"Hold the line." To the North, the San d'Orian army prepared to face the musketeers of Bastok. The battle-worn fields of La Theine Plateau glistened in the mid-day sun as an officer on an armor-clad chocobo rode down the front line offering words of inspiration to the San d'Orian knights. One knight, a Mithra, stood near the back. "They have guns," she thought, eying her sword and shield, "I want a gun, too... I should make Cravion bring me a gun!" "What are we making Cravion do, now?" Cravion's voice startled the Mithra. "Cravion's here as a mercenary for the San d'Orian army. Cravion can't bring you a gun. He says he's sorry." The Mithra looked quizzical. "Stop referring to yourself in the third person. It's creepy!" Cravion laughed. "Sorry, Yoru." A booming voice from the front line shook them back to the harsh reality around them. "Remember men!" The general boomed. "For San d'Oria! For glory!" Behind them, a hume female muttered, "for the horde!" under her breath. Cravion turned. "What?" "Nothing!" The hume replied innocently. Yoruichii turned, too. "Selphiie? What's a horde?" Selphiie grinned sheepishly. "I said it's nothing!" Another Mithra, Hakiko, chimed in. "How can you three be so calm at a time like this? We're at war!" "You're right, you're right," Selphiie replied. There was a short silence, then the general began issuing commands, and the lines began to shift into a defensive formation. Then, the Bastokan Musketeers had opened fire. The San d'Orian force immediately began losing numbers rapidly. "See!? We need guns!" Shouted Yoruichii over the noise of the battle. Cravion grinned at her. "I've got something even better." He reached behind him and readied a huge scythe with a slightly worn blade. His grin turned slightly sadistic. "Ah shit," muttered Selphiie, "Cravion just went all Dark Knight on us." As the battle raged, a Galka and an Elvaan rode to the San d'Orian front from behind. "Never fear! Veloxe the squiggly knight is here!" The Elvaan turned to look at him, and slowly shook his head. "Galkas are weird..." thought Ramen. As the Galka stood there with a huge grin on his face, a chunk of ore flew out of nowhere and nailed him in the back of the head. "Ow!" He shouted, "Who the hell threw that!?" As he turned to assess his assailant, the roar of thousands of Qudavs echoed through the canyons. The San d'Orian and Bastokan armies stopped fighting, frozen in terror. Both were surrounded. After what seemed like an eternity, the Bastokan and Elvaan leaders met. Tensions rose, as the Bastokan commander reached for his rifle, and the San d'Orian general reached for his sword. Neither side moved. Then, simultaneously, the Bastokan and San d'Orian leaders drew their weapons, and turned and charged at the Quadav ambushers. Their respective armies followed. "I'mma kill you for throwin' that rock at me!" Screamed Veloxe "Um. Yeah. What he said." Mumbled Ramen. "For the horde!" Yelled Selphiie "Ahhh... I guess we're taking the turtles now!" laughed Hakiko. "At least I get to kill something," smiled Cravion. "...When in rome..." Sighed Yoruichii. "I still wish I had a gun, though." The San d'Orian Archers and Bastokan Musketeers began firing rapidly from their newly-formed alliance's back lines as the swordsmen of San d'Oria and the spearmen of Bastok charged at the Quadav's front line. ---- To be continued.