The Help of a Brother
Chapter 1: The Unbeatable Mission
Dawn. That annoying thing that marks the start of a new day, and marked the fact that the traveling members of Clan Nutsy had to wake up and pack up the camp. The only noise was that from the two members of the clan already awake. Luan, the Battle Commander and Nelin, Second-in-Command of the clan. The two were heading to the biggest tent in the camp, which was where Marche slept.
"He will not be pleasssssed with us for waking him thisssss early." Luan said, his Baaga accent strong from under his Templar helmet. Nelin, being human, nodded and reached into the tent with a long stick he had found, and soon enough they heard the alarmed 'What the heck!?!' come from the tent.
Marche rushed out of the tent, nearly tripping as he pulled on his pants and tried to hold his sword at the same time. Sure enough, three hops later he fell flat on his face, and the camp erupted with laughter. Marche got to his feet, blushing with embarrassment. He attached his belt and sheathed his sword, then looked around and spotted Luan and Nelin, both looking horror struck.
"Sssssssorry Marche." Luan said, rubbing his hands together nervously. Even though he was a fully grown Baaga at six feet four inches, he cowered under the glare of the thirteen year old Paladin. Marche walked up to Luan and glared up at him, at which point Nelin rushed forward.
"Ok, look Marche." Nelin said, coming between the two. "I'm the one who poked you. I'll take the blame."
Marche took a deep breath, then turned away and walked back to his tent. "Next time," he said, pausing at the mouth of his tent, "just yell."
"Ritz! Hey Ritz, slow down!"
Ritz paused at the top of the hill she and her clan was climbing. She turned back to look at them panting from exhaustion. Ritz was in command of Clan Rose, an all female clan of Viera. She was the only human ever allowed into the clan, and now she was in command, and her clan was famous in all of Ivalice. The wind picked up, and her long pink hair blew across her face and flapped around her head.
Soon a Viera wearing a small green vest and skirt walked up beside her, breathing heavily. Shara was the second in command of Clan Rose, but she tired very easily when it came to moving around. "You know, just because you took this Wanted Mission, I still say we call it off." Shara said, leaning on her bow for support. Ritz shook her head, but understood why Shara was asking this of her. The criminal they were going after was hiding Jagd Helje. Jagds were dangerous, since the Judges never went there, so in a battle in a Jagd, if you lose, you die.
"Shara, I know what you want me to do." Ritz said, and Shara looked at her. Ritz retuned the look and continued. "But I will not back down from this. But maybe I should call in some help." Shara smiled and turned to one of their riders.
"Marie, go find Marche. We will be asking Clan Nutsy for help on this." Marie nodded and steered her Chocobo around and took off.
Ritz sat down under a tree and took out her telescope. Shara leaned against the tree, her hands behind her head. The rest of the Viera were resting down by a nearby river. Ritz set the telescope down and sighed. "We'll be there is another four hours." Shara looked down at her in surprise.
"I thought we were waiting for Marche?" she said, wondering what Ritz had planned. Ritz looked up at her and smiled reassuringly. "We're only going to the entrance to the city. We won't engage until Clan Nutsy arrives.
Clan Nutsy, however, was busy at that moment.
"Nelin! Take out their gunners on the cliff! Luan, go help Gallahan! He's pinned down by those archers! Brown, Lorek, Heath, Anton, Ridley! You're with me! We're going to hold back their soldiers!" Marche shouted these orders and drew his sword, the legendary Excalibur II. He watched the five soldiers he ordered to attack run ahead and cross swords with the six soldiers attacking from the north.
"What gives? Clan Marble and Clan Dip are attacking together? And why hasn't the Judge arrived yet?" Marche wondered as he struck down one of soldiers with his sword.
Being a ninja, it was a piece of cake for Nelin to get onto the cliff and behind the gunners. Silently sheathing his katana, the clasped his hands together and focused his magic on the six gunners.
"Wood Veil Jutsu!" he shouted and the gunners were suddenly wrapped by hundreds of thick green vines that erupted out of the ground. Nelin smiled as he watched them struggle fruitlessly against his magic. "Well, I'm done here, time to take the archers."
"Gallahan, letssss go! Come on!" Luan had arrived in time to prevent the Black Mage from being turned into a pin cushion, but not soon enough to block the arrow that had found his left leg.
"I'm fine Luan. Go on, I'll catch up." Gallahan said as he pushed Luan away. The Baaga stiffened, grabbed the Mage by the back of his robes, and with a mighty grunt, threw him all the way over to the camp.
"No, I'll catch up with you, my friend." He said as he ran back to the camp, arrows raining down around him like rain drops in a storm.
"Lorek! Move!!" Marche shouted, dropping his sword as he lunged forward and tackled the soldier. Just as he rolled to his feet around twenty arrows covered the spot where Lorek had been standing just seconds earlier. Marche got to his feet and retrieved his sword just as a shrill whistle was heard. Turning around, he saw the Judgemaster Cid holding up a red card.
"Clans Marble and Dip!" he shouted, and all went silent, the battle over. "Unless you want to go to prison for a very long time, I suggest that you leave at once!" At these words both clans ran as fast as they could into the forest, leaving weapons and armor behind. Cid walked over to Marche, who relaxed, knowing the Judgemaster quite well. "Keeping out of trouble Marche?" Cid asked, and Marche laughed.
"With a 10,000,000 gil reward on my head, how can I?" The Judgemaster laughed as well.
"No, I guess you can't." He then looked around at Clan Nutsy. "Anyone seriously injured?" he asked, noticing Gallahan limping over to Adrian, the White Mage of the clan. Marche shook his head.
"Not that I know of. We are mercenaries, though. We can't be injured to easily or we'll lose our reputation." Cid laughed at these words and turned his chocobo.
"Yes. That's true, but I best be off. Take care." With these words he clicked his tongue and his chocobo took off back down the path that they had arrived on.
Three hours later Montblanc, the Moogle who had originally been in charge of Clan Nutsy, now the Weapons General, came running up to Marche as he helped Gallahan over to a plate of food.
"Marche kupo! A Rose Rider approaches kupo!" Marche turned as Marie rounded the trees and made a bee line for him. Wondering what Ritz needed now, he approached the chocobo casually.
Marie took a quick look around as Marche approached her. "Rough morning?" she asked when he was within earshot.
"You could say that." He replied as he stopped six feet from her. "What does Ritz need from us this time?" he asked, not bothering to hide the slight annoyance in his voice.
Marie smiled at his words. "Ritz is going after Nivlac and his clan in Jagd Helje, and we were hoping that you would-"
"What?!" Marche shouted at these words. "I don't care how strong your clan is, the Jagd Emissaries are famous for foul play! You don't stand a chance on their home turf!" he then turned to check his clan. "Nelin! Luan! Gallahan! Lorek, Heath, Anton, Ridley! Saddle up a bird and be ready to leave within twenty minutes! Montblanc! You're in charge till we return!" Marche turned back to Marie, who was looking shocked at what he had said. "Lead the way."