*The starless skies seem to rear its grim face to Falcon a little too often these days.

Gone were the days where the lady moon would caress his face, the stars glittering in their places, their light dancing across their dark night stage.

Now, all there is on top of Falcon is an empty, gloomy stage.

Just like him.

Gone was his kingdom.

His men.

His family.

Everything.

Empty.

The death of his father, who ruled for years with peace, left the kingdom divided. While Falcon’s father was enjoying life, his advisors were planning the very next step.

And so, with the death, Falcon found himself suddenly surrounded by enemies. Men, who were loyal to his house, suddenly discovered a taste towards the riches many associate nobility with (even though they are wrong about this, while being right with everything else such as it is very very stressful). In fact, it was pure luck and bravery of whatever men he had still loyal to him which allowed him to escape from the assassination attempt.

Since then, the kingdom was thrown into chaos, as with anything that does not have a leader, because everyone will attempt to place their asses on that seat.

As of present, there are three major powers, with another two more who are in the shadows, biding their time to strike when someone slips up.

And of course, there is Falcon, the true heir to the throne. As long as he’s alive, anyone’s claim to the throne can be invalidated at anytime.

But yet, does it really matter any more? Who cares who the king is? Who cares who rules the kingdoms?

Who cares?

Falcon is just sick of it all.

Sighing, Falcon sat down beside a tree, exhausted from the day’s journey. The rough ground will make another painful night, but at least, the winds are kind. With luck, it will be a nice dreamless sleep.

If not…

Falcon prepared to lie down to take a rest from his journey towards nowhere, his ears, trained to perfection since he was young, heard a noise he was too used to hearing.

Instinctively, Falcon leaped back, watching as his mind started dreading what was about to happen.

The soft shrill of an arrow traveling through the air could only mean one thing.

Assassins.

The arrow stuck the tree with a loud “Thuck”, as if it was confirming Falcon’s fear.

“Not again.” Falcon almost groaned.

But, as his mind protested, his body was already moving, hardened by years the training his Father forced him through. His hand grabbed the hilt of his long sword, Eclipse, unsheathing with one quick practiced movement.

“Well well. We meet at last.” An all too familiar voice echoed through the area.

“Sir Kevin.” Falcon replied curtly, recognizing the voice of one who had imbedded the same skills into him since he was five.

Yet another friend whose loyalties are as cheap as the gold he has been brought with.

Side-stepping and bringing up Eclipse to block the attack, Falcon looked deep into the eyes of his mentor and long-time friend.

All he found was, nothing.

The spark his eyes had when he laughed. The way his eyes gleamed when Falcon executed a move perfectly.

Gone.

Replaced by two deep black pools of emptiness.

Kevin’s soul was lost the moment he had been brought.

Side-stepping once again, Falcon tried stab Kevin by attacking from the sides. When that was parried, Falcon immediately feinted an attack on the other, before returning for a quick jab back on the original side.

However, as the teacher, Kevin knew all Falcon’s tricks and easily countered the attack by stepping away from the jab, while bringing his sword up at the same time to attack.

Falcon backed off immediately, knowing full well the strength of Kevin. Although Falcon was the younger of the two, Kevin was hardened by the many tourneys and wars he had been through. A young chick like Falcon isn’t going to fool Kevin easily. In fact, one wrong move by Falcon, and he could be facing the wrong side of the sword.

It’s going to come right down to stamina. The one who can last the longest, will eventually starve out this battle.

Needless to say, Kevin knew of his own physical limitations, attacking only when he needs to, while placing a sense of urgency in his attacks.

However, as Falcon sidestepped away from yet another attack, he felt his feet catching a root. Losing his balance, Falcon found earth rushing straight at him like a horse running at him at full gallop.

Usually, he would not have been so silly as to have tripped on a root. However, as a combination of despair, sadness and exhaustion weighed on his mind, Falcon’s usually sharp senses made a mistake of ignoring the root he had noticed earlier.

That mistake, is going to cost Falcon his life.

Within a blink of an eye, Kevin was on top of him, his sword ready to plunge and rid this world of Falcon. Falcon closed his eyes as he waited for the inevitable.

For the first time in a long while, he felt at peace, as he finally realized that everything, is going to end.

Just not the way he would like it.

He waited.

And heard a scream and a thud instead.

“My lord, are you alright?” another familiar voice came floating in.

Hmm?

Falcon opened his eyes to see yet another familiar face bearing on him.

“Lady Rose?” Falcon murmured, his mind still unable to comprehend what had just happened as he pushed himself up.

And saw Kevin’s body a few feet away, his sword beside him, while another sword was placed firmly where his heart was, if he had one at all.

“My lord, I feared I was too late. Thank the gods I made it in time.” Rose said, a nervous quiver in her voice that was full of dread and relief.

Falcon shook his head to clear the cobwebs inside that had entangled themselves from that fall. Looking around, all he saw were people with torches, each revealing concerned face.

Concerned.

And friendly.

“After you escaped, we gathered what’s left of the men and tried finding you. It was pure luck that I heard your voice in these silent woods.” Rose explained.

Looking around, Falcon felt something he had not felt in a long time.

The feeling of a family being beside him.

The feeling of friendship.

And, his duty.

Falcon can’t die yet. As long as one person who is still loyal to him remains, he has a duty to fulfill.

A duty, not to himself, but to these people.

And to his father.

Smiling for the first time in a long time, Falcon walked towards the people.

“Let’s do this.”

“Because it’s going to take more than that, to stop me.”

Around him, the people smiled. No cheers were heard, for none was needed.

Falcon sheathed Eclipse as he repeated the words once more.

“It’s going to take more than that, to stop me.” *

---

It's going to take more than THAT, to stop me. >:

Bring it on.