Fan Fiction / Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Order of the Purple Robe ❯ The Beginning ( Chapter 1 )

"… Police have just released that 26 people were killed in last night's attack, and nine more were injured and are in serious condition. Also, three more people have been reported missing, which brings the total cost in life under the Order of the Purple Robe to a staggering 2,377 people. Last night's attack was finally stopped when members of the Guardian Angels intervened. Of the 26 deaths, eight of them were from the Guardian Angels' own ranks. Recently appointed President Andrew Nalini reassures everyone that they are doing everything in their power to counter the onslaught of the Order of the Purple Robe, but that for now, we have to rely on the Guardian Angels, along with the black-cloaked man recently dubbed the "High Mage". There are still-…"

The news reporter's face faded from the television, and Crystal Summers turned away from it in disgust. "They always report the same stupid stuff every day. More deaths, more disappearances, the `High Mage' did this, the Guardian Angels did that, Nalini said this, blah blah blah, the President was assassinated, blah blah blah," she complained to no one in particular.

She sat brooding over the recent events since the Order of the Purple Robe appeared in late November. "I just wish that there was something that I could do to help," she said to herself.

"We've already had this conversation, Crystal, we are not having it again," said her mother from the kitchen. "You are not to be joining the Guardian Angels, or any other foolhardy organization that thinks that they can stand up to the Order of the Purple Robe and not be killed. This topic is over!"

"But Mom!" Crystal countered.

"No buts!" said her mom. "And don't even think about arguing with me, Crystal! Have you forgotten what they did to that development on Maple Street?! An entire housing complex leveled in the blink of an eye, and no witnesses! Have you forgotten what happened to Jasmine when she was involved in the attack on the Burger King? Jasmine's lucky to still be alive after that!" Mrs. Summers stood in the hallway connecting to the kitchen, her face red from shouting. After a bit, she seemed to calm down and asked "How is Jasmine's leg doing, anyway? Are they still not sure what that rash is?"

"You know, I think I'll call Jasmine and ask her, and I can also see if I can go over to her house later to hang out." So saying, Crystal walked out into the kitchen, picked up the phone, and dialed Jasmine's number.

"Hello?" asked Jasmine.

"Hey, I was just wondering how your leg is doing, and also if maybe I could come over later and we can hang out," answered Crystal.

Jasmine bent down and pulled up the leg of her pants to take a look at the unsightly bluish-green rash on her foreleg. "It looks like it's getting better," replied Jasmine. "And sure, we can hang out later today."

"OK, great, see ya' later," said Crystal, and she hung up.

______________

"`High Mage'. What rubbish is this?" he thought inwardly to himself. "The day I become some paladanic savior of the common people will be a very sad day for me, indeed. I fight against the Order of the Purple Robe, not for the common people of America." The black-robed man sat down on his couch with a sigh, and took a look around at the place he called home. It contained a sparse collection of chairs, one sofa, and a refrigerator. "Home, sweet home," he thought to himself. As he sat there deep in thought, a sudden disturbance in his mind caught his attention. He immediately realized that the disturbance was coming from another attack that the Order was launching, this one in downtown New York. "No rest for either the wicked or the righteous, I see. Oh, when will those pathetic fools learn?" He started forward, and waved his hand in front of him, calling forth magical energy to form a portal that would lead him to the site of the most recent attack. He stepped through the portal into the twisting nexii of pure potential energy that bridged the gap between portals, and he was gone.

Striding forward, he reached the other end of the portal, and came out into daylight. A scene of complete chaos met his eyes there. People were running, screaming for their lives, and six mages clad in violet stood in the middle of the street corner, lancing out fireballs and lightning bolts. One such bolt of lightning caught a man square in the chest as he attempted to run away, picking him up and sending him slamming into a nearby building. The black-robed man, or the `High Mage' as he was called (against his will, of course), gave his hand a downward thrust, and formed a blade of energy, not too dissimilar to a light saber, and he rushed forward and slammed the blade over the first offending mage's head, slicing through his brain and lung, and spearing his heart and killing him instantly.

Next, he leapt forward again, called forth magic, and sent it through his palm as he flat-handed the second mage in the chest, sending him slamming into the same building, from which he fell on top of the now dead man that had been hit earlier, with a scorched handprint branded onto the mage's ruined body. The four remaining mages took note of the High Mage's presence, and turned to engage him. One shot forth a fireball, which the High Mage merely caught in his black-gloved hand, and flung the fireball back, scoring a direct hit to the man's face, downing him. "Half gone, already. They make this too easy for me," the High Mage thought to himself. One mage tried to teleport away, but the High Mage was too quick. He sent a streamer of magic out and caught the mage mid-teleport, stranding him in-between destinations. The mage screamed in pain as his body was agonizingly ripped in two. One of the remaining mages tried to telekinetically hurl a large piece of debris from a wrecked building, but right as the mage had it hovering over his head, the High Mage seized control of the giant cement block and cut the magic out from under it, causing it to crush the mage's head like an egg under a hammer. The final remaining mage was obviously paralyzed with fear, and the High Mage merely called forth a flame burst in the mage's direction, incinerating him. His work being done here, he waved his hand again, to call up the portal that would take him back home, and he stepped through the portal and was gone.