ML C10, P5- "Help Me Help You"

"Help Me Help You" is the fifth Part of "Miracula Luxia" 's final Chapter. It was released on 05.06.2020.
== Plot ==
Jared has two tasks on his hands now- to keep an injured Annie safe and to save Akari from the hostiles who are attacking her.
Although both tasks sound very time-consuming, a good friend comes to our hero's aid, taking one of the matters in his own hands and leaving the other to Jared.
Sometimes, a friend can be a true, precious little gem in the crown that is known as friendship. Today is one such day, when a friend shines in his brightest light.
== Story ==
Jared approaches the area where Akari is fighting her enemies and sees that she is terribly outnumbered. There are no soldiers helping her out, all of them are either dead or have fled.
She is alone.
"It's okay, Jared."- Annie says- "I'll be fine. Go help Akari. She needs to be helped more than I do."
Jared shakes his head.
"Don't say that! Of course I won't leave you behind! You are as much of a good friend to me as she is!"
At first, Annie is not sure how to respond. Then, she sees that someone is coming towards them.
It is John. It seems like he has managed to handle his assigned area and is now coming to help his friends out.
"Jared, is everything alright?"- He asks his friend.
"John!"- Jared exclaims- "Thank God you're here. Annie was severely injured while we tried to come here and help Akari. Now she can't move at all."
Annie shakes her head.
"It's not that bad! Plus, I can still walk. See?"
She tries to stand up to prove her point, but fails to do so and instead falls to the ground.
John looks at her and sighs.
"Poor kid. She's really suffering quite an injury."
He turns to Jared.
"I'll take her to a medic for treatment. In the meantime, go help Akari. Don't you dare let her die out there, do you hear me?"
Jared nods.
"I heard you loud and clear, my friend. You take care of Annie, I will take care of those hostiles."
John nods and takes Annie in his arms.
"Stay safe, Jared!"- She tells her friend.
"I will. I promise!"- He says as she is taken away for treatment.
He looks at the location where his friend is and raises his sword.
"It is time for me to be a hero once again."- He says and walks forward.
He sees the full amount of invaders trying to kill Akari. There are ten of them, equipped with high-quality armor and weapons. Each one of them is holding two swords in their hands, swiftly swinging them in an attempt to disoritent the foe and weaken their defenses, even if it is for a short amount of time.
"Those warriors, I have heard of them before."- Jared says to himself, remembering something that he used to know when he was young- "My uncle told me about them, but... why can't I remember what they are called?"
He suddenly remembers something. Again.
"That is right! Dervishes!"- He says- "That... is what they are!"
"And from the looks of it, they're gaining a huge advantage over my poor friend. Ten on one, that... is simply unfair."
"I have to turn the tides. Immediately."- He says to himself, draws his weapon and attacks.
Akari smiles when she sees her friend join her in the battle against the Dervishes.
"Took you long enough to come."- She says- "Where have you been?"
Jared pushes one of the Dervishes back and smiles back.
"I had some... things to do. Or rather, someone to save, mind you."
Akari punches another Dervish and stabs him in the chest. Then, she raises her eyebrow.
"You were saving someone? What for?"
Jared shrugs.
"I will tell you later. First, let us take care of this problem."
He points at the remaining Dervishes.
Akari nods.
"Yes. Let's clear those traitors out."
The two of them fight on both sides, both of their backs against each other, valiantly fighting against the huge men.
The Dervishes don't say anything. Instead, they simply do what they have been told to do- to kill Jared and his allies without any mercy.
"They're not going to back down."- Jared says.
Akari nods.
"Don't worry. We can handle all of them. As long as we're together, we can do anything!"
Jared smiles.
"Now that is the Akari that I trusted to be my friend a long time ago- the brave and determined one!"
Akari smiles back and continues fighting the enemy without another word.
Unlike Jared's last battle, this one lasts more than both he and Akari hoped. The Dervishes continue to swing their blades at them, forcing them to defend themselves more than they can attack back, thus slowly weakening them.
Unfortunately, their tactic seems to succeed as both Jared and Akari fall to their knees from exaustion.
"So... tired."- Akari says.
"Don't give up, Aki. We are... almost... there!"- Jared says, trying to encourage his friend.
This moment of distraction gives the Dervishes a chance to strike without resistance from their enemies. As they prepare to do so, however, an unexpected aid comes from nearby as half of them are shot down from a distance.
Akari looks up and sees John standing on top of a nearby rock.
He waves at her. She waves back.
Then, not wishing to have another moment of weakness, she grabs her weapon and continues to fight back against the remaining Dervishes.
Fortunately, with most of their allies dead, the rest of those mighty men prove to be quite weak as they are slain by both Jared and Akari and shot by John. Without any trouble whatsoever.
Jared wipes a drop of sweat from his eyebrow.
"Phew! That was a close one."
He looks at Akari.
"Please tell me that you are not hurt!"
Akari grins.
"I'm fine! Hard as nails, just like I always am!"
Suddenly, she kneels to the ground and coughs blood.
Jared realizes that one of the men stabbed her in the shoulder during the fight.
"You still need help, though!"- He says.
John approaches them.
"Are you two alright?"- He asks them.
Jared shrugs.
"Me? Yes. But Akari? She is wounded."
John gasps.
"Oh, come on! Not her, too!"
Akari looks up at John and raises her eyebrow.
"What do you mean by that, John?"- She asks him- "Who else is wounded?"
John looks down.
"It's Annie. She... she does not feel well. At all."
Jared gasps.
"No!"- He says- "Where is she?"
He points at a nearby tent.
"Over there. She's still being treated, though. We have to wait for a while."
Jared nods.
"I understand."- He says stoically.
He helps John carry Akari to another tent for treatment.
While waiting for them, the two boys talk about what they had to experience to get here.
"And there is still a lot for us to do. It's not over!"- Jared says- "We need to stick together."
John nods.
"Just like we always have, right? Friends until the bitter end."
Jared smiles.
"You're such a good friend, John."
John chuckles.
"Oh, you flatter me."
He pats his friend on the shoulder.
"I think so too, you know? You're an incredible friend. When we met, it was just us. We helped each other. We went to adventures and had fun. Just the two of us."
"But now?"- He says and looks at the tents where the girls are located- "Now we have Annie and Akari to take care of. They're such fragile souls. They need us to protect them."
Jared nods.
"And we will protect them. Just like we will protect the rest of the population on this world. The innocent people who don't deserve anything bad that is happening to them."
That's when the medic comes out of Annie's tent.
He smiles.
"Jared, Annie asked for you to come in. Would you like to do so?"
Jared nods.
"Yes. If she wants to see me, then I will go see her."
He enters the tent as the medic and John talk outside.
Annie greets her friend, in a clearly better condition.
"Hey, Jared."- She says- "I... I just wanted to talk to you about something."
"Yes?"
She looks down.
"It's about what we experienced earlier today. I... feel bad for doing what I did to you. I'm sorry."
Jared shakes his head.
"No, Annie. You don't need to be sorry. You did it because you love me. In the name of love. And I understand that."
Annie's eyes light up.
"Really?!"- She says.
Jared nods and smiles.
"Of course! Why would I not understand a good friend like you."
He leans closer to her.
"But keep our romance a secret for now, okay?"- He whispers to her.
She nods.
"I... I'll try."- She responds quietly.
He nods and escorts her outside.
However, as she walks outside, she looks up for a second. When that happens, she suddenly becomes disoriented and falls to the ground, unconscious.
"Annie? Annie!"- Jared tries to wake her up, but to no avail.
She is unresponsive.