Chapter 7: I Hate Unexpected Guests
Marche seemed to keep to himself for the next few hours, barely interacting with his friends. If they asked him something they might have gotten a soft grunt or two. Eventually Sora became concerned, and sat beside Marche on the deck.
"Marche, you've been sulking ever since we left Mateus' chamber. What's up?"
"Queen Remedi was right, Sora. If I were to give up this world, I would be sacrificing something that I really wanted. I love being athletic and strong here in Ivalice. I don't want to give that up. And because of that selfish desire, this world will never go away, and Xemnas will soon bend us all to his will."
"It's not your fault, Luneth."
"Yes, it is! I was the one of the people who created this world in the first place, and I can't even finish what I started!" Marche raised his hands as if to grab his hair out of his head, but then just clenched his fists and put them down.
"Queen Remedi said that the desires of the creators of Ivalice are what sustain it, right?" Luneth called from behind the wheel of the Enterprise.
"That's right." Marche replied.
"Who else forged this place?" Sora asked.
"My brother Doned, and my friends Ritz and Mewt. But convincing them would be impossible. They'd never want to go back, not after what Ivalice has given them. Ritz now has real red hair, so she doesn't have to dye anymore. Doned can walk and isn't confined to a wheelchair. Mewt has a respectable father and a loving mother. I can't tell them to go back to what we had before, nor would they."
"Then destroying Ivalice is out of the question." Sora said. "Which means…"
"If we can't stop the Gran Grimoire," Luneth continued, "We'll have to protect it so that Xemnas will never be able to access it."
"But—" Marche was cut off as someone seemed to appear out of thin air. He wore red and white, with a scarlet turban. His eyes looked youthful, yet evil. Marche knew him only too well.
"Llednar!"
"Aww, you remember me!" Llendar said, the sarcasm obviously present.
"I hate unexpected guests. What say you we dispose of him?" Sora said as he summoned his Keyblade.
"NO!" Marche said, and spread his arms to hold him back. "Queen Remedi has cast the most powerful Ivalice law on him. It's called Fortune. It protects him from any harm. Fighting him would be futile."
"They don't need a tutorial, Marche." Llednar's condescending smirk wiped off. "You're going to need a Phoenix down once my mission is complete."
"Mission for what?"
"To kill the three of you and send the remains of your ship into the ocean while I dump your bodies in the Ulei River. And considering the fact that I can't lose, it shouldn't be that hard."
"We'll see." Sora growled.
Those must have been the trigger words for engagement, because immediately a judge riding an armored Chocobo appeared on the deck beside them. "Engagement declared. Make sure you review today's laws prior to engagement. Fortune law is in effect. Begin!"
Llednar's speeds seemed to surpass Mateus' as he dashed directly towards Marche, carrying what looked like a purple-black blade. Marche parried just as smoothly, following up with a sweep to the leg. "Guys, leave this to me!"
"Fine with me," Llednar said as he got back up. "Marche and I have a score to settle anyway."
