Chris: Welcome back to a new chapter! Now, to those who are expecting storyline advancement…Uh, sorry, but this is more of a fun filler than a true storyline chapter. Just some fun for all of the mercenaries before returning to their jobs.
Note: Raele's song is an altered version of Roy Orbison's song, Pretty Woman. Blame my dad for getting the soundtrack. Aura's song, however, is mine. Not that I'm exactly one-hundred percent proud of it…
Mission 10: Celebration
"Hey, hey! I heard from Boors that Isaac is coming back!" Rima dashed into the band headquarters, a bright smile on her small face. The short thief immediately leaped on top of Yaleus, whose legs buckled as he collapsed onto the ground. Rima jumped off of the swordsman. "Oops, sorry!"
"Ow…I'm just so happy you decided to break my back." Yaleus let out a woof sound and put a hand on his aching backside. The green haired swordsman groaned as he stood up. Glaring at the thief, he hauled her over his shoulder and began carrying her towards the living room.
"Hey, let me go you big lummox! Just because I'm small doesn't mean you can't haul me around like a sack of grain!" Rima beat helplessly against Yaleus, but the tall swordsman showed no mercy.
"Now, tell your news to them." Yaleus slung Rima on Thanas' lap. The young boy looked surprised at the sudden burden on his legs and he reflexively pushed Rima off.
"Just because I healed does not mean you can throw things on top of me." He grumbled, running a hand through his red hair. "It still hurts."
"So, what's this news you have for us?" Sarai asked, sprawled across another couch. She held a small bottle of water and took slow sips out of it as she waited for Rima to tell her what had made her so excited.
"Isaac is coming back!"
Sarai spit out her water in surprise, splashing Wesley across the face. The brown haired thief recoiled in disgust, warding away any other spurts of water with his hands. Sarai said up, ignoring Wesley's protests.
"Isaac is gonna be back soon? Hahaha, that is awesome!" Sarai shouted, pounding the nearest person the back, who happened to be Wesley. The thief was knocked down onto the carpeted floor, taking more of his share of punishment.
"What great news I hear, to know that our lord Isaac is near." Raele smiled some his position against one of the walls, his lute strapped across his neck by a leather cord. He spotted Mizu entering because of the commotion. "One thing I can't wait to see, is to see sweet Mizu kissing me."
"Stuff it, bard boy." Anair grumbled, running a hand through her tousled lavender-white hair. There were bags under her eyes, a testament to the fact that she hadn't gotten much sleep. Her lack of sleep had also the charming ability to turn her normally stoic mood into something monstrous. "Out of my way, pipsqueak."
"Aw, man. Anair, even though I love you, you're such a grump sometimes." Wesley whined as Anair kicked him out of the way. He squired up on a seat on the side of the couch and gazed at her with puppy eyes, which she promptly ignored.
"Hey, what's the hoo-hah?" Zane strolled inside the room, his arquebus perched over his shoulder. Aura walked in behind him, looking slightly nervous. She twirled a small scarf between her fingers and she looked at the assembled mercenaries. Even though she had been with them for at least a month, she was still nervous around some of them and made no attempt to hide it.
"Isaac is coming back!" Sarai cried joyously, tossing her hands in the air. "Hey, we've been doing pretty well for ourselves, right? Rima, what's the status on the treasury?"
"At least fifty-thousand gold, Sarai." Rima informed. While Isaac was gone at Daein, the rest of the mercenaries had been doing odd jobs around Melior. Their group had now made a name for themselves and sometimes was actually recognized by random individuals across the street.
"Hehehe, all right!" Sarai pumped her fist in the air. "I can't wait for Isaac to come back!"
---
"Phew…I can't wait to see the headquarters again." Isaac muttered to himself as he looked at the sight in front of him. The capital of Crimea stood in front of him, like some beautiful, unpolished jewel that would be worth millions once it was just cleaned. He was partially surprised by his feelings. He didn't think he would feel so happy to see his headquarters again and seeing all of his friends. He was actually surprised at the fact that he considered them friends.
"So, it's somewhere in here? What a place." Shirley commented. Isaac didn't know whether her words were complimentary or derogatory. "Well, come on. I'm certain there are more important things to do than just stare like idiot cows." She started walking towards the city.
Isaac shook his head amusedly. It was impossible not to crack a smile at her comment. He turned to look at Eliza. "Ready?"
"Oh, yeah." Eliza nodded as she walked after Shirley.
Isaac sighed and followed her. There had been way too many things to think about lately. Maya trying to kill him. Pravus trying to kill him. Next thing you know, Queen Elincia was going to try to kill him.
'Oh well,' He thought somberly, 'I'll just have to live with it.'
---
Isaac stood outside the mansion, with Shirley and Eliza waiting with him.
"Well? Hurry up and open the door. I don't have all day." The cleric tapped her foot impatiently on the ground.
"Fine, fine." Isaac grumbled. He opened the door and was immediately bowled over by two bodies. Collapsing onto the ground and laughing breathlessly, he looked at the two that had tackled him. "Hey, not so hard next time!"
"Sorry, Isaac!" Rima said cheerfully, a big grin on her childish face.
"I'm just happy to see you back!" Sarai ruffled Isaac's hair and got off of his body. "Come on, let's go! Everyone is waiting!" She led him inside the headquarters, where everyone was waiting.
"Welcome back." Raele strummed a chord on his lute, his mismatched eyes shining brightly. "There is no need for rhymes in such a happy moment."
"…Hmph, glad to see you haven't died." Anair grumbled, her arms folded. Her sparkling eyes and the small smile tugging at her lips belied the harsh nature of her words, however.
"Nice to see you again, boss." Yaleus was leaning against a wall, smiling.
"Can't wait to see what kind of stories you have!" Thanas said cheerfully from his position on the couch. Laisa, sitting next to him, wore a big smile and she used a small portion of her magic to scatter flower petals into the air.
"Welcome back, Isaac." Mizu bowed, her tail waving cheerfully.
"Yo." Zane raised his hand and nudged Aura softly. The dancer bowed, her smile tremulous.
"Nice to meet you!" Wesley waved to Isaac.
"…" Aran just folded his arms, staying silent. He inclined his head slightly as a sort of greeting.
"Heh, it's been a long time…But I'm glad to be back." Isaac walked back into the headquarters, smiling gratefully at the band of people that he led.
---
A couple of days had passed and now most of the mercenaries were assembled in the meeting hall, without Isaac's knowledge. Aura had pleaded illness and was sleeping in her room, watched over by Zane. Wesley had disappeared somewhere, his trademark smile on his face, and Aran had left, since he didn't feel comfortable with so many people surrounding him. Eliza had disappeared into her room, murmuring to herself worriedly.
Sarai addressed the assembly, her blue hair curling around her head. "Listen up. I don't know if any of you have noticed, but Isaac has been looking really down lately. Hell, he hasn't even smiled in the past couple of days, except at the celebration party! I'm getting worried."
"You have to remember, Isaac doesn't smile that much anyway." Yaleus reminded her. "But you have a point. I'm getting worried myself. He hasn't putting his full strength in training lately. I've been smacking him across the ground in our sessions and he normally matches me strike for strike."
"Maybe he got sick?" Anair suggested, but Shirley waved it away.
"I would have noticed something as major as that. I might not know much about fighting, but I know a lot about diseases and maladies. He isn't sick in body. He must be suffering from some sort of mental anguish." She leaned forward on the oak table, her chin resting on her fingers.
"Could his trip to Daein have revealed something?" Mizu offered.
"Ah, a smart idea she has said, his emotions none have read." Raele said, tuning his instrument.
"We need something to cheer him up." Thanas slammed his hand onto the table, wincing as his old wounds flared up again.
"How about another party?" Laisa said hopefully, looking at the others. Light bulbs seemed to click around the table and soon they were all smiling.
"Hey, that could just work! We still have most of our money, Rima! Let's hold a surprise party for Isaac!" Sarai said joyously.
"Um…No offense, but how did you all accumulate so much money?" Shirley asked. "I'm not very experienced in matters like this."
"We just finished many a quest. All we did was do our best." Raele tested the strings and smiled. "Our rewards for completion were really fine, so on high-class food we may dine."
"Is he always like that?" Shirley pointed at the bard.
"Yeah. Unless he's being serious, which he never is." Sarai snorted. "You get used to it after a while."
"I bet…" Shirley cocked an eye at Raele, who winked at her. "Anyway, how are we going to keep this a secret from Isaac?"
"Oh…Right." That deflated Sarai's balloon a bit. "Isaac is sharp enough to notice anything like a party brewing. Crap, I didn't think about that."
"That's no problem." Rima scoffed. "I'm sure I can think of a way to distract him. Besides, he's been asking me all these questions about Pravus. I'll stall him for a couple of days at the library."
"But it will take more than a couple of days to make the party." Sarai said when Yaleus interrupted.
"I'll beat him around in training some more. Leave it to me." He offered with a smug grin.
"I guess that works…" Sarai shrugged. "Okay, people! Let's get ready for a party!"
---
"Pay attention!" Yaleus cried as his sword flew past Isaac's lance and thudded into his head. Isaac let out a yell and collapsed on the ground, clutching his aching head. The green haired swordsman stood over Isaac, a smirk on his face. "You will never win at a fight without paying attention."
"Grrr…" Isaac grumbled, standing up and rubbing the bump that he was certain was appearing on his head. "Jerk."
"You should be glad this was only practice. If it was real life, your head would've been split in two." Yaleus said, tossing his wooden sword to the side. He bent to help Isaac up and looked at him concernedly. "You've been distracted lately. What's been bothering you?"
"At the moment, my head is. I've just been thinking." Isaac replied.
"Well, I'll fix you a drink. That should get thinking out of your head!" Yaleus said cheerfully as he led Isaac towards the main building of their headquarters.
Isaac looked suspiciously at Yaleus. "You've been training me more than ever lately. Are you hiding something from me?"
"Why would you think that?" He replied easily as he tossed open the door and stepped to the side.
"You're planning something, I know it." Isaac accused as he walked through the door. He looked in front of him and stopped.
"SURPRISE!"
"Wha-? What the hell is this?" Isaac asked in disbelief, staring at the assembled mercenaries. "Did something happen that I'm not aware of?"
"Stop being such a worrywart and enjoy yourself!" Sarai grabbed Isaac's arm and led him towards a table in the middle of the room that was laden with various delicacies. "You were looking down lately, so we decided to hold a party for you!"
"You shouldn't have done this." Isaac protested. "Really. I was just thinking about something. You didn't have to go through the trouble. Hey, wait a minute! That's why you kept taking me to the library!" He pointed at Rima, then at Yaleus. "And why you kept making me train!"
"Guilty." Yaleus grinned.
"Hey, it worked! My plans always work!" Rima chirped.
"Now stop worrying about stuff and let's have another party!" Sarai shouted, grabbing a mug of beer from the table and downing it in one gulp.
---
"I don't want to do this." Wesley whined.
"Be quiet, Wesley." Zane said. "This is for one of our friends and frankly, I'm not too fond of it myself. But we have to do it, okay?"
"Sigh…This better be worth it." The thief said as he looked at the other male mercenaries that were gathered in one of the many rooms. "Why does Raele want us to be accompaniment for his song anyway? His voice is good enough as a solo."
"Hey, don't ask me." Zane shrugged. "Looks like he's all ready. Might as well go."
"Won't this be great." Wesley sighed half-heartedly and put a smile on his face. "Oh well. At least Anair will be watching me."
---
"Why did you drag me here?" Isaac asked uncertainly as Sarai shoved him on one of the seats in a room. The seats had been arranged in rows and there was a rickety-looking wooden stage in front of them. All of the girls were here, but Isaac couldn't spot any guys, except for Aran, who was standing to the side.
"You ask the cutest questions!" Sarai giggled uncontrollably and tugged at his cheeks. "Be quiet, silly! We're going to watch a show!"
Isaac edged away from the drunk girl and found him next to Anair, who also seemed suitably bombed. In her current condition, Isaac didn't know whether to be scared or relieved.
"Oh, it's you, Isaac." Anair murmured. "You know, when I first saw you…I thought you were hot. Did you know that?" She leaned against Isaac, humming contentedly.
"Um…No, I didn't." He replied.
"Off my little Isaac!" Sarai grabbed him by the arm and tugged the mercenary towards her.
'This is just great…' Isaac thought to himself helplessly. 'Why can't this stupid show start already so I can escape?'
"I am sorry for the wait, but fortunately we are not too late." Raele strode onto the stage, looking gallant in his normal clothes as well as a pair of sunglasses and a chain the hung from his neck. His all-too-familiar lute was still strapped around his neck and he motioned behind him. All the other male mercenary members strode onto the stage, with expressions that varied from utter embarrassment to resigned helplessness.
"I have a song for you. It is something I must do." Raele strummed a chord on his lute and began singing, with the other guys dancing (or trying to) and providing background noises.
Pretty Mizu, walking in my life
Pretty Mizu, will you be my wife?
Pretty Mizu I don't believe you
You're not the truth
No one could look as good as you
Mercy
Pretty Mizu don't you notice me
Pretty Mizu I couldn't help but see
Pretty Mizu that you look lovely as can be
Are you lonely just like me? Wow
Isaac put a hand to his mouth, supposedly scratching at an itch, but secretly trying to stop the huge smile at the spreading across his face. The show was, to say the least, extremely amusing. It was, to say the most, touching and very, very romantic. Mizu herself was blushing like mad, with the other girls giggling around her.
Raele was really into it, adding dancing to his repertoire of musical skills. He was playing to the crowd, tossing off his sunglasses to the crowd. Even the background people were getting into it. Wesley was now spinning around on his hands, flipping backwards and forwards. Thanas was mimicking Raele and was singing along with him, except he was replacing Mizu with Laisa. Yaleus, with absolutely no skill at dancing, was now showing off his swordplay, nearly shaving off spikes of Zane's hair.
Pretty Mizu, stop a while Pretty Mizu, won't you be mine?
Pretty Mizu, talk a while
Pretty Mizu, give your smile to me
Pretty Mizu, yeah yeah yeah
Pretty Mizu, look my way
Pretty Mizu, say you'll stay with me
Cause I need you I'll treat you right
Come with me baby, be mine tonight
Pretty Mizu, you look mighty fine
Pretty Mizu, don't walk away, hey, o.k.
If that's the way it must be, o.k.
I guess I'll go on home, it's late
There'll be tomorrow night, but wait
What do I see, is she walking back to me?
Yeah, she's walking back to me!
Oh, oh, pretty Mizu
Raele bowed and jumped off of the stage, wrapping the auburn haired catgirl in a hug and kissing her on the lips. Thanas copied the bard and leapt down next to Laisa, except he only blushed and smiled. Yaleus sheathed his sword and had to run away when Zane started chasing him around.
Isaac applauded loudly, a wide grin on his face. He laughed a little and allowed Yaleus to hide behind him to escape Zane's wrath. "I can't believe you guys did that!"
"Hey, it was worth it!" Wesley said cheerfully, prancing up to Anair. "I was fantastic, wasn't I?"
"Of course you were, you little chubby bunny." Anair slurred.
Wesley looked nonplussed to hear himself being called a chubby bunny, but he shrugged it off and sat next to her. Soon, the thief was in an animated discussion with the archer and most of his hand motions suggested that he was explaining how he had robbed three people in plain sight.
"Hey Aura!" Zane paused for a moment to hail the purple haired dancer. "Why don't you sing a song for everyone?"
"O-Oh! No! I couldn't! Not after that performance! Besides, I haven't practiced singing for a long time…" Aura protested, but the other mercenaries urged her on so she reluctantly agreed. Turning to Raele, she curtsied slightly. "Um…If it wouldn't trouble you, would you mind playing a soft accompaniment?"
"It would be my pleasure." Raele said gallantly and he lifted himself onto the stage again. "Something soft? Or something rousing?"
"Something soft…" Aura said before walking onto the stage and taking a deep breath. She looked out at the rowdy mercenaries and gulped, overcome by a wave of nervousness. She took a quick glance at Zane, who nodded encouragingly. Returning his nod, she took one last breath before launching into song.
Walking down the world
Earth and sky between us
Friends at our side to greet us
The future lies in all of us
Running down the tracks
We have splitting roads
What does our future bode?
Together we will strive our path
Surely it's our souls
Tossed between light and dark
Singing like the lark
Suffering the many sorrows of life
But we choose what we see
We decide who we want to be
In this blessed land of gods
We will beat the odds
Aura ended the song with a small sigh and looked out at the crowd, which was silent. She blushed and began stammering. "I-I'm sorry! I know i-it's not that good, b-but…" She stopped lamely, too embarrassed to continue.
The roar of applause took her by surprise and she nearly stumbled off the stage. Curtsying to her audience, she rushed off the stage into the open arms of Zane, who rubbed her hair softly.
"You did very well, Aura."
"T-Thank you." She said breathlessly.
"Wow, I knew you guys were good and stuff, but I never thought you held such wonderful parties." A tall, scrawny black haired man with a sword at his side walked towards Isaac, open wonderment on his face. "Oh, I forgot. My name is Cyrus Marquessa Evanwoods."
"Uh…Hi Cyrus." Isaac cautiously took the man's hand. Looking at his hair, Isaac noticed that there were multi-colored streaks in his hair, giving him a slightly strange look. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I've come to join your mercenary group!" Cyrus said cheerfully. "I'm sure I'll be useful."
"Well, okay." Isaac motioned outside. "Perhaps we can discuss this somewhere else? I doubt there are any real problems with you joining, but I have to check each person."
"Oh, I understand. The burdens that every leader must carry, huh?"
Isaac looked back at Sarai and Anair, both of which were arguing with each other. Wesley was in the middle, smiling blissfully. Apparently, both Sarai and Anair believed that Wesley was Isaac and were arguing over who had more right to him. Isaac wondered how they could think the shorter brown haired boy looked anything like him, but he presumed the oversight was the cause of alcohol.
"Is there something wrong?" Cyrus asked, a momentary flicker of uncertainty washing across his face.
"Oh, nothing." Isaac shook his head and followed Cyrus outside. "Nothing you should be worried about." A small smile flitted on his face. "It was nothing you could stop."
---
"Isaac is mine! Who was the first person that he recruited?" Sarai tugged on Wesley's left arm, glaring at Anair, who was tugging on the opposite arm.
"You were forced upon him!" Anair retorted, pulling Wesley back towards her. The lavender-white haired archer stuck her tongue out at Sarai. "Besides, this guy belongs to me!"
"Girls?" Wesley said.
"You be quiet, Isaac!" Sarai yelled.
"Sheesh…" Wesley cringed. "I'm not even Isaac. I'm Wesley. It was nice pretending I was the leader for a while, but it's breaking my heart to hear two beautiful ladies arguing over him and not me. Why does Isaac get all the hot girls?"
"Hey! You aren't Isaac!" Sarai said accusingly.
"That's what I told you!" Wesley smirked.
"Well…Fine!" The blue haired girl collapsed in a faint. Wesley watched her for a moment before turning back to Anair. She was looking down at the ground, blushing like a schoolgirl. It made Wesley slightly nervous to see her like that, but the thief didn't let the emotion travel to his face.
"Hey Anair, what's troubling you?"
"What? N-Nothing! Nothing at all!" Anair replied hastily before running off. Wesley scratched his head in confusion. Even with all of his jokes and experience, he would never understand girls.
'Oh well. It's not like they understand me.' Wesley thought contentedly as he closed his eyes and went to sleep.
---
"Master?" Eliza stood in front of her altar, her hands twisting in torment. "Master, I need to talk to you!"
"What is it, Eliza? Is there something troubling you, my child?" Pravus replied.
"Y-Yes." Eliza nodded fearfully. No matter how firm her resolve was, it would always crumble in the god's mighty presence. "Master…My heart is aching. I feel…things whenever I act against Isaac. I don't understand it. Please…Help me, Master. I don't want to feel these things anymore. I exist only to serve you…"
"Hahahah! Can it be that my child has felt the first stirrings of affection? Well, that cannot do. Eliza, don't worry your pretty little head. You won't feel these things anymore."
"T-Thank you, Master." Eliza bowed and hurriedly left the room, her silver hair flying behind her.
Pravus's presence remained in the room, watching Eliza. "That girl…I made her human…but she is becoming too human for my purposes. Whatever. I will remove her ability to feel affection and she won't be human anymore. She is, of course, the perfect tool."
Chris: Well, back to the plot! At least in the next chapter the storyline will move farther. I hope you enjoyed this filler chapter of sorts and review please! It was fun writing this stuff.