Path of Radiance Reborn

Hello readers,

Firstly I would like to apologize for the great length of time between this update and my last; I have been quite busy with personal issues, working, and a wedding that I will be attending shortly. Sorry for making you wait so long.

This chapter contains no sex. That's right, no sex. never fear, there will be plenty of that in the next chapter, which I will be uploading very shortly, so never fear.

Disclaimer on the first page. Read and Review, enjoy, thanks.


“That’s it just up ahead. Nados Castle.” Titania pointed at the huge, shadowy castle that loomed over the small forest the Crimean army was concealed in. “I think we’re as close as we’re going to get, at this point. Nothing left for it but to attack.”

Ike nodded, eyes fixed upon the castle battlements. Even at this distance he could see soldiers patrolling all along it, with archers placed at every crenellation and rectangular space cut out of the wall. Two large towers flanked the castle gates, which were surrounded by patrolling guards. Catapults were positioned on top of the battlements as well.

“This isn’t going to be easy,” Ike muttered as he surveyed the castle. “I thought Nados Castle was supposed to have less soldiers than the fort. It doesn’t seem that way to me.”

“They got reinforcements from the capital, remember,” Soren said, his gaze fixed upon the castle gates. “It’s going to be just as difficult to take control of this place as it was Fort Pinell. Harder, in fact, since the Black Knight’s here.”

“I say we split into two groups,” Ike said, turning to the mass of soldiers and mercenaries behind him. “Titania, you take a group of soldiers and sneak around the back. Draw their attention and keep them occupied for a while. In the meantime, Soren and I will take a larger force and launch an attack on the castle gates. Hopefully we can divide their forces and get inside without too much resistance. They’ll be expecting an attack, but hopefully this will help us regain the element of surprise.”

“Got it, Commander,” Titania said, and she signaled for a squadron of soldiers to follow her as she urged her horse deeper into the trees. For good measure, Ike had half of his company follow her. Just in case they had more soldiers than they thought.

“Ready?” Ike whispered, and there was an electric tension in the air, as the entire group of soldiers and mercenaries waited with bated breath for the signal to launch their attack. Several minutes later, the faint sound of battle cries and neighing horses reached their ears, followed quickly by clanging steel and the hiss of arrows. Ike watched the castle, and some of the soldiers patrolling the castle battlements ceased their rounds and ran off towards the source of the commotion.

Excellent. “Go, now!” Ike cried, and with the force of a giant wave crashing on a shore, the Crimean army exploded out of the dense forest and headed straight for the gates of Nados Castle. As they raced forward, Ike could see the faces of the guards change from curious to surprised and fearful. Before they had a chance to mobilize, the Crimean army had smashed into their ranks.

Blood flew in every direction as swords cleaved into flesh, and loud screams sounded in the air, mixed with the battle cries the army was issuing. Ike clutched the mystic sword Ragnell tightly in his hand, unused to how light and weightless it felt. He swung it at a Daien soldier who had just stabbed one of the Crimeans, and was amazed to see the blade glow with a fiery blue aura before discharging a crescent shaped, indigo bolt of energy which sliced into the soldier and rent him in two. He didn’t have time to scream and instead fell to the ground in two parts, dead.

Wow, this thing really is blessed by the Goddess! Ike thought as he parried another soldier’s blow and swung again, knocking the offending spear away effortlessly and slicing through the soldier’s dark armour easily. The man let out a choked scream and fell before Ike’s feet. He began to push his way towards the gates, swinging Ragnell to and fro; any soldier who was not cut down by the deadly silver blade was sliced in two by the crescent shaped energy discs Ragnell emitted when swung at distant targets.

Though the sword was flawless, Ike’s progress was halted when he heard Daein captain on the ground shout a command. Groups of soldiers began to flood out of the gates, quickly forming ranks with the attacking soldiers and meeting the Crimean assault with steady force. Archers from the battlements rained arrows down from above, and many Crimean soldiers fell with cries of pain. Rolf, alongside the archers of the Crimean army, sent a volley of arrows up to the castle roof and soon cries of pain floated downward, along with several falling bodies which slammed into the unmerciful ground with audible crunches of metal and bone.

“Kill them! Kill them all!” The Daien captain was yelling, and Ike felt frustration well up inside him as even more soldiers began to pour out of the gates. If he didn’t get inside the castle soon, Titania’s group would be obliterated. They did not have as many soldiers as he did, and if they were contending with the same amount of opposition as he was, they would definitely be coming off worse.

“Soren!” Ike yelled, fencing expertly with three Daien soldiers at once. “We need to get in there now! Blast them all aside, hurry!” He knew he was asking a near impossible feat of the young mage, as it would take massive amounts of energy to summon up a wind strong enough to blow away all of these soldiers. But he was desperate, they needed to get inside.

Ike could see his own doubt mirrored in Soren’s eyes, but the mage raised his arms, closed his eyes, and a split second later let out a loud roar as a massive gale began to whirl around them. Ike was nearly blasted off his feet; he struggled to keep his footing as all around him soldiers went flying through the air as though shot from catapults. They crashed into walls, crashed into each other, and were even sent hurtling into the winding moat that surrounded the castle.

Several seconds later the wind died down, and Soren stumbled and sank to one knee. His face was shining with perspiration, and he was trembling with exertion. Despite his signs of fatigue, all the soldiers were now groaning and twitching on the ground, stirring feebly. He felt a quick surge of weary exaltation.

“Nice work, old friend,” Ike said, crouching beside him. “I’m going into the castle. Get under cover, and wait for Mist to get to you. Once you’re healed come meet me at the keep.”

“I can still fight,” Soren protested, starting to stand, but he experienced a rush of dizziness and had to sit down again. “No,” Ike said firmly. “Wait for Mist. Trust me, you’ve done enough for now.” Ignoring Soren’s look of discontent, Ike stood and motioned to one of his generals. “You, soldier. Take two squadrons of men and come with me. The rest of you, keep the Daiens here occupied!”

“Yes, sir!” the soldiers cried as one, and Ike motioned to his mercenaries to move into the castle. Mist was already kneeling by Soren, directing her staff at him. Rhys and Reyson were with Titania’s group.

“All right, move out!” Ike roared, and he led the charge through the gates and into Nados Castle.

* * * * *

“Fall back, circle around and come at them from the east!” Titania yelled, knocking a Daien soldier’s lance away and driving her own through his chest. The soldier crumpled with a loud scream. Wrenching her weapon from his carcass, Titania yanked her horse’s reins and wheeled it around. They had encountered much more resistance than she had expected at the rear of Nados Castle. Many of their Crimean soldiers had been killed. Arrows were still pouring down from the battlements, as well as narrow slits in the stone walls where she could barely discern archers. Calill, Ilyana and Shinon were dealing with them, sending thin streams of fire or lightning or arrows into the narrow spaces, each time being rewarded with a pained shriek. Gatrie, Brom, and Tauroneo were powering through the soldiers near the front lines, but it wasn’t enough. For every soldier they killed, two more stepped in to take their place.

Ike, you had better hurry up and kill the generals in charge…

Titania’s steed leaped over a fallen soldier and headed for the relative cover of the trees. Her group of soldiers was retreating as well, hoping to attack the enemy from another side. Even as they ran, many were cut down by the hail of arrows raining from the sky. Titania urged her horse forward, when she suddenly heard a familiar voice cry out in pain. Jerking her head to the side, she saw Boyd crumple and fall into the dirt, an arrow jutting out of his body.

Oh, shit, no, not him, no –

Whipping her horse’s reins, she stabbed its sides with her boots and sent it barreling in Boyd’s direction. He wasn’t moving. Please don’t let me be too late, she prayed. For all his swagger and annoying attitude, she had begun to warm up to him. She couldn’t bear the thought of such a steady comrade dying after they had been through so much.

Her horse skidded to a stop next to the fallen warrior. “Boyd!” she cried over the clanging steel and shouts. “Can you hear me? Are you okay?”

“Hurts,” his weak voice muttered, and Titania felt a stab of fear when she saw the pool of blood around him. “We just need to get you to Rhys,” she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. “You’re going to be fine. Come on, here –”

Ignoring the battle around her, Titania hefted his limp body in her arms, grunting slightly at the weight. She saw with a panicked start that he had been hit not once, but three times: once in the stomach, another in the shoulder, and once in the ribs. Trying to force the fear from her head, she hoisted his body onto her horse, uttering a quick apology as he hissed in pain. Pulling herself up after him, she made for the trees, willing herself not to be too late.

* * * * *

There was a large abundance of soldiers in the castle, but they were not as plentiful as the group he had faced outside. Ike was able to fight his way through the Daein opposition without too many casualties. Ragnell made the fight infinitely easier; no soldier could stand against its powerful swipes and energy attacks. Ike tried to make his way to the keep without engaging in too many fights, not wanting to fight unnecessarily with the Daein troops. If there was to be blood on his sword, he wanted it to be the Black Knight’s alone. But still, he would not stand back and let the soldiers attack him – if a soldier stood in his way, he died.

Gradually, Ike drew closer to the heart of the castle. Halfway through the castle, he split his party again, sending half of them, with a group of Crimean soldiers, out a back exit to aid Titania’s assault. The other half stayed with him. After what seemed like many skirmishes, he found himself in what looked to be a large throne hall, with an ornate and important-looking door glaring down at him from the end of the hall. Four stone pillars flanked it.

The guards in the hall looked up, startled, as Ike burst into the room. As he swung his enchanted sword and decapitated a soldier with a energy blade, several more fell upon his company. Even as Ike whirled, parried, cut, and stabbed, more and more Daien troops came into the throne hall from adjoining hallways. Soon there were not only handfuls, but an entire platoon. Sweat trickled down his brow as he realized with horror that he may have to retreat.

However, at that moment a terrible roar split the din, and three soldiers were lifted off their feet and sent flying. Ike looked in the direction of the noise, and to his surprise and relief saw Soren standing their, arm raised with a scowl on his face. On one side of him there was a snarling tiger with deep blue fur and a thick silver mane, and on the other side a tawny wildcat with fierce violet eyes and jutting front teeth.

As Lethe and Mordecai sprang forward, Ike watched as they effectively demolished a great number of the Daien troops effortlessly. He joined in the assault, massacring any soldier that strayed too close to him. In a matter of minutes, the throne hall was devoid of Daein life.

“Are you okay, Ike?” Lethe asked, melting out of her wildcat form and surfacing as a human. Ike nodded. He turned to survey the room, and then rapped out quick orders. “Volke, Sothe. Make your way to the armory and steal anything worthwhile. Mordecai, Lethe, Nephenee, Stefan, you watch the entrances to the hall. The rest of you guard the throne room door.” Ike pointed at the ornate doors with his sword, feeling his heart thumping painfully in his chest. “The Black Knight is inside that room. I’m going in alone. Don’t follow me.”

“Ike, wait!” Soren said. “I’m coming with –”

Ike could not hear him. His head was burning with blood lust and anger, and he rushed off towards the doors without a second thought. Soren started to follow him, but Lethe grabbed his arm. “Leave him. The Black Knight is his and his alone. This is Ike’s fight; he must do it by himself.”

“Idiocy!” Soren snapped. “I'll hear no more of this naive nonsense! What if something happens to him? What then?”

“Then it will have been by his own choice,” Lethe replied steadily. “He is old enough and can decide for himself if he can match his opponent. If he cannot, then we must trust that he has gained enough wisdom and composure to know he must escape. Believe in him. He will not fail.”

I still don’t like it, Soren thought, watching as the throne room doors were thrown open and Ike vanished inside them. They shut with a decisive click. Ike strode into throne room, making for the massive black shadow at the end of it.

* * * * *

Ena had been waiting for the Black Knight to appear for some time. Several soldiers lined the sides of the room, guarding the two other entrances to the throne room apart from the main doors. One of the soldiers in front of the left entrances was telling some sort of joke, and the group began to roar with laughter at the smut. Ena ignored them.

Suddenly the deep throbbing sound of metal footsteps reached her ears, and seconds later the Black Knight strode into the room. The men around the entrance stopped laughing immediately. They hastened to get out of his way, standing poker-stiff with their backs to the wall and their pale faces at attention. The Black Knight did not acknowledge them as he passed, but merely stopped before Ena and stood silently. Ena tried not to move, gazing readily into the dark slit of his helm. The power and command he radiated was absolute. She could tell at once that she was in deep, deep trouble.

“Why did you return to Crimea?” The Black Knight inquired of her, and his voice was so deep it seemed to shake the very foundation of the earth. “You had the perfect opportunity to escape.”

“I’m going to the capital,” Ena said boldly. The Black Knight did not react in the slightest to her haughty tone. “No,” he said. “You are not. The king has ordered me to put an end to you.”

So that was it, then. “I thought as much. So be it.”

“Will you not resist?” The Black Knight asked evenly. Ena shook her head. “I do not believe I could prevail against one of your power,” she said, for it was true. Although she was a dragon of Goldoa and a force to be reckoned with, the Black Knight could still tear her apart with minimal effort.

“How extremely frank,” the Black Knight said, a bemused note in his voice. “My only wish was to be beside the one I love,” Ena said quietly. If that is not to be, then it matters not what happens to me.”

The Black Knight nodded slightly. “Very well. Leave us,” he directed at the soldiers, and they departed at once, trying not to seem too eager to escape the Black Knight’s company. He waited until the last soldier had departed before speaking. “As my last act of compassion, I shall make your end a swift and merciful one. Do you have any final words?”

“If you see Nasir,” Ena replied heavily, “tell him that Ena was sorry.”

“If I have the opportunity, I will do so,” the Black Knight said. With one hand he reached towards the huge silver blade resting at his waist and withdrew it. Ena tried not to flinch at the loud scraping noise Alondite made as it was pulled free. “Rest in peace.”

Ena stared up as the Black Knight hefted the sword, and with one swift movement, sent the blade sailing down to meet her.

* * * * *

“Turn and face me, Black Knight!” Ike yelled as he stepped towards the throne. The armoured behemoth turned slightly upon hearing his voice, and behind him Ike could see a young girl collapse to the floor.

“I’ve been waiting for you, child,” the Black Knight said, and Ike once again shuddered inwardly at the cold, terrible power in the knight’s voice.

“Did you kill that girl?” Ike asked, edging closer. The Black Knight looked down at the girl’s motionless form, and shook his head. “Despite my promise, the blow was not clean. She breathes still.”

“I’ll take her.”

“You’ll have to do so by force.” The Black Knight turned to face Ike fully, the great sword Alondite in a large gauntleted fist. The sword was almost as long as Ike’s whole body. Ike withdrew his own blade in one swift movement, clutching it tightly in his hands and holding it ready beside him.

“You brought the sacred sword Ragnell, I see,” the Black Knight observed. “You appear to have grown smarter. Good. There is no challenge in killing a fool. Shall we begin?”

“Very well,” Ike said coldly, and he readied himself to spring. For several seconds, both Ike and the Black Knight stood motionless, Ike in a defensive pose, the Black Knight upright and unmoving, his sword pointing downward at the floor. Then, at the exact same time, both acted.

As Ike darted forward and swung Ragnell with all his force, the Black Knight slowly hefted the mammoth Alondite and brought it downward. Both blades met in a shower of blue sparks, and Ike felt a jarring shock travel down his arms all the way to his shoulders. Both fighters pulled away at the same moment and struck again, and again both blades met with a resounding crash not unlike two falling rocks shaken loose by an earthquake and dashed to pieces against the ground.

The Black Knight pulled away again, and swung Alondite in a wide arc, aiming for Ike’s waist. He dodged backward, feeling a rush of air as the blade missed him, and lunged forward toward the Black Knight, who was slightly off-balance from the wide swing.

Ike jabbed the Black Knight’s armoured chest, sending another grouping of sparks flying into the air, and leaving a deep white scratch on the left chest plate. The Black Knight growled in anger and swung his sword at Ike in a blur of speed, who barely got Ragnell up in time to block the thrust. His sword was battered away as thought it was nothing, and the Black Knight strode forward, stabbing at Ike’s unprotected stomach.

Ike backpedaled frantically, hardly able to gain his bearings before the Black Knight was on him again, thrusting, swiping, stabbing. Even with the enchanted sword Ragnell, it was excruciating work, and the Black Knight was an accomplished master swordsman. Ike could barely get close enough to attack for a few seconds before being pushed back by Alondite’s great size and length. Growling in frustration, Ike leaped away from the Black Knight, and swung his sword powerfully in the air, the blade glowing blue as he did so.

A crescent bolt of indigo energy struck the Black Knight in the chest, forcing him back several paces. Ike was pleased to notice that the black armour that protected the Knight’s chest was now slightly dented. Encouraged, Ike swung his sword in a flurry of quick movement, sending charge after charge of the sickle-shaped energy blades at the Black Knight.

A few more connected with the Knight, drawing a grunt of pain from him, before he recovered and brought his sword up to block them. Upon connecting with the Black Knight’s blade, the energy crescents dissipated and fizzed out, sending showers of bright blue flame cascading into the air.

“Impressive,” the Black Knight said, the barest hint of amusement evident in his tone. “Most impressive. You have learned to invoke Ragnell’s ancient magic and can use it at a distance. But you are not the only one.”

The Black Knight raised his sword above his head and brought it down; Alondite glowed with a blood-red aura and emitted a large, sickle shaped red energy blast that struck Ike in the chest, sending him hurtling backwards into the unforgiving stone wall of the throne room.

Ike choked as he crumpled to the floor, pain blossoming in his back, as a burning sensation erupted all across his chest. Ike struggled to breathe as the Black Knight advanced upon him, Alondite at his side.

Before the Black Knight could get close enough to deal a killing blow, the throne room doors burst open and a young girl on a horse rode into the room. “Brother!” she cried.

“Mist?” Ike whispered, surprised at first, then horrified. “No! Stay back!”

“I won’t let you kill my brother!” Mist said defiantly, easing her horse towards the towering black figure before her. The Black Knight snickered, and the sound was like dead twigs snapping. “The daughter of Gawain. How fortunate. Now I can pull the entire tree out by the root.”

“Don’t interfere, Mist!” Ike snarled, staggering upright. “He’s mine!”

“I … oh, all right,” his sister conceded. “Go ahead! You can do it!”

Emboldened by his sister’s belief in him, Ike charged the Black Knight again, launching the most complicated series of attacks he knew. His body flowed like liquid around the solid mass that was the Black Knight as he moved from one pose to another, combining his attacks, modifying them, and altering them in every way. However, no matter how resourceful or quick-footed he was, the thick steel of Alondite always knocked his sword away.

The two swordsmen engaged in a furious dance, both whirled and struck, linked and separated, thrust and parried, pulling apart only to meet with a more ferocious intensity than before. Sweat pored down Ike’s face, soaking his headband thoroughly. His breath became ragged and heavy. Mist circled around the two from the sidelines, her healing staff poised to act should Ike suffer an injury. As Ike flourished his sword and prepared to rush the Black Knight again, several soldiers entered the room from the side entrances.

“Protect the Black Knight!” one of the silver-mailed soldiers cried, raising a halberd in the air. “No!” The Black Knight snarled, circling Ike. “Do not interfere! I need no assistance.”

“Then attack the girl! Quickly, before she flees!” the soldiers convened around Mist.

“Mist, get out of here, now!” Ike roared, stopping dead with fear for his sister and leaping in front of her. “I can’t fight if I’m concerned for you! Escape now!”

“I won’t leave you –” she started, but Ike spoke over her. “Father would not have wanted you to put your life in danger like this. He would have wanted you to live. You have to go!” One of the soldiers charged, and Ike sent him flying backward with an energy blade from Ragnell. “Now!”

“Oh… alright,” Mist said heavily, twitching her horse’s reins. “Good luck, brother! Don’t you die on me!” Her horse wheeled around and galloped out of the throne room, with the soldiers in hot pursuit. Ike turned again to face the dark armoured foe before him, his arm trembling. He then raised his glowing blue sword and brought it down, only to be met by the Knight’s blood red mystic blade.

* * * * *

“Can you hear anything that’s going on in there?” Soren asked, pacing agitatedly outside the throne room. Lethe sighed for what seemed like the millionth time. “No, the entire room seems to be enchanted. It’s sound proof.”

Soren grunted and paced faster. Ike had been in there for a very long time. If he had defeated the Black Knight, he would have come out. That meant he was either still fighting, or he was –

Don’t even go there, Soren thought firmly. Not going to happen, so don’t think it. He turned away again when suddenly the doors burst open.

Soren whirled around. “Mist!” he exclaimed as the young girl galloped out of the throne room; for a brief moment the sound of clanging swords could be heard. However, almost immediately after Mist left the room, a tide of soldiers flooded out and engaged them.

“Shit!” Soren cried, raising his hand and sending a bolt of lighting into the helmed face of a Daein soldier; the helm began crackling and smoking and contorted into a bent, twisted and black pile of melted metal before the soldier fell dead. Lethe was crouched over another soldier in her wildcat form, her teeth savaging his throat. Soren turned away, shooting a quick glance over his shoulder at the hall entrance, and then did a double take.

Five unnaturally tall cloaked figures were standing in the doorway. Four were clothed in black robes, with large dark hoods throwing their faces into complete shadow. The one in the middle, however, was dressed in flame red robes decorated with gold. A hood of the same colour and design was cast over its face. Each of the figures had long, ridged bronze swords protruding from their cloaks where their hands would have been.

Shit, more Wraiths? Has to be, there’s no mistaking those things. Gotta deal with them fast or we’re done for. “Quick, kill those things!” Soren yelled, pointing at the shadowy figures. A split second later there was a sound like a guillotine slicing air, and the Wraiths had suddenly moved across the room into the fray with inhuman speed. Quickly directing the Crimean soldiers to deal with the Daein troops, Soren turned and sent lightning crackling at one of the black cloaked figures, who dodged the electric volts with deadly speed.

Soren moved away as the Wraith leaped at him, chancing a glance around. Stefan was fighting two at once. Nephenee was whirling her lance around as a deadly circular blur, keeping another at bay. Lethe and Mordecai were leaping and swiping at the red cloaked Wraith, striking out with deadly claws. However, the Wraith parried all their strikes with its bronze swords, and they never came close to hitting it.

Too late, Soren realized he wasn’t paying attention to his own adversary, and a split second later he felt the cold bite of steel run across his stomach. Snarling, he twisted away, looking down at his bloody robes. Luckily, the sword had only grazed him. With fury in his eyes, Soren bore down upon the figure, sending streams of fire out of his hand to assault the Wraith, but it continually dodged the attacks. These ones were much more skilled than the ones he had fought in the forest camp.

Stefan’s sword was a whirlwind of deadly skill, and even with two of the black figures upon him, he managed to bring his sword up in a wide arc and cut one in half. The Wraith died with a soft hiss and exploded into wisps of dark smoke. The remaining Wraith attacked him more ferociously, sending him back several paces. Nephenee managed to stab her opponent in the shoulder, but with a movement too fast to follow, the black cloaked creature wrenched backwards and tore the lance from her grip, snapping it in two. It then leaped at her, blades outstretched, raining swipes upon her.

Soren saw Nephenee in danger and quickly leaped to her side, raising an arm as he did so; a great bubble of fire encompassed him as he landed next to the moaning Halberdier, covering them with a protective barrier of bright red flames. The Wraith prowled around the outside, not making a noise. As Soren checked the girl’s wounds, he saw, outside the fire ring, the red Wraith cut into Lethe. She collapsed to the floor, bleeding profusely and melting away from her wildcat form. Soren felt a sense of despair overcome him.

Shit, Ike, we need help, hurry!

* * * * *

Ike was tiring.

Every blow he rained upon the Black Knight cost him a little more of his strength. Ragnell, which had seemed so light and weightless at first, was now heavy and a burden in his aching arms. His entire body shook with fatigue.

The Black Knight was tiring too, but not nearly as badly as Ike. Ike had managed to hit him several more times in the chest area, and the Knight’s black armour was badly dented. However, that was the only sign of his labour, whereas Ike was bleeding from numerous small cuts from where Alondite had grazed him. His clothes were bloody and rank.

As Ike raised his sword to attack yet again, the Black Knight suddenly disappeared in a flash of fire. Ike gaped, perplexed, at the empty space before him where the Knight had stood seconds before. Suddenly, he heard a noise behind him, and he whirled around, but in mid-turn he felt a black gauntleted fist drive into his face.

There was a loud crack and Ike felt his nose break; dizzy with pain, he was sent sprawling to the floor, blood pouring from his cracked nose and his jaw. It felt as though someone had stuck a burning poker to his face. His eyes filmed over with pain, and he groaned on the floor, looking up at the towering Black Knight, who had materialized behind him.

“Arcane powder,” Ike barely heard him say. “It allows me to travel about at will. Quite useful, although draining, I must say.” Ike couldn’t reply. He instead glared up at the Black Knight with all the hatred he could muster before making a wild lunge at the armoured figure. Sidestepping him easily, the Black Knight swung his sword as Ike stumbled past.

The cold steel of Alondite sliced heavily across Ike’s back, cutting through his mail, clothes and skin. Ike screamed loudly as his back exploded with pain, dropping to his knees, moaning in agony. Hot blood dripped from his right shoulder all the way down to the small of his back. Barely conscious, Ike swayed on his knees. He had failed.

How did it come to this?

“You are beaten,” the Black Knight said, leveling Alondite at his throat. “Three times we have fought, and three times you have lost. This will be the last time. Your resistance shall fall, and the Princess will be taken into Ashnard’s custody. The methods he uses for torture are terrible, especially for women. And the last thing she will remember is that you failed her.”

At the thought of Ashnard torturing a bound and gagged Elincia, something snapped inside Ike. His pain forgotten, he swung Ragnell up in a fury, knocking Alondite away and assaulting the Black Knight with renewed vigor. The strategy and composure he had fought with was gone. He attacked the Knight in a fury, not caring about strategy or finesse.

The Black Knight was surprised, and tried to block Ike’s thrusting blade, but the young swordsman was unstoppable. His anger gave him purpose. With three quick slashes, three energy bolts flew out of the blade and struck the Black Knight directly on his dented armour, sending him reeling backward. Ike saw his opening and moved, completely ignoring the searing pain in his face and back, raining blows upon the Black Knight’s dented armour. Ragnell blazed with a fiery blue light.

He lunged forward…

And drove the sword right through the dented armour, into the heart of the Black Knight.

Time seemed to stop, and for what seemed an eternity, the two soldiers stood before each other, a silver blade shining with black protruding from the back of one of them. Their roles were reversed: this exact scene flashed into his head, only the difference was it was the Black Knight on the receiving end of the deathly stab, not administering it. Ike had avenged Greil. His father.

“You’ve grown stronger…” the low, throbbing voice of the Black Knight issued from the dark slit in his helm. It was no longer earthshaking, but weakened, fractured. “I… commend you…”

The towering armoured figure sank to one knee. Ike slowly withdrew Ragnell from the chest of the Knight, fighting to stay conscious. He was dimly aware of the entire room beginning to shake and tremble around him. A dim shadow moved away from the throne room entrance and spoke to him, but Ike only caught fragments of the speech. “Castle… collapsing… out.”

Weird, that almost sounds like Nasir…

With that last thought, Ike sank to the floor next to the young girl Ena, next to the now-motionless figure of the Black Knight, as the tower came crashing down around him.

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A/N: To my reviewer Black Knight, I hope I did justice to your character :p but I don't think you'll be able to feed me the cold steel of your Alondite now ;) sorry my good man.

Remember, R&R, thanks.

Unrelated note: I saw Transformers. It's sick. See it now.