Yu-Gi-Oh GX: Nowhere To Stay: Chapter 2
Chapter Word Count: 750||Story Word Count: 1,500||Chapter Count: 2/2
Another evening, another long boring stretch of duty making sure that no one approached the village, let alone got inside. No one had seen any signs of Brron’s troops in the longest time. Rumors from those few wanderers who sometimes spent days or even weeks outside of the village and came back to tell what they’d learned spoke of an intense battle and Brron himself falling against a stranger from another world.
Bean Soldier wasn’t sure if he actually believed that. There were other worlds; they all knew that, but those weren’t places of war. No one there knew what it was like to fight for their life, not like they did here. So the idea of someone from one of those worlds defeating a warrior-king such as Brron? He really didn’t believe that.
He stifled a yawn and imagined the delicious dinner awaiting him once this watch ended. Other rumors had most recently spoken of a new warlord, one even stronger than Brron. No one could really speak to if this were the same one that defeated Brron or not, though Bean Soldier kind of figured if he was, then clearly the gossip about the one who did that being from another world was all wrong. Warlords didn’t come from worlds of peace.
Without warning, something blew up somewhere, and Bean Soldier found himself falling in the ruins of his stockade perch. He scrambled for his spear, but a powerful foot landed on his wrist, breaking it without even an effort.
He jerked his head up and saw a cold-featured being staring down at him. He’d never seen anyone like this before, wrapped up in black armor, and surrounded by warriors, spellcasters, and undead. The one pinning him down gestured to the others with him. A single gesture and no more, but that was enough to send them surging into the village.
“What are you doing?” Bean Soldier gasped, spirals of pain shooting all up from where the newcomer kept him in place with one foot. “Who are you?”
The armored warrior - warlord - said nothing. But one of those next to him did.
“Recognize and fear Haou-sama, the greatest duelist and warrior! He will rule this world forever!”
This was a Guardian Baou, Bean Soldier realized, and few of those pledged their loyalty to anyone. He swallowed, trying to figure out a way to get to his feet without breaking his arm, and couldn’t.
Uncountable questions sprang to his lips, starting with who this “Haou-sama” thought he was to what he planned for the village. That last ended up being answered soonest, as Haou’s warriors plunged into every home, drove out everyone in there, and sorted their prisoners into those who could duel, those who were non-dueling warriors or mages, and everyone else.
Haou kept him in one place and Bean Soldier shuddered. He wasn’t the only sentry on guard. Why did Haou keep him down? Had he just not noticed he was doing so? From the way that the warlord stared impassively at what was going on, he might well not have noticed.
At least Bean Soldier thought it was impassively. He couldn’t see anything past the other’s lowered visor. He wriggled harder, more pain clawing at him, and gasped out a question.
“Just who are you?” He wanted more than a title. He wanted a face.
Guardian Baou reached back, intent on striking, but stopped when Haou raised one armored hand. At another gesture, Baou picked Bean Soldier up and held him before his master. Then Haou pushed up his visor.
The boy had changed. His eyes weren’t that warm shade of brown, nor no longer as tired, but brilliant gold and as emotionless as a rock. The scrape wasn’t there anymore and instead of that red jacket he wore black armor, but Bean Soldier recognized him anyway.
“You’re that… is that what this is about? Because I wouldn’t let you in?”
Haou’s face didn’t seem constructed for smiling anymore. His voice held nothing that could have been excused as compassion or even anger.
“No. This is what must be.”
Haou turned away, giving his full attention to what was going in the village. Guardian Baou tightened his grip and shoved Bean Soldier into the warriors’ group.
“If you’re smart, learn to serve Haou-sama well,” he said. “If you’re not, you won’t be around long enough to anger him twice.”
Bean Soldier didn’t know what to hope for. Or if he could hope for anything at all.
The End
Notes: Poor Bean Soldier.
Another evening, another long boring stretch of duty making sure that no one approached the village, let alone got inside. No one had seen any signs of Brron’s troops in the longest time. Rumors from those few wanderers who sometimes spent days or even weeks outside of the village and came back to tell what they’d learned spoke of an intense battle and Brron himself falling against a stranger from another world.
Bean Soldier wasn’t sure if he actually believed that. There were other worlds; they all knew that, but those weren’t places of war. No one there knew what it was like to fight for their life, not like they did here. So the idea of someone from one of those worlds defeating a warrior-king such as Brron? He really didn’t believe that.
He stifled a yawn and imagined the delicious dinner awaiting him once this watch ended. Other rumors had most recently spoken of a new warlord, one even stronger than Brron. No one could really speak to if this were the same one that defeated Brron or not, though Bean Soldier kind of figured if he was, then clearly the gossip about the one who did that being from another world was all wrong. Warlords didn’t come from worlds of peace.
Without warning, something blew up somewhere, and Bean Soldier found himself falling in the ruins of his stockade perch. He scrambled for his spear, but a powerful foot landed on his wrist, breaking it without even an effort.
He jerked his head up and saw a cold-featured being staring down at him. He’d never seen anyone like this before, wrapped up in black armor, and surrounded by warriors, spellcasters, and undead. The one pinning him down gestured to the others with him. A single gesture and no more, but that was enough to send them surging into the village.
“What are you doing?” Bean Soldier gasped, spirals of pain shooting all up from where the newcomer kept him in place with one foot. “Who are you?”
The armored warrior - warlord - said nothing. But one of those next to him did.
“Recognize and fear Haou-sama, the greatest duelist and warrior! He will rule this world forever!”
This was a Guardian Baou, Bean Soldier realized, and few of those pledged their loyalty to anyone. He swallowed, trying to figure out a way to get to his feet without breaking his arm, and couldn’t.
Uncountable questions sprang to his lips, starting with who this “Haou-sama” thought he was to what he planned for the village. That last ended up being answered soonest, as Haou’s warriors plunged into every home, drove out everyone in there, and sorted their prisoners into those who could duel, those who were non-dueling warriors or mages, and everyone else.
Haou kept him in one place and Bean Soldier shuddered. He wasn’t the only sentry on guard. Why did Haou keep him down? Had he just not noticed he was doing so? From the way that the warlord stared impassively at what was going on, he might well not have noticed.
At least Bean Soldier thought it was impassively. He couldn’t see anything past the other’s lowered visor. He wriggled harder, more pain clawing at him, and gasped out a question.
“Just who are you?” He wanted more than a title. He wanted a face.
Guardian Baou reached back, intent on striking, but stopped when Haou raised one armored hand. At another gesture, Baou picked Bean Soldier up and held him before his master. Then Haou pushed up his visor.
The boy had changed. His eyes weren’t that warm shade of brown, nor no longer as tired, but brilliant gold and as emotionless as a rock. The scrape wasn’t there anymore and instead of that red jacket he wore black armor, but Bean Soldier recognized him anyway.
“You’re that… is that what this is about? Because I wouldn’t let you in?”
Haou’s face didn’t seem constructed for smiling anymore. His voice held nothing that could have been excused as compassion or even anger.
“No. This is what must be.”
Haou turned away, giving his full attention to what was going in the village. Guardian Baou tightened his grip and shoved Bean Soldier into the warriors’ group.
“If you’re smart, learn to serve Haou-sama well,” he said. “If you’re not, you won’t be around long enough to anger him twice.”
Bean Soldier didn’t know what to hope for. Or if he could hope for anything at all.
The End
Notes: Poor Bean Soldier.