"The true ruler of many a man is not his king, but his past."- Ninja proverb. ---------- Gelosian Studios presents A Rocketarian Pictures production in association with Improfanfic Suikoden: Distant Shores created by Illyria and Todd Harper Part Thirty-One: Night for Remembering by Reader in Invisible Fanfics ---------- Cassandra sighed as she leaned against a convenient tree. To think that things had come to this. The seal was already in place, in a hidden chamber near the border, constructed with the aid of those who remained. Lady Leknaat had already read in the heavens that this was to be the last time Cassandra would assume the position of Tenkan Star, Luc almost ready for the next Gathering. She welcomed it truly, for these three Gatherings had taken their toll on her. But to end like this- "A heavy conscience, Tenkan? It is said that all deserters and traitors suffer from such to some extent." Echoing from the shadows, the disembodied voice cut through her musing. Her body stiffening, Cassandra replied in a voice tense with contempt. "There was nothing to desert from by the time I left. You made sure of that." Without the smallest sound, the speaker in the shadows slowly slipped into view. A young man, dressed in a simple dark red short sleeved shirt and dark trousers, coupled with a dark vest and a black scarf. His expression was cool, mocking. "Ah, Tenkan. Did you address all the others who were First in Heaven thusly?" "This Gathering of the Stars is ended. I no longer serve as the Gates to Heaven, and you... YOU are a fallen Star. Even the Victory Rune has denied you." Silence greeting her sally, Cassandra pressed onwards. "Oh, you stopped the war. Tir Eslyn has rolled back to its old borders. Lierstam is safe from invasion. I'm not sure which of the noble families will assume the monarchy, possibly the Ansuros or the Serdaes. After what your excesses, almost anyone would be a relief. But for those who chose to ally with you... the demi-humans of Tir Eslyn who showed their support will face even more discrimination. And the Ninja... well, while they were merely distrusted before, now they will likely become the bogeymen of Lierstam. Those that still survive, at least. With only the juniors and children left...I doubt that they will last the year." "No." The mocking look vanishing from the face of the fallen Star. "The Ninja WILL survive, and not only that, in time, they will RULE." "With you, as their head no doubt. If Midori could see how the one she loved and entrusted with the safety of her people-" "DON'T YOU DARE SAY HER NAME!" "At any rate, if there's nothing else... or are you going to try and punish me for 'deserting' you?" Glancing at the younger man, she eyed the wicked-looking chain sickle at his side. "Oh, I think not. If nothing else, I still have one Star loyal to me." His expression resuming its mocking facade, the former Tenkai Star glanced over her shoulder. "Tenman Star, please kill the Tenkan Star." Even as he spoke, Cassandra was turning, her Rune flaring to life... only to fade as the small, black-garbed figure lurking behind her plunged his sword into her back. Collapsing, the mortally wounded Rune wielder fought to remain conscious. "You see, the one thing I HAVE learned from all this is quite simple. What is truly needed for success is not Victory... but control." Stripping off his right glove, the fallen Star revealed a brightly glowing Rune. Glowing with an eerie purple light, a light that was mirrored in the eyes of her assailant. With a sickening feeling, Cassandra put a name to the familiar pattern of four interconnected shackles rendered in purple. "Konstantine's Conqueror Rune..." "Yes, you and the old man Mycroft were quite insistent that it be kept out of any and all hands. But it occurred to me that it was a waste to keep such a useful tool in the castle vault. Truly, a work of art. It's almost a pity that the Runemaster made but two of these before he fell at our hands." "You've sunk even lower than I thought possible." Cassandra coughed weakly. "Perhaps, but since the heights of the Heavens are denied to a Fallen Star, it seems only natural to take the other course. There shall be another Gathering of the Stars, and when it comes... I, not your blind mistress shall control them. Fare you well, Tenkan." Stepping backwards with a mocking little bow in the mage's direction, he vanished into the shadows, followed swiftly by the black-clad puppet that had once been a trusted comrade. Coughing up more blood, Cassandra weakly scrabbled in her pockets, producing a small, crystal sphere containing a golden laurel wreath. She knew that her death neared, but this one last task- "Till the time of the next Gathering, oh Victory," Cassandra began, only to pause to cough up blood. "-Rune. Rest here, and await the First in Heaven." Gathering what was left of her strength, Cassandra, Apprentice to the Seer Leknaat, and for a time, Tenkan Star, pressed the Victory Rune to the tree she had rested against earlier, and invoked her Rune. The last thing she saw, before darkness claimed her, was that of the Victory Rune slowly melding with the young oak. --- --- Rousing slowly from her sleep, Tavia blinked. Struggling to assemble the fragments of the... Dream? Nightmare? There had been a woman and a man... something about the Stars... and had that been her Rune? Shaking the last fragments of sleep and dreams from her, she rose from her bed. Well, now that she was awake, she might as well finish some of that paperwork. And she'd thought her Hemidall instructors had been joking when they'd said that the pen ruled the sword. Unnoticed, the Rune on her hand pulsed with a soft golden light, that quickly faded. --- --- The Old One started from his meditative state. How long had it been since he'd dreamt of that day? It was almost surprising how much emotion those old memories conjured in him. No matter. Raising his right hand to the level of his face, he examined the Umbra Rune. The Conqueror Rune had been too limited, allowing only direct control over one indivual at a time. He'd given some thought to tracking down it's twin, but it seemed that the mad Runemaster Konstantine had granted it to some woman from another continent. Regardless, the Conqueror Rune was no more... but it's legacy lived on in the Umbra Rune, and through it, the Shadow Runes. In the dark, he smiled. Let the Tenkai Star ride with Victory in her hands. Soon, very soon, all he had set in motion would come into place. She would be his, in time, and with her, the Stars. --- ---- The moon hung in the sky, a shining sphere of silver casting its light across the environs of White Cloud. A short distance from the castle walls, the moonlight transformed a small grove of trees into a mystical wonderland, the shadows assuming strange and fanciful shapes. Without a witness, one of the shadows began to waver, its edges twisting unnaturally. As if the shadow was a curtain, a slim form emerged, clothed all in black. The dark figure tossed a long braid over its shoulder as the shadow ceased its wavering and returned to its natural state. "A long distance for walking in shadow... my teachers would be proud." Shaking its head at the lapse of discipline, speaking unnecessarily, the female ninja resumed her trek. --- --- A little distance away, a similar, but more masculine figure studied the waxing moon. On an unseen signal, he lowered his head slightly and spoke. "I must admit, this is a lovely night. However, I do not think you called me simply to view this, tracker." Emerging from a thicket that looked too small to conceal her form, Kyrina inclined her head slightly in acknowledgement. "Well, I did want to see just how rusty I became, lying abed for so long. But besides trying to sneak up on you, I did have other motives. Reasons regarding one of your former comrades who we ran into on the journey to Umber Wood... who was more than just a comrade, I gathered." A pause. "I had somewhat hoped that you had forgotten that. So. You wish to learn about my niece, yes?" Another pause. "Generally speaking, ninja are taught to regard the entire world as seeking their deaths. Outcast from Lierstam, mythical monsters to Heresha, our existance is not a peaceful one. Outsiders who marry into the ninja, are carefully tested, and evaluated. Even a ninja who chooses to renounce our ways and live outside our village must be wary. If we were ever to be truly revealed..." Her expression carefully neutral, Kyrina interrupted. "I'll admit, a lot of parents used to frighten their kids into good behavior around here, 'If you don't keep quiet the ninja will come in the night and steal you away!'." A bitter smile crossed the ninjas lips. "Yes, when they weren't using the sinister Elves, the rabid Kobolds, the dangerous Dwarves and the savage Werewolves. Regardless, my older sister was quite simply, one of the best of our people. And then she fell in love. She knew the rules and the reasons behind all of them... but for once, duty and the ways of the ninja were not enough. She had only known the young man a few weeks, but she was convinced that he would never betray her." A slightly sympathetic look on her face, Kyrina stepped closer. "And did he?" "Not at first. She was one of our most respected, after the Old One himself. Fearing the reactions of both the Old One and her husband, she kept much from both. By the time the Old One had learned that she had wed her lover outside our village, they had already been living together for several months. And her husband knew not of either her true nature or that she was with child." At the last, Kojiro's voice became so soft that one without Kyrina's elvish blood would have had to strain to hear. "The Old One stayed his wrath, whether because of her status, or some knowledge of what was to come. Yomiko told her husband, finally, and he seemed to take it calmly at first. I imagine he was somewhat surprised at just what her distant relations truly were, and just where she had been going during the weekends. But in truth... he was both horrified and avaricious. From what I discovered after everything, his mother had taught him from young of the soul-sucking, shadowy ninja. He was also, in truth, neither particularly wealthy or renowned, and sought to change this." "After Megumi's birth, Yomiko's husband started to vanish for long periods of time, with flimsy excuses. Yomiko feared another woman, and asked me to look...but in truth, the wretch seeked to sell our existence to the highest bidder." His eyes misting over, Kojiro turned his gaze to the moon once more, his voice taking on a faraway tone. "I remember so clearly... overhearing the worm attempting to sell it to the town council... and his desperate pleas as I slowly strangled him. Yomiko nearly killed me for that, even after I explained. Even more clear is the memory of her still figure, with the pallor all who trained in our poisons would recognise." Not trusting her voice, Kyrina carefully rested her hand on the ninjas shoulder. After an awkward silence, she spoke once more. "So... then you raised Megumi?" "Yes... I would let no other. She had such potential... which is why I find it odd." "Odd?" "Odd that the Megumi that we have faced... is quite different. I trained her myself... and her form was... not what I expected. She was hesitating, only a fraction, but still- what was that?!" --- --- Deep in the shadows, the ninja cursed silently, before invoking the Shadow Rune she bore. Her form disappearing into shadows once more, the only trace of her presence there a single tear, glistening on a leaf. --- --- Tapping her quill against her nose, Tavia frowned. This was something they did NOT teach at Hemidall. No matter how she looked at it, this might be too much for her. "Aaagh! Where on earth are we going to get anyone to run a bathouse here?" Resolving to leave such weighty matters till later, Tavia rose from her desk with a sigh. To be honest, what paperwork that crossed her desk was a mere fraction of what she might have expected. Most minor issues were handled before reaching her, and the Crescent Freedom was still much more informal than most regular forces. "Maybe a little snack... I wonder how Ilena and the rest are doing?" --- --- Ilena shifted uncomfortably, trying to find a comfortable patch of floor. With all the chairs on the island designed for people of a shorter stature, visitors were left with only the floor. Still, at least the Crescent Freedom Army's delegation was actually together again. Ilena had spent the last few days confined to her room, ostensibly to aid her recuperation. This was the first time since the shipwreck that she'd been together with the rest of the party from White Cloud. Kaleen seemed to have weathered events well, sitting crosslegged on the floor with no sign of discomfort and great dignity. From the what she presumed to be a slightly pleased expression, and the respectful looks that the guards that had escorted him in had given, the Al'Kezzin had impressed the dwarves. Kelsea too, seemed to have charmed their... captors? The young Kobold was sitting bolt upright, eyes eager. And Cerus... "Ah, Lady Fehron, if you could pass me that spanner?" ... was completely absorbed in trying to replace the various mechanisms inside Marionette that had rusted after exposure to salt water. Tearing her eyes away from the sight of the engineer placing the automatons head to one side while probing a shoulder joint, Ilena resumed her quest for a more comfortable seat. Reid had certainly found some INTERESTING friends. "I do hope I'm not interrupting anything?" Her chain of thought broken, Ilena turned to see Kurn poking his head into the room. "No, O Fount of Generosity. Indeed, we were but awaiting the arrival of the leader of your people." "Oh! Oh, yes, quite correct, quite correct. Foolish of me to forget that. Well, now that I'm here, what do you want?" Blinking slowly, Ilena smiled. She'd gotten the impression that Kurn was well respected by the rest of the dwarves, but also regarded as somewhat befuddled most of the time. "That is very kind of you. As it is do you know when your chief is coming?" Kurn blinked in surprise. "Ah... I'm here already... aren't I?" Muttering in confusion, the bespectacled dwarf pulled a stool into the room and perched on it, regarding them all with a pleasant, if slightly vague air. "You're the chief of the dwarves?" "Why yes." "Ah." Pausing to mentally hammer her head against the wall, Ilena recovered with the poise of a trained hostess. "Well, I'm sure you've already heard our reasons for being here. The Crescent Freedom Army, whom we represent seeks an alliance with the dwarves. As you can see, we reject the xenophobic practices of the current government, accepting all peoples. Furthermore, we intend to correct the various injustices and corrupt acts that the Governors have either ignored or supported." "Oh my. That sounds quite, mm, impressive. And daunting." Behind the glasses, Illena noted a steely glint. It seemed that Kurn wasn't quite so lost. "We'll do it! With Lady Tavia and Captain Brennon, we can't fail!" Fixing her shining eyes on the Kurn, Kelsea eagerly burst into the conversation. "Hm. And of course, moral reasons aside, you've come to us for our metalworking skills? A rebel army likely has, mm, problems finding large quantities of proper arms." "That is true… and of course, we seek the very best." Honesty and flattery would seem to be the best course here. "There are some of my people who thought we should simply leave you all to die, when we found you. It was mainly the exotic nature of your companions that kept them silent. When Miss Fehron's background was discovered, more spoke out against you all. I convinced them otherwise." "Ah. We are of course, indebted to you. I can't know how your people felt about us, exactly, but I imagine it was no easy matter to assuage them." "Oh, it was also clear that you four were also quite harmless. But... if I were to ask my people now, what they thought of an alliance with your Crescent Freedom Army, the issue would be quite bitter." Sitting forward and setting aside his tools and the half-disassembled arm he'd been working on, Cerus fixed the dwarven chief with a piercing look. "You've obviously some alternative." "Yes. You seek an alliance, for, among other things, our metalwork. Our best smith, Darl, has been lost for several days. The region he was working in has been beset by winged monsters, costing us much material and blood. The storm that brought you has damaged our settlement, and I cannot spare enough axes to search for him." Looking thoughtful, Ilena thought aloud. "You want us to search for him... if we find him, we'll prove ourselves trustworthy... both to you and your people." Nodding, Kurn stood. "Exactly. You won't be entirely alone though... there was another shipwreck, and another survivor. A quite competent warrior and adventurer, by her appearance. She volunteered to help in order to get off the island. Oh, and Master Cole? The, mm, springs and cogs you were looking for are ready." Smiling as the Dwarven chief resumed his slightly befuddled air, Ilena watched as the engineer sprung to his feet, Marionette's head clutched in his hands. "Excellent! Tell me-" *knock knock* "Oh yes. That must be the, mm, other survivor." Opening the door, Kurn stuck his head outside, spending a few moments conversing with whoever awaited in tones too low to hear. Stepping aside, the bespectacled chief waved in a woman dressed in supple leather armor, topped with a light steel breastplate, who paused briefly to prop a wicked-looking lochaber axe against a wall. Craning her head, Illena caught a glimpse of flame-red hair and a heart shaped face with green eyes that seemed familiar- *crunch* Startled, almost all the occupants of the room turned to see Cerus, white as a sheet, who had dropped Marionette's head. Which in turn, rolled its way to the door before stopping, its blank face looking up into a more weathered, aged, and above all, annoyed version, rendered in living flesh instead of wood. Slowly, and deliberately, Katrina Cole picked up the head bearing her likeness, examining it carefully whilst turning in about in her hands. "Still playing with your toys, father?" --- --- Inside the halls of White Cloud, the ninja clung to the ceiling. Left with no place to hide and footsteps coming from both sides... --- --- Walking through the halls of White Cloud, Aisha paused. That voice from up ahead... the new Runemaster and the one she was looking for? Stopping, the ex-general tried to listen to the snatches echoing down towards her. "... Nemesis... saved my life... Seraph..." "... grandfather would understand... hope... buried... safe place.." "... should be... side effects... really derived... Sovereign?" --- --- Cursing mentally, the ninja tightened her grip on her tiger claws, and hoped that the builders of White Cloud had paid attention when constructing the ceiling. --- --- As the ex-Lierstamian general and the Runemaster came into view, Aisha gathered herself. As Janna turned and headed back down the hall, the female general called out. "Ah, General Peridon. May I speak with you for a moment?" "Certainly. How could anyone refuse an offer to speak with the illustrious General Nevenheim" A faint smile on his face, Arik Peridon gestured at a small room nearby, empty of both people and furnishings save a small table and several chairs. Seating herself opposite the other General, Aisha let a similar smile cross her face. "Well, the equally famed General Peridon might... what do you think?" "Quite a few, I'd imagine." His expression showing a complex play of emotions, pain and depression dominating, Peridon settled back in his chair with a sigh. "That, in a way is why I wished to speak to you. This... is somewhat awkward. I'm not entirely sure how to put this, sir." "Please, feel free to speak your mind, and please, I think that with my past and this present, I hardly rate a 'sir'. Just Arik, please." "If only you'll refrain from any 'madams', and call me Aisha." Shaking her head slightly, Aisha continued. "At any rate... I needed some advice." "Advice? I hardly think anyone in this castle would be qualified to give you advice on matters of war." A sigh. "That, is true. Though we never faced each other across the battlefield, I'd gathered you were my equal in tactics. But... on the matter of betrayal and oathbreaking... I think you have had more experience." Saying the last in a near whisper, the female General lowered her eyes. "Ah. I see. So this... is not between two former generals, but two oathbreakers." "I... yes." "You nearly lost your head after Gen's crossing for an oath, yes? Resigning your commission... and of course, now, here you are, in this castle giving aid and advice to a rebellion against the government you helped put in place. And I, am the infamous Lierstamian General who, depending on how much you know, either recklessly led his troop into disaster, or who drew his blade against the king he had sworn to serve." "Yes..." " I might have guessed it. You know, I could simply storm off, and refuse to speak to you. Viewed one way, this could be more than insulting, not to mention raking over some memories I've tried to keep buried for the last decade." "It's not that I doubt the ability of Tavia or any of the others in this... or perhaps I should say it is not about any doubts I might have. There are so many young people gathered. I was one of the younger generals in Tir Eslyn's history, and some of those under our banner now are even younger." "I have not been here long enough to get a good feel for most of these 'children', and if you think YOU feel old, what about me?" Smoothing his silver mane, Arik's face crinkled in a smile as the vain gesture drew a laugh from his audience. "But I do know the Mytelenes. Alyssa and Alaric are mature, capable of making their own decisions. They are fully aware of the consequences of this. And, so I'd wager, is everybody else in this castle. Well, perhaps that Viki girl..." Chuckling lightly, Aisha leant backwards in her chair. "I suppose you are right. Hm. I haven't laughed in some time." "Not since you pledged yourself to this cause." His expression now serious, Peridon leaned forward. "I didn't end this conversation, because I do understand, somewhat, what you must feel. When the last king, Semion Ansuro, led the Crownguard out, I felt... uneasy. Semion had been acting somewhat... erratic towards the end. Nothing truly noteworthy, but enough to raise a few eyebrows. I am still unsure as to why I followed. But when I saw what was happening... even seeing him kill good men and women who had trusted him beyond almost anything, friends and comrades... I still hesitated to break my oath to the crown. Then I saw him starting for Alaric and Alyssa, and well... I don't recall everything that happened. All I have is disjointed memories, flashes of the last of the Crownguard falling, rising up as revenants, joining in the slaughter. Semion tearing into my own troops with his bare hands, swords and spells simply maddening him further. Face-to-face with the madman, his face twisted into something more animal than man, barely managing to stay alive within the first few moments of engaging him." "It sounds... hellish." "You have no idea. Not even the most blood-soaked battlefield compared. Only a little gift from an old acquaintance kept me alive, and let me escape with Alyssa and Alaric." "I've talked to them. They're a credit to you." "Thank you. But as to your original request... I think that we should continue it... elsewhere. This is a little too open an area for such things." "I have no problem with that... and I also have a bottle of a rather fine vintage in my quarters." --- --- Watching the two ex-generals recede down the hallway, the ninja dropped lightly to the floor and gingerly massaged her arms. Maybe NOW she could reach her target. Who would have thought there would be so many people moving around at this time of night? --- --- Staring at the remains of half a loaf of bread and a good portion of a wheel of cheese, Tavia reflected. It seemed almost strange, to be walking in the halls of a legendary castle, populated at times with mythical beings and famous personages, being the leader of a army rebelling against the government she'd grown up with. But it wasn't a dream, now was it. It was all real, both the good and the bad. She was now committed to the cause of rebellion... a cause that people might die for. Lierni had come so close... Reminding herself that Li was currently recuperating quite well in the infirmary, Dr Koris fending off her repeated attempts to return to work, Tavia surveyed her situation. Well, rebel leader or not, she'd still have to clear up her mess. Gathering the remnants of her not-quite-midnight snack, Tavia headed for the door- "Lady Tavia." Whirling, the Tenkai Star reached for the sai hanging from her belt, remembered that aforementioned sai were lying next to her bed across the room, realized that she was still holding a tray strewn with food, did an impromptu dance to balance the tray, and finally turned her attention to her intruder. Repressing an urge to giggle, the black clad figure dropped to one knee. "Lady Tavia. Though we have not met, I have heard much of you. I... have thought long and hard about... the true path of the myself and the ninja and thus..." Before the slightly stunned(and embarrassed) leader of the Crescent Freedom Army could react, the female ninja quickly untied the scarf obscuring the lower portion of her face, and with reverence, laid it along with a worn triple-staff at Tavia's feet. Eyes filled with fear, confusion, and... more than a little hope, she met the gaze of one whom she had thought of these last few nights. "... I, Megumi, daughter of Yomiko, niece to the one you know as Kojiro, do pledge myself to you." --- --- Stars Added: Megumi - Chikyu Star Katrina Cole- Chikatsu Star Author's Notes: Whoah. Been a while since my last attempt to write Distant Shores. This time, all on my own. Well, saving some excellent prereading from Aaron Nowack, Todd Harper, and Kate Malloy. Thanks guys. I didn't intend for this to be such an introspective part, but when the muse calls... at any rate, I've tried to advance, tie together or at least mention a great deal of plot points here. Some of the references here might be a little vague to those who aren't familiar with the two games though. Regardless, its been great writing for Distant Shores, and I hope to do so again. And on that note, any reading this, and especially those who've written for DS before... SIGN UP!