Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Final Fantasy characters in this story.
Author's notes: Well, I've been insanely busy! I've only traded a month's worth of sleep for my latest project: INTERNET REVIEWING! XD I've decided to take my knowledge of books and movies, and combine them with my love at yelling at people! :D The combination, is pretty much what it sounds like. Me screaming at a camera for 20 minutes. :P
The show is called The Book Was Better. The premise is that movies keep being made based on books that do no favors (or even betray) the source material! It is my job to expose these frauds and educate the ones making the movies, hoping to improve the movies of the future!
…Okay, that's a load of crap. I just enjoy yelling at people I don't like. XD
With my current schedule, I should be able to get an episode out every 3-4 weeks! Plus, this will be an easier way to help fund my writing (ad revenue and all)! You get something immediately in return, for free, in order to get excellent stories down the road for only a few bucks! Plus, you get to see what I look like (Hello ladies ;) ). Oh, but I took precautions, so those of you trying to find where I live in order to pay me back for those cliffhangers? Sorry, not gonna help you. XD
Episode 1 is me reviewing The Golden Compass, and episode 2 (Eragon) is already in editing! Give me another week or so and I should have something ready for you!
Just search youtube for The Book Was Better: Golden Compass, and it's the first result. I'll also provide a link to my channel in my fanfic profile!
And if you're wondering, yes, in fact I have forgotten what a bed feels like! Now why don't you guys enjoy a fresh new chapter while I go inject Red Bull directly into my neck? :D
Chapter 2- A Fine Day for a Parade!
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Every now and then, a job found us. It was usually small. Help someone collect a debt. Find a criminal. Seki even rescued a cat from a tree once. Then, every few months, we would get someone dressed in regal colors carrying a scroll with a royal seal on it.
This was one of those jobs.
"Alright, shape up!" Kaiten barked. He took these royal assignments very seriously. "We're set to stay near Regent Cid during the procession. Trevor, keep an eye on the streets, look for the usual weird stuff."
"Right," I said.
"Dante, Seki, you both keep your eyes up. Watch windows and rooftops. Mutter something to the rest of us if you see someone, but don't act until you see something hostile. We don't need to unnecessarily cause a panic. This is a celebration after all."
Today's mission was a royal escort. I was pleased for the exposure, though it did mean I would have to be on my best behavior, as Kaiten was wont to point out. Lindblum and Burmecia had signed a trade agreement, raw materials for vegetation. A hurricane had blown through Burmecia recently. Thanks to an increase in rain, Burmecia's plains had flooded, losing them dozens of acres of food. Plus, industry was up in Lindblum, so between new airships and new weapons, the need for iron and steel was on the rise. Both countries benefitted while increasing trade rates.
"I just hope we don't get delayed in the usual politics," Seki said, leaning on her polearm. She had adorned her old Dragon Knight armor. It matched Freya's in almost every way, except it was yellow where Freya's was red. It went well with her blonde hair. "I need to get home before the kids. I don't like them being home without someone to watch them."
"Told you we should've gotten a sitter," Dante said. He had changed a lot since we first fought alongside each other in the Festival of the Hunt. Back then he was an engineer with a new toy. Now, he was a force to be reckoned with all on his own.
Dante still had his short curled brown hair and fun-loving personality, always in pursuit of knowledge, but that was all that was the same. Thanks to helping Wayne in the forge, he had bigger arms than I did! Walking at my side, the spare rifle he kept on his back gave a pat, pat, pat as it bounced off his back. Magazines and ammo clips were still in the distant future, and since I didn't know enough about mechanics to help design them, all of Dante's guns were revolver-based. It was still cool though, and looked like something out of a steampunk story. He carried another rifle in his arms, and two enlarged revolvers on his hip. He still carried all his ammo in a sack at his side. Reloading took him forever, hence the multiple guns. Still, Dante was the best shot outside of the military.
Guns took a while to make, and since Dante owned the patent and he only produced guns through Wayne, the both of them were making a killing, selling almost exclusively to the Lindblum and Alexandria Militaries. Burmecia was intent on holding on to their old ways, and Cleyra wasn't even intent on risking open combat, so neither of them took any guns, but that didn't matter. Wayne's business was expanding and both he and Dante were now wealthy men.
"Not sure why you needed me," Dante complained. "You have an entire squad of Dragon Knights, and I have other work to do."
"I like the company," I admitted. "Besides, we never hang that much anymore. I'm always traveling abroad and you're usually working with Wayne."
"Drinks after the mission then?"
I grinned. "I thought you'd never offer! Sounds great!"
"Wha—That was not an offer! Pay for your own damn drinks!"
"You're the best Dante!"
"STOP DOING THAT!"
We were all gathered in the Noble District. The procession would start in an archway at the end of the district and make its way to the Grand Castle. Citizens, mostly nobles of course, would be able to gather in the streets and watch from their homes.
"We'll just need to check in," Kaiten said, walking by the guards by the front door and into the inn. "Stand tall guys, we've got royalty inside."
The Grand Dragon's Tail was an ornately designed and impeccably clean inn. Whitewashed walls were divided only by solid brown molding. Every window was decorated with deep blue drapes and a flowerpot hanging outside the glass. Every couch cost more than what I made in a month, but they looked like it. This inn was made for the richest of blood, mostly used by visiting nobles from Treno. With twenty rooms and full room service, it was the envy of every other inn in town. It was little wonder why Regent Cid made this the starting point for the ceremony.
Regent Cid sat waiting in the month's-worth salary chairs, with 2 squads of guards, one of which was the new Gunslinger Corps, the sharpshooters each trained and armed in fighting with Dante's 8-round rifles. The Queen Hilda was back at the castle, but Princess Eiko was sitting beside her adoptive father. She sat up straight and looked very polite in her clean purple dress. She barely even flinched as we entered the room, as if lost in her thoughts. The King of Burmecia waited alongside him with a group of stewards. Surrounding them both was a squadron of Dragon Knights, donned in dark blue armor. Leading them was the only Dragon Knight in red armor, standing at the front of the line. She enjoyed a reputation as a hardass, but she got the job done better than anyone else.
"The Tempest Brotherhood," Freya said, stepping up to greet us. "Good to see you all again. I'm just sorry I couldn't see you at last year's Festival of the Hunt, but I was overseeing a new group of trainees."
"Freya!" Seki said. She stepped up and gave her old friend a hug. Freya paused at first, then awkwardly returned the gesture, ignoring the snickering of the other Dragon Knights. "I've missed you! How've you been?"
"Fairly well," she said. "There's far more politics in my job than I would like, but I get by. And how are you doing? How are the children?"
"Oh, the kids are great! They ask about you sometimes, wondering when you're going to come by and visit."
"Do they now?" Freya asked skeptically. "Do they ask it, or do you ask it?"
Seki rolled her eyes and smirked. "Hey, I can't get out as much as I would like. We only have the one airship and my boss doesn't let me drive it for personal use."
"Company policy," Kaiten defended.
"He doesn't let anyone drive it," I pointed out, glaring at Kaiten.
"He barely lets anyone even get inside it," Dante pointed out. "Remember when Regent Cid asked to get inside so he could reverse engineer it? I thought Kaiten's head was gonna pop off!"
Seki giggled as Kaiten turned his angered gaze to Dante and myself. "I'm glad I moved out here," she said. "These guys are almost as fun as our days in the academy!"
"If you wanted to relive our academy days, you could have come back to the Dragon Knights," Freya said. "You could've stayed in Burmecia."
"Perhaps," Seki said. "But I got tired of the procedure, and the bullshit. Besides, this way, I get to travel more, spend more time with my kids, and I kinda owed Trevor. Besides, he's kinda cute, isn't he? Such a big, strong hero-man! Haha, just look at him blush!"
I just cleared my throat and turned away, doing my best not to show my red face.
"Commander," Kaiten said to Freya as he stepped up. "I've briefed my team on the plan. I'm sure your dragon knights are covered, correct?"
"We were ready before we got here," Freya challenged. Behind her, the squad of Burmecian soldiers echoed her enthusiasm with a quick, "Haroo!" Ever since becoming commander, she had become much sterner, more demanding of those around her. Yet, I could tell it was for good effect. Being a hardass was sometimes part of being a good leader. I had picked that much up by simply following Kaiten's orders.
"Hey Freya," I said, stepping up to my old friend-turned-nemesis-turned-friend. "Been a while. You never come out to say hi. You look like you're doing well."
Freya just nodded at first. "I could say the same of you," she said. "You're becoming quite famous. I don't know if the Tempest Brotherhood is necessary here with all my Dragon Knights, but it is good to see you. I'm glad you've been doing well ever since Memoria."
"It looks like we all have," I said. "I just saw Zidane and Dagger the other day. I think everyone's planning to come together again in the Tournament of Kings. Hell, maybe we can finally find Amarant! I haven't seen him since we escaped the Hill of Despair."
"Neither have I," Freya admitted. "Are you going to be competing in the tournament?"
"Planning on it," I grinned mischievously. "You?"
Freya still had the polearm I had plucked for her from Memoria hanging on her back. It seemed to shine as she donned a prideful smirk. "Times are changing. Alexandria is advancing on its magic and Lindblum on its technology, but people often forget the raw, martial talent of Burmecia! I plan to compete just to prove that honed skill and natural talent can win any battle!"
"Not any battle," Kaiten corrected. "But at least if you're competing, I won't have to worry about Trevor slacking off and getting overconfident. Do me a favor and don't hold back on him."
"I plan to beat him and win the tournament. Maybe not easily, but it will give me a chance to prove the might of the Dragon Knights!"
"Sounds good!" Seki chirped in. "It'll be fun when we fight each other then!"
"Oh? You're fighting too Seki?"
Seki nodded. "I can't let Trevor be the only one from the Brotherhood to fight!"
"Not that I don't like waxing nostalgic," Kaiten said. "But we do have a job to do. That procession is meant to start soon."
"Yes, of course," Freya said, getting back on track. "We've received reports that the LF might try to attack us. The Dragon Knights will provide close support should it be needed for His Highness. Can your team handle scouting and range?"
Kaiten grunted at the perceived insult. "I have a gunman, a former Dragon Knight, and a guy who faced down the end of the world. Yeah, I think we can handle a few anarchists."
Lindblum First, or the LF, was a recently formed anti-government militia hidden within the borders of Lindblum Kingdom. In their mind, Lindblum's monarchy had worn out its welcome by supporting Burmecia in the Mist War. By diverting airships to aid the fallen kingdom, Lindblum had left itself open to attack by Alexandria, which led to its downfall, and the deaths of hundreds of its citizens. The LF saw the move to aid the Burmecians as foolhardy, while deeming Regent Cid as unfit to lead his people. Now, isolationism was all the LF cared to enforce, despite the peacetime and the formation of the Alliance. Then again, anarchists and logic were not good bedfellows.
The LF was responsible for several bombings around the kingdom, as well as South Gate. Their leaders all went by masks, so no one knew who they really were. I had never tangled with the group myself, though I wanted to after every attack they made. Kaiten stopped me on more than one occasion from taking the Invincible out to hunt them down, though we had provided relief missions for the wounded. Very little Intel was known about the shadow group, so security was up for this escort mission, just in case.
The Noble District was pretty secure, but the Lindblum City Guard had been patrolling for the last few days just in case. Several noble families from Burmecia had been invited to attend as well, already lining the streets with several local citizens. A small contingent of Burmecian soldiers had come to the inn as well and would complete the parade.
Freya stepped through the ring of guards around both monarchs, saluting briefly. "Your Highnesses?" Freya asked. "We're ready to begin at any time."
The King of Burmecia, dressed in a regal green vest and pants with a flowing purple cape and silver trim, checked a small timepiece from his pocket. "I suppose it is time to begin. We'll have to continue this discussion later, Regent."
"Of course," Regent Cid said, rising as well. His red attire was matched with a blue silk cape, flowing down to the back of his legs. "I do find Burmecia's climate fascinating. Eiko, are you ready to go?"
"Yes, father," she said, almost robotically. When I had first met Eiko, she was covering in a week's worth of dirt, running around like a complete tomboy. Even knowing how the game ended, I never thought I would see her acting polite and clean like this. Her purple dress looked like she had never worn it before, though I could still see a hint of dust on her fringe, as well as the fingertips of her matching purple gloves. Perhaps she couldn't help kicking up some dirt on her way over to the inn. Some habits died hard.
The King of Burmecia nodded to Freya and asked, "Commander Crescent, will you give the command please?"
"Of course, your Highness," she said with a bow. Her Dragon Knights heard the king and were already lined up, surrounding the chocobo-drawn carriage that would carry the Regent and the King. "All soldiers, report for duty! Fall in and file out!"
At once, the highly trained Burmecian military formed ranks and marched out of the inn. Only one rank was left when the King walked out, following behind him, with three of its members joining him and the Regent inside the carriage. Freya took point at the front of the Dragon Knights as they formed a shoehorn in front of and around the carriage. Most of the soldiers followed behind the carriage, but two squads marched up front, in front of even the Dragon Knights. They were the ones who joined us, forming in front of us while we took to the flanks. Kaiten and Seki took the left side while Dante and I took the right.
"FORWARD!" came the cry from Freya.
The Lindblum Royal Marching Band led the way, already playing on their drums to set the pace for the rest of us. Members of the Lindblum Royal Guard filed out front, as well as members of the Gunslinger Corps. We felt almost tacked on with all the armed forces already in place, but each of us could already outfight anyone in the Lindblum military. Lindblum had always relied on their technology in their armies, a point Freya reviled. Magic was still new and exciting to me though, so my magic short swords would serve for all my needs.
"Kind of nice," I said to Dante. I kept my eyes on the streets as we walked, watching everyone that we passed in the crowds. "I don't think we've had a big Royal mission like this since Zidane and Dagger's wedding last summer."
"I know what you mean," he said, keeping his eyes on the rooftops, occasionally looking through the telescope on his rifle. "If you let your ego go, it's almost like they're cheering for us. Though, knowing you, you're probably there already."
"Some of them are cheering for us. Look!"
Several of the locals were screaming from behind the barricades along the streets, reaching their arms out at us, and only us. I waved back at a group of girls, feeling like a rockstar. Dante waved too, getting a similar reaction of louder screams that we could easily hear over the ear-popping music up ahead.
"Maybe being single and famous isn't so bad," I said, perhaps letting myself get a little too distracted by the cuties.
"Yeah, sorry to hear it didn't work out with Sara," Dante said. "We can go to a bar if you need to vent a little."
"Still offering to buy those drinks?"
"Never mind. You're fine."
I laughed, until a pebble flew out and hit me in the head. I turned and saw Kaiten glaring at me angrily. He couldn't possibly yell at me over the music without breaking formation, so he pointed at his eyes, then sharply at the crowds to his side. I got his meaning easily enough.
"Right, sorry boss," I muttered, and went back to examining the crowd. "Damn slave driver."
Dante had a chuckle at my expense. "Someone's in trouble."
"Nah. Kaiten's just being uptight again. You know how he gets on these big profile missions."
Everything was clear. The citizens were cheering like mad, but the castle was already in view. We were halfway done already. The Regent and King of Burmecia both waved from their carriage, much to the adoration of everyone who came to see them. This was a great day in international relations, and only served to strengthen the bonds of the Alliance.
That's why I'll never understand why someone would want to bomb it.
"POWER TO THE PEOPLE!"
"Trevor, up there!" Dante shouted. I looked up just in time to see a large tin box, almost like a cookie tin, falling through the air. Someone dressed in a black hood had tossed it from the rooftop. Smoke poured out of it, and I didn't have to guess at what it was.
I had just enough time to shout, "INCOMING!"
Dante fell to one knee as the bomb dropped. Aiming down his scope, he took two shots. The first only hit the corner of the tin, but the second hit center mass. The gunpowder in the bomb ignited at once, blowing up in midair, showering the streets with flakes of tin and shrapnel. Slivers of metal streaked for the civilians, already injuring some, but it was far better than what could have happened if the bomb had hit the ground.
The crowd and the marching band were already bolting in every direction. Some ran into buildings, others just ran for their lives down the streets. The soldiers along the streets did their best to keep everyone organized, but it was an impossible challenge. Several of them simply helped the civilians escape however they could, picking them back up and directing everyone to run down the streets, away from the parade. As long as we could stop any more bombs from going off, everything would turn out for the best.
I was busy scanning the crowd for anyone else who could attack when Dante yelled, "Look up! More of them!"
The rooftops all around us were lined with members of the LF. The black masks they wore were the only things distinguishing them as a group. Otherwise, they could just be any regular civilian dressed in regular clothes. If we let them get away, identifying them would be next to impossible.
Each black-hooded figure lit another tin box. With a heave, each box fell towards the carriage. Dante had only six shots left in his rifle, and even if he was lucky, there was no way to stop all twenty bombs. We had no way to stop them all, but Dante took aim anyway. I grabbed a revolver from his hip and took a few shots myself.
One by one, in rapid succession, each bomb exploded before it reached the carriage. I looked over and saw each member of the Gunslinger Corps, having seen Dante and shooting each bomb. The LF, seeing their plot foiled, fled the scene. We couldn't let them reconnect with the other retreating citizens or we would never find them!
"Dragon Knights!" Freya shouted. "Protect your king! Squad one, stay with the carriage! Squad two, to the rooftops!"
The Dragon Knights, like the Special Force team they were, set into position at once. While half their numbers fell back to surround the monarchs' carriage, the other half leapt to the tops of the surrounding buildings. The Lindblum soldiers, not to be outdone, surrounded the carriage. Three small squads had fallen back and were clearing out the nearby buildings one by one, in case the LF had any reserve members waiting in ambush.
The members of the Tempest Brotherhood fell back, coming together as one in the street. We were all busy surveying the streets while Kaiten was trading tactics with the captain from the Lindblum Army.
"Why the hell does this always happen when I join you guys?!" Dante shouted over the chaos. "First that whole thing with the trick sparrow swarm, now this!"
"Maybe you're just bad luck!" Seki suggested.
Despite my friends' banter, I was still on edge. The site wasn't secure, and we were going to have to move the Regent and the King. I knew the Dragon Knight would round up most of the LF soon enough, but they were far too daring, and the plan was over too quickly. It was reminiscent of the Black Hand when they started World War I. There were several assassins involved, not just the one, so, could the first wave of bombs really have been all of it?
That was when I noticed the three dark figures in the nearby alleyway.
"DANTE, RIGHT!"
In the blink of an eye, two more tins were lobbed into the air. Dante dropped his rifle and before it even hit the ground, both revolvers were in his hands, raising at the boxes. His shots went wild as panic set in. Twice he hit the corners, twisting it in the air, but the tin was still on course for its target. Us.
"GET DOWN!" Seki jumped high into the air as I tackled Dante and we both flew under the explosive as it bounced once in the street, only a few feet from the carriage. The second tin hit a soldier in the chest and fell to his feet in the middle of his squad. I covered Dante as best I could. I had to hope the carriage would be alright. I didn't dare look over at the squadron of Lindblum soldiers.
Explosions pounded at the ground and my ears. I counted far more than the two I had seen. My body shook as I desperately prayed the bombardment to end. It lasted only a few seconds, but the sensation left me weak and shaken. Something wet splashed against my face. I kept my eyes shut as gravel and dirt continued to rain down on us. Beneath me, Dante was screaming, just as afraid as I was.
I wasn't exactly sure when the blasts ended. I could barely hear anything. Someone stood over me and shook my shoulder. I chanced a glance up. It was Seki. She vibrated at first, but then I realized that was just my vision. She helped me up and gave me a slap on the back, shocking my senses back into place.
Seki shouted something as she helped Dante up, but I couldn't hear it. There was only one long beep. I was deafened, but with any luck, it was only temporary. In the meantime, the real trouble was where the bombs had landed. I looked first at the carriage. Several bombs had hit it at close range. The wheels were all destroyed and the frame was badly burned, but for the most part, it seemed in tact. Now, moving the monarchs was more important than ever.
I also looked around to where the other bombs went off. The carriage was bad, but the soldiers around me were in much worse shape. Body parts lay blasted all around. The ground was soaked in blood. I saw the squadron that had been hit adjacent to myself. Two soldiers apparently used their bodies to smother the blast and saved the rest of their squad. Those two deserved a statue in their honor.
Smoke and the concussive blasts knocked me to my knees and I started a coughing fit. My body was shutting down on me. I could see the anarchists running away down the alleyways, but I was in no shape to chase them down.
Just as I was starting to give up, a warm light surrounded all three of us. My body stopped shaking and I was able to steady my breathing. Both Dante and Seki seemed fine. I rose up and saw Eiko, playing her flute from beside the carriage. White magic spells went off everywhere, healing the soldiers who hadn't already died. Limbs couldn't be regrown, but the bleeding could be halted and wounds could be closed. The second she had finished, the Regent reached out and pulled her back into the carriage, yelling at her not to be so reckless and expose herself like that.
"Are you all alright?!" Kaiten shouted as he ran to us. "No one's hurt?!"
"We're fine!' I said. "Eiko healed us! Listen, some of them ran down the alleys! They're going to pass right under the Dragon Knights!"
"And these soldiers have to stay with the Regent to keep him alive!" Kaiten said. "Guys, it's up to us to track these bastards down! Trevor, Dante, rush down the far alley over there and take down anyone in a black mask! Seki, you're with me. We're taking the opposite side!"
"Kaiten, what's the objective?" I asked. "Capture or kill?"
Kaiten scanned around at the devastation, then looked back to me with fire in his eyes. "Kill. Leave capturing for the Dragon Knights."
He turned and ran down the alley to the left side with Seki right behind him. I unsheathed my short swords and turned to my partner. "Ready?"
Dante finished reloading his rifle and cocked the hammer. "Let's go! They're getting away!"
The members of the LF already had a head start on us. I took the lead with Dante right behind me. The buildings rose three stories on each side, expanding shadows like a blackened pit. The darkened alleys were littered with debris and abandoned crates. It would have been a hopeless pursuit, except our targets made no effort to cover their noise as they ran. Their footsteps and voices echoed easily in the narrow passage.
"Did we get them?" one nasally voice asked.
"I think so!" another answered. "My bomb hit the carriage! No way they're okay after that!"
"Hey, keep it down you two!" a third voice hushed. "Those rats are still around chasing the others! Do you want them to hear you?"
The footsteps slowed and quieted up ahead. Either they were being smarter and stepping carefully, or they were stopping. Either way, we had a chance to catch them. Energy flowed through my short swords, and I was ready to take these guys down by any means necessary.
"Three of them," I muttered quietly to Dante. "Sounds like they're around the corner. You ready?"
"Stay to the left," Dante suggested. "I'll try to take them down at range. You can run in and finish them off."
"Sounds efficient. Let's go!"
We both rounded the alley's corner, and sure enough, the three LF anarchists were standing around in a wide clearing, catching their breath before continuing down the adjacent alley. I skipped along the far left wall, never breaking my stride as Dante slid into position, gun raised and aiming down the scope. The three LF members saw us coming and pulled out their own weapons: two had rapiers and the third had a pair of daggers. I almost laughed at how little those would do to help them against me.
However, I never had the chance to unleash my fury. A large, dark figure fell from the building above, crashing behind them. The figure's arms reached out, taking one of the LF down with a horrifying crunch of broken bones as it landed. The other anarchists turned to face their new attacker. One was backhanded into a stack of crates while the other met the front end of a clawed gauntlet, earning a slash from hip to neck! His screams resounded off the walls, until the figure stomped down on his neck, breaking it in one sharp, gory snap!
The newcomer rose, standing well above both Dante and myself. Fresh blood graced the thinnest line along the edge of his single-bladed gauntlet, matched only by the red gem embedded in the back.
"Amarant?!" I blurted out. "I haven't seen you since Zidane returned! We've all been wondering where you wandered off to!"
Amarant only grunted at first. "I've been fighting. Only thing I'm good at."
Dante approached, gun lowered and hammer released. "He was one of the ten of you that went into Memoria, right?"
"He is," I nodded and turned back to the big green man. "So, you went back into bounty hunter work or something?"
"Little else to do," Amarant said. "The whole team we made went their own ways, so I went back to what I knew. I've been going it solo ever since."
"Seems to have worked for you," I said. I couldn't remember if I had to crane my head up this much to see him before. He hadn't gotten just taller, but stronger as well. His muscles bulged like the hero in a bad 80's movie. Although, judging by how he batted a guy twenty feet through the air, I wasn't about to accuse him of using steroids.
"Hey, I have an idea!" I said. "Why not come work with us? We already know you're strong, and Kaiten would probably let you in no problem! We have a nice place in the Business District, and we're all gonna join the Tournament of Kings together! Well, Seki and I are anyway."
"You want me to join you?" Amarant asked, disbelieving at first. He folded his arms for a moment, then just shook his head. I didn't mention how much like Zidane he looked. "No dice. I've gotten used to being on my own again. I think I can get by without a team for a while longer."
"But you said it yourself! You're stronger in a team! You can really let loose if you know you have someone watching your back!"
Just then, there was a crashing from behind us. The LF member Amarant had tossed into the crates flung himself to his feet and made a break for it down the alleyway.
"Quick! Get him!" Dante shouted. He took aim down the scope, but growled in frustration. "You guys are in the way! I don't have a shot!"
"Don't just stand there!" Amarant yelled, and took off running. I was hot on his tail, running right behind him with my short swords drawn. Meanwhile, Dante stayed back and jumped up onto another nearby crate, taking aim once again.
Our fleeing LF anarchist seemed to know he had a gun trained on him. He zigzagged to and fro, doing everything he could to dodge us. He also knocked crates and trash cans over to delay us in any way. It did little to help, but the real trouble came into view soon enough. Up ahead, the alley ended into a crowded street. The thug tore off his black mask and tossed it over his shoulder. If he got into that crowd, he would disappear in seconds!
"Amarant!" I shouted. "Can't you run any faster?!"
"Like you're doing any better!" he quipped back. "What about your gun boy? Why isn't he doing anything?"
"He must not have a shot!"
"Then this might get real unpleasant, real fast!"
This was it. He was going to get away! I was already cursing myself for not being faster. Even if I extended a Demon Saber to its fullest, my attack would still come up short. I hated not having any ranged attacks!
As I started to give up hope, a low roar echoed within the alleyway. The very ground seemed to shake as a shadow passed overhead. Amarant and I slid to a halt as the shadow condensed on top of the LF member as another figure, much larger than Amarant this time, landed directly on top of him in a could of dust. I couldn't tell if the anarchist was killed at first, but with the crater he was now in, survival didn't seem likely.
"Ah, boys. What would you do without me?"
As the dust settled, I could see a young girl walk from around the corner and lean against the towering figure. I couldn't say I was too surprised to see Eiko standing with Madeen, her favorite summon. The massive humanoid lion growled, grinding her foot against the LF member before stepping away. Eiko smiled up at her oldest friend, saying a quick, "Thanks Mog!" before the Eidolon vanished into thin air.
"Eiko!" I called out as she walked towards us with an arrogant air of superiority. "Didn't know you were still practicing your summoning. Does the Regent know you're out here?"
"He sent me to the castle with a few guards," she said proudly. "I managed to slip away from them and thought you guys would need help."
"Pretty good timing," Dante said, strolling up with his rifle on both shoulders. "Little kids come in real handy these days, don't they?"
Eiko's face puffed up like a balloon as she turned to face Dante. "Don't call me a kid!"
Dante shrunk back at the scolding. "Uh, yes… Your Highness…" I still didn't see Eiko as the princess she was, and I was willing to bet Amarant never saw her as more than a whining brat, so Dante was the only one intimidated by her shrieking voice.
"Don't 'your highness' her," Amarant said. "She's the last person who's ego you want to inflate."
I turned to the green skinned bandit and held an open palm out. "Hi! Have we met?"
"Hey!" Eiko screamed. "I still haven't heard a thank you!"
"That's nice," Amarant grunted.
But Dante and I were a little kinder to the little girl. "Thanks," we both said.
"That's better!"
"Eiko, do you do this often?" I asked. "Sneak out and summon? I'm surprised the Regent lets you do that. After what Atamos did to his city, he's taken a pretty strong stance against Eidolons."
"Yeah," Dante agreed. "That's why he's been buying so many of my guns."
"Yeah, Father… doesn't exactly know about it…" Eiko admitted. "But I'm from Madain Sari! He's asking me to forget my whole family and village! And I get so booored in the castle! All this studying, and manners! It's not who I am! Besides, how else can I see Mog? It isn't right! So I practice… sometimes…"
"That's pretty good," I said. She sounded exactly like Zidane. "Very sneaky. Just like the Eiko I always thought you were."
"HEY!"
"Hey, I meant it as a compliment! Dagger's been so caught up in her duties as queen that I don't think she summons anymore. Keep it up and you'll definitely be better than her someday!"
Eiko's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "You really think so?" She pressed her fists against her hips and smiled triumphantly. "I knew I'd pass her someday! I'm the number one summoner on all of Gaia!"
Amarant sighed and turned back towards the alley. "You had to get her going, didn't you?" He started walking away, muttering to himself.
"Hey, Amarant! Hang on!" I called after him. "Don't leave yet! You can still join the Brotherhood if you want!"
Amarant stopped slowly, but looked back, sneering at the thought. "You said you're gonna be in the Tournament of Kings, right?"
"Uh, yeah, I am."
"Good. Then we'll see each other next week."
Before Amarant could slip into the dark alley again, I asked, "Are you at least gonna stay in touch with us?"
He didn't slow his gait, but called back, "If you beat me, then we'll talk."
Dante eyed me curiously. "Him? Join us? You think that would work out?"
"It has to," I said. "He acts like a big tough loner, but he really wants to be part of a team. Why else do you think he was here, ready to attack the LF? My guess is he was watching over Eiko."
"Me?" the little girl asked. I couldn't tell who was more perplexed, her, or Dante.
I took a step forward, towards our old, retreating friend. "Hey Amarant!"
But he only waved, his back towards us, as he slipped into the darkness once again.