Chapter 5-Muscadet and the crystal

"Ok, where to first?" Madeline asked. It was an hour since they had made the decision to destroy the Monarchy, and they still had no idea what to do.

"Err...first we need a Clan name." Eldana said.

"Clan Anarchy..." Quin said. Nobody liked it, due to the fact it would draw a bit too much attention. Plus, it was a slightly stupid name.

After various names put forward by everyone, Largo asked, "What about Clan...Destiny?"

After much arguing, mostly by Quin, they settled on Clan Destiny. "Ok," Madeline said, "Where to now?"

Schneider, who had been very quiet up until now, suddenly piped up with, "Mussscadet. Remember what Agatha sssaid? Marche and hisss clan are headed for Mussscadet."

Thenardi stepped forward. His face looked surprisingly eager, Madeline saw. "Listen, we'll need to be on guard. The entire guard are there, including Babus. So I reckon we'll need some strength. We only have magic here!"

"Err...Eldana and I can handle ourselves pretty well, due to the fact we use swords!" Largo said.

"Rapiers."

"Whatever."

"Yeah, I guess. So Muscadet it is. Let's go!" - - - Muscadet, the Viera City, was currently swarming with Royal Templars. Innocent bystanders were being arrested for looking like Marche or his moogle companion.

'I HATE my job,' thought Babus. He knew it was a necessity, but it didn't mean he enjoyed sending his Guard and Judges to attack citizens. It wasn't right.

At that point, he heard a shout. "Hey! I'm the person you're looking for! Stop arresting those innocent people!"

"And my day just got better," Babus muttered with a barely concealed grin, before sending the Guard, plus some of his special guard. Maybe the group that Remidi hired would turn up. And they did.

"Ah, hello again Babus," the Black Mage, Thenardi said.

"Ah, I'm glad you could come. They are here, and all you have to do is apprehend them. Isn't that lucky."

"Yes, yes it is. Unfortunately things are a little complicated at times."

As this sentence ended, a massive Thundaga bolt struck home, hitting and killing about 10 Templars. "Traitors!" Babus said out loud. However, inside, he was delighted. Should be an interesting fight. - - - "What the-" Marche said. The Black Mage had just frazzled nearly a dozen Templars. Also it looked like the rest of the clan were charging more magic to destroy Guard. "Montblanc! Can you help them?"

"Yes, of course kupo!" Montblanc said, before charging a massive Fira ball and sending straight at a load of Templars heading for the group of Mages.

"Good Montblanc. Grisanbela?" At this, Marches chief Assassin stepped forward. Unlike Agatha, she wore the traditional robes of the Assassin.

"Yes, Marche?"

"Well...err...can you Conceal your way to the Templars and assist our friends?"

"Of course, Marche." And at that she disappeared.

"Ok...just one more thing, Grisanbela...if you're there. Check if Ritz is there, would you?"

"I shall, don't worry."

"Good." He withdrew his twin swords. Everyone marvelled at how he could hold two heavy Knightswords, and the Arch Sword and Excalibur at that. When he was asked, he would usually reply, "Physics is a funny thing." However, he had one final trick up his sleeve.

"Ezel? Come here for a second would you?"

"Yes, oh masterful master! What shall you have your lowly slave do today?"

Marche laughed. Since Law Cards were deemed legal, Ezel had a lot of spare time on his hands. It had surprised Marche when he offered to join, but he'd proved invaluable on many occasions.

"Ok, Ezel, can you send the enemy to sleep for me?"

"Ah, Azoth! Consider it done!"

He took out his book of Hermetic Skill and started to chant the Azoth. Across the battlefield the Templars were slowly but surely falling asleep. 'Woohoo!' Marche thought. Then he ran across the battlefield and started hacking people with the Twin Swords. - - - "Hey, they're helping!" Madeline cried out. Largo turned and saw Babus seething with rage, walking towards Marche. As he passed, he heard him muttering, "Stupid Templars, can't capture a child, looks like a job only worth doing if you do it yourself..."

Largo realized what he was going to do when suddenly he noticed a flicker. It seemed to be...a rip in time?

However, the Judgemaster appeared. "Oh no, we're screwed, he whispered to Quin.

"Ah, so this is Marche. Well, you have caused a lot of trouble. It's time to...what the-" the Judgemaster exclaimed. The Space rip opened and pulled them all in. - - - When Thenardi woke up, he found himself in a chamber. There was a tree growing all around and seeds everywhere as well. He looked around, and saw Madeline, Eldana and the Assassin of Marche's go down on their knees. "Why are they like this?" he asked Quin.

"This is Exodus, Totema of Viera. They believe that Viera grow from the Tree of Exodus, and when they die, they are reborn from the tree."

"Oh."

Thenardi saw Marche, full of resolve, say, "I need to destroy this to get home. Just this and one more and I can go home..."

"Oh ho! You think I will let you destroy one of our crystals! I think not! Judgemaster Cid! What are the laws today?"

Cid looked through his clipboard. "Err...Team battles are forbidden. So Marche is fighting this on his own."

"Oh, thank merciful Ultima."

"Also, Fire is banned. And Ice is recommended. BEGIN!!!" - - - Largo was watching the battle avidly. The other clanners were making bets on who would win. Largo himself had already made a 100 000 Gil bet on Marche winning. Now he was watching scrupulously to see anything that could guarantee him walking away with 1 000 000 Gil.

Marche was circling Babus, being careful not to let his guard down. Babus was first to move and, waving the mace about, released a ball of gravitational energy straight at him. Marche barely dodged it. He replied by charging straight at him, slashing both his swords. Babus dodged the first one, but the second one's sheer force set him flying into a wall. "Ooh..." he heard the crowd behind him. Babus did stand up though, to a great sigh by Marche. Babus let loose another ball of gravity, sending Marche flying.

"Ooh, that's his health down by half!" Madeline exclaimed.

Marche again stood up, and produced a card. "Stop is now forbidden!" he yelled, before throwing the card up in the air.

"Ah damn," Babus said.

Marche charged again, but this time got a side blow. Babus fell to the floor. Largo grinned. This was to be very profitable for him indeed. - - - Babus groaned. He failed. The Queen was going to be very annoyed. 'Oh well,' he thought. Then he heard the sound of breaking crystal. 'Ah...'

Then Babus saw black. - - - "Babus...Babus?"

The voice brought Babus round. He looked up to see Madeline standing over him. "Phew," she said. "He's ok everyone! I did it!"

There was a murmur of congratulations. They were still annoyed they had to give her and Largo most of their money.

"She isn't going to be happy you know. She'll send...him after you," Babus whispered.

"Who? Who's he?" Madeline asked.

"Oh...oh dear." This was Largo. "He means...Llednar!" - - - Mewt was really sad. Papa had just resigned from the palace, and now he had no friends again. It was just like before...

"Mewt? Are you here?"

"Mama!"

"Good, you're here! I have a new friend for you. His name's Llednar, and he'll be protecting you from now on."

A boy walked in. Mewt noticed how incredibly similar he looked like himself. "Hello Mewt," Llednar said. "It is an honour to protect you."