-1Our Favorite Visitor

By Vaughn Stull

Chapter 1: The Sky is Falling!

I don't own these characters (except a few of them, that should be obvious), SQUARENIX and SQUARE E.A. do…blah blah blah…this is for entertainment only…Anyway, this is my first story I've put online so please be gentle. Still, I want lots of reviews! On to the story…

VOOOOOM!

The chocobo sped past the three young women, "warking" like mad. It sped past stationery Machina as it vanished somewhere down the Mi'Hen high road.

"Poopie!" Rikku shouted as she picked up a rock and threw it down to the earth. She spun around quickly and faced her friends who were disappointed but not as vocal about it.

"This isn't accomplishing anything." Paine stated ever-bluntly. She looked at her friend Yuna who was deep in thought over the situation.

"I've got it!" Yuna said as she snapped her fingers, "Let's divide and conquer! Then we will catch the chocobo. It has to be tired from all the running we'll put it through!"

With that the three sphere-hunters went in to position.

FLING!

A well-worn dart hit a less worn red circle in the middle of a dartboard in a noisy tavern. The dart's wielder showed only a smirk in silent celebration. This was child's play to the veteran who collected his winnings. Not a veteran to darts, but a veteran to throwing in general. To go even further, this giant of a man was a veteran in many more ways than one. A mastered man in all orders of ability, save for social skills. Intimidation was enough for him, and he had a very high modifier to that skill (In D20 terms). His reputation, especially in this city that never sleeps, preceded him. He was the Flaming Amarant for Gaia's sake! Thankfully to a visit by the King of Alexandria clearing some matters in the past, Amarant was a free man in Treno. Who would put the King on trial? Well the statue of limitations had expired anyway, but Amarant wasn't scared even when the bounty was on his head. He was the king of bounty hunters.

"Another round, Henry." The red-haired man said calmly.

The barkeep nodded and topped his mug with a mighty dark lager, just how he liked 'em. Sliding three greenish fingers into the handle (four wouldn't fit because his hands were too large), Amarant gulped the ale and set it down. Reaching into one of his many pockets he paid the tab and made his way onto the streets. The barkeep knew him well and knew he would be back later that night. Well, later anyway…it was always night. He went ahead and folded down the end board of what he called "Amarant's Bed". Staying the night here, the tall ninja had frequently kicked and destroyed the foot board during a dream battle. Instead of making constant trips to the woodshop, Henry just installed a handy hinge.

'What am I doing?' the wandering bounty hunter thought to himself. 'I've traveled the world, fought countless fiends, and honed my skills to a near apex. Hell, I even had a hand in saving this planet, not that anyone noticed. I'm no knight in shining armor, or rusty armor as I have more commonly encountered.' He let a little snort at his slight mental joke and turned into his "Thinking Alley". 'I didn't get the fame, the glory, the girl. Not that I wanted it or anything…besides, I am sure I have more freedom than Zidane right now. He's probably sitting in the lap of the Queen right now snoozing away. How lax we all have become."

He fastened his right claw and made a scratch on "his" barrel. '20 days I have wasted here. What am I doing with my life? I need to find some meaning…' he let his words fade in mind as he sat on the shanty barrel. "That monkey really softened me up over the last year or so, the bastard." He mumbled to no one important as he put his claws away.

After everything was away in it's right place, he got up. Unaware to him, a dime sized light was shining on the ground. He started to head back to the tavern, however he fell and didn't make it. Amarant didn't fall to the ground, he fell through it. His quick senses thought it to be a trap, however he fell unconscious before he could react.

THUD!

A loud thump sounded in the brush to the side of the road. The chocobo that had been chased to near-exhaustion suddenly took off in fright with a final burst of speed…into a statue. It also made a loud thud as it fell to the ground.

"Well…we did it! I think…." Rikku said with a mix of confusion and celebration, molassicied with fatigue from chasing the flighty-nerved, but flightless bird.

"Yes, but what was that sound?" Paine voiced, always one to favor safety over celebration. "I'm going to find out. You two tend to the chocobo."

The tired and sweaty girls went about to doing just that. First checking the vital signs and then checking for broken appendages. Thankfully the answers were yes and no, so the bird would be ride-able for the young girl they were chasing it for in the first place. Yuna went off to go find a transport for the bird. Paine on the other hand was approaching the area in the grass off road where the sound came from. She rested a hand on the hilt or her sword and walked to where there was a sudden clearing in the brush. It was a human…oid sized clearing occupied by what appeared to Paine to be the largest man she had ever seen. "Hello?" she beckoned to figure lying face down in the dirt and weeds. No response. She kicked at his left boot cautiously and didn't receive any reaction either. However she did notice at the very least the mystery man was breathing.

"Who ya talking to Pai…Who is this?" the young Al Bhed yelled in awe.

"I'm not sure, but he looks dangerous, albeit knocked out" Paine replied.

"Well, let's wake him up!"

Pained nodded in response and went to shaking the man at his shoulder. Rikku on the other hand took the auditory route and sung the "Wakey-Wakey!" song rather loudly, which Paine was all too familiar with. Because the "normal" routes weren't working they decided to roll him over, and with much effort they did.

"What's with the hair? It looks like a red octopus or something attacking his head! But I must say I dig the goatee and earrings…" the cute thief said glancing his front side over.

"Oh my! Is he sick? His skin looks blue!" Yuna added as she arrived on the scene.

Paine just stood there puzzled with a gloved hand at her chin. Rikku took to action and rather incautiously sat on the stranger's chest and proceeded to find out what his face looked like under the sea of red locks. She would have gotten an eyeful but instead got a fistful….of the stranger's fist as he swung blindly at the pest at the edge of his consciousness. He stirred as Rikku jumped off and coughed up much blood. A wheeze escaped his body with an extremely unhealthy sound.

"He needs help!" Yuna exclaimed as she rummaged through her belonging for a potion.

"Him? What about me? That sucker packs a wallop even if he isn't aware of his actions!" Rikku protested as she rubbed her side. Yuna put that problem on hold as she found the last remaining x-potion and administered it without thought. "That will take care of most of his injuries, but I think he has a few broken ribs which will take a few days to heal thanks to the power of the potion. Seems like he's been through a lot in life based on those scars though, so I imagine he's a fast healer." Paine noted aloud to all.

"Rikku! Call the Celsius!" Yuna said as she checked over the broken warrior's vitals.

"But…but…he hit me!" Rikku said softly.

"NOW!" Paine yelled, cutting her off.

END CHAPTER ONE!

Well, I originally didn't have a note on this chapter, I added it much later. But, please stick with this fic and review it! It gets better, trust me.