Chapter 4
Run Away
Eve arrived at Seavron Town at dawn. People were just waking up when she checked a room out at an inn. With Lionhart strapped safely to her back she took the keys from the woman and went up to her room. While she tried to open her stubborn door a young man noticed her.
"Do you need any help, Miss?" he asked. He looked like a street punk of about nineteen years. His brown hair was messy and so were his clothes. It looked like he slept in them.
"No, I'm fine." She replied.
"Are you sure?" he asked again. He walked up to her and offered to help her again. She gave up and threw him the keys. He fiddled around with the lock and banged the handle. There was a clicking sound and the door swung open.
"Thanks."
"No problem. Hi, my name is Zech, and you are?" he inquired politely.
"None of your damn business." Eve said. She stepped into her room and slammed the door on him, but he stopped it.
"You know, you were rude." He said a bit angrily.
"And your problem is?" she smart mouthed.
"Whatever, I just thought that you would like to come with me to a chocobo competition." Zech asked.
"No."
"Are you sure? The winner gets a chocobo and 2,000 gil." Zech offered.
Two thousand? I do need the money. Eve looked away from him and thought some more. It's only a race and what's going to happen? Might as well go. "Fine."
"Great! For someone so young you sure are obstinate." Zech said before he ran off.
Men! They think they know all. I'm a fighter not a game to play with. Eve looked at herself and saw that she would have to get out of her girly dress. She had torn it in few places but who gave a shit. Eve left again this time to go shopping. An hour later, after trudging through each store, she picked out her outfit. A black fiery tank, black pants and thigh high black leather boots. To go along with that she bought a wide belt that she strapped across her waist. The Blade was to heavy to hang to her side so she left it strapped to her back. When she came out of the store, people eyed her and stayed far away. That's more like! Let them be afraid. When she walked back to her room at the inn she saw Zech there already waiting for her.
"Wow, I didn't know that you were some rebel. What's with the knife?" he asked.
"Gun Blade, not a knife." She corrected him.
"Sorry, so what's your name?"
"Eve." She replied.
"C'mon the race is going to start in half an hour." Zech explained. She followed him outside and down a few alleyways. Her patience was running thin until she spotted the plains. There were swarms of young people everywhere. Eve wanted to get away from here. Too many people!
"C'mon. It's about to start." Zech whispered and dragged her through the crowd near the stage. A gray-haired woman was testing the microphone out and everyone became silent.
"Ladies and punks," she started. Laughter came from the crowd and she smiled in satisfaction. "Today is the one hundredth anniversary of Chocobo Racing. Except, we will change the rules for this special day. I will pick out six contestants out and they will race in the tournament. The first place winner gets 2,000 gil and a chocobo of their own." People began to talk amongst themselves. "Now hold on, there's more, the chocobo is a wild one and will be hard to tame."
"What's its name?'" someone asked.
"Ah, her name is Sly Fox. Like I have said before, I will pick out six people in five minutes. So folks who don't want to participate stand back." The lady observed her spectators and saw none of them move. "Oh dear!" she laughed, "This will be a hard picking!" The woman walked about pointing out a few people and Eve was about to leave when.
"You! Young lady over there with the sword, you have been chosen to race the final chocobo." She exclaimed.
"What!?" Eve asked.
"Hey you just got selected, Eve!" Zech yelled.
"I'm not going to ride any damn bird."
"You have to! Please, c'mon it will be so much fun." He pleaded.
"All right. If it gets me the money fine." Eve walked up to the stage with the other contestants. The lady was explaining the rules when there came whistles from the audience. Uhh! Damn males.
"Now take a look at that chocobo prize over there. Sly Fox was caught just last week. She's gold and black and let me tell you. She's the strangest one I have ever seen!" the people awed at her and some shouted a few words, which she didn't bother to listen to. She followed the others to their trained yellow chocobo's. Once they mounted, the woman came down to talk with each of the competitors. When the woman came to her Eve didn't look at her.
"I see that you're the silent type. You're riding Desert Storm. He's a good quality chocobo; try not to squander his alacrity away."
"Whatever."
The woman walked back at took out a gun. "Line up to the starting line! On the count of three.1! 2! 3! Go!!!" the shot was fired and the chocobo's exploded with tremendous speed. The track was oval about half a mile. She would have to slow him down before letting him get his head. Desert Storm cooperated with her tactics and they stayed behind four riders. One of the chocobo's hit the railing and tumbled down with its rider. Tough luck, she thought. As they rounded the corner, Eve let Desert Storm pick up his pace a bit. She passed the rider in front of her and was neck to neck with the leader. He tried to shove her into the railing, but she somehow managed to escape the attack.
"Go Eve! Go!!!" Zech shouted. He knew that she was going to win. She just had to!
Eve saw the finish line up ahead and the riders that were at her heels were falling behind, except for her rival. He was a brute and he attacked again at her but she managed to avoid them. She could hear him swearing through the rumbling of the ground. Eve was focused now on the finish line that was a few yards off. Suddenly she was struck in the back by the other chocobo's wing. The hit caused Desert Storm to swerve into the railing and they fell down. There were cheers from the crowd and Eve stood off of the dirt. That Asshole! Anger built within her, but she kept it under control. She helped Desert Storm up and saw that he was limping. My God! How dare he do that! When I get my hands on his filthy neck, I'll. Zech came running towards her.
"I'm sorry that you lost. Here, let me take him. I know someone who can fix him up pretty good."
Eve threw the reins at him and stalked off in the direction of the crowd. She unstrapped Lionhart and shoved a few people out of the way. Others saw her coming a quickly let her pass. The guy who cheated the race and hurt her and her mount was going to pay dearly!
"Brio! Watch out!" someone yelled. He turned to see Eve coming with her gun blade glowing in her hands. He stepped back. "And what are you going to do?"
"I won't hurt you, maybe I'll cut off your head but you won't feel it." The woman came with Sly Fox following behind.
"What's going on here?!" she demanded.
"Brio attacked Eve and caused her chocobo to go lame." Zech replied. The woman looked in Desert Storms direction and saw him holding his talon up. His head was hanging from his shoulders while he tried to breathe. "Is this true Brio?"
"No! I would never hurt a chocobo." He replied. The old woman gave the reins to Brio and admired his wild mount. The lady walked off with Desert Storm. Eve lowered her gun blade and started to walk off.
"Hey where do you think your going?" Brio demanded. "Get back here you little witch."
Eve burst and ran at him with Lionhart raised above her head. She would kill him and then she would get her revenge! No one ever dared to play games with her. Brio turned his back on her and yet he didn't see her coming. Sly Fox shrieked and stepped into Eve's path. "Mystik Li.." but she didn't finish when she saw Sly Fox step into her path. Brio turned around to see Eve coming at him. He stepped back ready to run yet he was frozen in terror. Then she changed direction and the blade hit the ground instead of Brio or Sly Fox.
"Ha! This chocobo is officially mine!" he said happily once he had overcome his fear.
"Whatever you damn idiot. I would have killed you if this bird hadn't come in my way." Eve began to leave and walk back into town. Brio began to shout and she turned around to see Sly Fox following her.
"Guess she's mine now." She said. Brio began to swear away and the woman who watched from a far smiled.
Eve awoke the next morning, took a shower and gathered her belongings. She walked out of the room, locked it and head back down the stairs to the main lobby. Zech was there waiting for her. Why is he always there when I want to be alone?
"I see that you're leaving. Where to?" he asked. She sat down next to him, "Far away from here."
"Don't you have any parents?"
"Yeah, but I left them a few days ago." She replied quietly.
"Do they know that?"
"No.but if anyone comes looking around for me, keep your mouth shut." She ordered.
"O.k. I promise not to spill anything about your whereabouts." He said with a grin. "So your off to see the world, huh? Well don't forget to write."
"See ya sometime." She said and left the inn. Zech watched her walk off and he smiled. The daughter of a hero just talked to him. Grandma was right.
Eve walked towards the shipping docks. There she boarded a ship. It cost her 200 gil, but she didn't care. She was off on her way to become a soldier and nothing else mattered. Sly Fox would travel with her even though she cost extra. Eve admitted that she was fond of her, because Sly Fox was a mystery. When the ship left she went to seek out her room. It was small but it would have to do. After a quick shower she went back up to buy a cup of coffee. The people there didn't mind her except for one person in particular. An old man was staring at her from the foredeck. He pointed to her and for some reason Eve went to him.
"Child, I know who you are." He said hoarsely. Eve froze; would he tell? Did he really know who she was?
"Child, don't get worked up for nothing. Besides I'm not going to tell anyone about your secrets. I have come to bear you gifts." He replied. In his hand were ten cards. She touched them and hesitated thinking it might explode or something. When nothing happened, she took them. They were cards that everyone else had.
"My second gift child are words, yet even words don't explain all. Tame the wild wind and he will become you."
"Who are you?" Eve asked.
"I am from the future, from the past and your present."
"Why do you talk in riddles old man? I hate riddles." She questioned.
"Your heart is of ice and anger will not melt it away." The old man replied. There came shouting and Eve turned to look at the captain shouting orders to his crew. When she turned to ask the old man another question but he was gone! She held the cards in her hand and looked them over. Hmm. a red dragon, a wraith, some kind of snake, a wolf demon, a fungaur, pterodactyl, a hexadragon, a monkey with a cannon and a flying imp. The last card was a golden red and had no symbols or picture on it. She shook her head and stuffed them into her pocket. Eve watched the sunset and later went back to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
Run Away
Eve arrived at Seavron Town at dawn. People were just waking up when she checked a room out at an inn. With Lionhart strapped safely to her back she took the keys from the woman and went up to her room. While she tried to open her stubborn door a young man noticed her.
"Do you need any help, Miss?" he asked. He looked like a street punk of about nineteen years. His brown hair was messy and so were his clothes. It looked like he slept in them.
"No, I'm fine." She replied.
"Are you sure?" he asked again. He walked up to her and offered to help her again. She gave up and threw him the keys. He fiddled around with the lock and banged the handle. There was a clicking sound and the door swung open.
"Thanks."
"No problem. Hi, my name is Zech, and you are?" he inquired politely.
"None of your damn business." Eve said. She stepped into her room and slammed the door on him, but he stopped it.
"You know, you were rude." He said a bit angrily.
"And your problem is?" she smart mouthed.
"Whatever, I just thought that you would like to come with me to a chocobo competition." Zech asked.
"No."
"Are you sure? The winner gets a chocobo and 2,000 gil." Zech offered.
Two thousand? I do need the money. Eve looked away from him and thought some more. It's only a race and what's going to happen? Might as well go. "Fine."
"Great! For someone so young you sure are obstinate." Zech said before he ran off.
Men! They think they know all. I'm a fighter not a game to play with. Eve looked at herself and saw that she would have to get out of her girly dress. She had torn it in few places but who gave a shit. Eve left again this time to go shopping. An hour later, after trudging through each store, she picked out her outfit. A black fiery tank, black pants and thigh high black leather boots. To go along with that she bought a wide belt that she strapped across her waist. The Blade was to heavy to hang to her side so she left it strapped to her back. When she came out of the store, people eyed her and stayed far away. That's more like! Let them be afraid. When she walked back to her room at the inn she saw Zech there already waiting for her.
"Wow, I didn't know that you were some rebel. What's with the knife?" he asked.
"Gun Blade, not a knife." She corrected him.
"Sorry, so what's your name?"
"Eve." She replied.
"C'mon the race is going to start in half an hour." Zech explained. She followed him outside and down a few alleyways. Her patience was running thin until she spotted the plains. There were swarms of young people everywhere. Eve wanted to get away from here. Too many people!
"C'mon. It's about to start." Zech whispered and dragged her through the crowd near the stage. A gray-haired woman was testing the microphone out and everyone became silent.
"Ladies and punks," she started. Laughter came from the crowd and she smiled in satisfaction. "Today is the one hundredth anniversary of Chocobo Racing. Except, we will change the rules for this special day. I will pick out six contestants out and they will race in the tournament. The first place winner gets 2,000 gil and a chocobo of their own." People began to talk amongst themselves. "Now hold on, there's more, the chocobo is a wild one and will be hard to tame."
"What's its name?'" someone asked.
"Ah, her name is Sly Fox. Like I have said before, I will pick out six people in five minutes. So folks who don't want to participate stand back." The lady observed her spectators and saw none of them move. "Oh dear!" she laughed, "This will be a hard picking!" The woman walked about pointing out a few people and Eve was about to leave when.
"You! Young lady over there with the sword, you have been chosen to race the final chocobo." She exclaimed.
"What!?" Eve asked.
"Hey you just got selected, Eve!" Zech yelled.
"I'm not going to ride any damn bird."
"You have to! Please, c'mon it will be so much fun." He pleaded.
"All right. If it gets me the money fine." Eve walked up to the stage with the other contestants. The lady was explaining the rules when there came whistles from the audience. Uhh! Damn males.
"Now take a look at that chocobo prize over there. Sly Fox was caught just last week. She's gold and black and let me tell you. She's the strangest one I have ever seen!" the people awed at her and some shouted a few words, which she didn't bother to listen to. She followed the others to their trained yellow chocobo's. Once they mounted, the woman came down to talk with each of the competitors. When the woman came to her Eve didn't look at her.
"I see that you're the silent type. You're riding Desert Storm. He's a good quality chocobo; try not to squander his alacrity away."
"Whatever."
The woman walked back at took out a gun. "Line up to the starting line! On the count of three.1! 2! 3! Go!!!" the shot was fired and the chocobo's exploded with tremendous speed. The track was oval about half a mile. She would have to slow him down before letting him get his head. Desert Storm cooperated with her tactics and they stayed behind four riders. One of the chocobo's hit the railing and tumbled down with its rider. Tough luck, she thought. As they rounded the corner, Eve let Desert Storm pick up his pace a bit. She passed the rider in front of her and was neck to neck with the leader. He tried to shove her into the railing, but she somehow managed to escape the attack.
"Go Eve! Go!!!" Zech shouted. He knew that she was going to win. She just had to!
Eve saw the finish line up ahead and the riders that were at her heels were falling behind, except for her rival. He was a brute and he attacked again at her but she managed to avoid them. She could hear him swearing through the rumbling of the ground. Eve was focused now on the finish line that was a few yards off. Suddenly she was struck in the back by the other chocobo's wing. The hit caused Desert Storm to swerve into the railing and they fell down. There were cheers from the crowd and Eve stood off of the dirt. That Asshole! Anger built within her, but she kept it under control. She helped Desert Storm up and saw that he was limping. My God! How dare he do that! When I get my hands on his filthy neck, I'll. Zech came running towards her.
"I'm sorry that you lost. Here, let me take him. I know someone who can fix him up pretty good."
Eve threw the reins at him and stalked off in the direction of the crowd. She unstrapped Lionhart and shoved a few people out of the way. Others saw her coming a quickly let her pass. The guy who cheated the race and hurt her and her mount was going to pay dearly!
"Brio! Watch out!" someone yelled. He turned to see Eve coming with her gun blade glowing in her hands. He stepped back. "And what are you going to do?"
"I won't hurt you, maybe I'll cut off your head but you won't feel it." The woman came with Sly Fox following behind.
"What's going on here?!" she demanded.
"Brio attacked Eve and caused her chocobo to go lame." Zech replied. The woman looked in Desert Storms direction and saw him holding his talon up. His head was hanging from his shoulders while he tried to breathe. "Is this true Brio?"
"No! I would never hurt a chocobo." He replied. The old woman gave the reins to Brio and admired his wild mount. The lady walked off with Desert Storm. Eve lowered her gun blade and started to walk off.
"Hey where do you think your going?" Brio demanded. "Get back here you little witch."
Eve burst and ran at him with Lionhart raised above her head. She would kill him and then she would get her revenge! No one ever dared to play games with her. Brio turned his back on her and yet he didn't see her coming. Sly Fox shrieked and stepped into Eve's path. "Mystik Li.." but she didn't finish when she saw Sly Fox step into her path. Brio turned around to see Eve coming at him. He stepped back ready to run yet he was frozen in terror. Then she changed direction and the blade hit the ground instead of Brio or Sly Fox.
"Ha! This chocobo is officially mine!" he said happily once he had overcome his fear.
"Whatever you damn idiot. I would have killed you if this bird hadn't come in my way." Eve began to leave and walk back into town. Brio began to shout and she turned around to see Sly Fox following her.
"Guess she's mine now." She said. Brio began to swear away and the woman who watched from a far smiled.
Eve awoke the next morning, took a shower and gathered her belongings. She walked out of the room, locked it and head back down the stairs to the main lobby. Zech was there waiting for her. Why is he always there when I want to be alone?
"I see that you're leaving. Where to?" he asked. She sat down next to him, "Far away from here."
"Don't you have any parents?"
"Yeah, but I left them a few days ago." She replied quietly.
"Do they know that?"
"No.but if anyone comes looking around for me, keep your mouth shut." She ordered.
"O.k. I promise not to spill anything about your whereabouts." He said with a grin. "So your off to see the world, huh? Well don't forget to write."
"See ya sometime." She said and left the inn. Zech watched her walk off and he smiled. The daughter of a hero just talked to him. Grandma was right.
Eve walked towards the shipping docks. There she boarded a ship. It cost her 200 gil, but she didn't care. She was off on her way to become a soldier and nothing else mattered. Sly Fox would travel with her even though she cost extra. Eve admitted that she was fond of her, because Sly Fox was a mystery. When the ship left she went to seek out her room. It was small but it would have to do. After a quick shower she went back up to buy a cup of coffee. The people there didn't mind her except for one person in particular. An old man was staring at her from the foredeck. He pointed to her and for some reason Eve went to him.
"Child, I know who you are." He said hoarsely. Eve froze; would he tell? Did he really know who she was?
"Child, don't get worked up for nothing. Besides I'm not going to tell anyone about your secrets. I have come to bear you gifts." He replied. In his hand were ten cards. She touched them and hesitated thinking it might explode or something. When nothing happened, she took them. They were cards that everyone else had.
"My second gift child are words, yet even words don't explain all. Tame the wild wind and he will become you."
"Who are you?" Eve asked.
"I am from the future, from the past and your present."
"Why do you talk in riddles old man? I hate riddles." She questioned.
"Your heart is of ice and anger will not melt it away." The old man replied. There came shouting and Eve turned to look at the captain shouting orders to his crew. When she turned to ask the old man another question but he was gone! She held the cards in her hand and looked them over. Hmm. a red dragon, a wraith, some kind of snake, a wolf demon, a fungaur, pterodactyl, a hexadragon, a monkey with a cannon and a flying imp. The last card was a golden red and had no symbols or picture on it. She shook her head and stuffed them into her pocket. Eve watched the sunset and later went back to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.