Ok, So its been a while…A long while…
I'm so sorry!
But! I had lost my Tales game and I just recently found it and was able to actually continue my story! For those of you who are still willing to read, I am planning on doing more of a regular update with this series.
Ok, so this one is after everyone was blasted away from Estelle, landed in Capua Nor, travled through to Halure and then…Yuri ventures forth on his own to Zaphias. Ok, caught up? Good! On to the story!
STANDING FIRM
Summary: Sequel to "STANDING DISBELIEF" A job nobody wants to do. It may as well be the story of my life. I'm sorry Flynn, but I have to put you in the back of my mind right now. Maybe afterwards though…
Throughout it all, Flynn, Alexei, Estelle, I have managed to be strong and do what has to be done. This is…
…just another job nobody wants to do.
With only my sword at my side I crept out into the dark of the night and headed through the hordes of refugees inhabiting Halure, Repede faithfully at my side. It's amazing as to how many there really are. And how disgusting that I can find not a single member of the lower quarter here. 'They did all they could' Sure they did. If they had really done all they could then my people would be here, safe with all the other people of Zaphias.
A voice cut through the night and stopped me in my tracks.
"Are you going out along?" Ioder. The would be emperor. I turned and held my gaze at him, tightly trying to hold on to my resolve, something that I found was much easier when Flynn wasn't near.
"I don't think that's any of Your Highness's concern. I want to know how things are in the lower quarter, so I'm just gonna go take a look." The lie burned through my teeth, leaving a terrible taste in my mouth. A wave of nausea swam through me as I thought about my real reasons.
The Highness's voice drove me from my thoughts again, "The council has decided to bring formal charges of criminal conspiracy against Alexei. The knights are currently forming a strategy for reentering the capital from Deidon Hold."
"With all that aer in the city?" My mouth spoke before I actively thought about it, "I doubt they'll get very far."
A silence overcame us for a moment and then,
"…Estellise is with Alexei, isn't she?"
"How did…" How could he possibly know about that? I can hardly imagine Flynn stopping to inform Ioder about that bit of information with all this going on. But then, she wasn't with us this time…
"So you caught on, huh? I wondered why you didn't bring her up earlier."
"What do you intend to do about her?" Damn. That was the one question that I didn't want to hear from anyone right now.
"What do you mean?" I asked, playing dumb.
"…All those who carry the imperial blood possess a certain power. In most of us it is too faint to be of use, but I have heard that hers is extraordinary." He glanced downwards and had a soft smile on his face, he must care a great deal about our sweet Princess. Then again, I suppose, she is family to him, sharing the same imperial blood.
"I'm sure it was for this reason that the Council threw their support behind her."
I swallowed and spoke, "Why are you bringing this up now?"
He raised his head back up and looked me straight in the eyes. I couldn't help but think that he would make a fine Emperor.
"Isn't this current disaster being caused by her power?" He spoke calmly and clearly. Yeah. Very good qualities for an Emperor.
Reguardless, I narrowed my eyes at him and his insinuation, not matter how true it was.
"So what if it is?"
He held my gaze as he spoke, "The Knights may have to…" His voice caught.
"You're aware that defeating Alexei may not be enough." Hm…so even the great Emperor-To-Be can't bring himself to say it.
I shook my head and spoke, more to myself than to the young prince.
"That's not going to happen." I turned, ready to walk away when he spoke again.
"…Because you'll do it yourself?" I froze, unable to simply leave as he spoke.
"Flynn told me about you. That you always try to carry far too much on your own shoulders." Hm… so Flynn talks about me to the young Prince? Interesting. This just adds another piece to Flynn's puzzle. I took a deep breath and cleared my head though. This wasn't the time for Flynn. I could figure all this out after we've managed to stop Alexei.
Then Flynn…maybe we could try again…
…maybe…
"You can just tell him we'll be fine without the help."
"But why?" Damn, this nosey Prince just won't shut up.
"I thought I told you, this isn't your concern." I lifted my foot, ready to leave when he spoke again.
"That sword…" Ah, Dein Nomos. Right…I really hope that he doesn't think that I stole this, I don't need anything else added to my list of crimes…
"Perhaps you are just the person it was waiting for." Well…that was unexpected. But it made no difference. I needed to leave now, before any of the others notice my absence. I narrowed my eyes and steeled my voice.
"Keep talking and I'll try it out on you."
"…Forgive me." Good. With that said, I walked away, heading towards the Quoi Woods. If the Knights were in Deidon Hold, there was no way that I would be able to pass through. This was the only way that I, for sure, wouldn't have to face Flynn. He just makes me too weak and I have to be strong for this.
I can be weak when this is over.
…...
The Quoi Woods brought back so many memories that I wasn't ready to deal with right now with the thought of everything looming ahead.
I leaned back against the rubble and rested my head.
"You mind keeping an eye out Repede?" I asked, already knowing that my companion could be trusted to watch over me. With an agreeing bark, I shut my eyes and fell asleep, for a moment, forgetting about all the terrible troubles occurring in the world right now and, for the first time in years, openly and willingly let myself dream about a future with Flynn laying beside me again.
...
Alright, so thats it for this chapter. Not sure when the next one will be done because I promised someone that I would work on another story chapter for Matt's Beginning after I posted this, but have faith my readers! I shall return with more Flynn/ Yuri goodness!
~Kia.