A gun, a fist, and a gunblade in the sunset.
Chapter Two: One Great Star And Two Smaller Ones.
The dusty street was empty as always when Squall, Zell and Irvine walked towards the court, hoping to see this Mayor Cid Kramer. Squall looked straight ahead, walking plain forward, while Zell took his time to look around, freely gazing at signs, horses and whatever there was to look at. Irvine Kinneas, on his hand, kept his eyes peeled, and listened full-time to his instincts. If a sniper were to surprise them, Irvine knew he had to be sharp, fast and precise.
He thought about how the trip through the desert had made them glad to see this town. Walking for days, little to eat, little to drink, and just endless sunshine. A town had been a relief. Mount Gulch, it was called. But seeing the speechless man at the front had made Irvine think about things. And he knew Squall thought about it too. Their plan had actually been to just stop by this town before heading on. But seeing a speechless man, in a town with empty streets in the middle of day, and hellraisers at the saloon. He knew Squall too well. Squall had in his mind to find out what was going on in this town, where the name Deling meant fear.
And Irvine didn't blame him. Squall was a man of justice. Where he could do something to help others, Squall would do it. The rock-hard, cold, outer face on him, and his steel attitude, hid a person that liked to help people.
They approached the court, when Zell caught a glimpse of someone that turned away from the window real fast, like that person didn't want to be seen.
"Ok, there ARE people in there, at least!" Zell exclaimed.
"This town is filled with tense," Irvine stated. "It's like they're afraid the next noise they hear is from a bullet coming in their direction!"
Squall took the first steps up the stairway, speechless, but solid aimed at the door. Before taking a knock at the door, he turned to the others.
"We have to proceed with caution here," Squall said.
"Whatever you say, Mr. Leader," Irvine grinned. Squall just turned around, knocking at the door.
"Who's there?" a female voice said from the inside.
"I wish to speak with Mayor Cid Kramer," Squall said.
"Mayor Cid Kramer is not here!" the voice replied.
"I wish to speak to Mayor Cid Kramer!" Squall said again. The door opened, revealing a woman with blonde hair in an orange outfit. She was beautiful, but sharp, like the kind of girl that could be called a dumb blonde, and then rip your kidneys out because of it.
"I thought I told you he's not here," the woman said. Squall met her blue eyes with his own steel grey ones, a gaze that made the woman look at him with a look of curiosity, but still standing her ground.
"I was told he was here. I wish to see Mayor Cid Kramer. Could you lead us to him?" Squall said.
"We come in peace," Zell said. The woman cast one glance at him, and then looked back at Squall.
"Let them in, Quistis!" another female voice said. This one was older, more mature, more calm.
"All right. Come in," the blonde woman said, and then let Squall, Zell and Irvine in. Before them a woman in a black dress and brown hair stood looking suspicious at the three men. Between her and the blonde woman called Quistis, a taller woman with black dress and long, black hair stood before the door leading into the courtroom.
Squall met the eyes of the black-haired woman and greeted her.
"My name is Squall Leonhart. This is Zell," he said as introducing the blonde-haired youngster. "..and Irvine!" he said as he introduced the cowboy. "We wish to speak to Mayor Cid Kramer!"
"You want to tell me why you want to speak to him?" the woman in black said.
"We just came to this town, and we'd like to ask him a little about the town and what is going on in it. And we also want to know who Deling is," Squall said. The two other women looked at Edea. Then she smiled.
"You're honest. I like that," she said. "My name is Edea Kramer. Cid is my husband. These women are our bodyguards. The one you just met is Quistis. This is Xu!" Edea said as she introduced the two women. "Come with me. I'll take you to the Mayor!"
Walking inside the courtroom, they was met by a man dressed in white shirt, brown pants and a red vest.
"Hello. How can I help you?" the old man said. Squall raised his eyebrows. This man didn't looked like a Mayor living in a town of fear. He was calm and open, not meeting them with suspicion or hostility. Squall started to like this man already.
"I am Squall Leonhart," Squall said. "This is Zell Dincht and Irvine Kinneas!"
"Good day, Squall!" the man said. "I am Cid Kramer, Mayor of Mount Gulch!"
"These men wanted to ask you something," Edea said. Cid smiled, and then turned towards those three with his eyebrows raised, waiting for the question.
Squall cleared his throat. "We came to this town recently, and I was just wondering about what is with this town. At this time a day, the streets are supposed to be full of people, but it seems everyone is hiding. Has a man named 'Deling' something to do with it?" Cid sat down at a bench in the courtroom.
"A few months ago, this town used to be full of people, walking in the streets, doing their business as you said. But now they live in hiding, because of Vinzer Deling, yes. Vinzer Deling came to this town a few months ago, along with his posse of bandits. They started to make bargains in this town, and before not long, Deling had managed to get a part of the city under his iron claws. Not long ago, he preached he was going to be the mayor of this city. When that happens, this town will come tumbling down, it will go under. When that happens, Deling will just pass over to another city, doing the same there. I can't allow that to happen!" Cid said with a deep voice.
"What about the law? Don't you have any sheriff here?" Zell asked
"Sheriff Nida was killed just a few days ago, so now the town is without any law. Meaning Deling's men can come and go as they wish, doing whatever they wish. The town's under fear, people are hiding," Cid answered. "And we're cut off from the outer world. If we try sending a message for help, the messenger gets killed. Deling has this town surrounded!"
Squall crossed his arms, thinking. Cid just sat there, watching him.
"Hmm.. I think I have something I want to ask you, Squall!" Cid suddenly said.
"What is it?" Squall asked.
"Would you like to be sheriff in this town?" The question hit both Squall, Zell and Irvine like a bomb.
"Why do you want me?" Squall demanded. Cid just smiled.
"I heard about Kinslayer, what you guys did back there in the saloon!" he said. "I can see your guys got courage and guts, and that's something we'll need if we should get Deling away from this town!" Squall looked at his two companions. "Zell and Irvine will be your assistants, of course," Cid said to him. "Will you do that?" Cid said as he looked at the two others. Zell and Irvine looked back at Squall.
"Alright," Squall said. Cid laughed.
"You're not a man of words, Squall. Being a man of action rather than words is a good thing, but it has a negative side as well. I'll give you an advice on your way: Actions are mighty, but sometimes, words can overcome any action!" Cid said. Then he stood up and handed Squall a golden star, then handed Zell and Irvine two smaller ones.
"We are most grateful," Edea said. Irvine bowed to her. "We are proud to be chosen, ma'am!" Zell giggled and looked at the star he had gotten on his jacket.
"Lookin' good on me!" he said as shooting his chest ahead.
"Looks great on me," Irvine said, putting his star at his coat.
"Hope I'll get used to this," Squall said as he put the star on his left side. Cid and Edea laughed.
"You look like handsome men, all the three of you," Edea said.
"You'll find the sheriff's office down the street. Quistis will show you," Cid said. "Whenever you need to see me, feel free to stop by!"
"Yes, sir," Squall said, saluting him. Cid smiled.
"Drop that 'sir' thing. Just Cid!" Cid said.
"Whatever," Squall said, as he and the two others turned and walked out.
When getting out in the hallway, Xu and Quistis' eyes became wide open as they saw the stars. Xu knew that Mayor Cid had wanted to talk to them about something special, but she hadn't expected this.
"He made you sheriffs?" Quistis asked.
"He made Squall the sheriff, actually. Zell and I are just his assistants," Irvine said.
"Yeah, we watch his back and do the dirty work while he arrests the bad guys and gets the credit," Zell mocked. Quistis giggled when she saw Squall roll his eyes.
"Where can we find the sheriff's office?" Squall asked.
"Down the street there," Quistis said. "It's not far,"
"Thank you," Squall said as they went out the door. Quistis looked after them as the door closed.
"Quistis?" Xu said, looking at her friend. Quistis looked out the window.
"What a man." She said, dreaming.
Squall, Zell and Irvine walked through the streets, who were still empty. The air was thick, the wind was threatening.
"Am I the only one here that gets a creepy feeling?" Zell asked.
"Something in the air." Irvine began.
"Something behind you, actually!" a familiar voice said. The three men turned around slowly, frowning. "Thought you could get away, huh?" Mike Kinslayer said, while the four men around him laughed.
-----------------------------------------
Probably want to kill me now, for giving you something to wait for? Well, go ahead, but if you murder me now, you'll never get to know it. Heh-heh- heh *evil laugh* Thanks for any rewiews.
JMills: Actually, I dunno whether I'm trying to be funny or not, I just try writing a good FFVIII-western-Fanfic. If you find it funny and humorour, I'm just happy to hear that. Hope you liked this chapter too.
*~Raven: Keep you hopes up. You'll just have to wait and see ;)
Chapter Two: One Great Star And Two Smaller Ones.
The dusty street was empty as always when Squall, Zell and Irvine walked towards the court, hoping to see this Mayor Cid Kramer. Squall looked straight ahead, walking plain forward, while Zell took his time to look around, freely gazing at signs, horses and whatever there was to look at. Irvine Kinneas, on his hand, kept his eyes peeled, and listened full-time to his instincts. If a sniper were to surprise them, Irvine knew he had to be sharp, fast and precise.
He thought about how the trip through the desert had made them glad to see this town. Walking for days, little to eat, little to drink, and just endless sunshine. A town had been a relief. Mount Gulch, it was called. But seeing the speechless man at the front had made Irvine think about things. And he knew Squall thought about it too. Their plan had actually been to just stop by this town before heading on. But seeing a speechless man, in a town with empty streets in the middle of day, and hellraisers at the saloon. He knew Squall too well. Squall had in his mind to find out what was going on in this town, where the name Deling meant fear.
And Irvine didn't blame him. Squall was a man of justice. Where he could do something to help others, Squall would do it. The rock-hard, cold, outer face on him, and his steel attitude, hid a person that liked to help people.
They approached the court, when Zell caught a glimpse of someone that turned away from the window real fast, like that person didn't want to be seen.
"Ok, there ARE people in there, at least!" Zell exclaimed.
"This town is filled with tense," Irvine stated. "It's like they're afraid the next noise they hear is from a bullet coming in their direction!"
Squall took the first steps up the stairway, speechless, but solid aimed at the door. Before taking a knock at the door, he turned to the others.
"We have to proceed with caution here," Squall said.
"Whatever you say, Mr. Leader," Irvine grinned. Squall just turned around, knocking at the door.
"Who's there?" a female voice said from the inside.
"I wish to speak with Mayor Cid Kramer," Squall said.
"Mayor Cid Kramer is not here!" the voice replied.
"I wish to speak to Mayor Cid Kramer!" Squall said again. The door opened, revealing a woman with blonde hair in an orange outfit. She was beautiful, but sharp, like the kind of girl that could be called a dumb blonde, and then rip your kidneys out because of it.
"I thought I told you he's not here," the woman said. Squall met her blue eyes with his own steel grey ones, a gaze that made the woman look at him with a look of curiosity, but still standing her ground.
"I was told he was here. I wish to see Mayor Cid Kramer. Could you lead us to him?" Squall said.
"We come in peace," Zell said. The woman cast one glance at him, and then looked back at Squall.
"Let them in, Quistis!" another female voice said. This one was older, more mature, more calm.
"All right. Come in," the blonde woman said, and then let Squall, Zell and Irvine in. Before them a woman in a black dress and brown hair stood looking suspicious at the three men. Between her and the blonde woman called Quistis, a taller woman with black dress and long, black hair stood before the door leading into the courtroom.
Squall met the eyes of the black-haired woman and greeted her.
"My name is Squall Leonhart. This is Zell," he said as introducing the blonde-haired youngster. "..and Irvine!" he said as he introduced the cowboy. "We wish to speak to Mayor Cid Kramer!"
"You want to tell me why you want to speak to him?" the woman in black said.
"We just came to this town, and we'd like to ask him a little about the town and what is going on in it. And we also want to know who Deling is," Squall said. The two other women looked at Edea. Then she smiled.
"You're honest. I like that," she said. "My name is Edea Kramer. Cid is my husband. These women are our bodyguards. The one you just met is Quistis. This is Xu!" Edea said as she introduced the two women. "Come with me. I'll take you to the Mayor!"
Walking inside the courtroom, they was met by a man dressed in white shirt, brown pants and a red vest.
"Hello. How can I help you?" the old man said. Squall raised his eyebrows. This man didn't looked like a Mayor living in a town of fear. He was calm and open, not meeting them with suspicion or hostility. Squall started to like this man already.
"I am Squall Leonhart," Squall said. "This is Zell Dincht and Irvine Kinneas!"
"Good day, Squall!" the man said. "I am Cid Kramer, Mayor of Mount Gulch!"
"These men wanted to ask you something," Edea said. Cid smiled, and then turned towards those three with his eyebrows raised, waiting for the question.
Squall cleared his throat. "We came to this town recently, and I was just wondering about what is with this town. At this time a day, the streets are supposed to be full of people, but it seems everyone is hiding. Has a man named 'Deling' something to do with it?" Cid sat down at a bench in the courtroom.
"A few months ago, this town used to be full of people, walking in the streets, doing their business as you said. But now they live in hiding, because of Vinzer Deling, yes. Vinzer Deling came to this town a few months ago, along with his posse of bandits. They started to make bargains in this town, and before not long, Deling had managed to get a part of the city under his iron claws. Not long ago, he preached he was going to be the mayor of this city. When that happens, this town will come tumbling down, it will go under. When that happens, Deling will just pass over to another city, doing the same there. I can't allow that to happen!" Cid said with a deep voice.
"What about the law? Don't you have any sheriff here?" Zell asked
"Sheriff Nida was killed just a few days ago, so now the town is without any law. Meaning Deling's men can come and go as they wish, doing whatever they wish. The town's under fear, people are hiding," Cid answered. "And we're cut off from the outer world. If we try sending a message for help, the messenger gets killed. Deling has this town surrounded!"
Squall crossed his arms, thinking. Cid just sat there, watching him.
"Hmm.. I think I have something I want to ask you, Squall!" Cid suddenly said.
"What is it?" Squall asked.
"Would you like to be sheriff in this town?" The question hit both Squall, Zell and Irvine like a bomb.
"Why do you want me?" Squall demanded. Cid just smiled.
"I heard about Kinslayer, what you guys did back there in the saloon!" he said. "I can see your guys got courage and guts, and that's something we'll need if we should get Deling away from this town!" Squall looked at his two companions. "Zell and Irvine will be your assistants, of course," Cid said to him. "Will you do that?" Cid said as he looked at the two others. Zell and Irvine looked back at Squall.
"Alright," Squall said. Cid laughed.
"You're not a man of words, Squall. Being a man of action rather than words is a good thing, but it has a negative side as well. I'll give you an advice on your way: Actions are mighty, but sometimes, words can overcome any action!" Cid said. Then he stood up and handed Squall a golden star, then handed Zell and Irvine two smaller ones.
"We are most grateful," Edea said. Irvine bowed to her. "We are proud to be chosen, ma'am!" Zell giggled and looked at the star he had gotten on his jacket.
"Lookin' good on me!" he said as shooting his chest ahead.
"Looks great on me," Irvine said, putting his star at his coat.
"Hope I'll get used to this," Squall said as he put the star on his left side. Cid and Edea laughed.
"You look like handsome men, all the three of you," Edea said.
"You'll find the sheriff's office down the street. Quistis will show you," Cid said. "Whenever you need to see me, feel free to stop by!"
"Yes, sir," Squall said, saluting him. Cid smiled.
"Drop that 'sir' thing. Just Cid!" Cid said.
"Whatever," Squall said, as he and the two others turned and walked out.
When getting out in the hallway, Xu and Quistis' eyes became wide open as they saw the stars. Xu knew that Mayor Cid had wanted to talk to them about something special, but she hadn't expected this.
"He made you sheriffs?" Quistis asked.
"He made Squall the sheriff, actually. Zell and I are just his assistants," Irvine said.
"Yeah, we watch his back and do the dirty work while he arrests the bad guys and gets the credit," Zell mocked. Quistis giggled when she saw Squall roll his eyes.
"Where can we find the sheriff's office?" Squall asked.
"Down the street there," Quistis said. "It's not far,"
"Thank you," Squall said as they went out the door. Quistis looked after them as the door closed.
"Quistis?" Xu said, looking at her friend. Quistis looked out the window.
"What a man." She said, dreaming.
Squall, Zell and Irvine walked through the streets, who were still empty. The air was thick, the wind was threatening.
"Am I the only one here that gets a creepy feeling?" Zell asked.
"Something in the air." Irvine began.
"Something behind you, actually!" a familiar voice said. The three men turned around slowly, frowning. "Thought you could get away, huh?" Mike Kinslayer said, while the four men around him laughed.
-----------------------------------------
Probably want to kill me now, for giving you something to wait for? Well, go ahead, but if you murder me now, you'll never get to know it. Heh-heh- heh *evil laugh* Thanks for any rewiews.
JMills: Actually, I dunno whether I'm trying to be funny or not, I just try writing a good FFVIII-western-Fanfic. If you find it funny and humorour, I'm just happy to hear that. Hope you liked this chapter too.
*~Raven: Keep you hopes up. You'll just have to wait and see ;)