Subject: [FFML] [sF] Assault
From: "Nikholas F. Toledo Zu" <niftol@i-manila.com.ph>
Date: 4/13/1998, 10:16 AM
To: ffml@fanfic.com

This is original, although I did use the names of several FY characters, 
any resemblance is strictly coincidental (honest!). I'm just too lazy to 
make new names, I guess.

******
Assault
******

	The horse-mounted messenger sped through the countryside, anxious 
to warn his emperor of the danger that was threatening to come their way. 
Already, the horde had ravaged three different countries, and theirs was 
next. And so the messenger sped on, heedless of fatigue or of pain.

	Finally, he arrived at one of Emperor Hotohori's border fortresses, 
where the emperor waited for his coming. Rushing past the guards and 
courtiers barring his path, he rushed to the emperor and spat out the 
news.

	"Sire, I bring dire news! The horde is coming!" The emperor 
immediately stood up in shock.

	"The horde! When will they arrive?!?!"

	"They will arrive at this castle tomorrow, sire..." He then 
immediately collapsed from exhaustion.

	Hotohori considered the news for a moment. He then spoke to the 
assemblage.

	"Very well. We must fortify this castle! Summon every able-bodied 
man! They shall not pass this fortress! I will not let them harm my 
people! THEY SHALL NOT PASS!!!"

	The court, composed mostly of captains of various army regiments, 
then nodded in reply, knowing full well what was going to happen on the 
'morrow. 

	The emperor had just sentenced them to die.

***

	"Tamahome-chan... please, don't go into battle tomorrow."

	"I have to, Miaka-chan. To safeguard our child's future... I must 
go. You understand, right?"

	"..."

	"Right?"

	"Promise me, then. Promise you won't die on me. Promise you'll come 
back to me."

	"I promise. Dear Miaka-chan, I love you and I will return, you have 
my word."

	They held each other close and lay still, simply feeling the 
presence of the other, holding on to each other as if holding on to a 
lifeline, as the night slowly passed.

***

	Hotohori paced across the battlements, checking each watchman every 
so often as they continued watching for signs of the enemy. Anxiously 
waiting for any sign of the enemy, hoping against hope that they would 
not appear.

	Tamahome sat amongst his fellow infantry, strangely silent as his 
thoughts continuously went back to Miaka and their child. "Miaka-chan, 
know that I do this for you, for you and our unborn child. I love you, 
Miaka."

	Time passed.

	"Sire, I've spotted them!!! They'll arrive in 30 minutes, sire!" 
shouted a watchman as he looked up from his telescope. Hotohori looked 
into the telescope himself to verify that it was them. 

	It was.

	"PREPARE YOURSELVES, MEN!!! THE HORDE WILL BE UPON US THE SOUTH 
GATE IN 30 MINUTES!!! BE READY!!!" Hotohori shouted, as other soldiers 
relayed the command all over the castle. Bows were knocked back as men 
put on their armor and unsheathed their swords, knowing that this may be 
their last battle.

	The horde pressed forward, their mottled black and white hides 
contrasting hideously with the ground on which they walked. Their hooves 
thundering, as their horns glinted in the sunlight, eager to spit a man 
on their sharp edge. The horde moved on, inexorably, to the grim 
defenders in the fortress of emperor Hotohori. The horde then shouted its 
battle cry.

	"MMMMOOOOOOOOO!!!"

	The battle cattle have come.

	Heaven help us all.






author's end notes: APRIL FOOLS!!! Wait, it's already mid-April... 
nevermind. Seriously, I'm honestly not sure if the story is still funny. 
Please C&C this and tell me if it's funny 'cause I may have overdone the 
exposition.

To anybody can figure out where the term battle cattle comes from, you 
need to get out more. :)

Pervert.  Honest.
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