Tomorrow's Ivalice
By: A-Mystery-Indeed
Disclaimer: I'm the proud owner of a Playstation 2, but I do not own anything created by the makers and producers of Final Fantasy 12.
Prologue: A New Threat
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Never in the history of all of Ivalice had the Viera been rained on. The morning of the beginning of spring, the clouds shattered and let forth a massive amount of water droplets. Usually, the trees in the Viera village would prevent the passage of this element from entering. However, for some inexplicable reason, that day the leaves parted and permitted access to the precipitation that poured down from above.
To Mjrn it was a bad omen. That of which would bring forth the hidden evil still lurking in that present day Ivalice. The Viera were no longer safe in their haven among the wood. They were as vulnerable as the rest of the world around them was to every change and disaster.
As newfound leader (after the unexpected death of her sister), Mjrn felt the obligation to protect those that she watched over. So, she placed more wood warders in the jungle around the village and readied the sentries already inside their home. She wondered with great apprehension if anything really would happen, and especially if they were prepared. Mjrn had seen the evils of the fallen Arcadian Empire, she had seen the death and destruction it had caused the living things around it. The rain was a bad sign and she was sure of it.
That night, Mjrn tried desperately to speak with the wood, but found it to be silent…
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Penelo placed the last tiny purple flower into her silky blond hair. She inspected herself in the mirror and nodded with approval. Vaan had promised to take her dancing tonight in the southern end of Low Town. He was extremely clumsy when it came down to it, but she had made him promise before he could worm himself out of the situation. The glint of an opal ring on the dresser caught her eye and she slipped it onto her delicate fingers.
The night was chilly; the sure sign of a coming rainstorm, but Penelo was too excited to notice the cold. On her way to Vaan's apartment, she noticed a well-dressed man standing outside the Sandsea, looking a bit lost. She felt herself sympathizing for him and decided to try and help.
"Hello," she said after approaching him. "I'm Penelo, are you lost, sir?" She realized with a stifled chuckle that she was still calling older men "sir" from when she helped Migelo at his shop. I suppose it's true that old habits die hard, she thought.
"As a matter of fact, I am. Would you mind escorting me to the nearest inn?" He asked in a frustrated manner, a thick accent, unidentifiable to Penelo, shaping his words.
"No sir, I cannot escort you, but I can tell you how to get there," she replied flatly.
"Oh yes, excuse my rude behavior. I did not think when I asked you of such a task. I do hope you will forgive me. I know that it sounded quite irregular for such a request," he pushed back a loose lock of ebony colored hair. His face began to turn a bright shade of crimson.
Penelo smiled warmly, taking his flushed face as suitable reason to trust him. "The Inn is at the top of the curve in the North End. I've never been there myself since I am a resident here, but I've seen it as I walk to the Bazaar to trade. I am walking in that direction, but am turning to the left as soon as we enter the North End. I can walk you that far, at least."
The man bowed in the most formal of ways, finally rising to straighten his cuff links. "Right, shall we then?"
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It was past dark before Vaan began to worry. Penelo was to show at sunset, but she was not there. It was unlike Penelo to be late, especially since she always chastised him for doing it most of the time. What was she up to? He couldn't help but wonder if maybe she was already there, forgetting to meet him at the apartment. No matter, he would just go to her.
But when Vaan entered Low Town, everyone he talked to told him that they had not seen her, and of course, after careful inspection of the South End, he realized she wasn't there.
Dread filled his body. What had happened to her? Maybe she was at his apartment now.
He ran all the way back, but found she had not shown up in his absence. His heart began to pound. Something was wrong, Penelo was never late, she wasn't at Low Town and she hadn't told him that she wanted to cancel. Vaan sat down on his mulberry colored couch with a frump and a perplexed look on his face. Then he saw a white envelope on the table.
Someone was in my house… he stumbled over to the table, and they may still be here.
He opened the letter anyway and read its contents.
Once you read this, you may not have much time left. Your friend is not hurt, but she will soon be if you do not help her. I'm writing this as a witness, and not an enemy. I don't know where they took her, but I know that she needs your help. Meet me at the Clan Hall. I'll find you.
The note drifted to the ground. Questions flooded his mind. What did they want with Penelo? What provoked such an action? What was going on?
After a quick look around the apartment, Vaan shook his head and grabbed his diamond sword leaving through the front door, thinking of nothing but getting Penelo back.
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Author's Note: Please review.
