Disclaimer: *sung to tune of 'We wish You a merry Christmas'* I don't own Final Fantasy or an-y of its characters. I wish that I did though, 'cause then I'd be rich!
I'm writ-ing this story for fun because I am a los-er with no outside life!
Now bring me a figgy pudding, just like a good little mind slave. You will bring me freakin' pudding, or no more updates!
*`*`*`*`*`*`
Author's Note: *is eating figgy pudding* Mmmmm! Fun disclaimer, huh? Just gettin' into the spirit of the season, plus I'm sick again! I have to finish Chemistry homework and write an essay for Reading.....ah well, doing this is getting me into the mood of doing it. I'm kidding aboot the fig pudding thing, so don't worry no more updates.
Oh, another thing! For those of you that have played Kingdom Hearts, please tell me if the black waltzes do or don't make an appearance. I saw a fan fiction based on them in the Kingdom Hearts section so I asked my friend online and he affirmed my hopes. But then I asked for further assurance on a message board I am on and a local video game store and they said no, they weren't so I don't know! And THEN my two friends in chess club said they saw them and I also asked a Japanese kid that played the game....in Japanese!...and he said he didn't see them! So I am confoozled....Jesus, I AM obsessed.
~NeoNaoNeo
*`*`*`*`*`*`
"Look, the trees are becoming friendly!"~.....eh...Teela maybe? 'He-Man'
*`*`*`*`*`*`
Chapter 12: Rally the troops
*`*`*`*`*`*`
"You stupid, bloodthirsty fool!" Kuja said, striking Ipsen down with almost no effort. "How could you kill her?"
"It won't happen again, I swear," Ipsen promised and slowly got up, holding his side and grabbing his staff. Kuja glared at the waltz, his cruel green eyes glimmering with vexation. With another heave, Kuja knocked Ipsen back onto the floor and grabbed his wing.
"Not obeying orders," Kuja chuckled. "Someone needs a little punishment." He taunted and yanked the waltz's appendage. Ipsen said nothing, the pain being very mild and short-lived. When Kuja noticed this and quickly pressed his foot on Ipsen's back as he jerked, now more ferociously and violently then before. Ipsen felt as though Kuja would tear them right off if he didn't do something. The only thing he did was finally cry out in pain after another tug, tears starting to run down his eyes. Kuja laughed in scorn.
"The general of my soon-to-be army is crying like a helpless child," he spat contemptuously. "Perhaps you're better off without these, I'll remove them feather by feather." Kuja continued laughing as he plucked a feather from Ipsen's already sore wing. The waltz snapped at this statement. It was the only thing that separated him from the black mage soldiers. Without his precious wings he would be no better than them! Panicked, he invoked the explosion of a Fira spell, throwing Kuja against a wall. Ipsen quickly scrambled to his feet, frightened by his own actions, folded his wings on his back in an apologetic fashion and watched Kuja for a moment, somewhat afraid of Kuja's counterstrike. But Kuja didn't retaliate. Instead, he got up and laughed, wiping some blood off of his arm.
"So, you think I'll let you get away with that treasonous act?" Kuja chuckled and got up, his eyes narrowed in a menacing way. Ipsen refused to back down, not knowing what have given him the strength to go against everything he had been tied to. He was still slightly afraid as Kuja sauntered up to him with a cocky smirk on his face, looking ready to strike again. He reached up and Ipsen winced, ready for a painful blow, but instead received a playful ruffle of his feathers. Kuja grinned at Ipsen's confused look. "You didn't mean that, did you?"
Ipsen shook his head no. "Good," Kuja cooed. "But let that be lesson to you. Don't cross me. Luckily for you, Mikoto is quite replaceable."
The waltz bit his lip, his mouth was now tainted with the taste of blood. He swallowed and watched as Kuja walked a circle around him. The man sighed and pulled a pocket watch from his robes. "Hmm, one o' clock. The workers from Dali should be unloading...Come on, we're taking a field trip."
Kuja began walking out of his study, Ipsen tagging along.
*`*`*`*`*`*`
The pair's walk led them out of the auction house and out of Treno, to a night darkened field near the woods where an old fashioned Cargo ship was being unloaded by a multitude of workers, all adult and all from the town of Dali. There was another airship there, a large, elaborately decorated one, with the words 'Hilde Garde' painted in silver letters on the side. Ipsen watched curiously as the Dali men hauled and heaved boxes and barrels from the airship, working in unison as they moved them down the line to the middle of the field. From there, the women and teenage boys took over, cracking open the cylinders and pulling out the coffin-like crates within.
Ipsen looked to Kuja. "What are they doing?" he asked.
"Assembling our army," Kuja replied nonchalantly.
"What do you mean?" Ipsen implored, looking to Kuja.
Kuja walked up to the coffin that the women cracked up and grinned when the lid was lifted off. A black mage with a deep green waistcoat, neatly buttoned with black buttons, and light brown pants, which were stitched over its feet like a pair of toddler's footie pajamas. The workers literally dumped it out of the box, its heavy set body landing with a loud thump. The mage's eyes opened and it got to its feet with a mechanical motion. Ipsen looked to Kuja.
Kuja chuckled. "Now we just wait for them to finish unloading our cargo and we'll be at Lindblum by nightfall."
A few of the workers gave Kuja an odd look at this statement. The man grumbled slightly and cleared his throat. "I'm paying you people, aren't I?"
They were quickly reassured by this comment and continued their work. Kuja sighed. "Humans, easily manipulated, aren't they?"
"Aren't you...?" Ipsen started off, but was interrupted by Kuja.
"Hardly!" he retorted.
Ipsen decided not to question the matter any further. By this time, four black mages stood altogether in a cluster, looking blankly into space, as though they didn't see each other.
"What's wrong?" Kuja asked.
"Nothing," Ipsen said stoutly.
"Hey! Look at this one!" a woman called to Kuja. He sighed and rolled his eyes.
"What is it?" he grumbled angrily at the woman as he walked over. The stout worker easily lifted a small black mage from its coffin-like crate. It was nearly half the size of all the others, with a unique pattern of red, orange and yellow autumn leaves embroidered on its pant leg. Kuja arched an eyebrow and inspected it. The small mage seemed functional as it looked to Kuja, its yellow eyes were as empty and blank as the others'.
"Hm, come here." Kuja ordered Ipsen, beckoning along with a hand signal. Ipsen complied. "Take care of this runt, would you?"
Ipsen looked at the small mage. "Runt?" he repeated, this term slightly jogging a memory. He thought for a moment, but the possibility of a revelation was lost once again. "Why get rid of him just because he's small?" Ipsen questioned. He could sense that his magic was just as powerful, if not more so, than the others.
Kuja thought a moment. "Alright, alright," Kuja caved in. He no longer cared about perfection of his ranks anymore, all of them were just obedient, blood-thirsty dolls, no longer a way for him to gain money and approval in Garland's eyes. Ipsen gave a slight smile and looked to the small mage. He didn't even realize Ipsen had just saved his life. The waltz sighed and spread his wings, just to stretch. "It seems that they're finished unloading. Get them onto that airship over there and await my instructions." Kuja commanded.
Ipsen complied and walked over to the unorganized cluster of black mages. The army was composed of fifty or so black mages, all sharing the same stout, muscular stature and uniform soulless stare. Ipsen whistled to get their attention. They all turned to Ipsen at one time, slightly surprising him. "Alright, get onto that airship." Ipsen said, pointing with his staff.
They obeyed and marched into the Hilde Garde's cargo hold, the runt toddling along with the group with as much confidence as the rest of them. When the last mage got onto the ship, Ipsen slid the door close. Kuja watched as Ipsen landed near him.
"Orders?" Ipsen asked.
"Once you are at Lindblum, you and the rest of them will kill, destroy, burn as many inhabitants of that town as possible. If your numbers go below half of what you have now, withdraw to the plains until the next morning where we will be focusing an attack on Burmecia," Kuja said in a solemn voice. "Do you have that?"
Ipsen nodded.
"Good, now go. You're wasting precious moonlight," Kuja remarked, knowing how his troops did much better in the shadows and night then any human could imagine. Ipsen spread his wings again and flew onto the deck of the airship and they were off.
I'm writ-ing this story for fun because I am a los-er with no outside life!
Now bring me a figgy pudding, just like a good little mind slave. You will bring me freakin' pudding, or no more updates!
*`*`*`*`*`*`
Author's Note: *is eating figgy pudding* Mmmmm! Fun disclaimer, huh? Just gettin' into the spirit of the season, plus I'm sick again! I have to finish Chemistry homework and write an essay for Reading.....ah well, doing this is getting me into the mood of doing it. I'm kidding aboot the fig pudding thing, so don't worry no more updates.
Oh, another thing! For those of you that have played Kingdom Hearts, please tell me if the black waltzes do or don't make an appearance. I saw a fan fiction based on them in the Kingdom Hearts section so I asked my friend online and he affirmed my hopes. But then I asked for further assurance on a message board I am on and a local video game store and they said no, they weren't so I don't know! And THEN my two friends in chess club said they saw them and I also asked a Japanese kid that played the game....in Japanese!...and he said he didn't see them! So I am confoozled....Jesus, I AM obsessed.
~NeoNaoNeo
*`*`*`*`*`*`
"Look, the trees are becoming friendly!"~.....eh...Teela maybe? 'He-Man'
*`*`*`*`*`*`
Chapter 12: Rally the troops
*`*`*`*`*`*`
"You stupid, bloodthirsty fool!" Kuja said, striking Ipsen down with almost no effort. "How could you kill her?"
"It won't happen again, I swear," Ipsen promised and slowly got up, holding his side and grabbing his staff. Kuja glared at the waltz, his cruel green eyes glimmering with vexation. With another heave, Kuja knocked Ipsen back onto the floor and grabbed his wing.
"Not obeying orders," Kuja chuckled. "Someone needs a little punishment." He taunted and yanked the waltz's appendage. Ipsen said nothing, the pain being very mild and short-lived. When Kuja noticed this and quickly pressed his foot on Ipsen's back as he jerked, now more ferociously and violently then before. Ipsen felt as though Kuja would tear them right off if he didn't do something. The only thing he did was finally cry out in pain after another tug, tears starting to run down his eyes. Kuja laughed in scorn.
"The general of my soon-to-be army is crying like a helpless child," he spat contemptuously. "Perhaps you're better off without these, I'll remove them feather by feather." Kuja continued laughing as he plucked a feather from Ipsen's already sore wing. The waltz snapped at this statement. It was the only thing that separated him from the black mage soldiers. Without his precious wings he would be no better than them! Panicked, he invoked the explosion of a Fira spell, throwing Kuja against a wall. Ipsen quickly scrambled to his feet, frightened by his own actions, folded his wings on his back in an apologetic fashion and watched Kuja for a moment, somewhat afraid of Kuja's counterstrike. But Kuja didn't retaliate. Instead, he got up and laughed, wiping some blood off of his arm.
"So, you think I'll let you get away with that treasonous act?" Kuja chuckled and got up, his eyes narrowed in a menacing way. Ipsen refused to back down, not knowing what have given him the strength to go against everything he had been tied to. He was still slightly afraid as Kuja sauntered up to him with a cocky smirk on his face, looking ready to strike again. He reached up and Ipsen winced, ready for a painful blow, but instead received a playful ruffle of his feathers. Kuja grinned at Ipsen's confused look. "You didn't mean that, did you?"
Ipsen shook his head no. "Good," Kuja cooed. "But let that be lesson to you. Don't cross me. Luckily for you, Mikoto is quite replaceable."
The waltz bit his lip, his mouth was now tainted with the taste of blood. He swallowed and watched as Kuja walked a circle around him. The man sighed and pulled a pocket watch from his robes. "Hmm, one o' clock. The workers from Dali should be unloading...Come on, we're taking a field trip."
Kuja began walking out of his study, Ipsen tagging along.
*`*`*`*`*`*`
The pair's walk led them out of the auction house and out of Treno, to a night darkened field near the woods where an old fashioned Cargo ship was being unloaded by a multitude of workers, all adult and all from the town of Dali. There was another airship there, a large, elaborately decorated one, with the words 'Hilde Garde' painted in silver letters on the side. Ipsen watched curiously as the Dali men hauled and heaved boxes and barrels from the airship, working in unison as they moved them down the line to the middle of the field. From there, the women and teenage boys took over, cracking open the cylinders and pulling out the coffin-like crates within.
Ipsen looked to Kuja. "What are they doing?" he asked.
"Assembling our army," Kuja replied nonchalantly.
"What do you mean?" Ipsen implored, looking to Kuja.
Kuja walked up to the coffin that the women cracked up and grinned when the lid was lifted off. A black mage with a deep green waistcoat, neatly buttoned with black buttons, and light brown pants, which were stitched over its feet like a pair of toddler's footie pajamas. The workers literally dumped it out of the box, its heavy set body landing with a loud thump. The mage's eyes opened and it got to its feet with a mechanical motion. Ipsen looked to Kuja.
Kuja chuckled. "Now we just wait for them to finish unloading our cargo and we'll be at Lindblum by nightfall."
A few of the workers gave Kuja an odd look at this statement. The man grumbled slightly and cleared his throat. "I'm paying you people, aren't I?"
They were quickly reassured by this comment and continued their work. Kuja sighed. "Humans, easily manipulated, aren't they?"
"Aren't you...?" Ipsen started off, but was interrupted by Kuja.
"Hardly!" he retorted.
Ipsen decided not to question the matter any further. By this time, four black mages stood altogether in a cluster, looking blankly into space, as though they didn't see each other.
"What's wrong?" Kuja asked.
"Nothing," Ipsen said stoutly.
"Hey! Look at this one!" a woman called to Kuja. He sighed and rolled his eyes.
"What is it?" he grumbled angrily at the woman as he walked over. The stout worker easily lifted a small black mage from its coffin-like crate. It was nearly half the size of all the others, with a unique pattern of red, orange and yellow autumn leaves embroidered on its pant leg. Kuja arched an eyebrow and inspected it. The small mage seemed functional as it looked to Kuja, its yellow eyes were as empty and blank as the others'.
"Hm, come here." Kuja ordered Ipsen, beckoning along with a hand signal. Ipsen complied. "Take care of this runt, would you?"
Ipsen looked at the small mage. "Runt?" he repeated, this term slightly jogging a memory. He thought for a moment, but the possibility of a revelation was lost once again. "Why get rid of him just because he's small?" Ipsen questioned. He could sense that his magic was just as powerful, if not more so, than the others.
Kuja thought a moment. "Alright, alright," Kuja caved in. He no longer cared about perfection of his ranks anymore, all of them were just obedient, blood-thirsty dolls, no longer a way for him to gain money and approval in Garland's eyes. Ipsen gave a slight smile and looked to the small mage. He didn't even realize Ipsen had just saved his life. The waltz sighed and spread his wings, just to stretch. "It seems that they're finished unloading. Get them onto that airship over there and await my instructions." Kuja commanded.
Ipsen complied and walked over to the unorganized cluster of black mages. The army was composed of fifty or so black mages, all sharing the same stout, muscular stature and uniform soulless stare. Ipsen whistled to get their attention. They all turned to Ipsen at one time, slightly surprising him. "Alright, get onto that airship." Ipsen said, pointing with his staff.
They obeyed and marched into the Hilde Garde's cargo hold, the runt toddling along with the group with as much confidence as the rest of them. When the last mage got onto the ship, Ipsen slid the door close. Kuja watched as Ipsen landed near him.
"Orders?" Ipsen asked.
"Once you are at Lindblum, you and the rest of them will kill, destroy, burn as many inhabitants of that town as possible. If your numbers go below half of what you have now, withdraw to the plains until the next morning where we will be focusing an attack on Burmecia," Kuja said in a solemn voice. "Do you have that?"
Ipsen nodded.
"Good, now go. You're wasting precious moonlight," Kuja remarked, knowing how his troops did much better in the shadows and night then any human could imagine. Ipsen spread his wings again and flew onto the deck of the airship and they were off.