The New Elie border Part 1

For the 14th time, I don't own Rave Master!

Traveling along a quaint little forest trail deep in New Elie's woods, a carriage strolled by on its way to the capitol. Because New Elie's noble was not currently able to run her state, the king would send a diplomat there every so often to check up on things. These diplomats, and a few other chosen wealthy people, were the only ones who had the legal right to leave the state thanks to the new laws that were decreed in New Elie a few years ago, but the king didn't have to know that.

Said diplomat was the person who rode in that carriage.

This diplomat was a short and plump man. He wore fine clothes, with a ring on every one of his thick, stubby fingers and sported a finely trimmed moustache. On his lap, was a heavy chest filled to the brim with gold coins, which he happily counted during his carriage ride.

Whenever a diplomat went to New Elie, they were given money to tell the king things were going smoothly. If they wouldn't accept a bribe, they would be viciously threatened. They would rather give them a bribe because it ususaly gets a little suspicious when they have to make an excuse for why the diplomat didn't come back.

This diplomat was more than happy to take the money in exchange for keeping his mouth shut about the poverty and illegal activity going on in New Elie. He chuckled to himself greedily as he counted his gold pieces.

"239… 240… 241… 2- Whoa!"

His carriage suddenly came to an abrupt halt. It almost gave the portly man whiplash.

"I dare say, what is the meaning of this?" The diplomat yelled out in a snobby voice to his driver.

They had defiantly hit something. The driver got out of his seat to investigate. When he looked under his wheel, his heart fell a little at the site in front of him.

"I'm sorry sir, but it appears as though we've just run over a little Plue dog." The driver called back to his passenger.

The driver truly felt bad for the poor creature he had hurt, but with a closer inspection, he noticed that the dog didn't look hurt at all. It was glowing slightly, like there was a little magic barrier that stopped the creature from being harmed. But how could-

The driver's thoughts were interrupted when he suddenly felt the cold steal of a blade on his neck.

"We're not looking to start a fight, but if you so much as make a sound, we won't think twice." Came a voice from right behind him.

The diplomat waited in his carriage for several minutes until his patience wore out. "Oh driver. Why haven't we continued moving yet?" He waited for a few moments for an answer but received none, fueling his annoyance.

The diplomat opened the door to the carriage, fully expecting to give his driver an ear full. "Speak up you, toad! I asked you a questi- "

The diplomat froze in place and all the color in his face drained when he laid his eyes upon the sight just outside his carriage. He was completely surrounded by a gang of mean looking thugs, all rough looking men, except for one little teenager girl in the back of the gang, who appeared to be giggling as if they had just pulled off a prank on someone. His driver was tied up and gagged a few feet away.

A man with dark hair and three eyebrow piercings came up to the scared rich man. He came down to his eye level and said with a smirk.

"Ya got anything your willing to share?"

Within a matter of minutes, the entire carriage had been stripped of every article of luggage within it, including all of the diplomat's money. They went so far as to even take the clothes off his back and all of the jewelry he was wearing leaving only his underpants. All the chubby little man could do was silently comply in hopes that they would take pity on him.

When it was over the gang took apart the wheels on the carriage so that, they didn't have to worry about being followed or of being squealed on by this man.

Once they were finished the gang leader yelled out to his men. "Okay, Silver Rhythm, roll out!"

With that all of the men started running off with what ever they could carry. Elie was right on the heels of her cohorts when she suddenly realized she forgot something important back at the mugging sight. She skid to halt and quickly ran back.

Elie ran strait up to the pathetic looking man that they had left to wallow in his underpants until she was only a few feet away. She set down the stolen luggage she was carrying for a just a moment so that she could give the diplomat a proper curtsy out of politeness.

She smiled as she said to him, "Thank you so much for your cooperation. We are sorry for the inconvenience."

She had been a part of the Silver Rhythm gang for almost a whole week. This was not her first mugging. She had made the decision to say this to everyone they had stolen from, no matter what. Hey she might be a thug now, but that didn't mean she had to throw away all of her manners, she was still a noblewoman.

With that, she picked up the stolen luggage again and quickly ran in the direction her gang had fled in, leaving behind a busted up, empty carriage, a very confused and pathetic looking diplomat and his tied up and gagged driver.

Every day the Silver Rhythm gang got closer and closer to the New Elie border. Unfortunately, they were often very easily sidetracked. Every time they came across a fancy traveler, they refused to ignore the opportunity of making a quick buck. Sure they promised to get Elie to the capitol quickly, but they were still thieves.

They had gotten a good three miles away from the diplomat through the thick brush of the forest before they had made the decision to top and take a break. During these breaks they often took a better look at the things that they stole and chose how to divide up the loot.

They joked around as they pulled apart the mugging victims luggage. They found mostly cash, some fancy clothes that weren't the right size for any of them, jewelry, and a few other bobbles and knickknacks that looked promising for pawning off.

While looking through the things that they stole Elie and Plue found something special that caught their eye. "Wow! Look Plue, it's another magic book. This looks like it'll be a good one, too!"

Elie held up the book she found among the luggage for close inspection before the girl turned to Musica. "Hey Musica, instead of the money, would it be okay if this book counted as my share instead?"

Musica did not understand how that girl's mind worked one bit. She'd rather have one measly book instead of the cash to buy lot's of books? Well since it was her magic that protected Plue so that he could be used as a decoy, then fine. Let her do what she wanted. Maybe she'll learn some more useful magic from that thing.

"Yeah, alright." He replied, causing the girl to light up happily. She jumped up in the air with glee.

This wasn't the first time they had found a magic book among the loot they stole from passing by rich guys and every time Elie would do the same thing. Ask that the literature be her share and then go curl up in a comfy place so she could learn its contents.

She figured that now that her Etherion was unsealed, she had six years of catching up to do when it came to learning how to control it. So far all she had managed to accomplish were some basic spells, nothing in comparison to what Etherion's true power was, but considering that it had been six years since she last used any magic at all, Learning any spells in less than a week was pretty talented.

Some of the gang members watched her read with a bemused look on their faces before looking to their leader. "Hey Musica, I don't think this 'distilling our values' thing is working."

"What makes you say that?" The gang leader asked as he took a bite out of what was supposed to be the diplomat's lunch.

"Come on, just look at her." One of his men spoke.

Musica took a long glance at Elie. She was lying on her stomach, with both of her feet swinging back in forth in the air like a little kid. As she read her new book she would sometimes point to things on the pages and smile as she showed her dog, which was reading over her shoulder.

Musica hated to admit it, but the guys were right. Even the way she read books made her look like a little kid! All of this stealing was doing nothing to corrupt her or change her in any way. For God's sake, she even spoke politely to people while they were robbing them!

In this entire time, the only thing that had changed about her was her clothes. They had ditched her fancy dress. It wasn't exactly good for running through the woods. Now she donned a plan white sleeveless dress that barely skimmed her knees. Her luxurious shoes were replaced by hiking boots that did not go well with her any dress at all. One glace at her and you would never guess that she was nobility. So even though she dressed the part of a poor girl ready to go slumming in these parts, she certainly didn't act that way. I guess generations of upper class manners and grace, weren't so easily erased.

Still Musica wouldn't give up on his original plan. "Awe come on guys, it's only been, what? A week? We've still got a ways to go before we reach the capitol. She can turn by then."

"I don't know, man. She's reading like a 7-year-old little girl to a puppy. Doesn't sound like thug material to me." One of the guys commented.

Musica was getting a little fed up with this topic of discussion, mostly because he didn't want to admit they were probably right. "Forget it!" He snapped, changing the subject.

"Yo, Elie" He called over to the girl to come over to where they were sitting. "Get over here, we're having a meeting!"

Elie looked up from her book, marked down where she had left off on it, and got up to be with the rest of the gang with Plue right beside her. When she sat down next to Musica he would begin.

"Alright guys we've come a long way and we're almost to the state border, but we're not home free just yet." Musica said as he pulled out a map of Symphonia for every one to see.

Using his finger, he traced the path where they had been, to where they were now. They had decided that they would travel through the woods, rather than from village to village. It would be harder, especially since they didn't always use the trails, but going from town to town would be too risky. A gang of thieves wasn't exactly welcomed in most villages, and who could resist the chance to rob an unsuspecting traveler in the forest while they were all alone?

"Once we get past the border, we'll be in Makai. We'll follow this mountain trail and head east to the capitol state." Musica explained as his finger pointed out the exact places they were headed to.

"Hey." Interrupted one of the gang members. "Instead of going north to Makai and then east to the capitol, why don't we just head north east and go directly to the capitol state? Wouldn't that be much quicker?"

"Yes it would be." Musica explained. "But it would also be more dangerous. There are guys looking all over this state for the Grand Duchess, and the sooner we're out of here the better, and they're going to be expecting us to go that way. Which brings me to my next point. Everyone knows how strict border patrol is, right?"

Everyone nodded their heads, including Elie. She had just learned not too long ago that a new law was instated that only those with New Elie state government permission were allowed to leave or enter the state. Anyone caught leaving without permission, would have to face serious consequences. This was how New Elie's take over became possible and how the people were being controlled. It explained so much, but not everything.

"Well the border patrol by the border to the capitol state is the thickest." Said Musica. "So my plan is to sneak past the patrol into Makai tomarrow. At the rate we're going now, we should be there by that time. We'll take out any damn enemy we have to, because if we get caught, it'll be our Asses we need to worry about, not the state's. Is everybody clear on this plan?"

With a determined look on all of their faces the gang nodded to their leader. They were ready for anything.

"Alright." Musica said with a smirk. "Let's roll out."

It had been about one day since the group of friends left Julia's village. Currently, they were flying towards who knows where, once again wishing some one in their group was good at reading maps. This time it was Ruby's job to navigate, and his friends were more than a little vexed with his navigational skills.

"Arg. I swear you little penguin, you had better damn know where you're taking us!" Julia yelled at the creature on her back.

Let and Julia were both in dragon form carrying their friends through the mountains. Haru was on Let's back, plus most of their luggage, and Belnika and Ruby were riding Julia as they soared through the skies.

"Of course I know where we're going, poyo! Why don't you ever trust me, poyo?" Ruby said casually as he studied the map he was holding closely.

"Ruby, you're acting strange lately. You seem more confident in your navigational decisions than usual. " His best friend, Belnika said suspiciously, raising an eyebrow at him. It was at that point she got a closer look at the map Ruby was holding when she peered over his shoulder.

"Hey wait a minute. Ruby this way is-"

"Uh! What's that, poyo? I uh, can't hear you, poyo! Too much wind. You can tell me when we get there, all right, poyo? Heh heh!"

Now Belnika was getting both worried and angry over her penguin friend's behavior. She knew him long enough to tell when he was hiding something from her and he always was a terrible liar.

"Okay, Ruby, what's going on?" Belnika demanded. She grabbed the map right out of Ruby's flippers and proceeded to look over his intended path for herself in spite of Ruby's protests. After scanning the parchment her eyes went wide.

"Ruby, this isn't the way to New Elie at all!"

"WHAT?" Julia screeched as she came to an abrupt halt. She had heard all of the duo's conversation and she was not pleased in the slightest that Ruby had taken them on a wide goose chase.

She landed on a cliff side so fast, it almost gave Belnika whiplash. Then without warning, the female dragon race transformed herself back into human form, letting her passengers off roughly. Even though she was no longer a beast, the glare that she shot the duo was just as frightening as any monster that they could possibly face.

"Why are you stopping?" Asked Let who had reverted himself back to human form also as he let Haru off on the same cliff their friends were on.

"These, guys have been staying from the original path and leading us on a wide goose chase!" Julia screeched as she held up the map that she took from them.

It was true. There was a line drawn from where they had been to where they were going. It started out back in the Green state where they had started their adventure, went through Makai and Julia's home village, but then instead of heading strait for the border into New Elie, it slowly began to swerve off to the east to the border into the capitol state.

"What? Ruby, why would you do this?" Haru demanded. He knew that they were wasting too much time already. Taking any more detours was not an option.

Ruby looked very guilty. His eyes began to water as he looked down at his feet and began to explain. "I'm sorry, poyo. I know I shouldn't have tried to trick you guys into going there, poyo. It's just that there is something really important in that direction that I really want to see, poyo. I just thought that since it wasn't that far off of a detour, that you guys wouldn't mind, poyo."

The little creature looked up at his friends pleadingly with large, round, sad eyes. "I'm so sorry, poyo. I should have told you the truth, poyo. But it's really something that I have to do, poyo. It's not that far off, please can we go, poyo?"

Haru looked down at his friend sympathetically, but he just couldn't allow what he was asking. "I'm sorry, Ruby, but you understand why we can't right? We have no idea what's happening with Elie right now, she may need us as soon as possible. She comes first."

"I know it's selfish of me to ask, poyo, but-"

"NO BUTS!" Julia jumped in, startling everyone with her loud, angry tone of voice. "I have been carrying your asses around all day long and I still have a long way to go! My wings are KILLING me! There is no way on earth that I am flying anywhere else than where we need to go! You go that, shrimp?"

Ruby was trembling in the wake of Julia's out burst, much like everyone one else. But he made the rash decision of speaking up anyway.

"B-b-b-but what I have planned with be much easier for you, p-p-p-poyo." The penguin stuttered out.

Julia's furious expression quickly melted into one of intrigue at the sound of Ruby's words.

"Say what?" She asked suddenly interested.

It was decided that it wouldn't hurt to just take little detour, that would probably only last a few hours long anyway, to check out this place that Ruby wanted to go to so desperately. However, despite everyone's protests about how vexing it was, Ruby refused to tell any of them what this entire thing was all about. They were in no mood for surprises so whatever he was planning had better be good, they all thought.

Julia and Let continued to fly in the direction that Ruby had instructed them to go. "So how much farther?" Julia asked, agitation clear in her voice.

"Not much, poyo. We she be there anytime now, poyo." The creature replied.

Haru stared down at the long stretched out pasture before him as he rode silently on Let's back. It was the most beautiful shade of green and it just seemed to go on forever. It was clear that they had made some distance from Julia's mountainous home village. Most people would relish the beautiful view down below, but Haru's mind was just some place else.

Elie could be hurt, or cold, or hungry, or who knows what, and here they were taking a tour of the countryside. He almost felt ashamed of himself for this. Every second that they wasted on some detour, was another second Elie could possibly be in pain.

The last time he had seen her he had really let her down. He knew it from the depressing expression on her face. He just stood there like a moron, too scared to even do what he was thinking, considering abandoning her for his own safety. This time Seig wouldn't just pop up to save them. He had promised himself he wouldn't hesitate to defend her ever again. So why wasn't he headed strait for her right now?

He'd had it. He couldn't be patient any longer. "Hey, I want to turn around and get back on track right no-"

"There it is, poyo!" Ruby declared as he pointed his flipper downward, cutting Haru off in the process.

Everyone followed Ruby's gaze and their eyes went wide. Ruby was pointing at an enormous mansion. It was as big as any castle that any noble could live in, and it stretched on for acres. When one looked closely at it, they could see a very swanky garden party, taking place in the enormous backyard. What in the world could Ruby have to do with this place?

"Could you please lower us down here in the yard, poyo?" The little penguin asked politely.

Without saying a word, Let and Julia just obliged to the creatures request. Slowly, as to make sure they didn't land on anyone, the two dragons descended.

Very fancy looking people looked up to see what was making the two dragon shaped shadows on the ground that were getting bigger with the passing seconds. Some of them dropped their wine glasses in shock. Many could hear screams and gasps, and they all spread out, to avoid getting in either beast's way. When Let and Julia touched ground they transformed back into their human forms letting everybody off of them in the process. People still stared at them in shock, some of them were obviously terrified at the sight. Julia scoffed at them. It was clear they weren't use to seeing dragon race around here.

"What is going on, poyo?" came from a voice from the back of the crowd. A large penguin creature pushed his way through the thick gathering of fancy people to the front of the crowed to get a better look at the scene.

This creature was the splitting image of Ruby, only taller and he had a moustache. He was dressed a little similar to the monopoly guy, top hat, monocle and all. He stopped dead in his tracks when he reached the front of the crowd and his eyes rested on Ruby.

Ruby just met this penguin's gaze with pure determination in his eyes. He was ready to face him.

"Ruby, poyo…" The tall penguin breathed out in shock. "Where have you been, poyo?"

"Daddy…" Ruby addressed the creature, causing all of his friend's jaws to drop. This was Ruby's dad?

"Daddy, I have come here to speak to you about something important, poyo. I came here to apologize for running away. I was too afraid you would reject me if I told you that I didn't want to take over the family business, poyo. This past year, I have made new friends, traveled to new places, and learned many great things, poyo."

The little penguin turned to his best friend, Belnika. "I met some one who helped me find my niche, poyo."

Then he turned to Let and Haru. "I met people who helped me find a mission, poyo."

Finally he turned to Julia. "And I met some one who inspired me to find the courage to tell you this right now, daddy, poyo."

Looking back to his father he gave him an apologetic look, but still kept his determination showing. "I'm sorry I ran away from home, I should have told you, poyo. I don't want to be in the family business, I love magic, and I want to be a New Elie vassal, poyo."

Ruby was beginning to get a little teary. He bowed to his father as he said, "What do you have to say to all of this daddy?"

Everybody was dead silent, you could hear a pin drop. No one saw this coming, but for some reason, they all wanted to hear the mustached penguin's reply.

"My son, poyo…" He finally replied after a few moments. "I could never reject you, poyo. I'm proud of every thing you are, poyo. Please don't go running off without telling me again, poyo, you worry me. If you don't want to be a business man, that's fine with me, poyo, I'll always support you as long as your happy, poyo."

Ruby couldn't hold back any longer. He burst out into tears and ran to his father, embracing him, in a loving hug, which his father requited immediately.

Everyone cheered at the sweet display of emotion the penguins were putting on, as if this was the end of a touching play. As they all applaud, Belnika leaned over to Let and whispered to him.

"What the heck is going on?" She'd probably find this touching too, if she had any clue what it was about.

Let could only shrug in return. He was just as confused as she was.

"Ruby, you feaken fail to mention you're of noble blood?" Haru screeched.

They were all hanging out inside of Ruby's giant bedroom. Belnika and Julia were playing a primitive looking version of 'rockem sockem robots' and Let was watching. He never would have guessed that inner world toys could be so much fun, but that just what happens when you're raised with everything electronic growing up.

Haru wasn't interested in playing anything at the moment. He was too focused on getting answers from the little penguin.

Ruby rubbed the back of his neck bashfully. "I'm not a noble, poyo. My daddy's just a wealthy merchant, poyo."

"Wealthy, my ass! You could be richer than most Nobles, kid!" Julia yelled out as she was finishing mopping the floor with Belnika for the third time in a row.

"Seriously, Ruby. I've known you for a year, I thought we were best friends, how could you keep something like this from me?" Belnika wined.

"How come you never asked, poyo", he retorted.

"How would I know to ask that? By that logic I should ask everyone I meet if they're rich!"

"It wouldn't hurt, poyo."

While the duo was bickering, Haru began to aimlessly pace around the room, waiting for them to be finished. As he took a hard look around, his eyes caught something interesting on the far side of the wall. It was a sword. Not just any sword, this thing was massive. It had to be almost eight inches wide and tall enough to almost reach his shoulders.

Haru wasn't sure why but for some reason he couldn't take his eyes off of it. He could only stare at it intensely. It was as if the weapon was calling to him, putting him in a trance.

"Isn't it cool, poyo?" Ruby's sudden voice was able to jolt him out of his thoughts. How long had he been staring for, Haru thought.

"My daddy bought that sword for me for my seventh birthday, poyo. I was going through this super hero, fighter, poyo, phase and he bought it for me. It's called the ten powers, poyo."

"What?" Belnika exclaimed as she stood up from her seat. "That is THE ten powers sword? That thing is legendary!"

"Legendary, how?" Let asked.

"Man, you guys really are from another world! The Ten powers was the sword that the legendary sword saint Shiba used to defeat the Raregooves in the war 50 years ago. It was said that Lady Resha Valentine used her Etherion magic to give him a super power boost, and he was able to take out entire armies all on his own. If Shiba hadn't died at the end of the war, then he probably would have been given a noble title too. Everyone knows that story." Julia explained.

"And this is the sword he used?" Haru asked eyes once again glued to the weapon hanging on the wall.

"That thing should be in a museum!" Belnika exclaimed.

"Yeah, my daddy said it was a killer to get, poyo. I wanted to use it, but I couldn't, poyo. The one who sold it said something, like, this sword is very picky about who it wants its owner to be, poyo, and that it's true power will only reveal itself to the one it deems worthy. So I just like to keep it for decoration, poyo."

"Let me take a look at this thing." Julia said as she reached up to grab it. It wasn't every day she got this close to a piece of Symphonian history. The second she unhooked it from the wall however, she dropped it to the floor. It made a loud thud as soon as it fell.

"Good God, Ruby, I think there's another reason you'd never be able to wield this freaken monstrosity. It ways like trillion tons!" Julia yelled.

"Really, is it that heavy?" Asked Let, surprised that it was too much for her dragon race strength. He tried to lift it up himself by the hilt, only for it not to budge an inch. She wasn't kidding.

Haru stared at the blade as if he could see something no one else did. Mutely he walked over and grabbed the hilt of the sword. To everyone's shock, He was able to lift it up, without much effort at all.

"What are you guys talking about? It's not as heavy as it looks."

Everyone just continued to stare at Haru as if he just grew a second head. How in the world was he able to do that?

Ruby spoke up first. "Wow Haru! You're really good, poyo! You should keep the sword, poyo!" The little creature excitedly yelled as he jumped up and down. This was the first time he had ever seen any one lift it. All the other times a person needed a machine or a large animal, just to get it up to his bedroom.

"Y-you're really mean that, Ruby?" Haru asked hesitantly. He didn't want to just take something so valuable from his friend.

"Yeah, poyo. If you don't, it will just keep getting dusty up on that wall, poyo."

"Take it, Haru." Julia interjected. Maybe you'll become a great swordsman with that. God knows you suck at fist fighting."

Haru scowled at Julia's comment, but he quickly brushed it off, too happy about his new sword to care. Maybe with this to aid him, he would be able to rescue Elie!

That was the moment Ruby's father had chosen to enter the room. He held a few papers in his flippers. He turned to Ruby and said. "Everything is straitened out, poyo. I made a few calls and I was able to get you and your fiends some pass ports into New Elie. I wish I knew why the security in that state is so rough, poyo. It's not that hard to get into any of the other Symphonian states, poyo."

"Thank, you, daddy, poyo. I promise to write as soon as we get there." Ruby had failed to mention they were on a rescue mission. He didn't want to worry his father and he knew his dad wouldn't allow his to go if he knew how dangerous this whole thing really was. It was best to just leave him in the dark so that he could get back to his garden party guests quicker. God knows he was holding him up with this giant favor.

He handed the papers to his son. As it turns out they had to get all of these things filled out or else it would be illegal to enter or leave New Elie. Ruby's father had never been there before himself, but luckily for every one he did have connections there.

"Alright, thank you sir! That'll make things a lot easier! Come on guys, break's over! lets get going!" Haru said anxious to get back on the road.

Julia and Let sighed exasperatedly. They weren't looking forward to carrying every body again.

So thanks to the events of last chapter, Ruby was inspired to patch things up with his own father, and now it's smooth sailing into New Elie.

Yeah, right like I would ever make things that easy for them. You'll see what I mean next Friday.

I'm glad I'm back to doing normal sized chapters again, but I'm a little iffy on how this chapter turned out. It wasn't filler since something important happened. I would like all of you to give me feedback on this one. Tell me if you didn't like the pace, or that you wished that Haru had gotten Ten powers in a different way, or if you think the scene with Ruby and his father was a little out there, or anything you liked or didn't like about this one.

So tell me and Review!

Oh and thank you for the reviews I got last chapter.