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Part two of my extensive saga. Hope you like. ^-^'

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Shadows in the Fall

Chapter 1

***

Warm tears had dried over the course of a month. For the greater part of Coridea, they'd accepted that Hans was lost to them, most likely dead at the hands of his enemies. The Scian secretly enjoyed this, but publicly denied any involvement in the highway attack; and, predictably, the Corideans didn't believe them. Tensions had gotten very high afterwards, and just a little push in the right direction would send everyone over the brink.

Matao intended to make that push.

One night, on a new moon, two shapes moved through the wilderness surrounding Coridea Castle, staying in the shadows and low areas so they wouldn't be seen. Every now and then they'd pass through a somewhat well-lit area, or duck under a window of one of the outlying houses, and they were illuminated just enough to make out the Scian mercenary outfits they wore: a simple affair of a lot of leather straps, shoes, a face mask on him, and a headband on her.

In truth, it was Iani and Hans, returning to his home to pay his old friends an unexpected visit from beyond the grave. Their faces were hard, stony, set on the task at hand, not on their emotions or thoughts. Quickly they crept through the orchards and across the fields, and made their way to the castle moat. They stopped for a moment at the edge, and the woman removed a small item from her pocket, and then threw it straight over the water.

Very silently a bridge of force field magic began to form, and glistened softly under the dim moonlight, pulsating gently also with its warm blue aura. The man stepped on it first and walked casually across as if it were any other stone bridge, with the woman following shortly after him. As she walked across, however, she couldn't help but look down at the small circles of energy -- brighter than the area around them -- that formed at each of their steps, and then grew out like ripples on water away from the center. It was a beautiful sight, really, the bridge itself.

She smiled a bit to herself and admired the sight, but it was over too soon. They stepped off the bridge and kept going, and a few seconds later, the force field vanished. Staying to the bushes they snuck up alongside the castle walls and walked on for what seemed like an eternity, Iani wondering when, if ever, they'd get to their entry point.

Suddenly he stopped, and she almost ran into his back. Looking up she saw that far up high was the balcony they had been searching for, and just as he started removing his grappling gun, she did, too. They aimed in synch and paused for a second, then fired at the same time and watched as the hooks sped up the great height of the wall and just barely crested the lip of the balcony... then halt and jerk, catching onto the side.

He got up first and tested the line, then began to scale the wall. And to his side, she started climbing, too.

***

Guards patrolled the corridors outside of the Coridean High Senate chamber hall, keeping sharp eyes on the many exposed balconies and windows. That night they were especially alert, since the High Senate was holding a high-level meeting in their hall, speaking with many delegates from member municipalities and provinces, and the Scian ambassadors and delegation. A meeting that had just finished.

Coridea's finest stood at attention and upped their alertness as the great ornate doors swung open, releasing the senate members and delegates to retire for the night. Over the din of the senators talking, some personal bodyguards began to swoop in and flank their bosses, while groups of guards began escorting large groups of lesser senators back to their rooms. Most of the senators held private chats with their friends and fellow senators, little chats about trivial matters, family matters, state business and the like. It was all small talk to the guards, who chose to ignore most of what they said unless spoken to.

One of the last from the Senate Hall was the Chancellor, Sir Isaac Gunther, with the Senate Speaker, his bodyguard, and the Coridean ambassador. "Thank you, Donald. You've been most kind to me," Isaac said to the Speaker, taking his hand.

Shaking it, the Speaker replied somberly, "We're all in need of support in these dark times. Let's just hope this is the last of them."

Isaac nodded back to him, and they parted, the Chancellor leaving with the ambassador. "Oh, if only I hadn't said those things to him the day before he left..." Isaac said, throwing his head back slightly.

Kurt, knowing what he meant, looked away and walked on. "It's not your fault, Isaac. He made his decision, and that's all there is to it."

"No, but don't you see?" he replied, taking Kurt's arm. "If it weren't for me, he might still be here... safe within the castle walls!"

Kurt looked him in the face and tried to hide his sympathy for him. "You know as well as I, or anyone else, that he could never stay here. He was too much of a free spirit."

The Chancellor looked him in the eyes, wishing he could find some other way to condemn himself, but he eventually sighed and looked forward again, releasing his arm. "You're right, of course, you're right, old friend... he stagnated when he was here. Our life... just wasn't for him."

They walked further on down the hall in silence for a moment, passing by a large balcony that gave a breathtaking view of the meadows below and the forests beyond, but as they passed, two figures began climbing up over the lip, dark even beneath the moonlight. Quietly they crept up, and when on the balcony they immediately rushed for cover behind the curtains on each side of the doorway; two guards were coming. They waited with their breaths held until they passed into view, then reached out quickly and drew them out onto the balcony, where they stabbed them in the throat.

Iani looked up to Hans for what to do next and he nodded towards the grappling lines. She nodded back and followed him over, then they quickly wrapped the lines around the dead guards' throats and threw them over the side, where they fell down a slight ways until they caught in the rope and stopped, hanged.

The two intruders ducked down again and crept back into the hallways, careful to watch the guards' movements. Working fast, they began moving through the corridors, killing guards while their backs were turned and using large potted plants, tapestries, columns, anything large enough to cover themselves to hide behind... and hide people behind.

Systematically moving from column to column and tapestry to plant, they eliminated most of the castle guard on that floor in one swift stroke, and then made their way after the delegations.

***

The Chancellor and his friend neared Isaac's quarters, and they had to cut their conversation short. "Well, see you in the morning, Kurt."

"Likewise, Isaac," he replied with a slight nod.

Isaac entered his room and shut the door behind him, then went straight into his study and sat in his favorite chair to collect his thoughts. At that point all of them revolved Hans and that fateful day over a month earlier. He remembered trying to convince him to stay, to give up the dreams he had for the life he wanted for him. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he recalled the awful things he'd told him...

"Sons of Coridea pay their duty to the state! Above all else, that is what's important...!"

"...and you would throw away all this for some thrifty... adventure?! There is more to--Hans, listen to me! There is more to life than--..."

"...Then you are not my son! My son is lost to me!"

"Go, then! Just leave! Go and find your place in the world, obviously it isn't here."

His heart sank. Did I really say those things?

He buried his head in his hands and sobbed, unable to control the urges anymore. "Hans... I didn't mean any of it... my dear boy..."

The sound of his crying couldn't drown out the noises from outside, however. He stopped to listen, and he heard a commotion building out there, and growing nearer. Just as he rose to go find out what it was, a knock came at his door.

***

They were fast, brutal, and cleanly efficient in their methods... and on that night, they were also very fortunate. Several high-ranking council members were dawdling, and were easy prey. They dispatched six of them on their way down the two floors, and made short work of their bodyguards. As they neared the staircase leading down the third level yet -- their destination floor --, they rushed up noiselessly on the two guards flanking the lone senator, slit their throats, and both stabbed the senator in the back before he could even process what was going on.

However, the guard to his right stayed alive a little longer than his friend, and managed to pull and sound a large mechanical bell alarm near the staircase, and somehow called out (though hoarsely), "Intruders!"

Iani reached over and stabbed him in the temple, then looked up to Hans on her right. He glanced back at her, but then gestured forcefully down the stairs and made a face beneath his mask, implying, "Go!"

As they ran down the stairs, they could hear the guards already moving and people calling out orders and asking questions.

***

"Chancellor!"

"What in the name of our goddess is going on?!" Isaac asked, trying to rush out.

The guard started pushing him back inside, though, answering, "Intruders have infiltrated the castle, for your safety I recommend you--"

"I'll take of my own bloody safety, guard!" the Chancellor replied, shoving back and going out in the hall.

The guard protested, but Isaac fought back and looked down to his right, in the direction everyone was running from. He looked around a bit, and then noticed his friend Senator Corel running at him, screaming out to him. He started to move towards him, but Corel suddenly jerked back and arched his back, then fell on his face screaming in pain. When Isaac looked at his back, he saw the points of throwing stars sticking out.

Horrified, he looked up to see the two mercenaries run in and fight five guards at once, easily wiping them out with superior speed and skill. Senators were running everywhere, especially past Gunther, while only two guards remained. They both stood in front of him and raised their swords as the mercenaries advanced and he backed up.

They walked towards them briskly, then at the last moment all raised their swords and clashed in a fast and furious flurry of parries and missed strikes. The mercenaries, however, were faster, and the man took out a dirk as he blocked a strike and stabbed his enemy in the throat with it. The woman, on the other hand, knocked her guy's sword away and threw a set of small throwing knives at him... all three of which cut into his forehead.

The man's enemy fell forward quickly, but hers stayed on his feet for a good three seconds with his back and neck arched backwards, until he slowly fell over on the floor. They then both looked at the Chancellor and advanced, readying their swords. With nowhere to go and out of luck, Isaac backed himself up into the wall and raised an arm, pleading with the fates to let him live mentally.

The man raised his arm to strike, and in the eternity that it took for him to raise it Isaac looked in his eyes, and stopped cold. Eyes that could only be, and could only ever belong to, Hans. A strange emotion came over him, one of both relief and sadness. His heart broke in two to see him wearing a Scian mercenary's clothing, and killing his own countrymen. "...H... Hans...?"

Hans' blade decapitated the Chancellor easily, and his body fell very quickly, white robes bouncing off the cold stone floor just before his arm did. Hans looked down at the body for a moment, his mission completed, and froze in thought. Iani watched everything happen as it was planned, but even after trying to prepare for this sight for a month, the very thought of a son killing his own father broke her heart.

She sniffled and fought back a sob, then looked at Hans. "Come on. We have to get out."

Hans stared at the body again, then turned one leg about, facing half his body around.

"Now!" she whispered.

He finally looked at her, then followed as she left down the hall. As the castle guard began to fill the area and discover the Chancellor killed, they made their safe escape through the upper floors, using a transport spell once back out on the balcony.

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Shadows in the Fall

Chapter 2

***

"Your children have returned home."

Matao looked at Wisdom and paused. "Is that how you think of them?"

Wisdom stared back for a second, then smiled and laughed in his throat as he disappeared.

The throne room doors opened soon after and Iani came in first, followed by Hans. Matao rose to his feet and looked between them as they came near. "I see as since you're alive everything went well?"

"Yes... the Chancellor is... is..." Iani said, trying to force the words out.

"He is dead."

Matao looked over at Hans, who stared back at him, his face stern. A smile crept across Matao's face, and he spoke in a soft but pleased voice. "Excellent. You have both done well..."

Abruptly he sat straight and motioned with an arm towards the doors as they swung open unaided. "Now go, rest. We will see how this all has turned out in the morning."

"Yes, my lord." Hans bowed his head to him and turned to leave, and Iani bowed hers slightly and started to leave...

"Wait, Iani."

She stopped in her tracks and watched Hans leave, and then turned back around slowly, her head lowered to the ground. "Come up here," he asked, now standing.

Timidly, she went up to the throne and ascended the steps slowly, one foot at a time. Surely, he saw how worried she was that he might punish her even for doing something right. She stopped before him and stood staring at the ground, but he waved with his hand for her to lift it. "Look at me."

She raised her head slowly, keeping her eyes shut, then opened them as she reached his eye level and looked up at him with nervous blue eyes. He reached out with his hand then and stroked down her face and neck, to which she recoiled and shivered. "What...?" she whispered.

"What is this?" he asked, holding his hand out to the blood along her neck and shoulder.

She looked down and saw what he was pointing out, then grabbed some of her hair and tried to cover it up. "I was struck once. It's nothing major..."

She started to look away, but he took her head gently again and made her look at him. Then with an arcing wave he sent white magic on her, bathing her neck and shoulder in a healing spell. Glancing down she saw that the blood had gone, and her wound was sealed. "Beautiful..." he whispered almost inaudibly.

She would have preferred that Gracie did the work (and indeed, expected it), but having Matao heal her like so wasn't anything she was used to. Looking up in confusion, she started to ask something, but Matao cut her off and sat back down. "Now go and sleep."

Caught between obeying and wanting to know why, she eventually bowed her head again and left, tensely pinning her arms to her sides. On his throne, Matao shut his eyes and lowered his head, falling into a shallow meditative state and thinking about what he'd just done.

***

In the morning, she had told Jen all about her experience, and on the way to the briefing room, it was almost all they could talk about.

"Why would he even think of doing that?" Jen asked.

"I don't know," she replied.

"I've never known him to do anything like that..."

"I know!"

"It's like compassion isn't even in his blood. He lets Gracie do all that stuff."

"I know! I just don't get it..." she stated, holding herself.

"...Unless..." Jen started, looking over to her.

He paused long enough for her to look at him and ask, "...What?"

"Naw, nothing," he answered, shaking his head and hand. "He's not that kind of person, either."

"Not what kind of person?"

"Nah, nah..." he repeated as they came to the doors.

"Jen, if you're thinking what I'm thinking--"

"Shh, somebody might hear," he whispered, pointing out the other people arriving.

She looked at them and got quiet, lowering her head and staring at the floor while she walked. Jen cleared his throat and changed the subject. "So, what do you think happened?"

She shrugged and looked up, going in. "We'll find out."

They headed for the line gathered before the throne, and glanced over the thirty people there. Iani was in a bit of awe at the sight, since working in small groups of three or five, mostly, for so long had made her forget just how many people Matao had under his control. She made her way to the front of the line and stood at the fore, with Jen coming up to her left. On her right, stood Hans.

And they waited for Matao to speak.

He paused until everyone in the room fell silent, then shut his eyes and sat still for another long time... it seemed to last forever. Then, "It's finally happened."

He opened his eyes and a grin played across his lips. "After years of planning and careful execution, the time has finally come."

"Last night a group of unidentified Scian mercenaries penetrated Coridean Castle..." he started as he rose from his seat. "They killed nine senators and twenty-three guards, including the Coridean Chancellor. All who lived say it was a pair of Scian mercenaries, so the evidence is irrefutable. The Coridean government gathered this morning, and the vote was unanimous."

He grinned down at everyone and raised his arms to his minions.

"Congratulations. We are at war."

♪~ ♪~ ♪~ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ Imperial March ♪~ ♪~ ♪~ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫

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~Status Report~

* Completed... Dragon's Head
* Completed... Soldiers of the Empire: Disciples (release pending)
* In Progress/Undecided... Of Love and Betrayal
* Planning/Assembly... Where it all Began

Oooooooohhhh, I got chills from this one!!! Keep it going Zeph!

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"No matter what happens, I will always be with you... forever." ---- Pocahontas, Pocahontas

"Only those who are already at the top are rewarded without trying."----- Delita Hyral, Final Fantasy Tactics

http://www.ffshrine.org/fft/fft-midi/1-42-back_fire01.mid ---- My favorite FFT battle song

Well, I read both of your parts pretty quickly. I must say, the first part was very well written. Shadows in the Fall, however, seemed difficult to believe.

After all, isn't Iari totally useless?

At least, that's the feeling I got from reading the first part, where you made Hans to be really skilled and Iari much less so. It was difficult to adjust to Iari being able to keep up with Hans. Not to mention the speed and ease of which they took care of so many 'sharp and alert' guards, guards that were apparently the best Coridea had to offer. In fact, when you mentioned the guards were very alert, I had expected this to fail and add to Iari's hilarious collection of mission failures.

I guess Iari isn't as terrible as it seems, or Hans is just... magnitudes better than Coridea's elite.


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Visions of Peace - Four Generals, One Empire, and the Returners caught in the middle.

Iani. Get my characters' names right when you critique them!

Yes, Iani isn't as bad as it made her look in the first part. And no, she isn't useless. There's a reason she and Jen were Matao's best soldiers before Hans: she and Jen are actually really good, it's just that Hans was that much better and quicker thinking, plus an assault like the one in the first part against someone like Hans doesn't have a very high success rate. You haven't seen everything that she can do yet.

He also lived in that castle for a long time, too. He knows their routes and the layout and had everything planned accordingly, so they could blitz them and be out before they knew what hit 'em. That's actually the reason Matao wanted Hans in the first place, to help stage this assassination.

They're also just guards. How skilled can they be? It's not like they're the nation's finest knights... no, they were off partying or off saving damsels in distress... I mean, you saw how fast they fell in that last fight! Hans and Iani are also quick. Very quick and silent. Coming in at an angle and then wrapping up the guards in a row let them get a bunch of the ones in the hallway as they went, plus most of the castle guard was on escort duty after they adjourned. And even if it had "failed" like you expected, they still would've had the upper hand, being the superior hand-to-hand combatants (remember that lightning ball she was about to use back in part one? ), so it still would've been a success. All they had to do was get to the Chancellor and then transport out.

Matao had that planned for months, see.

This post has been edited by Zephir on 27th October 2004 23:09

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~Status Report~

* Completed... Dragon's Head
* Completed... Soldiers of the Empire: Disciples (release pending)
* In Progress/Undecided... Of Love and Betrayal
* Planning/Assembly... Where it all Began

Doh. I blame the extremely uh... small font for the mix-up.

Quote (The story said... emphasis mine...)

Guards patrolled the corridors outside of the Coridean High Senate chamber hall, keeping sharp eyes on the many exposed balconies and windows. That night they were especially alert, since the High Senate was holding a high-level meeting in their hall, speaking with many delegates from member municipalities and provinces, and the Scian ambassadors and delegation. A meeting that had just finished.

Coridea's finest stood at attention and upped their alertness as the great ornate doors swung open, releasing the senate members and delegates to retire for the night

Quote (Zephir)

They're also just guards. How skilled can they be? It's not like they're the nation's finest knights... no, they were off partying or off saving damsels in distress... I mean, you saw how fast they fell in that last fight!

I am lost.

Although I didn't clue into Hans planning everything. It's not immediately apparent how powerful the mind control is. I assumed (incorrectly) that it would leave Hans docile and easily molded, but leave him little in terms of thinking ability. Is Hans practically the same as before, except with completely switched loyalties? No zombification?

I find it humorous that Hans was probably slowing down in order to let Iani keep up with him.

Anyways, if you haven't noticed, I'm extremely interested in your story. Looking forward to the next chapter.

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Visions of Peace - Four Generals, One Empire, and the Returners caught in the middle.

Quote

I am lost.

"Coridea's finest" is like saying something like "Chicago's finest" (meaning the Chicago P.D.). It doesn't necessarily mean they're Special Forces elite.

In other words, they're the best guards they've got, but they're not the best soldiers, whereas Iani and Hans are the best warriors. The real soldiers that could've matched them aren't gonna stand around on guard duty all night long.

Quote

I find it humorous that Hans was probably slowing down in order to let Iani keep up with him.

Hardly, my overthinking friend.

Quote

Although I didn't clue into Hans planning everything. It's not immediately apparent how powerful the mind control is. I assumed (incorrectly) that it would leave Hans docile and easily molded, but leave him little in terms of thinking ability. Is Hans practically the same as before, except with completely switched loyalties? No zombification?

You'll find out more as the story progresses; just have patience, grasshopper. This is another one of my odd quirks with this story, it's not developing like anything I've read, seen, or written, and it'll be a long time until you find out exactly what is going on here.

This post has been edited by Zephir on 28th October 2004 02:30

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~Status Report~

* Completed... Dragon's Head
* Completed... Soldiers of the Empire: Disciples (release pending)
* In Progress/Undecided... Of Love and Betrayal
* Planning/Assembly... Where it all Began

Quote (Zephir)

Hardly, my overthinking friend.

Half the fun of reading fanfiction is the overthinking and completely baseless predictions in between updates!

Anyhow, back to preparing the wit for more baseless predictions after your next update.

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Visions of Peace - Four Generals, One Empire, and the Returners caught in the middle.

Okay, caught up on this one now. It's good, though I also felt that Iani seemed to get better a little quickly. I think it's just the way I read it, it's not a huge problem.

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I had an old signature. Now I've changed it.

I think the whole problem here is that Hans managed to defeat her in a few seconds in the first one by a surprise move, so you didn't even see her actually fight.

Which is solved later on the fic.

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~Status Report~

* Completed... Dragon's Head
* Completed... Soldiers of the Empire: Disciples (release pending)
* In Progress/Undecided... Of Love and Betrayal
* Planning/Assembly... Where it all Began