Some have told me that you don't know anything about Final Fantasy and would like to learn a little bit. So I've made a starter kit for those who are interested. It's posted in the previous chapter.
Javelin
Attack Power: 31
Abilities: Warcry - 300 AP - Templar
Jump - 100 AP - Dragoon
Bought/Acquired: For 3,000 Gil, after the first shop upgrade, and a random reward for completing a Mission
Thief Hat
Effects: DEF +8, RES +6, Evade +7; Cancels Don't Move and Don't Act
Abilities: N/A
Bought/Acquired: Random reward for completing a Mission, and a prize for reaching Track Skill Level 10 (6,000 Gil)
Dark Gear
Effects: DEF +32, RES +3, Speed +2, Evade +1; Cancels Stop
Abilities: Weapon Def+ - 300 AP - Sage
Bought/Acquired: Steal from various units throughout the game (6,000 gil)
Fairy Shoes
Effects: DEF +3, RES +2; Movement by teleportation
Abilities: N/A
Bought/Acquired: Random reward for completing a Mission (12,000 gil)
Angel Ring
Effects: Instant Auto-Life; Cancels Zombie, Darkness, Silence, Frog, Poison, Slow, Don't Move, Don't Act, Doom
Abilities: N/A
Bought/Acquired: Prize for reaching Craft Skill Level 20 (3,400 gil)
Items from World of Hemera
Traitor's Bow
Attack Power: 69
Range: ?
Bought/Acquired: For 10,000 Gil, from Phon Coast and Archades
Opal Ring
Effects: Magicks will not bounce off targets with Reflect status.
Bought/Acquired: Balfonheim, 16,000
SAGE KNOWLEDGE: JAGD
"Regions of Mist-laden winds and magicite-rich soil precluded the proper operation of skystone. Shifts in weather have been known to make jagd; where once there was none, though chroniclers of such things have never recorded the reverse. As airships cannot operate in jagd, no such region is under the control of a major country, making the jagds lawless and perilous places."
II. Traitor's Bow
We've arrived into the port of Cyril Town just yesterday nya! This place is soo interesting! We're one of the early ones coming here – probably because of Tezuka's rank in Archadia – so they are not use to us yet nyaa. Like that tall, purple eyed kid (I forgot his name) even freaked out at us once he heard the world 'Dalmasca'. Well, we don't know much about them and they don't know much about us. We have to get the treasures before many sky pirates starts flocking in! It's too bad the skystones don't work inside the continent so we have to travel by foot. Can you believe it? They don't have proper airships here! But they have Seastones! That's sooo cool! Oh and Ochibi is sooo kawaii!!
Eiji Kikumaru
Madmoon 14, year 710
Town of Cyril, Country of Ivalice, World of Gaia
Madmoon 14, Year 710
At the Cyril pub--The Prancing Chocobo--after Echizen had left, Momoshiro had been introduced to the clan members.
By the end of the hour, they had made an agreement: if Momoshiro will show them around a bit, and tell them more about Ivalice, they would give him a bit of advice on joining clans.
The pub is one of the only places where the job bulletins can be accessed. Information and the 'other' jobs could be bought for a price from the pub owner. It has also become popular place to exchange the latest rumors.
Ramsen Armory, where Tezuka and Oishi were just coming back from during the three's time at the pub, stocks most weapons available in Ivalice and gives discounts on weapons wielded by Humes.
The most important thing Cyril is famous for is its Monster Bank. Monster Banks are critical to Morphers who need to keep the monsters somewhere that have been captured by their hunter partners. They had gone to meet up with the last two members of Clan Seishun.
One of them is called Kaido, who wears blue bandana and breaths and moves like a snake – and even somewhat looks like one. Momoshiro instantly disliked him and discriminatorily thought that he has bangaa or lamia – women who have lower bodies of snakes and crowns of cobras – blood somewhere in his ancestry. The other one was a tall, built brunet who seemed rather shy, called Kawamura.
They had an interesting start. Momoshiro found out they all gathered from different parts of Hemera. Kawamura-san came from the Spiran Islands in Oceanus; he had joined the clan recently.
On the way back, Eiji's head suddenly quirked and dashed off around the corner into a small alley. Fuji, who was the fastest to act in response, was already disappearing into the passageway.
"Eiji! Fuji!" Oishi called after them.
The rest of the group followed at a run.
"Hey wolffie!" A raspy voice drifted through the alley, "You know what today iss right? The law says no missiles allowed! That means you can't ssshoot any of your little arrows at uss."
The voice belongs to a bangaa. Bangaas are a lizard like race that have long faces, scaly skin, tough limbs, and long ears that falls below the lengthy muzzles. Their physical aspects make them excellent for brute force jobs and they have very fine hearing and smelling senses but bad eyesight. They speak in a distinct rasping voice because of the way their mouth is shaped and their vocal cords are not refined enough to speak as well as the other races, which in return makes it difficult for them to use magick. However, some Bangaas succeeded in becoming expert magicians, using magic formulas specific to their reptilian language.
Also from the way Eiji had dashed off, Momoshiro logically concluded that 'wolffie' is a mock version of Echizen's nickname.
"Fork over your stuff before any of us getss hurt ya?"
"Don't worry little puppy, we won't hurt you if you obey us like a nice little doggie." The others guffawed.
"Hey! You bangaas stop picking on him! Ochibi's just a kid!" Eiji yelled.
"Who the hell are you?"
"Brotherss, let's sscram. We've been spotted."
"Who cares ya? The kid fights alone. He'ss too proud to ask for help ya? You want to wait for another day with the missile law?"
"You're right brother. Hey you humess just stay back and watch ya!" One of them called.
"Look! There'ss more of them!"
Echizen, who stood behind Eiji, looked more irritated and not a slight bit relieved at his protection. Fuji, who looked slightly amused, stood casually beside them. Six Bangaas of various skin colors came into view. They half circled the opening in the alleyway. With their size, which was usually twice as long as a normal male hume, they can make quite an intimidating impression.
Eiji nearly growled. He turned around and much to Ryoma's annoyance – and Fuji's amusement – grabbed the boy by his shoulder. "Ochibi! Swear into our clan right now!"
The boy's mouth twitched slightly. "Stay out of this." He stepped in front of the group. "I fight alone."
"Don't be so reclusive!"
"Ooh. The little puppy wants to be brave, ya? How are you going to fight us without the arrows ya? Whack us with your bow?" The others guffawed again, but they got into fighting stance nevertheless. Two were swinging their spears, two unbuckled their long sabres from their belts, and two put dangerous looking long claws on their hands.
Ryoma stepped into the open field completely unreceptive. "I accept your challenge."
Suddenly, an area on the raised platform warped. Something large slowly came into view. Momoshiro knew what it was coming. An armor-clad judge appeared riding a large, shrieking Chocobo announced their arrival. The judge's heavy silver armour blinded its observers with the rays of the sun. He was riding on a large, fierce armored Chocobo that was the size of a baby elephant. The large blue cape fluttering on the judge's back gave off a very imposing impression. From the corner of his eye, Momoshiro saw Eiji's blue eyes turn as large as saucers. Seeing this sight for the first time would take anyone's breath away.
The judge raised one hand in the air, and pulled out a mouthpiece and put it to the opening of the armor. He blew, commencing the battle.
Fuji poked. "Ne, Momoshiro-kun, we've just arrived in Cyril port yesterday. Can you tell us about the fighting system here?"
"Oh, okay. Currently Echizen and the Bangaas are in an 'Engagement'. A judge, the one blowing the whistle oversees all battles, is summoned when an engagement has been agreed upon. Their presence makes sure all the fighters that are 'killed' are only 'KO'ed' in the fight. They also give penalty cards to those who break the engagement laws and drags them to the Sprohm Prison – Sprohm is the neighboring town - once they get a red card. The laws of today forbid the use of missiles, which means no arrows or bullets – which means archers and gunners are useless. They also give Judge Points to each enemy the fighter knocks out and it can raise the reputation of the fighter."
"My head hurts nya!!" Eiji cradled his head.
Oishi immediately rushed to comfort the redhead. "Well it is a lot of stuff all at once…"
"So this is Ivalice's famed law system," Inui muttered. "Ii data."
"Does that mean Echizen-kun is in trouble?" said Kawamura with a worried expression.
'Fusshh…'
"Not necessarily," Their guide glanced at the boy.
"Hey lizard face!" Ryoma called. Momoshiro cringed. That was the worst insult to a bangaa. The word 'lizard' is an absolute taboo to call a bangaa – as name calling any other race's physical characteristics – but on this occasion, he can't help but think they deserve it. "You know what this is right?" The boy fished out a russet card with a design of a white 'x' between his index and middle finger.
An anti-law card. Momoshiro's eyes widened. He was expecting the boy to switch weapons or use magic, not use a rare item.
Ryoma flung the card into the air and it exploded into white light.
Momoshiro breathed. "That's an anti-law card, or more specifically a null missile card. It basically nullifies the current law. But how did he get his hands on it? Only the best clans have them. They are supposed to be very hard to get," He muttered more to himself. This is the first time he had seen a law card in use. 'And if he's using it on a back alley battle like this, that means he's got lot more in that bag,' he thought not knowing that a few of the Seishuns are thinking of the same thing.
The bangaas, coming to the same conclusion, backed away a step.
"B-brother." He looked at his companions, uncertain on their next action.
"He has an anti-law…," One of them muttered to his companions.
"Gawh! You chickens!" The largest Bangaa, their leader, cursed. "It's s-six against one! He can't shoot at all of us at once!"
"The pup's got more loot than we thought, ya!"
They charged simultaneously, but Ryoma was quicker. Two bolts of Parallel Arrows pierced through a spear wielding bangaa's neck before any of them got close with their powerful legs and long arms. Ryoma skilfully dodged all wild swings as he drew the next arrow. He jumped on
a sabre and shot the last spear wielder from there in the eye. He leaped again, span in mid air, and hit another critical just after he had landed a few distance away.
The fourth, the leader, was shot in the back while the other two reacted on the boy's actions, but only enough to make him fall – bangaas have tough skins. Ryoma picked off one more before the other reached him and actually wacked the latter with his Silver Bow and quickly shot him in the mouth.
He drew the last arrow dramatically with his right hand. "Mada mada dane." He said to the bangaa kneeling on the ground and shot rapidly three times.
The judge blew the whistle again to signify the end of engagement; the actual battle lasted less than a minute. All the 'dead' bangaas revived, the arrows pierced into their bodies disappeared and lay on the stone pavement groaning in pain. The judge, upon finishing his job, warped again.
"That was amazing." Kawamura congratulated.
"Hmm your reflex may even be better than Eiji's. Ii data."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Eiji bickered.
Momoshiro saw that Tezuka's expression was blank and Fuji only smiled.
Eiji turned to the boy. "You sure you don't want to join our clan nya?"
"I'm sure sempai; I don't work well in a team."
Ryoma glanced at the stoic captain and brunet before he walked past them. He already picked out the most formidable members of the Clan Seishun, Inui noted, watching the boy's disappearing back. The boy may even be on par with them.
"Fujiko! You musta' heard him before I did!" Eiji accused. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Saa," he turned to his friend, the closed eye smile back on his face. "He was fine wasn't he?"
"But you didn't know that!"
"If he can take down Clans on the most wanted list, Eiji, I'm sure he'll come out in good health after those types of situations." Fuji reasoned.
"But you still didn't know that…," Eiji muttered quietly and Fuji snickered.
I was surprised when Eiji suddenly started running like that. Eiji had taken some liking to the boy that Tezuka and I had passed by at the pub earlier today. The boy, Echizen Ryoma, was being surrounded by a team of six bangaas. I was astounded when the boy managed to taken them all on and ended it without a scratch. Oh, and Eiji was probably right when he said Fuji heard Echizen before he did. Both he and the boy are still shrouded in mystery.
Oishi Syuuichirou
Madmoon 14, year 710
PS. I didn't mean anything bad by that Fuji! You are very friendly and you're probably as strong as Tezuka and I like you very much! I only wrote the things I did because we've never seen your full potential! That's all! Really!
No offense taken Oishi, I think you're wonderful too. But what's so mysterious about me? I do try my best all the time.
Fuji Syuusuke
Fuji… no comment.
Inui Sadaharu
Madmoon 15, year 710
Aisenfield, Country of Ivalice, World of Gaia
Madmoon 19, Year 710
"HYYAAAAAAA!!" Momoshiro yelled and jump thrust his Javelin into the Antlion, a giant blue spider. The hot summer sun was burning on his back and on the rocky plain stripped of all vegetation. He wiped his sweat-covered forehead. Several Antlion carcasses lay on the fields. He needed to train harder to be accepted into a clan he wanted – though he still hasn't chosen one yet. Seeing Echizen Ryoma's battle the other day, Momoshiro was driven harder to train. He still couldn't forget how the young boy had dealt with six Bangaas alone, all charging at him at once.
"Hey kid!" A voice suddenly called from behind him. He must have heard it somewhere recently because it sounded familiar.
He did a one-eighty. "It's you!" Momoshiro exclaimed and gaped at the speaker's appearance.
Echizen Ryoma was equipping a completely different set of paraphernalia from five days ago and many of them he'd never seen – that's something since he sometimes runs errands for his 'aunt' in Ramsen Armory – and those Ryoma had are a hell lot expensive. He was carrying a bow Momoshiro had never seen before, a quiver of Artemis Arrows--the best arrows available around here, Dark Gear and a Thief's Hat--each worth 6,000 Gil. An Angel Ring (that alone was worth more than the teen's weapon) and an opal ring that he was sure had some magical qualities on his left hand. Momoshiro recognized his boots as fairy shoes, which are scarce enough that it isn't available in stores.
Somehow there was something strange about Ryoma that he just can't quite point out.
Momoshiro looked around to the 'kid' the boy was addressing to. When he saw no one, realization dawned on him that the boy was in fact, calling him. "Who the hell are you calling 'kid'?!" He yelled angrily. "You're younger than me!"
The boy chose to completely ignore his statements. "Leave before you get in my way."
A vein popped on Momoshiro's head. "This is a free country!"
Ryoma's only reply was to sigh and walked ahead.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" The boy, being cold and antisocial again, chose to ignore him. "What happened to your stuff?" Momoshiro asked, unable to keep the silence.
The boy sighed. "That set is just to discourage petty thieves. It's not working though." Momoshiro nodded, remembering the event a few days ago. Ryoma looked over his shoulder at Momoshiro. "But a Javelin? Honestly. That's the cheapest spear available in the shops. And you don't seem to be wearing any other clan equipments."
"Shut up!" His face is all red. "The javelin cost me my entire savings! 3,000 gil!"
"Mada mada dane. You only get good money by being in a clan ne?" Ryoma smirked.
"Where did you get that bow?" He chose to start a different topic.
"Traitor's Bow, from Archadia, Hemera. It has triple the attack power of Silver Bows."
"T-t-triple?" He stuttered. "That's 69! But even the best bows here go up to only 45!"
Ryoma smirked again. "A reason to get it from over there ne?" He fingered the bow slowly. "Plus… this bow suits me best."
About to inquire further, Momoshiro was interrupted by two low growls heard beyond his sight, on a lower elevation. A Lamia, Ice Flan, Bomb, and two Icedrakes climbed over the rock face.
A space on the peak warped and a judge emerged from it.
Momoshiro's eyes widened. "A judge?"
"You didn't know that monsters can form clans as well?"
Momoshiro can just imagine that smirk on the boy's face. "O-Of course I did! I just temporarily forgot."
"Stay put kid, this is my battle."
He felt somewhat hurt that his offer was declined before his thoughts reached his mouth. Momoshiro had never faced an icedrake before and he didn't think he could take on one yet, never mind two with reinforcements. Icedrakes and ice elemental dragons are recognized as a relatively powerful breed of monsters. "It's Momo-sempai to you!" He yelled instead, to somewhat retain his shattered dignity.
When judge blew the whistle, Ryoma didn't wait like previously for them to move. He quickly shot the lamia, the red cobra woman, even before the judge's whistle had stopped blowing. The speed of the shot was possibly the quickest Momoshiro had seen in his life. Her long shriek woke up the other monsters from their daze. Ryoma killed another bomb before the monsters tried to close in the distance to their attack range.
"Careful! You can't kill flans with a-" Momoshiro yelled.
"Firagra!" Massive fire erupted with a flick of the boy's arms, inflecting heavy damage to the ice monsters as soon as they gathered around him. They were wiped out in one blow, possibly because of their elemental weakness or high level of magick preformed by the boy.
The judge awarded five judge points and disappeared.
Bits of glowing blue crystals rained from the sky. Momoshiro extended his hands in wonder, but it disappeared before it came in contact with him. "What's this?" He asked Echizen, but he shows no sign of intending to reply; only looked at the sky with the eyes that held wisdom beyond his years and a tinge of sorrow.
Momoshiro couldn't get over the fact that there was still something strange about him.
He then saw that the boy was holding the Traitor's Bow on his right hand and the Artemis Quiver was hanging off his left shoulder.
Echizen Ryoma was left handed.
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)
PS. Check out my fanarts of FujiRyo at FujiRyo livejournal community! Just google FujiRyo and it should be the first link there.
Err, It contains a future scene from Achromatic Colors? XDD.
Author notes
I put a note up there because nobody reads them down here.
Of the two hundred or so people that read this story, ten people replied to by question. It is IMPORTANT because I need to know how much detail I need to put into this! If you have QUESTIONS don't hesitate to ask! (Of course I won't answer those that concerns the plot)
As I've expected, the reception for this series wasn't great. (At least it wasn't as good as AC or CB) I might discontinue this to work on the other two. (20 Reviews min and I'll consider updating occasionally)
14/20 as of 09/07. Hmm, maybe crossover was a bad idea after all. One more chapter and discontinuation I think.
Last but most importantly, thank you Sakura Moon for editing all my chapters!
Published: 19/06/08
Revised: 24/06/08