Here's chapter 3, glad you decided to return. I know I said I'd try and get this up the day after the last, but I got a bit busy with trying to work out my story in the future, also, my weekend involved alcohol at some point. I said I kept writing while I still had ideas, unfortunately my ideas were for the story as a whole so I started writing them down and trying to work it all together, so now, on the plus side, I have a general idea on where this story is going, and several future chapters already written, now I just have to get there.
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Galbatorix 0wnz: While it is predictable that I would start with Vivi (you only have to read a few FFIX fanfics, most of them do), it's the easiest way. It'd be hard to start elsewhere without starting before the game. But I'm Glad you like the changes so far.
The Duelist of Dawn and FF and STH glad you like the story so far, I hope it continues to please you.
Thinking about it, if I ever get a lot of reviewers, I may have to stop responding like this or I'm going to end up with each Chapter starting off with responses longer than the chapter itself.
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Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy IX or any of its characters, they are property of Square Enix, I do however own my OC Sepheris.
Final Fantasy IX: Legacy – Disc 1/Chapter 3
The three of us really cut this one close, the music started more or less just as we arrived, almost as if they were waiting for us.... As the crowd began to applaud, we followed suit. I noticed my height gave me a bit of a disadvantage here, while Puck and Vivi just stood there, I had to crouch to avoid being noticed, and it wasn't too comfortable.
I hope you enjoy the play, from your memories; they cut out a fair amount in your little game version.
'I'll try, it couldn't be that bad. Oh, and more one thing, LEAVE MY MEMORIES ALONE!!!'
Pfft, I'd like to see you try and stop me. Besides, I'm sure, in time, you'll start to receive some of my memories, possibly. This is just another part of our bond, so deal with it.
I was about to respond, but Vivi interrupted my train of thought, "erm, Sepheris, are you not watching the show?"
I hadn't noticed, but obviously my face must have given away that I wasn't paying attention, I'll have to work on that, "sorry, I was just thinking about something," I whispered in response, waving it off, "and please, call me Seph," Vivi just nodded in response and returned to watching the play. I also turned my attention towards the play, and noticed that Zidane and Blank were already having their little sword fight before running into the castle.
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As the show continued, I began to get bored. Really bored. I was actually trying to keep myself awake. As I turned to see how Vivi and Puck were, I noticed Puck was waving us over, obviously with the intention of moving towards the front. I nudged Vivi to get his attention, and when he looked at me, I just pointed him towards Puck, he nodded, knowing what I meant and he walked towards him with me following, at a slow pace while still crouching. Thankfully, everyone was too into the play to notice the three of us walking down the aisle to the front.
We were just getting to the front when I caught sight of something in the air. When I looked up I noticed that is was Zidane and Dagger… er Garnet, I'm going to have to be careful about that, swinging through the air towards the Theatre Ship, both shortly followed by the knight Steiner, who couldn't control his swing and ended up stuck in a wooden wall. It took most of my self control to stop myself from bursting out into laughter, thankfully neither Vivi nor Puck took notice.
Once I had regained control of myself, I turned my attention back towards the play. Unfortunately, I quickly got bored again and found myself doing a mental run through of the game, just waiting for when Zidane and princess Garnet arrived on the stage.
Will you stop that, it get's annoying after a point. Besides, your missed their entrance entirely.
"Huh," I looked at the stage, Alex was right, I completely missed their entrance. Zidane was stood there, with Garnet hiding her identity under her hood, and Steiner has just arrived on his stage elevator.
"Furthermore…" Baku playing as King Leo stopped in mid sentence. I couldn't actually hear them, but you could see the new arrivals, Zidane and Garnet, whispering with Baku and Marcus who was currently 'restrained' by King Leo's guards.
"Ho? What's all this?" And while they whispered, Steiner was trying to work out where he had arrived.
"Cornelia!" Marcus who was restrained, broke free of the guards and rushed towards Garnet. Once more there is a slight pause while I can just make out that Garnet was whispering to Zidane, obviously a bit unsure of what to do.
"Oh, Marcus!" And once more a slight pause while Zidane was impressed at Garnet's acting and felt to congratulate her, before Baku reminded them the Queen was watching. Even though I couldn't hear them, I could read their lips, or rather match them up to what I remembered, after Baku's little reminder, Garnet continued with the acting, "Oh, Marcus! I missed you so! I wish never to leave thy side! Prithee, lead me from this place!"
"See, King Leo? Thou shouldst give them thy blessing," Zidane decided to get in on the acting too.
"Never! Never leave his side, thou sayest? Foolish banter! I'll not allow it! Cornelia shall marry none other than this man-" Baku as King Leo had walked over to Steiner during his little speech, and clapped a hand onto his shoulder, "-Prince Schnieder. Is that not so, Prince Schnieder?"
"M-Marry the Princess? Me!?" It was surprising Steiner still hadn't grasped the fact that he was in the middle of a play. You'd have thought the fact that he's on the theatre ship or the huge audience might have tipped him off.
"Aye! And this traitorous crew, I will put to death!" As Baku finished, Zidane and Marcus proceeded to 'beat up' the guards, who let off little outbursts of pain.
"Too many of them!"
"Run away!"
They both ran off stage after a little beating. As watching them run, Baku turned to Garnet, "Pray, sweet daughter, come home to the castle with me,"
"Nay, father! I shan't return!" I always found it weird that Garnet could so easily talk with this old language despite having never spoke it herself. If it was me, I'd end up switching back and forth constantly.
"Cornelia… Trouble me no more. This wedding is for thine own welfare. Be mindful of that,"
"Not if I can help it!!!" Everyone on stage turned to look at Marcus, "Now is my moment of vengeance! For my parents, and for my love, Cornelia… I shall cut thee down!" Marcus had drawn his sword and rushes to 'kill' Baku, only Garnet steps in to protect him, and lets out a short grunt of pain, "No… Cornelia!!!"
"Mar…cus, forgive me," Garnet continued, she sounded like she was whispering, which I suppose you would on the verge of death, but she made it loud enough for everyone to hear, "I still love my father…"
"Princess!"
"Cornelia!"
And Steiner is still clueless about the acting that's going on.
"Prithee, forgive my selfishness, father, and spare my sweet Marcus…" Garnet reached a hand out to Marcus, before dropping it, showing that she had 'died'.
"What have I done!? Am I never to hear her loving voice again!? Am I cursed never again to feel her soft touch!? O, cruel fate! Thou hast robbed me of all I treasure!" Marcus still had his sword in hand and made to stab himself.
"Marcus!" Zidane called out as Marcus fell to the floor, joining Garnet.
"Wow, what a show!" I suddenly snapped out of being so drawn into the show by Puck.
"Yeah so sad," I looked over at Vivi to notice he was rubbing his eyes. I realised then that I had a tear running down my cheek.
'Huh, I guess it's completely different in person than through a TV screen,' I thought to myself as I wiped it away.
Glad you enjoyed it.
"I'm glad we climbed all the way over here. How 'bout yo- huh? Uh-oh! Look out!" Both myself and Vivi turned towards Puck to see two of the Pluto Knights running towards us, shouting after us to stop. Without a second thought, Vivi and I ran away, right behind Puck. We didn't get far however, as Vivi tripped. Realising what happened I stopped to help him back up.
"Fools! I'm outta here!" Puck then left us to deal with the knights.
'Jerk,' I thought to myself again. As the guards were nearly upon us, I pulled Vivi upto his feet and began to run again, "Vivi, this way!" we were at the front of the big ship, this was where Zidane and Blank had their sword fight earlier, and as the bridge was still there, I had ran onto it and waved Vivi after me. We had run onto the stage during a big mourning scene, every one was crying over Garnet's death and took no notice of us as we continued running while the knights still gave chase, "Leave us alone," I shouted back, I figured they wouldn't listen, but it just felt like it should be said. Unfortunatly we had been driven to a corner, specifically the same corner as the small group of mourners and with little alternative we ran through the middle, making sure to jump over Garnet. However, after a step, I realised Vivi was confronting the knights.
"Don't come any closer," Vivi had charged a small fire spell in his hands and released it at the two knights. It didn't quite go as far as he planned as it set Garnet's robe on fire.
"Ow! That's hot!" Garnet had leapt up and tried to smother the fire with her hands, when that failed, she removed her robe, revealing her identity to everyone watching, including her mother, the Queen.
"Zidane it's time," Baku quickly got back into his role of leader and marched off the stage, undoubtedly to pilot the ship out of here.
"Princess Garnet! let's get outta here!" Zidane said as he help Garnet off the floor.
"What… What is going on here?" Steiner was only just beginning to grasp what was going on.
As they were trying to sort out what was happening, I helped Vivi up once more, "You alright?"
"Y-Yeah. Just tripped, that's all…"
"As long as your not hurt then," I looked up as I saw Zidane approaching us, but before he could open his mouth, I waved it off, "we're both fine over here,"
The news seemed to cheer Zidane up, "good to hear,"
"Princess, I cannot allow you to go. Seize them at once!" Steiner was obviously reacting badly to the news that his princess would be leaving, and the two knights that were chasing me and Vivi fell in beside their leader and prepared to attack us.
As Steiner and his two knight prepared to fight, Zidane drew his two daggers and approached the knights, with two of his friends, Marcus and Cinna, at either side of his with their weapons in hand, "Come on Vivi, let's lend them a hand," as I said it I couldn't help but have a grin on my face. I slung my canvas bag from my back and released the draw strings, letting the bag fall to the floor leaving my twin blades in hand. Taking the leather strap I placed the scabbard back onto my back, leaving one blade handle over my right shoulder and the second at my left hip.
Hmm, this will be your first chance to get used to the benefits of our bond. Try not to think too much while fighting, just let your instincts fight for you and you'll get the hang of it… There is a release button at the top of each handle, just below the hilt.
Yeah, I had grabbed both swords, but neither budged. I quickly found the release and both blades slid out, meaning I now stood with two glistening blades in hand. I joined Zidane and Vivi, who had equipped his wooden staff, to face Steiner.
We all stood ready to face one another, I found myself slightly crouched, with my left, hand holding the sword so the blade ran down my arm, out in front to act as a shield with my right hand sword ready to strike.
It was one of Steiner's knights that attacked first, he ran straight at Cinna with his blade drawn back, however as he got close he erupted in flames, a fire spell from Vivi I realised, but once the fire dissipated, Cinna stepped in and pounded the knights helmet with his hammer, causing the knight to stagger back a few steps, "I-I'm going to be late for my date," and proceeded to flee off stage.
During his little assault, the second knight charged straight at me and swung his blade at my stomach. Without even thinking, I dropped my left arm and used the reversed blade to block the attack and knock it aside before ramming the hilt of my second sword into his stomach, and finished with my knee to his head as he buckled over, "My fury ends here…," the second knight followed his friend off the stage while shouting to Steiner.
Steiner however was too busy trying to defend himself from Zidane and Marcus. He just couldn't keep up with their fast movements, while he swung his sword at one, the other would dash in from behind, hit him a few times and once he turned his attention, the other would do the same.
Our battle was interrupted with a lurch from the ship as it began it's ascent out of the castle to leave. As we looked towards the front, we saw cannons, all loaded with harpoons and with the Queens order to attack they all fired straight at us. Much of the ship was destroyed as the harpoons hit their target, one even embedded itse;f in the stage, it was a miracle no one was hurt. Just as the harpoons finished, one last cannon fired a huge fireball, however, before it reached us, it stopped momentarily and revealed itself as a bomb (a large fireball with a face, hands, the ability to fly and as it's name suggests, it explodes), and continued to hurtle towards the stage.
Steiner had regained his composure and turned to face us once more, completely oblivious to the threat that had decided to float behind him.
"Hey, look behind you!" Zidane was the first to try and get the knight to turn around.
"I'll not fall for such an old trick," I couldn't blame him, it was one of the oldest tricks I knew. But as we tried to get him to look and defended ourselves from his assault, the bomb continued to grow to the point that it was about to explode.
"Grr, we're not lying, just look!" He still wouldn't listen to me, so I was going to show him. I ran forward with the intention of punching him in the face, I figured if he was lying on his back, he'd see it then. As I pulled back my fist, I found myself unable to stop, "Impulse Blast!" I realised what looked like wind had gathered around my fist, and when I made contact, the power was released in an explosive blast, just without the fire. Steiner was thrown onto his back, while I was launched across the theatre ship stage and crashed into a wall.
I think I hit my head at some point, as the last thing I remember was hearing Steiner shout, "A-A BOMB!!" before a great flash of fire and then everything went black.
And that's chapter 3, and we had a little bit of combat. I was a little iffy while writing that, unsure if it came out right and that took a bit of time and I'm still a bit unsure about it.
So yeah, Evil Forest next. I should hopefully get the next chapter out before the end of the week. Oh, and new ability.
Impulse Blast: What appears to be compressed wind gathers in one of Sepheris' fists. The stored energy is released on contact with the target in a huge burst of explosive wind.
So, cya next time
Also, reviews are appreciated (also, please let me know if there are any mistakes)
Random question; is getting a Beta reader a good idea at all?
