Chapter 2: The Warriors

Albrook is a nice and quiet and peaceful town. From a top perspective, directly in the middle of the town was a tall house where the Prophet resided. The Prophet is considered a fortuneteller, only he spoke true futures and delivered news to whoever asked him, whether it be good or bad. Buildings were being rebuilt on account of Albrook being casually demolished and attacked in an attempt to scare the residents away from their homes, but no matter what, they refuse to leave. This is their home, and they would die for it.

In the west part of the town, a man and a woman were fighting by the town's river.

"You're losing your edge!" said Lucia as she thrusted her sword.

"I'm just making you think that so you can lower your guard!" replied Cyrus as he blocked, then parried.

She clashed her sword against his, then jabbed his chest with the handle of her sword. While he fell back, fazed from the chest blow, she kicked his stomach causing him to fall over. She put her swords tip at his neck, barely touching it.

"Checkmate, Cyrus."

"Indeed."

He then kicked her hand causing her to drop her sword, and then he wrapped one of his legs around hers and caused her to fall onto him. He put his arms around her waist and held her close to him.

"Like Glenn said, 'Lower thine guard, and thou'rt letting the enemy in.'"

She looked at him and smiled, knowing she had lost.

"Yeah I know, I have to practice on that… but you just look so darn cute when you're on the floor like that."

He smiled smugly at her, as he kissed her on her cheek gently, holding onto her.

"Maybe so, but nowhere near as cute as how you look when you thought you had the win."

"Oh, Cyrus…"

"Please, we're in public!" exclaimed a voice.

Lucia broke out of Cyrus's grip as she picked up her sword and saw her friend Patricia there.

"Well, we were alone until you came along." said Lucia.

"And what is YOUR excuse, Cyrus?"

"We were training and she fell on me."

"Tsk... I expected better from thee, Cyrus...." said another voice.

"Ah, Glenn!" Cyrus said in surprise, still lying on the floor as he looked up and saw his good friend. "What brings you around here?"

"Mine name is Frog…"

"Frog..." said Lucia. "Just because you're a frog doesn't mean your name should BE Frog."

"Such benevolent words Lucia... but this be'th a decision I made. Mine name is Frog... Glenn died a long time ago."

"Alright alright…" muttered Cyrus. "So what brings you here, especially without your Hero Medal?"

"I had decided to come pay'eth thou a visit, so I took the shortcut through the forest. When I was walking along the path, a man had bumped into me, and then ran off. I thought nothing of it at first, but when I had checked for my medal, it was gone..."

"Ouch…sorry …" said Cyrus.

Frog looked to the side and noticed Patricia.

"Ah! Patricia! How hath the day found'eth thee?"

"…Fine…"

"Nice to hear. Feel like being mine sparring partner for a while?"

"No, no, It's fine..." she responded hastily. "I'll just sit here and watch Lucia and Cyrus..."

"Are you sure? I thought it would be..."

"I said I don't want to..."

"..."

A sigh was heard from Frog, as he turned around and faced the forest.

"I'll shall be on mine way."

"Hey come on pal, you just got here." said Cyrus

"Yeah Frog, don't leave so soon…" said Lucia.

"My guise doth not incur thy trust…" he said as he faced Patricia, then he turned away. "I do not wish to inflict any awkwardness between any of you... Farewell Cyrus, Lucia."

Everyone stood silent as Frog made his leave towards the forest.

"Patricia, why are you so cold to him?" asked Cyrus.

"Yeah, you always seem to shun him…" added Lucia.

"I don't hate him…it's just… I don't like frogs…they have always scared me…"

"Ah…" said Lucia.

"Ah, he'll get over it." added Cyrus. "Lucia, want to go at it again?"

"Sure! This time, I'll beat you for sure!"

"I'll just watch…"

Cyrus and Lucia began training again, as Patricia sat close to the river, thinking about Frog.

In the northern part of town, a woman dressed in white and a man dressed in blue were roaming the streets, as the townspeople looked onto them.

"So Locke, what do you want to do?"

"It doesn't matter, Celes. I will go with you where you want."

Celes and Locke had been friends since they were young. One day when Celes had been bothered by a group of boys and girls, Locke was the only one to stand up to them to protect her. Since that one day, they had grown to be very close friends.

"Well…it seems to be a nice day… why don't we go to the park."

"Alright."

They walked side by side to the park and sat down under a tree, in its shade from the sun. Locke sat back and leaned on the tree as Celes set the back of her head on his lap.

"We hardly ever have days like this anymore…" she said.

"Yeah… with that damn woman going around and destroying everything..."

"Someone will stand up to her one day…and will defeat her… until then… I have you to protect me…"

"I will always protect you, Celes…"

She got up and set her back onto him, as he wrapped his arms around her waist, and held her close to him.

"Locke?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you…"

"…Yeah, I know…"

This was not the first time she had said this to him. They had been very much in love since they were young, but Locke feared of letting his true feelings for her out. Something told him that if he were to tell her of his feelings, if anything was to ever happen to her, he would never be able to forgive himself for it.

"Oh, yeah, I have something for you…" Locke said as he reached into his pocket, pulling out a medal. After dusting it off slightly, he handed it to her.

"Wow… thanks! It's beautiful… where did you get it?"

"From an over grown frog."

"A frog?"

"Don't ask."

She kissed his cheek.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, Celes."

He continued holding her as the sun began to set.

The last lights of the sun flickered in the air, as a knight in an abandoned market awakens.

"Another day…" he mumbled.

This knight was feared from those who knew of him. He grabbed his sword and clung it to his back; the sword that was stained with blood and had caused the loss of many lives, which he had to take. As he walked out of the abandoned quarter and walked the streets of Albrook, people scurried away, for they knew the reputation of this person, this 'Vagabond Knight.' No matter where he went, his reputation preceded him as if fate were laughing in his face. He had noticed the sun had set for a long while now, and the streets were now empty. He continued walking the deserted streets until his ears heard a small growl behind him. He turned around and noticed a black and brown dog that was possibly a stray, which looked like it was ready to attack him.

"You don't know what you're getting yourself into…"

The dog continued growling, as Shadow walked up to it and stared it in the face. The dog looked into the knight's eyes, and laid down whimpering.

"If only humans were as smart as dogs... At least animals know when they can not win..."

He stood up and began walking in his path again, as the dog began following him. Shadow stopped in his steps and so did the dog, whose eyes were once again staring into those of the cold knight.

"You won't run...? You aren't afraid?"

He bent over and petted the dog, as he let out a small happy bark.

"My name is Shadow…and from now on, you will be called Interceptor. Do not expect me to feed you or to take you on walks. You decided to take my path..."

The dog barked and licked his hand. Shadow and Interceptor walked through the streets, and slowly disappeared into the darkness of the night.