Grandium: Underground Ruins: Walkway
"Who are we?" From the Masked Man came back a short laugh… an insidious laugh that did not fill one with any sense of joviality or mirth. Instead it sent shivers up the spines of the Pride, whom all stood warily before the two strangers, each and every single one of them preparing themselves for the worst. Trixie's hands shakily held onto her uzis, fingers stroking the triggers. Thunderhawk's hand wavered over one of his javelins, his ears paying attention to the conversation whilst his eyes instead looked over the room itself to try and take everything in that he could. On the opposite side of the ranger, flanking the group's other side was Cole whom did exactly the same.
It would have been nice if they were friendly, but the laugh forebode otherwise. And what the Masked Man said next would have made even the existence of aliens far more preferable to what the reality actually was.
"Is it not obvious? We are the quarry whom you've all been chasing ever since you arrived in Grandium. And in yours and your husband's case, Mrs. Calbanera, much, much longer." His face shifted slightly to focus his attention upon Kara, whom standing to Estelle stiffened considerably. Her fingers clutched her staff with unbelievable might, sweat dripping down the side of her face and her mouth even falling ajar. Now the Pride were starting to worry. "We are whom the good General Morgan and his military allies had been aiding… we are whom you've all been chasing so hard to find throughout these Ruins. We are the shadow that lingers in the darkness which you have all been so desperately trying to catch up to and stop. My congratulations to you all… you've finally found us."
Grandium: Royal Palace: Inner Courtyard
Morgan could now see nothing but red, everywhere he looked enemies surrounded him on all sides. Targets. Foes to be destroyed!! They had all given him their best, and he had managed to take and withstand it. Now it was his turn, and he was going to destroy them all!
Except there was one more, walking towards him perfectly calmly. Morgan stopped as he stared at the walking woman with red hair, her right hand clutching a sword held outwards. Her left hand held a black sphere, glowing and pulsing with the tantalisation of untold power hidden deep within. What on Ddaear was that…?!
Back during the Pride's adventures in the underground ruins of Museo, they had uncovered a bizarre chamber from which some of them had witnessed a strange recording of a woman speaking against the backdrop of a world on fire. Following the recording's completion, the Ruins rattled and shook into collapse, almost burying everyone within. On top of that in its final few moments before complete destruction a strange, black Magisphere had been revealed, one which Estelle took. She didn't know what it was, or why she had took it, only sensing that for some reason it felt important.
And it had certainly grown in handy once before, as the trump card the Pride needed to defeat Lucifer. When she chanced to use it before in her old Magitech Sword, it burst alight with unbelievable power and force. It was thanks to that they were about to defeat Lucifer, although the cost had been her original sword's shattering. She had no idea whether or not the same would occur here… which is why she had held back on using it against the swiftly speedy Gabriel for fear it was. But here and now, against Morgan, there were no other options. Consequences be damned, they had to stop him. And, if the heavens permitted it did, then the loss of a sword and a beating from her mother was a small price to pay.
"You're going down!!" Estelle screamed, breaking out first into a jog, and then a run as she inserted the Black Magisphere into her Magitech Sword's slot. It burst out into unparalled fire and light instantaneously. The sheer heat generated from it was enough to encourage all of Estelle's friends to back away for fear of burning up. Estelle's body raced towards Morgan, growing faster and faster as Marcus channelled all of his magic into bolstering his partner's speed.
Morgan's eyes drew wide upon seeing Estelle's body vanish into a blur. He swung his arms out in front of him, transformed into swords, and caught Estelle's attack against him, the pair's head mere inches away from the other. Waves of fire washed over them both.
"I will not be stopped!!" Morgan yelled at Estelle. "Do you know who I am?!
I AM GENERAL THEOPOLD MORGAN, THE LEADER OF THIS KINGDOM! I WAS ENTRUSTED BY THE LATE QUEEN ALISA TO SAFEGUARD AND PROTECT IT, AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I SHALL DO! I WILL NOT BE BEATEN BY MERE CHILDREN!!"
"Oh please, bite me," Estelle rolled her eyes. "We've all had enough of your crap!"
Grandium: Royal Palace: Vehicle Hangar
"Enough."
A cold voice stopped everyone inside their tracks, Guilder and soldier alike. Heads and eyes all snapped to attention to the figure visible inside the still gaping, smoking hole that the Pride had created, a figure all too familiar to everyone. Gabriel Lockheart stared down at the chaos that had been wrought in the Pride's wake, and he was not impressed.
"You will all exit the vehicle, release the Princess and admit yourselves to surrender this instant."
The vast majority of the Pride had already entered the rear of the van and sat down upon its opposite facing seats, with the exception of Estelle, Thunderhawk and Moira, who had been loading Elincia and Adelaide in to Lute and Dylan. Mere feet away from the van, Estelle stared up towards Gabriel, her whole body shuddering, the sword in her hand trembling.
But not from fear.
"GO!" Estelle screamed out towards everyone. Estelle stepped away from the van, back towards Gabriel and the knights, her sword held firm inside her hand. "Protect the Princess, no matter what!"
Grandium: Grand Coliseum: Arena: Stage A
"She's gotten a lot better at making these, hasn't she? She was always good but this looks like it's in another league altogether. The balance is just right, the sharpness looks on point…"
"You… you know my mom?!" Stammered out Estelle.
Amser chuckled back and winked. "Of course I do! Who could forget the woman who introduced me to the Guild and trained me for a little while? I have the utmost respect for her, she's a wonderful woman."
"Who… who are you…?"
As Estelle asked, Amser trudged slowly back towards Estelle, and casually deactivated the sword's fiery effect. Stopping in front of her, he twirled the sword about in his hand and presented it back to Estelle. Smiling, he then carried on walking, leaving Estelle only to stare behind.
"Are you crazy?!" Estelle shot back, raising her clenched fist in front of her. "No way! No how! Estelle Fenix does not run away from a fight!"
Estelle Fenix does not run away from a fight…!
Fight…
Fight…!"
Eyes to the ground and stilling herself, Estelle's hand trembled upon holding her sword. Finally she opened her eyes, and with her free hand held onto her sword's scabbard. She twirled her Magitech Sword about her hands and then returned it to its sheath.
Then, boldly and loudly she finally declared:
"I give up!" Estelle's eyes were clearly resolute in her decision.
"I forfeit!"
Rosenthall: Fenix Household: Back Garden
As fireworks zipped about in the sky and across the garden, exploding into colourful arrays of light, the Pride continued their brief break from adventure to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening. Provided Don didn't end up setting the house on fire, first. The same firework that had been zipping and banging throughout the garden to cause Moira to wonder if she should punch it away, rocketed in a beeline straight towards the main table again. Rachael, completely unperturbed, bent down slightly to catch the wayward rocket in her fingertips, tilting it then upwards so it would shoot up harmlessly into the sky with a bountiful explosion. Well that was kind of badass.
"Don, please," Tobi laughed and tried to lead him away from the remainder of the fireworks. They had gotten lucky that none of his launched rockets had caused any damage at all. A small miracle, and best not to push their luck either. "Let's save some of the fireworks for everyone else, yeah?"
Don looked a little upset by that, but he quickly recovered. At the least he had managed to launch some of them, which was enough to make him happy. Lifting his head up, he admired the rest of the fireworks being sent up to grace the night sky.
And then one went whizzing straight past his hair, the firework's tail end sparking across his magnificent coif. A second later, it burst into flame, and Don screamed.
"…oops." Blinked a guilty Estelle from across the garden, whose own inaccurately positioned firework had just caused the damage. "Ah, Quentin? Amy? We need your help! Sorry Don! …but at least I didn't set the house on fire again, though!"
As their friends rushed to save Don's prized hair, Rachael remained relaxed in her seat as Lucien came up to her and asked about whether he and Quentin could have the means to set up a bonfire. Despite her daughter and Don's antics being a pretty clear sign that these kids playing with fire was probably not a good thing, Rachael didn't hesitate at all to give her consent, and kindly showed Lucien where the shed in the garden was for them to get what they needed. So long as it was kept a safe distance from the house and tent, everything would be fine. Oh, and he needed to make sure he saved her some of his teased about 'smores as well!
Rachael then looked back up into the sky to see the rest of the fireworks explode and rain down in beautiful, sparkling colours, the sound of Don's screaming gradually filtering out of her hearing as her own thoughts took over. She certainly hadn't expected a day like this to happen when she woke up this morning, but she was definitely glad it had. Looking down towards Estelle, and the laughter and excitement she and her friends all had… Rachael could remain content that she was safe and in good hands.
Lockwood Residence: Mini Theatre - Center Audience Seats
"No no no! Take your time to rehearse your lines! I am perfectly ready to do any errand that would make this play run smoother!" Romeo declared gallantly as he doffed his tophat towards Estelle and Lisette- though in all honesty a good punch from the swordswoman could clear the path- before taking a step towards the exit.
Then... The unspeakable happened.
From the very center of the stage where their disoriented Belle stood came warm, glorious beams of light. Why, the glow seemed to be coming from the boy! It... It was a sign! They were blessed by the Gods! They were praising him for his magnificent choice! Romeo casually ignored- or was blind to- the lovely woman chanting by the sidelines as he stared down at the virtuoso. If he had any doubts, now they were all gone. His faith was now as solid as cut marble, as sharp and defined as his beloved scarlet queen's cheekbones!
He stood there, transfixed with his finger still tangled up in his moustache, until he remembered his promise to Trixie and ran out the aisle. Dylan blocked his way, though with good intentions, in order to offer his assistance with several key aspects of the play. The director was easily distracted. "Oh, of course, dear boy! I greatly appreciate the help! I do need a doppelganger to keep things as fabulous as they would be if I oversaw their production. To that effect, uh, you could start motivating... Um, those in the seats, perhaps?"
Perhaps the angry red lady would hesitate to punch one of her own comrades, hahahaha...
Central Reaver Airship (Damon's): Northern Half
Weak and powerless, with no one to come to her aid, Damon thrust his arm forwards, the sharpened tip of his blade coursing through the air towards their helpless target. There was no way Estelle could dodge this. Her head would roll.
And yet, even as the black, gleaming blade pierced through the sky towards her, she didn't look afraid. She just looked mad. She closed her eyes.
"ESTELLE!!"
She felt something warm and sticky splash across her cheeks. At first, she was confused. Surely she couldn't feel anything, not anymore… it shouldn't be possible. And yet she could. She could feel the swaying and bobbing of the slowly sinking ship in the rough seas surrounding them. She could feel the chill of the night's air, and the wet dampness of the rain falling from above. She could feel the almighty pain and itch of her injuries, injuries that felt as if they were burning. And she could also feel… warmth. Two arms wrapped around her back, one pressing her head into the chest of another.
How…?
"N…no!" Damon trembled, and screamed, his eyes bulged in horror.
"SELAH!"
With his piercing shout, Estelle awakened to her senses, her eyes snapping open wide. She looked up and saw Selan cradling her in her arms, the sharpened point of Damon's wicked knife having passed through Selan's right shoulder and narrowly missing Estelle's head from where Selan had moved her just in time. The dancer looked pained, but as soon as she saw Estelle looking up at her, she smiled back down.
"Selan!" Said Estelle through a hoarse, dry throat.
"Estelle…" Selan breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank the gods you're okay…"
"Selan! No! Are you… are you okay?!"
Damon's sword recoiled instantly, leaving Selan's shoulder and returning to its Master's bidding. The Reaver Leader was still left paralysed and in shock. He had wounded his own love… his songbird. He had come so dangerously close to…!
"I'm sorry, Estelle…" Selan stroked the back of Estelle's hair, her smile fading. "I'm so sorry for all of you… what you've all done for me, I can't… I can't pay it all back. I'm sorry for abandoning you. For being so cruel… I'm sorry for slapping you."
Estelle laughed and grinned. "S'okay. My mum always said I needed a good slap now and then."
Selan's smile returned again. "All of you… all of you are my friends. My family. Being with you people… that is my home. I'm sorry for being so scared…" Her eyes glimmered, and slowly, but surely, Selan's arms left Estelle, and she started to rise, until she was back on her feet, and whipping her head to look towards Damon. "But I won't be afraid anymore."
It began slowly, and gracefully. Selan took one step, then two, then three away from Estelle, slow, methodical but graceful steps forwards, her slender legs and bare feet moving as if gliding atop the deck. Her fine hands and lean arms moved slowly too, stretching and extending, folding and curving, as the rest of her body swayed elegantly from side to side. But what started off slowly gradually began to pick up speed, her movements, her dance, becoming more kinetic. The whipping of her body, her head from side to side with ponytail thrashing in the air from side to side. Turning and spinning from side to side.
This wasn't only the most beautiful dance Selan had ever performed… it was the fiercest.
From the beginning of her dance, her body started to glow a bright and powerful white light starting from the tips of her feet, and growing up and up through her legs as she danced. That same white light consumed all of Selan's features up to her neck, leaving her as a white, shining silhouette of light. The light… Selan's magic. Magic that coursed throughout her whole body, and into her fingertips… where after spinning and with her hands held high, the white light burst and escaped into several balls of white light. Balls of light that, just like Selan's dance itself, shot into the air and wafted to all points of the raging battlefield with an elegant, graceful glide.
Selan still danced the entire time, perspiration dripping across her brow, as she poured in all of her magic and concentration into something so powerful and dangerous, a dance and act she had never attempted before and had no idea if she'd succeed. But she refused to give in to fear. Like her friends, she would fight in the only way she could. And they would win.
Drych Lake Spa - Front
Pen gasped, clutching at grazed knuckles. She was no physical fighter, and Moira barely even flinched from such a hit. Why wasn't she fighting back?! She needed something, some sort of action which would prove the woman to be the absolute monster she had always pictured her to be. She hit her again and again, only getting more wound up as the berserker was hardly affected. At this point all of Pen's previous spells were wearing off, returning everyone to human.
Moira didn't take her eyes off Pen when she spoke to Jett. "Around 45 minutes, maybe. I knocked Sy over a couple of streets away when I was getting away from her, and that was it we were stuck. That's how I found out she got me with somethin'. We yelled a whole bunch, and he was flipping his shit saying I had to go back and apologise and fix it all."
"Except... we found her like that, long gone. I was in shock, and Sy... he lost it. Completely lost it. Throwin' up and screaming and everything. I had to..." She trailed off, averting her eyes and grimacing to herself. Syed remained silent, squirming as he looked to Tobi. He was shaking, although it was Tobi's silent support that was keeping him together at this point.
"Where does this end?"
Pen's chest heaved as she considered them all. Their words, their actions. She was convinced that Moira was guilty, sure. But the time gap? And the others who continued to stand by her, something she found unfathomable and couldn't understand. Even the mage she was bound to, who's face could be read like a book...
She pushed herself away from Moira roughly in her desperation to distance herself, stepping quickly backwards. "I... don't know. I don't know. I just..." She looked up, past them, to the spa itself. Where her friends were waiting, watching patiently. Her gaze moved from one to the other, lingering on the wise Gramps and sassy Marcy, before settling on Rhoden. They locked eyes as he mounted the rails, before he gave a small nod.
She gave the smallest sob, before bending down to pick up her staff once more. Deep breaths. "I made a mistake with most of you, and you've still done everything I asked. So I'll make up for it with this advice. Eject the bitch from your group immediately. She'll bring you nothing but suffering. Like she has done to me. To one of your own. She must be made accountable for her actions. She will do something like this again."
Her staff began to glow, a much softer glow than before. And with that... the Pride and friends found their bodies returning to their normal forms. Gender and all.
And as the glow faded, Syed found her stood right before him. She avoided eye contact with him as she brought up a hand to his chest - which made him nervous and uncomfortable to say the least. She closed her eyes, muttering slowly and carefully, every single sound which escaped her lips precise in pronounciation and tone. Then she drew her hand away in a fist, holding it tightly.
"Here's your second chance, Mr Dyjani," she spoke shakily. Then she opened her fingers, revealing a faint glow within. Not her usual purple. Not really a recognisable colour at all. It flowed through her fingers, returning towards Moira like it was sand blown in the wind. "Your freedom. Don't make me regret it."
Cuttersbury: Guild
Nani blinked and noticed Tobias going toward the newcomers. "I thought he told me not to wander off with strangers? Oh, look at that Captain, he knows the bunch." She stood and wandered over to see who Tobi was talking to. She fixed the plain red tank top she was wearing under her blue jacket. Before she walked off, she decided it best to grab Tobi's belongings just in case they were stolen or something- and hoping to convince him to leave already. "Oi, how rude Tobi. I don't get an introduction to your buddies?" She saluted the group and grinned. "First impressions are the most important, as I've always said," Grant it, her and Tobi's first impression might not have been the best...
"Ahoy! I'm Nani Sterling- and this is Captain, well Cap." She pointed to her shoulder when the parrot perched himself there. "Nice to meet you all." He raised a wing in greeting and then spoke as well.
"Ahoy!"
Quentin's shades slid down his nose and his eyes scrutinized Marcus in momentary disbelief. Between Jett and himself, he was not sure who had made the more impressively embarrassing first impression, although he rather much hoped it was Jett. At least he had not been so obviously ham-handed about it.
"I, uh, sorry. I didn't mean to...er, yeah. Forgive me, it was my mistake. A, um, trick of the light," he said, internally chiding himself that he should have been able to come up with something better than that. Quentin regrouped and started again.
"I'm Quentin Theophilos Hobart, water mage of the local Guild, at your service! My mates call me Q. T. You know, 'cause Quentin Theophilos is a mouthful and it's like 'cutie.' Sort of a...play on words..."
"You try anythin' and sure you'll get a kiss... with a fist!"
Jett stared at the fist waving about. He stood mesmerized. Somehow he didn't notice the shorty was actually a woman. A pudgy woman, but a woman nonetheless. He wiggled his shoed toes. It's now a two against one, and well things are going to get uncomfortable. He doubted he was as tough as this stouter lady. Perhaps he should try apologizing. He removed his hands, and bowed slightly.
"I'm sorry ma'am. I really am. As Guilders, we mustn't lie. So I was just being honest. Ms. Estelle is real a beauty. I mean no offense otherwise. Stealing kisses isn't my style."
"I'm Jett. I'm fast, and I like to chase stuff. Not a swordsman, not a mage," He shrugged. "Not sure what to call myself..."
Phillis Circus: Big Top - Pit
Trixie clung onto her big sister upon being freed, inhaling and exhaling the biggest darnedest breaths she had ever taken in her life. Other than her mouth gaping for air, she seemed positively fine; the suffocation wasn't long enough to shake her vision, thanks to her generous rescue by none other than her big sister and friends. "Wow - gasp - I'm never - gasp - eating jelly again..."
The dolly centaur, having lost its front pair of legs, immediately crashed to the floor from the imbalance. It was futile; any parts of its body dislodged or destroyed would be immediately replaced by another, stronger limb formed by Guinevere's precious dolls, all broken and scattered around the arena. Its ability to recuperate was far too strong for a handful of guilders to wipe out.
At least, that's what Guinevere had banked on. No more dolls and toys had entered the tent since Vance's fall. Most now were completely beyond salvation, much less usage. Others were blown to bits entirely. There was nothing left to continue building itself from. Even its sticky hands were of no use now.
Perhaps more projectiles were in order. Similarly to the rhino, the dolly opened its "mouth" wide - by splitting its porcelain face in half from the center, opening up in an angle. Inside were more and more of those blasted toys, ready to fling themselves out at rapid speed.
But even that proved useless, as the head completely exploded before it could fire a single thing. From the pit, Trixie stood with one arm extended (the other still around Estelle), the barrel of her uzi in hand sizzling. She panted still, turning to Moira now and winking at her. "Gotta kill it at at its core or whatever, right?"
The dolly beast stumbled forward, and Xandra used all of her remaining might - "Raaagh!" - to jab her bladed pole into the dolly a final time. It penetrated the stomach easily, the plushes inside all squealing with horror as it jutted out the other end. Then Xandra yanked the pole to the side in order to bring the dolly-beast fully down to the ground. Its body twitched, and still more dolls composing it shrilled and shrieked, unable to stand back up, much less move.
A flash of light flooded the stage. Once the whiteness of it all died down, the mutated centaur dolly moved no more - aside from its plush exterior falling apart and pouring onto the stage from the beast like lava.
"No... impossible..."
The rhino was obliterated. The tornado was skewered. The big blonde dolly Guinevere didn't even know about until now was incinerated, penetrated, decimated from that witch's whip. And now, she was coming to finish her off for good.
What was supposed to be a simple rescue mission turned into havoc. She had hoped her staying behind would have prevented things from becoming unhinged the way it did, but she knew now it was inevitable from the start. Friends and friendly strangers alike were injured in the fray, and her appearance had only made everything worse. Had it not been for everyone else, who knew what would've become of Trixie.
All these words and emotions flooded Amy's mind as she strode up the stairs to the stage, closer and closer to Guinevere. Guinevere, pretty pretty lady who thought of herself a princess, now scorned and trounced for what she had done - she backed away from Amy, back and back and back, until she could back away no further. Her hands, her delicate polished hands now dirty and ruined from battle, clutched onto the fabric walls behind her. Fear gripped her expression as much as contempt did Amy's.
The frightful woman stuttered. Pretty pristine princess, now pitiful and pathetic. "Everything else has been taken away from me. Everything. My parents, my home, my childhood - it's gone! It's all gone! I have nothing left! All because of you, damned filthy witch! What more could you possibly do to make--"
SLAP!
Guinevere had fallen. Amy stood there, eyes cast down on the lady below her. "...dumb bitch."
Aliquam: Academy of the Arts: Northern Sector: Theatre Hall
"WELL, IGNORANT CLODS?" The Masked Phantom spat. "IS THIS NOT ENOUGH? NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU PEASANTS UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING? YOU CANNOT STOP US. CANNOT OVERCOME US!!"
"I HAVE HELD BACK UP UNTIL NOW… I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE ANYONE'S LIFE. BUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! GIVE UP AND LEAVE, OR I'LL DESTROY EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!!"
"Enough," Marcus, who stood before him, sighed. He waved his hand in the air, and the raging winds subsided instantaneously. Objects that were being carried by the hurricane's winds collapsed to the grounds with a clatter. The Masked Phantom recoiled, taken aback in sheer surprise and disbelief at such an action. It was impossible. His magic, his power, his control of the winds… it was too skilled, too precise, for this to happen… with a wave of his hand, he… how…?
Marcus shook his head from side to side, turning and walking away from the thief. "You've caused nothing but trouble for my friends and their home. And for what? Absolutely nothing. Stealing the Academy itself… are you an idiot or what?"
The Masked Phantom snapped, rushing forwards, charging at Marcus' exposed back-
And the ground between them shone with a bright white glow, a magical circle forming in the space between them with an ethereal light, one matched by the crouching Matter Artist ahead.
Dylan's chalk finished scraping along the floor, and his other hand was placed firmly upon the ground itself. This wasn't easy… in fact it was so much harder then it was when he used his slate… but Dylan now realised, after trying and concentrating very hard… that it was possible. He could still use his magic.
And this was the last shot.
A large mass grew out from within the circle, growing and taking shape at an angle aimed directly at the Masked Phantom. His eyes widened in staggered surprise at the growing object, that quickly took shape as a giant, statue fist, before he was slammed full force by it in the gut, and pushed backwards by the still growing and growing summon. Everyone inside the theatre hall watched in stunned silence, their mouths left agape.
The giant stone fist crashed against the stage's far wall, with the Masked Phantom in-between them, and powered straight through, breaking out onto the northern grounds beyond. The Masked Phantom's body dropped from the statue as it slowly came to a final stop and dissipation, the thief's unconscious body collapsing onto the courtyard gardens outside.
Light from the full moon hanging above outside shone through the giant hole left through the Academy wall, bathing the rest of the Theatre Hall and its occupants with visibility.
Dylan, still crouched, huffed and puffed with his rising and falling chest, sweat dripping from his body. He looked on at the hole he had made, and the man he had defeated, and he grinned before collapsing forwards himself besides Lucien, his magical stamina completely exhausted.
"Have that, you son of a bitch."
???
"This… can't… be…" The Dream Eater groaned, struggling to rise to its feet. Its shield had been utterly shattered thanks to Aria's quick thinking and imagination in funnelling all of the Pride's attacks into one giant ball of energy. With it destroyed, the Pride's subsequent attacks all ran true along the giant behemoth's body, from the amazing to the obscene.
Scorching hot butter steaming across its body caused it to rear and contort its face in twisted agony, with the piling of feathers afterwards adding insult to injury, and forcing it to be weighed down much the same as Lucien's dragon and Dylan's conjured dress had. At the same time, constant attacks pulverised the Dream Eater's body. The giant Don Mech that Don and Trixie had summoned continued to pulverise at the Dream Eater's body with blow after blow, ripping fresh new holes into it, as did Syed's infrequent release of a railgun blast. The time to recharge was a lot longer then Trixie's attacks, but produced that much more of a powerful effect that ripped a larger hole throughout its body. From her tower, Lisette arched her aim up and away from the Dream Eater, pointing straight up vertically in the sky. She unleashed an arrow of pure light that dazzled into the sky… and in the next instant, a hundred arrows fell from the sky in a frenzy, intermingled with meteoring fireballs that continued to push it down into the ground. The Dream Eater was completely pinned, unable to do anything to resist such an onslaught.
"This… isn't… right!" The Dream Eater's claw scraped through the abyss, raking giant crevices in the black oily sea. A glowing eye centered upon the Pride again. It would not… submit like this! This was his world! He could change and shape it however he liked! He just… needed… to…
But the Dream Eater couldn't. A melodious sound, swelling with power from the stage that Dylan had created reverberated through the Dream Eater's mind, and made it impossible or him to concentrate, impossible for the Dream Eater to properly put thought into reality. Everything it tried to create was not how he intended. For some strange and inexplicable reason, Selan's singing sent the Dream Eater's thoughts go awry, changing the wavelengths that the Dream Eater's power flowed through and forcing his perverted creations into something completely different. Chains to form around the Pride's body, snaring them shut and then slowly grinding into their bodies tighter and tighter instead summoned a wave of adorable puppies and kittens. The attempts to change the skies above into a calamitous thunderstorm that would strick the Pride with lightning instead created glistening sunlight and rainbows. This… this was not right!
"I… will… make… you… all… pay…" The Dream Eater wailed, its body struggling to stand up again, but fresh new golden ropes courtesy of Amy forming across its entire body pulled it down again. This… wasn't… right!
BAM
And then the Dream Eater was suddenly sent reeling to the side, as something unbelievably huge and powerful connected with its face. As the Dream Eater tried to look up, tried to recover, it slapped him again. And again. And again.
The Pride below all looked up, their eyes blinking in disbelief, as the giant Don Mech that Don piloted swung the giant blobfish that Lute had summoned over and over again, slapping the Dream Eater's face relentlessly as Trixie's gatling gun continued to shoot at it as well. Over and over, like a hurricane.
All eyes turned to Lucien.
"What, I didn't summon that one," Lucien snickered.
A pitiful wail could be heard from the blobfish overhead. Was it… crying?
"Wait!" Aria looked in disbelief. "That's… that's Lute!"
Indeed, the virtuoso was still stuck to the blobfish, and kept being spun around and around as the giant blobby fat fish kept smacking the Dream Eater with a growing, disapproving expression.
But Don hadn't noticed, and revving his Mech even higher, he poured all of the Mech's power into one, final swing, the blobfish connected with what would pass as the Dream Eater's chin in a devastating uppercut, with the blobfish (and Lute) being sent flying high, high into the sky. At the same time, on the ground, a massive explosion erupted out of the Don Mech's robotic pompadour. Trixie whooped and hollered at her next firing- the gatling gun had now transformed into a giant cannon. And from that cannon…
Spun Moira, who at the last second uncurled, reared back her head, and pelted that giant son of a bitch right in the kisser. The sound of a church bell gonging was all that could be heard echoing for miles upon miles around, as the sun shined down on them. The Dream Eater was collapsing… this time its body unresponsive, as it crashed into the ground, the abyssal sea that remained erupting into a giant tidal wave at its landing.
"Geez, Lute…" A calming voice spoke to the dizzy, pale blonde haired youth. His eyes continued to roll about, and he would mutter incoherent sentences under his breath, talking about Delilah, Robin and Ruana. "There's crazy and then there's crazy, you know. You should be more careful next time."
Fluttering to the ground on wings made of burning fire, Estelle gently landed beside her friends, one foot after the other, the dazed Lute held in her arms. She looked down at him with a smile. The guy was in some ways as much of a rookie still as the day she had met him, but he was her friend, the same as everyone else, and like all of her friends here… he had done good.
Another arc of white light shot through the sky, disturbing the peaceful quietude to explode against the Dream Eater's rising face, this time forcing it to remain still. Estelle looked over her shoulder with a wide, sparkling smile as she Xan with her prosthetic arm stretched out at their foe, it now having transformed into a small cannon. Xandra was as shocked, if not more so then the rest of everyone there, whilst Estelle snickered a devilish laugh.
"Serves that prick right," Moira grumbled, folding her arms over her chest. "You don't fuck with the Pride."
"What now, though?" Aria asked, taking Lute from Estelle arms and supporting him with Atlas' help.
"Now," A voice called out from behind them, illuminating the presence of Marcus who smiled towards all of them. "Now it's time for us all to wake up."
Thaum: The Azure Sea Restaurant
Delilah finally screeched,
"Fucken hell, SHADDAP and just get your arse inside the goddamn resto!"
So yes, Lute managed to trudge inside the elegant venue and instantly felt his soul being flayed by the grandiosity. His eyes rested on the chandelier hanging above the receiving room, calculating how many potatoes he could buy if the owner of this place decided to be generous and let him take it. "A hell lot of potatoes," Delilah responded grimly. In any case, potato bulk buying plans aside, he was fortunately spotted by one of the waiters and was ushered to where the Pride and Dr. D were, which he could've spotted easily from the onset if he wasn't so nervous. Lute stopped the guy from escorting him any further and hid behind the nearest aquarium.
'Oh gods. Hyperventilating. Need air. I can do this,' Lute thought then nodded, a spark of determination glimmering in his eyes. Without further ado he stood up, walked around the corner of the aquarium and, following Robin's How-To-Be-Cool 101, leaned against the glass.
"Hey every-," He started, but the same waiter who ushered him inside tapped him on the shoulder and told him that he shouldn't lean against the aquarium. "O-oh, sorry!" Lute immediately slid his elbow away from the surface (and lost his balance, almost tripping if he hadn't grabbed on to the waiter and used him as a pedestal to cling on COOL LEVEL -100 POINTS YO). He grimaced, turned red, and glanced at the "fish cage" to (pretend to) wipe some smudges off the glass, and this was when he saw the sad Mr. Blobfish.
"Awwww, what's wrong!? I'm sorry did I make you sad!? Did I elbow you in the face? C'mon, smile!" Lute gasped in horror and bent down, pressing his face against the aquarium to stare at the pink creature. "I think I ruined his day, Del- Oh, are you a guy? Or a girl? It's pretty hard to tell."
Los Paraisos: Mercy Hospital
"Wait… where's Don?"
The bed was empty, the pristine white sheets thrown haphazardly around the mattress. Where there should have been that irreplaceable obnoxious bro, was instead an empty bed, devoid of his dead body. Wires and tubes lay swaying back and forth in the room, as a gentle breeze wafted in from the open window.
Open window?
"Where the… where the hell is he…?" Estelle's jaw dropped. It was then that she started to realise it wasn't just Don who had gone… all of his bros had!
Josette's voice tightened in fury as her eyes became transfixed on the window. She stomped towards it. "That motherfu-"
As everyone raced to the window and billowing curtains, Selan walked to the empty bed. Atop of it, in the centre, was a piece of paper with a heart etched in red crayon, and a crude picture of a person, who she could only make out was…
And in the centre of the piece of paper. A diamond ring. THE diamond ring.
"…Don?"
Her body tensed up and her head lifted as her ears heard the sound of music, drifting in from the open window. Being played throughout the hospital speakers… and indeed, music that was being broadcast from every speaker across the island. The synthesized notes of a keyboard and bass guitar playing. What… what was that?
Los Paraisos: La Macabaret: Stage
Deft, supple fingers glided over the white and black keys of the keyboard, playing each one note perfect, as his friend across the stage rang out the dulcet tones of smooth, harmonious notes in accompaniment. The stage lights glaring in front of them reflected off the bass player's sunglasses in a brilliant flash. He nodded to the keyboardist.
And then twirling sticks led to the introductions of the drums. His hands a flurry, drumsticks beat against the drums and cymbals as his head bobbed up and down in tune to the beat. And not soon after, the electrical wail of a guitar joined, completing the instrumental portion. And from behind…
From behind, silhouetted against the bright, voluminous stage lights in front of him, a man smoothly walked onto the stage, straightening his jacket by his collar and using a comb to smooth out his perfect hair as he walked towards the microphone stand at the front of the stage. And then, upon reaching it, he snatched the stand in his hands and leaned low to his right.
It begun.
World turns black and white
Pictures in an empty room
Your love starts fallin' down
Better change your tune
Don snapped the stand low to the left, clutching it tightly as he sung with all his heart, his open jacket blowing behind him, exposing his bandaged chest. He shot his right hand up, into the air.
Yeah, you reach for the golden ring
Reach for the sky
Baby, just spread your wings...
Los Paraisos: The Flying Albatross
Judging by the confused look on Chirps' face, it seemed that he hadn't been informed about the guild members who were due to arrive soon. Before she could comment on this however, a familiar voice made her jump and she looked to the newcomer, a slightly guilty smile lighting her face. "Hi there," she waved, noting that the woman was quite a bit calmer than she would have expected. If Xan had been planning on scolding her right there on the spot she wouldn't have had time to as the door to the restaurant opened, followed by a loud scream.
"Oh my gods it's Thunderjerk!"
Aria swiveled around on her bar stool, blinking at the group of people at the door. Were these the people they were supposed to be meeting? There… sure was a lot of them. It seemed like a red-headed girl had been the source of the shriek if her pointing finger was anything to go by. Most of the members didn't seem too pleased to see the blond ranger as their upset looks was directed to him. "Friends of yours?" Aria quipped, watching as blond man approached them. He seemed to be one of those who didn't seem to hold hostile feelings towards Thunderhawk, and she smiled as he introduced himself as Dylan.
"How polite," The woman purred in return, grin widening. "and yes, if you're the group sent by Tiberius then you've got the right people." She looked over to where Chirps seemed to be a hairsbreadth away from being pummeled by a large woman. The situation resolved itself much to her relief; it would be a pain to be kicked out. Instead she nodded in greeting to the other man who had joined them. "It's very nice to meet you all; I'm Aria. Take care not to forget my name now, sweets."
Lucien turned to look at what Estelle was pointing at only to realize that Thunderjerk was a guilder. Was that really his name...if it was then boy, Lucien felt sorry for him. Lucy was much better in comparison, even though it was technically a girl's name. He gave Thunderjerk a wave to be polite before his eyes wandered to the two ladies beside him. They were both really pretty -- wait, what? Was the other one Xan? He blinked in confusion then stared it really was. They had been assigned as partners on a few missions before and man, she was such a killjoy though he guessed they were friends.
Xan hadn't noticed the confused looking summoner yet, instead she was focused on the redhead who had suddenly screamed. Thunderjerk, huh? The name made her smirk, Aria was probably enjoying their leader's suffering. She felt kind of bad for him though and had to give him respect for maintaining his polite demeanor. Dylan walked up to greet them and she gave a bow in return. "It's nice to meet you all, and yes. I'm guessing your the guilders we were assigned to meet as well. I'm Xan and I look forward to working with you all." The guilders looked nice enough, she eyed them all one by one before pausing to stare at Kapi. To be honest, she wasn't fond of animals but the animal in Lisette's arms looked nice enough.
They were a colorful and interesting bunch, that much she could say. Syed gave a greeting and Marcus and Trixie politely assisted them off the bar stools. "Thank you, the pleasure is all ours." Trixie looked a little too young to be a guilder, but Xan didn't say a word. If she was with the guild then Xan didn't doubt the girl's capability. She smiled at the child and gave her a pat on head. "Marcus and Trixie." The girl repeated. "I'll make sure to remember."
Vandrell: Hawthorne Manor: Courtyard
"EVERYONE!"
Estelle's voice bellowed.
"I'M SORRY!!!"
"Estelle…?" Her friends' faces perked up, each and every one of them staring towards her in confusion and bewilderment.
"I'M SORRY I'M SORRY I'M SORRY!!!" Estelle screamed ever so loudly. Tears started to swell within her eyes.
"I'm sorry I tried to leave you! I am! I was wrong! So very, very wrong!" Estelle's body began to pour out every last piece of her emotions out. "I was stupid and weak! I wasn't strong or smart enough to lead you all and I was just putting you all in danger! I tried to leave because… because I told myself that would be protecting you! But it was a lie! I was… scared!!"
"Estelle…"
Her friends looked towards her, each of them feeling for her in their own individual ways. The responsibility Estelle carried, and the heartache she suffered. She tried her best, and always would, but she was still only eighteen years old. It wasn't surprising for her to feel like this.
"But I need you all! I need you all so, so much!! Please, forgive me!!" Estelle's heart continued to pound and her voice continued to scream. "You're my friends, and I don't… I can't... I can't be without you! I can't!… We have a mission! And I can't… I don't want to complete it without all of you besides me!!"
"Big… sis… Waa!" Besides Selan, Don's eyes and nose were streaming with tears and snot. He was bawling like a baby. As one hand continued to clutch onto Trent, her other hand reached out to him, placing her palm atop his hand in order to comfort him.
Supported in Trixie's arms, Lisette lifted her weary head up high to watch her friend scream and shout and with it… she felt a little stronger too. Kapi had crossed the length of the battlefield and hopped up and down on one of her legs.
Dylan, Moira, Syed, Lucien, Nikki, Julius and Celeste all watched on too, transfixed on Estelle's speech. Amy's eyes shut tight, listening to each and every word Estelle spoke, and found new inner strength within herself.
"I can't sing!
I can't dance!
I can't shoot guns or fire arrows!
I can't heal people!
I can't control wind or electricity!
I can't draw things to life, summon animals, create clones or turn into a cat!
I can't do acrobatics, fight with a glaive or head butt people!
I can't do any of those! There's so much that I can't do, and why I can't do it alone!!"
"Estelle!!" Everyone shouted in unison.
Each and every one of them looked towards Estelle with renewed determination and empathy for their friend. She wasn't only right about herself, but about each of them too. There was so much they couldn't do alone, and that's why they needed each other. It wasn't just their abilities alone - but their heart.
Much more then this fake band of psychopaths they fought, they were a family, and they needed each other.
They were the Pride.
"Nnn… shut the goddamn hell up… can't a guy die in fucking peace…?"
Selan's eyes opened with in disbelief, her face sharply turned to the awakening youth lying in her arms.
"Trent!!"
"Goddamn you all make too much fucking noise… is the monkey screaming again…?" Trent coughed as he scowled. Selan's face crumpled as she looked down at him, holding him tightly as tears trailed down her cheeks with abject relief. "Wait, maybe that means I actually am in hell..."
"I can't piss off everyone either..." Estelle added quietly, lowering her head and smiling.
And then a loud, chilling laughter eclipsed the thunder above. It carried across the wind, howling at the Pride from all around.
"HA! HA HA HA! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!"
"And what the hell can you do?"
Suddenly, everyone turned away from Estelle, staring forwards at the voice several feet in front of her that arose from the still smoking crater. A shadow rose from the ground, lifting up with arms and wings extended, to come to a defiant stand before them. It was obvious to all his body was haggered and exhausted, but with each passing second his stance and breathing improved, returning to normal. Marise and the Pride had hurt him severely, multiple times too. But to look at him, it would seem as though nothing had happened. He stood and spoke with the same collected air of power and confidence as he always had.
"Well? All I see is a bunch of weak, pathetic simpering fools stupid enough to believe they have any power to do ANYTHING." Lucifer's voice pierced the Pride's ears, a dark chill of despair running up their spines as if an ethereal cold claw of hate was trailed along it. "A bunch of fools stupid and desperate enough to make themselves believe anything… to think that so many people could so blindly choose to follow such a disgustingly weak degenerate like yourself.
"Tell me… what makes you so special?
"WHAT CAN YOU DO?!"
Estelle's hand gripped the hilt of her Magitech Sword. A smile stretched across her face, and she looked towards Lucifer with no doubt or hesitation held in her heart.
"I can beat you."
Vandrell: Hawthorne Manor: 1F: Dining Room
"Er… hi. I… don't think we've met?" Estelle tried to break the uneasy silent tension that was forming. She looked around, towards Lucien and Julius, for some help or explanation, if there could even be one. "Are you a member of the Family too?"
"Hmm…" Celeste mumbled quietly, as she continued to inspect Estelle up and down, a thoughtful, penetrating gaze that almost seemed to pass straight through Estelle. This was the first time she had seen her… and so was left in silent wonder at the person who everyone here seemed to be chasing after. Celeste didn't know what she had expected, but she had anticipated someone with a bit more… presence then this. Truthfully, Estelle looked younger then her, and nothing like the commanding leader who drew everyone's respect and attention to them. Of course, appearances were deceiving, she knew that better then anyone, but either way. She couldn't help but be… both confused and intrigued. "No, I'm not. I'm a Guilder, one of Julius' friends. My name's Celeste!" She thrust out her hand, hoping for a handshake. Estelle took the hand, and very awkwardly shook it back. "Pleased to meet'cha!"
"Oh… heh…" Estelle retreated slightly. "Um, pleased to meet you too. A friend of Julius, huh…?" Estelle gave a wayward glance to the silent skirmisher, who continued to eat his meal silently. He looked up briefly upon noticing Estelle's gaze, and spoke a pleasant greeting to her as well. Estelle turned away in embarrassment again.
"So, how's the tartar?" Celeste pointed to Estelle's dinner plate, confusing the poor girl again. She then pointed to her own plate, and the pleasant eggplant parmesan sitting atop. "This is good. Like, really good. But I was wondering if I could try some of your tartar?"
Tagress: Port
"I can't protect everyone. I should, but I can't. I can't do it." Estelle's eyes fell onto Marcus' arm. "When it was just me and you, I could. That would have never happened before."
"Estelle... this was a simple accident. It's not anybody's fault, not yours, not mine, not-"
"It doesn't matter, Marcus! I should be better then this, but I'm not!" Estelle shot to her feet, her voice practically screaming as tears began to stream from her face. "They all deserve better then me, and I can't give them that! I just can't! This… I think this was a mistake. Ever since we started this, I've done nothing but put them all in bigger danger, again and again and again! It's not right!"
Estelle turned away.
"Estelle… what is it you want to do?" Marcus asked, fearing the answer.
"…I…" She hesitated, before finally speaking the thoughts that had been running through her mind since the aftermath of Weir. Dark thoughts, that may have been plaguing her mind from even before that. "I want to go back to the way things were. Just you and me. I can do that."
Estelle took a deep breath, and turned back towards Marcus. "I can protect you. And you protect me. I know we can. I can't protect a dozen people. I can't lead them. I love them all but… but I can't do it. They deserve better then me. You and me… we can deliver a simple letter together, right? Marcus?"
Marcus was silent for a spell, before closing his eyes, sitting up and walking towards his partner. He wrapped his arm around her, and pulled her into a comforting embrace.
"Estelle, I will always be there for you. I will always be at your side." After all… "If this is what you truly want, then it's what we'll do. But… you're sure?"
Estelle gave a slow, but confident nod. "I am. I… I feel horrible about it but… but it's the right thing to do, isn't it? And this just shows how weak I am but I… I don't want to tell anyone, though. I don't think I can do it. I know I should, and everyone will hate me for it but… it'd be for the best. It'd be easier. I just want to find out where we need to go next and go alone…"
Marcus said nothing, instead simply holding his pained friend tightly again.
The Woods of Weir: The Elder Tree; Damu
Estelle's teeth clenched and her fist tightened in response to what everyone else was saying around her. How they seemed to think it was right to go about this without even trying to find another way. How did they know it was impossible to save Damu and the Woods of Weir? Just because Cole told them? Well, how did he know? And what made him completely right? She was sure he couldn't know everything, and that there was bound to be things he didn't know. After all, Estelle didn't know everything either, she would freely admit that. In a world where people could control the elements itself, a world where people could heal others or have their songs affect one another… in a world where woods could curse people into becoming trees, who was to say there wasn't a way to save them? How did they know?
Estelle couldn't believe their attitude. What about Cole, whom was moments ago a Golem? It was due more to fortuitous luck with Lisette's efforts then anything else, but without her here and what she did, what would they have done instead? Would they have deemed it acceptable to try and kill him, too? To put him out of his rage and misery?
No, there had to be a better way! All they had to do was look more, damnit! It couldn't end like this!
He wouldn't have allowed it!
Dylan had pulled her into as comforting a hug as possible, but Estelle pushed herself free. It wasn't born out of malice or anything like that. It was simply that the Matter Artist's arms weren't enough to comfort her. No ones were. Not when they were all willing to seemingly accept things like this. Even Lisette seemed to tire, and relent. Estelle… Estelle didn't know what to do, to say or think. Even Amy's harsh words blurred over her. She just couldn't accept anyone to accept things like this. She couldn't.
"Amy, move, please."
The blonde stepped back suddenly from the Elder Tree, her quivering legs trembling as her ears picked up her name. She turned briefly, to look in the direction of the sound of the voice. She didn't quite recognise it at first, not belonging to those whom she travelled with frequently, but a second later realised it belonged to Elaine. Looking to her, everyone suddenly turned towards the woman who had, as of yet, said nothing. And didn't plan to say much more, either.
Her arm held her chakram behind her back, winding up a pitch. With unparalleled speed, Elaine launched the bladed weapon, directly towards Damu. In the blink of an eye, it sliced through the wide trunk like a whirring buzzsaw, cleaving itself directly through one side and out the other, severing it in two. Whilst everyone else debated their options, Elaine took action. She extended her other arm into the air, to catch the spinning chakram returning to its owner.
"El…Elaine…?" Estelle tried to speak, her lips trembling in horror.
Elaine looked back towards the young girl, her eyes offering the same level of sympathy as everyone else. She wished she could express her sorrow better, to take away the Pride's pain, but she couldn't. This was all she could do.
"I'm sorry, Estelle. This is my mission, my responsibility. This is on my shoulders, not any of yours. I'm doing what's necessary to save the people of Lafeal and your friends. And to end the Woods' pain." Elaine said sternly, turning and hobbling away in the direction they came from. It, of course, wasn't the only reason Elaine had done so. Even if she wasn't following the proper path of a Guilder, and doing what was necessary of her and her role, she would have done it regardless. For her husband.
Estelle turned, looking back towards the giant tree. From the perfectly smooth horizontal line that sliced through the entire tree, she could see it begin to happen. From the dreary darkness of ghostly greys and suffocating shadows, a bright light began to shine forth from the gap, circling across the entire trunk.
Everyone fell in silence as they watched the Elder Tree's form turn completely crimson, the colour washing out from its wound and spreading outwards, up into its branches and onto what few leaves remained, that fell and began to cascade down to the ground amidst the rain. The red extended down into its roots, and into the ground as well, pulsing forwards like a ripple effect, a wave passing through and washing over the entire woods, transforming everything that was a part of the woods into a shade of scarlet. The surrounding trees, grass, flowers, mud, stone, dirt. Nothing was spared. Even the wolf cub whom Dylan had rescued, found its fur and body overcome by the same crimson. It looked up, towards its rescuer. Towards Dylan, and gently walked forward, nuzzling its muzzle against the artist's leg.
Turning around, Estelle and the other members of the Pride watched everything in their vision transform. As horrifying as it looked, there was a much more powerful sensation then that. It was sorrowful, but absolutely beautiful. There were no words to accurately describe what they saw, or how they felt. It was a horrible, overwhelming, soul crushing wave of sadness, but there was more to it then just that. Unbelievably, inexplicably, it was almost like… like the Woods were telling them something as well. Teaching them, and celebrating an all important fact.
Everything begins, and everything must end. As tragic as death is, it is also a natural part of life itself. Damu, and its woods and their occupiers' time had come. Whilst they would vanish, they would move on, back towards the mother earth itself, and become one with Uru once more. It was less an ending, and more a new beginning. And at last, finally, after so many years the curse would be gone. The pain would be no more.
On the road to Lafeal
"Hahahaha! Don't you worry boy, they don't mean no harm. We know this lot - and I don't think they'd appreciate having a weapon pointed at them!"
"Yeah, hah, right... Friends."
The concept was alien to Julius. Oh, he knew what a friend was - someone you liked, someone you cared for. But having someone explain to you what a storm feels like is completely different from actually feeling the rain drops on your face. Julius understood that Otis cared for the fast approaching group, he just couldn't get how caring for someone else felt.
The large, cheerful man sent an odd look the boy's way. He was polite, friendly enough - but something just didn't seem to ring true about the boy. His laughter and smiles always seemed to come a little late, or at completely inappropriate times. He didn't mind talking, but sometimes just seemed to lose focus until Otis felt like the boy had forgotten he was there at all. No, it was nothing he could place his finger on - but a little extra company would certainly make the trip a little more cheerful.
Julius bemusedly watched as Maybelle greeted the red-haired woman who had stopped before the carriage. Were they fighting? No, no, he knew this one... Hugging! That was the one. Friends did that, too. They were all so friendly! Perhaps they'd be friends with him, too.
"No, Otis, I haven't met them before... I only recently joined the guild. Er, hello, my name is Julius," he said, facing the crowd in front of him. For an instant, a look of alarm flashed in his eyes. What was it you did again, to show someone you were friendly when you first met them? Oh, there was so much to remember!
Smile!
Several awkward seconds had passed before Julius had remembered. Slowly, a flickering smile - which looked more like a grimace than a friendly greeting - spread across his face. He heard a small giggle emanating from Maybelles' direction. She had done that a lot since he had met up with the two merchants, and Julius couldn't for the life of him work out why. As per usual, he ignored it.
Remember, it's polite to ask others about themselves.
"So, you're all friends of Otis and Maybelle?"
On the road to Tagress
The other woman spoke up and Lucien winced before giving her a grin. "I'll have you know, Lucy is the manliest name around." He joked in a dry expression, before giving her a wave. "The name is Lucien, she just likes giving me nicknames and what can I say," the summoner's tone shifted into a playful one as he looked over his shoulder and gave Elaine a smile. "I'm powerless against the power of cute nicknames, besides, I'm rather cute myself." At this he gave Moira a half smile and a peace sign. He would have rambled on if not for another girl rushing to greet them and he had to admit she was rather cute herself.
"Lucien Maddox at you service." He gave a quick and gentlemanly bow before his eyes flitted from guilder to guilder. If he remembered right the powerful wind mage was Marcus, the fiery redhead, Estelle. The walking lightning rod had been called Sy...something and the woman in armor was Moira if he remembered right. As for the others he couldn't quite remember their names just yet. The summoner chuckled before his eyes locked onto Elaine's and he smiled. He looked forward to what was going to happen next. "You people are guilders, yeah? Proves how awesome the guild is, eh?"
Museo: Underground Ruins: Waterfall Cavern
Out of the ruins, they found themselves within the inside of a massive cavern. Turning back and looking up, they saw the rear of the ancient ruins they exited from stretch up high until it hit the rocky stalactites above. They could see a giant crack run through the centre of the canyon's ceiling above, running from one end all the way to the other. It was impossible to tell how long it was in length, although the crack was so small in width, people might have walked atop it and not even realised. It was through here a wide, narrow beam of sunlight passed through into the rest of the cavern and illuminated it, and what a cavern it was.
The rocky flooring branched out from the ruins briefly, before stopping into a river. Peering to the right, the Pride could see a waterfall cascading down from somewhere into this river, creating a very fast, very rapid current. The river continued straight on to their left and to the end of the cavern, where upon it then disappeared into another descending waterfall. It mostly likely led to some outside river system. There were various forms of flora growing besides the river, almost defiantly and impossibly surviving.
"This is… something alright…" Harrison gasped upon the cavern interior. It, and the waterfalls, was unlike anything he had seen before. But that wasn't all.
The river only cut through half of the cavern. A manmade (or rather, ancient made) rope bridge connected their side of the cavern to the other. And on the other side…
…was another ancient, ruined building. This one reached as high as the one they appeared from too, but seemed smaller in depth. The grand, ornately way in which the ruins had been built, with its larger, imposing doors and the four surrounding statues built within the walls of the ruins gave it staggering presence. It felt dominating.
No one even had to ask. It was clear to tell simply by looking at it. This was the goal of the Ruins. It was what all those traps, dangers and twisting hallways they had just explored through led to. Across the river, within that building… whatever it was inside, that was the finish line.
Estelle being Estelle, she ended up asking anyway.
"Hey… hey… you think that's it, guys?!" Estelle gasped. "Do you think it's it? WE DID IT!?"
"Estelle, we've not done anything yet, so we still… Estelle!" Selan was beginning to correct, but the swordswoman had already dashed off once again. She hopped onto the rickety wooden bridge and stampeded across it, unafraid of the wide rapid river passing underneath. She made a straight beeline for the other ruins, skidding to a halt when she grew nearer and nearer, and thus it bigger, and bigger.
"It's… it's so big…" Estelle gasped. Her eyes drifted across the remarkable workmanship of the building. It's looming double doors, and the four monstrously sized statues built around it. Each statue must have been at least twelve feet tall and built to match in width. Made out of stone, they were highly decorated and adorned with jewellery and gold. Each were posed slightly differently, brandishing a particular weapon, be it a sword, lance, axe or bow. Estelle wondered. Did the ancients look like them so long ago? Is this the way they dressed? Or were these the gods they once worshipped?
Her eyes then fell on the doors. She dashed towards them, pushing against one with all her might in an effort to open, but there was no success. There was no chain or handle either, and so for all intents and purposes, it was locked. It seemed impossible to enter, although of course there had to be some way, she just knew it. She looked around. There seemed to be two indents, built into the centre of each door. Circular in shape. And sized very familiarly…
"Dr. Jones! Dr. Jones! The sun tablet!" Estelle cried out. By now, the others had crossed the bridge, albeit far more cautiously then Estelle had (Moira ended up having a brief scare when her foot went straight through one of the planks, and needed to be hoisted back up by everyone else). Harrison looked perplexed towards Estelle, before noticing the doors and nodded. A lot of the ancient ruins he had explored had ended up locking some of their doors through intricate means. These ancient cultures were very tenacious.
Retrieving the tablet, he inserted it into the space, to which it fit perfectly. The door lit up, with various lines of etched circuitry shaped sigils lighting up and glowed a pulsing red. Estelle jumped up and cheered, before noticing the other door, however, remaining blank.
"Wait… does this mean we need to find another one?" Asked a deflated Estelle.
"'Ere, fuck that." Moira spat.
"Hmm… I wonder. Maybe Nolan and Angelina's team have found something." Harrison surmised. "Selan, perhaps it might be best to contact them, see what they've been up to- woah!"
Suddenly, the space between the group was cleaved in two, as a massive, mighty axe swung down, impaling the ground mere inches away from Harrison's body. The archaeologist and Guilders stammered back in fright, as before them, one of the statues built within the ruin's walls had sprung to life, its body twisting and turning with animation; its eyes glowing a violent, pulsing red. It lifted its axe back out of the ground, and began to turn to face the Pride once more.
It wasn't the only one.
Museo: Guild
Dylan strode in to the Guild in the morning light, eager to see what kind of mission he would be sent on for his first official Guild job. It would probably be something rather simple, though the possibilities running through his mind had kept him from falling asleep easily the night before. He hoped that whatever it was that it would take him outside of town – he had been meaning to go and see the countryside more often. Though beautiful ladies were normally his brightest muses, occasionally natural beauty could be inspiring as well.
He leaned against the wall, watching as Anastasia talked to a young woman, red-haired and lovely, though he doubted that she was any mere wallflower by the way she carried herself and the sword at her side. Near her was a young mage, white-haired and all-in-all a rather pleasant looking fellow. He had just decided to wait patiently for Anastasia to finish with the two other Guilders when suddenly he heard his own name! It appeared they were talking about him! Maybe this was the very mission that Anastasia had been referring to the night before! Filled with excitement, Dylan bounced away from the wall and towards the small group.
"Anastasia, do you know where Dylan is? Is he at the museum or still at the Guild? Or somewhere else, perhaps? I think we should meet him."
"He's…"
"He's right here!" he said with a large smile and a laugh. He clasped Marcus on the shoulder, grabbing his hand for a firm and quick handshake. "My name is Dylan Sanders, new Guilder and Matter Artist!" He dropped Marcus' hand and turned to Estelle, grabbing her hand and lifting it up, placing a chaste kiss on the back of it. "And it is lovely to meet such a beautiful warrior as yourself. Your kind is a rare breed, and it warms my heart to think that I shall be working with you."
Fenaru: Guild
"Yeah, what about Trent? Does he get to come too?" The boarder mockingly repeated Lisette's question. "Aren't you going to ask me? Or am I not good enough to join your little club?"
Estelle's temple twitched out of irritation. She loved Lisette; even though the two had only met yesterday she was a wonderful friend who Estelle wanted to keep by her side. But she just had to go and mention Trent, didn't she?
Estelle's teeth grinded. She didn't want the little punk to join them, no way. He was rude and obnoxious, and if he wasn't insulting one of them he was smacking someone in the face. Like her. Estelle still owed Trent a good smack in the face.
But perhaps Lisette was right. Trent had helped, and he hadn't even been too bad during the mission. He was a Guilder, like any of them, and just as eager to do the right thing, even if he had his own unique way of doing so. He could help, and perhaps he'd even mellow out that attitude later. There might be hope for him…
"Well, Estelle?" Trent asked again with puppydog eyes. This was the first time he hadn't hesitated to call her by her real name instead of Gorilla girl. That was improvement. Estelle sighed. What kind of leader could she be if she didn't?
"Trent…" Estelle took a deep breath, composing herself as she closed her eyes and then opened them, to look towards Trent with a serious intensity.
"Would you please join us?"
"Hell no."
Trent crudely replied without hesitation. As he answered Estelle he was already busy with one finger lodged up his nose, feeling to pick away some bogie. "No way would I ever follow you around, Gorilla girl."
"Why you!" Estelle kicked the chair away from her as she rushed to her feet. Lisette rushed to hold Estelle back.
"Don't get me wrong, riding with you guys wasn't too bad," One of Trent's hands waved in the air as the other flicked the booger off into a corner of the room. "But I think I'd rather go out on my own and become a much better, kickass Guilder than you. I'll become an A rank Guilder quicker than you have and my own, better team. No offense."
"No offense?!" Estelle had to be restrained by Lisette.
Trail to Fenaru
As the Guilders bickered in confusion, the bush rustled a bit, before something popped out!
A strange, fuzzy lump with stubby legs and a body the size of a small baguette latched itself onto the back of Syed's head, causing the mage to spin around in shock.
"Gyaagh, what is that!?" Syed yelped in disgust, unable to see what the creature was. For all he knew it was some sort of giant spider or bug, all he did know was that it was extremely dense. The other Guilders (save for Selan, who could not see what the commotion was all about and Don, who was otherwise incapacitated) couldn't help but laugh, for the bizarre thing looked completely harmless. Still, none of them knew exactly what the unfamiliar creature was, and they looked on curiously before Moira finally took the initiative and yanked it off her partner's head with one hand. Stomach facing her, it wiggled its legs frantically, unable to escape her grasp.
"Oy, what in the hell is this thing...?" Moira said, wrinkling her nose at the lump.
"That doesn't look like the culprit that tripped Don," Marcus said calmly. "I've never seen such an odd creature, but it doesn't look like it has any magical abilities..."
"You know what it looks like? Dinner." Moira grinned wickedly, staring into the lump's beady eyes.
A girlish shriek split the air.
"Oh no you don't! Put him down immediately before I arrest you too!"
The tuft of hair poking out from the side of the bush disappeared for a moment before emerging; A young woman stood before them, with honey blonde pigtails, the end of which had appeared to be a tail. It seemed as though she had been hiding there the whole time, waiting for the group to pass by. The girl wore an official-looking outfit comprised of soft blues, greens, and golds.
A Guilder?
She didn't appear to recognize them, though. She might have recognized Selan from the previous day's newspaper if the older woman wasn't watching from the safety of the carriage.
Cheeks puffed, she pointed her staff at the man lying on the ground. "As a service to the Town of Clockwork and as my duty as a Guilder, I'm taking that man into custody for the crime of theft and--" She took a breath, having run out from the mouthful of a sentence. "Hah... Sorry. And if you interfere, I will be forced to arrest you as well! Or else my name isn't Lisette Marchand!"
"Now put Kapi down, will you!?"
The lump in Moira's hands managed to wriggle free at the sound of its name, and scurried over to hide behind one of the girl's boots.
Clockwork Town Suburbs: Graveyard
Estelle walked throughout the graveyard meadow, trudging along the stone path throughout the cemetery and up to the hill overlooking it and the town. It felt like a small hike, but Estelle had enough exuberant energy built up within her that it was a simple task. Once she reached the apex of the hill, she stopped to take a break within the shade of the great oak tree, and turned to look back towards the Victorian fashioned town behind her. From here she could see all the people below, enjoying their morning and beginning a new day, scurrying about like little tiny ants. Estelle became able to truly appreciate the splendour of Clockwork Town and its old fashioned, yet homely architecture. Estelle hadn't stayed here long, only a month. But within that time, it had come as close as it possibly could to resembling home.
It was full of good memories, and bad, painful memories. But she wouldn't let the bad ones overtake her anymore. Instead, she was going to use them as a reminder to keep on striving to make the good ones.
Father and...
Estelle turned back around, a smile on her face, even as she looked up at Largo's grave, and the awe-inspiring granite statue before her. Surrounded by a hundred wonderful, beautiful flowers, Estelle walked slowly towards Largo's grave, and, taking care to part a small space beside the statue's foot, Estelle set down a bouquet of flowers.
Estelle wasn't one for funerals, but she couldn't leave the town behind without saying goodbye to Largo.
After placing the flowers down, she took a step back, and looked up at Largo's statue.
"Hey, Largo," Estelle said, pausing as she struggled to find the next words to speak. "Um… I just wanted to let you know, that… that I'm leaving now.
"I'm going to go travelling! With everybody! Well, mostly everybody. And we're actually going on a mission, to deliver that letter you gave me, and… well it's really important but still, I'm excited, you know? I get to explore the whole kingdom and it's going to be fun and…!
"…and it's going to be hard, too. I know that. I… I think I'm supposed to be the leader? But that's okay. Because I have Selan and Thunderjerk with me, and Moira and Marise too. And Marcus of course. They'll all look out for me, I know they will. But I'm going to step up too, y'know! And look out for the others! Like Trixie. I think she needs a lot of looking after, actually. Hehe. And Nikki. She needs to keep her claws out of Marcus if it's the last thing I do and… and… and I don't even know what I'm saying anymore."
Estelle stopped, sniffling as a tear started to run down her cheek.
"I'm sorry, Largo. I promised myself I wouldn't cry. Tough people don't cry, do they? I never saw you or Mom cry, and… and I don't want to cry either. But I'm sad. I miss you, Largo. It's not fair. I… I don't know why you had to die but… but I miss you. And I always will. But I won't be sad forever. You wouldn't want that, would you?"
Estelle wiped the tear away, and began to smile again.
"I hope you got my letter, Largo. I know you would, Marcus is dependable. And that's what I'm going to be, too. Dependable. I'll deliver your letter, Largo. I'll find Rize and Kara, and…"
Estelle pumped her fist out against Largo's statue, her fist tapping against the statue's broad chest, right above the heart.
"I promise you. Mom. And myself. That I'll become stronger. A dependable Guilder. The strongest Guilder and swordswoman in the world! I swear!"
A moment's pause.
"…I've got to go now, Largo. I don't want to keep everyone waiting. But I'll be back sometime, okay? And I'll bring even better, more beautiful flowers with me, and great stories too! So just wait for that, ok? I'm going to make everybody proud, you'll see!" Estelle's lips curled into a wide grin, as Estelle flashed the proudest smile she could. It was a promise, and she was going to make it real.
"Make me proud, kiddo."
She turned and began running down the hill, back towards the town and it's northern gate. She didn't want to keep everyone waiting too long.
They all had a long adventure ahead of them, and she couldn't wait to begin!
Clockwork Town: Guild: Basement
"Look! Up there!" Someone else called out, pointing to the top of the balcony besides the reception door. Once everyone's eyes became acclimatised to the darkness, they could see a shape silhouetted in the light shining through the window from the full moon outside. It was a man wearing a suit and a hat, which masked the features of their face. All of the Guilders reached for their weapons, brandishing them at the first sight of trouble.
The man was stock still, and then just so suddenly moved, reaching into his suit's jacket pocket. Thunderhawk was about to move to intercept, when all of a sudden Marise threw her hand to the side, signalling to him and everyone else not to move.
The man cut through the tension of the room, pulling something small and round out of his pocket and placing it in-between his thumb and index finger. He flicked the object through the air, from the balcony to the opposite side of the room's floor. Reflecting the scattered remains of moonlight, the guilders watched as the small object- a coin, sailed through the air.
And right into the broken jukebox's coin slot.
The jukebox lit up brilliantly and the lights overhead flashed ontop of the man. As music began to loudly blare out from the jukebox, the man's form was revealed in its entirety: A man in a crisp, immaculate white suit, blue shirt, white tie and white fedora. His entire posture clicked as he thrust out his crotch with an 'Aaow!' to the music's start.
"As He Came Into The Window
It Was The Sound Of A Crescendo
He Came Into Her Apartment
He Left The Bloodstains On The Carpet
She Ran Underneath The Table
He Could See She Was Unable
So She Ran Into The Bedroom
She Was Struck Down, It Was Her Doom"
He then began to slowly move along the balcony, his body moving; his arms and legs dancing in time to the beat as he similarly began to sing on top of the music. Making his way across the balcony towards the stairs, the lights overhead would begin to turn off and on, lighting the man's path as he performed an incredible, speech-defying routine; the guilders below unable to do anything but watch in disbelief.
One person who had seen something similar like this before twisted their head quickly in Marise's direction, their eyes boring into Marise's own. The man seemed different, missing something essential, but those moves were unmistakable. She hadn't heard the music or vocals before, but those moves were undeniable. Marise tilted her head away and giggled quietly.
Tabul: Western Castle Ruins; Second Floor: South Corridor
Estelle tightened her grip on her Magitech Sword's handle. She could still fight. She was sure of it.
She took a step forward, and that's when she realised something.
She didn't need to look around, but she could feel it. The overwhelming, oppressive sense of despair and… and what was that? An acceptance of defeat? Of death? What the hell was this?!
So what if the going looked tough?! So what if they got knocked down?! So what if Gaoh shot them and turned them all into absolute nothing?! It didn't matter! Not to Estelle! She'd fight on no matter how tough things became. How dark the end of the tunnel looked and how certain it was they were going to die didn't matter. She'd fight on because she REFUSED death. Her name was Estelle Fenix and she was the going to be the best goddamn swordswoman in the world! She was going to help the people who needed help! Her friends, strangers, whoever! And she sure as heck wouldn't let that be ended by some two bit murdering thug who managed to get his grubby hands on something dangerous.
That's NOT why she became a Guilder!
Estelle surged forwards. She could feel Amy's cold stare behind her, almost mentally realising and chastising herself for healing Estelle and giving the red haired girl the false hope to keep on fighting when enough, really was enough. There was naivety, and the desperate wish that things would be alright and work out in the end, but there was also the cold, hard truth that sometimes, no matter how hard you try to struggle against it, there is no way out.
There is no winning.
But giving up did not belong in Estelle's vocabulary, and it never would.
Gaoh laughed a sadistic, piercing laugh. This was what he wanted. To see his victims broken down, resigned to their fate. Although Estelle annoyed him in that she wouldn't give up, it actually seemed to make the scene even more poignant, as if to spice up his meal and give it more flavour. The stupid girl would die the same way as she lived. Stupid until the bitter end.
Gaoh squeezed the Magitech Cannon's trigger, and a bright piercing light escaped the weapon, rushing down the corridor. It tore up the walls of the corridor on either side, dislodging and ripping apart stone and wood, atomising every single inch. The bright white light was the last thing anyone saw, as everything else around them fell apart into nothing.
Not that not being able to see anything was too important, because for the Guilders they wouldn't feel anything either. The end didn't hurt. It was too quick for any of them to register pain, or realise what exactly was happening to them. Before any sensation of agony could trigger in their nerves, they watched as those very same nerves became flayed from their body, along with their flesh, hair and clothing, as it stripped them away of everything that made them, them. Estelle looked on at her arm, which held her Magitech Sword, and watched in silence and deafness how her arm decayed to muscle and bone and then faded away into nothing; how the metal of her sword melted and burned and became a part of the very same energy that destroyed everything.
Estelle. Amy. Thunderhawk. Moira. Syed. Nikki. Nero. Cole. Tobi.
Even Trixie and Selan in one of the room's adjacent to the corridor, hidden only by the thin barrier of a door and stone wall were swept up in the frenetic current. All together shared the same fate and passed on quietly to wherever the next life would be without so much as a whimper or a tear.
At least.
That was how it should have been.
Before the fateful second that Gaoh fired his final attack on the hopeless Guilders, the wall on Gaoh's west split apart and splintered inwards. A giant, blurring figure rushed from within, quickly clutching onto Gaoh's arm and cannon, and with all their force possible, forced the weapon's trajectory away from the Guilders. Shunted to the east, Gaoh's finger pressed the trigger, and once more the entire castle rocked with an incomparable force and din with the weapon's ejection of incredible energy. The blast heaved through the second floor's east side, carving a course throughout rooms and corridors with no care or consideration, before penetrating into the frozen air outside and finishing with a rocketing explosion.
Everyone was thrown backwards and onto the floor by the resultant shockwave. None of them could believe what it was they were witnessing. It wasn't possible.
One Guilder remained on their feet, however, still gripping Gaoh's arm. With his other hand, he tugged against the back of Gaoh's collar, and with herculean strength, pulled the man back and sent him flying through the hole he had arrived in. Standing there in the rubble and smoke, a man who stood tall and proud. The armour he had originally been wearing once embarking on this mission now lost and gone other than the broken scraps still attached to his arms, legs and shoulders, leaving only his undershirt and trousers. A man whose body seemed blackened and bloody, but whose piercing gaze revealed an indomitable will that said none of this was over.
Largo Mann.
"Largo!" Estelle shouted out in relief. "We… we thought… where the hell have you been?!"
Largo focused his attention on the hole he had threw Gaoh through. Things between them had yet to be settled and Largo needed to keep on the offensive whilst he still had the element of surprise. But he turned to face his Guilders, his Pride, and he offered them a reassuring smile. "Sorry I kept you all waiting. Had to take a nap. Wife kept me up all night after all."
This wasn't the time for joking.
Which for Largo meant it was the best time for joking.
"You've done well, kids." Largo nodded, wiping his nose. "Thanks for keeping this weakling busy for me. I'll take it from here. I want everyone getting out of here now, because I think pretty soon there won't be anything left still standing.
"Bastard took my axe. Nobody takes my axe and gets away with it."
Largo cracked his neck and fingers. Time to finish things. He began to step back through his impromptu 'entrance'. Gaoh was there, on the other end of a large, spacious room, bringing himself back to his feet. He stared towards Largo with a look that could kill.
"How the hell are you…?"
Largo lifted one leg and stamped it down on the ground, followed by his other. Taking a powerful stance, he looked straight towards Gaoh. With a deafening roar, The Lion was going to be unleashed.
"Because I can. Let's finish this."
Clockwork Town: Guild: Main Hall
More and more people crowded around him. All of them seeking information about the D rank mission. There as no order no direction for their conversation, it just a mingling of people all babbling. Order was needed, leadership was needed. He raised his fist and slammed it onto the strong oak table. One long crack formed down the length of the table nearly halving it into. He began to speak with authority. "The mission is second to safety. All of you ask, 'What do we have to do?' or ' What's it about?' First and for most is safety. I was skeptical of the little cat over here joining," He pointed to Nikki who was standing close to him, "But now a child? I have nothing against them, I no nothing of their powers." Cole took a breath to calm himself before continuing.
"But that is my point. I don't even know any of your names nor your skills. How can we think of working together when we cannot even refer to each other by our proper names?" Lifting his fist from the table Cole took a step back, and proceeded to take a small stone out from his coat pocket.
"I'm Colchester Grale." He tossed the stone in his hand lightly into the air, yet made no attempt to catch it. There was no reason to as the stone simply levitated in the air, only slightly moving. "Inorganic earth magic is my specialty, and I much prefer the front lines in combat." He gently moved the stone towards the center of the table when it was nearly there he let it fall. "Now who would like to go next?" Cole asked with a polite smile.
Selan huffed a little, not recognizing the man who was speaking to them as though he greatly outranked them all. There were few things she respected more than authority and power, and this 'Colchester Grale' had relatively none over her. As members of the Guild, they were all expected to have the courage to put their necks on the line, even if the situation never arises; she found it pointless to question the bravery of fellow Guild members, even if the member in question was a child. She kept it to herself though, shaking her ponytail over her shoulder in a coquettish fashion. Colchester Grale seemed capable enough.
"Selan Leclair," she answered, her voice silky smooth. She lowered herself to a nearby chair and crossed her legs. "You don't need to remind me, at least, about danger, Mr. Grale. I cannot describe what my area of expertise is to you just yet, but I promise I won't disappoint." She gave him a wry smile, hoping that her meager introduction would be sufficient for the time being. She also neglected to mention her money troubles; the coin purse in her pocket would likely go to room and a meal the following night, and she didn't want to seem desperate for the reward money. There was a certain satisfaction to helping those in need, yes, but it meant nothing if she ended up sleeping out in the streets, or worse, ending up a 'court maiden' of some sort... She mentally shook the thought away. As she did however, a new one entered her mind; surely, with all of these Guild members swarming this single mission, the reward would have to be divided into smaller amounts. Hopefully, it would still end up being more than the extermination mission gave.
She looked around at the other strangers expectantly. There was quite a diverse group here, and regardless of whether they would end up working together, she wanted to put some names to the faces.
A few minutes later, the guild doors flew open with a loud bang as Moira kicked them open. Without even stopping, she made her way to the bar. Syed, who had stopped at the doors to cringe, suddenly lurched forwards as if being tugged by an invisible rope as Moira walked away. He hurried to catch up with her again.
"Whisky, double" Moira called to the bartender as she sat on one of the stools. "Bit busy today, huh?"
"Yeah lots of interest in one of the missions" the barkeep nodded, promptly pushing a glass towards her.
"What is it?"
The barkeep looked up from passing a mead to Syed. "Bandit mission. Rank D."
"Who's the higher ranked person on it?"
"Largo, I beleive."
Moira sucked air through her teeth. "Nope! Don't think so."
"Hmm, I wonder why you're so hesitant! It's unlike you!" Syed rolled his eyes, before ducking to avoid the glass which flew towards his head. He then turned back to the barkeep. "Sorry, but what's the other one?"
"Monster infestation. Rank G."
Syed bit his lip. They won't be able to go on that one unless they were with someone higher ranked, either.
Moira caught sight of the guild secretary. "Ey Marise! We saved the bloody cat, now where's the money?!" Once again, Syed flushed with embarrassment.
"On your tab" Marise said coldly.
"Ha!" Moira downed a second drink. She caught sight of the cracked table and the rather angry seeming man who stood over it. "Impressive! Name's Moira, and this is my sidekick." She pointed a thumb dismissively at Syed, whose expression transformed into the most glorious look of rage.
"Syed" he corrected, glaring at Moira.
"So any of you lot looking at the monster mission?"
Not joining in on the shenanigans of the group surrounding Largo, surprisingly, Tobi smiled and stood, taking a pen pinned to the board, and wrote Tobi next to the G-ranked mission. "Sorry, pestering and curious little monkeys and kitty-cats, I've decided to renounce my question and take those monsters instead. I mean, somebody's gotta do it." he interjected between the bickerings and such of what seemed like the most popular table in the Guild tonight. "But if we're introducing ourselves, I'm Tobias Zenmyr, but y'all can call me Tobi. If you join me on this little hunt, you'll see what this bad boy can do!" He motioned toward his sheathed weapon on his belt.
It had been a while where he didn't join in with a crowd like this one, but he understood the risk of eliminating the monsters, in case they had overpopulated the town along with the bandits, so it was a good idea to take care of the monsters as well. After all, the Guild was all about helping each other, so Tobi would do just that. "If anyone wants in, I'll be over there, back on my chair asleep, resting over your 'Safety first, kids!'", he pointed at the man who named himself Colechester,"and I'll be on my way." he smiled.
With names flying left and right, it was only a matter of time until Trixie asserted herself, coughing loudly to announce the next introduction. "I'm Trixie!" she said, nearly shouting just to make sure she was heard. "I may be small and young... but that doesn't mean I'm weak!"
She then whipped out double uzis, which had been poking out of her butt-pockets. "And I've got these babies! They can do massive damage, and I can shoot up enemies like bang bang bang! Oh, and"--almost too excitedly she withdrew them and began digging in one of the questionably large pouches affixed to her belt--"I've got other fun stuff too! Like, like flash grenades and kunai knives and..."
"Shut up, Trix. You're making a fool out of yourself," A much more mature voice called from a few tables behind the crew. Trixie flinched from the interruption and hid her head between hunched shoulders. A blond woman, aged 30 and garbed in a silky red dress, slowly rose from her seat and approached the group, a mug of half-finished beer in one hand and a scepter topped with a luminescent red jewel in the other.
Shaking her head, she said, "Ugh. I'm sorry for the nuisance, sirs and ma'ams." The woman leaned atop one of the tables once she was close enough and took a sip. "She's inhuman. Feel free to deny the brat's request. ... And by feel free, I mean please."
The younger one gasped, with utmost exaggeration. "But but but Amy!"
Nikki's tail swished. She wasn't phased at all by Largo's hollering. "I'm Nikki. I'm good in a fight, and just as good at sneaking around~ I can handle myself just fine~!" she said. "I work pretty well with others. I'm not so great when it comes to being in charge, though." She scratched at one of her ears. "And stop calling me kitty-cat like it's an insult!" she bristled at Tobi, who was unfortunate enough to be the last one to call her that. "I'm a nekomimi and I'm d*** proud of that, so make it complementary or find some other term to use!" She folded her arms and glared at him.
"How long have I been asleep?" Thunderhawk asked, rubbing sleep from his eyes. The barkeep chuckled dryly.
"Well, I was thinking about calling for a physician to see if you were still with us, after all those drinks you put away."
Thunderhawk giggled sarcastically. "Very funny." His eyes then came upon the crowd of people circling Largo and he stifled a yawn. "So, what's with all the scrubs crowding the Lion? He's got groupies now?"
"I think he's got some eager kids ready to join him on a new mission. Bandits: level D."
"Pfft," scoffed Thunderhawk, waving a hand dismissively in the air. "I'm looking and I don't see any Ds any-"
He froze. The barkeep looked at the blond. Thunderhawk's head cocked slightly as his eyes fixated first on Amy and then on Selan.
"By gods," Thunderhawk said, barely above a whisper, "pretty little things like that are going off to have a run-in with bandits? I tell you, the world isn't right. I think it only proper that a paladin of virtue like myself attend them on such a dangerous assignment."
"Steady, T-Hawk," the barkeep said. "The blonde is going on a mission to deal with monsters outside Tabul. You can't have it both ways."
Thunderhawk frowned. "Fie! Fate is cruel sometimes, man. I mean, we all know blondes have lower standards..."
"Fitting for you," said the barkeep, eyeing Thunderhawk's fair hair.
"...but on the other hand, look at that brunette," Thunderhawk continued, ignoring the jab. "You don't get beauty like that passing your eyes every day, upon my oath. I need your counsel! This decision could be the one that changes my life forever!"
"Well, the brunette seems to be going with Largo, so you're going to be competing with him, if that's your angle. The blonde is in a smaller party: less competition, and it's only a G level."
Thunderhawk smiled genially at the barkeep. "This is why I pay you the big money. Here. Don't spend it all in one place."
He threw a few coins at the barkeep, not at all enough to cover his substantial bill, and strode over to the crowd consisting of Tobi, Moira, Syed, Amy, and Trixie. His jade eyes twinkled and he smiled pleasantly at the group.
"Good morning!" he announced, perhaps a bit too loudly.
"You mean good evening," remarked Amy, looking at him sideways.
Clockwork Town: Guild: Main Hall
With a loud creak, the Guild's doors opened and Estelle and Marcus both walked into the guild, with Estelle still carrying the giant Boarig over her shoulder and carrying it across the large tavern floor to the Guild Reception Booth to report their mission's results.
"Hey kids, not a bad job!" cried out a large, bearded gentleman with glass in hand and a laugh plastered over his face. His size was preposterously huge, nearing 8 ft tall, and he had the muscles to match it. What could be seen of his skin seemed to be coated in scars, each one a memory of one job or another performed throughout the decades. "Keep up the good work and you'll get out of Rank H eventually!"
"Thank you, Largo," Marcus smiled and waved back, whilst Estelle pouted.
"We're never going to get out of Rank H if we only ever get useless missions like this! This Boarig was nothing. Just eating some farm crops… ugh. I'll never reach Rank A like this and make a name for myself as a Swordsmaster!" Estelle sighed. "And this probably won't have paid well, either."
Marcus laughed. "You could always join the Army, Estelle. I hear they pay a bit better." The mage joked.
"Are you kidding, Marcus? Those jerks? No way!"
The two eventually reached the Guild Reception, where across them seated on a plush leather stool was a beautiful, slender woman dressed as a businesswoman with long, blonde curls that fell to her waist. She wore fashionable rectangular rimmed glasses that helped to accentuate the appearance of a secretary in charge.
"Estelle! Marcus! You're both back, and from the looks of it have had a safe journey! How nice to see you both." She smiled warmly.
"Yeah yeah, this thing was a pain in the ass." Estelle dumped the Boarig on the floor. "I've never seen something so fat run away so quickly before."
"Either way the client should be well pleased to hear about the mission's success. Congratulations, both of you. Here is your payment." The secretary handed forth a brown leather purse rattling with gald inside.
"Thank you, Marise." Marcus nodded.
"Hey, Mari, what about our rank?" Estelle asked bluntly. "Did that go up any?"
"Hmm, let me have a quick check, Estelle," Marise replied. "Ah, you're just a couple of points from moving on to Rank G."
"Ugh! We're never going to get anywhere. Can't you approve us for some higher levelled missions? At this rate we're going to get be stuck here forever!" Estelle pouted.
"Now now, Estelle, every Guildmember must start from somewhere, and slowly rise up through the ranks. This is a marathon, not a race." Marcus tried to calm down his partner.
"But we're better than this! I'm sick and tired of searching for lost cats and dropped jewellery!" Estelle argued. "And this Boarig was nothing! All it took was one hit after chasing it for two hours. We're better than this, I know we can handle something tougher!"
"Estelle, we don't hand out extremely high levelled rank missions for both the safety of you and the client's ease of mind, but I can understand your frustration. Let me see if we have something on the Guild Requests not already taken. We're bound to have something what with the current political climate..." Marise tried to comfort.
"Ever since those jerks in the Artar Army assumed control, they've been policing everything and taking control of everything! Fighting their wars!" Estelle fumed.
"Well, they are our government…" Marcus tried to both reassure and explain.
"Take a look at the Guild Board, Estelle, Marcus, and see if there's anything on there suitable. Or talk around to some of the locals. The guild might be willing to allow you on a higher ranked mission if you had more allies with some experience. Or there might be some others here who need a few other people's help. The Guild's all about working together, right?" Marise suggested.
"Thank you Marise, we'll do just that." Marcus politely nodded.
"Thanks Mari!" Estelle shouted with a cheer, and ran throughout the tavern to look for a new mission and allies, whilst Marcus walked behind her with a low sigh.
???
One Year Ago
"No! Stay with me! It's going to be alright, you hear? It's going to be alright!"
The heavens wept a bountiful of neverending rain, pelting the ground with waves of unrelenting tears. Within the wooded thicket were two individuals, one a red haired girl newly christened on an adventure crouched above the other on her knees, whilst the other; a silver haired man, his body a blood soaked injured mess, lay on the ground upon the precipice of death. The man could barely hear or register anything about him, his consciousness flickering in and out. The girl meanwhile kept screaming at him, over and over, as she pulled what meagre first aid equipment she carried with her out of her belt pouch.
It was only thanks to the girl that the precarious ledge upon which the man's life teetered over didn't topple completely.
If it had, this story would have had a very different ending.
Rosenthall: Fenix Household: Back Garden
Thirteen Years Ago
A quiet, peaceful autumn afternoon. Trees rocked and swayed back and forth within the pleasant breeze, their red and gold leaves cascading to the ground. In the middle of a small cottage's garden, the chains of a little swing creaked as it rattled back and forth ever so gently. A small girl sat on it, her eyes facing the ground.
Crack, crack, crack
"Heya Largo…" The small girl's tiny voice called out.
"Hey Estelle! How'd you know it was me?" The larger man's boisterously jolly voice replied, as the mountain of a man joined her.
"You're the only person big enough to crush leaves like that…" The girl replied.
"Hey, hey! Are you saying I'm heavy?!" Largo laughed. He gently put a hand on Estelle's shoulder, and then with it falling onto her back, he started to push her. "What's wrong, Estelle? Your mum said you've been out in the garden here doing nothing all afternoon. Why don't you go out and play?"
"I don't feel like it," Estelle replied.
"Don't feel like it? Why not?"
"Cus…" Estelle stopped short for a second. "Because I don't have anyone to play with."
"Nobody to play with? Why not?" Largo asked again, scratching the underside of his chin as his mammoth hands pushed Estelle's back each and every time she swung back. With each push, the swing rose higher and higher. "A girl like you should have lots of friends!"
"I don't have any friends." Estelle replied, her voice littered with sadness. Largo fell silent.
"Why not? I know this is a really small village, but you should have some friends…?"
"Nope… I tried, but every time I do the other kids bully and laugh at me. They call us poor and call me and my mum bad names." Estelle's nose started to sniffle.
"What?!" Largo's voice bellowed. "Why on Ddaear would they do that?!"
"I don't know… cus I'm different, I guess." Estelle's shoulders slumped down even lower. "They laugh at me cus I don't have a dad, and they laugh at Mum's leg too. I know we're poor and all but… why does that matter?"
"It doesn't, Estelle." Largo smiled. "Don't listen to them. These kids don't know what they're talking about… sometime soon, Estelle, you'll find some friends. Good friends, friends that will stick with you and stay by your side forever. You're a good kid, and don't ever give in to bullies. They want you to be upset, you know. So don't give them the satisfaction! Smile, laugh and be happy!!"
"But it's so hard…"
"If your mum wasn't cooking you dinner right now she'd wallop you for saying that!" Largo laughed again. "C'mon, you already have a friend, don't you? I'm here, and we're playing! So c'mon, laugh a little!"
"I don't feel like-"
"I said laugh!"
Largo pushed Estelle with an unbridled amount of force, and the swing rocketed at unbelievable speed, launching the little girl high, high into the sky. Largo's face immediately dropped, his eyes bulging in horror upon realising that he just used far too much strength then he had meant to.
"...oops."
The Lion dashed out, running as Estelle started to fall again, skidding just in time to catch her before she hit the ground, safe inside Largo's big arms. He looked down at her, fear gripping his heart as he saw how much Estelle started to tremble.
"Sorry about that Estelle, I didn't mean to use so much strength there. Are you okay? Look, if you don't tell your mum about what just happened, I promise to buy you all the ice cream you could eat and-"
"Ahahahaha!" Estelle started laughing. "That was fun! Fun! Again, Largo, again!!"
Largo smiled as well.
[/BCOLOR]
[/BCOLOR]
