A/N: To be honest, this is a writer's conviction I have about Tales of Vesperia. I really hated how whether when he was under Alexei or with Brave Vesperia, Raven just seemed to be another tool. I mean, he was forced into blackmail after he was brought back to life, forced to live under the Don and Alexei at the same time, forced to do all these horrible stuff like Estelle's kidnapping, and even when he tries to redeem himself by almost having Baction's inner part crush him to death, he comes back only to get beaten up and told his life belongs to Brave Vesperia, like he's not even a human anymore. Yet, no matter what happened before and after, no matter how many times he was mocked and trashed and stepped on, he always was loyal to the group.
It's funny, how Brave Vesperia (especially Yuri) claims they do justice and punish the unjust, but it's really an injustice how they treat Raven like he's just some thing... Sorry if I went fanboy there (XD), but after reading "Tales of the Campfire" by SalazarFalcon (which is in my favorite stories list; go check that story and writer out), I decided I'm gonna make Raven have the best future possible and reclaim his glory as a man... with help of Tai of course. :3
Now... let's continue...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Yuri looked up to see a Kunai in the hand of a female as he glared up to her eye level. It had clashed with the sword he held, preventing him from taking Zagi's life. He tried to get a good glimpse of the woman who stopped him as he was about to try to get her to move.
"Puppet...? What are y-"
Before Yuri could finish his sentence, the woman roared and did a gigantic backflip. Her feet caught underneath his chin and onto his chest. Hitting his head upwards, she then forced him back away, Yuri skidding against the ground as his sword was flung out of his hand and landed near Akihiro.
"Yuri!" he yelled, finally able to stand.
Tai said nothing, but stepped in front of the two and looked at the woman. Once he got up, Yuri growled a bit and looked at the attacker. It was a woman who looked fairly old, even older than Raven. She was pretty tall and good looking for her age. Her shiny white hair was long and dropped over the sides of her face in bangs, but exploded in a wide and bushy hair band, with ties on it that had a few bells. Her clothing was a tanktop vest that was black that revealed a red metallic shirt that appropriately covered her chest. She wore this black battle skirt/shorts which were tight and ended on her knees that had some spiky design on them. She wore these red battle shoes that showed her toes and heels, but the left one went to her knee for it had a blade sheathed into it. Her black fingerless gloves had metal studes on them and the palms of her hands were visible. But her face was shielded with a mask; one that was pitch black yet looked like a tiger's face in red and orange markings.
"It serves him on for talking so much that he gave me an opening to save my puppet. If you're going to kill somebody, kill them; don't stand around talking about it," the woman said.
And if it wasn't just their incredible timing, Repede soon came back with everybody else. The group came running towards the trio and stood with them, facing this new woman.
"Yuri, are you alright!?" Flynn said, helping Yuri to his feet, as suddenly the others realized what the commotion was.
"Z-Zagi!?" Estelle said aloud, disturbed.
"No way... He's supposed to have died back at Tarqaron!" Rita said, equally upset.
"Then who is she?" Flynn said, stepping in front of Tai as the leader and demanding, "I am Flynn Scifo, commandant of the imperial knights! By his highness Ioder's name, I order you to identify yourself!"
"I do not need to listen to foolish brats telling me what to do," the woman said coldly, shutting Flynn down before he could even speak, "If I feel you're worthy enough, then I'll let my name slip. But for now, no commandant is worthy enough to talk down to me."
"Heh, what is it with you evil types, always thinking you're better than everyone else and acting holier than thou? Do you really think you're strong enough to stop Brave Vesperia and the imperial knights alone?" Yuri said confidently with a dark glare.
"Says the child in which my feet kicked back like a stone," the woman said as if she was smiling, turning Yuri's face even more sour, "and if you keep talking now, it'll soon be under my heel."
She looked at her puppet Zagi and snapped her fingers. Suddenly, all the damages that he had received were healed and the man jumped to his feet. He soon grinned and laughed.
"Oho... the pain's gone... oh, this was totally worth coming back for," he said loudly as he walked away and grabbed his weapons.
"We'll be taking our leave now," the woman said, turning her back to the heroes and began walking.
"Hey! Hold it! You think I'm just going to let you go?" Yuri said, attempting to run, but suddenly an arm caught him, revealing to be Flynn, shaking his head.
"You really should be listening to your best friend a lot more, Yuri Lowell; such a unbelievable disappointment. I come unleashing my puppet and all I got was a pathetic match out of it. I see I must strengthen Zagi even more to defeat low life children such as yourselves," she said, "I hope we don't meet again, or else it's the last thing you'll even see..."
"Just wait, Yuri... Flynn... I will carve your names into my body after I slice you to pieces!" Zagi yelled, as the woman made this purple glowing wormhole with her hands, and the two walked through it, only to disappear away.
In a bit of anger from being unable to return the favor of that kick he was given, Yuri yanked his arms free of Flynn's grasp and whirled around to face the knight, "What are you doing, Flynn? We could've stopped them and finished them off!"
"You know that we have an injured man, Yuri," Flynn said, looking down at Akihiro getting healed up by Estelle, "Were you not a few minutes ago trying to help him and worry for his well-being?"
Yuri sighed, and finally letting it go, nodded, "You're right. I wasn't thinking; sorry."
"Hold on, Akihiro," Estelle said, casting some healing artes onto him, "There. That should be enough for now."
Suddenly, the group backed up for the boy to jump to his feet and grin confidently. Jumping a bit and stretching out, Akihiro laughed and turned to the princess.
"Thanks, Estelle! I feel so much better now!" Akihiro said, getting his weapons ready, "Now I got-"
"Hold... IT," Yuri said, getting a twitch in his eye, "You're not going training. That's what got you into this mess in the first place. We're going to Capua Nor, and you're coming too."
"RRRRGH, fine," Akihiro groaned, folding his arms in a pout.
"Ahhh, youth," Raven said, admiring it from afar, "Man, just seein' these kids go out and doin' these battles makes me longin' for the days where ol' Raven was lil' Raven..."
"Not again with the daydreaming, old man..." Yuri groaned, rolling his eyes.
"It's a times like this I'd like to stab my ear drums with a fork," Rita taunted along.
"Hey, an old guy can dream, can't he?" Raven said, whining a bit, unknowing that Tai was started to get a bit upset.
"Woof woof!" Repede barked a few times, for Yuri to smirk and turned a grin to the old man.
"Repede's making fun of you, old man," Yuri translated for his dog's insults, "He says you whine more than a toddler throwing a tantrum. Haven't you got dignity?"
"Oh please, the old man not whining? That's not even logically possible," Rita folded her arms and grinned, as Repede barked a few more times while Raven made an upset face.
"Oho, that's mean," Yuri chuckled and began to say to Raven, "Hey, old man, Repede sa-"
His sentence was cut short and the three stopped in their taunting as suddenly, a familiar hooded teen stopped in front of the old man with shadows covering his eyes. He was tired, tired of their insults and down right disrespect for this man. He didn't know why they treated him like this; maybe he'd find out down the road of this journey, but for now, it wasn't continuing on his watch. Raven couldn't help but smile in thankfulness at the teen.
The group momentarily was stunned as he spoke, "Can you three just knock it off with the childish insults? I think we have more important things to worry about than making fun of the old man."
"Oh, really? Like what?" Rita said, folding her arms as she glared with narrow angry eyes, kind of mad that he ruined their part-time enjoyment.
"Like, how one of your longtime enemies is apparently back from the grave," Tai said, giving her a hell of a good reason.
"Yeah, you said you killed him... right, Yuri?" Akihiro said, raising an eyebrow at the man.
"Of course I did. I was the one who put him away and sent him falling to his death," Yuri said, a bit taken back that the kid would doubt him.
"Then, anyone care to give a gander on why yer over-obsessed crazy fan is runnin' about and wantin' payback?" Raven said, resting his head in his hands.
"It's so scary... Maybe he's really dead, and he's come back from the grave!" Estelle said, in total fear of what she said being true.
"Wh-What!? No...! That can't be! He must've survived that fall someone! Maybe he stopped himself and was able to escape before we noticed," Rita said, trying to sound realistic and logical.
"Whether he's dead or survived it," Flynn said, cupping his chin in his hands and thinking aloud, "I'm very interested in who that woman was."
"She's gotta be really strong if she just blew the commandant of the imperial knights off like that," Tai said, looking away and up to the sky, "No one would say that if they had some doubt of themselves."
"Strong's not the word I'd use," Rita commented on what he said, "More like cocky and arrogant. Who the hell does she think she is?"
"Ya think she might have to do with Zagi in any shape?" Raven asked them all.
"She has to. Before she left, she said she needs to power him up more to he can beat us," Yuri said, picking up his sword and sheathe, "But I'll just crush him again. I'm gonna get rid of that nut once and for all."
A victory howl coming from Repede, the group soon recollected themselves and headed towards the port city.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Flynn, Estelle, Rita, Repede, and Raven joined the party.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Skit – Stand up for yourself
Tai: (grumpy face, eyes closed) …
Raven: (head tilts to the right, eyes shorten, curious face) What's the matter, Tai? Ya doin' okay?
Tai: How...
Raven: Huh?
Tai: How can you just let them say those things to you? (opens eyes) Raven, that wasn't simple teasing remarks; it was just like spitting into your face.
Raven: (looks up to the right, thinking face) Aw, com' on, Tai. Don't let them get to ya. It happens all the time. Don't get ol' Raven wrong; appreciate it when ya stand up for-
Tai: No, Raven, it's not fine! (Raven turns head to his left, slight blush, scared/shocked face) You're just treated like some jerkbag; Estelle was right. They do treat you like scum...
Raven: Whoa, hey! Easy there! (head tilts to the right, eyes shorten, curious face) Tai... to be honest, I kinda deserve it. If ya only knew what happened during our travels...
Tai: I don't care, Raven. Everyone makes mistakes; you're a human being with a mind and intelligence. You may not be the smartest, but even you have the right to stand up for yourself.
Raven: (closes eyes) …
Tai: (neutral face) Okay?
Raven: (neutral face, opens eyes) Okay. Maybe it is time to start defendin' what little pride I got left...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Skit – What they meant
Flynn: (neutral face, eyes closed) Hmmm...
Estelle: (looks surprised) Flynn?
Yuri: (neutral face) What is it, Flynn?
Flynn: (opens eyes) Oh, it's... just something I've been thinking about. It's about Cescoral and that woman we just encountered. It's something they both said to you, Yuri.
Yuri: Oh yeah? What was it?
Flynn: (looks to his upper left, cups chin in hand, thinking face) It's just when you tried to get Cescoral to fight you, Raven encouraged you to stop and he said you should listen to him. The same thing happened with this woman when I told you to stop as well.
Yuri: (Yuri leans his head to his left, incredulous face) Are you sure you're not just making stuff up to make me look like I'm being "reckless"?
Estelle: (looks down, sad) No, Yuri, I think you're missing the point.
Flynn: (neutral face) Not at all; I'm just thinking about if this has anything in connection... Hmm, I have nothing.
Yuri: Yeah, I thought so...(closes eyes)
Flynn: (looks down, pained expression, closes eyes) …
Estelle: For two very close friends, Yuri and Flynn definitely get into many scuffles with each other...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
As the group walked into the city, it was beautiful and clear. Unlike the dark gloomy rain that set in before, it was much nicer and wasn't under a certain tyranny of a man named Ragou. It burned him though; just seeing a multitude of people around started to feel like his skin was melting.
"Ohhh... not another city..." Tai groaned.
The group turned to look at him as Yuri asked, "What's a matter? You sick or something?"
Rita folded her arms unimpressed at the teen and scoffed, "Don't tell me you have a fear of people, freak."
"Well... that's one way of putting it..." he groaned uncomfortably.
Yuri and Rita both looked shocked at his statement as Flynn asked, "Is it really true, Tai? Are you uncomfortable with large places?"
All he got was a painful sigh. The boy buried himself under his hood, as Raven and Estelle knew exactly what to do.
"The silence should be taken as a 'yes', commandant," Raven said, picking at his ear, "Maybe ya should get a inn room quickly, so Tai doesn't have to be outside much, 'kay?"
"Very well. I will see to it that I can arrange a room immediately; then, we shall talk about what has happened so far," Flynn said, nodding as he began walking off to the inn of Capua Nor.
"And after that, you and I are having a chat about your behavior with that stupid rush into battles, Akio," Yuri said, giving a serious look at the boy.
"You're not my mom, Yuri," Akihiro snapped, "And the name's Akihiro, not Akio!"
Walking past the man, the boy hurried off in a grumble, leaving Yuri to slightly smile and shook his head. Awarded with a same emotion groan from Repede, all of them began walking towards the inn. Rita joined for a brief second, but as an alley came in her view, she ducked into it. Her researcher in her activating, or "bookworm" as Tai or Yuri would put it, she looked over to see Estelle and the old man with her target. She knew from the moment of the battle that those two more about the glove then they were letting on.
"Don't worry, Tai; I'm sure we can find some place here that's quiet," Estelle encouraged with a brief smile.
"Please hurry..." Tai groaned.
"Ahh, ol' Raven has the place," the old man said with a grin, "We can hang out at the bridge, kiddo. Not a lot of folks are up there."
"Oh, good! I'll go with the others for now," the princess said, waving to them.
With that, Rita watched the two idiots walk up the bridge as Estelle came close. As the princess ran right near her, she grabbed her arm and gently pulled her into the same alley/cover she had from the men. A bit shocked, the princess tried to speak.
"Huh? Rita, what are yo-"
Cuffing her mouth silent, Rita signaled with a finger to keep it down as she looked back, "Be quiet, Estelle. I want to see something."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"That freak thinks he can keep whatever secret from me? I'm going undercover and seeing what kind of things slip. If I can't confront him from up close, then I'll get what I want from the shadows!"
/\/\/\/\/\/\
You just know whatever Rita is scheming is not gonna be pretty, but then again, Tai has been known to foil it so far. What will happened next? And are ready to see some familiar faces, from both game and movie!? :3 Keep reading!