Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy XX ❯ The Ranger of Light ( Chapter 4 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: donattsu 
Non Anime: Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Adventure / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 09.03.2012 | Updated On: 09.03.2012 | Pages: 9 | Words: 5.8K | Visits: 160 | Status: Work In Progress
Non Anime: Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy / Adventure / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 09.03.2012 | Updated On: 09.03.2012 | Pages: 9 | Words: 5.8K | Visits: 160 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter4
The four of us made it out of the tunnel and entered the town Bastok. Bastok is a big city filled with humans and the galkans, but something was off… the town seemed really deserted.
“This place is a freakin ghost town.” Kennen said as we stopped to take a look around.
I sensed an evil presence, “Behind us!”
A Quadav launched an attack.
“Move back!” Yaj shouted defending us from the Quadav’s blade.
With his strength Yaj over powered the Quadav sending it off its feet, but before we knew it we were surrounded.
“This is bad…” Hoango said as we all stood back to back with one another.
“An army of Quadavs… just perfect,” I said as we giant air ship flew over us.
It made so much noise that it distracted the Quadavs, a ladder was throw down for us.
“Grab on quick all of you!” the pilot shouted.
All of us grabbed on to the ladder that was dropped, and then the air ship took off. The ladder started to drag us up to the ship. The four of us made it to main dock thanks to the ladder. Soon later a man in black approached us.
“You guys are lucky I was still around, Bastok was taken over by the Quadav Army.” He said smoking a white pipe.
“Thank you, what happened?” I said to him as he led us to the first floor of the ship.
“It was a blitzkrieg, we were not expecting it at all, I’m Cid by the way,” He said pouring himself a drink.
“I’m Donattsu, and these are my companions.”
“The name’s Kennen.”
“I’m Hoango.”
“I’m…”
“I know who you are.” Cid interrupted him.
Yaj looks away.
“Yaj, you did something Noble. You protected the face of the republic.” Cid said to him in comfort.
“You have no idea how it feels to be exiled.” Yaj gave him a frightening look.
“I think we should leave them alone…” I said as Kennen, Hoango and I left the room. The three of us held our ears to the door to eavesdrop.
“Yaj don’t say that, I tired.” Cid said responding to Yaj
“You tried what? I took an arrow to the knee just so your diplomatic leader can save face?! I was the best Cid the best warrior we had, but for what reason why I took the blame for his mistake?! Just so he can save face, really?!”
“Yaj you’re my brother please understand it was for the people.”
“The people deserve the truth!”
A loud bang came from within the room, “they can’t handle the truth!”
“Sounds like a personal problem,” Hoango said to us.
“Shush be quit.” Kennen spoke as we began to eavesdrop again.
“Yaj… you’re my brother, I would do anything to protect you.”
“Yeah… then where were you when I was exiled from Bastok! Our town, our home would have never been taken over if I was still here, we now have nowhere to return to. We lost our home to a bunch of turtles that walk on their two back feet!”
“The order was to retreat, Yaj I stayed back just for you hoping you would be safe.”
“We are Bastokians, retreat was never an option for us! Do we even have enough air ships to board everyone in Bastok?!”
“No…” Cid said in despair.
“Where is your amazing leader now… not only did he fool the people of bastok, but he also left them for dead.”
“Yaj…”
“I’m done; I’m going to stop talking so you can keep the rest of your dignity.”
We heard Yaj walking to the door the rest of us rushed to the upper deck. The four of us reformed on the deck.
“You okay?” I asked him,
“I’m fine.” Yaj said as we sat on the floor of the deck.
“Family issues?” Hoango said while practicing Tai Chi.
“A lot more than just Family issues… I wasn’t alone in the Tunnels because I wanted to be.”
“What happened?” I said putting my hand on his shoulder.
“I was Exiled.” Yaj said as he began his story, “I was Bastok’s finest, Bastok’s strongest warrior, but I was nothing more than just a pawn. I was following the orders of a deceiving leader.”
“Sounds like Edgar.” Kennen interrupted.
“Shush I wanna hear this.” Hoango stopped his practice and sat with us.
“Bastok used to be a proud nation, until our lordship pasted and his son became next in line. We became a shady country after that we did evil underground work only to satisfy his taste.”
“How’d you get exiled?” I asked him.
“Oh, I remember it like it was yesterday, our leader had a meeting with Jueno’s Princesses Garnet. My brother Cid and I were to stand as bodyguards during this meeting. Before we knew it we heard a scream. Being the person that I am I rushed into the room only to find Garnet stabbed by our ‘righteous’ leader. It happened in a flash he handed me the knife he used to stab her highness. He wanted me to be his scapegoat.”
“So that’s why there were so many people in Jueno a while back.” Hoango started to put a puzzle together.
“Why did he stab Garnet?” I asked out of curiosity
“I believe it was because she wouldn’t accept his proposal. He must have gotten angry and stabbed her. If he can’t have her no one will. That’s the only thing I can come up with. After that event he cursed me and banished me to the tunnels never to see Bastok again. ”
“What about Cid?” Kennen said interrupting the story
“My brother… he was the genus inventor and couldn’t afford to lose him. I was just a solider that he was able to replace.”
“Cid did nothing?” I said in an uproar
“Yep, my brother did nothing…”
A load roar came from the engine room. Cid runs up to the deck to us tell us the news.
“We need to evacuate!” Cid shouts with rage, “The engine it’s malfunctioning!”
The four of us stood up in fear, “what are we suppose to do?”
“We need to jump off this ship…” Cid said pulling out some equipment.
“Jump off…” Kennen said giving Cid the ‘Stare’
“Here wear these.” He said making us throw on these weird bags, “Pull these levers when you guys jump off.”
The four of us went to the edge of the ship, “What about you.” Yaj said to him as Kennen pushed me and Hoango off the ship with him.
“I am going to die with my ship.” Cid said to Yaj.
“No come with us.” Yaj grabbed his arm.
“I can’t I must stay with my ship, this air ship was my life besides I only had four parachutes.”
“You’re my brother!” Yaj shouted as Cid walks up to him.
“A brother who couldn’t protect you.” Cid pushed Yaj out of the air ship.
“CID!”
The four of us were falling through the skies with the air pushing against my face I remembered what cid said and pulled the lever on one of the arm straps. A giant parachute was released from the bag and I slowly fell through the skies. Kennen and Yaj followed along and the three of us slowly feel through the skies. For some odd reason Hoango kept falling and didn’t pull his parachute.
“Hoango!” I shouted in fear he isn’t going to make it.
“It’s not coming out!” Hoango landed in the woods as we slowly followed him.
“If Hoango survives this he is such a bad ass…” Kennen said as the three of us entered the forest.
“I’m stuck!” Yaj shouted.
“Same here!” Kennen replied.
“Are we all safe!?” I said as I looked around for Hoango. “HOANGO!”
“Oh yeah his parachute didn’t go off.” Kennen started to shout for Hoango as well, “Hoango!”
Yaj used his axe to cut himself free from his bag. He dropped down and landed on his two feet, “I’ll look around or him!”
“How are we gonna get down from here.” Kennen said to me.
“I’m not too sure.” I said as an arrow flew above my head.
“Stay there I’m going to help!” a voice came from afar.
A girl came skipping through the trees. “I’ll get you guys down.”
She started to cut the strings on the parachute and Kennen and I were released.
“It’s not safe climbing trees come let’s get down from here.” She said again
The three of us jumped down from the trees and landed on the ground.
“Where are we?” I asked her.
“You guys are in the Junger’s Forest.” She said pulling out an arrow.
“Who are you?” Kennen questioned.
“I’m Sophie, I’ma hunter. This is my Bow… and my arrow… and I shoot… like this…” Sophie shot the arrow in a random direction.
We heard a loud scream when we lost sight of the arrow. “That kind of sounded like Hoango…”
“Yeah that was Hoango.” Kennen replied.
“Hoango?” Sophie said in confusion.
“He’s our friend, we have to find him… hopefully Yaj is with him.”
(Meanwhile.)
“Where the hell did this arrow come from!” Hoango said as Yaj supported him with his shoulder.
“Bad luck just seems like it’s coming your way.” Yaj said as they stopped to rest for a moment.
“Oh my god… so this is the feeling of taking an arrow to the knee.” Hoango said as Yaj attemps to pull out the arrow.
“I’m gonna do this,” Yaj put his hand on the arrow.
“Wait…” Hoango said in hesitation, “This is gonna hurt, don’t do it.”
“You sure…?”
“Yes do not pull it out.”
“Are you two all right?” a female voice spoke to them.
Both of them look at her.
“I’m a white mage, my village is close by you seem hurt.” She said as she threw her hand out to help.
“Thank god I’m saved.” Hoango said as Yaj helped him and they followed the white mage back to her village.
(Meanwhile back to Donattsu and Kennen.)
“We should go look for him; Yaj may be in trouble as well.” Kennen said as the both of us started to walk away from Sophie.
“WAIT!” she shouted
We turned around.
“I need your help… that’s why I helped you guys.” She said whimpering.
“It would be only fair wouldn’t it?” I said to her.
“Look lady thanks for your help and all but our friends might be in trouble.” Kennen said stating a point.
Sophie started to cry, “I need help…”
“Kennen…” I said to him
“I didn’t mean to make her cry but shit Hoango is in trouble.”
“Yaj is with him let’s put our faith in them.”
“We don’t even know what she needs!” Kennen yelled
“I need to kill a witch…” she said without hesitation.
The both of use turned to look at her, “Seriously?” the both of us said at the same time.
“Her name is Evelynn, and she killed my husband.” She went into tears again, “This is the first time that I am alone in this world, so I’m scared.”
I looked at Kennen, “We should help her.”
“I don’t like trusting girls.” He said back to me.
“Do you not see she’s terrified?”
“I see that but I don’t have a good feeling about this I don’t think we should go Donattsu.”
“What’s the worst that can happen?” the both of us look at her as she trips over her own feet. She started to pout.
“You saw how she shot that bow I don’t think she’s that good with one, okay what if we do go and help and fight this witch, I for one do not want to take an arrow to the knee.”
“I can shot!” she said standing on her feet
“Yeah show me.” Kennen provoked her.
She pulled out an arrow, “I can hit anything!”
I threw coin slightly above Kennen head.
She took aim and released the arrow hitting the coin right in the center.
“Lucky shot.” Kennen said as he threw ten more coins into the air.
Sophie quickly reloaded before she fired she stood there and closed her eyes she took a deep breath and twisted the arrow before she fired. She exhaled and released the arrow. I couldn’t believe what I saw the arrow curved in the air hitting all the coins one after another.
Kennen lifted his hands, “We got a bad ass over here.”
“Superb.” I commented her skill.
“So… are you guys going to help me or not?” she said walking over to us tripping on a rock.
“What choice do we have?” Kennen replied helping her to her feet.
“We’ll help, but we do need to find our friends hopefully we met them as we hunt this witch.” I said as we set off deeper into the woods.
It was a quiet walk until I broke the silence, “So I guess you want vengeance I’m Donattsu by the way and that’s Kennen?” I said to her.
“I want more than just vengeance… I want her dead.” She said firmly.
“We got a bad ass over here.” Kennen said sarcastically
“She took away the most precious thing to me in this world, the love of my life.” A tear came down her face.
“I don’t know how that feels, but it must be pretty awful.” I said comforting her.
“Not only did she kill him… but she turned him into something awful.” Sophie began to cry.
“Into what?” Kennen curiously asked
“A vampire…” she said wiping her tears.
“Vampires are real?” I replied.
“Yes I used to hunt them.” Sophie suddenly stopped. “Wait… the scent is gone.”
“You can smell them?” Kennen asked.
“Yes… I lost her scent; she must know were on her tail.” Sophie sensed an evil force, “Something’s following us.”
“What is?”
“Run!” Sophie started to sprint.
Kennen and I ran right behind her.
“What are we running from?!” I tried my best to ask her but Sophie was quite the distance away from us.
“Saber Tigers!” Sophie jumped across the cliff to the other side.
Kennen and I jumped as well but we fell short.
“Fuck my life!” Kennen shouted.
I need to do something to break our fall… I started to cast a spell. “The power of light grant me strength protect us from this fall!”
I couldn’t cast my spell in time and into the river we went and I instantly blacked out.
I slowly opened my eyes only to find myself on my knees chained. The pain in my head was devastating, but I had to endure it. I looked around to see my surroundings only to find nothing.
“Its looks like you’re awake.” A voice spoke from the shadows.
“Show yourself.” I said with the strength I had left.
“What an interesting find.” She came from the shadows, “I’m Evelynn.”
For a witch, she was actually very beautiful. Yet you can feel a dangerous aura around her. She is someone not to underestimate.
“Your that witch.” I said
“I don’t like the term witch.” She said putting her hand on my face, “So handsome.”
“You’re going to pay for what you did.” I turned my head.
“Pay for what may I ask?” She said bringing her face close to mine.
“For what you did to Sophie!” she was close enough that I was able to head butt her.
She slowly got up on her feet, “You’re a feisty one.” Her forehead started to bleed.
“You better hope I don’t break free.”
“Why are you helping her? Such a worthless creature.” She started to wipe the blood off her face.
“Regardless of who it is no one has to suffer as much as she did.” I forced my arms to try and break free only to find out it was pointless.
“What drives you to go so far?” she asked again
“It’s called Virtue; you don’t need a reason to help people.”
She took a blade and stabbed my shoulder, “Watch your mouth, you’re lucky I might keep you alive.”
“Big mistake.”
“OH? You really think you’re gonna get out of here.”
“I know that I will.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because my friend is a treasure hunter, and he will find you.” I gave her a grin
She slapped me across the face and left the room, “I’m counting on you guys…”
(Meanwhile.)
Sophie found Kennen on the river bank. “Kennen!”
Kennen started to regain conscious, “Oh my back…”
Sophie helped him on his feet. “Are you okay? Where’s Donattsu?”
“I donno we couldn’t make that jump and I blanked out when I hit the water.” Kennen started to stretch his back.
Sophie started to sniff the air, “His scent… I have it.”
“Awesome lets go get him.”
Sophie stopped him, “He’s close by… but there’s another scent.”
“Someone must have taken him.”
“Let’s go we don’t know what might have taken him.” Sophie and Kennen make their way to find me.
(Back to Donattsu)
Blood started dripping from my mouth, “That all you got!?” I said provoking the beast that was under Evelynn’s control.
The beast punched me in the gut and slammed my head against the wall, “You no make noise till Evelynn come back!”
“This is starting to hurt,” I started coughing out blood.
“That’s enough grunt go eat some birds.” Evelynn came back into the room, “How do you feel?”
“Never been better…”
“I have a deal for you.”
“Oh… what’s the deal?”
“You become my new experiment, or you die.”
“Those are some pretty wicked choices…” I started to think to myself, “I need to by them more time…”
“Pick one.”
I spat blood on her face, “nether!”
She licked the blood off her face, “So tasty.”
“You’re a psycho bitch…” Kennen’s profound words are starting to rub off on me.
“You’re gonne be my new experiment, whether you like it or not.”
This isn’t looking good for me, “It’s a race.”
“A race?”
“It’s gonna take you some time to turn me into something… I just hope they arrive here before you do.”
She had a smirk on her face, “well… we’ll see won’t we?” she turned around and left the room, and the beast continued the beating.
(Meanwhile.)
Kennen and Sophie stumbled upon an old broken down mansion.
“He’s in here.” She said trying to open the door. “It’s locked.”
“Heheh don’t worry about that.” Kennen pulled out his tools and started to get to work.
“Are you a thief?” she questioned.
“I don’t like the term thief… I prefer the term Treasure hunter.” Kennen successfully picked the door. “Let’s go.”
The both of them treaded quietly into the mansion, “Looks like no one’s home.”
“I can still smell Donattsu’s scent, its coming from here.” She said point out the stairs leading to the lower level.
“We don’t have time let’s move.” Kennen and Sophie quickly rushed to the lower levels.
The both of them stopped only to see creatures lurking around in the dark.
“What do we do?” Sophie asked Kennen.
“We fight!” Kennen rushed in with his knives not knowing what would happened.
Sophie right behind him readies her bow.
(Back to Donattsu.)
Evelynn came back into the room with a flask in her hand, “Are you ready for the ride of your life?”
“You’re a little too late…” I said to her.
“What do you mean? I win your friends aren’t here looks like they don’t really care about you to just leave you here.” She said opening the flask.
“You’re wrong… I have faith in them and they are here.” The stone in my pouch started to glow.
She lifted my head and slowly started to pour the fluid into my mouth.
The doors burst opened, “Not so fast!” Kennen threw a knife breaking the flask in her hand.
She was startled and jumped away from me.
“Stay away from him!” Sophie shot an arrow into her arm.
Kennen rushed up to me to protect me, “Witch!”
Evelynn shook her head, “I don’t like that term, Okay Donattsu looks like you win this one, but I won’t let you guys out so easily.” She disappeared in the air.
Kennen and Sophie helped me out of the chains.
“Damn they did a number on you.” Kennen said picking the locks on the chains.
“Yeah… this is a weird room, I wasn’t able to chant spells.” I said as the chains came off.
“Looks like she got away.” Sophie said in despair.
“Don’t worry we’ll catch her sooner or later.” I said to comfort her.
“Well let’s get out of here.” Kennen suggested.
“Yeah let’s” The three of us went for the stairs to the upper levels
Something has been bothering me, I didn’t tell Evelynn my name… but she knew my name was Donattsu… I have a bad feeling about this. The chill down your spine feel, something about the girl makes me feel uneasy.
As we got to the upper level someone was waiting for us.
“It’s been awhile Sophie.” The man said keeping his distance.
“Identify yourself.” I said to him as Kennen pulls an item from his pouch.
“Donattsu drink this.” He hands it to me.
“What is this?”
“Potion.”
“Potion?”
“you’ll feel better after drinking it I don’t think he is gonna let us out of here for free, remember what that bitch said I won’t let you guys out so easily… I think this is what she meant.”
I drank the potion he handed to me and pulled out my blade, “Get ready guys.”
Kennen pulled out his knifes and was ready for battle.
I looked over to Sophie and it seems like she was crying, “Sophie what’s wrong?”
“Sanji…” she said bring a hand to cover her mouth.
I anticipated his attack and I stood in front of Sophie to guard her, “You’re not hurting her.”
“I can do whatever I like to her she’s my prize.” He said knocking me across the room.
Kennen threw a knife at him causing him to sway back I took this chance to attack. I closed in the gap between us and slashed upward hoping to cut him. As my blade connects he disappears. The two of us stood in front of Sophie.
“This is just perfect… mother fucker can teleport, because that’s not a stupid skill to have at all.” Kennen said saying his rude remarks.
“Sophie snap out of it.” I said to her.
“That’s… Sanji…”
“Whoever it may be Sophie it is no longer the person you used to know! Do you really think he want you to see him like that! Too see him as a monster!”
Sophie looks up, “You’re right… he wouldn’t want this!”
Sanji manifested in front of us. I didn’t hesitate and charged in, Kennen followed right behind me, “I’ll be the decoy!”
I started exchanging blows with Sanji, with every swing he was able to block my blade with just his finger. I know vampires were strong but they shouldn’t be impossible to beat. There has to be a way to kill him.
Kennen appeared behind him, “Forget about me?” Kennen spun his body with his daggers making cuts on his back
Sanji disappeared again.
“I think he’s toying with us.” Kennen said as he appeared in front of him.
“Yes you sir are correct.” He punched Kennen in the chest sending him into the air.
“Kennen!” I started to chant a spell, “Divine light shield my comrades! Protect!”
A barrier was form around Kennen’s body
“This is still gonna hurt!” Sanji slammed Kennen into the ground.
I ran up to him to help Kennen only to be kicked away back to the wall.
“This is it for you.” He said raising his hand.
“Pricing Arrow!” Sophie shot an arrow with intense speed at Sanji.
The arrow pierced Sanji in the arm causing him to disappear I got up to check on Kennen, “You okay?” I helped him up
“Yeah… I would have been a goner if you didn’t cast that spell.”
I looked over to Sophie, “Thank you.”
She smiled, but Sanji appeared in front of her, “That wasn’t very nice,” He said knocking her off her feet.
As Sophie fell to the ground she dropped her bow. Kennen and I with no hesitation went to her aid.
“You pest!” Sanji sent out a dark aura sending us away from them.
Sanji created a blade out of dark smoke, “Farewell my love.”
“Not so fast!” I chanted another spell, “Banish!”
Before my spell went off on him he disappeared. I thought to myself, he’s a creature of the dark. That spell wasn’t a very powerful one, for him to disappear from it. I looked around and it was pretty dark in the room we were fighting in. If we can somehow bring sun light in the room we might be able to win. I looked around to see if there were windows we can break. I saw one on the ceiling.
“Kennen do me a favor.”
“Yeah?”
“That window, go break it!”
“What!?”
“Just do as I say.”
Kennen starts to run on the wall and headed for the ceiling.
“I don’t think so.” Sanji appeared in front of him.
An arrow flew over to him making him disappear.
Sophie readied another arrow, “Tracking arrow!”
The arrow started to fly in different directions I regrouped with Sophie, “What did you do?”
“It’s a homing arrow, it will follow him till he stops and gets hit with it.” She said pulling back another arrow, “Your good at running from one so how about another!”
Sophie released another arrow and it started to home in on Sanji. By this time Kennen made it to the ceiling. Kennen poke the window with his knife causing it to crake. Kennen jumped off the ceiling to regroup with us.
“I told you to break it.” I said to him.
Kennen lifts his finger, “Give it a second.” The window from the ceiling started to shatter and sunlight lit the room.
Sanji appeared and both arrows pierced him throw the chest.
“This is our chance!” I said running at him while he was down.
Before I got to him he stood up from the wound as if it was nothing. I stopped in my tracks to anticipate his next move.
“Rapid fire!” Sophie released six arrows at once towards Sanji.
Sanji looks away to block the arrows I took this chance to strike him down. With my sword I swung at him, but he was still holding me off with a finger. He used his other hand to deflect the arrows. Kennen appeared behind him to stab him in the back. Sanji stopped and I managed to stab him in the chest, and the last arrow flew into Sanji’s neck. With a dark force he blew us away and he snapped the arrow in his neck.
“You pest!” he flew after Kennen first slamming his face into the ground knocking him unconscious.
“Kennen!” I ran over to his aid.
Sanji dashed over to me and knocking me off my feet I was able to block the attack with my shield, but the force was still enough to send me into the air. Sanji was in the air ready to knock me back down; before he could more arrows flew our way all of them hitting Sanji. I landed on the ground without unwanted impact. I regrouped with Sophie to revise a plan to kill him.
“I have no idea how to beat this thing…” I said to her hoping she had an idea.
“I might know a way.” She said pulling out an arrow with a flat sharper end instead of a pointed end, “This arrow was made to kill the creatures of the dark, so it should be able to kill him.”
“So you have to hit him with it.” I said to her.
“Yes I can’t miss it’s the only one I have.”
“I’ll make it so he will stand still.” I went in and started to fight Sanji toe to toe.
“It seems you have a death wish.” He said to me intercepting every attack I throw at him.
“Maybe I do!” I said as he knock my blade out of my hand, “This isn’t good.”
Sanji punched my face knocking me onto the ground. He picked me up by the collar of my armor. “Maybe I should turn you into one.”
“Sophie now!” I shouted
Sophie had her bow pulled back and she was ready to fire. A crystal on the bow started to resonate with mine.
Sanji turned around and dropped my collar, “Not so fast!” I grabbed him so he couldn’t escape.
Sophie twisted her wrist, “You must not calculate the wind, but overcome it! Sidewinder!” she released the arrow and she was blown backward from the recoil of the shot.
“NO!” Sanji yelled as the arrow pierced the both of us.
I flew away from Sanji and I was slammed against the back wall from the arrow. Sanji started to disintegrate into the air. He reached his hand out to Sophie and smiled, “Thank you,” were his last words as he disappeared.
I fell to my knees from the shot. This is how it feels to take an arrow to the chest. So much blood was gushing out. I started to cough out blood. I saw Sophie running to me, but I couldn’t do or say anything. My vision was going blur, before I fell to the ground I chanted another spell. “Phoenix Down.” I fell straight to the ground.
To be continued
The four of us made it out of the tunnel and entered the town Bastok. Bastok is a big city filled with humans and the galkans, but something was off… the town seemed really deserted.
“This place is a freakin ghost town.” Kennen said as we stopped to take a look around.
I sensed an evil presence, “Behind us!”
A Quadav launched an attack.
“Move back!” Yaj shouted defending us from the Quadav’s blade.
With his strength Yaj over powered the Quadav sending it off its feet, but before we knew it we were surrounded.
“This is bad…” Hoango said as we all stood back to back with one another.
“An army of Quadavs… just perfect,” I said as we giant air ship flew over us.
It made so much noise that it distracted the Quadavs, a ladder was throw down for us.
“Grab on quick all of you!” the pilot shouted.
All of us grabbed on to the ladder that was dropped, and then the air ship took off. The ladder started to drag us up to the ship. The four of us made it to main dock thanks to the ladder. Soon later a man in black approached us.
“You guys are lucky I was still around, Bastok was taken over by the Quadav Army.” He said smoking a white pipe.
“Thank you, what happened?” I said to him as he led us to the first floor of the ship.
“It was a blitzkrieg, we were not expecting it at all, I’m Cid by the way,” He said pouring himself a drink.
“I’m Donattsu, and these are my companions.”
“The name’s Kennen.”
“I’m Hoango.”
“I’m…”
“I know who you are.” Cid interrupted him.
Yaj looks away.
“Yaj, you did something Noble. You protected the face of the republic.” Cid said to him in comfort.
“You have no idea how it feels to be exiled.” Yaj gave him a frightening look.
“I think we should leave them alone…” I said as Kennen, Hoango and I left the room. The three of us held our ears to the door to eavesdrop.
“Yaj don’t say that, I tired.” Cid said responding to Yaj
“You tried what? I took an arrow to the knee just so your diplomatic leader can save face?! I was the best Cid the best warrior we had, but for what reason why I took the blame for his mistake?! Just so he can save face, really?!”
“Yaj you’re my brother please understand it was for the people.”
“The people deserve the truth!”
A loud bang came from within the room, “they can’t handle the truth!”
“Sounds like a personal problem,” Hoango said to us.
“Shush be quit.” Kennen spoke as we began to eavesdrop again.
“Yaj… you’re my brother, I would do anything to protect you.”
“Yeah… then where were you when I was exiled from Bastok! Our town, our home would have never been taken over if I was still here, we now have nowhere to return to. We lost our home to a bunch of turtles that walk on their two back feet!”
“The order was to retreat, Yaj I stayed back just for you hoping you would be safe.”
“We are Bastokians, retreat was never an option for us! Do we even have enough air ships to board everyone in Bastok?!”
“No…” Cid said in despair.
“Where is your amazing leader now… not only did he fool the people of bastok, but he also left them for dead.”
“Yaj…”
“I’m done; I’m going to stop talking so you can keep the rest of your dignity.”
We heard Yaj walking to the door the rest of us rushed to the upper deck. The four of us reformed on the deck.
“You okay?” I asked him,
“I’m fine.” Yaj said as we sat on the floor of the deck.
“Family issues?” Hoango said while practicing Tai Chi.
“A lot more than just Family issues… I wasn’t alone in the Tunnels because I wanted to be.”
“What happened?” I said putting my hand on his shoulder.
“I was Exiled.” Yaj said as he began his story, “I was Bastok’s finest, Bastok’s strongest warrior, but I was nothing more than just a pawn. I was following the orders of a deceiving leader.”
“Sounds like Edgar.” Kennen interrupted.
“Shush I wanna hear this.” Hoango stopped his practice and sat with us.
“Bastok used to be a proud nation, until our lordship pasted and his son became next in line. We became a shady country after that we did evil underground work only to satisfy his taste.”
“How’d you get exiled?” I asked him.
“Oh, I remember it like it was yesterday, our leader had a meeting with Jueno’s Princesses Garnet. My brother Cid and I were to stand as bodyguards during this meeting. Before we knew it we heard a scream. Being the person that I am I rushed into the room only to find Garnet stabbed by our ‘righteous’ leader. It happened in a flash he handed me the knife he used to stab her highness. He wanted me to be his scapegoat.”
“So that’s why there were so many people in Jueno a while back.” Hoango started to put a puzzle together.
“Why did he stab Garnet?” I asked out of curiosity
“I believe it was because she wouldn’t accept his proposal. He must have gotten angry and stabbed her. If he can’t have her no one will. That’s the only thing I can come up with. After that event he cursed me and banished me to the tunnels never to see Bastok again. ”
“What about Cid?” Kennen said interrupting the story
“My brother… he was the genus inventor and couldn’t afford to lose him. I was just a solider that he was able to replace.”
“Cid did nothing?” I said in an uproar
“Yep, my brother did nothing…”
A load roar came from the engine room. Cid runs up to the deck to us tell us the news.
“We need to evacuate!” Cid shouts with rage, “The engine it’s malfunctioning!”
The four of us stood up in fear, “what are we suppose to do?”
“We need to jump off this ship…” Cid said pulling out some equipment.
“Jump off…” Kennen said giving Cid the ‘Stare’
“Here wear these.” He said making us throw on these weird bags, “Pull these levers when you guys jump off.”
The four of us went to the edge of the ship, “What about you.” Yaj said to him as Kennen pushed me and Hoango off the ship with him.
“I am going to die with my ship.” Cid said to Yaj.
“No come with us.” Yaj grabbed his arm.
“I can’t I must stay with my ship, this air ship was my life besides I only had four parachutes.”
“You’re my brother!” Yaj shouted as Cid walks up to him.
“A brother who couldn’t protect you.” Cid pushed Yaj out of the air ship.
“CID!”
The four of us were falling through the skies with the air pushing against my face I remembered what cid said and pulled the lever on one of the arm straps. A giant parachute was released from the bag and I slowly fell through the skies. Kennen and Yaj followed along and the three of us slowly feel through the skies. For some odd reason Hoango kept falling and didn’t pull his parachute.
“Hoango!” I shouted in fear he isn’t going to make it.
“It’s not coming out!” Hoango landed in the woods as we slowly followed him.
“If Hoango survives this he is such a bad ass…” Kennen said as the three of us entered the forest.
“I’m stuck!” Yaj shouted.
“Same here!” Kennen replied.
“Are we all safe!?” I said as I looked around for Hoango. “HOANGO!”
“Oh yeah his parachute didn’t go off.” Kennen started to shout for Hoango as well, “Hoango!”
Yaj used his axe to cut himself free from his bag. He dropped down and landed on his two feet, “I’ll look around or him!”
“How are we gonna get down from here.” Kennen said to me.
“I’m not too sure.” I said as an arrow flew above my head.
“Stay there I’m going to help!” a voice came from afar.
A girl came skipping through the trees. “I’ll get you guys down.”
She started to cut the strings on the parachute and Kennen and I were released.
“It’s not safe climbing trees come let’s get down from here.” She said again
The three of us jumped down from the trees and landed on the ground.
“Where are we?” I asked her.
“You guys are in the Junger’s Forest.” She said pulling out an arrow.
“Who are you?” Kennen questioned.
“I’m Sophie, I’ma hunter. This is my Bow… and my arrow… and I shoot… like this…” Sophie shot the arrow in a random direction.
We heard a loud scream when we lost sight of the arrow. “That kind of sounded like Hoango…”
“Yeah that was Hoango.” Kennen replied.
“Hoango?” Sophie said in confusion.
“He’s our friend, we have to find him… hopefully Yaj is with him.”
(Meanwhile.)
“Where the hell did this arrow come from!” Hoango said as Yaj supported him with his shoulder.
“Bad luck just seems like it’s coming your way.” Yaj said as they stopped to rest for a moment.
“Oh my god… so this is the feeling of taking an arrow to the knee.” Hoango said as Yaj attemps to pull out the arrow.
“I’m gonna do this,” Yaj put his hand on the arrow.
“Wait…” Hoango said in hesitation, “This is gonna hurt, don’t do it.”
“You sure…?”
“Yes do not pull it out.”
“Are you two all right?” a female voice spoke to them.
Both of them look at her.
“I’m a white mage, my village is close by you seem hurt.” She said as she threw her hand out to help.
“Thank god I’m saved.” Hoango said as Yaj helped him and they followed the white mage back to her village.
(Meanwhile back to Donattsu and Kennen.)
“We should go look for him; Yaj may be in trouble as well.” Kennen said as the both of us started to walk away from Sophie.
“WAIT!” she shouted
We turned around.
“I need your help… that’s why I helped you guys.” She said whimpering.
“It would be only fair wouldn’t it?” I said to her.
“Look lady thanks for your help and all but our friends might be in trouble.” Kennen said stating a point.
Sophie started to cry, “I need help…”
“Kennen…” I said to him
“I didn’t mean to make her cry but shit Hoango is in trouble.”
“Yaj is with him let’s put our faith in them.”
“We don’t even know what she needs!” Kennen yelled
“I need to kill a witch…” she said without hesitation.
The both of use turned to look at her, “Seriously?” the both of us said at the same time.
“Her name is Evelynn, and she killed my husband.” She went into tears again, “This is the first time that I am alone in this world, so I’m scared.”
I looked at Kennen, “We should help her.”
“I don’t like trusting girls.” He said back to me.
“Do you not see she’s terrified?”
“I see that but I don’t have a good feeling about this I don’t think we should go Donattsu.”
“What’s the worst that can happen?” the both of us look at her as she trips over her own feet. She started to pout.
“You saw how she shot that bow I don’t think she’s that good with one, okay what if we do go and help and fight this witch, I for one do not want to take an arrow to the knee.”
“I can shot!” she said standing on her feet
“Yeah show me.” Kennen provoked her.
She pulled out an arrow, “I can hit anything!”
I threw coin slightly above Kennen head.
She took aim and released the arrow hitting the coin right in the center.
“Lucky shot.” Kennen said as he threw ten more coins into the air.
Sophie quickly reloaded before she fired she stood there and closed her eyes she took a deep breath and twisted the arrow before she fired. She exhaled and released the arrow. I couldn’t believe what I saw the arrow curved in the air hitting all the coins one after another.
Kennen lifted his hands, “We got a bad ass over here.”
“Superb.” I commented her skill.
“So… are you guys going to help me or not?” she said walking over to us tripping on a rock.
“What choice do we have?” Kennen replied helping her to her feet.
“We’ll help, but we do need to find our friends hopefully we met them as we hunt this witch.” I said as we set off deeper into the woods.
It was a quiet walk until I broke the silence, “So I guess you want vengeance I’m Donattsu by the way and that’s Kennen?” I said to her.
“I want more than just vengeance… I want her dead.” She said firmly.
“We got a bad ass over here.” Kennen said sarcastically
“She took away the most precious thing to me in this world, the love of my life.” A tear came down her face.
“I don’t know how that feels, but it must be pretty awful.” I said comforting her.
“Not only did she kill him… but she turned him into something awful.” Sophie began to cry.
“Into what?” Kennen curiously asked
“A vampire…” she said wiping her tears.
“Vampires are real?” I replied.
“Yes I used to hunt them.” Sophie suddenly stopped. “Wait… the scent is gone.”
“You can smell them?” Kennen asked.
“Yes… I lost her scent; she must know were on her tail.” Sophie sensed an evil force, “Something’s following us.”
“What is?”
“Run!” Sophie started to sprint.
Kennen and I ran right behind her.
“What are we running from?!” I tried my best to ask her but Sophie was quite the distance away from us.
“Saber Tigers!” Sophie jumped across the cliff to the other side.
Kennen and I jumped as well but we fell short.
“Fuck my life!” Kennen shouted.
I need to do something to break our fall… I started to cast a spell. “The power of light grant me strength protect us from this fall!”
I couldn’t cast my spell in time and into the river we went and I instantly blacked out.
I slowly opened my eyes only to find myself on my knees chained. The pain in my head was devastating, but I had to endure it. I looked around to see my surroundings only to find nothing.
“Its looks like you’re awake.” A voice spoke from the shadows.
“Show yourself.” I said with the strength I had left.
“What an interesting find.” She came from the shadows, “I’m Evelynn.”
For a witch, she was actually very beautiful. Yet you can feel a dangerous aura around her. She is someone not to underestimate.
“Your that witch.” I said
“I don’t like the term witch.” She said putting her hand on my face, “So handsome.”
“You’re going to pay for what you did.” I turned my head.
“Pay for what may I ask?” She said bringing her face close to mine.
“For what you did to Sophie!” she was close enough that I was able to head butt her.
She slowly got up on her feet, “You’re a feisty one.” Her forehead started to bleed.
“You better hope I don’t break free.”
“Why are you helping her? Such a worthless creature.” She started to wipe the blood off her face.
“Regardless of who it is no one has to suffer as much as she did.” I forced my arms to try and break free only to find out it was pointless.
“What drives you to go so far?” she asked again
“It’s called Virtue; you don’t need a reason to help people.”
She took a blade and stabbed my shoulder, “Watch your mouth, you’re lucky I might keep you alive.”
“Big mistake.”
“OH? You really think you’re gonna get out of here.”
“I know that I will.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Because my friend is a treasure hunter, and he will find you.” I gave her a grin
She slapped me across the face and left the room, “I’m counting on you guys…”
(Meanwhile.)
Sophie found Kennen on the river bank. “Kennen!”
Kennen started to regain conscious, “Oh my back…”
Sophie helped him on his feet. “Are you okay? Where’s Donattsu?”
“I donno we couldn’t make that jump and I blanked out when I hit the water.” Kennen started to stretch his back.
Sophie started to sniff the air, “His scent… I have it.”
“Awesome lets go get him.”
Sophie stopped him, “He’s close by… but there’s another scent.”
“Someone must have taken him.”
“Let’s go we don’t know what might have taken him.” Sophie and Kennen make their way to find me.
(Back to Donattsu)
Blood started dripping from my mouth, “That all you got!?” I said provoking the beast that was under Evelynn’s control.
The beast punched me in the gut and slammed my head against the wall, “You no make noise till Evelynn come back!”
“This is starting to hurt,” I started coughing out blood.
“That’s enough grunt go eat some birds.” Evelynn came back into the room, “How do you feel?”
“Never been better…”
“I have a deal for you.”
“Oh… what’s the deal?”
“You become my new experiment, or you die.”
“Those are some pretty wicked choices…” I started to think to myself, “I need to by them more time…”
“Pick one.”
I spat blood on her face, “nether!”
She licked the blood off her face, “So tasty.”
“You’re a psycho bitch…” Kennen’s profound words are starting to rub off on me.
“You’re gonne be my new experiment, whether you like it or not.”
This isn’t looking good for me, “It’s a race.”
“A race?”
“It’s gonna take you some time to turn me into something… I just hope they arrive here before you do.”
She had a smirk on her face, “well… we’ll see won’t we?” she turned around and left the room, and the beast continued the beating.
(Meanwhile.)
Kennen and Sophie stumbled upon an old broken down mansion.
“He’s in here.” She said trying to open the door. “It’s locked.”
“Heheh don’t worry about that.” Kennen pulled out his tools and started to get to work.
“Are you a thief?” she questioned.
“I don’t like the term thief… I prefer the term Treasure hunter.” Kennen successfully picked the door. “Let’s go.”
The both of them treaded quietly into the mansion, “Looks like no one’s home.”
“I can still smell Donattsu’s scent, its coming from here.” She said point out the stairs leading to the lower level.
“We don’t have time let’s move.” Kennen and Sophie quickly rushed to the lower levels.
The both of them stopped only to see creatures lurking around in the dark.
“What do we do?” Sophie asked Kennen.
“We fight!” Kennen rushed in with his knives not knowing what would happened.
Sophie right behind him readies her bow.
(Back to Donattsu.)
Evelynn came back into the room with a flask in her hand, “Are you ready for the ride of your life?”
“You’re a little too late…” I said to her.
“What do you mean? I win your friends aren’t here looks like they don’t really care about you to just leave you here.” She said opening the flask.
“You’re wrong… I have faith in them and they are here.” The stone in my pouch started to glow.
She lifted my head and slowly started to pour the fluid into my mouth.
The doors burst opened, “Not so fast!” Kennen threw a knife breaking the flask in her hand.
She was startled and jumped away from me.
“Stay away from him!” Sophie shot an arrow into her arm.
Kennen rushed up to me to protect me, “Witch!”
Evelynn shook her head, “I don’t like that term, Okay Donattsu looks like you win this one, but I won’t let you guys out so easily.” She disappeared in the air.
Kennen and Sophie helped me out of the chains.
“Damn they did a number on you.” Kennen said picking the locks on the chains.
“Yeah… this is a weird room, I wasn’t able to chant spells.” I said as the chains came off.
“Looks like she got away.” Sophie said in despair.
“Don’t worry we’ll catch her sooner or later.” I said to comfort her.
“Well let’s get out of here.” Kennen suggested.
“Yeah let’s” The three of us went for the stairs to the upper levels
Something has been bothering me, I didn’t tell Evelynn my name… but she knew my name was Donattsu… I have a bad feeling about this. The chill down your spine feel, something about the girl makes me feel uneasy.
As we got to the upper level someone was waiting for us.
“It’s been awhile Sophie.” The man said keeping his distance.
“Identify yourself.” I said to him as Kennen pulls an item from his pouch.
“Donattsu drink this.” He hands it to me.
“What is this?”
“Potion.”
“Potion?”
“you’ll feel better after drinking it I don’t think he is gonna let us out of here for free, remember what that bitch said I won’t let you guys out so easily… I think this is what she meant.”
I drank the potion he handed to me and pulled out my blade, “Get ready guys.”
Kennen pulled out his knifes and was ready for battle.
I looked over to Sophie and it seems like she was crying, “Sophie what’s wrong?”
“Sanji…” she said bring a hand to cover her mouth.
I anticipated his attack and I stood in front of Sophie to guard her, “You’re not hurting her.”
“I can do whatever I like to her she’s my prize.” He said knocking me across the room.
Kennen threw a knife at him causing him to sway back I took this chance to attack. I closed in the gap between us and slashed upward hoping to cut him. As my blade connects he disappears. The two of us stood in front of Sophie.
“This is just perfect… mother fucker can teleport, because that’s not a stupid skill to have at all.” Kennen said saying his rude remarks.
“Sophie snap out of it.” I said to her.
“That’s… Sanji…”
“Whoever it may be Sophie it is no longer the person you used to know! Do you really think he want you to see him like that! Too see him as a monster!”
Sophie looks up, “You’re right… he wouldn’t want this!”
Sanji manifested in front of us. I didn’t hesitate and charged in, Kennen followed right behind me, “I’ll be the decoy!”
I started exchanging blows with Sanji, with every swing he was able to block my blade with just his finger. I know vampires were strong but they shouldn’t be impossible to beat. There has to be a way to kill him.
Kennen appeared behind him, “Forget about me?” Kennen spun his body with his daggers making cuts on his back
Sanji disappeared again.
“I think he’s toying with us.” Kennen said as he appeared in front of him.
“Yes you sir are correct.” He punched Kennen in the chest sending him into the air.
“Kennen!” I started to chant a spell, “Divine light shield my comrades! Protect!”
A barrier was form around Kennen’s body
“This is still gonna hurt!” Sanji slammed Kennen into the ground.
I ran up to him to help Kennen only to be kicked away back to the wall.
“This is it for you.” He said raising his hand.
“Pricing Arrow!” Sophie shot an arrow with intense speed at Sanji.
The arrow pierced Sanji in the arm causing him to disappear I got up to check on Kennen, “You okay?” I helped him up
“Yeah… I would have been a goner if you didn’t cast that spell.”
I looked over to Sophie, “Thank you.”
She smiled, but Sanji appeared in front of her, “That wasn’t very nice,” He said knocking her off her feet.
As Sophie fell to the ground she dropped her bow. Kennen and I with no hesitation went to her aid.
“You pest!” Sanji sent out a dark aura sending us away from them.
Sanji created a blade out of dark smoke, “Farewell my love.”
“Not so fast!” I chanted another spell, “Banish!”
Before my spell went off on him he disappeared. I thought to myself, he’s a creature of the dark. That spell wasn’t a very powerful one, for him to disappear from it. I looked around and it was pretty dark in the room we were fighting in. If we can somehow bring sun light in the room we might be able to win. I looked around to see if there were windows we can break. I saw one on the ceiling.
“Kennen do me a favor.”
“Yeah?”
“That window, go break it!”
“What!?”
“Just do as I say.”
Kennen starts to run on the wall and headed for the ceiling.
“I don’t think so.” Sanji appeared in front of him.
An arrow flew over to him making him disappear.
Sophie readied another arrow, “Tracking arrow!”
The arrow started to fly in different directions I regrouped with Sophie, “What did you do?”
“It’s a homing arrow, it will follow him till he stops and gets hit with it.” She said pulling back another arrow, “Your good at running from one so how about another!”
Sophie released another arrow and it started to home in on Sanji. By this time Kennen made it to the ceiling. Kennen poke the window with his knife causing it to crake. Kennen jumped off the ceiling to regroup with us.
“I told you to break it.” I said to him.
Kennen lifts his finger, “Give it a second.” The window from the ceiling started to shatter and sunlight lit the room.
Sanji appeared and both arrows pierced him throw the chest.
“This is our chance!” I said running at him while he was down.
Before I got to him he stood up from the wound as if it was nothing. I stopped in my tracks to anticipate his next move.
“Rapid fire!” Sophie released six arrows at once towards Sanji.
Sanji looks away to block the arrows I took this chance to strike him down. With my sword I swung at him, but he was still holding me off with a finger. He used his other hand to deflect the arrows. Kennen appeared behind him to stab him in the back. Sanji stopped and I managed to stab him in the chest, and the last arrow flew into Sanji’s neck. With a dark force he blew us away and he snapped the arrow in his neck.
“You pest!” he flew after Kennen first slamming his face into the ground knocking him unconscious.
“Kennen!” I ran over to his aid.
Sanji dashed over to me and knocking me off my feet I was able to block the attack with my shield, but the force was still enough to send me into the air. Sanji was in the air ready to knock me back down; before he could more arrows flew our way all of them hitting Sanji. I landed on the ground without unwanted impact. I regrouped with Sophie to revise a plan to kill him.
“I have no idea how to beat this thing…” I said to her hoping she had an idea.
“I might know a way.” She said pulling out an arrow with a flat sharper end instead of a pointed end, “This arrow was made to kill the creatures of the dark, so it should be able to kill him.”
“So you have to hit him with it.” I said to her.
“Yes I can’t miss it’s the only one I have.”
“I’ll make it so he will stand still.” I went in and started to fight Sanji toe to toe.
“It seems you have a death wish.” He said to me intercepting every attack I throw at him.
“Maybe I do!” I said as he knock my blade out of my hand, “This isn’t good.”
Sanji punched my face knocking me onto the ground. He picked me up by the collar of my armor. “Maybe I should turn you into one.”
“Sophie now!” I shouted
Sophie had her bow pulled back and she was ready to fire. A crystal on the bow started to resonate with mine.
Sanji turned around and dropped my collar, “Not so fast!” I grabbed him so he couldn’t escape.
Sophie twisted her wrist, “You must not calculate the wind, but overcome it! Sidewinder!” she released the arrow and she was blown backward from the recoil of the shot.
“NO!” Sanji yelled as the arrow pierced the both of us.
I flew away from Sanji and I was slammed against the back wall from the arrow. Sanji started to disintegrate into the air. He reached his hand out to Sophie and smiled, “Thank you,” were his last words as he disappeared.
I fell to my knees from the shot. This is how it feels to take an arrow to the chest. So much blood was gushing out. I started to cough out blood. I saw Sophie running to me, but I couldn’t do or say anything. My vision was going blur, before I fell to the ground I chanted another spell. “Phoenix Down.” I fell straight to the ground.
To be continued