Author's Notes: Gonna try to keep these until after the chapters after this first chapter but this needed a couple of notes before the fiction is read. There are spoilers for the game after this sentence, if you don't want any, stop reading now. Next on the agenda: I am changing the end of the plot for the game. (last spoiler warning) Luke did not survive at the end of the game, he never came back from the destruction at Hod or the release of Lorelai. This is the only major difference that needs to be noted at this time. Thank you for reading.
-Aura
Chapter 1: Unsuited Sabbatical
"There is a certain tropical beauty to the city of Chesedonia that I suppose I'll never be able to appreciate fully." Jade commented to himself as he lingered on the balcony of the room the emperor had rented him for a part of the leave he was being forced to undergo after the last battle with Van to free Lorelei. He could understand Peony's concern and even his involuntary vacation, not that he actually appreciated it. Time to deal with what had occurred, to mourn for the boy that had passed on while saving the planet from it's destruction.
A frown edged at his perfect composure as crimson eyes stared at the perfect view over the bay below and ocean beyond. Not really seeing it with his mind busily considering various things. It was amazing the way the child's death had impacted so few of the population that went on with their lives; many without even the knowledge of what had truly occurred or who their savior had really been. What would it change if they knew?
Nothing. He told himself with a small sigh, turning back toward the opulent room that had been afforded to him by his old friend. I know you mean the best Peony but I need my mind to be active at this time, I cannot afford to make another mistake after the last time with Nebilim. I imagine I truly am a Necromancer, everyone that gets close to me perishes.
The large bed was already remade, he'd never been one to tolerate messiness and the order helped him keep a structure that he was slowly losing in the recent week of 'liberty'. Despite the fact that he'd been ordered to take this long break from work he couldn't quite bring himself to just sit idly by, that would get his mind wandering to when Tear had broken down and started screaming at the now runes of the replica Hod. Anger and hatred burning as she blamed the innocent remains of taking him away, wanting to have an excuse to push his death into something else and still proud that he had sacrificed himself for a cause that would be the redemption of the world.
He hadn't seen her sense that last outburst of emotion, either she was too busy helping Anise rebuild the Order or too ashamed of the weakness she had temporarily shown him. He hadn't seen too many of the so called 'champions of Lorelei', as they had been dubbed by the population, sense the final funeral that they alone had serviced for him.
Anise visited from time to time though her frequent trips to Grand Chokmah likely were a result of the Spa membership and her flirting with the still single emperor than to see the 'cranky old General'. At least she'd finally started using the title from his promotion. It was during one of her visits that he'd learned of Tear's new whereabouts; helping in Daath.
Guy was still walking the Emperor's rappigs and was still fairly quiet on any mention of Luke's death, though was otherwise still afraid of touching women but quite happy to look at them. Much to his chagrin the courtesans had taken a liking to him and he spent most of his time either being tortured by their proximity or avoiding being seen all together.
Natalie had returned to her chosen role as diplomat and princess of Kimlasca, having her work cut out for her with a new uprising and threat of war looming on the horizon. Those people that were extreme followers of the score, some couldn't come to comprehend that it was gone; or didn't want to accept it's sudden loss, had begun to gather members and cause difficulties in various cities. Some of the threats to the citizens were deadly though none had actually been murdered yet to his knowledge, it was just a matter of time unless the small group was dealt with.
Thus why he was dressed in his military uniform and ready to leave his hotel to head southeast toward small oasis resort, he'd overheard some men speaking about a gathering there yesterday in the bizarre and wanted to check in on it for any possible connections. If he didn't have something to occupy his time he would just go over all the things he didn't do in his mind again.
I don't like this sudden new urge to mourn and question myself. He thought sourly as he eyed the room again for anything he could be missing. There is nothing else I could have done, it had to be stopped and I'm incapable of using the seventh fonon. He chose to save the world from it's destruction, I couldn't have helped any differently than I did.
Immediately doubting his confident thoughts he opened his door to move out, troubled just by the fact that he was troubled really.
"What a genius I am, dwelling again on things I can't fix." He muttered before pausing himself, eyeing the blonde haired boy that nearly plowed into him upon his exit into the hall.
"Whoa!" the voice was too familiar and Jade didn't bother to keep the annoyance off of his face as Guy took a step back and looked at him with a smile.
"Hey there Colonel Curtiss," Guy greeted awkwardly as he raised a gloved hand to mess with his hair, "wow, isn't it funny that we met here? How is your vacation going? Enjoying the view of water?"
"You wouldn't happen to be spying on me for Emperor Peony would you?" Jade asked with an innocent tone of voice, watching the nervous swordsman swallow at his calm question.
"Spy-spying? N-no! No way! Why would the Emperor order me to do that?" Guy stuttered and swallowed again when Jade didn't so much as blink. "Um…where are you going so early in the morning Colonel Curtiss?"
"To the oasis," Jade replied curtly, "you might as well just walk with me as opposed to trying to follow along in open sands."
"Really?" Guy said hopefully, grinning again. "I was already heading there myself as a matter of fact."
"Good, you can carry my bag. Thank you Guy." Jade returned amiably as he handed over his sack of various good and supplies before continuing down the hallway with the smile still on his face.
"Oh…right…" Guy deflated as he replied, nearly dropping the heavy bag but managing to catch it and put it over a shoulder. Muttering under his breath. "I wonder just how many augmentations he's done to himself over the years."
"What was that?" Jade turned to look at his new servant.
Guy blanched and headed after him quickly, "No-nothing! I'm gonna grab my stuff and see if we can't get some horses for the travel. Meet you by the gate?"
"That would be wonderful, ten minutes." Jade returned before walking off, not planning to listen to any protest if it was given and leaving the spy to scramble.
Perhaps I'm being a little cruel if he was sent to spy on me by order of the Emperor. But then again, he'll think twice about not being honest when it happens again. Jade considered as he walked toward the gate, avoiding people with a natural grace. He'd been born with a high amount of skill for everything he decided to try except empathy. Not that it particularly bothered him to have a lack of it. Why is the Emperor spying on me though? Is he expecting me to make another mistake? I suppose I can't really blame him for it. At the very least I'll be able to make use of Guy for carrying things.
He frowned a bit, somehow it seemed like there was a little more to what was happening or Peony would have spoken to him directly of his concerns. It was time he started to get involved again, if people wished to keep him -of all people- in the dark, they would have to try so much more than they had been thus far.
"I think that was closer to fifteen minutes." He offered Guy on his arrival, ignoring the fact that the blonde man was breathing heavily from the exception of getting everything in such a constrained time period.
"Man your cold," he breathed as he handed Jade the reigns of his camel.
"Oh? I don't think so." He responded as he got onto the pack animal. "I figure this treatment is worthy of a man that would spy on his comrades. I'll have to try harder though if cold is the best I can do."
"I shouldn't have said anything." Guy groaned softly as he kicked his own animal into a trot after Jade. "Peony wasn't kidding when he said the Colonel would be in a poor mood."
The trip was mostly quiet, both of it's two members having similar thoughts to consider, neither really sure why the spying was even occurring in the first place. It was several hours later and Guy was wondering just what it was the Colonel used to remain completely cool, clean, and composed in the desert heat and sands; as Guy was sweaty, sticky, dirty and fairly miserable in comparison. He was about to voice the question when they heard a scream coming from up ahead and both paused for a moment to glance between each other before urging their steeds into a gallop.
Over the ridge they paused and Jade shifted a hand to his forehead in a sigh. Guy frowned and matched the sigh as he realized a moment after the Colonel what was going on.
Natalia was hiding behind a confused looking soldier as a small group of slugs was making it's way by on the ground, the princess looking almost feint and near tears as she eyed the small life forms going by. She had a small group of attendants with her and it seemed as though she had been approaching the oasis from the opposite side of the desert but likely had gotten lost.
"After all we've been through she's afraid of something like that." Guy commented with a bit of disbelief.
"Oh I dunno," Jade returned with a small smirk. "I suppose she could have a deathly fear of women instead."
"Cold Jade, very cold." Guy frowned some. "Why do I feel like I'm only getting this treatment cause I'm the only one here?"
"Who knows?" Jade commented before steering down toward the princess, glad to see a familiar face even if he wouldn't show it. "My my princess. They are just some slugs. Screaming like that you tricked Guy into thinking that something was the matter over here."
"Jade!" The princess broke into a smile when she saw the older man, fears forgotten as she rushed up to offer him a hug of greeting. "It seems like it's been ages, what are you doing out here?"
"I could ask the same of you." Jade pointed out neutrally.
"Oh and Guy too!" She exclaimed, starting to move toward him but pausing and thinking better of it she returned her gaze to the Necromancer. "I am here to investigate the New Order of Lorelai, that's what the rebel band has named itself. We received a tip that they would be gathering in the oasis soon for some sort of important meeting and wanted to see if I could find out what was going on."
"We're doing a similar sort of research ourselves." Jade finally answered her question from before. "Well, I am. Guy is just here to spy on me for the Emperor for no reason I can derive."
"Guy!" Natalia admonished him, putting her hands on her hips. "That is no way to treat Jade after all we've been through together! And he's a Colonel of your military! You should be ashamed."
"Yeah…" Guy offered weakly. "I know but the Emperor told me to…and he's a General now."
"Really? Congratulations General Curtiss." Her smile was back and she was already back on to another topic. "I shouldn't be surprised."
"I'm lucky she's so easily distracted." Guy muttered.
"Thank you Princess," Jade smiled kindly at the compliment. "Though I think things weren't even easy as a Colonel but perhaps the promotion was just so that the Emperor could keep a closer eye on me."
"I will have to give him a piece of my mind when I visit Grand Chokmar, after all you've done he should be more respectful and trusting." Natalia pointed out as she pushed her steed into step with Jade's, leaving the attendants and Guy to hurry after them. "You want to travel together to the Oasis then?"
"It seems befitting of the situation." Jade nodded. "Shouldn't take us long to get there now though, we're just east of them."
The rest of the travel passed with fairly simple conversation, a lot of Natalia explaining that the new rebels were gaining a larger following than would be liked with not just their view on the Score but an anti-replica agenda that was dangerous to the development of a couple of the cities that were constructed for the unfortunate people that had been made by Van. They had already attacked the construction of the Granhod site (the new city for the replicas) several times and each attempt had gotten steadily more dangerous than the last. If something wasn't done soon, the world would have another, more silent, war on it's hands.
The leader of the movement went by the name of Christian and had long black hair and blue eyes by all recounts was a strangely charismatic man, even many of the spies that didn't agree with him couldn't help but still like the man and try to understand what he was doing. Most had returned very uncertain and confused and some had not returned at all. The information wasn't exactly the most positive but at least it was something they would be able to handle.
"Did you ever break that fon seal that was used on you?" Guy asked to change the conversation when they started to get quiet again, not wanting to let them get into to negative a mood.
"Of course." Jade shrugged it off as if it were nothing. "Who do you think you're asking?"
Natalie fell back some to whisper with Guy.
"He's about the same as usual. Doesn't anything phase Jade? When did he have a Fon Seal put on him?" Natalie asked as she eyed the strange fonist riding in front of them.
"Around the time he met Luke the first time, most of the time he traveled with us from what I was told by Anise. I guess he hadn't even completely removed it before we fought Van." Guy explained in a low voice, nervous about whispering rumors concerning the man that could order him to all sort of unpleasant tasks.
"But…that…that's impossible…" Natalia let her voice raise from the shock. "A seal would leave even the most powerful fonists not able to walk more or less still cast or fight."
"All the more reason I don't wanna make him mad. Sorry but if you wanna ask about it, talk to him." Guy returned.
"Yes, what wise advice." Jade piped in, making both the other two jump at his having slowed pace to the other side of Guy without them noticing till he spoke.
"Sorry General…" Natalia offered, looking down with a blush before raising her gaze back to Jade with new respect. "How on earth did you manage to do all of that with us if you had your Fon Slots sealed?"
"I just did what was necessary Princess. I can see the buildings of the oasis, we should get there. I believe all of us could use a drink of water."
He'd push his steed into a run then, figuring they would have more whispers but that water took precedence over listening to whatever the kids wanted to talk about.
"He really is one of the strongest men of the age isn't he?" Natalia asked Guy as they both looked after the man. "I wonder if he even realizes it."
"I think he doesn't and maybe we shouldn't mention it Natalia. He already has a big enough head as it is." Guy frowned at the idea of him being even more narcissistic. "I don't think I could handle it if it inflated too much more."
Natalia laughed at him lightly. "You are a good friend to him Guy. I bet you volunteered for the assignment so you could be the one watching him."
"Am I that obvious?" Guy asked with a frown as he followed her into the small village that had popped up in the last year.
The single building had grown to add a larger inn, and a second building with a bar and trading area where the passing merchants could sell temporarily if there was a sandstorm or other business that kept them passing through. They headed toward the inn and stable after Jade, who was waiting to let Guy deal with all the tedious details, handing the camel off for his personal bag and heading inside for something to drink and to get rooms.
It wasn't long before they were settled for the night, they would start investigating the next day on mutual agreement. Jade wasn't tired but realized the need to let the others rest even if he didn't need any yet.
At least the day kept my mind off of Luke's demise. Jade thought logically as he now watched the desert blowing by outside of his room's window. Activity will help me more than inactivity. Though I don't usually like traveling with others, it was a pleasant day once we came across Natalia. Perhaps I just missed the companionship…no…probably not. These children will be all the headaches they always were.
He smiled despite himself at the thoughts, heading for his bed. Perhaps he'd get a bit of rest after all before the investigation tomorrow. Vacation might not be that bad after all…
End Chapter
Okay, end of the first chapter and I am glad I started working on this fiction. First of all the game: I've spend the last couple weeks playing the game and I think it is one of the most amazing rpgs I've played. It had lots of detail, a great storyline, wonderful characters, and was gorgeously put together. It was an all around good rpg that I'm rating up with how I adored Final Fantasy 3. It took the feel of an older rpg and put it into the newer graphics. I adore the game (now I just need to find my own copy!! (as I am borrowing a friends)).
This fiction: I adored the Jade Curtiss character sense I first got him in the game and the fact that I got to keep him through most of the game was a surprisingly refreshing new start for characters of his type of attitude. I was about 20 hours in (a little less than 50) when I knew I wanted to do a fan-fiction to this game. I waited until I had beaten it. Which I did about two hours before I started on this fiction. I want to try to do more with Jade's character and develop it a little further as he remained fairly static throughout the game. Give him a love interest (as the Romantic part of the genre suggests) but also to reflect on all the horrible things that he's done or been a part of somehow (and in comes the Angst part). I still want to have parts that are amusing because that was a large part of the game but I hope that I get enough interest in this fiction that I have a reason for continuing it. (given the few other fictions I'm supposed to be working on right now sheepish)
At any rate, if I haven't put you to sleep during my ranting here, thank you for reading and I hope you truly enjoy my new tales of the necromancer ;)
-Aura