Running forward with her wings outstretched, Faythe had tied her messy hair up, just to keep it out of her way. She had long tossed away the horrid desert robe behind as she sprinted. Seeing Vivi already getting close to the towering wall, Faythe had to speed up. Pressing her wings closer to her side, she let the wind help boost her forward. Her talons digging into the sand to propel herself forward.
"OKAMA DASH!"
faythe glanced behind her and could see Mr. 2 gaining chase. Se had hoped her little distraction had given her and the Princess some time to make an escape.
Getting closer, Faythe outstretched her hand to reach Vivi.
"VIVI!" Faythe voice felt strained.
The said girl whipped her head around to see Faythe's outstretched hand reaching for her. Her face could be visibly seen brightening at the girl. She leaned back on the saddle and held her hand out, "TAKE IT!"
Faythe drove her legs to it's limit trying to speed up, the repeating ache that throbbed by the second started to make her want to drop right there. She leaned forward and took a leap of faith, her fingers barely touching Vivi's.
Vivi leaned further back and caught her hand, "I GOT YOU!" She lunged back in her saddle, yanking the red head with her.
Landing on the saddle, behind the princess, Faythe was beyond exhausted by that point and leaned on the girl's back.
"Leave the rest to Carue!" Vivi patted the girl's head smiling.
"You got it! Imma rest for a sec.." Faythe was trying to regain her energy and breathing.
"HOLD ON UUUUP! I'M GONNA EAT YOU DEAD MEATS RIGHT UP!" Mr. 2 stated in a unusual pitched voice.
"CARUE, NOOOO! WE'LL BE CORNERED IF WE TRY TO HEAD UP THE STAIRS! JUST LET ME OFF! I'LL FIGHT HIM!" Vivi pleaded as she saw the man gain speed on them.
"OH NO YOU AREN'T!" Faythe held the girl down by her waist and took the reins of the duck, "CARUE! HEAD STRAIGHT FOR THE CLIFFS!"
Carue glanced at Faythe with a hard look, then nodded. He took a sharp turn and headed straight for the towering steep cliffs.
"WHA- NO, YOU'RE GONNA CRASH INTO THE WALLS!" Vivi screamed.
Faythe couldn't help but grin as Carue did the opposite. He was running up the walls with all his strength and speed, "LET'S GOOO!" She yelled excitedly.
"HOW COULD A MERE DUCK RUN UP THE WALLS OF ALUBARNA!?"
Just as Carue was about to run off the steep cliff, Faythe handed Vivi the reins and quickly formed her wings and flapped a powerful gust to blow them forward.
"WE MADE IT!" Vivi cried tears of joy, "Even Mr. 2 won't be able to follow after us n-" Her comment was cut short as she and Faythe saw the said man start running up the side of the cliff.
"NOTHING'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR AN OKAMA! OKAMA KENPO... RELEVE OF BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS!"
"WHAT THE HELL!" Faythe busted out laughing, but was bonked by Vivi.
"NOT THE TIME!" She hollered, but her attention was then on the fighting in front of them. Multiple or maybe dozens of royal guards and rebellions were at each other's throats, trying to kill the other. Swords could be heard swinging or meeting another, gun shots were continuously being fired left and right. Bodies were being thrown to the ground like heavy bags of potatoes. Faythe could almost taste the tang of copper in the air.
Blood.
It was everywhere.
On the ground, in the sky, on the ones fighting, even on their own weapons.
It was a full on war and Faythe and Vivi were getting a front row seat to it all.
Faythe was the first to get back to reality as she shook Vivi by the shoulder. A body that was thrown out of the fray was dropped right them. Cuts and gun shots littered the man's body.
Vivi stared at the man. He was a rebellion by the way he was dressed. Her grip on the reins only tightened to the point her knuckles grew white.
"The sooner we find the rebellion leader or the royal guards general, the sooner this can end! Get a grip, Vivi!" Faythe hugged the girl from behind.
"Carue, can you get through this battlefield!? The rebels shouldn't have penetrated the city center yet..!" Vivi asked in a strained tone. Faythe could tell it was taking everything in her not to break down again at the scene in front of her, "We'll look for Chaka first! Head for the palace!" Vivi whipped the reins for Carue to go full speed ahead.
"HEEEERREEE'S... MR. 2!" The man had finally had reached the top and was on their tail. Faythe went to go distract him but a sound of a pistol reloading with a 'Click' made her ears perk.
Carue was shot in the leg.
"CARUE!" Both woman shouted.
Faythe looked around for the culprit as her fury was spiking again. She saw a man in rebellion clothing having a Baroque tattoo right on his collarbone.
"A stray bullet!?" Vivi glanced back at Faythe for affirmation, but she noticed Faythe not having the most happiest of expressions.
"IT WAS A DAMN BAROQUE MEMBER IN THE REBELLION ARMY!" Faythe hissed, now changing her plans to stick with Vivi. Carue was barely making his way through the battlefield as he gritted his teeth to hold back the blood.
"GAHAHAHAHA! RUN ALL YOU WANT, BUT YOU AIN'T GETTIN' AWAY FROM ME!" Mr. 2 cackled like it was already a victory.
"SHUT THE HELL UP WEIRDO!" Faythe shouted back.
"WEIRDO!" He hollered like it was the biggest offense he's ever got.
Just as Carue had made it through the fields of battle cries, he dropped down in a empty street, both Vivi and Faythe fell off at his sudden drop.
He looked like he wanted to continue going as his body shook with pain, his eyes straining as he tried to move his body.
"CARUEEEEE!" Vivi was tearing up.
"Don't worry Carue! I'll take care of Vivi for you!" Faythe leaned down and pecked his beak. She got up and grabbed hold of Vivi's wrist.
"B-BUT WHAT ABOUT CARUE, FAYTHE!" Vivi stuttered weakly as she glanced at the gaining Mr. 2 and Carue's wounded body.
"He'll be fine! Mr. 2 target is you! Not him! We have to get away now and continue to the palace as you said!" Faythe shouted hurriedly but Mr. 2 was already too close to them for her liking.
"DIDN'T I TELL YOU!? IT'S POINTLESS TRYING TO RUN FROM ME!" Mr. 2 twirled over with some dance pointer shoes.
Carue was quacking at them loudly to run.
"I... I understand..!" Vivi held her hand up to her mouth to try to not to cry.
"NO YOU DON'T! OR ELSE YOU WOULD BE RUNNING RIGHT NOW!" Faythe urged, trying to get the Princess to her feet.
"GAHAHAHAHA! IT'S TIME YOU STOPPED GETTING IN MY WAY YOU STUPID RED HEAD GIRL!" Mr. 2 laughed as he swung his leg back, aiming for Faythe's head as she was trying to get Vivi to snap out of it.
"FAYTHE!" Vivi shouted.
As if the rain gods above answered Vivi's call, multiple ducks from the Drip Squad appeared and rammed their head or talons at the Okama. He was sent flying back.
"YOU SAVED US!" Vivi sighed in relief.
"Thank god.. We have some kind of back up..." Faythe laughed weakly.
"Well then, you should really like this back up, because it's worth more than a couple of ducks." A voice sounded out, making a smile appear on both girl's faces, "You can still stop the rebellion, right Vivi? Well done, Commander Carue. You're a real man...!"
"Sanji!" Vivi breathed out in shock.
"SANJI!" Faythe practically screamed happily.
"You two can down now." Sanji addressed the two ducks that saved them.
"Leave that Okama, to me."
Sanji cracked his knuckles, shaking his legs to get ready for is fight. At that moment Faythe looked at the Chef in a different light than the man who would fawn at every girl he saw. She remembered how he risked his life carrying her up the mountain when she was injured. How he helped them when they were stuck in the cage, and now he stood in front of them protectively against one of of Crocodile's stronger officers.
Faythe couldn't help but give a soft smile.
The two ducks quickly went to assist the Princess.
"I'm fine, just please look after Carue for me!" Vivi ordered as they saluted dutiful.
"STOP GETTING IN MY WAY! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU ANYWAYS!?" Mr. 2 shouted furiously as he spotted his new opponent.
"Go, Vivi! Faythe protect her!" Sanji ordered.
Vivi nodded and made a mad dash down the street. Faythe quickly stepped towards Sanji to his confusion. She stretched her legs up to reach his face and pecked his cheek. He paused and almost dropped his cigarette due to shock.
"Thanks for being our Knight in shining armor!" Faythe grinned happily and then sprinted after Vivi.
Sanji's eyes trailed after the red head, as a small flush appeared on his cheeks, "Wow! That sure surprised me..." He chuckled to himself relighting his cigarette. He cleared his throat and turned his attention back to his opponent.
"Now, I really gotta be the knight that saves the princess." He smirked.
/;/~***~/;/
Catching up with Vivi, Faythe took hold of her hand.
"Faythe?" She questioned confused.
"It's fine, just hold onto my hand! We gotta run faster!" Faythe panted as she tore the dirt road with her talons, gaining more speed. Sometime when they were running, Vivi was stumbling, trying to regain balance. Faythe grabbed hold of her waist and carried her.
"Are you sure you're not hurting or tired??" Vivi panicked as they started gaining more speed.
"Of course I'm tired! I've been running all day! But I'm not hurting! Just sore!" Faythe panted as they took a sharp turn, "Which way now!"
"Take a left on the next building, and cut through that alley!" Vivi pointed forward.
"On it!" Drifting a bit to make another short turn. she lunged forward and bounced off the walls in the alleyway to get onto the roof.
"Where is the palace?" Faythe took a moment to get a breather for Vivi to look around.
"The largest building!" Vivi ordered.
"Okay hold on tight!" Faythe took a deep breath and shifted Vivi to be strapped to her back.
"Wait why..!?" Vivi started worriedly.
"Because you, my friend are about to know how it feels to fly." Faythe smiled, "Bird Transformation. Parrot Beast!" Her voice sounded like an echo as her body shifted. Her talons grew in size, ram horns twirled on her temples. Her bird shape looked more like a griffon with rainbow colored feathers. Her eyes dilated into a yellow warm colored tone.
"Ready?" Faythe's sounded like her voice was scratched.
"To fly? Never. But I am determined!" Vivi let out a nervous grin.
"Good word choice." Those were the words Faythe said before they took off into the air in a quick take. the building below them crumbled at the force. Faythe was soaring through the air as fast as she could. Vivi held onto the feathers near the beast's nape. She slowly opened her silver eyes to the scene in front of her. The buildings below and the palace only a few minutes in front of them looked spectacular in her view.
"This.. This is extravagate.." Vivi let out a breathe she didn't know she was holding.
"Mhm..." Faythe let out a rumble of a chuckle, "It's those perks of why I love to fly..."
"Flying..." Vivi glanced down at the beast she rode, she slowly balanced herself, and opened her arms out. She almost felt like she could touch the sky above her. It felt so close, "It feels..." She didn't know the right words to describe the feeling that warmed her heart, making not want to take a step near battle.
"It makes you feel free."
Vivi inhaled and exhaled, feeling the breeze roll off her face and through her robes.
"Yeah..." Vivi felt so relaxed as she flew with Faythe. But the beast herself was keeping a look for some soldiers in front of the palace.
"AYO! Vivi! Sorry to ruin the moment but are those Royal guards down there with the barricade?" Faythe tilted her head down below them with multiple guards stationed on the street.
"Yes! Head straight down there!"
"Your wish is my demand!"
Skydiving straight down, the wish could be felt rolling off her wings and feathers, almost like water. She raised her wings to collect wind for a soft landing. As they landed behind a building, Vivi and Faythe took a running towards the men with spears in hand.
"HALT! ARE YOU ONE OF THE REBELS!?" One of them held their hand out, while the others were alerted of a the new presences.
"Past here is the royal palace! Do you realize the situation you're in!?" The same guard informed them. Faythe was leaning on the princess as she was greatly exhausted.
"If you're not involved in the fighting, then you better leave this city as soon as possible!" Another guard pressed on.
But Faythe and Vivi were busy getting their oxygen back and ignored their info.
"DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID!?" Apparently one of them got offended by their silence, "THIS S NO PLACE FOR YOU TO B-" he was cut off when he saw Vivi lift her head with a glare attached.
"I heard you.." She huffed.
"PRINCESS VIVI!?" All the guards yelled out in surprise.
"Please take me to Chaka!" Vivi ordered urgently, "THERE'S SOMETHING I NEED TO DO!"
"You heard her, boys! It's urgent!" Faythe whistled out, laughing weakly, as she slumped on Vivi.
/;/~***~/;/
The man standing in front of them has a large build, wearing a overbearing green robe. He had a Egyptian looking bob haircut, along with a pointy nose. And apparently this man was taking charge as he was the only general left in the palace. But that only made Faythe wonder where the hell was her father, the King.
Faythe was currently sitting down near Vivi as a guard handed her a jug of water. Muttering her thanks to the man, she picked herself up to stand next to Vivi.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS, PRINCESS!? IF WE DID THAT THEN..."
Faythe glanced around as she noticed more royal guards were showing up to see if their only Princess had really came back.
"Yes? Then what? Then Alabasta will come to an end?" Vivi gave him a grin, "You're mistaken. This Palace is not Alabasta." She then grabbed the General by his arms, "The Kingdom of Alabasta is it's people fighting each other as we speak! It is their very existence which allows Alabasta to be a kingdom, not the other way around! If we could just stop the fighting for even a few seconds..!"
Faythe could see the General was sweating bullets as he listened to the royal.
"Just a few seconds to draw everyone's attention... That's all I need! Just leave what comes after to me!"
Faythe patted the the girl's shoulder to tell her to stop. She passed her jug of water to the girl and placed her own hand on the General's shoulder.
"You heard her. Destroy it. DOWN WITH THE PALACE!"
/;/~***~/;/
(Word Count: 2480)