Final Fantasy: Rise of Despair
We now join Matt, Mendoza, Monty, and Gilbert in some deserted town. What adventures await these four?
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy: Tactics Advance, I do own the characters and plot.
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Refuge
Matt was inside a deserted, one-room cottage with a fireplace. Matt had started a fire and laid the other three in front of it. "Hmmmmm…" Matt was leaning against the wall right next to the door. "Well now what… even if we reunite… we now know that we won't be able to beat the Black King." Matt thought. "But… what other choice do we have?" Matt wondered out loud. "Hm?" Matt turned to the door as he heard footsteps draw closer. "What?"
"Who's in here?" A ninja that opened the door demanded. He opened the door to find the three unconscious bodies in front of the fireplace. The ninja had blue eyes, was in a dark blue outfit, had two katanas sheathed on his back and stood 5'9" in height. "Hm? Who are these three?"
"Who is that guy?" Matt wondered. He was using his arms and legs to hoist himself against the corner of the ceiling so that he remained unseen.
"Hmmmm… someone had to have been here recently, otherwise the fire wouldn't be going.
"Dang it. I am such a genius." Matt thought to himself sarcastically.
"I better take these three with me." The ninja said out loud.
"Oh no he… wait a minute… he's not black army though… maybe I'd better see if I can't get more info on him first." Matt thought. The figure dragged out all three of them one at a time and when he dragged Gilbert out last, Matt let himself down easily. He peeked outside to find the guy dragging all three of them on some kind of wagon.
Matt followed this figure for several minutes. As he went further and further in to the ghost town, Matt began noticing some chimneys had smoke coming from them, and some alleys had some mildly fresh laundry hanging out. "What is this place?" Matt thought. Matt ducked in to another alley to stay out of sight of the ninja and peeked around the corner to make sure the ninja was still in sight. He was, good thing as well. Matt prepared to go to another alley when…
"AH!"
"Hm?" Matt turned around and saw a human woman run around another corner. "What was that…"
"HELP!" She shouted.
"Help?"
"Who are you?"
"Hm?" Matt looked up and saw the ninja standing over him on the edge of the building Matt was leaning against. "Ah crap…"
"I'll ask again… who are you?" The ninja asked forcefully as he drew one of his katana.
"Listen… I don't want trouble…" Matt started.
"That doesn't answer my question!" The figure told him.
"Look, I just wanted to…" Matt started.
"Answer my question!" The figure snapped at him.
"Alright, looks like I need to beat some sense in to you." Matt said. Matt jumped straight upward and uppercut the ninja under the chin.
"OOF!!!" Matt then landed a few feet behind the ninja on top of the roof. "Now will you listen to…"
"Hiyah!" The ninja drew both his katana and swung them around quickly, creating the illusion of several katana before taking a swing at Matt. Matt easily blocked one katana with the side of his blade and caught the other katana in between each blade of his gunblade.
"Look just listen to me will you?" Matt asked.
"If you're an enemy… then I can't give you that luxery!" The ninja let go of his katana and jumped back making handsigns. "Wood jujutsu! Wood veil!"
"Oy…" Matt sighed. Vines sprang up around him and right before they wrapped themselves around Matt, he disappeared in a blur and reappeared behind the ninja pointing his gunblade at him.
"Ugh!" The figure gasped.
"Now then… will you listen, or will I have to shoot you?" Matt asked.
"Fine… I'll listen… I lost after all." The figure said solemnly.
"What's wrong with you?" Matt asked. "Never mind that. I just want to know who you are and what you're doing with my comrades?" Matt asked.
"Your comrades? Oh… you mean those three I found? I'm sorry… I got a little rash back their." The ninja said as he stopped tensing up. Matt put away his gunblade, sensing no threat now. The ninja removed his turban and make and revealed that he was bishonen, a very fair face coupled with his blonde hair.
"Now then, will you answer my questions?" Matt asked.
"If you'll answer mine. You see, I can't take chances. That's why I got so carried away back there." He said.
"Seth! Are you alright?" A bangaa asked. "Who is this!!!" The bangaa demanded fearfully.
"A friend. Don't worry." The ninja answered, meaning his name was Seth.
Later…
"Okay, that was my story, now please tell me yours." Matt said. He and Seth were in another one-room cottage with Monty, Mendoza, and Gilbert once again spread out before a fireplace. He was sitting at a small table with Seth.
"Wow… one of the Racemasters, this is truly a blessing." Seth said. "Ahem… well you see… this town… is a refuge."
"A refuge?" Matt asked.
"Yes, there are several who don't have the luxury of being able to make it to Baguba, so I find them and bring them here." Seth said. "Here, I find food for them, I keep them in order, I give them what they need, and I protect them." Seth said.
"You seem different from before when you attacked me." Matt said.
"That's because I had to be absolutely sure you weren't an enemy. You see, I've learned that while protecting these people, you can't take chances." Seth said. "Although… sometimes I get a little bit hasty." Seth said.
"I noticed." Matt said. "So then… where exactly is this?"
"This place was once known as Jagd Ahli, but since the Judiciary was destroyed, I suppose you can't really call it a Jagd anymore since everywhere is basically lawless." Seth said.
"Ahli huh? That's great, we're not too far from Materia Woods." Matt said.
"Wait… you're going back?" Seth asked.
"Yep, after all. The Black Army won't keep me down!" Matt said with a smile.
"But… you can't beat the Black King right?" Seth asked.
"True… but we have to find someway. There isn't another alternative." Matt said a bit more seriously.
"There is one other alternative." Seth said.
"What is that?" Matt asked.
"You could just stay here." Seth said.
"Hm?"
"This place is a refuge. You're more than welcome to stay here and help me protect this place." Seth said.
"Seth it's just that…" Matt started.
"I mean it. If you can't beat the Black King why go looking for a losing battle?" Seth asked.
"Hey now wait just a…"
"I'm sorry." Seth said. "I only spoke what was on my mind. It's just that… what if you die next time? Then what good will it do?" Seth asked.
"…" Matt had never actually thought of that. He had always had such a carefree demeanor even when doing what he had to do.
"Master Matt… please just don't be reckless. You wouldn't want to hurt anyone by dying out there would you?" Seth asked. "…" Seth sighed. "I have to go make sure that everyone is alright." Seth said.
"Hmmm… another alternative…" Matt thought.
Later that night…
Matt sat by the fire with the other three, Seth had stayed out all night tending to everyone's needs, trying to keep everyone happy despite their grim situation. Suddenly, the three unconscious guys stirred.
"Ooooohhhh… my head…" Mendoza groaned.
"I just dreamed that the Racemasters got their butts kicked and then had to teleport everyone to random locations across Ivalice and then agreed to meet at the Materia Woods." Monty said groggily.
"Hate to burst you bubble kid, but that's exactly what happened." Matt said.
"Matt!" Gilbert gasped. "Wait… what?"
"Monty just said it in a nutshell." Matt said.
"You mean we actually got teleported all across Ivalice?" Mendoza asked.
"Yep, we wound up in Ahli in some refuge village." Matt explained.
"Refuge village?" Monty asked.
"Yes, the leader here offered us refuge here." Matt said.
"Oh good, that'll give us time to rest before we get going." Mendoza said.
"He… offered us… permanent refuge too." Matt said.
"Ha ha ha! Well that's generous but we do have to find the others." Monty said. "Isn't that right Matt?" Monty asked.
"…" Matt avoided their gazes.
"Matt?" Gilbert looked at him curiously. "Wait Matt… you aren't seriously thinking about taking up that offer are you?"
"Seth… made a point." Matt said.
"Seth? Oh never mind. Matt please, you can't be serious." Mendoza said.
"Look you three… when I talked with Seth, he did make a point. If we do go back, we'll only end up fighting a losing battle. The other two and myself couldn't beat the Black King, and now if we went back we'd only be marching to our deaths. That wouldn't do anyone any good." Matt said.
"But but…" Monty stammered.
"It's hard I know, but maybe… just maybe we'd be better off staying here and helping Seth protect this refuge village." Matt said. The other three stayed silent for a moment, letting these words sink in.
"I need to go for a walk." Mendoza said.
"I do as well." Monty said. He and Mendoza stood up, turned towards the exit, and walked out the door. Gilbert stood up and also went for the door.
"Matt… if I may ask you something…"
"Go ahead." Matt said.
"Would it do the whole of Ivalice any good, if you just stayed here?" Gilbert asked.
"…" Matt stayed silent at this.
"I'll be back." Gilbert said as he walked out the door.
"Hmmmm…"
Even later that night…
Matt too decided to walk around. As he walked around he began to notice the lifestyle of the people around him. A few kids were playing in the messy streets, the parents watching them adoringly and yet with a look of sadness in their eyes, a longing for the golden days of old. "…"
"Waaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!" Came the cry of an infant.
"Hush my darling." A human woman said to the baby.
"Here, let me take care of her." Seth offered.
"Oh Seth, thank you." The woman said. Matt watched in wonder as Seth rocked the baby gently in his arms, giving him a warm smile and humming a gentle lullaby to him. The baby calmed down, and drifted off to sleep. "Thank you very much."
"It is no problem ma'am." Seth said as he walked down the alley further.
"Hmmmm…" Matt became curious and followed Seth quietly. Matt watched as Matt helped a man nail together a broken door, as he helped a struggling old nu mou lady with her two buckets of water.
"You don't know how much it means to me to see someone as kind as you helping all of us." The nu mou lady told Seth.
"It is nothing ma'am. After the hardships we've had to endure, it's only fair I keep everyone's best interests in mind." Seth told the lady.
"Heh…" Matt smiled when he saw this. "Yeah… you really do have to care to help people." Matt thought to himself. "This kind of reminds me of a few things I did in Baguba… Baguba…" Matt looked at the sky, thinking about Baguba. "Cid…" Matt then looked defiantly at the sky and nodded his head once.
Meanwhile…
"Are you sure we should leave without him?" Mendoza asked.
"I don't want to… but… as much sense as Matt made. It just doesn't feel right." Gilbert said.
"Yeah but… to leave behind one of the Racemasters? I mean, we could use all the help we can get." Monty said. The three of them turned and started walking.
"…Well, I guess no one is infallible." Gilbert said.
"Me? Make a mistake? Don't be ridiculous."
"Hm?" Everyone turned behind them to find no one there. The three looked confused for a moment, they all then turned around and…
"Hiyah."
"WAH!" Matt was suddenly right in front of the group the second they turned around.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!" Matt laughed.
"Don't scare us like that." Gilbert said, gasping for breath.
"Sorry, it just doesn't get old." Matt said.
"Yeah it does…" Monty whined.
"And were you three thinking of leaving without me?" Matt asked.
"You mean…"
"Yep, I'm coming along." Matt said.
"Great! Onward!" Monty said.
"Oh and by the way… you guys know that you would be going the wrong way right?" Matt asked.
"Uh…" The three said for a moment before turning to look at Matt.
"Follow me." Matt said.
"Wait… Master Matt." Matt turned and found Seth coming toward them. "Where are you going?" Seth asked.
"To Materia Woods, I've got some friends to meet up with." Matt said.
"Huh? But… what will happen to you?" Seth asked. "I mean… you wouldn't be…"
"Seth." Matt interrupted. "I can tell that you're a good man. You really care about these people. But I have people I must protect, outside of this refuge. I have to care for everyone in Ivalice, to protect all of them. Even if it leads to my death, I have to try." Matt said.
"…I see." Seth said. The four of them started to walk away as Seth watched them walk away. "People to care about… all over Ivalice…" Seth thought to himself.
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Hmmmm… I don't know what to think of this. Even though this is how it was planned, well let me know what you think.
Just so you know, this is the order of the chapters after the next chapter.
1.) Misadventure (Last one… aw man.)
2.) Black Army Chapter
3.) Matt, Monty, Mendoza, and Gilbert
4.) Cole, Syack, Toxin
5.) Laura, Hunter, Brently
6.) Casey, Adam, Kyle
7.) Harris and Heidi (Double Pack!)
With the exceptions of entries one, two, and seven, everything was randomly determined. I deliberately want to save the Harris and Heidi sagas for last because they will be just too juicy to just give out immediately.
Well next chapter will be the first of the Harris and Heidi segments. See ya then.
