— CHAPTER FOURTY-FIVE —

  Thin Air

  (Percival)

  The three pegasi streaked through the snow-capped mountains, their wings beating furiously. As we crested the final rocky ridge, Whitewing Hold came into view below - and it was utter pandemonium.

  Pegasi wheeled and dove at each other in an aerial melee, hooves flashing and feathers flying. On the ground, cadets and Order members were scattered in disarray. Some desperately tried to corral a pen of panicking foals to safety, while others held their ground at the barricaded main building, fending off Fringe attackers attempting to smash their way inside. Looked liked a few more Fringe had joined them from the tunnels, because there was maybe a dozen spread across the compound and air above.

  Heydrich swerved to a stop and watched the scene in shock.

  "Captain, I'm feeling woozy." Lannick called over weakly, listing in her saddle. "We've got to set down!"

  "Roger that - aim for the foal pen!" Heydrich responded, banking his mount towards a clear corner.

  As the two of them swooped in, I shouted, "Fritz! Put pressure on the guys outside the main building. I'll establish air superiority, then join you!"

  "Got it!"

  They landed in the middle of the herd of frightened foals and rushing knights. Some of the NPCs came over and helped to offload the wounded cadet and player we'd rescued. I took Ashley higher, circling wide around the edges of the pegasus battle, and we counted up the targets.

  "I see five Fringe and four NPCs!" I said.

  "Same." Lucy said. "How do we disable them? Do you have any spells?"

  I thought through my spellbook. "Towering Inferno needs ground for targeting. Cold Snap to freeze the wings? No, that's also ground-targeted. Can you shoot them?"

  "I don't think a pistol is strong enough to sink a horse."

  "Then how about a broadside?" I said with a smirk.

  "A what?" Lucy asked.

  I brought us up higher still, then angled in on one of the Fringe fliers.

  So, going back to dualcasting real quick - the most significant part of the ability wasn't that it doubled throughput of magic, effectively doubling damage output. No, it did far more. By queuing two spells at the same time, certain combinations fused together into new spells. One of the most consistent one was that, if a basic bolt was coupled with itself, it combo'd into a triple shot - a free extra hit!

  We swooped down on the nearest Fringe rider, diving out of the sun. "Geo! Geo!" I shouted, scooping up both spell balls and hurling them forward as one.

  A flurry of three jagged, fist-sized stones shot out, punching clean through the pegasus's wing as we streaked past. The mount whinnied in pain, wing crumpling as it fell into a wild spin. It spiraled down, trying desperately to slow its fall with its one good wing. The Fringe rider bailed out just a dozen feet from the ground, hitting hard and rolling to a stop in a puff of snow. A couple NPCs rushed over, surrounding him with a ring of spear points.

  "Excellent broadside, Mr. Percival!" Lucy said.

  I didn't have time to see what happened after that, though. Now that we were in the fight, one of the other Fringe riders wheeled around to engage us, locking on our tail. He chased us in a banking turn across the base. There were two on this pegasus - a pilot locked in on us and an archer sitting behind them, twisting in the saddle and trying to line up a clean shot.

  "Hold on, Lu!" I yanked Ashley back, pulling her into a tight loop.

  Lucy let out a whoop, throwing her arms up like she was on a rollercoaster. But she wasn't just cheering - as we arced over the other pegasus, both sides looking up at the other, Lucy whipped out her revolver and opened fire. Three shots rang out in rapid succession. She riddled the Fringe pair with bullets and they swerved away in a panic.

  Coming out of the loop, I rocketed Ashley down past them. "Geo! Geo!" Another broadside of earth bolts punctured their wing. The pegasus plummeted, spiraling down to crash in the snow.

  I leveled us out, catching my breath, taking stock of the aerial melee still raging around us. "Was that your first three shots?" I asked.

  "Yes, I've got two rounds left." Lucy replied.

  Two Fringe riders still circled overhead, facing off against two of ours. I angled Ashley to line up another broadside against the nearest enemy. But just as I was about to move in, a laser of purple energy pierced through Ashley's wing, trailing glittering motes as it lanced off into the sky. We lurched and dropped altitude. The archer we'd shot down was still gunning for us.

  I wrenched us into a banking slide, skimming low over the Order's compound. One of the Fringe pegasi wheeled in pursuit, gaining on our tail. We didn't have time to plan; I just hoped Lucy picked up on what I was thinking.

  "Lu - roof, jump, lure, shoot!" I shouted.

  Lucy glanced ahead, then gave a tight nod. "Got it!"

  I aimed Ashley at one of the old stone watchtowers and took us low over the roof. As we passed over it, Lucy leapt from the saddle. She hit the freshly piled snow in a roll, vanishing in a spray of white powder.

  As the pegasus following me flew by, twin cracks of gunfire split the air. The pegasus abruptly curved downward and plowed into the ground, throwing up a geyser of snow. The pegasus itself exploded into blue dust, and the rider was left lying face-down in the snow.

  I guided Ashley into a gentle touch down and cantered to a stop. She couldn't fly straight with that hole in her wing, but there were only two pegasi left in the air - one each of NPC and Fringe. Then Heydrich let out a battle cry and charged into the fray on Squallbreaker. Trusting the sky to him, I turned my attention to the group of Fringe on the ground.

  The Order had them surrounded outside the main building, but they were still fighting, mainly taking cover in a nest of crates and barrels they had pulled away from the building. Fritz was huddled behind a little wooden archway with several throwing axe wounds on his body. He stepped out of cover to throw a spear, then ducked again as a tomahawk and handful of arrows sailed past him.

  -Fritz-?And you know who was right beside me, holding the line? The chef! I knew he had it in him!

  (Percival)?But the stalemate was only turning against the Fringe as the air battle wrapped up. The Fringe elsewhere in the compound were being rounded up by the NPCs, and more Order forces were joining the encircling group. It wasn't long before one of the Fringe called out, "Ok! Let's settle this peacefully! You let us walk out, and we'll leave!"

  Lucy and I ran over to join Fritz.

  "Do we trust this?" I asked.

  Lucy scoffed. "Absolutely not. We left that group in the tunnels, too. If we let them leave, they'll return there and continue to kidnap travelers."

  Fritz scratched the back of his head. "What do we do, then? We can't haul this many dudes back to the Capital."

  "Did we ever get a response from the Guard?" Lucy asked. "Are they coming?"

  I couldn't hide the disdain in my voice. "You guys called the Guard?"

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  "Look, man. This is bigger than us." Fritz said.

  I rolled my eyes. "Oh, yeah, let's hand these guys over to the Guard, further increasing the tension between them and making reconciliation even less likely."

  Fritz deflated, his shoulders slumping. "God dammit; why do people have to fight each other..." he trailed off, shaking his head. "We're screwed either way."

  Lucy said, "I would rather set a precedent of enforcing consequences for actions such as this."

  "Alright," I shrugged, "Fritz, try and string them along in negotiations. Lu, you call back to the Capital and try and get some backup."

  Lucy nodded, pulling up her menu. "What are you going to do?"

  "I'm going to watch you. People can't send me messages, remember?"

  "Just submit a ticket!"

  "No!" I shook my head vehemently. "I will never ask that admin for help!"

  Time dragged on as the three of us settled in, sitting outside the Fringe's makeshift bunker. Fritz kept up a steady stream of chatter with the bandits. I leaned back against a barrel, my gaze alternating between watching the Fringe for any sudden moves and scanning the perimeter of the compound. I was worried there would be reinforcements - either there were more waiting in the tunnels or another Fringe guild would arrive and try to break them out.

  However, it was the Mistral Mountains chapter of the World Guard that got to us first. A couple dozen blue uniforms of Guard infantry came trooping up the mountain path. Faced with the bolstered numbers, the bandits outright surrendered and came out with hands raised and weapons dropped.

  As the Guard set about disarming and securing the prisoners, the whole compound took a sigh of relief. The immediate threat was over.

  In the aftermath, Taxhi was finally let into the besieged main building. Inside, we found Stellis tied up in a back room. Taxhi ran over and started to untie him.

  "Geez, what happened to you?!"

  Stellis sputtered indignantly, "What happened to me?! What happened to you?! I've been waiting for hours!"

  "I got kidnapped by the Fringe!" Taxhi shot back. "But what happened to you?"

  Stellis paused, brow furrowed. "What did happen to me? It's very foggy."

  Lucy stepped forward. "We were ambushed by some Fringe while in the tunnels. You were hit in the head by a throwing axe."

  "Really?" Stellis looked uncertain. "I could have sworn I heard a gunshot."

  "A gunshot?" Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Curious; so that's what it sounds like to have your skull split open by a tomahawk."

  I nodded. "It's the internal reverberations of your skull - like how your voice sounds different to you than it does to other people."

  "Oh." Stellis blinked. "Why was I tied up?"

  Lucy said, "To... keep you from hurting yourself while tossing and turning in a stupor, of course."

  "Oh. Thanks!"

  "You're quite welcome." Lucy replied with a smile.

  We headed back outside and watched as the Guard cleaned up. The White Wing NPCs helped them tie up the Fringe outlaws and organize them in lines for transport back to the city.

  Beside me, Fritz said, "Well, turns out NPCs are willing to fight players after all."

  "Yet another reason you shouldn't take your eyes off them." I said.

  Fritz glanced over at one of the winged knights securing a prisoner. "She wouldn't hurt us though... Right?"

  "As long as we stay on her good side."

  Lucy rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, it's just a game, guys."

  Fritz and I shared a look. I mouthed silently, 'Do we tell her?' He shook his head. Yeah, I didn't know what to make of it either.

  We were then joined by Heydrich, who was nursing some light wounds. "Excellent work, all of you! Your bravery and integrity are most admirable. If I had my way, I would offer you all knighthoods. But alas, you must be chosen by a pegasus to be inducted into our order."

  At this, Taxhi perked up, eyes shining with excitement. "Oh!"

  Heydrich smiled and nodded at him. "Yes, that does mean one of you is ready." He turned to me. "Sir Percival, would you do me the honor of assisting with the ceremony?"

  I pushed myself to my feet. "Just tell me where to stand."

  Heydrich pointed over at the foal pen. "Taxhi, your pegasus awaits you. Go and collect a feather from his wing as a symbol of your bond."

  Taxhi practically bounded over to the pen, where a young, dappled grey pegasus cantered up to him. It playfully nuzzled Taxhi's face and he laughed, wrapping his arms around its neck in a hug. It then extended one of its wings. Taxhi reached out and carefully plucked a single feather.

  Taxhi returned to where many of the Order's knights had gathered. They formed two lines on either side of Heydrich, creating a corridor that Taxhi walked between.

  Heydrich drew his sword. "By the honor of the skies and the guardianship of the White Wing Order, Initiate, kneel."

  Taxhi knelt in the snow, the pegasus feather clutched over his heart.

  Heydrich rested the flat of his blade first on one shoulder, then the other as he spoke. "Do you pledge to guard the realm with heart and valor, to defend the innocent, and to ride with courage, bearing our banner high among the clouds?"

  "Upon my honor, my life, and my steed!" Taxhi's voice rang out clear and ardent, without a trace of hesitation.

  "Will you carry your oath as high as the winged breath of the heavens, and as steadfast as the stone beneath your feet?"

  "I shall!"

  "Then rise, knight of the White Wing Order, trusted among the pegasi and the skies. May your heart be light, the wind at your back, and your flight unwavering."

  As Taxhi stood, the assembled knights raised their arms in salute, hands fisted over their hearts. Their voices rose in a united cheer that echoed off the stone. "Huzzah!"

  Heydrich sheathed his sword with a sharp snap. "Mount, Taxhi of the White Wing! The sky awaits!"

  I clapped along with Lucy, Fritz, and Stellis. Tears streamed down Stellis' face. "I... I thought I'd never see him again." he choked out.

  Taxhi ran to him and swept his friend up in an exuberant hug, practically lifting him off his feet. "Ayy! We did it!"

  Stellis laughed wetly. "Kind of!"

  Taxhi released Stellis and turned to us. "Yeah, I guess we would've been screwed six ways to Tuesday if you three hadn't shown up!"

  Fritz waved a hand dismissively, "Oh, our pleasure. I'm a sucker for a happy ending."

  "Come on, let's check him out!" Stellis grabbed Taxhi's arm and tugged him away.

  Taxhi opened his spellbook and set up the voice command. Pointing a finger skyward, he shouted, "I call upon you, Susanoo!"

  There was a rush of wings, and a pegasus landed beside him. It tossed its mane and whinnied, saddled and ready. The two friends scrambled onto its back, Taxhi taking the pilot's seat with a whoop of sheer joy. They took off, flying away while we stood there waving.

  "See?" Fritz said, "Susanoo - now that is a cool name."

  I gave him a flat stare. "You're the guy that suggested 'Airbiscuit', right?"

  He just burst into laughter. "Come on, let's go find where we buried the wagon." He started walking, then his eyes lit up. "Yo! What if there are higher-tier wagons that can fly?! You know, hitch a pegasus on and just ride through the sky!"

  "Then they're going to be too high-level for us." I said. "If you can keep yourself from spending all your money, maybe we can buy one someday."

  Lucy went into her inventory and equipped her tricorn hat, planting one hand on her hip and pointing forward. "Yo-ho-ho, Merchants of Luck! On to the next plunder!"

  As we started down the mountain path, Fritz asked, "Where is that, Cap'n?"

  "I don't have a clue, Mr. Carlton! Let the seas wash us where they may, I say!"

  "There was that expedition Leo was organizing." I suggested. "That's probably still going on."

  "The one with the cannibals?!" Fritz exclaimed. "... Yeah, alright, let's give it a shot."

  ---

  -Fritz-

  The hearth crackled, and lamplight flickered across the heartwood table. Leo nodded and sipped his hot chocolate.

  "Wow, you guys have been busy. Corruption in the caves under the mountains, too? I wonder if we can find something there. There was a gardens boss in the Line of Fire zone, right? Maybe there's another source there."

  I said, "The place is a little hot right now - no pun intended. Between the high-level mobs, the Fringe are still hanging around, and the Guard are trying to get them under control. Some Protectorate guys were going to look more into pegasus spawn locations. You could ask them to look for lore hints of corruption. But if you ask me, I think this whole 'corruption' thing is ?a global problem. It's going to pop up everywhere."

  "That's what we're afraid of." Leo said. "That's why we want to find it early - figure out what it is and what we need to do with it before it becomes a problem."

  "Oh, speaking of the story," Leo said, "did you guys hear about the Citadel?"

  "Oh no, did something happen?"

  "No! Well, nothing bad! It sounds like they're flying through the curtain wall - that door they found in the gardens leads in there, and they're weaving back and forth to get into the main body of the keep. Should break through to the main body soon."

  "How have the bosses been?" Percy asked. "I've noticed the newspaper isn't giving a lot of details."

  Leo shrugged. "You'd have to go to the Wiki for that."

  Lucy asked, "Are the Vanguard getting along better now?"

  "From what I hear, yeah." Leo nodded. "The raid path's linear at this point - no choice but to buckle down and buckle up."

  "That's good to hear."

  "Should we have told someone about the Heart of the Gardens?" Percy asked. "If they get surprised by an encounter like that..."

  "Relax, Perce." I said. "They wouldn't have made it as far as they have if they weren't tough. Trust they know what they're doing."

  He simply stared into the fire. "Mmh."

  ---

  Next Time:

  Winter arrives in Celestia Grand - snow piles on the roofs and warm drinks are sold on every corner. But in the Citadel, work continues as normal. How is the Vanguard doing? Let's find out.

  Episode 13 - A Dance in the Sky