Fanfic:The Darkstar Knight (Part 3)

If you haven't read all of Part 2, please READ IT before you read Part Three.

If you haven't even read all of Part 1...what the hell are you doing here?! You're gonna spoil the story! Finish reading parts 1 and 2, then you can read this!

Enjoy!


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The Darkstar Knight Lives
“Are you saying that...that Darkstar is alive?!” Shitekijo glared at Nadell and the other brigands and shouted, “You idiots said that was Darkstar!” Nadell stammered, “B-but it-it was! I-I mean, it looked...exactly like him!” The bowman said, “Do not be upset with them, Miss Shitekijo...as he said, the body did mimic Darkstar's with incredible detail. However, we have uncovered some disturbing evidence which seems to suggest that was not really the body of Darkstar.” Shitekijo looked back to him and said, “Talk. What is this evidence?” The hunters all sat down, Shitekijo returned to her seat and the bowman said, “I started to become suspicious of them on the night of Darkstar and Joel's return. They immediately set up a private dinner party...not too out of the ordinary, considering how long Joel had been gone; he would want some alone time with his family. But what struck me as odd about it was the people involved; it wasn't just Darkstar, Joel and their family...Lydia and her parents, I could understand ...but it also included Tensai's former apprentices, Virgil (the elder of Valhar), Captain Dilan (cousin of Ghilad, the only one killed in Tensai's last attack), Ghilad's parents and “one empty seat”.” Shitekijo said with a puzzled expression, “One empty seat?” The bowman nodded and continued, “I still don't get exactly what that was about, but what stuck with me was that Darkstar invited Dilan and Ghilad's parents...but not the rest of Ghilad's family. It was like he felt a need to involve them for some reason, but didn't want to involve anyone more than he had to. He'd only planned on inviting Ghilad's parents; it was Lydia who persuaded him to invite Dilan as well. Darkstar threatened anyone who attempted to eavesdrop on their private party, but this lug-head here,” He pointed at the obnoxious hunter, who grinned and gave a laugh, then continued, “tried to, anyway. He couldn't hear anything, which meant that Darkstar was somehow using his Unleashing to prevent any sound from getting out. They were in there for a long time, your guess is as good as mine what they spoke of, but when they came out...all of them looked dead serious. I'd even go so far as to say tears were shed and stomachs emptied based on the way they looked. When we tried to ask what it was about, Darkstar repeated that it would remain a secret; that they'd taken oaths and anyone who tried to force the information from them would regret it. Darkstar was a good man, and that's a fact...but ever since what happened between him and Tensai, he has changed. Some of it can be excused, considering what Tensai put him through, but...I couldn't help but feel there's something even darker there... something...evil.” He sat there, thinking for a moment, then gave a start and continued, “But back to it, that night after their party they gathered in Darkstar's room for a little while. Everyone left eventually... everyone, that is, except Lydia. They were an item, but not married or engaged to be married...and yet her parents left her, knowing she would be alone with Darkstar! But before you jump to conclusions about what they were doing, listen to this: some of the people I talked to who were outside said the window of his room was open for a while, then closed. Some of them even thought they felt gusts of wind after it was first opened, then again shortly before it was closed. Gusts of wing...but no visible cause.” Shitekijo thought for a moment, then gaped and said, “Like a Chameleos!!!” The bowman said, “Yes, exactly! I think Darkstar didn't just stop by his place in Banruun to pick up a new weapon and armor set. I think he also brought some Chameleos parts to Unleash, so he could make himself invisible and come and go from his room without being seen! After the window was closed, the others saw...and I saw...a pale light coming from his room. It was not natural light; I think he was Unleashing something.” Shitekijo asked, “And do you have any idea what it was he was Unleashing?” The bowman said, “I'll get to that, be patient! So the next day, rumors of what happened to your brigand friends reached us, as well as King Atillart's statement that it was a false rumor. Additionally, as I'm sure you know, Darkstar was summoned for audience with King Atillart. Again, my suspicions rose. How could King Atillart know whether or not this was a false rumor? After all, Darkstar was in that area at the time in question...and he did have Tensai's body, a Dark Tigrex body, with him. What the King had to say to Darkstar is unknown, but he comes back knighted a King's Knight; so, even if the rumors were true, he would have immunity! That's when I started to realize the seriousness of the situation. He made his party private so he could tell them about what he did, which would explain why they all looked ill when they came out. He made them swear to secrecy, but he may well have threatened them if they tried to rat on him...I don't know. But that still didn't explain why he involved Dilan and Ghilad's parents, so I continued to dig. I had a little chat with the man who delivered the summons to Darkstar, and he was reluctant to talk...but I was able to bring him around. The messenger said that Darkstar asked when the escort would be arriving, and when he asked how Darkstar knew about the escort, he seemed to think the summons was an arrest warrant. So when the messenger asked “What arrest warrant?” Darkstar said, and I quote, “What do you mean, “What arrest warrant?” What about the brigands?!” Darkstar tried to deny it afterwards, told the man not to jump to conclusions, but when he told me that...that's when I knew the rumors must be true.” Shitekijo said, “You're damned right it's true! Finally, someone who doesn't think I'm lying just to get attention!” The bowman continued, “So, Darkstar returns a King's Knight, and he meets his group in Silver Shan's common room. Joel says to him, “You must've made quite the impression on King Atillart!”, and Darkstar replies, “I suppose I did. He was very understanding, both him and the High Council.” To that Joel says, “Good. Then we have their support?” And Darkstar nods and says, “More so than I imagined possible. We should discuss the details in private, though.”” Kurt said, “I knew it! Darkstar must've threatened King Atillart!” The bowman said, “Possibly, or it could be that they were already covertly allied, or it could even be Tensai's doing...I still don't know the full truth of it. But anyways, they went up to Darkstar's room for another private talk, came down about half an hour later, and what's the first thing they do? They begin the upgrade of the Neptune Slasher, which according to you was the weapon used to kill your brother.” Shitekijo scoffed and said, “Figures they would alter the evidence as soon as possible.” The bowman said, “After the upgrade was done, and I'm sure you've heard this already, Darkstar went up for his “practice break”...not with his Auroros Shiroi Z, not even with his Ceanataur ZX...but with Diablo X and the Scythe of Diablos, a set that he's hardly ever used! And on top of that, it was ungemmed!” Shitekijo said, “A set he didn't have a strong attachment to, and no jewels wasted. A perfect sacrifice if you want people to think you were killed in a training accident.” The bowman said, “Exactly! So Joel tells him he needs to be careful with it, and Darkstar blows off his father's advice. It was all an act! They tried to be nonchalant, but they were tense like they knew something bad was about to happen.” Shitekijo said, “They did know! Darkstar must've told them he planned on faking his death!” The bowman nodded and said, “Naturally, he would tell them. He knew how hard it was when his father faked death, and they didn't know...he obviously didn't want to put them through it again. I'll give them credit for the acting they did after the explosion and Darkstar's “body” was brought down...that part was very convincing...but by then, I could see right through it. And after further investigating, I was able to figure out how they did it. Joel used unrecognizable remains with the same blood type, which Darkstar told us, so Darkstar knew his “death” would need to be much more convincing to fool everyone...hence an intact body that looked just like him. Not just that, but a body that was still fresh.” Shitekijo gasped and exclaimed, “Ghilad!” The bowman nodded and said, “Ghilad...his physical appearance was different, but his blood type was the same as Darkstar's. It explains why he involved Dilan and Ghilad's parents in his private talks; bad as the things he's done may be, Darkstar must've felt it would be wrong to use Ghilad's body without at least getting his parents' permission. As for how much was given and how much was coerced, I don't know. But at some point that night Darkstar snuck out, invisible by Unleashing Chameleos parts, dug up Ghilad's body and brought it back to his room...where he altered the body with Unleashing until it matched his appearance as closely as possible.” Shitekijo gaped at him for a moment before she asked, “You are certain of this?” The bowman nodded and said, “We exhumed Ghilad's grave early this morning. The body was gone.” Shitekijo exhaled sharply, then said after a moment, “So, he really is still alive. Do you know where he is?” The bowman said, “Not exactly, but I have a good idea. After you left, Joel announced that he, his family, Lydia and her parents were leaving Valhar. Darkstar's belongings arrived less than an hour ago; by now, their transports are heading south. Joel wouldn't say where exactly they were going, but if we follow them...” Shitekijo stood up and said, “There's a good chance they'll lead us to Darkstar!” She turned to look at the brigands and said, “Pack your things, and be quick about it! We're heading south, as fast as my transport can take us!” As the brigands hurriedly gathered their things, she looked back to the bowman and said, “Thank you for letting me know this, it means a lot to me. How can I repay you?” The hunters got up, and the bowman said, “All we ask is that you let us come with you. Valhar's pretty boring most of the time, anyways, and before all the commotion with One -Eye started we were planning on leaving. It'll be boring again, now that Darkstar and his group are gone...and besides that, we want to know what exactly he's up to. I'm sure you will agree, there must be more to this than simply avoiding jail-time; his King's Knight badge would've taken care of that.” Shitekijo nodded in agreement, and she said uneasily, “Whatever it is, it must be very serious...for him to so elaborately fake his own death.” The bowman replied, “I'm sure it is...because when I shared my findings in private with Virgil, our village elder...he pinned me up against the wall! He told me I'd better not tell anyone, he said, “This is bigger than you can possibly fathom! I cannot say how, but I tell you...do not attempt to find Darkstar! If you find him, if you learn the truth, you'll come to regret it!” Then he told us to leave, so we can't really go back to Valhar, anyways. But that just makes me want to track down Darkstar even more, and find out what the hell is going on!” Shitekijo said, “I hear that. I am interested to know what's going on, but what interests me even more...” she clenched her fists, then continued, “Is paying Darkstar back for what he did to my little brother!” The bowman said, “Were you anyone else, I would laugh at that...but I've heard rumors about you, Shitekijo Hebifukai. Is it true that you've been training yourself to Unleash?” She chuckled and said, “I have. It is difficult, but I know in time I will unlock that power! When I do...when I find where Darkstar is hiding...woe to him, for I will inflict upon him 10 times the pain he gave my brother and his subordinates! No, 100 times!!!” The bowman said, “Just be careful that you don't go too far; even if you match Darkstar's power in Unleashing, he's had more experience... and he's a force to be reckoned with when he's angry. I strongly advise against harming his little brother, or anyone else he cares about.” Shitekijo said, “Oh, I'll be careful...and I have no reason to take it out on Darkstar's family; just him. So he's a force to be reckoned with when angry? Well, so am I!” Kurt returned a moment later and said, “We're ready to go, Shitekijo.” She picked up her bags, looked at the hunters from Valhar and said, “My transport is full; you are welcome to join us, but you'll need to get your own transport.” The bowman pointed towards a cluster of trees and said, “Our transport is back there. We are good to go.” Shitekijo smiled and said, “Then lead the way, and we'll be right behind you!” And so they boarded their transports and headed south past Valhar; the hunt to find Darkstar had begun!


 * ...To Be Continued...

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