A Treaty Forged

[milicia]

On a sunlit day in the top of Fira Tower, Milicia paced back and forth. She looked over the starved land of Ignis, unable to unsee the blood and flames that surrounded the tower only days ago. She looked on at the chaos she had brought to the land, and wondered if it had been worth it. For all the lives given for this war, would the Sumata fear her? Would they cease their attacks on her people? Perhaps it would not end till she seized power from every last one of them. She hoped it would not come to that.

A Crepusculum soldier approached her. "He's leaving you know. Are we really going to let him just leave, just like that? A lot of the soldiers want his head for the allies he killed."

"Yes, because for all the people he's killed, he has also helped us greatly. Do not worry, he is a man of his word and his people have been raised to respect that same level of honor. Now let's go, we have much to do."

She remembered the details of the last few days as she descended the great tower. For all her worry, the Ignisian soldiers had returned to hear her out. She remembered the outrage, the confusion they felt when they heard what she told them of Trucido and the Sumata. Most didn't believe, the rest chose not to. She was lost, trying desperately to rally them, but it was all for naught. For all her efforts, all she had done was lash out at another country for the acts of another. She hated it.

Yet it was only yesterday that all changed. Onyx had recovered and had spoke to his people. Next she knew they had agreed to fight against the Sumata alongside her. She didn't understand it, couldn't fathom the man's motivations. But it didn't matter. Everything had worked out in the end. This time, she thought to herself, I made the right choice.

"We need to go to see Zeke and Donovan. There's a lot to take care of before we go one step further, and I won't go till I've talked to them." The soldier nodded and began to lead her to the Heroes.

[Onyx, Son of Sun]

It had been several day since that dark day of bloodshed, several days which Onyx spent, for the most part, in solitude. His mind constantly flickered back to his fight with Milicia, ever contemplating what he should have done different to achieve victory, but such thoughts were but simple distractions to the fact that he had lost. He sat on the edge of his bed, somewhat hoping that Milicia had just killed him, rather tan leaving him to steep in his own sense of shame and failure, along with the shame of failing his people, but Onyx was not a man who often took to self pity and quickly broke away from such thoughts.

Arising from his bed, he took to his wardrobe; a surprising small array of clothes lay inside of it for some of Royal status, but Onyx never really took to the flare of fashion, or the flare of going fully garbed. Reaching for a set of specifically tailored travel garments, he dons the ensemble and then makes his way to the large mirror and examines himself for a moment.

It was obvious what was needed of him, but it was hard to prepare himself for it. Onyx no longer had a place in Ignis, especially after his grand failure. Onyx needed to get answers and find a new direction for himself, and it was time to for him to revert back to his days as a monk and seek answers for life the only was he was taught; via a Pilgrimage.

Leaving his quarters, Onyx does so with a few planned stops in mind. Making a visit to his aestheticians, Onyx gets his hair cut, styled upwards, to keep it out of his face, and dyed a deep black befitting his name. Making his second stop by his alchemists, he picks up a special creation that he had had them working on since he came to discover his electrical abilities. Looking over the elaborate gauntlets, he places them on and asks for a quick explanation of their operation. After becoming attuned with the hefty armaments, he makes his final stop at his former Throne Room; throwing the doors open just as Milicia plans to leave to see her recovering heroes.

"Well it appears you've made yourself comfortable," he states with a familiar grimace. "So tell me, Milicia, just what is your most splendiferous plan for continuing your bloody trail? How many more countries are you willing to invade? How many more innocents will you slay in an effort to get your point across? And better yet, just when do you plan to actually try and kill Trucido, or is that just some pipe dream that lies at the end of your trail of bodies that you plan to amass as you get to him?"

His appearance is sudden, his tone harsh and unforgiving and the point was to make sure his men weren't just going to be used for some revenge ploy, but rather to bring about change, and a positive one at that.

[milicia]

Milicia didn't so much as bat an eye at Onyx. She had expected this much of him, regardless of his personality. "Onyx, you and I walk a very different path, yet it seems our goals aren't so different. I do not blame you for hating me for what I did, but everything that has happened could not have gone any other way."

"As for my plans Onyx, I'm afraid the bloodshed will not end here. Truth be told I don't know why Trucido needs you all, but he does. I know I can't fight that man and hope to win, so I'll take out his armies, his followers, one by one till he stands alone and those strong enough will overwhelm him unimpeded. It is indeed unfortunate that we struck against someone like you, who didn't even care to fight for him, but I trust you could provide me with enough to not make that mistake again?"

[Onyx, Son of Sun]

"Spare me your patronizing quips and wasted apologies. I only ask about your plans as I care about my men, especially now that they reside with you. But i trust their judgement well enough to know that should you make a mess of things, they shall have enough common sense to know what to do. As for you mention of things possessing no other outcome, you could have very well taken the time to converse with me before you sought to bring your forces here, so do not even begin to talk about there being "no other possibilities"."

Though berating her for her words, Onyx realized that her mention of them holding the same goals did ring true; to some extent anyways. But that small fact didn't change his disposition towards Milicia. She had invaded his country without a justified reason, and had done well enough to earn his derision; something he made no effort to hide.

"As for you not wanting a repeat of you "mistake," I can only mention King Dezmar. Thought having only had talked with him several times, he shows a great level of insight, and is most definitely too clever to fall for Trucido's poorly constructed machinations. Out of the sad lot that call themselves Royalty within the Sumata, he is the only one I've talked to that i would call a true King. He too cares about his people, and has used this treaty much to the same effect as myself."

Onyx paced around his former Throne Room, taking moments to stare at the bright sun as it illuminated the earth below; the warm red color pouring in through the window, causing him to reminisce about all the days he had spent in this room, working to make his country a peaceful and orderly place. But those days were gone now. All that was left for him was that which lied outside of the cities wall, and he knew well enough that he leave, not only for himself, but for his people, especially if he hoped to return to guide them once more.

Turning back to Milicia, his expression was a bit softer, his eyes no longer holding their piercing gaze. "If you are indeed regretful for what you have done to my Kingdom, then i ask you show it by keeping it the way it is in my absence. Here the law is absolute, for every crime a punishment and form every criminal a sentence, thought it is not a tyrannical rule i hold here, but one based on order. I ask that you keep things as they are, so that when I have proven myself worthy, I can come back and continue to lead my people to prosperity. If you are a benevolent as you people claim, prove it to me by fulfilling this gesture."

Onyx knew he was in no position to be asking such a thing, but he feared for his Kingdom, feared that it would change without him and that he would be unable to return to the place he called home; his name nothing more than some letters in some long forgotten historical tome. But even more so, perhaps it was that Onyx feared for himself and what would become of him rather than his Kingdom, but he would never admit to having such a thought.

[milicia]

The Roccian King? That is surprising. "You should know as a noble Onyx that it does not do well to insult one that you wish to ask a favor of." She smirked coyly at him, enjoying the chance to poke at his actions for once. "Still, as long as your men stay loyal to this cause, then I will honor your request. If you must leave, then know that your kingdom shall be waiting for your return."

She moved beside him. "We'll be taking the battle to Ketulunanox next. Sumata or not, I've wanted to deal with that barbarian for some time now. My advice for a wandering pilgrim such as yourself would be to stay far from there. Goodbye Onyx, may your travels find you well." She headed down the hall without another word or gesture. Indeed, he is a strange man. I hope after all this I may find an ally in Onyx. She kept her strides brisk, speaking with urgency to the soldier that accompanied her. "I believe we were on our way to see the Duo weren't we? We shouldn't keep them waiting."

[Onyx, Son of Sun]

"I pray that Xïsa finds a quick death by your hand. It has been long coming his way."

After that Onyx said nothing, no thanks, no harsh retort to her cutting comment, just nothing. Still standing by the window, he looked out over his Kingdom, his mind taking a moment to just absorb the look of the city, remembering the feeling of serenity that he received whenever doing so and taking to heart the fact that he should not forget the feeling, as it would surely make his travels easier.

Forcing himself to look away, he takes one last look at his throne and then quickly leaves the room and, with matching haste, Fira Tower. As he made his first few steps outside, he though of a proverb, the notion being that ever journey must begin with one step. He took a mental note of the phrase and continued to move away from his home. With a quick glance back, he tries to remember the serenity provided by the overlooking gaze of the city, but the feeling felt watered down without the view in front of him, but knew well enough that it would have to do.

Turning his gaze away, his footsteps continue to carry him further and further from the life he once knew until his silhouette fades beyond the horizon; the sun still high against the amber sky.

[Zeke Omoihake]

He couldn't believe it. Though time had passed as surely as the wounds inflicted on him by Onyx had healed, the war had felt like a nightmare to Zeke. Sitting up from the bed he winced only slightly as the burns on his chest cried out. Nothing had gone right. The fight hadn't, the end hadn't. Thinking back he remembered how he and his newfound friends in the army had joked over how they'd stand triumphant over the corpse of the Fire King. Surely the Sumata member would feel the fatal sting of those who were good and noble.

It was a lesson he had learned through the harshest teacher. Good didn't always win. Evil wasn't so clear cut. Worst yet, that everyone could die. At least I only have to heal up. Musashi... Though he mourned the allies they lost, Musashi's death didn't feel real. How could a Hero die? He was brought here to save the world. What good did he do anyone before death claimed him?

And yet, despite as much as he wanted not to, he trusted Onyx. He wanted so much to hate the man for the people he killed, but how could he? He had heard the man had chosen to denounce his royal status and had even said the Ignisian soldiers were to join Milicia to fight the Sumata. Even better was rumors that Onyx had been fooled by Trucido himself and had decided to go off to fight the main villain himself. How could he hate a man who had repented so throughly?

He turned towards Donovan, watching him as he sat on the bed beside him. One of the men had mentioned that Don went straight up and attacked Onyx single handedly when he heard Zeke had been injured, and it made Zeke smile a little. Despite the time they'd spent together, he'd always thought Don had felt more obligation to protect Zeke than the desire. After all, he was the naive kid, he needed to be protected from being overly trusting.

"Don, are you feeling better? The nurse said you were suppose to be resting for another day yet."

[Donovan Siroaki]

Donovan almost didn't react to Zeke voice; his mind so broken up and unfocused that it was hard to really pay attention to anything else. Turning around, he sat on the side of the bed facing Zeke ad muttered a simple "I'm fine" before dipping his head down again. The events of the war had hit Don like 10 tons of bricks, both in a physical and metaphysical sense. His head spun with a multitude of questions, while his body ached from the punishment he took at the hands of Onyx.

Pulling his head back up, he looked at Zeke, his gaze almost passing right through him. "How are you doing," he asked, his tone somewhere between ambivalent and sorrowful.

[Zeke Omoihake]

"I'm alright I guess. Things still hurt a bit, but they'll all heal eventually. Besides, I hear that we're suppose to be marching out in less than a week. Some place called Ketulunanox. Personally I'll be glad to be anywhere away from the heat." He thought to what he'd heard of the place. It was suppose to be a more normal land, but the few people he'd asked said the leader Xisa was a tyrant if there ever was on. All Zeke knew is he was glad to know the next place would have a man they could be sure was worthy of being destroyed.

Next time, no mercy Zeke. You could've had that Onyx guy but leaving him in a prison just got you beaten. You'll have to be stronger next time...

Zeke's thoughts were interrupted as the door creaked open, revealing Milicia. "Hey there Milicia, what's up?"

[milicia]

"Hello Zeke, hello Don. I hope you are both feeling better. I've been told you're expected to make full recoveries." Milicia smiled warmly to see the damage to the two had indeed been minimum. "I'll be frank with you both. No doubt you've heard that we're progressing through to Ketulunanox within the week, and I hope you will both decide to stay with us. I don't think I need to tell you how much you mean to this effort, and to the others. I know you've both been through so much in only a month's time, especially considering this is not your home, but will you continue to help us fight the Sumata?"

She could see the troubled look in both their eyes. Whatever they had thought would have happened in Ignis, it hadn't been what either expected. Milicia knew that after what had happened, she could say nothing to change their mind.

[Donovan Siroaki]

Don suddenly rose from his bedside, his face still stuck with that same ambivalent look. Grabbing his belt, he quickly puts it on, attaches his decks and tucks his hands in his pocket. "I'm going for a walk," is all he mutters before making his way out of the room. As he does so, one of the guards shouts, "You'd do best to pay your respects to the Queen, knave!" But the remark goes right through him; Don's attention too fractured to even bark back at the loudmouthed soldier.

As Don continued to walk through the castles halls, he looked at people who too wondered the buildings pathways, his attention focusing more so on the people talking to one another. His mind was racing with questions, but one stood out more so than any other, and it was a question of identity. The realization that Don needed Zeke and not the other way around caused cracks to form in Don's mental picture of himself. He hated people, found them annoying, disgusting, but more so than anything else at the moment, confusing. Perhaps it was that confusion that had led Don down his path of misanthropy. Perhaps, it was just his way of defending himself against people, but this was just one of dozens of other theories that he'd though of.

After being noticed by the people he was watching, he quickly averted his eyes, knowing full well that they saw him, and that he was doing a terrible job of hiding it. Quickly walking away from them, he finds a nice quite corner and takes a seat on the ground as he rubs his face. As he sits there, his hands now rubbing his eyes, a small girl approaches him and pokes him of the shoulder.

"Are you in the corner cause you've been bad?" She questions with an inquisitive tilt of her head.

Taking his hands off his eyes, he pushes his sunglasses all the way up to get a good view of the small girl. "No, I'm just have one of those shi... er, bad days. Tell me kid, you ever have one of those days when your not quite sure who you are?"

The girl skips around to Don's other side and sits beside him. Looking at him, she smiles. "Nope, I'm Shella, and so long as I remember that, I can't forget who I am," she states with a sweet naïvety.

Don let loose a small chuckle as he listened. For some reason, he always got along just fine with children, perhaps because of the innocence they held as compared to older human beings. Introducing himself, he continues to talk to the small child, his mood seeming a little less weighted down than before.

[Zeke Omoihake]

"Don, wait come ba..." Was as far as Zeke got before the door quickly severed the view of his friend. "Sorry about that Milicia, but he's been a little down ever since he recovered. He'll calm down, but maybe it'd be better if you waited to talk to him for a bit." Zeke rocked himself out of bed, at last sliding from the covers onto his feet. "Agh, son of a... As for the war, I'll stand by you Milicia. I know that things didn't go as well as planned, but no one could have known that Onyx would turn out to be a defector. You're fighting to stop the Sumata, and as long as that'll help this world, then I'll fight alongside you."

[milicia]

"Thank you Zeke, it means a lot to hear that from you. Truth be told, I still doubt myself a little after all this. Don't tell anyone else this, but I almost feel we have to beat Xisa now. I have to prove to everyone that this war, and the sacrifices I've asked of everyone are worth it. If we could crush just one of those Sumata truly loyal to Trucido, it'd feel like we would all be heroes." The stared off into nothingness, looking on wistfully at the possible future as she talked.

"Oh, umm... I mean, that's what I'd like. I suppose it sounds a bit silly. Even in the last fight you three did so much, all I did was beat on an already exhausted warrior king. Even Lunestise was more of a hero then I was." The grim truth had thrown itself in her face again. The last few days she hadn't been able to let go of her failure. She had all but forced Musashi to fight for her. She had dragged him to her planet, placed him in her army and made him lead the forces as some sort of figurehead of hope. It wasn't that she couldn't say anything to make the other two Heroes stay because they would be unmoved by her words, but rather that she had no words to say to them. If either had rejected to go any further, she knew she would only be able to stand speechless as they moved on.

[Donovan Siroaki]

"So what are you doing walking around the castle all by yourself, Shella," Don questioned with a simple smile on his face.

"I got lost, and now i can't find my mommy. I was kinda scared, but then i saw you all alone and though that we could be alone together," she responded with a honest grin.

"Heh, thanks kid," Don said as he patted her on the head. "But I'm sure your mother's worried about you, so what'dya say I help you find her?"

Shella's eyes lit up as Don offered to help her. Jumping up to her feet, she grabbed Don's arms and tugged on them vigorously, saying, "let's go, lets go," with that unparalleled enthusiasm that only a child could muster.

Pulling himself off the ground, Don begins to walk around the castle grounds with Shella in hand, stopping to ask nearby people if they saw an older woman looking for a small girl. Receiving a negatory shake of the head each time, Don begins to get frustrated until he looks at the small girl by his side, his furrowed brow relaxing when his eyes meet her bright-eyed gaze. Making his way to the Royal Garden, Donovan spots a woman on the other side, her hand cupped to her mouth as she shouts something inaudible from the distance he was at. Feeling the small hand tear away from his, Shella runs toward the woman joyfully shouting "Mommy" each step of the way.

Watching the reunited pair, Don smiles and begins to slowly walk away. Before long he hears the pitter-patter of tiny footsteps against the grass below and feels a tug in his slacks, Shella on the delivering end.

"Come on Mister Don. I want to introduce you to Mommy," She says as she continues to pull on his slacks; Don unable to do anything but acquiesce to the girls request. Approaching the elaborately garbed woman, it is obvious she comes from a noble family and Don decides to act accordingly. Coming close, Shella introduces him, Donovan awkwardly holding out his hand and saying, "Um, nice to meet you."

The woman stares for a second and scoffs, her arms refusing to move from her side. "You think I'd sully my hands on those of some filthy commoner? And to think my daughter asked to receive the help of some plebeian such as yourself before a guard. I guess she thought she'd give you some purpose in life, if it was a least for only a minute."

Don stood bewildered for a moment, wonder how such a sweet girl could've spilled out from such an ungrateful bitch, but he dare not say anything foulmouthed with the young girl still in the vicinity.

"Excuse me!? What was that you royal pain? Don't even think for a second that what i did was for you, you spoiled brat. And as for Shella, she is a sweet young girl capable of compassion to everyone, unlike yourself. Thankfully your backwards brainwashing techniques haven't affected her yet, and I pray to God that it stays that way."

The woman pulled back, thrown off balance by Don's retort. "Well I never! I don't have to take this from some degenerate who can't ever afford a fully closed shirt. Come Shella, we are leaving," she barked as she grabbed the young girls hand and pulled her closer. "Go off and rot in the street corners like you common rabble so often do!"

"Don't act like you have any right to judge me you ! I'm just a much a person as you," Don shouted as the woman disappeared from sight, Shella following behind her with teary eyes. Don felt bad, having had no time to even say goodbye to the child, or even thank her for cheering him up. Turning around, Don pulls down his sunglasses, ready to resume his usual misanthropy until his last sentence crosses his mind. "Just as much a person as you..." he mumbles as he pulls his sunglasses off.

That was it, his problem and solution summed up in one simple sentence. Don was himself human, just as much as any other person, and had no right to judge people based on some wrong idea that he was in fact something more than anyone else. Don was flawed just like everyone else and for the first time,was able to look at himself as a person without disdain.

Everything had fallen into place in that one instance, and Don finally knew what he had to do. Running full bore back to his room, he throws the door open, and looks on at Milicia and Zeke with a renewed sense of self; his heavy breathing preventing him from voicing his discovery.

[Zeke Omoihake]

"Don't say that Milicia. You've done a ton for everyone here. Don't you go thinking for a second that you're any less important than Lunestise. Truth is they need you out there. Heck those speeches of yours really pull on the heart, makes a guy feel like he's really helping the world out."

Zeke moved over near to her, pivoting as if to extend an invisible hand out to her. He stopped and grinned embarrased a bit before swinging his brush out to act in place of his missing limb. "I'm with you Milicia, and we're going to stop the Sumata alright?"

Only a moment later did the door swing open with a panting Don standing in the entrance. "Don, you're back. You... um, you get to clear your head a bit?" He looked towards his comrade nervously, wondering what had caused Donovan to rush off.