I do not own rave master

Musica wiped the sweat off his brow. The next six months were going to suck he could just feel it. Being trapped in this boiling hot oven of a blacksmith factory basement, pounding on metal all day to make weapons that were most likely just going to be discarded on the battle field, broken, stolen, or plunged into people. (He really didn't want to think about that) This was not how he wanted to spend his summer. He loved his granddad, he really did and he would always be grateful for teaching him the family's craft, after all there were worse things to be doing in tough times like these, but that didn't mean he had to like it.

He'd much rather be home in Punk street, trying to get lucky with the corner chicks, but then this new Raregroovian king had to come about and make his intentions toward Symphonia known. It was said that another war would start soon and of course his granddad, being the loyal man that he was stepped up to help out with the effort against the Raregrooves. He was much too old to be leading the weapons making division for Symphonia again. He was there at the very first war fifty years ago for crying out loud, but he was too much of a nationalistic man to ignore the call. Musica wouldn't normally have felt so angry with that. The geezer could do what he wanted in fact he'd be proud of the old man for standing up for what he believed in, if it weren't for the fact that he just had to drag him along for the ride.

Yes old man Musica refused to allow his grandson to just "stay home and 'laze' about while the grater good was calling for them" as he liked to put it and so here young Musica would be for the next few months, just standing in a hot factory, molding pieces of metal five days a week from nine to five. Once again he would like to reiterate that this wasn't the worst job in the world. He could have been drafted to fight and then maybe one of these swords would have been plunged into him. (Not that he was afraid to fight) He just didn't feel like this suited him. He couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't where he was meant to be. That there was something else he should have been doing.

Oh well. He raised the hammer high above his head and slammed it down on to the hot metal once more, just doing his job.

The loud noise of his swinging hammer almost caused him to miss the sound of one of the factory workers running down the stairs into the basement to greet him. "Mr. Musica. Someone's here to see you" He said with a salute.

Musica couldn't care less about formalities amounts the other workers. He couldn't help but wonder if they treated him so politely because of his skill or because his was the boss's grandkid. To be honest now that his grandfather was out dealing with the paperwork side of their business today there was no one there to make him care either, so he didn't bother to salute back. Still he put down the hammer to regard the worker, if only because he had been swinging it for a few hours now and he wanted an excuse to take a few minute breathers.

"Oh yeah, who is it?"

"You're not gonna believe it," said the worker, excitement laced his voice. "But his highness, prince Haru Glory is up stairs right at this moment and he asked for you personally!"

The blacksmith just stared dully at the worker for a moment, wondering if there was a punch line to this joke. Royalty coming all the way over just to see him specifically? Yeah right.

"Okay sure, whatever, let his highness in. Don't keep him waiting." He said sarcastically. He turned back to his work and continued hammering the hot metal.

He tried to put more focus on his work and put his agitation behind him when all of a sudden he heard a joyful shriek and was suddenly tackled to the ground, causing his hammer to be flung across the room, barely missing a stack of finished swords, the entire morning's work.

"AAAAHHHHH! MUSICAAAA!" The assailant blubbered uncontrollably, practically clinging to him. "YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HAPPY I AM TO SEE YOU!"

It was no understatement. After finally ditching the palace guards, it took Haru another ten minutes of sneaking around the castle to find the exit but there were even more guards at stationed at the front door guarding it. There was no way they'd let him just waltz out. He had to sneak out a window, which unfortunately for him led him strait into the labyrinth of rose buses in the courtyard. It took another twenty minutes just to navigate through that. Technically he didn't so much navigate through it as get so fed up with it he forced his way through, getting pricked by what must have been a trillion rose thorns, by his estimation. After scaling one final 12-foot tall brick wall at the end of the maze or rather the side of it, he was able to get out of the palace's private property.

Then came a different problem. He was the prince, an easily recognizable figure amongst the people and he wasn't able to get two city blocks away before a mess of people swarmed him.

At first it was just a few nice people, some wanted an autograph or a photo with him, with he gave them that, no big deal, although it was a little embarrassing, then some more people came, mothers asking if he would kiss their babies and a few store and restaurant owners asking if he would come to their places, offering discounts, thinking that if a prince ate there it would help draw in more customers. Haru, being in a hurry and getting more than a little embarrassed by the treatment, politely refused and tried to walk away, but even more people just kept coming and getting more forceful. A few girls actually squealed over him, yelling out such things like, "we love you" and "make me a princess!" It really got out of control when the haters started swarming in demanding answers to their politically questions and acting like everything wrong with their lives were all the government's fault.

The worst was when some palace officials showed up hearing the commotion. They had been looking for the prince ever since he ditched his escort and they were determined to bring him back home. The gathering of people led them right to the prince, but luckily for Haru they also gave him cover. Amongst the chaos of all his 'fans' he snuck away by getting on all fours and crawling through their legs. He managed to get away from the crowd and slip around the corner where he took a moment to catch his breath. He had more than enough of being a celebrity for a lifetime. He just wanted to get to that factory that Musica worked at without being spotted any more.

He noticed a clothing store across the street with a rack of discounted men's clothes in front of it. Maybe if he were dressed more common like, people wouldn't recognize him so easily.

He didn't have any money with him but on the other hand no one was looking. He really hated to do this. His sister always told him not to take things that don't belong to him, but then again this was a different time line so who knew what she would say to this? He grabbed some clothes he would normally wear back in his normal time line, a pair of white pants, a black tee shirt and an old worn in leather jacket that was probably on sale because it was used. He hid in an empty back alley and changed quickly. The Prince made a mad dash out of there, certain that no one had seen him.

It worked for the most part. People didn't swarm him, but he did get the occasional long stare from passers by who gave him a familiar glance. He kept his head down, didn't make eye contact with anyone and walked fast. He was able to get directions to the factory from an old lady with bad eyes, but knew her way around the city.

And now here he was, after all that he was more determined than ever to get back to his regular time, so how could one possibly blame him for greeting his best friend the way he did after all that he went through to find him.

"OH MAN, BUDDY, FOR A WHILE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO YOU! DO YOU KNOW WHERE EVERY ONE ELSE IS? ELIE, OR-"

BAMM! "GET OFFA ME!"

Musica kicked him right in the gut, pushing him away from him and into a wall. He did not care for this stranger's hysterics', especially after getting tackled from behind, This guy could have seriously hurt them both while he was working with piping hot metal and a giant hammer. What kind of idiot would-

That's when he stopped to get a good look at this Looney. Silver blond hair, violet eyes, around the age of 18, he had never seen the prince before in person, but he seen enough of him from TV, newspapers, and magazines to be able to recognize him now that he looked close enough. This was him alright. That worker was right; Prince of Symphonia, Haru Glory, was here right in front of him. OH SHIT! It just dawned on him. He assaulted an important political figure, and all he was doing was just staring like a slack jawed moron. Who cares why he was here or what the hell he was doing jumping on him like that, the young blacksmith was gonna be banished or executed for this!

Uh! Um! Please forgive my rudeness your Excellency!" Musica bowed, hoping to make up for his brashness. "I am honored to-"

"No! Not you too!" The prince interrupted. If Musica was talking to him like this than that could only mean one thing. He didn't remember anything either! Dammit! Haru knew it was a long shot. Was he the only one who remembered the way things were supposed to be?

Musica was snapped out of his terror at being arrested and put to death by Haru's insane musings. The prince looked a little nutty to him. He was clearly stressed and overly hyped up over something. The kid was ready to pull his hair out. Musica had never met the prince before but he had never imagined he'd be anything like this.

"Uh, beg your pardon?" The blacksmith asked confused.

"Musica! You need to listen to me! I need your help!" Haru nearly begged.

Wow. The prince was asking personally for him of all people to help him, whatever it was he would probably pay handsomely and be presently with so much honor and glory for services to the royal family, and it would get him out of this boring work. He didn't know what for but if the prince needed him for something and he wasn't in trouble for kicking royalty in the gut than this was shaping up to be a really good day.

"Whatever you need, your highness!" Musica replied excitedly, even giving him a salute out of respect, something he swore he wouldn't give anyone that day.

"You gotta help me find Elie and the others so we can get things back to normal!"

"Um, what?" The blacksmith sure wasn't expecting a request like that.

"Okay." Haru took a deep breath and prepared his explanation.

Most of these chapters are pretty short. I'll try and make them longer as I go. Summer vacation is in three weeks, so I may have more time depending on the job I get this summer.