Mon Mon Nepu Nepu 13

The wind howled as it blew past us as we stood in the entrance of Kolibri Canyon.  I had to cover my eyes as small dirt clouds swirled around us as I took in the view, which would've been a sight to see if we weren't here to fight...humans.  I don't like the idea of fighting normal people but if we can get away with only having to deal with one person, then I suppose I'd be able to do it as long as we don't hurt them too much.

"Thank you Lady Nepgear, Lady Uni."  Romancia stepped forward as she held her cloak tightly.  "I...don't believe I could have done this without your help...."  She sounded so sad as her footsteps echoed lightly off the walls.

"Romancia..."  I shouldn't try to force the truth out of her but holding everything in like this isn't going to do her any good.  "...please tell us what happened.  I don't want to invade your privacy or anything but I feel we really need to know who we're helping out."  Uni and I started following her, waiting for an answer.  Getting her to tell us the truth is more for her than us and I hope she doesn't get mad at me.  I know who she really is though, but I know what the difference between this Falcom and mine.

"I suppose I do owe you the truth."  She said as we took a turn and walked up a nearby slope.  "Romancia is only my family name...and I've brought shame to it by losing."  Her head hung low we continued our trek up the spiraling canyon wall.  "My name is Falcom, and I was the adventuress those bandits mentioned.  I was caught in an ambush led by Toughman himself a while ago was caught completely off my guard.  His laughter...the pain...I still remember..."

"Oh goodness!  Sorry, I didn't mean for you to bring up a terrible memory!"  I tried to apologize to her as hard as I could but she held her hand up and shook her head.

"It's fine, I'm over the physical pain anyway.  Oh, and call me Falcom, no point in hiding that from you two any longer."  I've made things worse they were before!  I think I'll just keep quiet until she feels like speaking again...

After walking for a little while longer the spiraling path stops abruptly, forcing us to take a right into what looks like a man-made path.  The walls shot straight up and curved down a little like claws...I don't think Uni will even be able glide through here safely.  It's spacious enough for two people to walk through but I've got a bad feeling about this...

"The both of you wait here..."  Falcom recklessly stepped forward, moving side to side as if...as if...no!
"Falcom, what in goodness name has gotten into you!?"  I sprint forward to try and stop her from setting off a trap when a loud swish sounded off at the end of the path.  I don't have time to tell her to get out of the way, so without thinking I jump in front of her and hold her tightly in hopes of defending her from whatever fired at us.

"Lady Nepgear, what are you doing!?"  She asked as she struggled to break free from me, but I kept my hold on her as the sound of something flying through the air stops instantly.

"No-o-o-o-o!"  I cried out in panic as something burrows through my wool and poke my back.  I tense up, keeping my eyes shut, and get ready to endure the piercing pain of it all...but it never comes.  I can't bring myself to let go or relax until it's over.

"Gear!"

"Stay back Lady Uni!  Let me back up and get her out of here."  Falcom took careful steps backward as she dragged me out of the trap filled pathway.  A few steps and she stopped to let me know it was safe to let go.  "We're ok now."

I opened my eyes and looked up to see Falcom's face smiling down on me...she looked a little older than what I remember, but this is definitely her.  I release my hold on her and backed up a little.  "Wh-what happened?"  I looked over to Uni and she was trying to hide her face, but I could tell she was trying to hold back a smile as well.  "Uni, what's wrong with me?"

"I'm sorry Gear, but the way you screamed just now...kh..."  What's so funny about being in danger like this!?  I'm so lost.

I struggled to reach for whatever got stuck in my back but it was all in vain as I spun around with it being just out of reach.  My fingers graze something thin and I...I can't quite reach it.  "Hnngh, F-Falcom?"  I turned to her for help instead but she was busy covering her face...smirking and turning away from me slightly.

She clears her throat and wipes the smile off her face.  "Sorry.  I'll help you right away."  I stopped turning in place to give her a chance to help me out.  "Alright, I'm going to need you to brace yourself, I'lll give you a few yanks."  She put a hand on my shoulder and tried to pull the object out of my back.  "It's in there pretty tight.  Could you relax a little Lady Nepgear?"

"I'll try..."  It was going to be hard to relax with Uni giggling next to us.  I'll have to do my best to ignore her for now.  I take in a few deep breaths and try tune to her out...I close my eyes and focus on listening to the whistle of the wind blowing through the canyon walls.

"Oh!"  Falcom let out a surprised cry as something hit the ground behind me.  "Looks like an arrow got stuck in your wool."  I touched my wool and it seemed less fluffy than usual.  Did I somehow manage to-

"An arrow!?"  Uni's giggling stopped instantly as she heard that and she nearly jumped to us, hurriedly checking me all over to see if anything else was wrong with me.  "Oh no Gear, I didn't know!  I'm so sorry, if I had known I wouldn't have...  Are you hurt?"

I was speechless.  That arrow had come dangerously close to actually...hurting me...but I couldn't let Falcom get hurt no matter how careless she got.  I know she isn't in the best of moods but she shouldn't let herself get carried away like this.

"Lady Nepgear, snap out of it!"

"Hm?  Oh goodness, sorry!"  I think I spaced out a little as I thought about telling her she should be the one to snap out of it.  "Why were you going so fast down there Falcom?  You could've been hurt!"

Without hesitation she stepped back in the path and actively started trying to trigger traps, stomping around until another wooshing sound went off.  Her cloak flapped in the wind as she spun around and turned to face me and Uni with...an arrow in her hand!?  "I failed to mention that I had everything under control.  You didn't need to shield me..."  She snapped the arrow in half,  tossing it aside and continuing down the dangerous path.

Uni and I followed Falcom at a safe distance, crouching and watching out for arrows she might miss.  I can see small holes in the wall as we get closer, and she starts reaching for something hidden on her back under her cloak.  In a blur she brings out a case and takes a full swing at it, smashing the wall and disabling the the traps making it safer for us.  She's done a good job hiding that away from everyone, I didn't notice it sticking out behind her.  She sighed and pull her case out of the wall and waited for us to catch up.

I don't know if it's the monster in me, but seeing her act so down in the dumps makes me...a little upset.  "Maybe you should be the one to snap out of it..."

"What?"  Falcom stopped dead in her tracks and looked at me with narrow eyes.  "What did you say?"

"I said you're the one who needs to snap out of it.  So what if you lost?  It's not the end of the world!"  It felt like my heart was ready to burst through my chest, but I kept going on.  "You need to...to get over it already!"

Uni stepped behind me as Falcom stormed over to me, pulling a longsword out of her case and stabbing it into the dirt by my feet.  I stood my ground as she threw off her cloak revealing a teary face.  Her ponytail waved in the wind as she pulled down her collar to reveal runes coiling around her neck.  "Do you see this mark?  This is proof that I've failed as a Romancia and can never return home."

I got an odd feeling from just looking at her neck but I didn't back down, not with her finally opening up.  "I don't know what that's supposed to mean, it just looks like a mark on your neck."

She shook her head as even more tears streamed down her face.  "It's a mark for sure and it means I don't have a family anymore.  The Romancias have prided themselves on winning their fights no matter what.  No one has lost in generations...until I...happened..."  She pulled her collar back up and turned away from me.  "Let's get back on track, maybe if I settle the score I can get rid of this...thing on my neck."  She wiped her tears away and packed her things back up...I was afraid she'd do something a little drastic, but I have to snap her out of this rut she's in.

We all silently trudge down the path laid out to the left of the smashed arrow trap until we reach a wide semi-circular area, a cave on the other side and cliff off to the side.  I bet from Uni's point of view it would've looked like a rocky crescent.

"WHO THE HELL IS BREAKIN' MY TOYS?!"

A bunch of bandits came out of the cave and stood on both sides of it as a thunderous voice booms from within.  The ground starts to shake as the footsteps seemed to be getting louder.  The bandits started laughing and cheering as a large, red foot emerged from the cave.

Falcom drew her sword and dropped her case and took a stance.  "Lady Nepgear, Lady Uni, this is it."