Wowsers! Reviews! Yay! I'm glad I'm doing good so far. I don't really have anymore characters to introduce, yet. So, all you readers are spared confusion.

I'll have an interlude chapter soon, maybe after chapter six. Sound good?

Note: I just found out recently that I named my main character the same name as somebody else did theirs. Xanthouse, I hope I got that right.

I'm sorry about this, I really am. For those of you out there, our two "Lance" characters are completely separate characters, and I have another thing to say. This story has nothing to do with Marche. Sorry, Marche fans out there!

Remember, my Lance is my Lance, and Xanthouse's Lance is his Lance. Remember that, and you'll be fine…

Again, I'm sorry, and I hope I didn't hurt your feelings in any way. It's just coincidence.

Ok, let's start!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, but my plot, my characters, and this story. Xanthouse's Lance came first, but our two characters are completely different. Square Exix owns all their respective stuffs.

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It was early morning again, and everybody had practiced all day yesterday, to the point they felt they couldn't go on longer.

Eventually, Lance had to drag his co-captain, Rolf, to bed. Rolf had stayed up till one, smashing rocks and keeping everybody else up.

"You take your job too seriously, Rolf. I doubt you can get any better than you are now." Lance attempted to get through to his stubborn vice-captain.

"Practice makes perfect, Clan master!" Rolf tried to point out.

"Your practice keeps the others up, and for the last time this week, it's Lance!" Lance sighed.

"…Fine…I'll go to bed." Rolf said, before slinking off.

"Man, sometimes, I just don't know what to do with him." Lance said after he left. "…I've got to go to sleep." Lance went to the back of the fort, climbed up the huge staircase, and stopped at the balcony.

He went over to his favorite corner, plopped down, and slid his hat over his eyes.

Before long, he was sawing logs.

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"Lance!"

"…Ugh…"

There was a blast of sunlight, and Lance jumped to his feet so fast he almost flew off the platform.

"My hat!" Lance yelped.

"Right here." Clementina tossed him his hat, and he deftly caught it on his index finger and tossed it back onto his head.

"Anything but the hat." Lance begged.

"It's the only way to wake you up. I've been kicking you in the side for five minutes, now."

"…Oh."

"By the way, breakfast is finished, but nobody else will wake up, even when I pop into their rooms and scream like a banshee, as usual."

"They're used to your screaming. Try the dinner bell." Lance suggested. "They love that."

"Benton ate the bell in his sleep. He mumbled something about muffins."

"Really? That's….problematic."

"Very."

"I didn't know Benton could eat metal."

"Me either."

"…I've got an idea." Lance said finally. "Stay up here. It might get crazy."

Lance left the platform at a brisk pace, and ran down the staircase.

When he was gone, Tina said to herself, "I swear, he's mad, but that's what makes him fun."

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Lance tip-toed into the boy's room, being careful not to trip on the equipment that was carelessly strewn on the floor last night.

He went to the very middle of the room, and said,

"Goblin Punch."

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The noise outside the room was terrific. There was the sound of many heavy, thudding blows landing, tons of yelling, and then a flood of people pouring out of the room as fast as their legs could carry them.

Lance walked out of the room calmly, and dusted his hands off.

"That was easy."

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Everybody sitting at the breakfast table was bruised, and all were sporting rather large and unsightly lumps on their bodies.

"So…Have a good night's sleep?" Lance asked casually as he strode into the kitchen.

"No." Everybody echoed.

"First, Rolf kept us up until the wee hours of the morning, and then a goblin snuck in and mauled us. Nah, it was great." Chaka replied sarcastically.

"Sorry about the goblin, boys." Lance said, trying his best not to snicker. "Here, White wind!" He called out.

He aimed his palm at the table, and a stream of mana flowed from his hand and created a swirling vortex of healing energy.

Everybody's bumps and bruises faded away, and left behind a very refreshed and invigorated team.

"There. Feel better now?" Lance asked as he sat down and began passing around plates.

"Yes, much." Elija said shortly. He took a plate from Lance, and passed the rest on.

"Ya know, today's the challenge date." Tina replied as she put some eggs and sausage on everybody's plates.

"Oh yeah…I remember now." Lance said.

"Lance you are a very irresponsible person." Rolf sighed despairingly.

"We're battling at the wood's edge." Lance said after he gulped a bit of egg. "This is really good. What type of egg is it?" he asked.

"Chocobo egg. I found a nest this morning." Tina said.

"You are such an early morning busybody, aren't ya?" Seth asked.

"Can't help it. I don't need much sleep." Tina replied matter-of factly. "I managed to get a full grown one, too. I should be able to have it done tonight, by the time you all get back, assuming I stay here, of course."

"Hmm…I think we can manage without you." Lance said. "You sure you want to stay behind?"

"I'm not in the mood to battle today. You don't mind me staying behind?" Tina asked uncertainly.

"Yeah. If you want to stay, I won't make you come. Besides, we could all use a good dinner after a battle!" Lance said. "Chocobo meat tastes better after hard work."

"I agree." Benton said.

"Tina here tells me you ate the dinner bell last night. Is it true?" Lance asked while examining a piece of sausage.

"Really? That would explain my stomach ache." Benton groaned. There was general laughter around the table at this, before Lance held up his hands for quiet.

"Well, we need to go, now. I'll take Benton to Cadoan later, to see a doctor about that bell. Benton?"

"Yes, Lance?"

"If you need to stay, feel welcome to. When we get back, I'll take you on the hovercraft."

"…Ugh…I would appreciate that."

"Whaaaaaaaaaat!?!?" Seth yelled. "We ain't taking the hover craft to the fight!?!?"

"No…How do you expect it to carry ten people? Ira only made it for five, at most." Lance frowned. "I'm sorry, but we have to walk today."

"Aww…"

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Later…

Lance and his team appeared at the edge of the woods, just as another clan appeared from over one of the surrounding hills.

Lance brought Ira, Seth, Becile, Chaka, and Rolf with him, and much to Seth's dismay, they indeed did not take the hovercraft.

"Lance." The opposing clan master said.

"Oh, you." Lance scowled.

The enemy clan master was a ninja, with deep purple clothing, and at his sides were two black katanas. He was just as tall as Lance. The only visible part of his face were his eyes. His eyes were green, and they had a calm, laid back look to them. Just below his right eye was a scar.

"Yes, Lance, I was the one who called the challenge." The ninja said.

"You just don't know when to give up, Darren." Lance shook his head in annoyance.

"My clan and I have trained much in six months. We're much better than we were before."

"Face it, Darren." Lance said determinedly. "You're just going to get kicked back to Lutia pass, like last time!"

"I'll be the one kicking here today, and you're the one who's going to fly like a Chocobo!"

"Chocobos can't fly, nitwit!"

"You will!"

"…Ugh." Lance groaned. He waited for the judge to appear, but after a minute, everybody was looking around expectantly.

"Where's the judge?" an opposing archer asked.

"Yeah, where's the judge? They're NEVER late." Chaka asked.

"…Tell you what, Darren-" Lance began, but he was cut off.

"No, we're not waiting until a later date, Lance." Darren said adamantly. "I've waited too long for this day, and it's not going to be for naught!"

"Ok, then, your call." Lance smirked. He turned around, and yelled to his partners. "Aim to knock out, people!"

Lance drew both of his orange sabers, and dashed headfirst into battle with Darren.

Darren shot to the side at blinding speed, then drew both of his katanas with a flourish and slashed at Lance. Lance caught the blades on the flat side of his sabers just in time, and re-directed the attack.

Right as Lance ran forwards, the whole area exploded into action and fighting.

Lance ducked under a horizontal slash, then jumped over another lower slash. He brought his left saber down, while swinging his right saber to the right. Daren flipped out of the way and threw a few ninja daggers, and Lance dived out of the way.

"I thought I said no killing!" Lance yelled over the noise.

"Not killing." Darren said. "I'm not evil ya know."

"You make me wonder sometimes." Lance said before they clashed again.

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Chaka hid behind his shield as he advanced towards the desperate archer.

"You're not hitting me." Chaka called out.

"Stupid shield!" The archer yelled. He notched a bunch of arrows in frustration, then fired them up into the air.

"Crap." Chaka said. He ran around with his shield above his head, while the archer ran away and took aim.

"Aim: Arm!" He cried out. He released the arrow, and it just barely missed Chaka's shield arm.

"Crap!" Chaka yelled again. He rushed the archer, and before he could shoot another arrow, he bopped him on the head with his shield and knocked him out.

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Ira stared down the moogle black mage.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…FIRE!" The black mage yelled.

"Whoah!" Ira yelped. He fell backwards as the fireball just passed over his nose.

"Blizzard!"

Ira got up just in time to jump back as the ground froze over into an ice block. He dodged another fireball, then drew his gun and opened fire.

"Iceshot!"

"Fire!"

The two attacks collided in midair, and showered the two with cold water.

"Brrr!" Ira said. He shook himself silly and got the water out of his fur, then fired another ice shot. It hit the ground right by the black mage's foot, and froze his foot to the ground.

"KUPO! It's cold!" The mage yelled.

Ira shot another ice shot, froze his other foot to the ground, then ran over and opened a box.

"Chroma gem!"

"…Sleepy…Snork"

Just like that, the black mage fell asleep.

"Whew. I need to battle more often." Ira sighed.

I wanna say Kupo.

"Kupo." Ira said. "Kupokupokupo." Ira swirled it around on his tongue like it was a piece of candy.

"Why didn't Lance want me to say it, again?" Ira spoke out loud.

"…Kupo."

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Seth tumbled about, struggling not to be smashed and strangled by the much bigger human fighter he was battling.

"Get off me, Kupo! You're…Urk...Smashing me!" Seth yelled.

"I'm trying…to…Fight you! Hold…Still!" The fighter grunted.

"No!"

"That's it then, No more nice Guy!"

"…Eh, is that your name, Kupo?" Seth asked.

"Yes, so what?" Guy asked.

Seth wasn't there.

"Hey….OWCH!" Guy yelled. A ball bounced off the back of his head, and he turned around. Still no Seth.

"Hoop!" Seth yelled. He threw a ring around Guy, and caught him on the spot.

"Hey! Let me outta this thing!" Guy shouted as he ran around aimlessly.

"Nope." Seth said. He was laying on a branch up in a nearby tree, juggling balls.

"…What are you gonna do with those?"

"I'm gonna throw them at you until you're KO'd, Kupo." Seth said, before he bombarded Guy senseless.

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Becile locked staves with a viera white mage.

"What makes you think you're going to win?" The white mage asked.

"One: I'm stronger than you, Two: Ramuh!" Becile called out.

She expelled a cloud of mana to summon a spirit in the shape of an old warrior carrying a staff. He raised his arms to the sky, and the spot where the white mage was standing was blasted with lightning.

When the lightning stopped, the white mage stood there, slightly smoky.

"I held back on that one." Becile said, before the mage toppled over unconscious.

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"…Hmmph. You seem to be a worthy opponent." Rolf said.

"As with you." a bangaa dragoon said.

"Let's see what you know." Rolf said.

The two ran at each other, and collided with spears drawn.

Rolf stabbed at the dragoon with his spear, but the dragoon caught the tips on his own, and locked the ends. Rolf broke the lock by pulling to the left, then he brought the flat end of his spear down on the dragoon's head. The dragoon hopped back, then jumped into the air with his spear aimed right at Rolf's head. Rolf stepped to the side to let him land, then smacked him in the back of the head with his spear and KO'd him.

"…Too easy." Rolf said.

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Darren jumped back and drew a dew shuriken, and threw them at Lance. Lance charged forwards while swatting the spinning blades out of the air, and blade met blade.

The two rapidly slashed and stabbed at each other for a few moments, then they both jumped back and circled around each other before clashing.

Darren rolled to the side as Lance swung diagonally, and rolled right behind him where he took a slash. Lance backflipped right over him, and landed with both of his blades crossed like scissors, right at Darren's neck.

"I'm sorry, Darren, but today, you lose." Lance said.

"….Grrrrrrr…."

"It's time to go, everybody!" Lance called out to his partners.

Seth collected all of his balls, and at the bottom of the pile, lay Guy.

"He took awhile to KO, Lance." Seth smirked. "But eventually, he fell before an onslaught of balls."

Before Lance and his group disappeared, Lance turned back and called out to Darren.

"If you need anything before you leave, Darren, you may stop by and get a bite to eat at my home. You'll always be welcome."

"…" Darren turned, and saw that Lance was already gone.

"…Sigh…" He got up, and began pulling out potions to help his team recover, and prepare for the long trek home.

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Lance seemed really pensive at the dinner table, that night.

He stared at his plate with a blank face, and he fiddled with the Chocobo meat on his fork for a while, before nibbling on it.

"…"

"…What's eating at you, Lance?" Benton asked. "You usually are not this quiet."

"…I'm concerned." Lance finally said.

"It's the end of the WOOOOOOOOOOOORLD!" Gillis screamed before tearing out of the room at top speed.

"…Get the little tyke some candy, Becile. He'll like that." Lance said in an uncharacteristically quiet voice. "You'll find him in his bed."

"Yes, sir." Becile said before leaving.

"Sssso. You're finally going to say what's been on your mind?" Rolf asked.

"You hissed." Lance chuckled weakly.

"I'm tired of sssspeaking normally." Rolf replied mildly.

"And I wanna say Kupo." Ira said determinedly.

"If you like." Lance said.

"Kupo!"

"Yes, Rolf, I'm going to speak, now." Lance said. "And I'd like the rest of you to sit in as well, as this concerns you all."

"…"

"I'm thinking of leaving."

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!?!?!" Everybody screamed.

"Sssir, That issss VERY irresssspossssible!" Rolf chided harshly.

Lance laughed a sad laugh. "No, no no no. It's not like that at all, everybody. I'm not dumping you to the four winds."

"Whew. For a moment, I'd thought you gone plumb mad!" Tina sighed.

"You see, we experienced a problem today, during our match. Anybody that wasn't there today care to guess?" Lance asked.

"…You forgot your weapons?" Sammy asked.

"Nobody there to fight?" Marie asked.

"No candy?" Gillis suggested from the doorway.

"…No judge." Lance simply said. "And if any of you have been paying attention to the small amount of news that comes towards our way…"

"…Isss that thisss isssn't the only time thissss hassss happened." Rolf concluded.

"EXACTLY!" Lance said, with extreme emphasis. "This is not the first time a judge has missed his duty. That's what has me worried, everybody. As if the first time a judge didn't appear wasn't suspicious, it's happened again. Only…this isn't the second time. Nobody knows how many times the judges have missed their duties, but they're becoming scarce."

"So, you're saying…" Chaka began.

"Yes, either the judges are disappearing, being killed off, which is very unlikely, or…"

"They're plotting something." Tina's eyes lit up with understanding.

"Also not likely, but this warrants inspection, if you ask me." Lance said. "Unfortunately, I have to cut this discussion short, because ei have to take Benton to the doctor about that bell."

"NOOO! Not that doctor!" Benton paled visibly.

"If he tries anything new on you that's not legal, let me know, and I'll be there to sort him out." Lance said. "Well, that means bedtime for the rest of you! I'll wake you all up when Benton and I get back!"

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"I don't WANNA go to bed!" Gillis squealed as Rolf took him to bed.

"I'll give you candy when you wake up." Rolf offered.

"….Fine." Gillis pouted, unable to resist the offer.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

That's all for today, everybody! I'll have the next chapter up as soon as I can, but be patient, I've been kinda busy as of late, and I'm finding it hard to work quickly with my mind stretched in every direction.

Oh well, I hope you had as much fun reading this chapter as I've had writing it! See ya around!

With that said, Adieu, and review!

-Shining Riku-