Chapter 2: Rush and Strawberry
Strawberry picked up her summoner skirt and stepped over a very big puddle. Kylie, her Ninja friend, walked beside her.
"What luck," she said. "Getting stuck in the Golgorand Execution Site on Christmas day." Kylie fixed her Gold Helmet.
"Well, it could be worse," said Strawberry. "We could be trekking through Barius Valley on Christmas Eve. Oh wait, we did." Strawberry accidentally stepped in a very big puddle. She groaned and pulled off her Germainus boots to pour the water out of them.
"Will you stop complaining?" Strawberry heard Ophelia yelled from behind them, dragging, Agrias, her poor walking buddy behind her. "Ramza didn't complain when he had to spend his birthday in the Sweegy Woods." She shook the leaves out of her simple Mediator dress.
"I remember that." David spoke up. He wore the headband and shirtless outfit of a Monk. "Remember when you got stuck in the giant pot hole, Dorothy, and we had to get you out?" Strawberry fell into the bushes, but no one seemed to notice.
"That wasn't in the Sweegy Woods," Dorothy complained from in front of David. "The place where I got my foot stuck was in Igros, and Cindy helped me out of it. Remember Cindy? And Keane? And Akintunde? I miss them."
"I'm sorry I never knew them," a tall Archer named Masahiro said. He shook his dark hair out of his green eyes. Strawberry got out of the bushes by herself, staggering as she stood.
"What I would like to know," Pamela said. "Is where Ramza, Chris, Marty, Mustadio, Rush, and Daniel are."
Strawberry wobbled after the group as she tried to clean off her dress. She didn't want to look like this when Rush showed up. Whenever she saw him, she looked horrible, but Rush didn't seem to notice.
When she arrived at the main segment, Rush walked over to her. Her dress was wet and stained, and her summoner's horn had a branch stuck in it. Her blonde hair was wet and ran down her shoulders at strange angles. Rush walked over to her, and she panicked. Her feet were freezing in the snow.
"Hey Strawberry," Rush said. Strawberry turned crimson, and looked him in the eye.
"Um, hi Rush," she said, trying to pick the branch out of her hair. "I was wondering if um, we could go for-"
"A walk?" Rush smiled. Strawberry did the same.
"Yeah. A walk. In the snow. Together."
"That sounds like fun," Rush said. "Come on, I'll show you a spot near here that's just beautiful this time of year. The snow makes it shimmer."
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"Come on Rush, move your hands. Where are we going?" Strawberry pleaded as he led her through snowy fields to a place that only he knew the location of. Finally, and mercifully for Strawberry's poor frozen feet, they landed in a small pool of warm water.
"Okay, open your eyes."
Strawberry did, and she saw that she was standing in a tiny hot spring, and in front of her was a beautiful snow covered mountain. The sheer majesty of it caught her breath.
"You like it?" Rush asked.
"Oh, it's beautiful. Where are we?" Strawberry asked as she looked around.
"I call it Mt. Snow, for obvious reasons. Isn't it beautiful Strawberry? Have you ever seen anything so beautiful in your entire life?" Rush threw his arms in the air and spun around.
"I can think of something," she said, and Rush's brown eyes flickered.
"And what would that be," Rush asked. Strawberry found herself drawing closer to him. He kissed her, and for Strawberry, it was the most magical moment of her life. She took her lips off of his, and laid her head on his bare chest. Strawberry sighed.
"I wish the world could stay like this forever. I don't ever want to leave you."
"You won't," Rush sighed.
Suddenly, a knight jumped out of the bushes and grabbed Strawberry by the hand. Strawberry screamed as the knight brought her to a location somewhere in Zigolis Swamp.
"You are a traitor. You must pay."
"Strawberry!" The Knight turned his head, and his Mage partner did likewise. Strawberry cried out from behind her gag, but it was incomprehensible.
"We need her back," said the Knight. "I am the new leader of Bart Co., but now, it's Beck Co., after me. This is Aquarius. We have come to pick up the traitor." Beck waved his hand in Strawberry's direction.
"Strawberry has nothing to do with Bart Company anymore, so leave her alone," Strawberry heard Ramza yell. "This battle is between you and your employees."
"Is that so?" Beck said. He whistled, and a trio of people came out of the woods. One was a female Wizard, and the other two were like the people now facing the two Ninjas, a Knight and a Time Mage. "These are my loyal subjects, Garnett, 'O Bannon, and Sophie. We will lay waste to you."
"That's your army?" Strawberry heard Kylie scoff. "We can take that all by ourselves." The Ninja pair drew their Spell Edges, as another figure rushed into battle. He jumped in behind Sophie, and slammed his elbow into her neck. She went down. Hard.
"One Time Mage down, one to go," the figure said. Strawberry recognized him as Rush. He jumped next to Ramza and Kylie. The three people stood together as Beck mobilized his three remaining troops as both armies prepared for battle. Strawberry fiercely struggled against her bonds, indicating that she too wanted to fight. Her bonds were loosening slightly.
Beck drew his sword, and Jake, Kylie, and 'O Bannon did the same. Garnett and Aquarius brandished their staves. Strawberry watched Kylie make the first move. Charging straight towards Beck, she sliced her Spell Edges toward him. Beck easily dodged them and shoved her backward with his shield. It was followed by a sideswipe, which she dodged with great difficulty and not without a small gash on her stomach. It sapped her of some of her strength, and made her reflexes a little slower. Rush got into a giant parrying battle with Garnett, and Ramza was taking on 'O Bannon and Aquarius at the same time.
Rush finally parried a blow long enough for Garnett to stop, and he knocked her backward. The staff flew out of her hand, and caught a stray blow from Kylie's swords. It was sliced in two; the magic stored inside it flew in every direction. The battle stopped for a few seconds. Long enough for Beck to shove a sword in Kylie's stomach.
Blood flowed slightly from the wound, and started to trickle out of her mouth. Strawberry heard Ramza yell and Rush ran over to take out Beck. He succeeded in hitting a nerve on his back, and Beck fell. Aquarius and 'O Bannon watched with horror as the two opponents both fell to the ground. Strawberry screamed, and Rush picked up Kylie's body as Ramza tried to reason with Aquarius to bring him to Warjilis.
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"Is she going to be okay?" Strawberry asked. Her question was answered when Kylie's eyes fluttered open in Warjilis City Hospital.
"Feeling better?" Ramza's brown eyes were filled with concern and he looked like he hadn't slept all night. Strawberry watched Kylie tried to sit up again, more slowly this time.
"Like someone hit me in the head with a Morning Star," she moaned. Ramza laughed as Strawberry entered with Rush. Despite the situation, Strawberry wore a wide grin on her face.
"We had to use about 3 or 4 Phoenix Downs to revive you, and even more for Beck. Only because he kept resisting." Kylie sat back up.
"So I guess everything ended up okay, huh?" Kylie asked.
"Yeah, I guess so Kylie," Ramza said. Rush sensed it was time to leave, so he and Strawberry did.
"You're not a bad kisser you know," Kylie said through the door. Strawberry's ear was up against the keyhole.
"You shouldn't really be eavesdropping on them, Strawberry," Rush said, but Strawberry just waved him away.
"I've known you liked me since I caught you staring at me in Igros the first time we went there. You remember that, when we had to report to your brother? And I also know that you're been afraid to do anything because of my connection to David."
"And by connection, you mean you were dating him since you were thirteen," Ramza replied.
"I know, I know, but after the incident at Fort Zeakden where you saved my life, I realized that David and I couldn't be together anymore. So we broke up. I suppose he told you that when you met up in Dorter.
"And when I saw you again in Igros, I just knew I'd have to make my move before Ophelia did. And once Daniel joined, I figured we were pretty much signed and sealed. I knew I had to do something, because you mean the world to me, and I love you."
"Wow," Strawberry said. "They're so much in love."
Rush put his arms around Strawberry's waist. "I know another couple kinda like that," he said, and they kissed.
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A/N: Sorry this took so long to update, but I lost the file. ANYWAY, the next chapter is gonna be about Masahiro and Pamela.
Strawberry picked up her summoner skirt and stepped over a very big puddle. Kylie, her Ninja friend, walked beside her.
"What luck," she said. "Getting stuck in the Golgorand Execution Site on Christmas day." Kylie fixed her Gold Helmet.
"Well, it could be worse," said Strawberry. "We could be trekking through Barius Valley on Christmas Eve. Oh wait, we did." Strawberry accidentally stepped in a very big puddle. She groaned and pulled off her Germainus boots to pour the water out of them.
"Will you stop complaining?" Strawberry heard Ophelia yelled from behind them, dragging, Agrias, her poor walking buddy behind her. "Ramza didn't complain when he had to spend his birthday in the Sweegy Woods." She shook the leaves out of her simple Mediator dress.
"I remember that." David spoke up. He wore the headband and shirtless outfit of a Monk. "Remember when you got stuck in the giant pot hole, Dorothy, and we had to get you out?" Strawberry fell into the bushes, but no one seemed to notice.
"That wasn't in the Sweegy Woods," Dorothy complained from in front of David. "The place where I got my foot stuck was in Igros, and Cindy helped me out of it. Remember Cindy? And Keane? And Akintunde? I miss them."
"I'm sorry I never knew them," a tall Archer named Masahiro said. He shook his dark hair out of his green eyes. Strawberry got out of the bushes by herself, staggering as she stood.
"What I would like to know," Pamela said. "Is where Ramza, Chris, Marty, Mustadio, Rush, and Daniel are."
Strawberry wobbled after the group as she tried to clean off her dress. She didn't want to look like this when Rush showed up. Whenever she saw him, she looked horrible, but Rush didn't seem to notice.
When she arrived at the main segment, Rush walked over to her. Her dress was wet and stained, and her summoner's horn had a branch stuck in it. Her blonde hair was wet and ran down her shoulders at strange angles. Rush walked over to her, and she panicked. Her feet were freezing in the snow.
"Hey Strawberry," Rush said. Strawberry turned crimson, and looked him in the eye.
"Um, hi Rush," she said, trying to pick the branch out of her hair. "I was wondering if um, we could go for-"
"A walk?" Rush smiled. Strawberry did the same.
"Yeah. A walk. In the snow. Together."
"That sounds like fun," Rush said. "Come on, I'll show you a spot near here that's just beautiful this time of year. The snow makes it shimmer."
**********************************
"Come on Rush, move your hands. Where are we going?" Strawberry pleaded as he led her through snowy fields to a place that only he knew the location of. Finally, and mercifully for Strawberry's poor frozen feet, they landed in a small pool of warm water.
"Okay, open your eyes."
Strawberry did, and she saw that she was standing in a tiny hot spring, and in front of her was a beautiful snow covered mountain. The sheer majesty of it caught her breath.
"You like it?" Rush asked.
"Oh, it's beautiful. Where are we?" Strawberry asked as she looked around.
"I call it Mt. Snow, for obvious reasons. Isn't it beautiful Strawberry? Have you ever seen anything so beautiful in your entire life?" Rush threw his arms in the air and spun around.
"I can think of something," she said, and Rush's brown eyes flickered.
"And what would that be," Rush asked. Strawberry found herself drawing closer to him. He kissed her, and for Strawberry, it was the most magical moment of her life. She took her lips off of his, and laid her head on his bare chest. Strawberry sighed.
"I wish the world could stay like this forever. I don't ever want to leave you."
"You won't," Rush sighed.
Suddenly, a knight jumped out of the bushes and grabbed Strawberry by the hand. Strawberry screamed as the knight brought her to a location somewhere in Zigolis Swamp.
"You are a traitor. You must pay."
"Strawberry!" The Knight turned his head, and his Mage partner did likewise. Strawberry cried out from behind her gag, but it was incomprehensible.
"We need her back," said the Knight. "I am the new leader of Bart Co., but now, it's Beck Co., after me. This is Aquarius. We have come to pick up the traitor." Beck waved his hand in Strawberry's direction.
"Strawberry has nothing to do with Bart Company anymore, so leave her alone," Strawberry heard Ramza yell. "This battle is between you and your employees."
"Is that so?" Beck said. He whistled, and a trio of people came out of the woods. One was a female Wizard, and the other two were like the people now facing the two Ninjas, a Knight and a Time Mage. "These are my loyal subjects, Garnett, 'O Bannon, and Sophie. We will lay waste to you."
"That's your army?" Strawberry heard Kylie scoff. "We can take that all by ourselves." The Ninja pair drew their Spell Edges, as another figure rushed into battle. He jumped in behind Sophie, and slammed his elbow into her neck. She went down. Hard.
"One Time Mage down, one to go," the figure said. Strawberry recognized him as Rush. He jumped next to Ramza and Kylie. The three people stood together as Beck mobilized his three remaining troops as both armies prepared for battle. Strawberry fiercely struggled against her bonds, indicating that she too wanted to fight. Her bonds were loosening slightly.
Beck drew his sword, and Jake, Kylie, and 'O Bannon did the same. Garnett and Aquarius brandished their staves. Strawberry watched Kylie make the first move. Charging straight towards Beck, she sliced her Spell Edges toward him. Beck easily dodged them and shoved her backward with his shield. It was followed by a sideswipe, which she dodged with great difficulty and not without a small gash on her stomach. It sapped her of some of her strength, and made her reflexes a little slower. Rush got into a giant parrying battle with Garnett, and Ramza was taking on 'O Bannon and Aquarius at the same time.
Rush finally parried a blow long enough for Garnett to stop, and he knocked her backward. The staff flew out of her hand, and caught a stray blow from Kylie's swords. It was sliced in two; the magic stored inside it flew in every direction. The battle stopped for a few seconds. Long enough for Beck to shove a sword in Kylie's stomach.
Blood flowed slightly from the wound, and started to trickle out of her mouth. Strawberry heard Ramza yell and Rush ran over to take out Beck. He succeeded in hitting a nerve on his back, and Beck fell. Aquarius and 'O Bannon watched with horror as the two opponents both fell to the ground. Strawberry screamed, and Rush picked up Kylie's body as Ramza tried to reason with Aquarius to bring him to Warjilis.
**************************
"Is she going to be okay?" Strawberry asked. Her question was answered when Kylie's eyes fluttered open in Warjilis City Hospital.
"Feeling better?" Ramza's brown eyes were filled with concern and he looked like he hadn't slept all night. Strawberry watched Kylie tried to sit up again, more slowly this time.
"Like someone hit me in the head with a Morning Star," she moaned. Ramza laughed as Strawberry entered with Rush. Despite the situation, Strawberry wore a wide grin on her face.
"We had to use about 3 or 4 Phoenix Downs to revive you, and even more for Beck. Only because he kept resisting." Kylie sat back up.
"So I guess everything ended up okay, huh?" Kylie asked.
"Yeah, I guess so Kylie," Ramza said. Rush sensed it was time to leave, so he and Strawberry did.
"You're not a bad kisser you know," Kylie said through the door. Strawberry's ear was up against the keyhole.
"You shouldn't really be eavesdropping on them, Strawberry," Rush said, but Strawberry just waved him away.
"I've known you liked me since I caught you staring at me in Igros the first time we went there. You remember that, when we had to report to your brother? And I also know that you're been afraid to do anything because of my connection to David."
"And by connection, you mean you were dating him since you were thirteen," Ramza replied.
"I know, I know, but after the incident at Fort Zeakden where you saved my life, I realized that David and I couldn't be together anymore. So we broke up. I suppose he told you that when you met up in Dorter.
"And when I saw you again in Igros, I just knew I'd have to make my move before Ophelia did. And once Daniel joined, I figured we were pretty much signed and sealed. I knew I had to do something, because you mean the world to me, and I love you."
"Wow," Strawberry said. "They're so much in love."
Rush put his arms around Strawberry's waist. "I know another couple kinda like that," he said, and they kissed.
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A/N: Sorry this took so long to update, but I lost the file. ANYWAY, the next chapter is gonna be about Masahiro and Pamela.
