//------------------------------// // Chapter Thirteen // Story: Freedom Through Harmony // by Electricut //------------------------------// Chapter Thirteen EverFree Forest- One week earlier House of the Hylian Phil had passed out soon after their trip began, and when he awoke, he was in a spacious but cluttered room, sprawled across an old sofa. He propped himself up, having regained a bit of energy in his sleep, and took in all the various objects in the room. Most prominent was a large sword against the wall, with a blue handle and gleaming steel blade. Upon a shelf fixed on the wall sat a collection of masks, most notable of which were two- one rather human looking, with face paint and white eyes, and one violet with red and blue markings, whose round yellow eyes stared at him from the shelf. Beneath that were several odd devices, with a handle and trigger, connected to another piece by a chain. The last piece varied- one or two were equipped with hooks, some with blades like those of a spearhead, and a few with three-or-four pronged claws. Other pieces of interest were present as well- several instruments of strings and wind were neatly organized in one area, while uncounted books were piled in another. Several of the books looked quite old, but cared for, while others seemed to be new blank tomes, filled out with time. Phil could see a door leading outside across from him, while another doorway to his left led into a back room or possibly a basement. As he was looking around, the man called Link came inside from the front door, wiping his knife clean with an old cloth. “Ah, you’ve awakened. Excellent.” “Where’d you go to?” Phil asked. “And how long have I been out?” “I’d say about four hours, if you only just woke up. Upon arrival here, I set you up on the couch, slipped you a bit of red potion, and set off for a prior engagement down at the Castle of Dawn. I wanted to study our dear queenie’s techniques of bull crap, and do a bit of research on the ruins themselves. I think I came off quite well from the trip.” He flashed a small book he had in his other hand. He came inside and dropped off his weapons, dropping the book onto the pile and lifting another, of comparable size. He flipped through the pages idly. “You’re an odd one, you know that?” He said. “I’ve been told.” Phil said. “No, I mean... You don’t match up with anything I’ve ever seen, this world or otherwise. You can formshift much like a Laguz of Tellius, yet use magic like a Child of Air. And yet you use fire magic as opposed to wind, contradicting yourself yet more. Tell me, lad- what are you?” “I’m actually prepared with something of an answer.” Phil stated. “See, what I think happened was a one in a million chance- a Child of Fire of this land- one who specialized in heavy fire magic- was my mother, while a Hawk from Tellius was my father. Since it was’t a Beorc and a Laguz, strictly speaking, a Branded wasn’t definite. But as far as I can tell, I’m the only one of my kind. I’m a Phoenix.” Link drew a quill from a nearby desk and began jotting down notes onto a blank page of his book. “Interesting...” “I’ve got most of the qualities to call me such. I’m at the low point now- which is why I’m so sickly and weak- in another few days I’m bound to burst into flames and come back stronger than ever. But I age normally, for some reason- I won’t be reborn as a baby, but just as old as I am now.” “Hm... How did you come to be Celestia’s captive, then?” He took a while before responding. “Same way she got most of her people, I suppose. She became aware of my presence, and sought me out when I was very young. My parents weren’t stupid, and tried to hide me, but... She killed them and brought me in, tried to train me to be her weapon, just like her current apprentice, Twilight. I trained alongside her for years, but while she was willing to give herself over fully to the queen, I just didn’t see it. I took my chance and escaped, but... If I got the chance to take Twilight from her, I know I’d take it.” “Home-grown soldiers of power... How many others do you suppose she has taken, you two aside?” “I don’t know... A good number of the higher- ranking soldiers in her army most likely, but I don’t think she has any other real ‘weapons’ like us right now. She’s had others in the past though.” He finished his notes in the one book and retrieved the first again, jotting town some other notes. “What... What are you writing, there?” Phil asked slowly. “Oh, pay it no great mind. As I said, I’m a bit of a merchant for information- I’m interested in seeing how the world grows and changes, and I’ve done my upmost to record all that has happened to this world as accurately as possible. Celestia is obviously a big part of history, so I’ve been studying the things she’s done and how she operates carefully. And I’ve tried to give a good biography to all varieties of people I encounter, to predict what the people of the future might resemble, which is why I wanted to learn more about your terms of existence. I’m certainly not regretting bringing you in now.” Phil felt he had given plenty of information already, and was ready to dig for some himself. “You said something about a ‘red potion’ earlier, what is that exactly?” “Ah, forget you don’t have chu jelly in this world. It’s sort of a heal-all medicine from where I come from. It’ll pretty much patch up most wound’s you can get, short of fatal ones. No good for sickness though. See, everything you see around this room, save for about half the books over on that pile, are from my home, relics I was able to salvage and bring with me here. I wanted to preserve some of it. Most of these are just that though- relics who’s power has been lost over the ages...” “And... You referred to this world before, almost as though it weren’t the only one in the equation. What’s all that about?” “Ah, lad. Surely it’s evident this world isn’t the only one we’re dealing with- I would have thought this civilization was advanced enough to realize it’s a very small part of the grand scheme of things. Of course there’re other worlds out there, but I’m afraid that’s a story for another day. When I tell it, I’ll want it to be to some more people. I’d rather continue focusing on this one. “What would you say the state of being is in this place, regarding Celestia and the common folk?” “What, you mean the popular opinion of her? Well... I’d say it’s kind of divided right now. There are plenty of people who aren’t fond of her, and would love to see her fall, some would even go as far as to take up arms against her. Then there’s just as many who she’s captivated over the years, who would give their lives to defend her rule. But the majority, on the surface, would rather not get involved- just to live out their lives and not concern themselves with the throne, because it would only endanger them, without much improvement on the table in the first place. That’s the main problem the tiny pockets of haters encounter- not enough people are encouraged enough to take a side.” “I see...” Link said, once again back to taking careful notes. “I’ve seen things like this before... The world isn’t quite ready for revolution yet, but in a few years time, maybe...” “Wait, revolution?” He asked. “You’re saying there’s a way to bring her down? And we might see her fall soon?!” “Course there is, kid. No entity is perfect, and I think I’ve got an idea what Celestia’s personal defense system is. Soon as I can prove it, I’ll know how to get her. And if you play your cards right, you might just be able to do it within the next few years here. I’ve seen stranger. “No empire or kingdom can last forever, lad. This one has been standing under the same ruler for five-hundred years- it’s already begun to soften, kid, and Celestia knows she’s on thin ice. Why’d you think she went through all that trouble with her dear sister? She wants to extend her stay as long as she can. But I have a feeling something new is on the horizon, mark my words.” “A few more years... Can you help us?” Link looked genuinely surprised. “I beg your pardon?” “I can tell just by looking at you that you’re a great fighter- if you were to help us, we’d be unstoppable!” “Now hang on there, lad. I haven’t fought in ages, and even if I could, I’ve chosen to be an observer here, not to get involved in matters that don’t concern me. On top of that, there isn’t even anything for me to join yet. From your description, contempt is far spread right now- if you’re to have any chance, you’ll need to get together a proper resistance going. Now, did you know anyone else from Eclipse that could potentially help you from the inside?” Phil, slightly discouraged by Links rejection of his offer, picked himself up and thought. “Well... There was Spike, Twilight’s guardian. He’d never admit it, but I doubt if he’s completely allied with the queen. But I don’t think I’ll be able to budge him from her side- he’s like a father to her, and more of an obscure uncle to me. He’d join in if Twilight did, but I can’t see that happening any time soon. “...Wait...There was one other, a brigadier commander in Celestia’s army, Octavia. She enlisted when she was my age, and climbed the ranks in a few years with shows of loyalty to the queen. However... I hear she’s surrounded herself with a few friends who aren’t so fond of the throne, and I wager she’s been faking loyalty the whole time. But her leadership is real- and the archer unit under her would follow her orders over Celestia’s own if it came to it. She and I knew each other decently, and I know she’s a potent sniper herself.” “Now there’s someone you need to stay in contact with, kid. When time rolls around to get the pockets together, you’ll want someone like that, who can lead and take some heads herself, plus get inside information. Now, I’ll house you for a while so you can recover strength, but once you’re good to go, and I’ve given you all the information I can, I’ll set you loose on the world again. I don’t want to get tied in myself, but... I want to see the world recover from Celestia’s scars. I’ll give you the tools you need to make it happen.”