Tiffa/Stormbringer

Stormbringer's Fall

Twilight was falling in the western seas as a lone, mighty ship made its way through the water. The skies were dark and cloudy, a storm threatening to hit very soon. A lone figure stood on the bow of the ship, gazing into the distance. Despite the danger the storm posed, he was perfectly calm, a small smile on his face. Captain Stormbringer did not fear the sea or its dangers. How could he, when it was his love and his passion?

He was in his best regalia this day. He wore a beautiful golden armor, which had been especially crafted for him less than a decade ago by a good friend. His uniform was golden and blue in color, and in impeccable state… nothing less would do for the Captain. For a touch of dramatics, he also wore a long, regal blue cape. His long hair, dark blue, almost black, in color, has been carefully brushed by a servant not more than a minute ago. Most impressive of all was the gigantic sheath on his back, in which rested his most trusted weapon, the Heart of the Storm.

Captain Stormbringer had always been an imposing, handsome man. However, he seemed to have put special effort on his appearance this day. He was, after all, expecting visit, and anything less would be an insult to that man.

He heard a footstep behind him, a deliberate one. That man could have stepped besides him and he wouldn’t have noticed… but that was rude and he was more polite than that. He turned and gave his companion a bright smile.

“Hello, my friend. Long time no see.”

The other man was huge and powerful… or so he chose to present himself on this day. “Hello, captain. It has been a long time.”

Stormbringer gazed into the distance once more.

“It appears that a very nasty storm is coming… I hope your fleet is ready for it.”

It was idle small talk. The fleet feared no storm anymore than Stormbringer himself did. He just wished to confirm something.

“The fleet is gone, captain. I sank it myself.”

Stormbringer’s smile turned a little sad. “I see, so it’s true then…” He laughed, and gazed over his shoulder again. “Well, I guess that makes my fleet the most powerful then!” He gazed to the horizon again, still laughing… when his friend’s voice interrupted him.

“Stormbringer… you are aware of what is going on, aren’t you?”

He chuckled. “Ah, it’s nothing. I believe you overreacted! When all this is over, you’ll feel very silly!”

“I have to protect my own.”

Stormbringer stopped chuckling, but his smile never wavered. “… I know.”

“What will you do then, captain?”

Stormbringer let out a little sigh. “Ah, I was thinking about taking a nice, relaxing trip in the far West. It’s lovely at this time of the year.”

“Feh. You are too reckless.”

“That’s what makes life fun, isn’t it? … but this reminds me, could you do me a favor?”

“… hmm?”

Stormbringer took the sheathed weapon from his back, and turned, offering it to his friend. “Could you care for this for me?”

His friend stared at the weapon, an expression of incredulousness sneaking on his face for a moment. “… you…”

“I won’t need it where I’m going, as I said, it’s just a relaxing trip.” Stormbringer’s smile never wavered. “Of course, I’ll be annoyed if it’s in bad shape when I return, but I know I can trust you with that.”

The man gazed at the Captain’s crystal blue eyes for a few moments, before he let out a small sigh… and took the offered blade. “I’ll keep it safe for a year and a day.”

“Only that long? I’m hurt.”

“I am an admiral, Stormbringer. Not a vault keeper.”

“Ah, well… fair enough. I do trust you won’t just give it to anybody.”

“You know me better than that.”

Silence reigned between the two men for a moment, before Stormbringer turned away, still smiling. “Goodbye, my friend. I still think sinking your fleet was rather stupid though.”

His friend snorted, and walked away loudly. He jumped over the railing and dived into the turbulent water, his body changing and taking a gigantic form, visible for a moment before it was lost in the dark waters.

Stormbringer just gazed towards the horizon, his eternal smile on his face. “Ah… the storm is coming.”

“Captain.”

Stormbringer gazed behind him again. This time, it was most of his crew… all of them dressed in armor and brandishing their jade weapons. They all looked determined... and more than a little bit sad. He was glad that they had warned him though.

“Hello, Xian Li. Why all the weapons? Are we expecting trouble?”

Their leader, the fiery woman called Xian Li, gazed evenly at the captain. “… Sir… enough games, please. Let us end this.”

Stormbringer sighed, and turned to his former crew. “… It’s a shame. Such unruly children…” He reached to his side and pulled a long, thin daiklave from its sheath. It was a nameless weapon, nothing unlike his real blade. “As your captain, I must teach you all a lesson then.” He lifted the blade and held it easily in one hand. A golden disk erupted in his forehead. “Come, traitors. Face the Stormbringer’s wrath.”

A lightning bolt crashed nearby, and with a flash of light and a thunderclap, the dragon-blooded rushed their Captain as one.

---

“Haaah… they’ve gotten so strong…”

Stormbringer clutched his side as he almost dragged himself down the pathways of his ship. Droplets of blood fell behind him with every step.

It was incredible that he was there at all, all things considered… The only reason why he wasn’t laying in the deck of the ship was because of the gigantic smash that had hit his ship from the side. Oh, it had been no wave… none could possibly throw his former crew around like that. It had probably been his old friend, as a goodbye gesture. “Sentimental fool… he better not have dented my ship.”

Stormbringer finally reached the door he had been searching for, and pushed it open with all the strength he had left. Here it was… his glorious vessel’s command center. Stepping in, and locking the door behind him (which would buy him a minute at best), Stormbringer dragged himself to the middle of the room, where a large, golden orb was.

He caressed the orb, and he could feel the ship’s spirit. It was… worried, sad, wondering what was occurring. Stormbringer allowed himself a smile… the ship was, without a doubt, his most loyal servant. “… My friend… This will be… the last order I will give you in a long time…”

“Go West. Keep going West until the end of time… or until I return to claim you back. This is my order… now go, Rising Sun Indomitable, my sword of the seas.”

The ship let out a sad wail, but obediently cut through the storm as it began to make its way westward. Stormbringer let himself rest against a wall, and waited.

He didn’t have to wait long. The door to the control room was smashed open, and Xian Li stepped inside. Fire danced around her body as she advanced towards him, her jade daiklave out and her red eyes filled with determination. She stopped in front of the Captain, gazing down at him. “… It’s over. It’s all over now.”

Stormbringer smiled up at her. “Yes… I see. Report, first officer.”

Xian Li hesitated for a second, before standing up straight. “Luca, Shieng, Ain, and Duro are dead. Jain, Lin, and Hao are mortally wounded… Tira does not think they’ll make it. Damar fell overboard, and we don’t know what happened to him. The rest of us range from heavily wounded to… not at all, in my case.

Stormbringer smiled at her. “You were always the best, Xian Li.”

She shook on the spot, anger clouding her face. “… Stop that…”

Stormbringer rested back, clutching his wounded side. “… Please, Xian Li… don’t look at me like that.” He smiled. “It makes me sad.” The dragon-blooded grit her teeth, but said nothing. Stormbringer finally closed his eyes. “End it, Xian Li. Please end this pain in my body and my heart.”

The dragon-blooded nodded slightly, and lifted her weapon into the air. The jade daiklave shone in golden and crimson colors as the animas of the Dragon blooded and the Solar caressed it… and then it descended in a deadly arc.

It would have killed a lesser man… but Stormbringer was hardly a lesser man. The daiklave had cut through nearly half his body, and yet he lived. Still... his eyes opened slowly to gaze at the Dragon blooded. “… silly girl… why did you hesitate?”

Xian Li’s face was awash with tears, which evaporated before they had the chance to drip down from her face. “Ca… Captain… Captain… I…”

Stormbringer smiled, and lifted his remaining hand to pull her into a gentle hug. Her anima licked through his body and clothes, but he didn’t seem to mind. “It’s alright… it doesn’t hurt anymore…”

Xian Li broke down crying. “Captain… I’m so sorry… Captain…”

Stormbringer shushed her softly, his fingers trailing through her hair, even as they were getting singed. “I know… I know.” His vision was getting cloudy, and yet he could see how his very anima was beginning to falter. His smile never vanished from his lips, even as he held the blazing Xian Li close. His eyelids felt heavy, and he finally let them close. “… Goodbye.”

Twilight fell upon the seas that day as a lone, mighty ship made its way through the water, letting out a sad wail as it sailed forever to the West.