that usually could not be heard or understood to suppress such feelings. The only thing that appeared to calm him down, other than his vague ramblings, were cigarettes that were constantly smoked.

He carried many fire-based weapons on him. This included a flamethrower, incendiary grenades, and a heat-based firearm known as an inferno pistol. Jericus absolutely worshipped fire. It was more than holy to him, and he reflected that belief in the way he spoke about it. He believed that it could purify anything, including an individual, and he enforced that perception. He also had the ability to manifest psychic powers, which had been a large catalyst to his paranoia.

The group had stopped for a temporary rest, keeping close to the trees to avoid the rain. Jath had told the group to wait for him while he scouted ahead to find the best route. As soon as he got a fair distance away, he stopped, and attempted to contact Zerroda on his wrist communicator. A holographic image of Zerroda appeared after only a moment.

“Greetings my lord.” Jath said respectively.

“Make this quick Jath, I am quite busy.” Zerroda replied.

“It is about Jericus,” Jath responded. “I am concerned about him. He seems too mentally unstable to be of any use on a mission like this. He could snap and turn on us at any time it seems. Are you sure it is a good idea to trust him?”

“I have to agree, it is a risk, but it is one that must be taken.” Zerroda said, in a calm tone.

“I am sorry, but I do not understand.” Jath replied, still doubting the maneuver.

“Jath, we can't afford to come out victorious in this war if we are predictable.” Zerroda asserted. “The enemy must not be able to read our movements, or our methods. With someone that has a mind as complex as Jericus', it will be impossible for the rebels to predict his actions. He is a necessary tool to this plan.”

“What if he turns on us, and perceives us to be the enemy?” Jath questioned

“I trust that you will not allow that to happen. Just give him a reason to trust you. Now I must be going, farewell.” Zerroda abruptly ended the conversation, and the hologram dissipated.

Jath sighed, but before the disappointment got to him, he heard a faint noise coming from the north of him. He stopped, and focused on the sound, and then he heard a familiar voice. “Yoshiken...” He whispered to himself, being anxious to kill off the rebels, and end this mission.

He sprinted back, and when he returned, he found Ziarre threatening her crew, and Jan explaining to Sanjo his past mercenary stories against Sanjo's own free will, which caused him to curse his own imprisonment more than anything.

“Everyone!” Jath shouted. “I have located the enemy camp. Prepare yourself for the attack! I hope you all remember your specific orders!” Everyone stopped what they were doing and were getting ready to move. Jath turned to face the direction that he heard Yoshiken's voice from. “You won't escape me this time...”

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“I still can't believe Zyph would just abandon us without saying anything!” Yoshiken roared as he continued to fold his mat up quickly, so that it wouldn't get any more drenched with rainwater. He was the only one that had not completely finished packing at this point. The place where the campfire had been was practically flooded, creating black pools of ash around it. The rain wasn't a pleasant sight for him.

“Zyph must have left when it was his turn to watch over the camp during the night.” Anjil replied. “It is strange that he didn't say a word to us though...”

“Well I say good riddance!” Andrew said sharply, “I knew he couldn't be trusted. I bet he was a spy, and he is giving away our position as we speak! Next time we meet, I will make sure that he learns a valuable lesson about betrayal.”

“You never know.” Sho-Hoshi responded. “It might just be the opposite. What if he was captured fighting off some assassins. You have to look at all angles of the situation.”

“Pffft, I doubt it. He may be suspicious, but he didn't look weak.” Andrew retorted.

While they waited for Yoshiken to finish up, they attempted to cover up their tracks so that no one could figure out that they had camped there. It was almost impossible though, because the rain had turned the dirt to mud. They would have to rely on speed rather than stealth.

“Okay, I am ready to go. Let's hurry and get out of this forest.” Yoshiken declared.

As he was about to leave the area that they had camped in, a tall man approached the grounds. He smiled and waved as he nonchalantly walked towards the group. “Greetings travelers!” The man had very strange clothing on, with various accessories that Yoshiken had never seen before.

Yoshiken rested his hand on the hilt of his katana. “Who are you?” He asked.

“Well, I am just a simple hermit living on the outskirts of the forest. I often just take strolls through the forest when I get bored. I enjoy greeting campers and travelers on my paths, and assist them with anything they are in need of.” The man replied.

Andrew approached the man. “Actually, we could use help knowing the best route out of here, one that preferably gets us into a direction that leads to a city.”

“No problem at all. I know this forest like the back of my hand. Just follow me.” The man turned and continued to walk through the trees. The group followed with the same pace.

“So, what brings you out to these ends of the Mytra Forest?” the hermit asked, still walking forward without turning his body to face the group. “You are pretty far off the main trails. You don't want to get yourself lost now.”

“To be honest, we were escaping from a group of people with the intent of harming us.” Anjil replied. “We came to this part of the forest for protection.”

“Really? You all seem like very kind people.” The man stated. “What caused this group to act in such a way, if you don't mind me asking?”

Anjil looked at Yoshiken, who just shrugged his shoulders showing that he still had no idea how they got into this mess. “Actually, we don't really know ourselves. We have no recollection of doing anything wrong to another individual. We don't remember how we got involved with them, and why they are hunting us down.”

“So it's true...they really don't remember.” The strange hermit thought. “Well, I better get this over with before they figure anything out.” The man suddenly stopped in a small opening in the thicket of trees. He looked at his surroundings, and seemed to concentrate hard on certain spots. “I am afraid that I can take you no further Yoshiken.” He said, reaching both hands inside opposite ends of his bulky vest.

“Are we lo...” Yoshiken stopped what he was about to say, and stepped back. “How did you know my name was Yoshiken?”

“Oh, I know much more about you than that, my friend.” The man said cryptically. “I know of the trouble you encountered back at the village. I know about the hill you had found yourself on previous to that. I even know about the battle that you had on that very same hill!” The man raised his voice higher with every word, until it was almost a roar.

Yoshiken gripped the hilt of his sword, as the rest of the group reacted in similar ways. Yoshiken was about to respond, but the man cut him off before he could say anything.

“You want to know why I am aware of such things?” The man's tone of voice returned to a calm one. “It is because I was the one who attacked you! Those were my subordinates that attempted to kill you under my command. You were lucky enough to escape both of those battles, however, I will not give you the chance to do the same again.” He took out his hands from his vest, revealing two gauntlets with razor sharp edges over the knuckles.

He lunged towards Yoshiken with a closed fist, who just barely blocked the bladed gauntlet with his katana. The man jumped back before Yoshiken could make a proper counter-attack. “I would hate to kill you without you even knowing who I am, so I will refresh your memory.” He held his hand high into the air, like some sort of emblem. “My name is Jath. Remember it in the afterlife.”

Shouts were heard all around them in the forest. Yoshiken and the group followed Jath right into his trap. They were now stuck in the middle of the enemy's forces.

“We need to think of a plan quickly, they seem to be be closing in.” Andrew said, sword in hand.

Jath rushed towards Yoshiken again with tremendous speed. Yoshiken wasn't as unprepared for the strike as he was before, and parried it without difficulty. However, Yoshiken appeared more on the defensive than the offensive, because of Jath's apparent skill. At one point, Jath's fist went flying towards Yoshiken's abdomen.

A sword clashed against the gauntlet, parrying it to the side, but it wasn't Yoshiken's katana. Instead, it was Andrew's sword. “Sorry, I am not one to just sit quietly on the side. If you are looking for a fight, it is going to have to be with all of us, not just one.” He added. They began to attack together, trying to create openings in Jath's defense for the other to strike.

Jath didn't flinch though, and the grin on his face did not change. He was able to parry and evade every blow with ease. The two got the impression that Jath had the ability to make himself move quicker if needed, for his movements always seemed fast enough to block each maneuver.

An odd looking yoshi slowly approached Jath from behind. “Care to assist me Jericus?” Jath said, not taking his focus off of Yoshiken and Andrew. “These two oppose our cause. They must be dealt with.”

“I see...” Jericus muttered, mumbling a few more words under his breath that couldn't be heard. “They must be purified.” He held a flamethrower in his hands, getting ready to ignite it.

Anjil, Latie, Sho-Hoshi, and the other two bodyguards with him, all watched in dismay as they saw dozens of ruffians running to where they were standing, lead by someone with a familiar face.

“Ziarre...” Anjil whispered shockingly.

Ziarre and her men positioned themselves in a large arch as they charged forward. “Don't be lettin' them scurvy dogs escape this time!”

Being almost completely surrounded, one of Sho-Hoshi's bodyguards ran into a part of the forest that was at the opposite end of where the pirates were coming from. It was the only other opening, besides the spot where Yoshiken and Andrew were fighting Jath. “Hurry, this way, before they catch up!” the man asserted.

“Wait!” Sho-Hoshi shouted. “It could be another-” Sho-Hoshi's voice was drowned out by a loud cycle of gunshots. The body of the guard from the village slumped to the forest floor. Blood began to permeate his clothing, as well as the soil around him.

“Sorry mate, but you're facin' off with the best! I never let me prey escape.” Jan bellowed, coming out of the shadows, holding his rifle by his hip. He looked at the group, who were stunned from seeing a comrade fall. Sho-Hoshi was especially shocked, seeing a close friend killed right in front of him. He couldn't say anything, but could only stare with wide-open eyes.

Jan pointed his rifle at the rest of the group. “Now you get yours, ya slippery dingos!”

All the escape routes had been cut off. There was no where left to run. They could only watch as death spread out its arms to embrace them.

[andrevus]

Ohmaigawd Epicness flows in every letter in this chapter!

But on to the story
“Sorry, I am not one to just sit quietly on the side. If you are looking for a fight, it is going to have to be with all of us, not just one.”
THAT is something i DO say IRL wow that is so 100% me XD

Only problem is what are we gonna do?
do we group up and do a counter rush? or maybe Latie
sustains damage and i go terminator? or Zyph reapers from the
shadows and does....something? i do hope to find out sooner and without waiting +1 week/chapters

[Anjil]

Seriously great stuff, Kurtis! But you already know that. You really know how to end chapters, don't you!

I'm going to print this out as a book (on Lulu or something) once you're done with the entire story.

[andrevus]

Hey Ange in that case id like to preorder a copy XD

[Yoshiken]

(Wow, with Christmas and the Secret Santa that I had to do, I did not expect this chapter to be finished before a month passed, but I guess I was wrong. Now that the new year has brought some extra free time, I will hopefully be producing these at a faster pace. Enjoy.)

Ch. 10 – Dancing in the Rain

“Uksha makkul ol kaleer.” Anjil spoke quickly, raising her staff vertically, high above her head. A transparent orange aura emanated from the tip, and curved downwards in an arch, until it encased Latie, Sho-Hoshi, and his other guard. The heavy rain did not penetrate the magical dome, but instead it trickled down the sides.

“Ya think that'll stop me? Gotta do better than that.” Jan said, with a grin. He opened fire on the group, but the bullets ricocheted off the orange barrier. “Bloody wench!” Jan muttered. “You can't stay in there forever. It is only a matter of time, mate.”

“He is right...what are we going to do?” Latie said softly.

Anjil was still holding her staff high up into the air, trying to focus all her energy on the barrier. “I will probably only be able to hold up for a few more minutes!” She replied, frustrated from the situation. “Someone better come up with a plan quickly!”

“Andrew and Yoshiken can still rescue us.” Latie responded.

“Don't count on it. It appears that they have their own overwhelming burdens.” Sho-Hoshi's bodyguard said.

He was right. Yoshiken and Andrew were having a difficult time keeping up with Jath and Jericus. Whenever they attempted to position themselves for a proper counter-attack, Jericus would break their momentum with his heat-based weaponry. Jath would react by delivering swift blows with his gauntlets that would force Yoshiken and Andrew to step back.

While everyone was frantically trying to think of any possible way to survive, Sho-Hoshi had not said a word. His attention had not moved from the spot where his comrade was murdered. He tilted his head down, and looked at the drenched, muddy ground. He could hear the rain bombarding the outside of the barrier. He looked up and saw the grin on Jan's face. Sho-Hoshi paused before letting out a small sigh.

Sho-Hoshi turned to the other guard. “After everyone escapes, I want you to return to the village and hold a funeral service for all the members of the militia who sacrificed their lives for our home.” He said.

The guard looked baffled at Sho-Hoshi's apparent optimism that they would escape. He did not know how to respond, and could only stare in confusion.

“Farewell, my friend.” Sho-Hoshi replied collectively. He walked towards the barrier on the side where the pirates were rushing towards them. It would only be a few seconds now before they reached the edge of the barrier. They wouldn't be able to enter it, for the barrier cannot be breached from the outside, but they would have to wait until it dissipated. Only those inside the magical dome can pass through.

That is exactly what Sho-Hoshi did. He approached the end of the barrier and, without hesitation, he stepped through to the outside.

“What are you doing!?” The guard cried out. He ran to the spot where Sho-Hoshi had walked out of the dome. “You must come back in! Hurry!”

“It's no use.” Anjil interrupted, still holding her staff up. “Once you exit the barrier, you cannot come back in again.”

The guard looked at Anjil with a grim expression, and then turned back towards Sho-Hoshi. “Run! It is your only chance to survive!” He shouted in desperation.

Sho-Hoshi looked back at him with a tranquil smile. He turned away from the guard and directed his hand to a puddle next to his foot that had formed from the heavy rainfall. The water started to rise and form into a staff in his hand. Immediately after it solidified, Sho-Hoshi gripped it tightly, and focused his mind.

“One of them stepped out of the bloody bubble!” One of the pirates exclaimed, with a laugh.

“Don't be too hasty now!” Another replied. “It could be a trap. Stay on your guard.”

The pirates approached cautiously, with almost no distance between them and Sho-Hoshi. It would only be a number of seconds before they were in striking distance.

“We got 'em now!” The same pirate said. “And what luck, it even stopped rainin'. Me job just got easier.”

“Don't you think it's strange that it is still raining on the bloody barrier though?” A third pirate asked.

“Now that ya mention it, that-” The pirate stopped mid-sentence, shockingly staring upwards with widened eyes.

Those who noticed this reaction also looked upwards to see what caused such awe. A massive body of water had collected above them, covering more area than the crew itself. The large lump of water separated into dozens of smaller spheres.

“Whichever one of you runs away will be the next head on me shelf! Charge forward and kill them all!” Ziarre shouted.

The pirates hesitated for a moment, before rushing forward. Sho-Hoshi thrust his hands downwards and the floating mass of water smashed into the crew from above. Sho-Hoshi moved his staff quickly and swiftly from side to side, and the water followed the movements. He would break it up into smaller spheres of water and smash them against pirates with such force and pressure, that it would bring them to the ground.

Jan was witnessing what was happening, and decided to move to where he could get a shot off at Sho-Hoshi without the barrier getting in the way.

“Sho-Hoshi, watch out for the man coming up from behind!” The remaining bodyguard roared.

Sho-Hoshi instantly moved one of his hands in an arch, and then lunged his hand quickly towards the direction of Jan. A large sphere of water moved around the barrier, and shot towards Jan with such great speed, that he fell to the ground, with his gun being knocked out of his hands.

“Gah, You li'l...I will make sure you get what you deserve, mate!” Jan said, as he attempted to recover back on his feet. He attempted to grab his gun, but a foot stomped down onto it before he could. He looked up and saw the remaining guard standing over him, with sword in hand.

The guard sliced his sword downwards towards Jan's face. Jan brought up his arm, which had a small, oval metal shield connected to it at the wrist. The sword clashed against the shield, allowing Jan to counter by pushing the villager off with the momentum. Jan quickly got on his feet, and pulled out a large dagger just in time to parry another attack from the bodyguard. Jan shoved his opponent, causing the gun to be freed.

Jan quickly grabbed it, while sliding the dagger into its sheathe. He didn't have time to position the large gun though, and so he grabbed a smaller handgun that he had with his free hand.

However, the guard quickly gained his composure back and charged forward. Both he and Jan stopped their advancement and saw that they were at a standstill. The bodyguard's sword was less than an inch away from the top of Jan's neck, above his armor, while Jan's gun was pointed directly at the guard's head. They both glared at each other in silence.

Anjil observed the stalemate, and decided that it was safe to let down the barrier. She dropped to her knees, exhausted from the amount of magical energy it took to sustain the shield.

Jath saw that Anjil had released the barrier from the corner of his eye. He immediately pulled back from the fight. Yoshiken and Andrew made an effort to pursue, but Jericus blocked their path by igniting his flamethrower and advancing towards them.

The water that Sho-Hoshi had been controlling gradually moved slower and slower, until it finally stopped and fell to the ground. Sho-Hoshi had drained all of the stamina in his body. He collapsed to the ground and became unconscious. Most of Ziarre's crew had been knocked out, but there were still a few of the pirates, including Ziarre, who were able to endure through it and get back onto their feet.

Ziarre looked around, and saw many of her men lying on the ground. “What a bunch of useless blokes! An extra ration of rum to whoever takes out the mage!”

Anjil was still breathing heavily from the exhaustion that overcame her. “Latie...you have to do something. Just hold them back, until my strength returns.”

Latie was hesitant, but she finally nodded her head. She stretched her hands out and manipulated the air to create telekinetic waves, which she used to slice towards the enemy. It wasn't enough to kill them, but because of their fatigue from Sho-Hoshi's previous magical outburst, they were halted in their advancement. Ziarre wasn't as stunned though, and was the only one able to press forward, though it was at a much slower pace.

“Yoshiken, I will distract this guy. You take down Jath!” Andrew said, holding his sword horizontally. Condensed plasma started to build up in the blade, and when he swung the sword from one side to the other, the stored energy shot out of the blade towards Jericus, who attempted to evade it, but was hit in the shoulder.

He grunted, and took his hand off the flamethrower and grabbed the spot where he was hit. Yoshiken took this chance to rush past him and towards Jath.

“You blaspheme against something as sacred as these flames...? Unforgivable.” Jericus stated, pulling out a heat-based pistol.

“Not good...” Andrew whispered to himself.

“Emerayza.” Anjil said softly, with the last of her strength. She pointed her staff towards Andrew and Jericus. She had been watching their battle for some time now, and noticed that Andrew was in trouble. A small orb of light appeared in the middle of the field between Jericus and Andrew. It exploded outwards in a burst of that light, and not only did it push Andrew and Jericus away in opposite directions, but it blinded both of them as well, temporarily.

Yoshiken was still dashing toward Jath, who was simply smiling victoriously as his enemy was approaching. Jath suddenly whistled loudly, causing Yoshiken to stop so that he wouldn't fall for a possible trap. Two men, recruited from Ziarre's crew, came out from a thicket of trees behind Jath with a yoshi in between them that had his hands tied up with a rope.

“Yoshiken!” Jath shouted, loud enough so that everyone could hear. “Before we continue, let me introduce you to a friend of mine.” Jath walked up to the yoshi and put one of the bladed gauntlets up to his neck. “His name is Sanjo, and he took it upon himself to help me out.”

“Let him go Jath!” Yoshiken exclaimed. “He isn't a part of this!”

“Do not worry, I don't plan to harm Sanjo in any way...if my conditions are met.” Jath said, mischievously. “I will free him, in exchange for you.”

“So if I become your prisoner, you will not harm him?” Yoshiken asked, making sure he had heard correctly.

Jath nodded. “Indeed. He will be-”

“Don't listen to him! I will be fine. Just get yourself out of here!” Sanjo said, interrupting Jath.

“So what will be your decision Yoshiken?” Jath replied, grinning from Sanjo's reaction.

Yoshiken sheathed his sword without saying anything. He slowly approached Jath with a defeated look on his face. “...you win” Yoshiken whispered as he came near Jath.

“The sacrifice of a hero!” Jath said sarcastically, snickering to himself afterwards. “How honorable.” As Jath was about to tie up Yoshiken, he gave a signal to the guards to loosen the rope around Sanjo. “I always win, Yoshiken.”

Just then, a spherical object rolled out from a dense area of trees behind Jath and the guards. Another object flew over their heads towards the direction of Ziarre and her remaining crew. A third object was also falling towards the direction of Andrew and Jericus.

“What 'ave we 'ere?” One of the guards of Sanjo said, observing the object.

The second guard walked a bit closer to the object to get a better look. He almost stumbled over himself as he quickly tried to sprint away. “Tis a bloody bomb!”

[andrevus]

Epic as expected(and whoo quite a quick one with this chapter)

When i first saw that Latie once again said something i was just stunned XD although that kinda step back with Jericus' pistol got me for a sec (oh and thanks for friendly fire Anjil as if fighting weren't enough, you throw a flashbomb at me XD)
and 3 bombs eh? well there's only one person in the story (for now) that can use such contraptions

[Yoshiken]

(I meant to get this out before the wedding, but I guess it never really happened that way...XD. I can't say that I put as much effort into this one as I usually do, because I was so busy getting prepared for the wedding, but don't think that I still didn't work hard on it, because I definitely did. I do hope you enjoy it!)

Ch. 11 – The Art of Retreat

The guards let go of Sanjo as they attempted to escape from the imminent explosion. Sanjo, seeing the bomb, also began to sprint in the opposite direction. The blast sent them all to the ground with great force. Sanjo was filled with adrenaline as he noticed that this was his only chance for escape. He immediately stood up on his feet, even with all of his wounds. Though they were close, the guards never completely secured the rope around Sanjo's arms, and so it was still somewhat loose. In just a few seconds Sanjo was able to free himself, as well as find his sheathed swords on the ground where it had fallen from the hands of one of the guards during the explosion. The guard had taken them earlier as a necessary precaution.

Jath and Yoshiken had to defend themselves against the explosion as well. Once the blast settled, Yoshiken noticed that Sanjo was no longer tied up. In fact, Sanjo was running to where the rest of the group was collecting. Yoshiken decided to follow, to make sure that everyone on his team was still alive.

The bomb that exploded in the area near Jericus gave Andrew more time to run back and check on the condition of his team. He noticed Sho-Hoshi unconscious on the ground. He saw Latie ready to fend off any attacks with her telekinetic powers, while Anjil was on her knees, with almost no energy left in her. Andrew observed the standoff between Jan and the villager, and began to rush over to assist him.

“I will handle this, you grab the others and get out of here!” The guard shouted, keeping Jan in his vision.

Andrew was reluctant at first to obey, but when he pondered on the situation, he found that the ideal moment for retreat was now, when everyone was distracted by the explosions. “Alright,” he said, “but you better make it out alive!”

He ran back, and extended his hand out to Anjil, helping her up. “We have to get out of here now while we have the chance!” He said, trying to rush everyone.

“What are we going to do about Sho-Hoshi?” Latie asked.

“He needs to regain consciousness now!” Andrew replied. “We don't have the time to try and carry him.”

“Just leave it to me.” Sanjo said, coming up from behind Andrew. He ran to Sho-Hoshi and grabbed him, giving him a powerful slap, as well as splashing some water from a nearby puddle onto his face. “Come on! Wake up already!”

Sho-Hoshi slowly opened his eyes. He had a slight headache, and it was only made worse by the dizziness he felt. “...Did we escape?” He asked, still trying to regain his focus.

Sanjo helped him up, and put Sho-Hoshi's arm around his shoulder to support him. “Not yet, but we will, don't you worry about that,” Sanjo responded.

“What about the other villager?” Yoshiken said, having approached the group.

“Under my orders...he will be...returning back to the village.” Sho-Hoshi replied, gradually gaining strength.

“Alright then, I will be the distraction so that you can all escape.” Yoshiken said. He noticed a concerned expression come over the faces of many in the team. “Don't worry, I will be following you.”

They planned on retreating through an opening in the forest between the spots where Ziarre and Jath were standing. Yoshiken put his katana back into its sheathe, and focused his energy on his hands. Flames started to form into spheres in his palms. He stretched his arms out and shot the flames in opposite directions. He continued to form small balls of fire in his hands, and then shoot them out quickly. Because of their size, the flames could hardly do any serious damage, but this allowed Yoshiken to build the fireballs up quickly and release them in rapid succession at many different angles. Once the enemy had their focus on dodging the attack, the group began to make their retreat.

Jan and Sho-Hoshi's bodyguard remained at a standstill, weapons positioned fatally. They kept a steady glare on each other, and continued to remain silent. However, when Jan saw that the rest of the group was escaping, he decided to disengage. He used his ability of dimensional transportation to vanish and appear right next to Jath. The bodyguard was baffled for a moment, but immediately ran towards the direction of the village, ready to carry out Sho-Hoshi's orders.

He regained his composure before raising his main gun up. “Don't stress, I'll take care of this,” Jan said confidently. He activated his psionic-powered boots, and prepared to follow. Ziarre also began to make chase.

“Stand down! Let them have their short-lived retreat,” Jath said, with an arm stretched out to block Jan's pursuit.

“What are you thinkin', ya bludger!? Why would you let them escape!” Jan proclaimed.

“He's bloody right! We had 'em in our hands, and then ye let 'em walk away!” Ziarre agreed.

“It is all part of the plan. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some business to take care of,” Jath said, while walking deeper into the forest. “Stay here, and watch for Lexington. She should be approaching soon. Give her a briefing on the battle, and tell her to get ready to go airborne. This storm is starting to wither, so be prepared to move when it dies.”

Andrew was covering the rear of the group as they attempted to escape. However, it didn't seem like they were being followed at all. Many in the group couldn't help but find this suspicious. Nevertheless, they wouldn't dare try to go back. After only a moment, a figure was seen coming towards them at a quick pace.

“Keep up your guard, we have someone coming up from behind!” Andrew exclaimed, gripping his sword. “I will handle this one. Just don't look back. Make it appear that we do not know that they are coming.” The group continued to run at a mediocre pace, because of the injured teammates. The figure was advancing quickly. The individual continued to move closer and closer until it was only a few feet away. Just at that moment, Andrew stopped and swung his sword around in a horizontal arc towards the pursuer.

“What the...!” The figure reacted, stumbling backwards to avoid the blow. Andrew stopped his sword right before it made contact.

The figure was a man, with a cap on his head, and a small hammer strapped to his back. He had a large backpack with many bulges in it. The most distinguishing features, however, were the unique ears on his head, as well as a tail that he had.

“Hmm, I haven't seen a race like this before in many years. He must come from the northern continents. I wonder what brings him here though?” Anjil asked.

Andrew raised his sword in the air. “It doesn't really matter how he got here. I will make sure he doesn't have the chance to attack,” He said, getting ready to stab downwards.

“No! Wait! I am not the enemy!” The man shouted, fearing for his life.

Andrew stopped, and then Yoshiken stepped in front of him, with a contemplative look on his face. “Hmm...You wouldn't happen to be the one that threw out all those explosives, would you?”

“Yes, that was me,” The man said, getting back up onto his feet. “I heard some commotion over in the edge of the forest, and when I went to check it out, I noticed you were being attacked.”

“How did you know that they were the enemy though?” Yoshiken asked.

“Well uhh...I had heard of a dark force rising up in this part of the world. I came looking for the group that was trying to stop them,” He said, a bit hesitant to speak. “You match the description of one of the members of that group. The white mage,” he said, pointing at Anjil, “was also described as a member of this group.”

“You...knew about us?” Yoshiken asked, baffled that there were outside forces that knew about all of this. Yoshiken pondered on how widespread the events must have been previous to his amnesia back at the village. He contemplated on the number of people that had any knowledge on his group. Yoshiken would have asked more about it, but now was not the time.

“We can get this all figured out once we are on safer ground, but we need to move quickly!” Andrew asserted.

“He is right,” Anjil said. “We can question him once we reach the next town.”

“Where is the nearest town anyways?” Yoshiken asked, “without having to backtrack, of course.”

“Port Aylberk,” Sho-Hoshi replied, interrupting the conversation. He had gained most of his energy back by now, and felt quite healthy again. “Port Aylberk is directly northwest from here. In fact, if we walk quickly, we can make it there by tomorrow morning.”

“I will follow you until we get to the port, and then we must part ways.” Sanjo said.

“Well, let's hurry then,” Yoshiken replied, already beginning to move. They kept up their guard, and made sure to keep themselves hidden as much as possible in-between the trees.

*****

Jath, finding himself alone, activated his wrist communicator. A holographic image of Zerroda appeared.

“You are late, Jath. Do not make this a habit,” Zerroda said. “I was beginning to think that you had been killed.”

Jath had gotten used to the strict criticism that Zerroda often game him. “Forgive me, my lord, but there was some outside interference.” Jath replied, calmly.

“I don't want to hear your pitiful excuses. Were you successful or not?” Zerroda replied, irritated from Jath's response.

“Yes, there were some complications at first, but I was able to divert them in the direction of Aylberk.” Jath replied, somewhat pridefully.

“Excellent. Were there any additional casualties on their side?” Zerroda asked, with no smile or positive reaction on his face, which Jath had also adapted to.

“Only one, on their side. There are many serious injuries on those who were stationed under the command of Ziarre, but I am unsure if any of them were actually killed.” Jath replied, somewhat shamefully. “I will make sure that there is not a single survivor next time.”

“I expect nothing short of complete success. Keep them on the route to Port Aylberk. Do not engage the enemy until they are on a ship at sea.” Zerroda explained. “Now, I must take care of a few things before they reach the port.” The image faded away, and the communicator was no longer activated.

Jath understood that if he failed this time, there would be serious consequences to face. The rebels were traveling in the direction of Port Aylberk, but even if they did stop there, how would they be convinced to take a boat to another island? Zerroda's plan had been to get them confined onto a ship, and then destroy them mid-voyage where there would be no way to escape. It seemed too risky though, unless Zerroda had others involved that Jath did not know about, which was most likely the case.

Jath walked back to the rest of his team, and found that Lexington had finally arrived. She didn't seem too tired, indicating that she traveled at a calm pace. She was really never in any hurry to reach the team though, knowing how stressful the whole situation was. “Lex, I am glad to see you are safe. Have you been informed on what has happened?” Jath asked.

“All I have been told was that the rebels escaped.” Lexington replied.

“It was intentional, despite what you have heard from others,” Jath replied, casting Jan a hostile glare. “Zerroda intends on destroying the rebels all at once without the possibility of retreat.”

[YoshiAgent]

The part with the bombs confused me a bit.
Jericus seems pretty awesome. Almost like my other character, Agent. Thank goodness you selected Greg, two pyros in the story woulda been crazy weird.

Nice work Yoshiken.

[Yoshiken]

(Well, I worked really hard trying to improve my writing style with this chapter. I really like how it came out. However, if you forgot some of the details from the previous chapters, I suggest you review before reading this one. If you don't understand what is happening in the first portion, then re-read chapter 6. It is the lengthiest chapter yet, but also one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy.)

Ch. 12 – Fog of War

Port Aylberk was a booming coastal town, well known for its pubs. The most popular pub, however, was known as the Foaming Tides Tavern, which had received its name because of the large amounts of foam that would collect on the jugs of Ale they served. The fish, especially the Perch, always seemed to be cooked to perfection, and you could always expect to hear great fisherman stories from the veteran anglers that frequented the pub. While the details of the stories were often blurry and constantly changing, the themes never changed. The stories would include pirate attacks, mermaid sightings, mutinies, ancient magical Yoshian gold, being stranded on an unknown island with native headhunters, and, of course, how the “big one” just barely got away. Fishermen would hear each other's stories, and try to best it with their own. It was a never-ending process.

However, while all of these were catalysts to making the Foaming Tides Tavern such a success with the port, the main reason for its popularity was its owner; a fine-bearded, plump dwarf named Derin. Derin's enthusiastic personality and friendly character is what brought such fame to the pub. Everyone in the town knew and respected him, for he had lived there for all 51 years of his life. Never had he spoken a negative word to anyone that had not deserved it. Many people tried to convince him to run for the governor of Port Aylberk, for he would surely have had a landslide victory. Derin was content with his tavern though, and wouldn't give it up for the world.

Today, however, had not been a fantastic day for him. A heavy storm had just passed through the port only a few hours before. Drizzle still paraded the streets, and the clouds continued to look menacing. A dense fog had moved into the port to take the place of the storm. People didn't want to take the risk of getting drenched, and so business was very slow today. Derin hated these types of days, because he wasn't able to talk with anyone except for those working there, and most of the time, those conversations ended quickly because the workers would have to focus on their tasks at hand. Every now and again a cold, weary traveler would stop in, order warm broth, allowing Derin a moment of friendly chatter. But all too often, it would end abruptly with the individual stopping in the middle of the conversation to pay for the meal and be on his way.

It was evening now, and Derin was just finishing up mopping near one of the tables. As soon as he finished, the front door opened. Derin was overjoyed to see an unknown face walk in. It was a man, with a small hood on that didn't overshadow much of the facial features. Derin didn't waste any time in introducing himself.

“Welcome to the finest tavern in the city!” Derin said, enthusiastically. “You must be a traveler, because I don't think we have ever met, and I know just about every face that comes in here. The name's Derin Rigferd and I am the owner of this establishment. Tell me about yourself and what brings you here.”

The man stared at Derin in awkward silence. “Food,” the man finally said impatiently, with a peculiar accent that Derin did not recognize.

“Ah, hungry, are we? I got just the dish for you,” Derin replied. He turned his back and bellowed into the kitchen, “Hey Jen, Cook this man up some special Halibut Chowder!”

“Coming right up!” returned a voice from the kitchen.

Derin directed his focus back on the man. “I can tell by your accent that you must not be from around here. What brings you to Port Aylberk?” Derin asked.

“Business,” the man responded.

Derin continued to try questioning the man, but the figure either ignored the question altogether, or he gave very short answers. He really didn't seem like he wanted to talk. Derin still didn't think that he knew anything at all about this man. He didn't even know his name.

After a few minutes passed, the chowder was finished cooking.

“Here you are!” Derin exclaimed, placing the large bowl in front of the man. He ate with the same silent composure that he had earlier.

“I need a ship,” the man suddenly declared. Derin was so caught off guard by hearing the man actually converse, that he paused for a second before replying.

“Ah, you are looking to travel,” Derin finally replied, “Well, you have come to the right man. I know many of the ship captains personally, as well as their schedules. Where do you plan to go?”

“Anywhere.” The man said, ignoring Derin’s question.

Derin cast a baffled expression, but continued to speak with his regular cheerfulness. “There is...uhh...one leaving tomorrow in the early afternoon. It is a cargo boat, but the captain will allow travelers onboard...for a small fee. It is going northeast, to the island of Tristol. I don’t know if he is making any stops in-between though.”

The man smiled. He returned to eating the rest of his chowder, and when he was done, he took out a bag of coins, securing his hood at the same time. He took out a few coins, and clumsily dropped them on the floor.

“Don’t worry, I will pick them up,” Derin said, still trying desperately to make a good impression on the figure.

“Gracias,” The man replied, rushing out the door, and disappearing into the fog.

Derin looked completely dumbfounded at the whole scenario. The man didn’t even say farewell. “Oh well, at least he didn’t leave without paying.”

Derin walked to the back of the restaurant, observing how much tip he received. He stopped midway, and then slammed his fist down on the table. “The money’s fake!”

*****

Yoshiken flopped onto the nearest bed, and let out a sigh of relief. He was exhausted from the hike to Port Aylberk. He wasn’t the only one though, for everyone else was either sitting on the ground, or lying down on another bed.

When they arrived at Port Aylberk, they immediately searched for an inexpensive place to stay. They soon found the Salty Eel Inn, which suited their budget just fine. It was fairly small, and didn’t have the same degree of maintenance that most of the other inns had. The rooms were cheap though, and they wouldn’t have to worry about any sort of busy crowd.

Because of the small size of the accommodations and the amount of people in the group, two rooms had to be purchased, much to the dismay of Yoshiken who had previously offered to pay for the inn. However, before separating for the night, they all gathered into one room to organize their thoughts and ideas. Though, at first, it appeared to only be friendly small talk amongst each other.

Everyone had familiarized themselves with the new group member who had been responsible for the bombs that allowed them to escape before. His full name was AlbirdTocan, but everyone simply called him “Al” for short. They were going to question him when he joined the group back at the edge of the forest, but Yoshiken had waited to ask him about his sudden appearance up until now so that they could focus on getting to safety.

“So, Al, now that we are finally here, please explain to me what you meant when you said that you had heard about our small group in your homeland,” Yoshiken said, catching Al’s attention, and everyone else’s as well. “I mean, you couldn’t possibly have heard of our cause so quickly.”

“What do you mean?” Al asked, looking puzzled.

“I just don’t understand how news of us could spread so quickly throughout the world,” Yoshiken replied, still pondering.

“Oh, I see now. You think I just happened to hear the news on the street or something,” Al said, laughing slightly. “I should have explained myself better. You see, I, along with a small organization that I belong to, have been researching current events that deal with world security. We eventually were led to a very interesting case, which we gave all of our focus to.”

“And that was this whole scenario,” Yoshiken said, already knowing where Al was getting at.

“Correct,” Al replied, “but is it really a surprise to you that others know about this? I mean, the amount of destruction caused so far, and the lives lost...this isn’t some small village skirmish, this is a war.”

Yoshiken didn’t know how to reply at first. He was shocked and couldn’t believe what he had just heard. How much had he forgotten in the last 6 months? “Just...just what kind of destruction has been caused since this war started?” Yoshiken asked, fumbling around with his words.

“You don’t know?” Al asked, confused at what exactly he was being asked. “Were you not directly in the war?”

“Both of us suffer from amnesia,” Anjil interrupted, “We do not remember any of the events that relate to this war. We know the supposed motives, but that is all.”

Al was shocked, and somewhat disappointed. He was hoping to find out so much more about this force that threatened the world, for his current knowledge could only be described as vague. “Well, I suppose I should inform you of what I know then,” Al said with a lackluster tone, “but before I do, tell me of these ‘motives.’”

Anjil didn’t know exactly where to start. When Zyph had explained to them the motive in the past, she found herself very confused. She also had her doubts as to the validity of the story. She didn’t know any other way to explain what had been occurring though, so she continued to state what she remembered.

“Well, from what we have been told, this planet, and this planet alone, exhibits some sort of power that keeps every dimension in order,” Anjil replied. “This planet holds the universe together. No other planet supposedly has this power. I am not sure how this force works, or even if it is real, but if it does exist, then it would be absolute chaos if someone with the wrong intentions got their hands on it.”

Al looked skeptical, and indeed he was. He couldn’t possibly believe such a story, and he found himself regretting his search for this band of gullible fools. “You can’t truly believe that this planet, out of the numberless amount of worlds out there, is solely responsible for universal balance.”

“It does seem very unbelievable,” Andrew replied, deciding to add his own opinions to the conversation, “but it certainly would explain everything that has happened up to this point if it were true.”

“How reliable was the source that you got this tale from,” Al inquired, trying to discredit the story whatever way he could.

“Not very reliable at all...” Andrew muttered with frustration. Andrew still did not trust Zyph at all, and the stories he had given.

Anjil cast a scolding look at Andrew, before returning to reply to Al. “Yes, it seems doubtful, but it is the only piece of knowledge that we have so far. There is nothing else we know except for that the man leading the attack back in the forest was named Jath. I am sure that is of little importance at the moment though. Now, please tell us how big this war has been.”

“Well, cities have been destroyed and thousands of lives have been lost,” Al said, still somewhat reluctant to even continue with the conversation. “However, those responsible have always kept their presence somewhat concealed. Powerful leaders and government officials would be found dead or missing with no evidence of the culprit. Cities and towns would be completely obliterated without any warning.”

Sanjo had been listening intently the whole time. He was interested in what was being said, for he was completely oblivious to this supposed war and the attack on the Yoshi Archipelago. “I don’t see how you could keep something like that a secret,” Sanjo said sarcastically, not even meaning to speak. Witty comments were a natural instinct for him.

“The murders of kings and officials were simply attributed to rebel assassins. The cities that were destroyed were all part of nations that were already at war, and so the blame was put on their enemies,” Al replied.

“What about the survivors?” Sanjo asked. “I am sure they didn’t all keep quiet about what they saw.”

“Most of the witnesses had no recollection of the events,” Al said, having his response ready beforehand, knowing that the question was going to be asked. “Many stated that they did not remember how their own city was destroyed, but the final blame was always put on the nations they were at war with. In fact, many of the wars became fiercer it appeared, and other lands would join in from time to time.”

“That much I remember, though, I also just assumed it to be because of wars between countries. I have not lost my memory of everything in the past, but I just can’t seem to remember who this other group is, and what they are after. Everything else is clear to me.” Yoshiken stated. “I guess that this group has the ability to take away memories of others, which would explain why no one ever recalled what the attackers looked like, or even their existence. Please, continue.”

“Whether the murder was just a single person or a mass population, the only things that were looted afterwards were not gold, silver, or anything monetary, but ancient magical artifacts, arcane scrolls, and other items of the same nature. The culprits were always after magic.” Al was starting to speak with condescension in his voice, thinking that he was the only one who was aware of the significance of current events.

Yoshiken noticed the pride in Al’s voice, and was starting to get annoyed. “I still don’t understand how you found out about us.”

“The organization that I am a part of had tracked down this force,” Al said, “but before we could gain information on their plans, they attacked the Yoshi Archipelago, and had their sights on Yoshi’s Island. They were stopped though by a small rebellion that had found out about their schemes beforehand, forcing them to retreat.”

“And we, apparently, are that threat, correct?” Yoshiken assumed, knowing full well where Al was getting at. He didn’t even need to hear an answer, because he was positive of what it was. “If only I could remember...”

“I just wonder how you were able to defeat them.” Andrew interrupted.

“It does boggle the mind how such an insignificant force was able to stop them, especially when you account for how strong they showed themselves to be,” Al continued.

Anjil glanced at Yoshiken, who returned her discreet stare with the same. They were communicating something without words, using only their expressions. The glare was quick, but rough and serious. No one noticed, or at least, no one showed any sign of noticing. Anjil became anxious for Yoshiken to reply, hoping he would say the right thing. Once they took away eye contact from each other, Yoshiken stood up.

“Well, it is a bit late, so I am heading off to bed. I suggest you all do the same,” Yoshiken said, with a somewhat more serious expression than he had before.

Anjil sighed, shook her head in disappointment, and prepared for bed without another word.

[andrevus]

wow this one was deep and mysterius,took a lot of time but it paid off well!
speaking of paying off what's up with the fake money?! Can't wait for the next one!

oh by the way i noticed a little typo "or even if it real" it should be "it's"

[Yoshiken]

Oh, thank you XD. *fixes*