Chapter 13
Xigbar hopped around across the rocks and looked around. He was randomly stretching this morning. They were a few days from the capital of Tibeora and Paine had stopped them for a mandatory training session. Xigbar sat down and stretched his legs and lay back in the semi sandy ground. He smiled at the annoyed look on Paine's face. Ever since he wanted to join she hadn't really liked him and now that he was a Dragoon she liked him even less than before.
Zexion looked rather unconcerned from his spot. He had brought a book back in Lohan, and now was totally lost in it. Axel watched Zexion with an odd look, biting his cheek; he didn't get the idea of pleasure reading, or reading at all. Roxas was just looking around when he caught a glimpse Xigbar who was hanging upside down in a tree and grinning. Roxas laughed and everyone looked at him.
"What's the matter Roxy? Never hung upside down before?" Axel looked to Xigbar and smiled.
"And when the blood rushes to your head and you either pass out or die it won't be any of our faults," Zexion said without looking up from his book. Xigbar laughed and folded his arms and swung a little.
"I guess you don't know me as well as you think you do," he said and chuckled. "I never get any side effect of being upside down." He grinned at Axel who nodded. "Axel knows what I am talking about don't you?"
"Yes, I do."
"Well if you are done acting like a child get down here we need to get you trained." Paine said irritably.
"If it is anything like what happened when we originally tried, I'm going very far away," Zexion said closing his book with a snap and he jumped down and walked away only to trip. "Fuck you, ground!" he muttered angrily. He was tired of it tripping him. Xigbar chuckled. "Shut up, Xigbar!"
"Looks like the King is upset," he said reaching down and picking Zexion clean off the ground and helping him to a place to sit. Zexion immediately jumped back and fell backwards.
"Don't touch me, Xigbar!" Xigbar blinked and then looked at his hand to see the electricity pulse through his fingers and then die.
"Oops sorry, dude... didn't mean it," he said, and then looked at Paine who looked as if she would rather not do this- or kill him to prevent her from having to do this.
"Axel you know what we need to do," Paine said sounding really annoyed as Xigbar raced away. She transformed and so did Axel. Paine had taught Axel to deflect minor lightening attacks, because when Xigbar had transformed the first time he made a storm of electricity around them and had caused many problems. Now, being in the desert, they were hoping that the likelihood of that happening again was small, but they were taking caution anyway.
"Alright, Xigbar," Axel yelled. He looked to Paine who looked up as thunder rumbled over head. Xigbar jumped backwards and the lightening rushed through him and created his black and violet armor. His armor was much like Paine's and Axel's- thick and made for fighting, not defending. Zexion looked at him with a very annoyed look. It was hurtful for him to be only made for defense and Xigbar was one of the main fighters.
"Well, we actually get to see where you belong on the battlefield." Paine seemed a bit more satisfied to have another fighter rather than another defender.
"Sweet stuff," Xigbar said looking at his armored body.
"Sweet black head band too," he said, taking it off and then putting it back on. Axel was a little apprehensive about approaching him though. Unlike himself and the others, Xigbar had a very unstable element. That meant that it would constantly be running through his body and armor, and to get to close would mean to be shocked.
"Okay, now that we got this settled. Land, Xigbar," Paine ordered. Xigbar let his wings fold back and gently touched down on the ground and looked a little disappointed. "Good. Now you can't shock us." She landed and walked to him. Xigbar stood there while she examined his armor and then she stood back. Unlike the other two she had nothing that could be used against him to make him fight, let alone push him to his limit. She then walked away and spotted Roxas. She could get Axel to fight him by using Roxas and Zexion.
Roxas and Zexion were now talking amongst themselves, completely unaware of what was going on. Paine looked at Axel whose eyes narrowed. He seemed to know something wasn't right. Paine knew that if she could make the two defenders unable to help out, and make the attackers be the defenders, that would teach them some new skills and maybe get Xigbar to be more serious on what is going on and what it meant to be a Dragoon. Paine turned her back to Xigbar and he immediately seemed to know what was going to happen.
He did not like the way that Paine taught them how to use their powers. It got the job done, and that was great, but as a trainer himself he knew that there was a limit on how hard a heart could be pushed. He saw Paine summon the black orb.
Xigbar thought quickly, remembering what Axel had told Roxas and Zexion about concentrating about their weapons and their element. He raised his hands and looked at the two things in his hands. He smiled and flew back fast and took aim. He pulled the trigger and watched the red darts of electricity fly. They hit Paine the back making her freeze. Roxas and Zexion looked up and saw that Paine had been aiming at them and they dived out of the way and hid behind a large bolder. Axel turned to Xigbar and gave him a look of horror.
Paine was allowed to move and she rounded on Xigbar and she did not look pleased. Xigbar smiled and his look was one that Axel knew all too well and never wanted to receive . As he looked at the two fighters he suddenly realized that he would need to take a side and then he stopped. Xigbar of course, he thought, that's not even a question.
Paine raced forward and Xigbar raised his guns for another shot and let loose a barrage. Paine dodged but a few hit her and slowed her down. Xigbar flew up with amazing speed and Paine missed with all her spells. Paine was getting really frustrated with Xigbar and the fact that he was getting the hang of charging the electricity in his body and expelling it at her, slowing her down and deflecting her spells.
"How does Xigbar know how to do that?" Zexion asked sounding astonished.
"Xigbar is a martial arts master, so he knows what he calls "The Movements of Ancient times," when people could use magic freely. In fact, if you noticed gravity doesn't seem to affect him sometimes, in the sense that he can jump much higher than you would think and the fact that his fall is rather slow," Axel said, looking at Xigbar. "That explains why he can move so freely. Maybe the Dragoon is enhancing that ability as well. As for the electricity, like I said he knows the movements so I guess he just adds to his ability and knowledge to express the lightening." Zexion glanced at Axel, almost impressed that he spoke using logic.
The battle continued and was only stopped by Axel when he noticed Xigbar getting tired. That night there was tension. Paine being out-maneuvered by Xigbar had really pushed her buttons, and they all decided that it was best not to mention it again.
The capital, Fletz, was a very busy place and very warm. The people were all wearing bright colors and running around or selling strange fruit that they had never seen. Axel pulled at neckline of his shit, and could feel a burning sensation. The air was so humid that it was beginning to bother him. Paine noticed this, but said nothing. She felt that he needed to get over it and gain water's full respect already. Even Roxas had gotten over his nightmares.
Roxas and Xigbar were having a good time, running through the streets and looking at the shops and examining the different things for sale. Paine greatly disliked this behavior; after all, they were searching for Riku, not for food. Zexion, like Axel and Paine, did not get excited but just examined his surroundings.
They approached the highest spot in the city, which then lead to the castle. A huge crowd had gathered there and then they all panicked. "Oh no! It's the princess!" Some people cried. Everyone hid, but when they watched the woman come down, the Dragoons looked curiously. She was rather tall and very slender. She had slightly long blond hair but two strands seemed to be sticking up in the front and then pushed back. It was an odd hair style that none of them could describe. She looked around carefully.
"Presenting, Her Royal Highness, Princess Larxene." Axel looked around as everyone cowered at her presence.
"Um what is going on?" he asked the closest citizen.
"Normally, the princess likes to come out and throw daggers at us," he said quietly. "She finds pleasure in our pain." They looked at her as she approached. Everyone in the crowd seemed to be waiting for her to draw her daggers.
"Good afternoon everyone!" She said with a sweet smile and a kind voice. "Lovely day we are having, isn't it?" Axel literally watched all the jaws in the area drop. She smiled sweetly and walked around talking to everyone kindly.
"Well, this is odd indeed," Zexion said and the group looked at him. His face was that of utter surprise. "I've heard a lot about her from her father, when he came to visit a few years ago. She was a terrible person, from the stories I heard." He shivered. "I really do not want to recall what he told me." Axel blinked a few times and then looked at the princess and wondered what she had done in the past to terrify Zexion.
"Paine, the guards won't let us leave the city," Axel said as they watched the guards walk by. "What are we going to do?" Paine frowned. This was not what they had planned but now they were stuck and they couldn't fight or use their Dragoons to get out. That would create a panic. Axel looked over and saw Xigbar and Roxas talking to an older man who was attempting to carry an arm load of papers and books. Xigbar smiled and shrugged at the man's question and then pointed to Axel, Paine and Zexion. Seeing that they were being called, they walked over.
"Yeah, this is the rest of them. We got Axel, Paine, and Zexion," Xigbar said, pointing to each in turn.
"Hello then, my name is Fester," the man said trying to shake their hands. "Xigbar was just telling me that you might be interested in hearing about the Moon that Never Sets." Axel tilted his head and looked at Xigbar who winked at him. "Well, if you would follow me back to my house I will tell you what I know."
Fester plopped his books down on the table and then turned to them as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Ah, I am getting old." He chuckled.
"Um, what exactly is the Moon that Never Sets?" Axel asked sounding a little confused. Fester walked over to the telescope that took up most of the building and second floor.
"Look through here and I will explain." They did what they were told. "The Moon that Never Sets is a strange moon indeed, because, as it's name suggests, it never sets. It hangs in the same spot, night and day, but it is only night that you can see it clearly." He paused. "It is connected with an ancient story. It is said that every one-hundred and eight years it glows read and summons a demon to the earth. The black monster." Axel immediately straightened up and Paine turned away.
Of all times now? She thought angrily, but refused to turn back around. "The black monster is connected to the moon?" Axel suddenly demand, and Fester nodded. There was a sudden ringing in the distance and he jumped.
"That time already?" He quickly gathered his things up. "Beg your pardon, my friends, but I am going to be late for the princess's lesson." He looked at them. "My friend down the lane will be more than willing to let you stay in his house. Just mention my name and he will let you in," Fester said, hurrying away.
His friend turned out to be a gardener who was trying to figure out what was wrong with the soil in the country and why it wouldn't produce crops. Roxas had fallen asleep against Axel, who had fallen asleep shortly after getting through the door and sitting down in a corner. Paine stared into space, Xigbar was out like a light, and Zexion talked with the man all night.
The next morning they woke early and left the city to head to the Flower city that was just through the desert path. Axel was glad to get out of the humid air and back into dry air. It made his feel less sick and not like he was being boiled alive. Xigbar was quiet, but uneasy. His hand was on the handle of a dagger and he felt that danger was close.
Unlike the rest of them, Xigbar had the ability to sense danger that wasn't magical. He stopped and looked around carefully. Axel and Roxas both stopped, making Zexion and Paine who were in front, do the same and turn.
"Xigbar, what's wrong?" Roxas asked sounding rather uneasy at the man's gaze around the canyon.
"Hush, Roxy, I am trying to listen." Axel knew at once that something was close by. Xigbar had done this many times when they were traveling and always, something had come out and attacked them. He turned and looked at the low overhang that was about a thousand feet in front of them. "I think we are being watched," Xigbar said. He scanned the area and walked forward carefully, and then stopped when he was past Paine and Zexion. "There are eyes in the cliffs," he said quietly to Paine. She had apparently just realized that something was with them.
"We better move then," she said sounding rather annoyed. "The last thing we need is things to get in our way." Xigbar waited for the other to pass them and took the rear. Axel was on guard and ready to fight when needed.
It was when they were just getting to the small arch when the people that had been following them came into view. There were seven men. Two of them were archers, two were swordsman, two were fighters who looked like martial arts masters and the seventh was a man who was bent over like a frog. He had a twisted face that was like an imp, and there were clawed hand guards on his hands.
The frog-imp-man cackled and jumped up and down happily. "Looky here!" he cried to his fellow as he bounced. "Travelers! And they look tasty." His eyes landed on Roxas and Axel moved in front of his gaze. "Kill them and take their gold!" He and the four fighters jumped down and charged while the archers took aim.
"Zexion! Roxas! Deal with the archers," Paine said as she, Axel and Xigbar transformed. Xigbar drew his guns and fired at the combat fighters. When the second one didn't fall, he raised his right hand and felt the electricity pulse. The sky grew dark and he threw up his hand. "Atomic mind!" A bolt of lightning shot down from the heavens and obliterated the man below. Xigbar looked at his hand and then at the pile of ashes that used to be a man and grinned; he was liking this Dragoon thing more and more.
Paine easily cut through the swordsman in her path and then turned to see Axel's chakrams take care of the second. Now it was only the frog-imp-man. They both charged spells and fired, but he vanished. "What the hell?" Xigbar looked behind him and saw the man jump for him. He aimed a burst of lightning at him, but he vanished again.
Roxas looked down and saw the man jumping through the rocks at an alarming pace. Zexion also noticed this. Roxas threw his hand into the air. "Star children!" Suddenly burst of light rained down from above and knocked the man to the ground. Zexion then aimed a burst of wind at him so he landed in Axel's line of sight. With a burst of flames the man was slammed into the stone wall, fell to the ground, and didn't move. The Dragoons landed, changed back, and looked at him.
"Pitiful," Paine said without cause and she turned. As they were walking away Xigbar turned and then his yell alerted them. The man was charging at Roxas, and Axel turned and grabbed the man and pushed him back. He felt the blades on his hands side across his neck, but not cutting him. His Dragoon Spirit, however, flew into the air and landed a few feet from where the man landed. He looked down and saw the Dragoon stone, and then jumped for it at the same time Axel did.
"Magpi got the treasure!" He shouted from the cliff and he danced. "Master will be so proud!" and he took off. Paine transformed and shot after him. Axel pounded his hands into the earth angry at himself; he knew that Paine was going to rip him a new one when she got back.
Paine returned shortly after, she had lost him. "HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU!" she yelled pointing her sword at Axel who jumped back. "KEEP AN EYE ON THE SPIRIT!"
"It's not like I let him take it!" Axel yelled.
"That was a Dragoon Spirit!" she snarled. "And now it's gone." She looked quite deadly and Xigbar sensed something that was going to happen. Paine lashed out against Axel and Xigbar jumped between them and caught the full power of Paine's blade and dark magic.
"XIGBAR!" Axel yelled, from the ground. Xigbar who had transformed stumbled slightly and raised his guns at Paine.
"Chill, Paine," he said angrily. "There is no need to cut off heads." Paine's look was deadly. "That gang lives over past the Valley in the west. That's what they were saying in the capital. Let's just head over to the next town and see what we can dig up on them before we going charging in. Hopefully, they are too stupid to know what it really is and just keep it as a treasure," he said keeping his guns pointed at her. "Now, stand down."
Paine gave Xigbar a death stare, and then walked away. Xigbar lowered his guns and let them disappear with a small spark. He then walked forward and pulled Axel off the ground. "You okay Ax?" Axel nodded, but he didn't look okay. "Chill and relax man, it will all work out," he said patting Axel on his shoulder making the man jump. "Oops, sorry." He chuckled. "I still haven't got that down yet." Axel smiled. "I've got your back, if it makes you feel any better."
"Same here," Roxas said with a smile.
"I will too," Zexion said with a slight smile. Axel smiled back at them all; it was nice to know that the others were on his side. "We should just keep away from Paine for a while."
Axel agreed. "You weren't hurt, were you?" Axel asked Xigbar who grinned.
"Of course not! It will take a lot more to take me down." He laughed and pushed Axel towards the path. "You get some sleep, and you too Roxy. I'll stand guard tonight."
Riku looked around the area. The place was covered in thick patches of flowers and the air smelled sweet and salty- he was near the ocean now. Butterflies were floating around. He really didn't care for this town, or the people in it. It was just a stop he would be making before he headed to the meeting spot. It would be there that he would receive the second item he desired. He walked calmly through the crowed and was unseen.
Upon reaching a particular place he heard a noise. He turned to see someone crying for help. She was surrounded by the bandits. "You keep walking," they sneered at him.
"Please help me!" the woman begged. Riku turned and faced the five bandits. They turned on him and drew their daggers. He smiled and chuckled as he unsheathed his sword. In the blink of an eye, he was behind them sword drawn and out. He looked up to hear their bodies fall.
"Wow!" Roxas cried as they walked into the town. He looked around with amazement. The place was covered in flowers in every possible place and they were all beautiful.
"Looks like the bandits are here," Zexion said sounding disgusted as they saw a few walk by, making children retreat into their houses.
"Let's find someone who can tell us about these bandits and where their hideout really is," Paine said in a hiss. She had noticed Xigbar watching and though she didn't like to admit it, he did have her in check when it came to powers and speed. The Violet Dragoon's best ability was to paralyze people so that they would become easier targets for the rest of the group. Xigbar smiled when she walked away and he followed the group at the back.
It was clear that the bandits were causing major problems and it was hard to figure out what to do. After searching a bar, they were informed to ask the mayor. He, however, was reluctant to help them until he realized what they were: strong warriors who had defeated the gang that was terrorizing the path between Fletz and Donau.
"Well, all we have to do is get a pass from the king," Xigbar said as he walked backwards and talked to the group. "And that will allow us to get through that valley, and then to the gang. It means that we can get the Dragoon back." He smiled and looked directly at Paine, who said nothing and made no sign that she cared. Axel had gone from her favorite to below Roxas's rank in the matter of seconds that he had lost his Spirit, and there was little he could do now to make his situation any better.
They were just coming down the steps when they heard a commotion below. "Dude! You totally just touched my ass!"
Veroxen: first ironic that I used "there was a limit on how hard a heart could be pushed." I didn't know I put this until I did a review. Poor Axel was tossed aside in Paine's mind now that he lost his dragoon. She is so evil *scowls as she looks at Paine* But who could have yelled you just touched my ass! Any guess from the people who know either game!
We don't own this okay? And stop feeding the toasters.