Disclaimer
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance belongs to Square Enix. Not me. Darn.
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Dark Dealings
Chapter 1: Beginnings
With a large thud, a wooden mug full of an unknown substance was slammed hard upon a sturdy wooden pub table, a milky white liquid sloshing slightly over the brim. The offender, a Bangaa dressed in royal blue robes and a Templar Helm, was laughing uproariously. Someone had obviously said something funny, and it had tickled his reptilian funny-bone. The Bangaa was seated in a pub in the town of Sprohm with his clanmates and Clan Leader. They had taken a well deserved break from missions, and were enjoying some time off the battle field. They did, after all, have a bounty on the head of their Clan Leader. It was tough avoiding the Judges AND rival clans out to get the bounty reward. So far, they had encountered many close calls and near misses. With the combined skill of everyone in the clan, they were able to escape with little to no injury, which was always a good thing in Ivalice. Wiping tears of mirth from his beady eyes, his gaze fell on a blonde-haired boy across the table from him.
"Ssso, Chief," he began, his reptilian tongue interfering with his speech, "About thossse jobsss you were talking about?" The blonde boy grinned and set his mug down quietly, as opposed to his Bangaa friend's actions.
"Yeah. I was just about to bring that up. I was looking at available missions, and I found one just right for a certain someone." The clan members all grinned, looking at each other. Who would be the lucky one? It was obviously a dispatch mission, so only one member could go. When missions like these came along, everyone always got excited. It was a surprise. No one knew what the job was yet, or who was going to be chosen for it. It was comparable to picking teams for sports; the best were always chosen first.
"Ah, well….I'm alwaysss up for a good fight, Sssir!" The Bangaa said, standing up proudly and beating one fist on his chest.
"Yes, I know that Nume. Though I'm afraid you'll be sitting this one out." The rest of the clan members laughed as Nume sat down again, looking slightly put out.
"Of courssse, Sssir." The group around the table was now silent. Two Viera, a Bangaa, a Moogle, a Nu Mou, and a Human sat at the square table in the pub, their attention obviously on the human boy. The Moogle spoke up, a happy chirp in his voice.
"Are you going to tell us, Marche, or are you going to leave us wallowing in a state of suspense kupo?" The blonde, Marche, scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Uh...yeah. Sorry about that. The mission is from some guy named Ed. Some shady character is targeting his clan leader, Kerry. He wants us to protect her….but here's the catch: No one's allowed to know. So you know what that means, right?" He smiled. Everyone chuckled and looked to the Viera at the end of the table. Her tall fuzzy ears perked up, almost as if they alone sensed the stares of the gathering at the table.
"I, Marche Sir?" she asked, the corner of her mouth turning up. Marche nodded, and the Viera stood up. She was clothed in the deep green uniform of a Sniper, the veil about her face masking her smile perfectly.
"This mission requires stealth and wit. You've got both, so this one's yours. Ed wants you to leave immediately. Good luck, Pheobe."
"Aye! Good luck, Lassss! Give 'em hell for me!" Nume said, trying his best to cheer her on and not feel jealous. He had become rather bored, and wanted a little action.
"Please take care, won't you?… Don't look at me like that, Nume. As a Nu Mou AND a White Mage, it's in my nature to worry." Stuart, their Nu Mou White Mage piped up.
"Don't give them too hard a time, kupo!" said Montblanc, everyone's' favourite Black Mage Moogle.
"Please be careful, Pheobe!" The last voice belonged to that of the second Viera, a sweet yet shy Elementalist known as Etoile. Pheobe didn't smile; however, she did lay her hand gently on the younger Viera's head, ruffling her hair softly. For a person as distant as Pheobe, the fact that she had even affectionately touched another was completely mind boggling. However, those of Clan Templar were used to it by now.
"I'll be fine. So long, everyone. See you in the morrow." The Sniper had never been a Viera big on words. Having said her small little bit, she was gone. One of the strongest members of Clan Templar, and now she was gone. Missions from here on out would be tough. As the Sniper left, a small whimper could be heard.
"Cheer up, Etoile. Pheobe's smart. Nothing'll happen to her. You'll see." Etoile heard Marche's words, but they did little to comfort her.
"I … just have a bad feeling is all, Marche." The young Elementalist said nervously before sitting back down again. Marche sighed. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea? Oh well. What's done is done, and Pheobe had already gone. Things'll work out, he told himself before turning to his remaining clanmates. He needed to find a mission that wasn't too difficult to complete while Pheobe was away. That may take some time.