Episode 15 - Might ≠ Right
A/N: Warning, a later scene in this episode will contain far more Strong Language than normal, viewer discretion is advised.
Act IV - Faux Hero
[Blackrock Village | Harmony Knights HQ]
There 'meeting room' was just a glorified storage in the back, at least they had a table and lightning as to see the maps and such dotting the table. So far these guys weren't impressive in the slightest, besides Silverwing but I don't know what her malfunction is as of current. They did take down three Region Bosses in a week so there must be a method to their madness somewhere, my skeptical mind is telling me it may just all be a hoax and they've been taking the credit, there is a large sum of players out there after all.
Time to ask the defining question. "Sooo, how did you beat three Region Bosses? I'm assuming with the group currently on cloud-nine through the door?" In order to make an assessment I had to know the finer details, the reports I read were... bias, very bias. I may just sound like I'm attempting to defend my reputation but something about how perfect it was rubbed me the wrong way, there were no flaws to speak of
"It was freakin' badass, should have seen the stunts we pulled on Appleloosa's Region!" Jagged drew his swords in a red aura. "We hacked that ugly beast to ribbons without breaking a sweat!"
Bruteshot chuckled heartily. "Clobbered that toothpick hiding in the Temple on the edge of the Everfree." Okay...
"Our forces were nearly overwhelmed during the third Region Boss, located not far from Gastly Gorge-" Silver was quickly interrupted by Radiant, herself gushing with sparkles in her eyes
"But in every battle, they fell before Knight's overwhelming strength and leadership! It was so cool~!" This still left me in silence
Knight seemed to reminisce on that, "They were a challenge, to put it mildly, even with our superior numbers our forces were struck with loss, a number of good, innocent players were lost those days to bring us one step closer to the end of Malware nefarious scheme." There's the 'but' I was looking for
"Okay, impressive, but that doesn't tell me anything about your method," I continued, pressing my hoof to the desk. "What info did you have? When the Bosses were engaged how did you conduct yourselves? Strategies? You know, details of how you all survived?" I feel like I was being ignored
"It sucked to lose so many good players!" Jagged scoffed, kicking the table
"I only wish I could have saved them..." Radiant wept a little, tragic but I needed details
With a grim look threw aside by pride and confidence, Knight stood tall. "However, these dark times change with your arrival."
"Huh? What are you talking about?" I blurted out
"We have received notice of a boss just south of Blackrock holds the secrets to finding the Temple of the Region Boss, that is how we'll avenge our comrades," He seemed determined - What the hell am I thinking, something's up, focus Merry!
"Guild Leader, Knight suggested we attack close to nightfall as this creature is far less vicious at night." Silverwing elaborated with a hoof, but my mind came to a screaming halt
I stared at her a couple of seconds, then to Knight, then back to her, "Hold up, duh fuck you mean 'Guild Leader'?" My accusing tone drew several replies, one starting with Silver, though her voice sounded... strained
"Knight here is in charge of all the players in this building, they are his guild members that joined his cause both before and during the battles we've fought, all ending in victory for the game, his reputation was grown considerably because of this, and with the title of Guild Leader he may one day join other frontliners like yourself in the battles against the Vaults." Every word of what she just said made me want to go for an ear test to clear the bullshit from my eardrums. Skye looked surprised and Rain was staring at Knight in awe
"That's Knight for you, leading the charge!" Radiant cheered
"Hah, he's the best player and leader there is, no question about it." Jagged grinned, patting his leader's back
Knight held his hoof out bashfully. "Come now, my friends now's not the time to make this about me." Too late for that...
"You guys took on three Regions, won and all that in a week!? That's so cool!" Rain gushed causing my eye to twitch
Snorting, I held back my nerves. "Can we please discuss how we plan to go about this quest already?" I was seething but I needed to hold my tongue until I could see them in action, but a part of me already knew I should end this right here and now before something bad happens
"Yes, I concur with our guest-" Don't push it, loverboy. "-In order to locate this temple we must first defeat this boss, which has been sighted numerous times as of late, it seems to be a stalker of sorts that hunts during daylight, our plan is simple, we strike its nest under the cover of night, therefore it'll never see us coming until we are right on top of it." Knight showed us the location of the nest on the map, wasn't that far from Blackrock, just at the edge of a small forest. Knight said all this was an infectious smile and star in his eye
"It's not a bad plan, nightfall will be our ace but this seems rather cobbled together," I pressed. "Sure, you guys aren't completely green but rushing into a fight without proper analysis of the enemy will result in a higher risk, we have no idea what debuffs it can inflect, hell, we don't even have an image of the da--"
"It's simple, cuts straight to the point, not bad." Skye. Calum Ryder of all people is agreeing to this? What? How? When did-?
"If it can take us a step closer to beating this game then count me in! I'll help any way I can!" Rain too was on board, and I felt my stomach twist
"Hold on, you're serious about this? This half-assed cocktail will probably blow up in--" Again I was silenced, much to my chagrin
"Then it's settled! Once nightfall covers the mountains we move for the beast's lair. Now, come along my friends, I'm sure you're famished," Without another word spoken the room slowly filtered out, leaving me to stand there at the desk, eyeing the location of the Mini-Boss as I felt the whirlwind I was swept into settle
"What the hell just..." I sighed, running a hoof through my mane. "It's just the Mini-Boss, even without these idiots I can take care of it myself... dammit, Klaw."
The part that makes this worse is his use of the term 'Knight of Silent', he proclaimed he was a 'Legendary warrior of SilentNight', or before Silver showed up. SilentNight was one of the top players not just across VRMMOs but in a few competitive gaming championships, they were the second-best in the US, outranked by some guy from Texas. One thing they always committed to was cooperation, communication, and competence, the very principles I live by. And Knight had none of those qualities.
"If preordination doesn't kill him I will."
*Pat-Pat-Pat*
My sour mood shifted to bafflement as a rough hoof ruffled my mane. Peering up I found the goliath of a pony, Bruteshot stand behind me with an innocent smile. "What now?" I wasn't in a good mood for this
"Happy you're here, sorry for swearing, told it makes good impression." He was serious? Man, now I feel like an ass for earlier
Shrugging, I offered the rather gentle giant a smirk. "Don't worry 'bout it, big guy, I'm alot worse." I could use a drink right now. "Come on then, let's get something to eat to drown away this day." He followed me out like a puppy, a large, mace-wielding puppy, but one nonetheless
[Blackrock Fields | Three Hooves Divide]
We trudged through the snowy flatland nestled between the mountains, approaching a large open field through a few large fern trees. It was cold but my irritation was more than capable of keeping my blood boiling through the weather. We followed Knight to the location of this Mini-Boss, and here's hoping I can get some genuine intel on this group's combat prowess, it's one to just swing a sword and use skills and another to be a Region-Clearing master.
It was almost a world of complete serenity as we approached the flatland, the moon's glow casting itself in the backdrop across the mountain as we stepped into the territory of the monster, unable to spot a shift in the snow or treeline while walking straight into its den. If anything the second we all gathered together we'd trigger the boss.
"Where is it?" Jagged asked, some lowering their weapons in the confusion
"Are you dense? Well, you are, give it a minute," I snapped from the back
"She's correct, stand your ground," He drew his sword in his white magic field, placing the tip in the snow with both forehooves on the pommel like some valiant... oh come on... "The beast draws near, I can feel it."
"It's called a timed event, you nonce!" My words went unheard while Rain looked thrilled for the fight ahead, though her eyes never left Knight. "Is she seriously fangirling? The dork to my left, sure, but him, seriously?" Whatever the case my radar blared with red dots... everywhere
Something large and unseen swept through the snow, tossing up a white plume behind it as a hissing snarl emanated from the cloud, a large gust of wind brushing past us as something flew into the air, crashing down into the snow meters from Knight and his crew. I drew Genesis alongside Skye's new, black sword called Midnite, a purple tier blade with a face comparable to the night sky.
"Stand your ground!" Knight ushered, drawing his gold sword while the snow creased under the monster's foot; Dozens of small, white serpentine-like wolves snarling from the woods as they gathered by the invisible creature's feet. The scales then came to life, releasing the camouflage to reveal an onyx slender monster with white, reflective scales and a snake-wolf-like appearance, the head hissed, causing the white mane along its back to stand on end with a rattling sound at the base of the flat tail. "Have at thee, monster!"
<<<Celrus the Loyal - Lv. 62>>>
"Guess it's not going to wait..." Murmuring I moved toward Knight. "Hey, best you start coming up with a strategy, blondie!"
"Of course, I always do!" His smile damn near surprised me if not for the morale-boosting war cries behind us as his men charged the Boss and its minions head-on. "Keep your distance comrades and strike when the time is right, for on this day we strike back against this oppressing force!" And like that he slipped from my hoof, leaving me behind with a number of the rabble, crudely referred to as <Loyalists>
"That's not a - fuck, Goddammit!!" I lifted my buckler in time to deflect an attacking wolf, slashing another into the snow with <Slant> cutting half its health to ribbons while slitting its throat soon after. "Stick close to someone, and sweet merciful Buddha, don't let them surround you!"
"On it!" Skye cried out, striking with a wave of ice blue to dispel the growing numbers, providing us with breathing room. That idiot, Knight led us into the deep end so now it's up to us to dig the rest out. Wait...
My eyes shot wide while bucking a Loyalist into a tree. "Where the hell did Rain go!?" I demanded, decapitating one as it pounced, thankfully, someone struck another away from my flank as his spear lit up, drilling through the horde as their bodies rolled back across the snow. "Great, now Rain's probably gone and followed that ass into battle," Whether it was meant as an insult or the genuine article I'll leave up for debate
I can't let Knight and his goons bother me, I had to focus and get everyone out of this alive. Throwing myself in front of two sword-users I drew Genesis through the snow, turning it red with a crimson <Horizontal Arc> to cleave through four Loyalists at once, yet their shattered remains were stripped away as I leapt back, evading two pouncing wolves as they tore into one player's side while he yelped, retreating to the back. Lunging with <Rage Spike> I flung myself into its neck, swinging myself up and over to bring my buckler crashing into the second wolf's scalp. "<Airlock Shield>!" The force of the wind flattened the head into the earth and snow, shrouding me in mist as I enhanced myself with <Strength> and <Vitality>
Leaping from the frost I tore across the pack with another <Slant> batting one high for Skye's overhead slash to finish it off, himself being cut off by several wolves alongside a few other players. They had alot of numbers so it was easy for them to break our ranks. At this rate, the weaker players will get overrun if we down dish out all out AOE skills. Taking a claw to the face my armor rebound the energy, saving me as the wolf took the damage, flaming searing across my hoof to my blade, melting the snow.
"<Crimson Square>!" The clash and clang of metal and flames roared across the moonlit tundra, revealing the rocky earth under us as my blade incinerated half a dozen wolves surrounding me, leaving me to turn with horror under an ear-splitting scream. "Crap!" I was too late to move, seeing a player fall to the ground, viciously mauled down to the last flicker of his health as his body erupted into fragments
"No way!" "Damn you!" "Not again...!"
"Everyone... get down, now." If you didn't know what my voice sounded like you swore I was a feral beast as the players that remained in the background with me all hit the deck, the wolves closing in for a tight circle. Drawing Genesis to rest the edge by my tail I focused my gaze on everything in my general direction, a hot breath escaping my lips, searing with rage as my fur felt tingly, my red hair shimmering cherry red for a second. Twisting my hold on Genesis I took a stomp with my left forehoof, twisting to pull my bloodied blade around in a massive sweeping attack that left a ringing of metal in the air, almost cutting off the music as I was paralyzed as a result of the special move. "<Tempered Steel>."
A ring of fire suddenly erupted around us, it lasted only a mere two seconds but the walls of flame incinerated any and all Loyalists that came too close to my flames. It was a powerful Composite skill, merging Solar magic and a one-handed sword, much like Crimson Square, the attack, while powerful did come with an adverse effect, it left me paralyzed for a short time, meaning I had to become the damsel in distress for the time being.
"Are you okay?" Huh? My head lifted from the snow, finding Silverwing aiding me with another player, the rest seemed far less cocky, like somehow Knight's horrible planning wasn't blinding their commonsense, does that make sense?
"I'm fine, just keep together, we can make it," I had to wait a few more seconds but now with them coordinating we had a chance. "Alright... I may be kinda useless here but listen up, forget what that idiot you call a Leader said, and use your heads!" I managed to sit upright while Silverwing and the other player defended me. "These guys are weak but have numbers, focus on either drawing them into groups for an AOE or switch with a partner to keep on your toes! We have to hold out 'till the boss is defeated so don't let up, not for a second or else!"
"UNDERSTOOD!!" They cried to my order, charging in as my hooves finally came back to me, allowing me to procure my sword from the snow, kicking the tip through a Legionist's neck as it slumped beside me. I knew it, something's affecting their heads, and Knight's to blame, although I can't say if he's generally behind it or if he's just too dense to realize what he's doing. "I'll figure that out later."
I can't honestly say how long we fought for, from the cheering it was obvious the boss was nearing its end but that didn't sit well with me as the cannon-fodder kept prowling in numbers. Sure, we held them back but our times for healing were sparse, leaving us all relatively in the amber.
"No, Songtide!" While the fighting continued to stretch on, I spotted one player down, himself struggling to hold back a Legionist as it tried to snap at his face between his shield, to his left and right more slowly prowled toward him. I managed to throw myself over another player while Silverwing flew high, attempting to draw herself in close but she was unable thanks to some snapping at her hooves from below
"Damn, grah!" My eyes shot to the right, off near the treeline Skye wasn't fairing any better, keeping the wolves at bay but when he struck one down another bit or clawed at his back, he was growing hasty, even with his buffs.
For once I was forced to stop and think as the world just crawled. On one end, a player was about to be mauled to death, and on the other someone, I considered a friend. If it were any other game I'd save Skye but our lives meant far more than just mere code. If I chose my friend would that be selfish? I-I don't know, I've never had to... w-what do I do here? My head just kept swishing between the two, their health dropping and time slowly crawling back into motion.
Everyone else was desperately attempting to hold the line and here I was, rooted like a scared little girl, me of all players was hesitating! Closing my eyes, I let out a shaky sigh. "Silverwing and the rest, save that other player, hurry!" With velocity that even with Lumina Curso seemed so unfathomably fast, I plunged my sword through the collarbone of a Loyalist, tossing its ragdoll form into the woods
I pressed my body against him as I tackled us to the snow, drawing Bedrock Shield high. "<Acheron's Shield>!" The spiral of flames quickly flashed in the night sky, draining more of my stamina but I didn't care, I thankfully dispersed the fodder and kept this dork alive. Looking down with startling fright in my voice I asked. "Are you okay, Skye?" What's with me today? I'm really losing it...
"I-I..." He looked shocked to see me but offered a small smile. "Yeah, I'm okay," My own smile split in the heat of battle before I realized that he probably wanted me off his stomach. Pushing back, seeing he was still down after the fight, his health already in the red as he winced, "What about the others?" I almost didn't respond as I stared fearfully at the red tint below his name, he came so close and I... "Artorias." I jumped as his hoof nudged mine
From the state of the Silverwing's formation and the angry looks in their eyes, it told me all I needed to know, my head sank for a moment, biting my lip. "What the hell is going on in this Guild? That dumbass can't even lead a small faction let alone a damn Guild!" It was so frustrating to have to sit and watch this, see Rain become almost deathly oblivious, his followers were just sheep to his slaughter at this point and he was none the wiser. Knowing and compiling all this and the fact someone was dead only drew a bitterness to my throat
"Hraaaaah!!" Our twin roar responded in the night like a twin beast
[Blackrock Village | Harmony Knights HQ]
I could hear the chorus of cheers from within, praises, and drinks were being past around as I stomped my way toward the entrance, if I could see red then now would be the time. I haven't seen Rain anywhere since we got back, I was too busy carrying Skye back alongside Silverwing to spot her among the oblivious crowd. They killed the boss but that didn't so much as ease my mental state as I burst through the tarp.
"WHAT THE FREAKIN' HELL WAS THAT!?!" My voice almost shattered glass as I threw the tarp side, my eyes blazing with fury I didn't know I still had left in me. Just beside me was Silverwing, her helmet staring directly ahead as I stormed up to Knight. Just seeing his face made my insides turn, I've never felt so... tempted to snap someone's neck
"Ah, Artorias, what seems to be the problem. my friend?" He... he had the nerve...!
"YOU, you are my problem!!" My hoof stabbed against his breastplate. "You freakin' jumped in without a plan!"
"I did so follow a plan." Knight remained in a calm and cool manner as I exploded
"Oh really?" I growled through grit teeth, my pupils couldn't get any smaller as I tore into him. "Because of your rash action to jump headfirst into the fray without a second to analyze the boss we had to scramble to fend off the rest of the pack," I soon let my voice thunder. "You got over a dozen players nearly killed!! Three of them are dead!!"
"And their sacrifices shall be remembered," Knight said somberly, placing a hoof to his chest while the three stooges held on to misty tears
My breath came out hollow, shaken as I just stared back at Knight with complete disbelief, feeling something inside me snap. "They're not coming back, you idiot. They're gone, from here and the real world, don't you get it!?" I stomped my hoof, feeling the board snap. "Scarlet! Rosevein! Songtide! THEY'RE DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU!!" As I panted for breath, Silverwing took over
"It's the same thing, every time," She shook her head disappointedly. "I've tried to help but you never listen to reason, you go off your own initiative and that costs us so much, how many have died because of your stupidity, all of yours?" She sounded almost as pissed as I was but held it together, something I couldn't anymore. "You bark orders that contradict the situation, causing confusion and unnecessary losses."
"Hey! Don't call my Knighty stupid you bitch! He's the only reason the game's getting closer to being cleared!" Radiant shrieked beside Knight protectively with a face that read, 'you'll be sorry', I change my mind, she's the Whore. Her outburst rose several more voices from the living idiots among this cocktail of incompetence
"Where'd you two get off blaming Knight for something he had no part in, that low, even for you Silvy." Jagged snapped, but I heard her snort
"I told you to stop calling me that, Edgy." She hissed through her helmet, then another joined in, adding more fuel to my preexisting fire
"Artorias, aren't you guys being a little tough on them?" Not you too Rain. She looked sad at my outburst but she was standing with them
I shot her a disapproving glare. "Rain, wake the fuck up already, if not for me Skye'd be six feet under right now." A thought that almost terrified me
"What? He was nearly killed...!" She gasped as I rolled my eyes
"No, he went to go buy some flowers - What do you think I'm talking about, you dumbass! Maybe if you stopped crushing on blondie here you'd have seen some of the pixel blood of his that stained the snow!" I snapped at her, seeing her flinch as I actually vocalized my thoughts without a filter. I clutched my pulsing head for a moment. "God all mighty, I'm surrounded by idiots..." Moaning into my hoof I tried to salvage some semblance of the situation, but as I've come to know, Knight was a step ahead
"That is why we cannot allow those who perished to have died in vain, tomorrow is when we'll strike at the heart of this evil, or at the very least, prove to Malware how he shouldn't have unestimated us," I think tires just screeched in mine, Silverwing's heads
"Hold up a second, w-w-what the hell are you talking about? Tomorrow what?" He better not say - Oh God he is...
"Exactly as I said, we shall strike while the iron is hot and storm the Temple of the Displaced at noon tomorrow, and with my full-proof plan we shall be victorious!" Knight's little declaration erupted with another round of cheers, deafening me further
"Are you crazy!? If we attack tomorrow it'll end in a massacre, even at the other Regions we had more intel than this!" Silverwing looked ready to burst from her armor as I ran my hoof across my muzzle, each word spoke made a minute of my life tick away
"Relax, ladies, Knight's ran us through this drill countless times when you were away on resource gathering, and we've aced it every time," Was Jagged actually trying to impress her or me? Cause at this point he'd have better luck banging a belt sander
I pinched my nose for a second. "I'm terrified to ask," I threw my hoof up. "What's your master plan?" My tone was demanding of the so-called 'Knight'
"Haha, it's very simple-" I thought so. "-it's a timed strike that would occur once entering the chamber of the Boss. We'll storm the frontline will superior numbers to overwhelm its defense while my team moves into counterattack from behind, shattering its defenses and overwhelming it until it perishes beneath our might!" Knight puffed out his chest proudly, gaining a few approving claps from the guys while Radiant and a few other girl players practically swooned over him.
My deadpan face told the story. "So your strategy... is to group up... and hit it 'till it dies." I let the words come out slowly so that everyone heard me. "Then you come back the big hero and get all the girls... and I'm guessing Rain here's in charge of confetti!"
"Precisely, my friend!" Did he even catch my verbal jab? Or was he more full of himself than me?
"...Why am I even surprised at this point?" This was hopeless, how have these idiots survived nearly half a year?
"My Knight-Senpai's plans have never failed before!" Did she - moving past Radiant's clear lust for more than just his looks I continued
"your 'actual' records thanks to Silverwing say otherwise." I countered. "Hell, you're not even registered as a Guild in the system!"
"Tch, what would you do then?" Radiant asked with a lofty tone
Giving them all a blunt stare I listed off my feats. "I've successfully beaten several Region Bosses both as a team and solo, have led a team through the first Vault with only one casualty, who I will add did far more than any of you could possibly surmount to, and that's not including my method. I'd probe for every slither of information that can be obtained, assess the bosses, the minions, and environment, and make a decisive choice on team coordination and distribution of both offense and defense to maximize performance and minimize losses, if unknown variables remain I play it cautiously until these unknowns become transparent." I broke down the very core fibers of my mindset, atleast the important stuff
I was far from through, my eye was twitching as I continued to stare into that idiot's eyes, whatever spell he had on the rest wasn't ever going to twist my sense of self just to please his Fimfiction fantasy. "You are basing all your facts and information off both the name of the Temple and the boss' name... who am I kidding, of course you are!" I threw my hoof forward with mockery. After about several seconds of unending silence, I began, letting out a heavy, exasperated sigh. "Fuck it, as of right now I'm abolishing your suicide quest against the Temple, I'm going to go message both Klaw and a few other notable Guilds to come sweep up this mess, I'm through trying to be the mature adult in this situation, you're not my problem to fix."
"What, who died and made you leader, come on girl, have a heart!" Jagged groaned at me, throwing his hooves wide like a child throwing a tantrum
"Duh fuck I can't?" Drawing up my messages I set most to public. "I'm here under Klaw, Guild Leader of Horizon Dawn, to inspect and critique your ability to function as a valuable asset in future Raids and the like, and so far you've gone above and beyond-" They looked surprised to hear this, then I brought my hoof down. "-To completely and utterly abolish your chances in spectacular fashion!"
"Artorias, you cannot let this chance slip us by, every day we give that monster Malware another life could be lost!" Knight proclaimed with haste but my hooves hadn't budged
"'This chance'? Three people are dead," I sent him a spine-chilling glare. "That's already enough to last several weeks in my opinion, your Intel, if I can even call it that, is hinged solely on a location name and boss name, that leaves literally nothing to stand on!" Pressing my hoof to his chest I asked with a strain in my pitch. "Give me one reason to let you and your sheep set one hoof in that Temple that won't end with you violating the Geneva Convention?"
"For the glory of our comrades!" Jagged proclaimed
"For our friends," Bruteshot added, he's an idiot but seems he's a gentle sort, God help him for being led by these idiots
"For love!" Of course, the ass-kisser would say that
I awaited Knight's own reply with growing impatience, putting his hoof on his sword he spoke clear and direct, smiling with confidence. "To do what is right."
I actually listened, I took this all in and for a couple of seconds I processed it all, "Ah, I see, you think this is The Master of Ragnarok you shrimp-dick fuck-nugget!?" My words and scowl cut in deep with a dark aura over my body. "You wanted to join the frontline? Too bad, cause I may not be a Guild Leader or even a leader in general but not even Bombard would waste his energy on you, which leads me to another point, don't think I can't usurp your asinine reasonings of my own accord, my numbers are not only bigger than yours ever could be but as one of the top frontliners I'd rather hang myself with barbwire than allow even one of you to so much as grace my presence in combat!"
"Your ideals are more akin to a cliche, cheesy, rotten kids show where the 'Power of Friendship' can move fucking planets, and yes I am aware we're in one of those shows," My hoof kept a few from speaking. "All you're missing is color-coded spandex, a secret, underground base, and some egghead fixed into a screen running on 420p alongside some catch-phrase to summon forth your powers, not to mention some monster or villain with the mindset of an angsty teen to attack you every week!"
"That's... not very nice..." I stopped myself at Bruteshot's words, again, first impressions of him was bad but he seemed to be a mere gentle giant
"Sorry, big guy, it isn't," Sighing I, giving him a somewhat remorseful look before continuing to glare at Knight. "But sadly it's the truth, you're all staying rooted here in Blackrock 'till I drag half the Guilds from across MLPR to not only abolish your team but lock you up before you cause World War Three or a Race War, I dunno, take your pick, you sadist!" I finally brought myself back down to stability. "This discussion's over, and listen when I say shut your fucking mouths and stay put or so help me I'll ground you myself." I tapped a hoof to Genesis to emphasize before I threw back the tarp to escape into the night
[※•⁎·°•⁎․•°·•⁎※]
"Wait, Artorias!?" Stopping at the edge of the steps I turned with a dull look
"What's up, Rain? If you're looking for Skye our fellow gamer is resting in the inn," She blinked, throwing her wing back at my casual reply
"'What's up'? What was that in there!?" She gaped as I turned to face her directly
Sighing through my nose I pointed my hoof at the building. "Rain, they are going to die if they go there tomorrow, so screw 'em, I don't care, I told Klaw I'd do what I can and if push comes to shove I'll leave them for fate's design, end of story," Slowly though, I put my hoof on her shoulder. "Rain, please, just come back with me and that dork, hell, even Silverwing's thinkin' of jumping ship before it sails and sinks right to the bottom of the ocean, smart move."
This was too much for one day, a complete waste of air and time, don't know what Klaw's gonna do when he hears the body count, I sure as hell don't have any idea. "...no." I stopped moving, turning just ever-so-slightly to see that Rain hadn't budged, scrunching up her face
"What did you say?" I had to ensure I was hearing this correctly, must have been the seething rage in my head that interfered
"I said 'no', I'm staying," Rain, of all her flaws, was a good person, much more than me, so why... why was she so... "I know they've messed up, but so have we-"
"I don't throw living beings to the grinder and crack out the popcorn discussing fairy tale level of heroic speeches!" I snapped. "Their web of lies and deceit is so large it's catching school buses!"
"-I don't want to see anyone else die here!" Her voice snapped, looking up at me with hesitant eyes. "They've lost people too, Artorias, so have we, and if I can help put an end to this game before more lives are lost then so be it."
"They have killed just as many as natural selection has, are you that blinded by some flimsy sense of admiration that you can't even see that!?" It wasn't a matter of them losing their own people, they basically led them to their graves and did nothing, today they did nothing as I had to watch another three disappear into fragments
My head started shaking, and my chest kept getting higher. "No-no-no-no, Rain, come on now, you can't be serious? I wouldn't leave him in charge of a salad-bar underwater for fear he'd set it on fire!" My hoof threw itself to the sky to emphasize, and yet... nothing, she just looked at me with a mix of sadness and disappointment
"...then I'm sorry I made you angry," She just turned around as the wind howled, offering a small smile. "I'll be back soon, Artorias."
Why... why was she going? My hoof reached for her but... I couldn't stop her, I tried to say something but nothing croaked from my throat. I just continued to stare ahead in the frigid night, hearing laughter and cheer from inside that cursed hall, but I wasn't smiling, not even so much as a chuckle as I just... felt lost.
"I see..." My muzzle closed, dipping down as I turned around to wander the cold streets by myself. If she wanted to die then so be it, so why did that hurt so much to think? I started moving at a faster pace to escape that noise, the voices grating my ears as I kept moving forward, that's all I could do, all I can think of. "I... I..."
"-You and I were changed differently than anyone else. You saw something similar to me before the death game, maybe it was this Malware guy that dragged me to this game, I want to help but I want to help you."
Her voice keeps getting inside my head, that stupid, child-like smile, her mannerisms, and insistence on helping a scumbag like me. Why did I care, I was fine without her? I don't need her company! "Stop thinking... she's just your partner..."
"Nope, you're my crazy cool best friend, so if you're going to mope then I'm going to make you stop, simple,"
"She's not your friend, you know this!" A friend doesn't leave you, a friend doesn't side with the enemy, a friend sticks by your side! Right? Right!?
*Thud*
I stupidly ran into someone, knocking us both to the ground as my voice croaked. "S-sorry..." I lost complete control over my mental state, I couldn't care less, who would care for a nobody like me, right?
"Merry?" My body seized up at the name, lifting my head under the lantern to find a fully healed Skye staring down at me as I remained motionless in the snow, staring back hollowly
"Heh, why is it always you..." My voice broke a little under a smile as I drooped my head. "...who sees me like this?"
To Be Continued...
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….I'd would have already committed bloody murder if I had to deal with that absolute buffoon that is Knight
10794330
You and me both
Ah chivalry. The code of a Knight that, when misused on others, can make even a sane person abandon their value of self. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if that is the name of that dude's special ability.
10795891
Agreed, often lions led by sheep, or innocent led by an idiot in our case.