Author's Note: This is the first installment of a series based on the Final Fantasy RPG universe. While many of the terms used may seem similar, this story and the characters inside are totally original (with the exception of Cid, but what Final Fantasy game or story is Final Fantasy without a Cid?). Anyway, kick back, relax, and enjoy…
FINAL FANTASY: INQUISITION
By Thomas Knapp
Act One- Scene One
On a moonless night in the realm of the Five Kingdoms, two figures crept through the dark alleys of the city of Cairos, capitol to the kingdom of the same name. One of them was a tall, blond haired man with green, piercing eyes, and a billowing bright red robe. The other only came up to the first man's waist, but his pointy, brimmed leather hat made him seem a little taller. His face was totally shrouded save two glowing yellow eyes, and he wore a loose blue shirt, and tacky green and white striped pants.
The red robed man ripped a fresh poster off the wall of the building to his left, and examined the picture and words it announced through the dim light of the lamps from the street. With a snort, he balled up the poster, and threw it down to the ground.
"Can you believe it?" The tall man grunted in disgust, "Only 10,000 gil for my arrest? You'd think that after I had raided their foundry last week, it would have been AT LEAST 30."
"It's a crying shame." The short man agreed in a squeaky, high-pitched voice, "Not to mention the fact that it was a crummy picture at that. Who is EVER going to recognize the face of Midas with such terrible art?"
"Indeed, Borz, indeed." With that, Midas crouched behind a tall stack of boxes, and looked around the makeshift screen to the bazaar below. In the last two years, the people of Cairos have taken to adding extra guards to prevent raiding. Not that it had stopped Midas, of course.
"Well, Borz, what should we go after today? Food? Clothes? Weapons? Armor? Gil?" Midas asked his stocky companion.
"Why do you ALWAYS ask me that SAME question when we both know that we're going to go after all five?" Borz nearly whined.
"For the sake of continuity, my dear friend." Midas answered jovially, yet his expression drew serious not even a split-second later. "Once this next guard passes by, we'll have exactly three minutes to loot and plunder, that is, if they have increased the number of guards as much as I think they have."
"What if they have increased their number MORE than you have anticipated?"
"Then I hope you can run fast…" Midas replied, then spied the guard turn the corner into the side street. "NOW!" Midas hissed, and jumped out of his hiding position, rushing at full speed for the bazaar, Borz following as fast as his stubby little legs could take him.
Midas reached the first store in the bazaar, and quickly gave it the once over to see if it had anything of interest. When Borz finally caught up, Midas ordered, "Keep a lookout, I'm going in."
Peering in one of the windows, it was a simple enough matter to pry the glass open, and to slip his way inside the store. His eyes quickly scanned the darkened interior, and spotted a good collection of potions and antidotes that were in scant supply back at Outlaw hideout. Spotting nothing else of immediate value, Midas worked his way to the counter, and the large safe still in its same place underneath the counter.
"You're making this too easy, Boris. You wonder why I've robbed you blind seven times this last year." Midas knelt down, and worked the safe open. Boris had even kept the same combination as all the previous times he had been robbed.
"Usually, I feel kinda guilty about stealing all of someone's money." Midas thought to himself, "But there are some people so stupid they DESERVE to be bled dry."
As he stood up, a devious smile lit up Midas's face. Taking a small knife from his hip sheath, he scrawled on the countertop:
"Dear Boris, do humanity a favor, and never breed. – Midas."
Midas nodded favorably as his most recent message fit in quite nicely with the OTHER messages he had left since he started robbing Boris's store, some simple statements like, "Midas was here", or tips for Boris's continued health like, "For your sake, I would stop chewing on your exposed plumbing."
With a smirk, Midas prepared to look through Boris's back room, where the shopkeeper liked to keep his rarer items. As he pulled the curtain back leading to the storeroom, he heard the sirens.
Cairos spent many years and much gil in producing their ear-splitting sirens that resided at the top of the royal palace. The royalty took great pride in the claim that the sirens could warn anyone in the kingdom of a threat. However, Cairos seemed to take even petty theft as a threat to the kingdom, and thus, the sirens seemed to be in a state of constant sounding.
"The liberal way they blow that horn, it's no wonder the people of this city are always in such sour moods. They never get any sleep. I wonder why they're sounding the sirens now."
At that moment, a very disturbing clue popped in his mind. Borz was in the city, and out of Midas's sight. "Oh hell…" Midas muttered, and lunged out the shop's window, rolling to his feet in one smooth motion.
Borz approached him, and queried, "Why are they sounding the sirens?"
Midas comprehended Borz's presence, then asked, "You mean, YOU didn't do anything?"
"I've waited outside here like you told me to." Borz answered.
"That would be a first." Midas quipped, then nearly jumped as Borz burst into a full run. "HEY! WHERE ARE YOU GOING!"
"I saw something the next street over!" Borz called back, not even slowing down, "Let's find out why they're sounding the alarms!"
"All I know is that they're NOT sounding them for US, and that means we should get out of here!" Midas retorted, but by then, Borz was too far away to hear Midas unless he shouted, something Midas didn't want to do. With a defeated growl, he picked up his pace, and rushed after his stout companion.
Moments later…
When Midas caught up to Borz, he was peaking out of an alley several streets down from the next street over. "What in Alexander's name do you think you're doing, you obnoxious runt?"
"Shhh!" Borz hushed, "They'll be coming this way soon. Be ready."
"Who are you to be giving out orders?"
"Inquisitors are chasing a young lady. We've gotta help!" Borz answered. Sure enough, as Borz had claimed, Midas could hear the sounds of approaching feet and screams of the chase.
"What some lady did to piss of the Inquisitors is none of our concern, Borz." Midas chided, "Let's get moving."
Borz was suprisingly adamant, "If you leave, you leave me behind."
Midas shrugged, and replied, "Fine with me." But after he took five steps, Midas turned back around. "All right… I'll give you long enough of a diversion to get the little lady out of harm's way. We'll meet back at the tunnel house."
"Right." Borz agreed.
Soon, Midas could see a group of people approaching at a very high speed. "Wait for it…" Borz hissed, but Midas knew EXACTLY what Borz wanted him to do. The last six years working together, or should he say SURVIVING together, had forged a sort of intuition between them.
Soon, the lady being chased became clearly visible, but Midas didn't take much time to focus on her, since that was his cue to make his move. Jumping out into the street, he took everyone by surprise, just long enough for him to cast a multiple target Thunder spell into the group of Inquisitors.
At the same time, Borz took the young lady's arm, and started to lead her off to the alley, the woman protesting all the way. Midas cast one more Thunder spell to keep her pursuers occupied, and by then, Borz had convinced the woman that they were here to help. With that, Midas ducked into the exact opposite alley.
Several streets later, Midas was quite convinced he had eluded the Inquisitors, and thus slowed to a casual walk. Emerging onto a main street, he suddenly felt a sword poke into his back.
"Don't even THINK of moving, Midas." A young female voice hissed threateningly.
'Here we go again…' Midas thought. The voice was a dead giveaway as to the person behind him. "Congratulations, Tamara, you've won this round of 'Guess the Bandit'! Trigger, tell her what's she's won!"
Tamara reacted immediately upon hearing the name Midas called, jumping out of the way of two well-placed shurikens from above. However, by the time she had regained her bearings, Midas had drawn his own sword to bear on the knight.
Tamara growled. No longer with the element of surprise, she knew that she would not come out victorious against the Red Mage and his ninja comrade. "Don't think I've given up, Outlaw." With that, Inquisitor Knight Tamara turned and fled.
Midas held up his hand, and said, "Easy, Trigger." as the ninja prepared two more shurikens to toss at the retreating foe. "There's no need for that." Silently, Trigger complied, and jumped down to the street below.
"I take it you heard what Borz and I were up to?" Midas asked, to which Trigger nodded.
To most people initially meeting Trigger, the fact that he never spoke would be disconcerting, to say the least. However, Midas had become close friends with the ninja since they met four years prior and soon realized that Trigger had his own special way of letting people know what he wanted. Trigger and Midas shared an almost psychic bond in which a mere glance from the ninja's deep brown eyes was all Midas needed to understand what Trigger wanted to say.
"Yes, I know it was stupid, Trigger, but Borz was being especially anal, and if I didn't save his hide, he'd probably be dismembered by tomorrow evening." Midas explained, "Anyway, let's get to the tunnel house before more Inquisitors decide to crash our party."
Meanwhile…
"Are you SURE that your friend is all right?" The young woman asked Borz.
Borz gave his new friend the once over. She certainly didn't look like someone who the Inquisitors would be after. Her long red hair reached down to her waist, accentuating her pale complexion and flowing green gown. A tiny gold circlet adorned her forehead; the sapphires fastened to the metal almost the exact same shade as her jewel-like eyes. The only thing Borz found curious was how the bangs of her hair were bunched up in front. It was a most unusual style.
"Midas is the greatest Red Mage of them all! Of COURSE he's all right!" Borz replied indignantly.
At that moment, Midas and Trigger slipped in the door. "Hey, Borz, thanks for playing down who I am. I mean, we wouldn't want to glorify me."
"MIDAS! I knew you were all right, I knew it! I knew it!" Borz jumped happily.
"Yeah, yeah. So let's see who it is that was worth a good month's supplies…"
Borz caught on, and with a jubilant introduction said, "This is Yura, and she's running away from the Iquisitors!"
"Thanks for the former, and we sorta figured the latter." Midas answered, "The question is WHY."
Yura stepped forward, and replied, "Because I took this…"
The small jewel that she revealed was indeed brilliant, a shining pearl color that seemed to illuminate the room they were in. Nonetheless, Midas looked unimpressed, "That's it?" He whirled around to Borz and accused, "You nearly got us all killed for that dumb ROCK?"
"It's is not just a DUMB ROCK!" Yura shouted back, "It's the Crystal of Light, one of the jewels that contains the essence of Alexander, guardian of the world! I need to find the other four. With Alexander's help, we can overcome the Inquisitors, and end this Rational Age once and for all!"
"That's wonderful, and just how do you propose to get the other four, especially since we don't know where they are, and if they are even still intact?" Midas queried smugly.
"I didn't ASK for your help you know. You DON'T have to patronize me."
"That's good, because I didn't intend to GIVE my help. Mr. Perpetually Silenced here decided that…"
"HOLD ON!" Borz jumped up insulted, his squeaky voice becoming even more grating in the process. "I am NOT perpetually silenced!"
"Well, that's just fine!" Yura exclaimed, "I'll be on my way." With that, Yura began to move towards the door, only to be caught by her arm by Midas. "Let go of me!" Yura demanded.
"You're just gonna get caught, and most likely killed, if you just jump out into the street again. While normally you can just skip out of town like that, the Inquisitors are in full alert. When that happens, we need to take more drastic measures."
"Who is that down there?" A voice asked from the top of the stairs. An elderly man walked down the steps to the assembled party as he shouted happily, "Midas! What brings you here… oh right, I heard the sirens. You're usually better than that…"
"Actually, the sirens weren't for us." Midas replied, "This girl here stole the Crystal of Light, as she puts it."
"Oh… so they really DO exist huh?" The old man said thoughtfully, "Well then, you do realize what this could mean, right Midas?"
"I know what it COULD mean, but I'm not particularly convinced. If these crystals were so dangerous to the new leaders, why keep them intact?"
Yura piped up, "Because the leaders can't get to them. The crystals are sealed in complex caverns in which only members of the Summoner tribes can access."
"Then how did you get one?" Borz queried.
"I was working with a summoner, who was killed as we were trying to escape." Yura replied sadly, "He had convinced me to help him get the Crystals…"
"Well anyway, Midas, perhaps you should take this girl to Cid. He might know more about how to help her." The old man requested.
Midas in turn shrugged, and replied, "Sure, whatever. Anyway, the Inquisitors are probably gonna start knocking on your door any minute now, so we're just gonna let ourselves out."
"All right. Don't be a stranger, Midas."
"Hopefully, I will be." Midas replied, then motioned for his company to follow him to the basement.
Basement level…
Midas and Trigger pushed aside what looked like a heavy furnace to expose a large trapdoor as Borz and Yura looked on. "Anyway, if I'm going to be traveling with you, I suppose I should learn who all of you are."
Borz jumped up and down excitedly, and replied, "I'm Borz! I'm a Black Mage!"
"Yeah, a Black Mage that doesn't know any magic." Midas quipped as he pulled the trapdoor up.
"I know magic! It's just… that… I'm… trying to save it for when we need it!"
"Uh, huh. Right." Midas replied.
Yura then approached Trigger, and asked the ninja, "What's your name?"
"It's Trigger." Midas answered, drawing a glare from Yura.
"I'm trying to talk to HIM." Yura declared.
Borz chuckled, and replied, "Good luck."
Yura turned to the would-be Black Mage, and replied, "Why's that?"
"Trigger doesn't talk."
Yura then returned her gaze to the ninja in question, and asked, "Why?"
Midas shrugged, then added, "No one knows. He hasn't uttered a word ever since I met him four years ago."
"That's… unusual."
"Tell me about it." Midas replied, "Anyway, let's get down in the hole before we outlast our welcome."
"Be careful, Yura!" Borz yelled out, as the young woman began to descend into the tunnel.
"Yes… I should warn you…" Midas added, "This tunnel hasn't been… exterminated fully, which is why we prefer not to use this manner of escape."
Borz agreed, "I once saw a rat as large as a Chocobo down there!"
Yura began to laugh at the thought until she noticed her three other companions staring at her.
"He's not kidding." Midas said tartly, then motioned to the entrance, "Oh well, ladies first!"
"I… don't think so…" Yura stammered, taken aback.
Midas shrugged, then decided to head inside. "Suit yourself… just don't say that I am never polite…"
The tunnels underneath Cairos…
"It's awfully dark in here, isn't it?" Yura asked as she stumbled around, feeling for a wall or something. Eventually, her hand settled on the tip of Borz's pointed hat. Somewhat freaked, the little man screamed shrilly, causing Yura to fall back against the wall.
"GEEZ, Yura, you scared me!" Borz gasped, "For a second there, I thought you were a troll, or a giant worm, or a night stalker, or a…"
"I get the picture." Yura replied, "Well, I think we should be going, right Midas?" When there was no response, Yura became a little more nervous. "Midas?"
"Oh, darn it all… Midas did it again." Borz moaned. "He likes to leave me behind in these tunnels because he knows it scares me."
"How cruel!" Yura replied.
"Oh… he always comes back to make sure I'm all right." Borz replied, "It's not as bad as it sounds." Just then, there was a loud, angry, growl from the tunnels ahead, "And I hope THAT wasn't as bad as it sounds."
"Borz… let's get moving, okay?" Yura ordered, somewhat disconcerted.
"R…R…Right…" Borz stammered, and the pair pressed ahead into the darkness of the tunnel. Fortunately Borz knew the way, for the most part, because getting lost in the underground tunnels would be a very bad thing.
"Don't worry, Yura! I know these tunnels like the back of my hand!" Seconds later, Borz smacked into the wall with a loud thunk. "Oww…" The little man complained, then stated, "I did that just so that you'd know that wall was there… right… that's it…"
"Uh huh." Yura replied. "Are you SURE you know where to go?"
"Absolutely…" At that moment, Borz felt a wet surface touch his cheek, and a rough, damp, nose sniffing him thoroughly. Freezing in his tracks, the little would-be Black Mage heard a menacing hiss. "Umm… Yeara, remember that rat the size of a chocobo I told you about?"
"Y…Yeah?" Yura asked. She did not like where this conversation was going.
"I… think we… just found him. RUN FOR IT!!!"
Further down the tunnel…
Midas had used a Fire spell to light a torch, and thus was making some pretty good time through the tunnel. He stopped at an intersection, trying to remember the direction he was supposed to turn when a hand clapped on his shoulder.
Instinctively, Midas whirled around, sword in hand, and a spell on his lips. With a sigh of relief, he let both guards drop. "Trigger, DON'T DO THAT! I swear, I've heard CATS louder than you."
Trigger tilted his head to the left, and raised his eyebrows, all the while motioning back where the pair had came.
Midas shrugged, and retorted, "Hey, if they can't keep up, that's THEIR fault, not mine. They'll be fine, don't worry."
Right after that, a bloodthirsty roar echoed through the caverns, causing both Midas and Trigger to jump back on guard. "Oh, geez… you have to be kidding me! What did that diminutive, brain-dead, magic school reject get himself into THIS time?" But even as he insulted Borz, Midas was in full stride to the center of danger, Trigger not even a half step behind…
They arrived in time to see a giant rat trapping Yura and Borz in a corner. "That's odd… the rat's nest is on the other side of the tunnels, what is it doing all the way out here?" Midas mused, then decided to get the creature's attention. Throwing a fireball spell at the rat's feet, Midas shouted, "Hey big boy! Go home!"
Instead of bolting in fear like most rats did at the presence of fire, this one turned around, and roared angrily. Midas could see the bloodlust in the animal's eyes, and Midas pondered, "This is absolutely bizarre. Even the biggest rats were normally docile…" Midas had no time for further thought as the massive beast attacked.
Midas jumped out the way of the rat's slashing claws, and turned to warn Trigger, "Watch out for the tail!"
However, Midas remembered quickly that Trigger can handle himself in battle, as the ninja dodged the swinging appendage with ease, but Midas didn't remember fast enough to avoid getting clapped across the head by one enormous paw.
Midas rolled around the ground, stopping on his back as the rat jumped to make the kill. Reacting quickly, Midas raised a hand, and shouted, "FIRE!" The resulting burst of flame hit the giant rat in the muzzle, causing it to rear back in pain, followed by Trigger slashing with his katana blade, but the blow was blocked by the rat's clawed hand.
Once again, the titanic rodent counterattacked, swinging with claws and tail, beating back the pair of adventurers. Yura realized that Midas and Trigger could not keep this up indefinitely.
"I have to help… even if…" Yeara's voice dropped off, and she started to chant in a tongue that Borz did not recognize. As she chanted, the hair on the front of her head fell out of it's peculiar bun, revealing a small horn, glowing a gentle green color. Finally, the young woman finished chanting, and the tunnel was bathed in a burst of white light.
A strange mechanical creature appeared just to the left of the giant rat, and it sent a odd colored beam at Trigger and Midas. Instantly, Midas felt his skin hardening, and the muscles in his body filling with supernatural energy.
As quickly as it came, the strange being disappeared, leaving a rejuvenated Midas and Trigger to fight the massive rodent. This time, the creature's attacks had much less of an effect, while Midas and Trigger found their blows finding purchase in the creature's tough skin.
At long last, Midas lunged forward, piercing the rat's eye, and through the brain, killing it instantly. With the threat abated, Midas fell to a knee panting, and noticed that Trigger too was somewhat exhausted.
Finally, he was able to focus on the young woman who had turned the tide of the battle. "I don't believe this…" Midas gasped angrily, "I really should have guessed. YOU'RE the summoner…"
Yura flushed, embarrased, and replied, "PLEASE don't be afraid of me. I know what the Five Kingdoms say about summoners, and none of it is true! I only possess healing and defensive eidolons… none of them could attack anyone!"
Midas stood to his feet, and looked at Yura sternly, "Do you know the penalty in the Five Kingdoms for fraternizing with summoners?"
"No… I don't think so…"
"Death." Midas grunted, but then his mood seemed to slightly improve, and he added wryly. "Fortunately for you, that's the penalty the three of us would face if we were ever caught anyway."
"Does that mean you'll help me?" Yura said with a hopeful smile, clutching Midas's arm.
"Yeah, yeah… we'll see what Cid says." Midas said ruefully, "Come on Borz, try not to get lost again. I want to make it back to the hideout SOMETIME this year…"
End Scene One