Firey Chronicles, author of Achromatic Colors and Colors of Blood presents First Dawn, a tale set in the world of Final Fantasy.
Pairing: Thrill pair
Disclamation: I don't own Prince of Tennis or Final Fantasy. Some descriptions taken from various Final Fantasy guides include finalfantasy.
Summary: AU. FujiRyo. Final Fantasy (game experience not required). Everything began in the town of Cyril…
Note of Apology: I'm feeling kind of guilty starting a new story again but I just had to do a Final Fantasy one because the setting is so interesting and I am absolutely enamoured by the wonderful games SQUARE ENIX creates. For people who are waiting for my other two stories, I'm sooo sorry! I will do them… eventually.
Seeking: Beta readers and co-authors please let me know via review or private message if you're interested.
(Many details are added and changes are made to this chapter. If you read this chapter before , you might want to go back and reread. And review while you're at it :P)
Starter kit for Final Fantasy
(For those that can't/won't buy the games and the movie)
Read all about Final Fantasy in Wikipedia: en./wiki/FinalFantasy (apparently the link doesn't exactly copy os go to my profile if you can't google)
Or the Final Fantasy Wikipedia here: finalfantasy./wiki/FinalFantasyXII (I just found this website! It's amazing! Now I can add more details.)
Read the section especially on the Ivalice Alliance, XII, and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (heck, read the whole thing if you're interested)
Youtube, to watch cut scenes and movies (guaranteed (?) to get you hooked)
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Movie (got me hooked on the series) if you didn't see it, you're missing out. Recommended to see it in high quality via download
Final Fantasy XIII trailer and Final Fantasy XIII Versus trailer (I can't wait for these two games O.O)
Final Fantasy XII- watch cut scenes (recommended)
Romulation, to actually PLAY the game for Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (where this story is set) for FREE
Go sign up. Download emulator and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance under GBA. Run the program, enjoy!
Please note that my story is alternative universe. So it doesn't exactly follow the game setting.
Silver Bow
Attack Power: 23
Range: 6
Abilities: Burial - 300 AP - Archer
Bought/Acquired: For 2,500 Gil, after the first shop upgrade
Green Beret
Effects: DEF +2, RES +2, Evade +2
Abilities: Block Arrows - 300 AP - Archers/Animist
Bought/Acquired: For 800 Gil, and a random reward for "Mixed" Treasure hunts
Dash Boots
Effects: DEF +2, Move +1
Abilities: N/A
Bought/Acquired: For 2,000 Gil, after the second shop upgrade
Gaia Gear
Effects: DEF +24, RES +12; Absorbs Earth elemental damage.
Abilities: Auto-Regen - 300 AP - Hunter/Sniper/Gadgeteer
Bought/Acquired: Random reward for completing a Mission (10,00 gil)
SAGE KNOWLEDGE: MIST
"Naturally occurring energy, found in almost all regions of the world, affects all living things-- the climate, and even the land itself. Magick is but one of the diverse methods of harnessing the power of Mist, the most common being via its controlled release from magicite--an ore known to hold high concentrations of condensed Mist within its crystalline structure. For larger effects, a greater amount of Mist is required, making particularly rich magicite a valuable commodity. There are marked regional differences in the amount of Mist contained in the atmosphere and soil. While typically invisible to the naked eye, high densities of Mist will occasionally manifest in a very visible phenomena. The highest concentrations of Mist can even do damage, leading to over-rapid changes in the environment, violent behavior among animals, and those more sensitive to the Mist's effects."
I. Silver Bow
Year 710, five years since the reign of Queen Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca and Emperor Larsa Ferrinas Solidor for the Dalmasca and Archadia Empire respectively, something extraordinary happened to the south western border of Hemera. The heavy Mist that covered the southwest part of the sea has been mysteriously lifted after an intense storm and a pathway to a new world have been revealed to us. Under the command of Captain Tezuka Kunimitsu , the former Judge Magistrate of the 13th Bureau and commander of the new 8th fleet and Dreadnaught Maximilian, our party of six came to a decision to explore this new world with our own eyes – and hopefully uncover the reason for this sudden phenomenon. As I write, we are arriving at the New World of Gaia by ship and already we have picked up a new companion along the way in the Spira Isles. We travel in anticipation at what lays in waiting beyond in the kingdom of Ivalice.
Inui Sadaharu
Madmoon 12, year 710
Clan Seishun log entries
Town of Cyril, Country of Ivalice, World of Gaia
Madmoon 14, Year 710
It has been almost six years since Momoshiro Takeshi have been hanging around in the Cyril town pub. He was adopted by the pub owner ever since he lost his parents in a mage accident long time ago. Since then, he helped around the pub.
If one asks him what the years in a pub had taught him, he will say two things: alcohol is dangerous and real jobs only exist on the pub bulletin board.
The jobs on the bulletin board could only be done by people who joined in a clan or acquired special licences to work independently. Seeing the backs of triumphed fighters carrying around their loots on regular basis had poured oil on his flaming desire to become a fighter. Those valiant beings, especially those who stand at the top, had become somewhat like an idol to the tall teen. He wanted to explore the dangerous dungeons and caves full of bloodthirsty monsters. He dreamed of exploring the world. …Besides, only clan jobs pay real gil.
Unfortunately his 'father' had forbid him to join one knowing its dangers, but Momoshiro had sworn he would once he is old enough to be independent. With his sixteenth birthday closing in at a rapid rate– the age of independence – he is becoming more and more eager to join a clan.
He was leaning on the counter pondering in deep concentration on a list of local Clans to apply after he had finished running his errands, when a catlike noise brought him back to reality. He looked up in confusion and immediately the reflection of three figures on the rows and rows of wine bottles and various glass containers caught his attention.
What directly stood out to him was a mop of red hair reflected on the black wine bottle. He could only see the back of the hume's head, but Momoshiro can tell that the owner of the said hair was chatting livelily with other two humes(1) with numerous wild hand gestures.
From their appearance they seem to be in their late teens. They were wearing normal travel clothes that didn't give away their profession, but with experience, he could see that they were no ordinary travellers.
One of them was wearing square spectacles and had a hair much like his own – short, spiked, raven black hair. A scholar, he guessed. The other was a smiling brunet who was nodding at the red hair's remarks and occasionally sipped the cup of coffee he was holding with his both hands. Though the smile looked ordinary enough, his sixth sense told him there was something eerie about it.
The brunet seemed to sense Momoshiro's gaze and directed his closed eye smile towards him. It sent an involuntary shiver down his spine. Embarrassed at been caught, he put on his best cheerful smile and turned around to face them.
"Hey there!" He greeted. By now, all three of them had turned to look at him. "You're not from around here are you?"
"No we're not." The brunet replied politely.
"Are you three in a clan?"
"Of course nya" The redhead answered almost drunkenly, though Momoshiro was sure that the juice in front of him is not alcoholic. "We're proud members of Clan Seishun!"
"Clan Seishun? Never heard of it," He looked over his shoulder at the pieces of paper scattered on the counter. 'And it's not on the list.'
"We're from Dalmasca nya!" The cheerful redhead greeted.
"Dalmasca!" Momoshiro cried, drawing the attention of neighbouring tables. "By sea or by air?" He questioned once he got himself composed.
"By sea," the brunet said.
Dalmasca is located in the World of Hemera, two worlds away. Caught between Gaia and Hemera is the World of Nyx, Vieran territory.
The Vieras are creatures with long limbs, white bunny ears and silver hair. Their feet are shaped in such a way that in order to stand they must wear high heels. The race is intimately tied to the Wood and are said to have long lives. They are considered very attractive, though unfortunately they generally keep to themselves, and the ones that have live in the very depths of Nyxen jungle are said to possess divine beauty. Also their special abilities: senses, agility, and fineness are unmatched by any other race.
Not much is known about the mysterious creatures, but scholars have gathered as much as they can from the outcasts of the reclusive race. The Vieras listen to the sacred voice of the Wood, (which spreads over much of Nyx) and by Her voice, learn all that goes on beyond Her boundaries; called the Green Word, it is the law by which the Vieras live. When a viera leaves the woods, they become outcasts. And because of their reclusive nature, they ward off outsiders.
It has been long known to Ivalice that in the Mist covered Eastern Ocean lies the lands of Vieras, where Seastones, the power source of the ships, are rendered useless within the Jagd Zones.
Ever since the storm in the Southeast Ocean, the Mist was mysteriously cleared and numerous flying ships have been sighted around the lands of Ivalice. After Queen Remedi conversed with the humes inside those flying ships, the people of Ivalice had learned that they came from the continent on the other side of the Mist – called Hemera.
They also gathered that those astonishing flying ships are powered by skystones, much like seastones, lose their effects when they enter the Jagd Zones - the heavily Mist covered areas – which apparently spread over the mainland of Ivalice as well. Exchanges have been made between the continents, but much of them still remains unknown and vice versa.
After questioning the some of the vieras intensively, officials discovered that some of them confessed that the knowledge came from their ancestors (who left the world of Nyx) that their world was amid Gaia and Hemera. That certainly spoke volume of their secretive nature if nothing else did. The officials are trying to gather more secrets from them as always, but results are predicted to be fruitless.
"Say Fuji!" The redhead turned to the brunet instantly. "When we go back, let's travel by airship!"
"Saa, you'd have to ask Tezuka about that."
"We travel on airship in Hermera all the time Eiji." The bespectacled man said.
"But this is different though." He whined childishly.
"So… what are you all coming here for?" By now, it seems to Momoshiro that the trio had forgotten about his existence. Left to stand awkwardly in front of their table, he was forced to draw their attention with a clumsy question.
"Oh, you know, the classic. Travel to new lands and discover hidden treasures." The brunet, Fuji, said as a matter of fact.
"Have you found any yet in Ivalice?" Momoshiro grinned. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. Please to meet you, I'm Momoshiro but you can call me Momo."
"Sit down nya, it's quite hard to talk to you when you're up there!"
As he pulled up a chair and was about to open his mouth to possibly inquire more about Hermera and Clan Seishun, silence descended upon the noisy bar and in seconds and whispers erupted from the room.
"Is that him?"
"Who's that?"
"He's still a kid!"
"Did you hear? He single handily -"
"- not as I imagined him to be."
"- quite a reputation recently -"
His head automatically turned to follow the direction of others.
What he saw was a boy, who looked no older than 15, step through the half open pub door. The boy was wearing a sky blue and green Gaia Gear, and a Green Beret with the block arrow ability(2) that failed to hide the tumbles of raven black hair tinted with emerald green highlights. The sound of his knee high boots clicked softly on the stone pavement. A Silver Bow and a small quiver full of Parallel Arrows were hanged on his back. His catlike piercing golden eyes, one of the rare colors among humes much like Momoshiro's own purple, seemed cold and distant. The boy completely ignored the stares and the whispers directing at him as if it never existed.
While the boy glanced at the job bulletin board, Eiji poked Momoshiro's shoulder. "Who's that?" he whispered.
"His name is Echizen Ryoma. He became a well talked about topic when he succeeded in hunting down the month's most wanted, the Dark Duke Lodion, just by himself a week ago!" He whispered back. "Not only did he succeed in a Rank 4 mission, he did it alone! At his age! There are some that dubs him as the 'lone wolf pup'." Momoshiro grinned.
"The 'lone wolf pup'?" Eiji exclaimed softly. "That's not cute!"
"Hmm, what was his bounty?" Inui questioned.
"Umm…," He looked up at the ceiling in thought. "I think it was a little over 20,000 Gil?" Momoshiro looked at them in confusion when Fuji's smile widened and Inui's glasses glinted for a second.
"Nyaa!! Fujiko!! What did you find out?" Eiji whined. He wasn't the only one who noticed the change in the two. Fuji only smiled and Eiji got more and more worked up.
By now, the emerald haired boy had walked over to talk with his father, the owner and the bartender. He knew about the 'other' job bulletin board, Momoshiro noted. After a few minutes, he saw the boy pay his father at least a few thousand Gil for the information and walked back towards the entrance.
"Come and join our clan nya!!" Eiji called over to the boy while he passed their table.
"No thanks." The teen said without shifting his gaze.
"Ochibi is so cold!"
"Eiji, stop inviting random people." Inui warned.
"Whaat?" he whined. "We only have seven people! It's more fun when we're all together in a big group nya!!"
Momoshiro half listened to Eiji's complaint as watched the boy walk confidently out of the pub, envious of the boy's success. He saw the boy side stepped to allow a small group of Humes into the pub. In the very front was a tall, bespectacled Hume with black hair and blond highlights(3). He had a serious stoic air around him that gave high likelihood of him as a clan leader. Behind him was a friendly looking man with a strange hairstyle; a bowl shaped hair with two bangs.
"Tezukaaaa!! Oishi!!" The redhead stood up and waved energetically with both hands. "Over here nyaaa!!"
Momoshiro felt a tickle of sweat dropped on his forehead. This is possibly the most cheerful energetic Hume had seen in his whole life.
TBC…
Please tell me if you have game experience or not! It is very important to know how much details I should put in to my fic! (Even if this is not the latest chapter for future readers. A YES or NO would suffice if you're extremely lazy.)
Please Give a round of applause of Sakura Moon-san, my new editor!
She went over all my chapters including the new ones. Now thanks to her, there will be fewer mistakes to be stumbled over. XD
I'm still looking for a cowriter. Basically I give them the skeleton of my fic for them to add description and make it flow and possibly comment on it. The reason for that is description eats hours of my time and I no longer have the luxury to lose it anymore.
Footnotes
- Cyril is the starting town in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (FFTA), Ivalice is the name of the town for the FFTA protagonist, name of the world in the book of FFTA, and name of the world in Final Fantasy XII.
- You may find references from FFTA, FFXII and FFXII Revenant Wings, FFIII, FFVI, FFX, Chocobo Tales since I've played them but they'll be mostly from FFTA and FFXII
1. The race of humans in Final Fantasy term
2. Description taken from FFXII US
3. I think his hair looks mud brown in the anime. If I remember correctly it was black with blond highlights?
Unfortunately, I'm not sure where I'm going with this YET. (I know, Colors of Blood had the same situation)
I really need beta readers so please tell me if you can!
Oh, and don't forget to tell me what you thought of the story XD. How many readers here played Final Fantasy?
REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
(Next chapter is almost ready but don't even BOTHER me until I get at least 20 reviews. I deserve that much since they take hours to write so don't just put me on alerts like most of you do. I'm not taking the chapter as 'hostage' as many of you call it because it's mine in the first place. You should be not lazy enough to answer a YES or NO for my game experience question)
Published: 12/05/08
Revised: 06/06/08
