{"id":185,"date":"2009-11-27T19:42:28","date_gmt":"2009-11-27T19:42:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sophiehoulden.com\/writings\/fair\/?p=185"},"modified":"2009-11-27T19:42:28","modified_gmt":"2009-11-27T19:42:28","slug":"chapter-72-4-weeks-ago-aka-zephyr-vs-n","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sophiehoulden.com\/writings\/fair\/?p=185","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 72: 4 weeks ago (AKA Zephyr vs n)."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- \t\t@page { size: 21cm 29.7cm; margin: 2cm } \t\tP { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\u00e2\u20ac\u0153<span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">whoa, do you have to actually fight an army this time Zee?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\u00e2\u20ac\u0153<span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Isn&#8217;t this a bit much? Who the heck gets an army to fight for them.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The snow had been falling heavy for some time on these plains but had started to thin out in the last hour, zephyr stood atop a small mound, his followers behind him, and an army of warriors ahead of him, at the back of the army lay his target.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The moonlight and the snow made for good visibility, and bonfires lit across the battlefield sent smoke high into the air, Zephyr knew that meant archers, if they were using flaming arrows at least they would be easier to see and dodge at night.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr took his cigarette out and flicked it into the snow.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\u00e2\u20ac\u0153<span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">you really gonna do this Zephyr?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr Smiled and ran full speed towards the center of the army, the soldiers immediately responded, a hail of flaming arrows flew up and arced towards him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr pulled the bazooka from his back and aimed it forward, the arrows started to fall, if he kept going as he was they would certainly land on him, Zephyr jumped and aimed his bazooka at the ground beneath him, Zephyr was catapulted by the explosion,  front-flipping over the arrows, narrowly missing them, one even catching the tail of his jacket.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr grinned as he flew over the first line of soldiers, upgrading to steel soled boots since last time was a good move.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr fired again at the spot he was falling towards, the explosion cleared the area of soldiers and slowed his landing as he hit the top of it. He landed on hard ground, the snow having evaporated in the explosion.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The bazooka empty, he threw it as hard as he could at the advancing soldiers, it knocked them back for about 50 meters and then like the shotgun the week before it exploded, but much more violently this time, the explosion cleared a massive area and Zephyr pushed his advantage for all it was worth, he rushed into the smoke and fire to get closer to his target.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The soldiers on the other side expected him but wouldn&#8217;t step into the smoke, instead they pulled back and waited for him to come out before making their move.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Something dropped at the feet of the soldiers a few lines back, they looked down to see an explosive charge, looking up they saw Zephyr falling towards them his machine gun drawn.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr allowed himself a wicked smile as he opened fire at the area beneath him, the explosion again launched him up and over more waves of soldiers.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">He landed into a pile of bodies left from his last spray of bullets and was about to press forwards when all the soldiers around him suddenly exploded in a shower of their own blood, as they fell Zephyr saw he was surrounded by men with large lances (blood stained) and all had extra armoured bracers covering their wrists.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr started firing his machine gun and spun it around over his head shooting at each Lancer, but all his bullets were blocked by what appeared to be a shifting, floating pool of water that hardened before the bullets passed through.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr eyed all the lancers, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So one of you dicks is my real target eh? But which one?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The lancers simultaneously braced themselves and Zephyr found 20 blades pointed at him<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr relaxed and shrugged a little. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Dumb strategy when my bracelet tells me already.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">He raised his hands over his head and dropped his gun to his feet. Zephyr looked over to the lancer his bracelet pulled towards. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153By the way, how did you convince all these guys to fight for you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr didn&#8217;t expect an answer, his machine gun exploded launching him above the lancers spears but what happened next he did not expect.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">All the snow across the battlefield pulled in towards it&#8217;s center, carrying soldiers with it, zephyr found himself stood on a floating island of soldier&#8217;s bodies 70 meters or so in the air, supported by a swirling vortex of water beneath, with powerful water spouts furiously spinning around this human platform. Across stood with him atop the bodies was his opponent.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\u00e2\u20ac\u0153<span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I didn&#8217;t convince them of anything.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr was definitely puzzled by this one, and he knew a challenge when it presented itself. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153oh?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\u00e2\u20ac\u0153<span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I am the great Quan, I control water as you can see, and humans&#8230; well they are mostly water aren&#8217;t they.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\u00e2\u20ac\u0153<span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Heh, you&#8217;re a pretty big asshole.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\u00e2\u20ac\u0153<span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">And you claim to be better?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\u00e2\u20ac\u0153<span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">I&#8217;m so much worse! I&#8217;ll prove it!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr pulled a rifle from his back and charged at Quan across the soft platform, Quan did the same with his lancer.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr jumped at the last second avoiding Quan&#8217;s lance attack, but wasn&#8217;t counting on his other abilities, one by one Quan pulled bodies screaming from the edge of the platform and threw them at Zephyr who used his high powered rifle to blast them away.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">His gun jammed and one of the flying soldiers was on a collision course for zephyr, he took advantage and grabbed the man, rode him down towards Quan with his rifle pointed at the man&#8217;s chest. The man screaming all the way.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr fired his rifle through the man at Quan, the force of the blast tearing the soldier apart but Quan blocked the shot with the hilt of his lance.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr kicked off the lance and jumped back across the platform facing Quan.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Quan smiled at Zephyr, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Are you really such a dark warrior?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr grinned and pointed down. As Quan looked to his feet the rifle Zephyr left there exploded, blasting Quan up over Zephyr, who pulled a knife from his pocket and threw it right through Quan&#8217;s throat as he flew overhead.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\u00e2\u20ac\u0153<span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">asshole,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Zephyr lit his cigarette at Quan&#8217;s body was caught up in a water spout and sent a mile high, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Making me use a blade.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr took a drag as the platform started to collapse, none of its construction materials were left alive when they hit the floor.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">&#8211;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr walked on over to his followers a little damp and lighter for weapons but otherwise not as torn up as last time.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\u00e2\u20ac\u0153<span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Did&#8217;ya get em Zee? You don&#8217;t have another glow.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Zephyr grabbed his follower by the shirt and pulled him over, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153huh, what did I sa-\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\"><span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Quan&#8217;s body landed just where the follower had been stood, and the glow from the bracelet floated over to Zephyr&#8217;s.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm;\">\u00e2\u20ac\u0153<span style=\"font-family: Lucida Sans,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">whoa.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153whoa, do you have to actually fight an army this time Zee?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Isn&#8217;t this a bit much? Who the heck gets an army to fight for them.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The snow had been falling heavy for some time on these plains but had started to thin out in the last hour, zephyr stood atop a small mound, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sophiehoulden.com\/writings\/fair\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sophiehoulden.com\/writings\/fair\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sophiehoulden.com\/writings\/fair\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sophiehoulden.com\/writings\/fair\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sophiehoulden.com\/writings\/fair\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=185"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sophiehoulden.com\/writings\/fair\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":186,"href":"https:\/\/www.sophiehoulden.com\/writings\/fair\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185\/revisions\/186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sophiehoulden.com\/writings\/fair\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sophiehoulden.com\/writings\/fair\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sophiehoulden.com\/writings\/fair\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}