CHARACTER COUNTER: 5

A/N: WHO'S THAT CHARACTER?!

Hear ye! Hear ye! This is challenge/promo of sorts to all readers of Ivalice Storm…

Within the words and the plot of this story lies other characters of other FINAL FANTASY games (ex. Reno of FFVII..etc.). They have (we hope) been cleverly weaved into the plot of our fic, representing other characters in the story, such as soldiers of the Imperial army, etc. The challenge for everyone out there is to spot such characters all throughout our story. The Reward?? A cameo in our fic with the name, lines, and gender of your choice! Yes…your CHOICE!

The question is how to spot certain characters? Here are some tips:

1st: Read the fic thoroughly…(of course)

2nd: All other FF characters are VERY familiar, therefore, they will retain their most distinguishable features to be recognized…(i.e. their hair, clothes, eye color, etc.) Names are definitely not going to be retained..(duh!) And we have (tried) to Ivalice-nize them as possible to make them blend with the world of FFX12…

3rd: These other FF characters will USUALLY play key roles throughout the story so keep your eyes peeled… Which means they will HAVE speaking parts…

4th: There is a limit to the number of other characters we placed, therefore no point in naming random people left and right as Vincent, Tidus or Squall…(we're not that vague…USUALLY)

5th: Characters could be right under your noses, so don't overanalyze…Just read and understand…Hahaha…

6th: Just because the OFFICIAL notice is in this chapter does NOT mean the other FF characters start here…(hint: they are also in previous chapters…so read thoroughly!)

After spotting the characters, how to get a cameo?

1st: Of course, spot your character, review it, and identify who is its real FF counterpart...(e.g. Tidus is blank in the story)

2nd: Send your entries via Private message to my profile for reviewing…(meaning I have to check if your answers are correct)

After I have checked your entries and that they are correct, I will send a corresponding message telling you that that is so.,. If answers are not correct, another message will be sent to tell you this As well…I will not be telling the correct answers to people who guessed wrong, so that means you can keep guessing until you get it right…)

If your answers are correct, you are now free to send your preferences for your cameo back to me:

Name of the character in the cameo:

What kind of line:

Gender:

Species:

There are no limits to how many cameos you can get, so two or more people can guess the same character as long as they are correct…HAPPY HUNTING EVERYONE!!

P.S. We thank ZA9-ZA9, who has successfully guessed two of our HIDDEN characters! As a result she has earned two cameos of her choice which will appear in the following chapter…(Winners would be recognized accordingly) Now to get on with the story!

Chapter 25: Open War and Within the Heart

Nethicite. How strongly I feel for it. Already what I had taken to be nothing but a mere addition to my storehouse of knowledge is taking over my inner most thoughts. Plaguing my mind that it shadows everything else. What can I do to stop it? Or do I even desire for it stop? I feel its power growing within me, it hinders all other thoughts. All my questions now are full of nethicite. How much power can it store and wield? How can I use this power to my advantage? These questions I ask myself and I find my humanity slowly waning. Nothing now ties me to this world save the thoughts of my son, who is all that I have left. He has recently been added to the forces of the Judges of the Archadian Army and I can be naught but proud. Already he shows the levity and the languidness of youth that once I possessed and I pray that this side of him can be softened and controlled by the temperament that he got from his mother.

Dear sweet Caterina! How I long for thy sweet embrace again, thy touch and thy kiss. You always know what to say to make me find the answers to my question. Only you can quench this thirst that I have. Save my beloved nethicite whom teaches me to reach beyond my boundaries. Boundaries that even you, Caterina reminded me of.

Until next time, my love…

Balthier looked up from this parchment and felt his stomach turn. It pained him to have glimpses of his father before he fell to the power of the nethicite. Pained him that he had to fall from it. Pained him that he could not do anything to save his father that night. His mind was so immersed in thoughts of Doctor Cid that he almost did not see the pan burning until he smelled the acrid scent in the air.

"Damn," he muttered angrily under his breath before standing up from his seat and walking towards where he was cooking their supper for tonight for the nth time that week. His brow was furrowed as he grabbed a potholder, wrenched the pan away from the stove and shoved it forcefully under the basin full of water. He never lost sight of the meals he cooked but today was one of those days. He was beginning to feel locked up in this house. Although he treasured the house greatly, Balthier was longing for the familiar movements of the Strahl and its leather seats.

When he heard Fran enter the house from the makeshift hangar in which the Strahl was parked, Balthier knew that his viera companion was feeling the same. This thought was further reinforced when she appeared seconds later in the kitchen, her snow white hair uncharacteristically unbound and wrinkling her nose at the pungent smell that filled the air.

"Is dinner not to your liking?" she asked now at the sight of his angry expression. She had rarely seen him totally angry before. Annoyed and somewhat irritated, but never fully enraged. She had learned to dissect his true emotions through the expanse of time she had known him and Fran was sure that whatever angered Balthier, it was usually more than one thing.

Balthier took a few seconds to recognize Fran with her hair loose and a strange look upon her face as she looked at him. As usual, her words held double meaning and her question for him was not only for dinner but for the rest of their stay here in Bervenia. He glanced at her absently before focusing his attention at the burned pan. He could still feel Fran's eyes at the back of his head and it told Balthier she was still waiting for his answer.

"Fran," Balthier now spoke, casually as he could while scrubbing off some of the remains from the pan. "What do you say we leave early tomorrow morning? I'm beginning to feel a bit constricted in this place. Makes me wonder why we took it in the first place." He straightened up to meet Fran's ruby-red eyes but she was already walking away from the kitchen.

"I will go get ready," was all she said before she disappeared into the hangar once more.

XOXOXOX

"Lamont! Are you all right?" Penelo's frantic voice was the only thing Larsa was able to hear before he was on the receiving end of one of Penelo's suffocating hugs. Although Larsa greatly appreciated her concern, the young Emperor could not help feel a bit of resentment at the thought she was treating him like a child.

"Penelo, give the man room to breathe," Larsa heard a voice behind Penelo and the young emperor managed to see Vaan standing behind the young woman with an exasperated look on his face. However, when Vaan said this, Larsa felt the tight arms that he mistook for steel bands relax and finally, Penelo pulled back to be able to see Larsa straight in the face. She studied his face carefully, her amber eyes staring right through him, before she blinked and looked towards the older man in their party with less panic but the same concern.

"How about you Basch?" she asked the Judge Majister who had not said anything but had quietly followed his charge when he left the bonfire. Basch merely nodded, showing that he did not like to discuss private matters in so open a place.

Presently, Nimbus, Hollow and Iris returned. Larsa noticed that all three of them carried their weapons out in the open as if they were expecting some trouble.

"We found a place where you can speak privately," Nimbus said in that calm voice of his looking at Larsa, Vaan and the others. 'Your tents are pitched a little farther away from the others so you can speak with little fear of being overheard.

Vaan nodded and spoke his thanks to Nimbus and his group. "Thanks, Nimbus."

Nimbus nodded but added," We'll be around the area to stand guard if you need us."

It was Basch who answered next though. "You have done us a great service. You need not burden yourselves for our sakes. We are eternally grateful for all you have done for us."

Iris smiled at that but Nimbus and Hollow exchanged looks. Larsa thought they earned a bit of an explanation for this sudden withdrawal of information from them.

"Nimbus, Hollow, Iris." He began as he stepped forward. "As much as I appreciate all the help you have given us, it is not my desire to bring you into the same danger as we are at the moment. It would not be proper thanks if we do that. I hope you understand."

Nimbus gave a half-smile at this. "You do not have to explain why and what you are doing Lamont. It's perfectly all right. We just hope that you know what you'll be doing."

"And hope that you will be safe." Iris added.

It was Vaan who reacted to this. "That's going to be hard, Iris. You see no matter how much planning we go through, as long as Lamont's involved, you can expect it to get nasty."

"It is nothing we are not used to though, right Vaan?" Penelo hastily added at the look of alarm on Iris' face.

Vaan nodded but it did not seem to reassure the Wyrm slayers. Penelo sighed at Vaan's lack of tact again and roughly pushed him away towards the place where Nimbus indicated, leaving Larsa, Basch, Zargabath and the members of the Order of the Tournesol with the Wyrm slayers.

Basch offered his arm towards Nimbus. "We shall see you again, before this is all over, I am sure."

Nimbus nodded. "I have a feeling as well." He turned to Larsa who nodded at him. "Take care of yourself, Lamont. Any friend of Vaan's is a friend of ours as well."

"If you need us, just call." Iris added and even Hollow nodded. Larsa smiled. "Thank you,"

The other members of Larsa's group paid their respects and goodbyes to the Wyrm slayers once Basch and Larsa were done. Aurea made a real show of embracing each of the three, even going as far as kissing Nimbus at the cheek. Aquilis, whom Larsa expected to act hostile again, merely shook hands with Hollow and Nimbus and walked towards where Aurea disappeared to. Olen, Anubys and Zargabath quickly followed after they said goodbye.

Now only Sephyr stood with Basch and Larsa. The leader of the Order of the Tournesol kissed the back of Iris' hand gallantly, but his eyes never left Nimbus. He did not say anything however but nodded curtly at Nimbus before taking leave from Larsa.

Larsa shook his head exasperated. "Take no trouble from it Lamont." Nimbus assured him. "I met his kind before."

Larsa nodded one final time before finally running off towards where Penelo and Vaan stood waiting, Basch following in his heels.

XOXOXOX

"Tell us what happened, Basch." Larsa heard Penelo ask once he entered the tent. Vaan and Penelo sat inside the tent along with Sephyr, Zargabath and Basch, while the other members of the Order of the Tournesol stood outside, taking up the position as guard, the position Nimbus had offered for them.

Larsa walked in, closed the tent flap and stood next to Basch who was giving them a brief explanation of their journey so far. Larsa watched Penelo's eyes grow larger and larger as the story progressed, and when positive alarm came at her face, Larsa chose to take over.

"We are fine nevertheless," the Young Emperor spoke. "The question is what are we going to do? We cannot go back to Archades at the moment that much is certain."

"We are already certain that the late Senator Pluto Dece is not the main leader behind the opposition, " Basch added his voice in the mix. "That would lead to Senator Vladimir Ortal, though there is very little proof. Haussen told me prior to this incident that he suspects a more powerful force behind Dece's mouth. Considering that the next in line to the Empire would be Ortal, I have very little doubt that he has some part of it, or perhaps the real leader to this whole vendetta. Unfortunately, knowing this will not help us at the moment. No doubt Ortal or any members of the opposition would have used your escape as an opportunity to smear your name, Excellency, to the public's eye."

Zargabath nodded an affirmative. "Ortal would have already used your escape as an opportunity to call you traitor to Archades, Your Excellency. It would be easy, with no witnesses to Dece and Haussen's murder."

Basch nodded thoughtfully. " We can never be truly certain of Archades' situation without proof, but we can be certain that it does not do us favor. I agree with his Excellency that we cannot return to Archades at the moment."

"Then what are we going to do?" Vaan asked, his arms folded. Larsa looked up from his musings. " "We" ?" the Emperor asked.

Vaan nodded. "Of course. You came to us for help, Larsa, the best we can do is to help you. We need a definite plan, of course."

Larsa stared at Vaan disbelievingly. How quick did they offer their help to Larsa! How immediate were they to risk their lives for him! The Young Emperor did not know if he was reassured at this thought or he was to be alarmed. Basch seemed not to notice this, but quickly agreed with Vaan in the need for a plan.

Several minutes passed before Zargabath, who seemed to be thinking out loud, asked. "We cannot stay too long in one place that is for sure. Whether or not Ortal has raised the alarm of your capture, it would do us no good if people will recognize you, Emperor. We were fortunate with Nimbus and his companions, I can not say that we can be this lucky as this journey progresses. "

Basch nodded. "We need to keep moving, but at the same time, we need to know what the enemy is planning. We can be sure that Dece is not the mastermind at this attempt to your life and position, Your Excellency, now that he is dead. We need to be sure who we are fighting, but we need to not draw attention to ourselves."

"It will be apparent to who ever is standing against the Emperor that his two Judge Majisters are with him. " Sephyr answered now. "You will be easier to be recognized; Nimbus and his friends did not hesitate to call us Archadians when we first met them."

Again Basch nodded at this. "Again, we cannot forget that this battle does not affect Arcahdia only but other nations. If Ortal has marked you as an enemy of Archadia, his next step would be to inform neighboring countries and nations of your treason, and ask that you be captured and brought to Ortal for punishment."

"Does this mean, Ashe-I mean Queen Ashe- would be forced to order Larsa's capture if we go to her for help?" Penelo asked now, and Larsa looked up at these words.

Basch nodded at this. "Technically, the Queen of Dalmasca has no personal reasons why she should hesitate capturing us, if given the chance. However, all of us know that the Queen has a friendship with the Emperor; maybe that is why Ortal would not dare ask the Queen to take the Emperor to custody if we choose to hide in Dalmasca."

"Then again, she could very well give you in if she feels it, Larsa." Vaan mouthed bitterly which earned him a glare from Penelo and startled looks from the others. Vaan just shrugged and became silent once more.

"I agree with Penelo, that perhaps Lady Ashe is the best place for us to go, considering that we cannot stay here for too long. Already there are rumours of your identity spreading throughout the camp. We cannot linger here."

"Yeah, I agree with Basch." Penelo spoke up. " Ashe would help you Larsa, I'm sure of it. She's your friend too."

"However, will we risk Lady Ashe's position?" Zargabath spoke up. "She's the queen of Dalmasca. I'm sure it will be difficult for her if a renegade Emperor asks for her help against the Archadian Empire. We all know that the Dalmascan army is naught but a portion of the entirety of the Archadian Armed Forces. She will not risk open war."

"Open war is upon her, whether she would risk it or not." Vaan answered now. "I'm sure whoever's got it in for Larsa and his new government would want to conquer all the lands Archadia once held back when his dad was emperor. I'm sure whoever this new guy is would want to do a Vayne once more. Ashe needs to know who she sides with. Not only for herself but for Dalmasca. Dalmasca does not need another war. " Vaan ended with a wisdom that none of them had ever heard of. His words were not without sense however and Larsa nodded at this.

"Vaan's right. Lady Ashe would no doubt be the next target of my enemy. It is a smaller country than Archadia and it would nonetheless look easy to conquer. Perhaps the best route is to go to Rabanastre and warn her of this plight. Lady Ashe might be forced into Archadian terms in order to maintain peace between the Empire and Dalmasca. Vaan is right that Dalmasca cannot afford another war, with Archadia nonetheless. I will not bear the sight of Dalmasca being trampled under foot." Larsa spoke mournfully now, his brow furrowed and a frown upon his lips.

"So it is settled then." Basch spoke up now. "We leave for Dalmasca on the morrow."

"Tomorrow?" Penelo asked now. "I'm sure your party needs your rest, Vaan and I will take care of the necessary provisions and the like. But I'm sure we will be traveling light, so I won't over pack."

Basch nodded. " I know that you and Vaan have a ship, Penelo, but perhaps it is for the best if we shall not take it. Archadians assigned to capture Larsa might look to the skies specially since the only way to leave and enter Archades is by ship and land. I do not doubt that it will only be a matter of time before they suspect us going by land. Let us confuse them a little longer."

Penelo nodded and looked at Vaan. "Looks like we'll be traveling on foot then. Can't say I'm surprised though." She was smiling as she said this and Larsa was reminded of their last journey on foot together.

" Oh yeah, the ship might draw attention to ourselves when we leave on it." Vaan spoke up, but there was a disappointment in his voice. He had been looking forward to show the ship that he had worked so long upon.

Basch noticed this and gave a gentle laugh. "Take heart, Vaan. We will have yet another opportunity to come aboard your splendid vessel."

Vaan positively brightened at the mention of his ship as a "splendid vessel" that he did not see Penelo roll her eyes and shake her head exasperatedly.

Presently, Basch gazed upon Larsa significantly, when Vaan and Penelo left the tent leaving them with Zargabath and Sephyr and the young Emperor was reminded of another part of their plan.

"Judge Majister Zargabath; Captain Sephyr." Larsa spoke now, the imperial tone back in his voice that the two looked up at his voice.

"I have failed to mention yet another part in the plan," the young Emperor spoke seriously, his royal blue eyes traveling from the Judge Majister to the leader of the Order of the Tournesol slowly but deliberately.

"I will be traveling towards Dalmasca, but I must beg you that you shall not be accompanying me through this journey."

"What?" Zargabath lost all pretenses at the shock of Larsa's statement. Captain Sephyr meanwhile just raised his eyebrow and stared at the Emperor with silver grey eyes.

"We are need of people who shall return to Archades to learn the exact situation. As much as I would like that my shrewd ideas are true and are for certain, it would be better for us if we know the precise status of everything at Archades, from the people to its Senators. We need to know these things and I believe you, Judge Majister Zargabath and Captain are the men for the job. "Larsa motioned over to Basch who was quiet now.

"Judge Majister Basch would remain with me because for one, He is not as knowledgeable about the twists and turns of Archades such as you two, and Two, he is nevertheless the more knowledgeable when it comes to these terrain. Between Vaan, Penelo and himself, I believe we may enter Dalmasca undetected. We cannot deny that the Order of the Tournesol and many members in a party may attract more attention than necessary. "Larsa continued.

Zargabath had fallen silent but it was Sephyr's turn to speak. "How do you propose we return to Archades, Emperor? The Order and I can be excused easily enough; those who have seen us are already dead soldiers. However, Judge Majister Zargabath is a prominent member of the Majistrate and is widely known as your ally. What excuse shall we have for him?"

Zargabath nodded in agreement with this question and the two of them waited for Larsa's reply.

"Beat him up," Basch's gruff voice soon broke the silence.

"Excuse me?" Zargabath asked indignant. "Beat me up? What atrocity are you proposing, Basch?"

"I'm proposing, that you shall look like you have been captured by myself and Emperor Larsa, recently escaped from us, and regain your position in Archades. You shall be close in contact with whoever has taken over the title of Emperor and will be able to send news of the happenings within Archades. The Order of the Tournesol shall aid you in this endeavor, but in the shadows. If there is a chance that this new Emperor suspects you Zargabath, he will never know about Sephyr. Either way, we get our information."

Larsa was silent at this, though he liked the idea. Sephyr looked as if he was glad with any opportunity to make Zargabath looked as if he had gone through hell and quickly voiced his affirmative. Zargabath meanwhile looked completely flabbergasted.

"Forgive me, Zargabath." Emperor Larsa now spoke. "It pains me to have you endure this sort of work, but I fear it is necessary. 'Tis for the good of the Empire."

These words seemed to jolt Zargabath back into reality and he bowed at the Emperor. "I understand, Your Excellency. It would honor me to have a part in this plan. We shall leave on the morrow as well."

Larsa nodded gratefully at Sephyr and Zargabath now. "Understand this; things are now in motion that cannot be undone. Despite the apprehension that cloaks us all, and the fear that clouds our minds, pray that the voices of reason and courage help us throughout our journey. Pray Galtea watch over us." Larsa's voice was soft enough but it seemed to the others present at the tent that his voice and words echoed across their minds, remaining there to remind them of all the things at risk at the present situation and reminding them once more that Larsa was nowhere the ordinary 15 year old that the Emperor would have wanted.