The Hero

“You cure my sister if I come with you?” Lad asked.

“Yes. Promise.” The Jackal crossed her heart with her finger.

“It'll be easy. Soon as you get to where we're going, we'll release the effect on her and she'll be back to normal.” She then added.

“And concerning your safety-”

“Doesn't matter. Deal.” Lad felt as though he could tell when someone was lying through their teeth and the Jackal did not have that look about her.

She smiled warmly. “Ho. Brave boy.” Esther offered her hand for him to take. She pulled him up out of bed and motioned for him to follow.

“Where are we going? How did you move around without being noticed?” The facility was a fortress on the outside, and within there were a web of security measures.

“A novel solution.” She responded as they made it outside. She crouched down. Lad could not help but stare at her thighs as she squatted next to an inconspicuous panel in the wall. She popped it free, revealing a small service passage. The Jackal crawled inside until only her ass was sticking out. She called back.

“A push, please.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah! Stop wasting time! Grab my butt and push me in! This part is always the roughest.” Lad did as she said and pushed his hands into her plump rear. There was a lot of give as he did his best to send her through the tunnel, but finally her hips made it through the threshold and the woman slide in far more easily. She giggled once she was through.

“Alright. Crawl in and pull the panel closed.”

He could have left the panel open to alert someone, but in good faith and for his sisters sake Lad refused to risk it. He did as she advised and followed her. They crawled for an uncomfortably long amount of time. It was a long time for Lad's face to be almost pressed into her rear. Her tried to keep his eyes on her short tail, instead. The smell of sweat was strong and he knew at that point why she was so shiny when she met him in his room.

“You got out of your cell through one of these?”

“No. I've just been in here since my Sister got captured. Jig was up, so I hid.”

“You're sister? So there's two of you?”

“Of course! I'd never get captured or found out, but that dumbass just had to try and do things her way. She likes to do things by ****. I'm more subtly.”

Lad watched her rear as it wagged in front of him. “Yeah... I can tell.”

“Don't you want to free her?”

“Not really.” She left it at that and Lad was not about to press her.

She stopped suddenly, causing him to crawl nose first into her ass. He backed up quickly. “Sorry!”

“Relax. We're out.” He heard the sound of a panel being pushed off. She slid out into the light in front of him. She said she was out, but her plump rear was stuck again. Without asking Lad simply pushed again, his hands digging in. Her tail wagged wildly as he shoved her out so abruptly. Lad poked his head out after her and found himself face to face with a ChesAn security guard.

“Oh sh-”

“Relax.” Esther advised. She smiled and waved up at the man.

“He's one of mine.” The guard smirked at him and turned, opening and exterior door with his key card. She picked Lad up and and guided him out to street level. A car was waiting as soon as they were outside the facility.

“So easy.” She began removing her sweaty clothes in the back seat right next to him.

“W-what are you doing!?”

“I'm changing! I can't meet my Master like this... Though-” She paused to think.

“Maybe he'd like it?” She shrugged.

“Better safe than sorry.” She did not mind Lad at all as she stripped completely, doused herself in a few water bottles, then toweled herself before quickly putting on an already prepared set of cute civilian clothes. Tight black pants with a frilly white blouse. She finished by putting on a pair of thin glasses.

“How do I look?” She asked casually.

Lad was too stunned to speak. He looked her over and finally managed to respond. “You look good.”

“Thanks.” Esther grinned. She continued to fuss about her hair and ears as the car flew off of the Arcology into Orr proper.

“Where are we going? Are you the Echo people we've been hearing about?”

“More or less, yeah. I am a part of Echo. A commander, in fact. One the 'original' members.”

Lad noted that she did not respond to the question of where they were going, and it seemed very purposeful. He kept his head down as the Car flew past high-rises, then hit the ground where he was more familiar with the surroundings. He looked out and saw neighborhoods that could have been his. They all suffered the same. Only he managed to make it out somehow.

“Sad, isn't it?” Esther remarked, applying makeup.

“Yeah...”

The Car kept going until it flew beneath even the city, to the shore where the roof of Orr continued off into the water, supported by thick struts. Artificial land. Beneath, the placid, polluted water slapped the rocky shore. It was dotted by abandoned warehouses and broken docks. The car landed outside one such warehouse. Esther stepped out. Her transformation into a cute upper-class business woman in appearance was complete. She smiled brightly at Lad as he left the car as well. She sauntered up to him and took his hand in hers.

“I'm so glad you came with me.”

He blushed. “It's for my sister.”

“That's why we like you, Lad. You have principles.” Esther leaned down so her face was on level with his. She caressed his cheek gently.

“You're not like them... You know what it's like to experience hardship.”

He turned abruptly. “I-I don't know what you're trying to do. Let's just go, okay? I want proof that Leto is okay at this point, too.”

Esther leaned back and smirked. She revealed her Fennek HanCom on the underside of her wrist and clicked it. A picture of Leto popped up.

“Hello? Who's this?”

“Leto, are you okay?”

She smiled as soon as she saw Lad. “Yeah! I feel fine, why?”

“You were acting strange earlier.” Lad added weakly, trying not to show himself getting choked up. Just seeing his sister smile and speak softly to him again was enough.

“Was I? I'm sorry. I feel hazy about early... What did I do?” She seemed surprised.

“Oh... I'm sorry. What did happen?”

Esther made a wrapping up motion behind the comm. Lad nodded. “I have to go. I'm just running a few errands, but I'll be back.” The feed cut.

“Satisfied?”

“Yeah, let's go.”

The Warehouse looked unassuming but Lad guessed it was just a meeting point. To his surprise, it was completely empty on the inside. Just a dusty floor with a walkway leading up to an abandoned office. Esther wandered up to the office and opened the door. Lad still expected to see someone waiting inside, but instead the door opened into a far larger, darker space than he could have expected. Esther stepped through and Lad followed, glancing around. It was a stone corridor that did not at all fit at the top level of a rickety warehouse.

“What?” Esther asked.

“Never entered a 'Divine Realm' before?” She said it snarkily, like she was making fun of him for being a simpleton, but there was no way he would have. He did not feel anything by it, as it was seeming more and more like she just could not help herself.

“Obviously not! What is this?” The door shut behind him.

“Divine Space?”

“It's referring to the space warped by the rings on entities called 'Angels.' The properties of them bend reality itself, allowing for stuff like this.”

“Incredible...” Lad stuck closer to her. On the walls he periodically saw engraving of eyes. The stonework made it seem like they were delving into an ancient tomb and the inclines and turns in the passages they were following were impossible to memorize or follow because they made no sense. Routes that should have doubled back instead lead down brand new halls. Finally, after far too much walking they arrived at a long pillared hallway. Flanking the carpet leading down the center were women and men in tight black suites. Their eyes were masked and they war contented smiles. They each stood at attention in a disciplined fashion and they donned the Echo symbol over their mask. Esther walked down the center like it was nothing. She lead him right up to a heavy set of double doors.

“Here we are.” She said giddily, pushing it open. The doors opened into an endless space with stars overhead. It was like a platform suspended in the void itself. At the sides as he entered Lad saw figures lining the walkways. First he saw a pale Ciar Elf. Like Janna and Joseph. She wore skimpy, bikini-like robes with a cloth hanging between her smooth thighs. In her hand was a long staff. Her eyes were almost black but he could see she was smiling more than contentedly as he and Esther entered. She was pleased.

“Our Lord is blessed by your service to us, Esther.” The Elf said as she followed to the head of the platform.

“Thanks. I know.” The Jackal uttered proudly.

“Just the start.”

“Yeah right...” Another voice derided. Lad looked over and jumped. He saw a full-on Dryder standing at the side. Her arms were crossed over her pale, naked body. She was sneering down at him and at Esther. Half of her spider lower half was hanging off the end of the platform.

“And all it took was ONE Commander being captured. How nice.”

“Not my fault. Me and Merit are different.” Esther claimed.

“Sure, sure.” The Dyder mocked.

Esther warned. “Don't forget who actually CAME here with him and who are just hangers on.” The woman responded by scoffing at Esther's threat.

As they walked further, Lad saw odd statues lining the exterior of the walkway, all with similar features and hair and dress. They stood like the soldiers before. Before they could reach the head of the platform, which seemed blank to him, a Seraph with silver hair and bound eyes flew down in front and hovered back to keep pace with them.

“So glad to see you! Welcome!” She offered hopefully, clasping her hands in front of her chest in what looked like a praying motion. She floated out of the way as Esther waved her off annoyedly. Finally, they arrived at the head of the platform. There was nothing.

“Uhm...”

“Shh!” Esther snapped.

Lad waited and observed. His eyes widened to see the end engulfed in a circle of light and rings with eyes and wings. Those joined and dissipated, as did the light. All that was left in their wake was a regal-looking throne in red and gold. Sitting comfortable atop it was a a male that could not have been older than him. He was taller, more stern and confident with long black hair and and eyes that attempted warmth. His expression, despite his efforts, seemed neutral. At best a slight smile crossed his lips as he looked at Lad, then Esther. He nodded to her. The woman stepped back. The Kingly figure was adorned with gold and red and dressed in black robes. His skin was light and flawless. He sat with one leg crossed over the other, turning his head to the side quizzically.

“Jeane... Who is this?”

“This is Lad. A newer 'Ranger.'” He motioned her forward as she spoke. She climbed the steps to the throne and leaned over to whisper in his ear. His smile widened at what he heard.

“Impressive Trait.” The man remarked. At Lad's discomfort he added tactfully while standing and descending the steps in front of his throne.

“But I know how difficult it can be. A Trait is not just it's benefits. But it's downsides as well. You must have lived a hard life with many telling you that there is no way for you to fail with such a thing.”

“Y-yeah. They don't see the downsides.” He agreed.

“Do you also have something like that?”

The figure nodded. “Something like that. I pick things extremely quickly.” He waited and watched Lad curiously.

Intuitively Lad huffed. “But that means 'everything' right? Even bad habits?”

“Clever.”

“It would take a lot of discipline not to fall to something like that, even if everyone would say it's like a cheat code...” Lad gulped.

“But, who are you?”

“I'm the Hero.” He offered casually.

“Huh?”

The Hero smirked. “You were told that he was someone different. A Fox. He existed, but at the same time he never did. Isn't that interesting?” He stepped closer to Lad and placed a hand on his back. The silver haired boy allowed it, and allowed the Hero to guide him off to the side, off the edge of the platform. Steps appeared below, and another door in front. As they moved through it they entered a gallery of items that were unfamiliar to him, but all seemed to hold some significance in the way they were displayed.

“I want to save this world, Lad, but your friends are satisfied with the way things are. Why wouldn't they be? The Hero, the Turais himself, is gone. Without anyone like that, it feels as though everyone has that power. But the reality is, they are simply sitting in stagnation, satisfied because they are the ones who were winning when the clocks stopped.”

“I don't understand.” Lad looked over the items they passed. A basket with a plaque titled 'Fiona's on it. A pen belonging to someone named Marrien. A sword, a shoulder-guard and many many more artifacts. There was even the stolen portrait of the a Male Fox with a Ciar Woman titled 'wedding portrait.'

“What is all this? And what are you talking about?”

“I AM the Hero, Lad, but I can't fully enter this world without first taking the place of the one who left. There are traces of him, but he is in no position to do good anymore. Not to the extent that I am able to. That I WANT to.”

“What can I do? Is it ChesAn that's stopping you or something?”

“In a sense. I need to find the connections that are binding him to the World and sever them. His lingering presence is like a ward against other version. Nothing can come to take his place until he is fully gone.” He exhaled deeply.

“There is a woman that works for them named 'Kara.'”

“I know her. She recruited me.”

The Hero nodded. “Very good. So you have a connection. We need to bring her here by any means because my own Ciar companion seems to think that she will be the last thing.”

“I-I don't know if I can agree to this.” Lad stated. The Hero stopped and turned Lad to face him. He tried to seem sympathetic. He nodded for Lad to continue, but his presence and his stare both felt intimidating in equal parts.

“Uhm... W-well you freed my sister but it was also your people that made her sick. You're also responsible for hurting people. Many people. I don't like it.”

The Hero smiled a genuinely gentle smile and looked over Lad from his short silver hair, down his slender body.

“You remind me so much of someone. Such strong morals. However... You're looking at it with the wrong mindset.”

“What do you mean?”

“I hurt people, yes, but consider how many are hurting right now from the stagnation of this city? ChesAn and those Rangers had no interest in you until you became of use. If you had not been recruited you would rot in Orr like all the others you passed by. You talk about the... Perhaps thousands of people I stand to hurt in my attempts to do real good, but how many billions are suffering or have suffered as a result of a Hero's inaction? A companies willingness to overlook those like yourself until they can do something for THEM. I need your help Lad. Join us. Join Echo to make the world a nicer place for children like you and Leto.”

Lad shook nervously. It was a huge decision. “What happens if I join you?”

“We set you free, with a few slight modifications to help you help us.” He explained innocently.

“You return to ChesAn, but as one of MY direct agents. My primary goal is simply to claim Kara and bring her here. If you are able to help us do that more easily, imagine all of the people that we could avoid harming?”

Lad gritted his teeth and agonized over the choice. “They've been nice to me and their intentions are good... I-I may even love-”

“Focus.” The hero waved a hand in front of Lad's face.

“Ignore complications and just consider the points that I brought up... We are talking about helping those like you. Like your sister.” Lad felt his mind go blank for a moment. His eyes went out of focus and a shudder ran down his spine as those peripheral thoughts faded. All that was left was the dichotomy the Hero presented.

“Uh...”

“Think carefully. I will respect whatever you choose, Lad. I promise.”

Lad's lips curled up at the Hero's charismatic tone and convincing rhetoric. He relaxed, his expression softening. The Hero's softened to match as soon as it seemed like Lad was beginning to understand.

'He... Is so kind and caring. How could I ever say no?' His eye twitched as he thought that. He felt a pang in the back of his mind of something being wrong.

“What's wrong, Lad?” The Hero asked curiously.

“Do you have an answer for me?”

“Y.. es.” Lad was struggling, but he had no idea why.

“I-”

***

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