Salvation
Chapter five
South Figaro

Death.

That was all Shadow could see as he gazed out his window. He was used to it’s feel, its look, its presence. He simply was afraid of it. After years of avoiding it then staring it straight in the face, this particular ninja had gotten used to the rush it gave when you were certain you were about to die, then suddenly a way out approaches and the only way to get it is to deny all logic.

But now, after years of fighting it, he suddenly feared it. Shadow did not fear much and the thought of his greatest dread being death angered him. Why should he fear something he had conquered on many occasions bewildered him.

Perhaps it wasn’t fear of his own death....maybe it was fear of never being able to escape it. Everywhere he looked, all he saw was death. The glimmer of hope could only be seen in the dieing forests, the silent voice of the winds and in the eyes of children. But to Shadow, that wasn't enough. There had to be something he could touch, not only see, that could give him this hope that kids, even Locke, possessed.

Shadow sighed as he backed away from the window. The ninja had to do something, anything, that could keep his mind from drifting to the past when the world was once lovely and full of trust. To the family he once had. But it never lasted long, this feeling, longing, to be with the ones he once loved. After all, most of them were gone.

The ninja laid back onto the soft cushions of the couch, his worries drifting away as he sunk deeper into the sofa. The ride would soon be over and they would all have landed in South Figaro. What he would find there, he did not know. Where he would go also lied a mystery. There was nothing to do now in this world....but save it. Shadow did not look to himself as a hero and did not care to anytime soon. As much as he wanted his old world back, he didn’t want to be the one to get involved.

He already knew that the others he was with had grown some attachments to himself and to each other. They had indeed consider each other and even Shadow friends. The ninja did not like this for he did not want them to care....that would mean he would have to...then if something were to happen....

Shadow shook his head. No....after this they will be gone and I will not have to worry about them anymore.... He wasn’t sure if them leaving was what he wanted, but after all, he was used to being alone.

“Shadow?” A voice came.

The ninja looked towards a curious Locke, who was poking his head out from the stairs. “Uh, we’re almost at South Figaro. We should be landing soon...” When Shadow turned his head back around to the window, Locke left.

Shadow had hardly heard a word he had spoken. He was more concerned with other things at the moment. And he probably wouldn’t have woken from his trance if Interceptor didn’t lick his hand.

The ninja’s hand automatically went to this Doberman’s head and stroked his soft neck. “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming...” Shadow watched as his dog ran up to the steps. When he turned to the window, he could see the ground plainly below. The ship had already landed. How long had he been dreaming?

Shadow shook his head, again and made ready to leave the ship, and intern, the friends he had. He could hear Interceptors barks from the inside as he gathered his things and traveled out.

Smoke filled the air and caught in his throat. He began to cough and squinting to see through the thick fog. The whole town smelled of burnt wood and charred flesh.

“What the hell happened here?” The ninja heard Setzer’s voice rise above the cries of the people.

The town wasn’t in ruins, only parts of it were. Interceptor’s yelps filled the air as he scurried back to find his master. Shadow grabbed the dog unexpectedly by his collar and held onto it to keep from losing him.

“Over hear sir!” Gogo called to Shadow.

The ninja, with the aid of his pet, soon found his way to the rest. The smoke was now fading into the air as they stepped further into town. Shadow yanked aside the first man he happened to come upon. “What happened here?” He demanded.

“Guards in Magitek Armor came through the city!” The man pulled away from Shadow and ran, like many were doing. Most of the city’s people were either fleeing on boat or just running amuck through out the town.

“Magitek Armor?” Locke question. “But why? The Empire is no more.”

Setzer looked about at the darting people. “Will you idiots cut it out!” He boomed. “Running around like headless chickens won’t help you!” But the towns people ignored him and continued on their way.

“Forget it.” Shadow said, rather calm despite what had happened. “They won’t listen to you...or anyone for that matter. Let them run around like fools. If they didn’t defend their own town, then perhaps they deserve to be slaughtered.”

“Shadow!” Locke turned to face the ninja. “For Christ's sake! They just were attacked for no reason. Maybe they couldn’t defend themselves.”

Shadow sighed. “There must have been a reason. No warrior attacks without cause.”

“No warriors!” An elderly woman cried. “Just bastards on a rampage! There was no reason. We did nothing to disturb their camp!”

“That doesn't make any sense. There must have been a reason.” Setzer shook his head, then sighed solemnly. “Tell me, where are they going next?”

The old woman simply pushed him out of the way and ran through the village. “Stupid woman.” Shadow growled. He, again, pulled aside another man and this time spoke with more force. “Where did the men in the armor go to?”

The man stared at Shadow in a stupefied gaze before he spoke. “I don’t know. Back to their camp? They came from the port town of Nikeah...”

The ninja threw him aside. “Rally....” He sighed with frustration. Not again..... “Let’s go! Now!” Shadow commanded.

“Why?” Locke grabbed the ninja‘s arm, stopping his progress. “It’s too late for Nikeah! They are probably gone--”

Shadow jerked his arm out of Locke’s grip and pushed him backwards. “You jackass. Someone I know is there!” The ninja huffed and stormed to the ship.

“Shit, move it Locke!” Setzer called. “Before he decides to drive my ship himself!”

The thief scrambled to his feet and ran after his friends. Locke was more confused by what Shadow meant then the fact that now they had probably stumbled upon another evil. Two cities were destroyed without reason, and now these so called warriors were on the loose. They had came from Nikeah so there was a very slim chance that the port town was actually standing. Figaro was, but that was just the second town. Or was it? No one knew how many more cities these menaces had totaled.

Setzer made sure everyone was there before he took off, back where they had all first met. It was only a day ago that they were at Nikeah, and, despite the obvious lack of food, the town was thriving. Now they had to prepare for the worst.

But no preparation could possibly get them ready for what lied before them when they arrived. Setzer drove his ship at an alarming speed so they could get there as fast as humanly possible, but now, it had seemed like a waste. The city, what was actually left, was nothing more then rubble.

There were only thin lines of what used to be blinding smoke. Again, the sent of death filled the air. Locke covered his mouth in sheer disgust. “What thing could actually do this?”

Setzer recoiled at the dead bodies in front of his feet. Charred remains of used to be people. Gogo stood besides him. If you could see behind all his robes, it would be clear he was nauseated.

Shadow and Interceptor ran off ahead, the ninja searching frantically for whatever was left of Rally’s house. “Where is it!” He cried, frustration plainly in his voice. Damn old man! Why does you house have to be hidden?

Finally the dog came across it, bringing his owners attention by barking rather loud, as if he had known the importance of finding this house; perhaps he did. Shadow followed his dogs yelps to a worn-down house. Out of the towns buildings, Rally’s house seemed in the best shape, even after this blaze.

“Rally!” The ninja cried into the house’s broken in door. “Are you okay?” After no response, “Damit old man, answer me!” But after there failed to be a second reply, Shadow feared the worse.

Then came a small, feeble sounding voice, “Over....here....” Rally had wished he would have asked for the ninja’s name when they had first met, but that made little difference at this point.

After some time, Setzer, Gogo and Locke appeared in the doorway, watching the ninja from afar.

“Rally?” Shadow followed the old man’s cries. “I’m here now.” The ninja kneeled down next to Rally’s injured body. “Are you all right?”

The old man chuckled. “What do you think child?” Shadow attempted to move Rally, but when the old man called out in pain, Shadow was forced to leave him where he was. “Oh, my boy, I believe I have met my unfortunate end.”

Stunned, the ninja shook his head, suddenly feeling a rare emotion: sadness. It overwhelmed him, almost causing him to scream out in guilt. “I’m so sorry Rally.” Shadow whispered.

“What...for?”

“I shouldn’t have left you....”

The old man laughed, mostly because of how nonsensical that sounded. “And how were you to know this was to happen?”

“Because everyone I come in contact with is hurt in some way....” Shadow lowered his head. “What happened here?”

Rally coughed heavily before responding. “Men in....Magitek Armor....came through here....” The old man grabbed Shadow’s shirt, pulling him down, closer, to his bloody face. “Hurry, you must leave here at once! They....were headed in the direction of South Figaro....”

The ninja nodded solemnly. “I know. We came from there. It’s all right though. The town wasn’t destroyed as bad as this....” Shadow pounded his fist in rage against the wooden floor, cracking it’s already damaged frame. “Why!?” He cried out. “Why the hell did they do this!?”

Locke bowed his head in the doorway and began to inch over to Shadow to provide some sort of comfort, but Setzer, knowing Shadow a bit better, rested a hand on the thief's shoulder. “Let him be. I don’t think he’d want us interfering at this time.”

“Ah....there was no reason for this destruction. I know you want the deaths to have a reason.....but you are searching for a lost cause.....” Rally leaned his head back and began to take quick, short breaths of air.

Shadow shook his head. “There is a reason Rally. I will find one!” Then in a voice filled with regret for what he had once lost, “I have too....”

Rally wasn’t a fool. He could plainly see the repentance Shadow had and knew he had lost a lot just by the way he looked at life. He yanked on the ninja’s shirt again, demanding his attention. “No, don’t regret child.”

Shadow scoffed. “Don’t you have any?”

“No, I have no regrets. I lived the way I wanted to. You have to follow what you believe, but at the same time you must have an open mind so you can learn knew things to believe in. My friend, a lot of things will happen to you between now and the time you are my age. A lot of things. And you must face them all with an open mind....and an open heart. As long as you believe what you believe, live the way you want and fight for the people you love, when you are here in my place, you will look back on your life with no regrets....” Rally pointed to a small, busted shelf in the corner of the room. “In...there....is something of yours....”

Shadow nodded slightly as he left to get it. Working the drawer so that he could look inside, the ninja came upon something he thought he had lost. “My mask...?”

Rally‘s coughs came again. “Yes....I had it... I didn’t want to give it to you for I felt you no longer needed to hide behind it...”

Shadow came back to the old man’s side. “You are right. I should no longer hide behind it....” He grabbed Rally’s arm. “Come on, You have to come with me...”

The old man smiled faintly. “I’m not going where you’re going.” A thin line of crimson trickled down Rally’s mouth. “The world still needs salvation....” He looked deep within Shadow’s dark eyes. “The world still needs a hero....” The old man laid his head back against the hard wood, allowing himself to slip away to a better world.

Shadow released his grip from the old man’s lifeless arm and closed his eyes. Rally....I barley knew you...so how did you know me so well....?

After a moment, the ninja joined his friends at the door with Rally's body. Setzer helped Shadow burry the old man--not to far from his house--under the shade of a dead tree. The gambler motioned for a reluctant Locke and Gogo to follow him back to the ship. After they came, he turned to Shadow. “Take your time. We’ll be waiting for you...”

Shadow nodded as he stared at the tombstone. “Well my friend, your journey has ended.” He rested his mask on top the freshly laid dirt. “While mine has just begun.”