Suikoden Fan Fiction ❯ Suikoden - The Dunan Wars ❯ The Root of the War ( Chapter 1 )

Suikoden - The Dunan Wars

Authors Notes: I do not own Suikoden or Suikoden II (I wish I did though then I could have written a better storyline for Suikoden II). Anyway I thought Suikoden II got pretty weak after the death of Ruka Blight. This is a retelling of the story inspired by the Suikoden II RPG at http://members.tripod.com/~hix/chapters/hero.shtml which I thought had the potential for a better storyline.

So how here it is the retelling of the Suikoden II storyline. Send me reviews ASAP and more chapters are forthcoming.

Chapter 1 - The Root of the War

Makoto Genkaku turned over in his cot as he tried fruitlessly to sleep. His childhood friend Jowy Atreides wasn't there, having got his commission revoked two days early not long after he received a letter from his mother asking him to come home, and his absence was like the lack of a constant and familiar noise - jarring by the fact it's not there.

Makoto thought about home, back in Kyaro town when he lived with his adoptive father Genkaku and his adopted sister Nanami, when Genkaku died last year Makoto chose to join the Royal Army and is now currently a member of the Royal Unicorn Brigade, a sector of the Royal army of Highland with the aim of training young men to serve their country in times of need. The Kingdom of Highland for many years has been at war with the City State of Jowston an alliance of five member states Muse, Greenhill, Two River, The Knightdom of Matilda, South Window and Tinto. Recently a peace treaty was signed between the two nations it is hoped it will finally bring a lasting peace.

I give up he thought I'll never get to sleep. Not with our return home coming tomorrow, he reasoned as he got out of bed. I may as may as well go outside.

As he left the tent he spotted an acquaintance by the gate side fire - Daniel a boy from Kyaro just like Makoto and Jowy, who'd asked about learning some of Genkaku's fighting arts when they went back. Grandpa would so happy Makoto mused, just as he had when Daniel asked the question earlier. Then Makoto remembered something that sent him scurrying furtively over to Daniel's side. "Daniel!" Makoto whispered as he got closer "You may be cold but that's better than the ten lashes Rowd'll give you for skipping out on sentry duty! You better get back there!" Daniel looked up in shock at the first whisper, but then he smiled up at his friend. "No problem Makoto" he stated - out loud causing Makoto to make frantic hush-hush gestures with his hands. "Easy, it's really okay! I was out in the freezing wind on sentry duty, but Commander Rowd came out to me and said I could skip it tonight! It's the peace treaty I guess" he finished.

Makoto blinked in surprise. "Commander Rowd, showing mercy about Sacred Discipline?" he asked quietly. `I guess the world really did turn upside down when the treaty was signed' he sighed. Turning away he strode around the perimeter of the camp, stopping by the gate that led back into Highland territory. I don't like it he thought With Daniel in camp, there's only one sentry on duty. Any bandit could sneak right up on the camp. Rowd had drilled that into their heads often enough with the lash, if he had to. He looked at the gate again. I can't sleep anyway - why not? He wondered, and in his civilian outfit, red shirt, tonfas and all, he strode out the main gate to take up one last shift of night sentry duty.

It wasn't until he came up to the sentry post, near the forest end of the trail, that he realized something was wrong. The boy on sentry duty was bent over by a tree Asleep Makoto wondered. As he came closer, he recognized the boy; Kevin, from L'Renouille. He didn't want to learn Genkaku's fighting style as he was only interested in swords but he'd been polite, which was more than Makoto could say for other L'Renouille boys in the Unicorn Brigade. As he had with Daniel earlier, Makoto crept up behind him … and slapped him on the shoulder. "Sur-" His greeting died in his throat as Kevin's body slumped sideways, kept upright only by the arrow that impaled him against the tree. An arrow with a City-State army fletching.

Damn!! Makoto thought, skittering sideways into the brush and working his way back toward camp. His caution was rewarded when he saw the bodies of several boys in full

Unicorn half-armour scattered on the path between the forest and the camp, all with arrows in them. They must be waiting near the path Makoto thought and crept closer to the brush beside the path, far quieter in his civilian's gear than any Youth Brigade armour could ever be. Seeing the silhouette of an archer in the bush, Makoto lunged, cracking the man across the neck with his tonfa. The man toppled sideways, falling out of the bush where Makoto could see his uniform No! It can't be! But it was: the man was in the uniform of the White Wolves, the elite guard unit of Prince Ruka Blight. The man Rowd had sometimes joked about as `the most dangerous crazy man Highland allows to run loose.' If this is the White Wolves Makoto thought, his line of

reasoning faltering as he found himself unable to work out the motives behind it all I have to tell Commander Rowd about this he decided He's the only one with enough experience to get us out of here! With that, Makoto abandoned silence, tearing through the brush as fast as he could without exposing himself to the arrowed death that awaited him on the path. Breaking out into the rocky trail, he ran as fast as his legs could carry him, stopping only once he'd ducked inside the gate and put the palisade wall between him and any arrows the ambushers would sending his way.

Creeping around a burning tent, Makoto desperately looked around for Commander Rowd. Please don't let him be dead Makoto prayed and breathed a silent thanks to the 27 True Runes when he peered around the tent and saw Rowd standing in the middle of the camp, unharmed and arrogant as ever. Just then Daniel came running out from the other side of the camp, heading right for their Commander "Commander Rowd, sir! The path down is blocked; there are archers in " an arrow came from behind the tent, where Makoto couldn't see, and cut down Daniel in midstep. Rowd stood there and watched him fall without a word, without lifting a hand to help the boy. Makoto's eyes widened and he ducked behind the tent and then he heard the exchange, Rowd simply nodded to two men one was a tall, muscular man whose eyes seemed like they can burn you with a stare, Makoto couldn't see the other one however `so here you are Loud' said the tall man "Yes Lord Ruka, Lord Durimal" Rowd sounded peeved at the nickname, not at the slaughter of the children he was supposed to have been protecting. It is Prince Ruka after all and the other one Prince Durimal, King Agares nephew? ` You did everything as I told you will be rewarded as such' said Ruka `Yes?' asked Rowd with a grin on his face He sounds eager as if he'd do it again `First of all as we had promised, you shall lead your own unit of soldiers in battle. Real soldiers. Not children' said Durimal But why kill all of us Runes damn you! `And?' Rowd asked it sounds like he wants more. I actually hope he does, that he didn't sell us out for a promotion he could have earned anyway `Well between you, me and Durimal I have a sister..' replied Ruka Marriage into the Royal line. Yeah, that sounds like a motive for slaughter Makoto thought with a shiver running down his spine. Not waiting to hear anymore, he crawled out of the camp to the north, taking care not to be seen. I'm not wearing armour he thought if I reach the ledge without being seen, I can climb down the cliff and escape. `A survivor kill him' yelled Durimal indicating where Makoto was, Wasting no more time he sprang up and took off running, his unarmoured frame quickly outdistancing the plate-covered killers behind him …

Prince Ruka and Prince Durimal both want more war, but the peace treaty meant that they couldn't get it. So they needed a reason to break the treaty and so the entire Unicorn brigade died by Jowston arrows. It just wasn't Jowston archers who fired them Makoto thought bitterly. The clanking of armour was approaching fast. Damn! I've got no time to climb down anymore Makoto thought as he searched for a way out. Unfortunately he found only one and he didn't like it much. The current in the river's bad this time of year he thought ruefully. But I can't outfight any more White Wolves alone and I don't have a handy wind rune to loft me across the canyon. `Oh well' he said, and just as the soldiers burst out onto the ledge, he jumped.

The soldiers he had sent after the boy who escaped returned did they kill him? DurimalBlight wondered `Well?' asked Ruka `We got him or should I say I got him' one of the soldiers replied `Good our job is done here Durimal, Loud' Excellent A survivor can be an inconvenience we can do without `Yes sir' Rowd replied.

Ruka grinned The thing the common people value most is their children, the massacre of the Unicorn brigade using Jowston arrows pulled out of dead and wounded Highland soldier, the blame can be placed on Jowston the Unicorn Brigade is Kyaro's pride and joy; they would surely be hurt by the demise of the Unicorns I can hear their fury their sorrow and their cries for revenge `We are returning to L'Renouille. You shall accompany us there. We shall report of your units demise, and your torture until the White Wolves rescued you' Ruka mounted his black horse;

Durimal and Rowd mounted their horses `But of course' Rowd said `You're a life saver' No sooner had he said that, Ruka looked into the valley which encase Kyaro and saw that very same

boy he had seen, the very boy who was supposed to be DEAD floating in the water and he was MOVING `WHAT?!' he roared "What is it?" asked Durimal `That boy…' he glared upon the soldiers, cantering his eyes directly upon the man who lied to him `That same boy… you said you killed him' he snarled, leaping off his horse, advancing on the man. `He was supposed to die tonight with his comrades… but YOU LET HIM GET AWAY!!!!' The soldier stared at Ruka in horror, his eyes widening. He trembled backing away from his prince slowly… slowly "DIE!!!!" Ruka barrelled into the man, knocking him flat on his back, then drew his sword and plunged it into the man's chest, blood droplets spattering on Ruka's face. Ruka smiled viciously, looking back at an ambivalent Durimal and the rest of his horrified underlings. He climbed upon his horse again, and they all began to return home to a warm welcome.

As they rode Ruka thought back to a happier time about 16 years ago….

"Ruka! Dagan! Dinner!"

The boys looked at the entrance to the castle's dining room. Their mother Sara was standing right outside of it. She waved at them and smiled before she went back into the dining room with her husband King Agares Blight.

The boys were playing in the garden right outside the dining room. The garden had a lot of bushes. They loved to play out there. If not to look at the clouds, they'd just search for bugs. Ruka in particular loved doing this. He was always amazed at a bug's life. He'd just lie down on the ground, looking at a group of ants, working to build up their anthill. Dagan however is another matter. Sometimes Dagan would attempt to stomp on the bugs or dowse the bugs out their habitat if they succeeded into retreating to that in the first place. Of course, none of these attempts ever succeeded, as Ruka was always there to stop him and his younger brother would see the error of his ways and marvelled at the bugs along with Ruka

They barged into the dining room and hopped onto their seats almost like a jackrabbit hopping out of their holes onto the surface of the earth. Their father looked at them amusingly and playfully joked to be careful, or they'll never live to succeed him. Their mother hit the King playfully at this remark saying that he shouldn't be so graphical with the children. She then turned toward the children and cleaned up their smudgy dirt worn faces. Uncle Arden and his son Durimal would sometimes join them, but that was a rarity especially since Arden died. After dinner they went out to the garden to play again. Their father and mother both looked at the brothers playing. "Ah… we are blessed with such joy, to have two very sweet and kind sons, I know either one of them will make a good king" the King remarked

Then Ruka closed his eyes and though of that fateful day….

It was the day for Dagan Blight to get his rune initiation just as his brother got it 6 years ago. Ruka is eagerly awaiting for his beloved little brother and mother to come out of the room. Their mother went in with his little brother into the small changing to get Dagan ready. No one else but the birth mother only can get the initiation subject ready. So Ruka was forbidden to go into the room while his brother gets ready. Now normally, this isn't really a good idea, since their mother is expected to give birth at any time. But then, the date for the initiation was on this day, so they couldn't do anything about that. Ruka then wonders where their father is. He should be here waiting for his son to come just Ruka is. But then, the King even missed Ruka's rune initiation 6 years ago because of this stupid war. Ruka hated the war. There's too much bloodshed going on left and right. People dying and crying. Ruka just hated all that.

But Durimal was waiting beside him he was 4 year's older than Ruka and had lost his father in this stupid war and was now assuming his father's responsibilities at 15 years old and he heard from some of the servants how dour and brooding he was after his father died. But Durimal looked better then. He even smiled at Ruka and Dagan earlier even though it was a little weak.

The door opens and his five year old little brother, came out, dressed smugly and handsomely. But the sleeve is a bit too large for him, but then it comes out as cute rather than unfitting. Ruka smiled at his little brother and hugged him. His little brother was fidgeting, trying to get out, but Ruka doesn't let go. Tears welled up in Ruka's eyes as he sees his little brother getting his rune initiation. It signifies that this boy will be Prince and also that this boy is ready enough to handle and learn magic much like Ruka who his Rage rune (a powerful Fire Rune) 6 years ago and Durimal got his Thunder rune at the same age as Dagan and himself. "Ruka, let go of your little brother, he has to go for the initiation now" the Queen exclaimed to Ruka with a kind and loving smile, knowing how much Ruka cared for his little brother "But you were a good boy to be waiting for your little brother to get ready so patiently." Ruka smiled at her and gestured for her to bend down to him. She did just that and Ruka gave her a little kiss on her cheek and said, "I was also waiting for you, mommy" Then he gave out a smile that was so kind and gentle, that his mother cried. Dagan looked at his mother "What did you do? Why did you make mother cry?" Dagan asked, "I didn't mean to!" Ruka explained, "No, no, my little darlings I'm crying out of happiness" their mother said and smiled, the boys then hugged her " I'm so happy to have such wonderful sons who care for me so much." Then she got up and straightened out her dress, "Well, come on Dagan, we need to get you to the great hall." And she took Dagan's hand and walk while Ruka and Durimal followed behind them.

They went into the great hall. Ruka was trying to find their father but it seems he had to be away again. Just then Dagan was asked to step up to the altar. Dagan tries to hide, but Ruka said that it's going to be okay and then said that he'll escort Dagan up to the altar. Dagan was relieved to hear this and turned back to face the altar. Ruka then stood beside him. Good thing he dressed up for this occasion. They both then walked up the altar, with the crowds murmuring at this event and Ruka managed to catch Durimal whispering to his mother "This is breaking tradition and it supposed to bring bad luck I've been told". The Queen quickly stopped everyone from making more noise by shushing them and then looked at the close and loving brothers and smiled "Don't worry. Even if it breaks tradition, this will HAVE to be through."

The priest on the altar was then sweating. There was a thing about escorting the initiator up on the altar. It was said to bring bad luck like Durimal mentioned. But then, the queen insisted on it, so nothing can be done to deny this.

As they got up to altar, the Priest said a few words of encouragement and initiating the start of the event. Then a Runemaster walked up from behind the priest and held out a Water Rune crystal. Then started waving the rune crystal around the top of Dagan's head and started chanting. In a brief moment, the symbol of the Water Rune appeared above Dagan and it's shape changed. It still looked like a water rune symbol, but with the slight difference to show that this is the rune of the Highland Prince. Then the rune went into Dagan's hand. Dagan staggered a bit seeing the rune going into his flesh and tried to avoid it but Ruka held him back and said that it was okay. The rune went in Dagan and Dagan gave a sigh of relief.

The priest then raised up his hand and was about to give out a hallelujay or something to that extent, but at that same moment, arrows started flying from the open window of the hallway and struck the priest right at the heart. The priest clutched his bloody chest before he slumped to the ground and then everyone else started to panic. People were running all around the place, falling down and screaming.

But through all this, Ruka just stood in his place and held Dagan around his arms. Shielding Dagan from anything. They looked around trying to find their mother. Dagan started to sniff and would later start crying. Just then Ruka saw their mother knocked over by a panicky man. The Queen fell onto the ground, butt first and that made Ruka run out to her with Dagan following suit. "MOTHER!" Ruka and Dagan shouted. Their mother slowly tries to get up but seemed too hurt on her backside until Ruka reached out to her and helped her get up. He smiled after seeing that his mother was sort of well and his mother smiled looking at her son beside with her, but her expression changed as she realised that it's only one of her sons that is there with her. She looked around and saw no sign of Dagan but she was sure she saw both of them running to her. At that instant, Ruka started to look around as well. "Dagan?" he started to ask the room that is full of people running around. He starts to panic himself, going all around the room, trying to find his little brother.

20 minutes pass, the room is empty. The Queen is the Medical Room to check if the baby suffered anything, but Ruka just sat in the middle of the hall crying. A man came up behind him and crouched down to him. The middle-aged man put his arm around him and shakes Ruka a bit. Ruka looked at the man beside him. It was Lord Grayton. He then hugged Grayton and started to cry. Grayton hugged Ruka back and tried to hold back the tears now streaming down his cheek "DAGAN!!! THEY TOOK DAGAN!!!!" Ruka bawled into Grayton's chest "I'm sorry" Grayton apologised and Ruka continued to cry into Grayton's chest. It had been 8 hours since Ruka's mother collapsed during the chaos in the altar room; the healer's door opened and the healer came out and gestured to Grayton to move over to the corner of the hallway, where she hoped the boy wouldn't hear anything they have to talk about but Durimal also stood out in that corner, he had been leading one of the search and rescue teams he simply nodded at them. Grayton got up and walked with the Healer over to the corner. "How is she?" Grayton asked the healer "It's not good. From the looks of it I can save her highness but not the baby. The baby is still too small and too deep to receive the healing power of my water rune. I … don't know what to do. I'm afraid the Queen's condition will worsen when she finds about this." Grayton nodded "Yes the shock may cause some unhealthy reaction. But then we can't exactly hide it from her either. It would be grave in a long run situation" Durimal shook his head "It's worse, we found Dagan in the woods, we killed his kidnappers but Dagan was dead when we got there" Grayton sighed "Well, here's what I think we should do. We wait for the King to arrive, the King can tell her in a more… kinder way. That way the news is given but with mercy," Grayton suggested. Grayton and Durimal looked at Ruka and saw him standing up in front of the healer's door. The boy was looking at the little available hole between the bottom of the door and the floor. Looking with strange eyes, full of shock and confusion. "Prince Ruka? Is something the matter?" Grayton asked and saw Durimal too was looking at the door "Lights" Ruka replied while slowly turning his head towards Grayton, "Flashing…Blue…Lights…from inside." Durimal took a look through the door, which was open, a crack and heard voices within….

Jillia was reading a book doing absolutely nothing wrong. Until Ruka kicked her book away from her book away from her. Jillia looked up and got mad at him, they yelled at each other for several minutes until Ruka pushed her down and she started to cry. Ruka tease her again for crying and Jillia stopped. She gave him a hurtful and hateful face and picked up her book and went away. Ruka followed and pushed her down from behind. Jillia went skidding on the floor, belly first. On the floor banged her head down to cry and for a brief moment, Ruka looked like he was sorry he did that, but the brief moment ended as he came and stomped on her back. She pushed his leg away and picked up her book and ran to her room, slamming the door. Ruka turned around and tears were streaming down his cheeks. He wiped them off and then ran into the garden to stomp on some ants. Weeks followed into months and Ruka torments Jillia with little antics everyday. The King, Agares yelled at Ruka to what almost seems like forever now. The Queen always just sits around quietly, though she smiles once in a while, but even the smile is weak.

Ruka looks at his mother at these moments and wondered if he'll ever see the old smile.

One morning when Jillia was 14 Jillia's breakfast was toppled over by Ruka. They were all alone then, only Ruka and Jilla eating breakfast. Jillia slammed the table then slapped Ruka, followed by a question "WHY? Why do you always do this to me?" Ruka rubbed his right cheek a little red from the slap, and then pushed Jillia off her seat and walked out without giving an answer.

Durimal looked at Ruka and wondered what he was thinking as they rode to L'Renouille. He found himself thinking of Jillia SHE possessed the rights to rule after Agares passes on despite the fact that Ruka was the elder child and a male at that and Agares never considered him for an heir but he knew things about Jillia that even she, Agares, Ruka and many others didn't know save perhaps for himself and a tiny group of individual including the Queen, himself and someone else. Jillia was soft, weak like his uncle Agares who lacked the balls and the vision to conquer the City-State of Jowston, to impose a new order on this land. What comprises the City-State Muse, Greenhill, The Knightdom of Matilda, Two River and Tinto do not really trust one another and will be easy to divide making their conquest assured. The old fool he has the nerve to call himself `King' and he has given Jillia rights to rule after he dies, she'll most like seek to make `peace' and the war will start all over again he let out a laugh. Ruka looked at him "What's so funny?" he demanded.

Durimal stopped laughing "I was thinking about who has been given rights to rule after that old fool dies. She is a weakling even weaker then he is and that you have been passed over when I do believe it would be you who is more suited to rule Highland then she or my uncle are" not bothering to keep the contempt out of the word `uncle'.

Ruka nodded his obvious agreement and understanding. Durimal smiled and took a glance at his right hand….