The news and A Choice. (Solo)

[Ouken]

"Two years since I was last in Illia. Many rumors were spreading around that Illia is on the brink of being invaded. That chaos is a muck in their soldiers. If the rumors are true about them being invaded, then that will become a problem. Who's to say that they will stop there? Maybe they will strike Bern or even Lycia. So I have to do something about it...I may not like this choice, but sadly the needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few." Ouken thought to himself as he marched his way through the snow towards his old commanders house to get the information from him.

Seeing the stone house, he walked up to it and banged on the door. Hearing the older man yell out. "Who is banging my door late of the day? Are you mad?"

Ouken smiled then answered. "I must be mad if I'm back in Illia. I heard rumors of in coming invasion from Etruria. Now are you going to let me in or not you old geezer?"

The door opened up quickly and stood in the door way was his Commander. A massive knight with his Silver Lance in hand. Vex looked at Ouken and had a toothy grin on his face. "Ah Ouken! I thought you'd never come back. Come in."

Ouken walked inside the heated house and sat down at a small wooden table. The knight took his place on the other side placing cups for both of them. Then took a kettle of his fire and poured some coffee into each cup then sat down.

"To comment about the rumor of Etruria's invading. Its been confirmed by a few of our Pegasus knights that they are preparing for battle. Why are you prodding since you you left two years ago?"

Ouken drank some of the black coffee. Setting the cup down, he replied. "If Illia falls, who's to say they will stop there? So I'm here to lend my skills and Lance." Vex looked at him while leaning on the table.

"If your saying you want to rejoin the military, the answer is yes. But you can't have your old rank. You gotta earn that Ouken. If that is the case, then you can spend the night here. We will leave in the morning. You got the couch ol' friend."

Lifting up their cups, they both tapped cups and downed the rest of the coffee. Getting up, Ouken walked over to the couch and tried to get comfy with lance and shield next to him incase he needed it.

[Ouken]

Dawn had started to break over the horizon. The light slowly came across Ouken's face making him wake up. Looking around, he saw that no one was around. Getting up, he strapped on his small shield to his left arm and picked up his lance. Ouken left his helmet on the couch as he walked over to Commander Vex's Room. His door was still shut.

Knock. knock.... BANG!

The sound of the old knight being startled and falling off his bed. The heavy armor banged around as Vex was flipping out.

"ALL HANDS TO ARMS! THE BERNIES ARE ATTACKING!" Ouken shook his head and walked in. Vex grabbed his Silver Lance and was about to attack when he saw it was Ouken. Vex's face turned from pale white to a very deep red red. Not a flattering look with all his wrinkles.

"DAMN IT OUKEN! YOU ALMOST MADE ME KEEL OVER YOU CRAZY FOOL!"
Ouken shrugged his shoulders and said."Its day light Commander."
Vex stood there and turned slightly to look at the window. The sun was visible now over the tree tops. Turning back around, Vex said.

"Well...so it is. Lets get something quick to eat and March to the barracks. We got a lot of work to do Ouken" Ouken nodded his head and went back to the couch where he retrieved his full helm. Vex went to a cupboard and grabbed a big loaf of bread. Breaking it in half, Ouken got half with a cup of water.

"Now Ouken...things have changed since you were gone. Some of the men left as well. Erik, Jack, Sir Nathan...even Bison left. When they did, our leaders saw that the unit didn't have enough men to sustain the unit. So they disbanded the unit. The Ice Dragoons are no more. Maybe if the men heard that you've come back and that we are forming the unit again, maybe...just maybe they also will come back." Vex explained. Ouken nodded his head for a moment and said.

"Not only them, but we got to get more troops as well. The Ice Dragoons need to be stronger then before. Not with just with Might and courage, but with numbers as well Commander."

"..*Munch munch munch* Yur Wright Ouken. -gulp, slurp- We do need the numbers for when Etruia comes to our doors."

[Ouken]

After eating their bread and drinking the cups of water, Ouken put on his helmet and was prepared for combat with his lance in hand. Commander Vex lifted up his massive Silver Lance. They left the small stone house and started their journey. First order of business was to reinstate Ouken as a soldier for Illia again. Snow began to fall as they were halfway through.

"Seems like old Times Ouken. Ice Dragoons March through anything that nature dishes out to us." Vex said.
"We charge on, for King and Queen. Illia blesses us through war. We stop only for victory. Blow the horns and unleash the Ice Dragoons against our foes." Ouken would reply. Lifting his glances into the air in a salute.

"HaHaHa just like old Times."Vex said. As the snow began to come down a heavier, the two marched through it like a wall withstanding a storm.

A man stood in the path dressed in rags for clothing. When he saw them he held up a hand and yelled. "Halt! No person is allowed to travel this road unless they pay a toll." Ouken and Vex looked at each other. Vex uncooked his giant kite shield from the front of his armor and ready himself yelling back. "You move out of our way or we soldiers of Illia will run our glances through you and your men that hide."

The man was shocked at the threat and tried to pull out his iron axe from his belt, but Ouken had charged toward him and ran his lance through the man's heart. Kicking him off two more came out from behind tree cover. When they saw their boss dead, they fled. Shaking his head, Ouken wiped the blood off on the dead bandits shirt.

"You still got the touch of death Tiger of Winter." Vex said as he walked up to him. Ouken replied back. "No one calls me that anymore Vex." Vex shrugged his shoulders and they continued. Once reaching to Fort Vella, they both walked into the main hall where Ouken signed up and Vex confirmed his military service and background. The man behind the desk stood up and saluted saying, "Its good to have you back. Illia needs their old fighters more then ever now." Ouken simply nodded his head and saluted back. He left and went to the barracks to find his spot he was going to rest at for the time they were going to be there.

[Ouken]

Finding a bed at the far end, Ouken set his lance down on it. A few other recruits walked up to him. Looking them over, he could tell by their stature that they just gotten out of the academy and haven't seen real combat yet. The one in the center was almost Ouken's height but was just a few inches off. He began his rant.

"Look here guys. We got ourselves a Lycian who's also a burnt out Illian soldier. I bet he can't even use that lance anymore. Do us a favor, and leave. You'll only slow us down." The three young bloods began laughing as Ouken took off his helmet, tossing it onto the bed. His tiger Amber colored eyes looked at the leader. "W-what's with your white hair and...your eyes?" The one on the left asked.

"I'm the Illian Winter Tiger of the Ice Dragoons." They began to laugh and Ouken grabbed his lance. Lowering himself down, he got his shield ready to defend himself and lance to attack. The leader rushed in like a green horn. Slanting his shield slightly, the green horns lance missed his mark and glanced it. Ouken would slam his shield into the gut of the leader sent him stumbling backwards. Swinging his lance aimed for the ankle, the lance hit making the loud crack and the leader fell down grabbing his injured ankle. The other two hesitated as they didn't know what to do. One grabbed their hurt leader and the other protected the retreat. The fort's commander walked in and saw the three recruits retreat. He walked up to Ouken who already put his lance down.

"Now I see why they call you the Illian Winter Tiger Ouken. You showed those rich brats what it really means to be a a soldier of Illia." Ouken looked at the man and spoke. "What you need sir?"

The fort's commander nodded his head and stated. "A fort of ours close to Etruria is running low on men. They're Commander decided to stomp off in the night. Without one, the men lose hope and are starting to leave. I received word that Illia military don't have any spare Commanders or soldiers to replenish Fort Ice Giant. But since you and Commander Vex are here, I'm sending you two to Fort Ice Giant. Boost the moral and try to recruit more soldiers to aid in the defense of the fort before Etruria arrives. I've talked to Vex and you two are to leave as soon as possible. Dismissed" Then the officer left. Ouken sighed and put on his helmet again. Lance in hand, he walked out into the court yard and found Vex there waiting.

Without saying a word, they both simply just marched south to Fort Ice Giant. They were going to have their work cut out for them. A lot of work was needed. First was to recruit more men and women to aid in the defense of Illia. They were the first line to try and hold the enemy back. But by the sounds of it, it's going to be suicide. Vex said, "Oh Ouken, I forgot to mention. Your now a Captain again. If we are to do this, then you need the officers rank to give out orders." Ouken nodded his head.

(End of Thread)