War against the Two Lions

Chapter 1

War against the Two Lions

Helltanz's notes: this story focuses heavily on one specific fact; Alternate Universe. To the point I've changed Geography around some, Lionel and Limberry's positions for example. Things got bigger as well.

This doesn't follow canon, cause it is an AU. It follows the storyline to an extent, any way this starts at the battle of Zeirchele Falls, but it diverges on several points.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy's copyright, the site is called Fanfiction after all, I don't own any series referenced in this work of writing.

Story begin

Waves churned around the massive galleon as it pushed through the waves and towards the harbor ahead. "Its been a long time gone,"

"Aye, it has." Ramza swept a hand across his sea spray soaked face, they'd been away for a while now. Well now into his twenties the blonde watched the buildings coming into view, this wasn't truly home. Still there were faces he'd sorely missed whilst they'd been abroad. Some were working on contracts home in Ivalice, some were thankfully not a part of that life, and hopefully never would be.

It'd been eleven years since they'd had their last class at the Academy in Gariland. Best bet was Dycedarg was already waiting nearby to ambush them into another round of 'Little brother I have a job, or little brother perhaps I can convince you to rejoin the family and your proper place,' As if, the ancestral domain of the Beoulves was hardly his proper place. The less he saw of Eagrose the better it was. The only place he'd rather see less of was Goltanna's stronghold, and that was because of the internal strife risking another war with Ivalice's neighboring kingdom.

Chapter begin

This was a fine mess they'd gotten themselves into, really it was. Then again given the political situation these kinds of things were to be expected.

A lot had changed in the few years since Ziekden. Everything had already started going downhill. It wasn't just Ivalice either. The troubles of Ivalice's two neighboring kingdoms however weren't really the issue though for now. Just returning from Romanda had little to do with this.

Ramza Beoulve glared at the Dark Knight Gaff Gafgarion. He was really chaffed at the other mercenary right now. The contract dictated protecting the princess not this load of shit, and certainly not getting entagled in politics.

He, and his subordinates, operated on their word. The contract was what they had agreed to and it would be fulfilled. It was part of the reason they were so valued even if they were 'mercenaries'. Since the end of the Corpse Brigade's insurrection they had been training and earning a reputation for themselves, and Ramza had no intention to allow this to go any further.

In any case here they were at Zerichael Falls they had finally caught up to Delita who had kidnapped princess Oveila from Orbonne Monatery. Delita of all people, what the devil was going on here... "I see then. Then it is good that I sought other council, and that indeed I called for reinforcements ahead of time." He commented. The blonde spun arcane power coursing through his veins. The earth ruptured and split and the spikes of earth moved slamming into Gafgarion propelling him in to the water fall.

Gaff smashed into the wall of rocks caught by surprise by the sudden attack. The attack had been specifically meant to bypass the dark knight's defenses. As far as things went the two were contrasts of each other. Ramza placed a great deal of value on his word. To compare Gaff did what he was paid to do. They both claimed it was for practical reasons.

Gaff had a penchant for violence, or rather out right barbarism, but he knew how to take a hit and make it out alive where most would die even so. "Tthats to be expected of you Beoulves I suppose, and underestimating your lot." The Dark Knight grunted rubbing his bleeding scalp as the blood ran down into his eye teleported away.

The other rogues were further shocked when additional men arrived. Each man was dressed in cloaks of darkest black. "Master Ramza!" shouted one of the ebony clothed monks in greeting. These men were loyal to Ramza alone. Each of them turned and formed into formation to face the five knights.

"I had thought you dead Delita." Shouted Ramza. This certainly was an interesting turn of events. "Delita I know not your stake in all of this but I shant have Goltanna exploit the princess but it is none the less good to see you again." The young Beoulve stated, and so the battle began. "Now I have a contract to complete, my word is my bond," He added a bit too cheerily as he drew his sword. The dark steel of the blade hissed as it was pulled from its sheath.

Ramza watched with careful eyes as the princess moved away from the pursuers who intended to end her life. No one had mentioned to him the princess had any skill in white magic, but then again if the princess was having to fight they weren't doing their job properly.

Delita was already moving to and in front of one of the five enemy pulse of arcane energy of sword spell followed, which was surprising. Northswaine if Ramza was correct. The spell of a Heavenly Knight, is that what Delita had become, he pondered. This was just too strange, the politics he could understand the two dukes were vying for power, that made sense but Delita, what was his stake in all this.

Ever since Ziekden Ramza too had changed, so it wasn't like it was that odd for Delita to be different. Still attending Gariland didn't automatically give you the education to throw around sword spells willy nilly, that took training. It had been so long so who was to say what experiences Delita had had. 'You have done well for yourself Delita.' The Beoulve mused of his childhood friend. 'perhaps another time

The blonde haired Agrias Oaks drew her Knightly Sword and surged forward. She too hurled her own sword spell attack. It was sufficient to not only bypass the defenses of the enemy but also to end the life of the knight Delita had struck moments prior. Ramza watched as the man's corpse went down the falls with a splash into the water below.

Holy Knights were an over specialization in Ramza's opinion. A long time ago they'd been really dangerous. These days those the orders of Knights took precautions against the sword spells of rival orders, it undercut them. It wouldn't make the Order of the Northern Sky invincible but it would give them an edge against more common sword spells. Called sword mages in other lands these arcane practictioners were found almost exclusively amongst noble lines, the associated Knightly Orders, or the church's militant arms. It was too specialized with sword mages rare these days, and those around being well trained Holy Knights served best as enforcers for the church. The problem of course being you focused too much on fighting indivduals, dueling didn't work so well on real battlefields.

One of the black swathed robed troops moved next, a Ninja, he hurled from his point of vantage atop the water fall the shuriken weapon flew out and knocked an enemy Knight back having found a gap, if only a small one, in the man's armor. It did what it was supposed to keeping the enemy distracted. They needed to keep the princess out of harms way, buying time.

Ramza brought swung the long sword down, bringing the patterned steel blade through an arc aimed at the man's sword arm. He was Ramza Beoulve. These men knew that surely. They knew his blood as he did. Their knew that their lives were forfeit the moment they joined the opposing side. The blond swung his sword one of his own unique class abilities. The hiss of the arcane, let the power flow, and the blade need not even touch. A bolt of wind energy split the man in half sending blood flying into the air as the power tore the man asunder. From the man's bicep down to his hip he split in half, one side fell away.

Delita stared shocked for the barest of moments, sword spells were typically kept within families yes, so perhaps it was that. He wondered what in the world his friend had gotten up to. He'd heard the rumors. It was something that was difficult to avoid. That youngest Beoulve son was a mercenary, traveling the world, and completing contracts. He fought and killed abroad in the service of foreign kings, and when he was in Ivalice swept across the land, serving as body guard or rooting out bandits, and highwaymen for nobles who could afford a contract with him. Still for Ramza was a bit to casual in letting off a sword spell like that, he'd have to go back and look at all the rumours he'd thought were just exagerations.

The black robed man swung his arm the hum of spiritual power and of focused power. It had been for them a long time since the battle at Ziekden and a lot had changed since then. The fights with the Corpse Brigade had forced them to grow up. The actions of the Order of the Northern Sky had disgusted them. These knights were no better, they lacked the focus and discipline and most of all honor. They could fight as well as they liked but they would fall.

Another foe rushed forward to hack at the man. It had some small affect cutting deep into the man's thick leather armor. Less than a second later the monk responded by smashing the knight with his fist. Delicate facial bones crumbled under enhanced strength, the man stumbled back dazed from the blow.

Ramza watched as one of his own stepped forward onto the bridge, preventing the enemy from getting any closer to the Princess without getting through him, and then through a potion to the just attacked monk. The blonde nodded, considering their options, Goltanna's lack of archers made little sense, but there was no sense in questioning their good fortune.

One of the Knights, Ancleot, who was a part of Ramza's starting group, and indeed a master Knight who had attended the Gariland Akademy with Ramza and Delita years ago made his move at the blonde's urging. He advanced his two handed grip on his knight sword and he swung the blade towards the enemy who had been on the receiving end on the Monk's counter. He parried past the shield, and plunged downward. The man screamed and died as the blade cut in to his flesh piercing him through.

Joyce, the Monk, nodded in acknowledgement to his ally. Ancelot nodded.

It was like this in small battles thought Ramza, in larger battles men would simply charge at one another, it was why overspecialized Holy Knights had fallen out of style. A Dragoon drove his Dragon Whisker into another of the enemy from behind. The unfortunate man doubled over and died the blade having punched through his lower back.

One of the Wizard unleashed his spell the arcane power rippled through the air, followed by the searing wave of heat, and flame. The Flare spell wiped out the last two who were close together, a foolish move, thought Ramza. After all it was stupid to stay so close when there were wizards about.

The battle concluded as the last of the enemy knights met deaths embrace, most of the survivors stowed their weapons away warily. Delita and Ramza approached one another from opposite sides of the bridge.

The falls roared in the background as the two neared one another. Ramza was wary. Delita had been at one time his best friend, a brother, even, but here and now, at this point in time he knew not his intention. Times had changed since they had been friends Ramza was no longer the naïve squire he had been before Ziekden, and clearly they may no longer, Ramza and Delita, be on the same side.

"Let the princess with me." Urged Delita abruptly. "She will be safer in my care." He stated.

He frowned, "What is this game you play with us, Delita?" Responded Ramza staring at the golden armor his friend wore. "You surely do not expect me to have for jokes now of all times?"

"Game?" Delita replied tilting his head. "I do no more than speak the truth. This is no joke." The Heavenly Knight commented. "You've made an enemy of the entire Order of the Nothern Sky." Delita remarked Agrias moved closer to the princess watching Delita for any suspicious movements that he might make.

Ramza didn't respond immediately. The Order of the Northern Sky wasn't his enemy. To raise arms against him would have problems with morale alone. To much had happened these last few years for them to attack him. "I don't know if you've forgotten but Beoulves don't get considered enemy's of the Order of the Northern Sky, these are Golatnna's men surely," and really the knights were hoping to still reconcile with them, even if they weren't Goltanna's men in disguise.

"Be that as it may, simply because your brother wants you all at his side, where would you now take her?" Delita inquired. "Think upon this Ramza. This affair was Duke Larg's plan and he would not act with out counsel of the queen." He said waving his hand. "You cannot trust the crown." He stated firmly. "Would you then turn to Goltanna?" he asked rhetorically. "No that would be folly he would only off up your heads in hopes of keeping his own." Delita clenched his fist as he answered his own question

Ramza almost laughed. Delita strayed close to outright treason with his words. He didn't care much though, not with things as they were. "Don't be silly Delita Larg paid me a hefty fee to see the princess safe, that is the truth, for a time. If he wanted her done, and dead he'd not have wasted the money for my contract. This is Goltanna's scheming, and its a poorly executed one at that."

"And what ser would you propose to do?" demanded Agrias annoyed at Delita's commanding and lecturing.

"I would do only that which you, my lady, can not." Replied Delita.

"You speak in nothings." Stated Ramza growing irriated at his one time friend's speech. As far as things went Larg wouldn't care of that much Ramza was sure, and while Goltanna might, but Ramza avoided eastern Ivalice for a resason,. "and I've a contract Delita, which makes the princess my responsibility."

"So I do." Acknowledged Delita. "but pay it no mind." He remarked turning away from the group. "I shal leave her with you for yet a while longer."

'When did Delita become so arrogant.' Wondered the young Beoulve. "Delita." Ramza called out as he walked away. "I did not think we would meet again, but… I am glad we have." He stated, though he himself did not reveal all he wished to say as indeed Delita himself was hiding something as well. If they were on the same side then perhaps he would tell him.

Delita turned and looked up over head an bird of prey flew through the sky. "It was Tietra." He held up the locket his sister had given him so long ago. "She watched over me as she does now."

The Beoulve raised an eyebrow, but quickly forced his face to be blank. There was no reason to question Delita's remark it was possible. Unlikely but possible, who was he to question Delita on what his sister had done that day.

Princess Ovelia stood up. "Know that you go with my thanks, ser Delita."

"Ramza." He began. "I hope this meeting is not our last." He walked away.

"I owe you my thanks as well." stated Agrias standing beside Ramza. "But he is right it will not be long before the Northern Sky is falling on us."

Well that was ballsy Delita. This the path I have chosen. Ramza mused. "So what now?" he asked. "Delita spoke true we've no allied fortress that could stand against whichever Order seeks her to whom the Princess can turn." He stated. "If Larg's intent is the princess then returning home is hardly a prudent move. If its Goltanna as I suspect well he's likely to have more goons about, and they'd likely catch up with us if we tarried. I'll finish the contract."

"We could entreat Cardinal Delacoix for aid." Suggested Agrias. "The Chuch of Glabados rules in Lionel. Surely the would not refuse us."

"Yes, the princess would be beyond reach of both Orders there as well." Acknowledged Ramza, leaving out for now. "Very well. If you are quite certain of it." He agreed. "We will make for Lionel, if that lets us avoid further trouble."

For the time being this meant his objective, to uphold his contract. Larg had paid him well, if he had a problem with it he shouldn't have paid the contract in the first place, and once this was done there would be no point in complaining.

Ramza walked away from Agrias and the Princess towards the men dressed in black cloaks. "Lord Ramza your orders?" inquired the apparent leader of the group as he approached them.

He nodded to the man, "We do nothing for now I shall acompany them to Lionel stay out of the war as best you can and have the men loyal to me in the order of the Northern Sky take no unnescary risks, I will be fine, it is not as if I am on my own." He stated firmly.

Arguing with Agrias would have complicated things. If she wanted to head to Lionel and the Church then that was her buisness. It seemed a simple solution in any case. The princess safe meant a job done.

"And if Larg is responsible for all this brouhahah? What then sire?"

"Do nothing yet," If Larg was risking treason then truly things were worse off than they'd feared, but then it didn't change the fact Goltanna was the only other explanation. As it stood right now things could only progress from here, by staying out of the conflict they'd be able to conserve their strength, and whence everything was said and done it'd be a hefty coin they'd be paid for their services to insure peace while people rebuilt.

"Should we pursue, and see what that black ram be up to my lord?" inquired another soldier.

"Delita, nay, though I do not deny I am suspicous of him, we can ill afford to tip our hand." he remarked. "tell our ears and eyes be wary of him though. I think he is in cohorts with the church, for clearly he does not support either duke. The poorly veiled insults to the crown support that at least he's powerful allies. He basically directed us to them as our only option, short of fleeing behind Limberry's walls, which he'd know I'm loath to do."

"My lord should we make haste we can quickly overtake him and put an end to his schemes." Stated the ninja fingering his blade.

"No." Ramza firmly replied. "He is to be left alone till we know his true motives." He commanded. "I will make for Lionel with Princess Ovelia." The youngest of the Male Beoulve stated. "Have men keep ears and eyes ought, I think that Delita is not in Goltanna's employ any less than that I am in the service of Larg." Ramza began to walk down the cliff. "I know not what cause Delita serves, but the Lions will fight for the right to rule the pride. Black and White, we will serve neither." He reiterated. "We fight for Justice, and for what honor is left." He stated to the men beside him. "We follow and we lead, We will march to preserve justice and honor, integrity. I am not my father, I am my own person, we do not fight some foreign tyrant. We will as I have promised fight whatever corruption, and we fight those who would abuse their station. We go and take up arms against those who would lie and murder and use deceit to gain their goals." Ramza stated. "Ride now and ride quickly. Be ready for the call to battle, though we are few we can stand against the many."

Mercenaries oh yes they accepted contracts of employ, but they picked and choose which ones they accepted, and they could afford to. After Ziekden there had been chaos. So much chaos in the aftermath, how easily it would have been for a civil war to spark and send them all crashing to war.

From that Chaos Ramza had emerged and formed his band. His order, and with that had carved a reputation out. One for dependability and always seeing the contract fulfilled to the letter.

Larg and Goltanna were dukes and neither were above supplementing their own forces with mercenaries, and Larg had more than once made treaties for services rendered to deal with bands of brigands and other tasks.

No Larg if anything wanted to fold the order into his own forces. A goal that Ramza's older brothers no doubt also held. It would assuredly be a boost to the Order of the Northern Sky, and would have other benefits as well.

Ramza led amongst what was the largest and strongest of mercenary forces in the land, and with good reason he had five years since Ziekden. Five years to train and get stronger and gather his forces. Five years he had spent building connections, and a reputation for excellence, as well as building up his 'order'. It had been half a decade that he'd been traveling the land.

It wasn't simply a military group, though that was what provided the bulk of their income and their reputation, but the 'order' handled other tasks and jobs insuring the recovery of ship's holds, or helping to reopen mines, and of course reaping the rewards.

Teaming up with Gafgarion had been clearly a bad idea, as it had been for him anyway all about the money. Still the contract had been for the princess's protection and that was what he was going to carry out.

Chapter conclusion

Helltanz's notes:

Clearly, well I can't say that with out major spoilers to the plot of the story, but suffice to say this story is majorly Alternate Universe when later parts start to occur.

It always annoyed me about how Ramza is just a 'special' squire in canon, so I altered it. A lot of shit has been imported from other Square games, and D&D, 3.5 and 4.0.

This story will have some major plot change;

Ramza's speech and goals with turn Ivalice when the death of Dukes, and the plots of the church endanger the kingdom. So thus begins the tale of another world, of how Ramza will fight to battle the forces of the Lucavi.

Ramza's unique Job class ability

Deathcry Squall

Element: Wind

Radius 1

Vertical 8

Horizontal 8

Adds: KO