FFTA NEMESIS
Disclaimer...the usual...I don't own any of the characters in this fanfic. Square-Enix owns them all, including the settings. The story is based on a plot element from the game, but the story is my own. Now get on with it and read!!! (And I am truly sorry for any formatting issues. There are 2 viewpoints in this story-one is that of various members of Marche's clan, the other is that of Clan Nemesis-, and it may be difficult to follow, but I think you will get it. Enjoy!
CHAPTER 1: DESERT MUSINGS
Marche sat in solemn silence. The cool sand of Eluut Sands ran through his fingers, leaving the scent of the earth on his hand. The pale moon pockmarked the landscape with shadows. "All of which could be hiding more bounty hunters." Marche thought. Today alone he had narrowly escaped three clans worth of them. The latest skirmish had been a doozy. A band of assassins had ambushed them in Lutia Pass. Fortunately, they came out alive, with only three soldiers wounded. Still, March was uneasy. With part of his clan wounded, he wasn't sure that they would be able to stand another engagement.
"What's wrong, kupo?" Montblanc squeaked. Marche looked at the moogle. Though short, he had a commanding presence. The moogle also had a deep understanding for Marche's feelings.
"I don't know," Marche replied thoughtfully, "I just feel like we're being watched; as if every shadow is waiting to come alive at any moment and slit my worried throat." He sighed audibly.
"What kupo ugly thoughts! Just try to relax and enjoy the view." Montblanc breathed in the cool night air. "I've always loved the desert. There's something majestic about it. It's as if the hot sun makes the cactus' thorns look like a robe of silk, and it's shadow gives it a kupo crown."
Marche cracked a smile. "You know that's just a mirage, don't you?"
"I suppose I do, kupo. I just refuse to let reality ruin my imagination."
Marche laughed at this. Maybe all of his worries were like Montblanc's mirages. Maybe he was just letting his imagination run away with him. He looked out towards the horizon. The beginnings of sunrise were materializing there; tinges of pink and orange fire licked the navy blue sky. It would soon be dawn.
Felicia cursed the sunrise. Light brought sight to her quarry, an advantage she did not want them to have. It evened out the playing field. She peered over the dune, getting sand in her eyes in the process. The human and the moogle were sitting on top of a distant dune, staring at the eastern horizon. Her dark eyes darted back and forth from behind her veil.
"What isss the kid doing?" Nikolai asked, jumping around behind her, frantically trying to see. His bangaa scales tickled with excitement. If they caught the kid, they would be rich. No bounty hunter had ever seen a reward as big as the one the palace put out for this kid.
"Will you shut up?" Felicia hissed. "They're quite close to us. I can hear their conversations. Stupid moogle. Talking about cactuses. Hehehehahahaha!!!"
"Thatsss cacti, bosss." Nikolai corrected.
"Oh shut up!" Felicia snapped. "This is no time for correct grammar. This is a time for war! Gather the troops!"
"Yesss, bosss." Nikolai muttered. "Anytime is the time for correct grammar."
Disclaimer...the usual...I don't own any of the characters in this fanfic. Square-Enix owns them all, including the settings. The story is based on a plot element from the game, but the story is my own. Now get on with it and read!!! (And I am truly sorry for any formatting issues. There are 2 viewpoints in this story-one is that of various members of Marche's clan, the other is that of Clan Nemesis-, and it may be difficult to follow, but I think you will get it. Enjoy!
CHAPTER 1: DESERT MUSINGS
Marche sat in solemn silence. The cool sand of Eluut Sands ran through his fingers, leaving the scent of the earth on his hand. The pale moon pockmarked the landscape with shadows. "All of which could be hiding more bounty hunters." Marche thought. Today alone he had narrowly escaped three clans worth of them. The latest skirmish had been a doozy. A band of assassins had ambushed them in Lutia Pass. Fortunately, they came out alive, with only three soldiers wounded. Still, March was uneasy. With part of his clan wounded, he wasn't sure that they would be able to stand another engagement.
"What's wrong, kupo?" Montblanc squeaked. Marche looked at the moogle. Though short, he had a commanding presence. The moogle also had a deep understanding for Marche's feelings.
"I don't know," Marche replied thoughtfully, "I just feel like we're being watched; as if every shadow is waiting to come alive at any moment and slit my worried throat." He sighed audibly.
"What kupo ugly thoughts! Just try to relax and enjoy the view." Montblanc breathed in the cool night air. "I've always loved the desert. There's something majestic about it. It's as if the hot sun makes the cactus' thorns look like a robe of silk, and it's shadow gives it a kupo crown."
Marche cracked a smile. "You know that's just a mirage, don't you?"
"I suppose I do, kupo. I just refuse to let reality ruin my imagination."
Marche laughed at this. Maybe all of his worries were like Montblanc's mirages. Maybe he was just letting his imagination run away with him. He looked out towards the horizon. The beginnings of sunrise were materializing there; tinges of pink and orange fire licked the navy blue sky. It would soon be dawn.
Felicia cursed the sunrise. Light brought sight to her quarry, an advantage she did not want them to have. It evened out the playing field. She peered over the dune, getting sand in her eyes in the process. The human and the moogle were sitting on top of a distant dune, staring at the eastern horizon. Her dark eyes darted back and forth from behind her veil.
"What isss the kid doing?" Nikolai asked, jumping around behind her, frantically trying to see. His bangaa scales tickled with excitement. If they caught the kid, they would be rich. No bounty hunter had ever seen a reward as big as the one the palace put out for this kid.
"Will you shut up?" Felicia hissed. "They're quite close to us. I can hear their conversations. Stupid moogle. Talking about cactuses. Hehehehahahaha!!!"
"Thatsss cacti, bosss." Nikolai corrected.
"Oh shut up!" Felicia snapped. "This is no time for correct grammar. This is a time for war! Gather the troops!"
"Yesss, bosss." Nikolai muttered. "Anytime is the time for correct grammar."