Frato was marching down the raining streets of Burmecia looking fairly
depressed with his head hung low. He was lost in a train of thought.
"Fratley...in love with Freya?" Frato mused to himself. "I don't believe it, but there were always spending time together."
Frato then lifted his head up to look at the Burmecians who were walking past. They knew he was there, and tried to stop themselves from laying their eyes on him. They were trying to avoid him. They just walked past ignorantly on their journey home.
"I know I'll never get a girlfriend." Frato thought. "The Burmecians here, they either don't notice me, or they try to avoid me. No-one likes me. Only my family like me. Who would like a half-breed?"
This depressing thought made Frato even more upset. He continued to walk slowly through the rain, which seemed to be raining heavier than before.
A few minutes later, Frato was snapped out of his depression when he heard some fairly quiet, deep voices from somewhere off the street he was walking on. A normal human would not have been able to hear the voices, but Frato's enhanced Burmecian ears allowed him to hear the conversation clearly.
"How much gil don't you think we have here?" One of the voices asked.
"A few thousand easy." Another voice answered. "What a steal! This ought to see us through."
The voices were coming from a narrow alley that went between some of the houses and shops in Burmecia. Frato walked quietly to the entrance of the alley and saw two Burmecians talking to each other over a huge stash of gil. They didn't notice Frato as he began to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"I can't believe how much we stole!" The first Burmecian exclaimed as he examined the gil with his eyes flaring with delight. He was smaller than the other Burmecian; he was wearing a dirty, torn blue shirt with some baggy shorts of a similar colour. He also had some short, grubby brown hair.
"Be quiet!" The other Burmecian hissed. "We don't want the guards to hear..." He was fairly tall, and was clad in a brown leather jacket which was stained with dirt and a few drops of blood. He also some long black trousers which had tears at the bottom. He looked around nervously through his black locks of hair, which weren't very long. His dark brown eyes eventually caught sight of Frato, and they widened with alert.
"You!" The Burmecian said firmly with a hint of anger. "What are you doing!?"
Frato hesitated and quickly tried to think of something. He eventually forced out the words "I dropped something."
"A likely story." The dark haired Burmecian replied sarcastically. "How much did you hear?"
"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Frato lied, trying to sound convincing.
"You liar!" The dark haired thief spat. "Why I'll...hey, wait a minute. You're not a Burmecian. Who or what are you?"
Before Frato could answer his apprentice answered him. "I know who he is! He's that half-breed that Sir Lion-heart adopted! I've heard of him!"
The dark haired Burmecian replied with a pleasant and acknowledging grunt. "I remember now, you're Frato aren't you?" He asked with an evil grin.
Frato nodded, not looking at either of the two thieves. Instead he was staring at his clawed feet nervously.
"Well Frato, we don't like half-breeds around here." The thief sneered, still grinning wickedly. "Especially ones that meddle with our affairs. I guess we'll just have to teach you a lesson." The thief then drew a small dagger from inside his jacket before advancing towards Frato.
Frato would have stayed to fight had he had brought his lance. Despite the handicap of two to one he would have had a much more effective weapon. That and Frato would never back away from a challenge, no matter what the odds. However, his lance was currently in his house, as he didn't think he would need it when going to pick up Fratley. Frato turned around and started to run, but before he could get out of the alley, another Burmecian jumped down to block his path.
The Burmecian sneered, showing his missing tooth. He was wearing a white shirt with a cut across the chest, with brown baggy trousers. "You're not getting away..." The Burmecian said quietly but cruelly to Frato, who was gasping in shock with his eyes wide with despair.
---
"Hello mother, I'm home!" Fratley called as he entered the house. He looked around before picking up a piece of bread off the kitchen table and gnawing at it.
April appeared with a small, pleasant smile on her face and looked at Fratley. "Good to see you back Fratley, I..." she stopped as she noticed his brother's absence. "Where's Frato?" She asked with her face turning to one of concern.
"He went off ahead of me." Fratley explained, his mind then noticed the absence of Frato and he looked back at his mother with the same amount of concern showing on his face. "Isn't he here?"
"No, you're the only one to have come back so far." April answered. The concern on her face now changed to worry. "I wonder where he is..."
"He might have gotten lost." Fratley suggested, trying to brush off the idea. He knew Frato was capable of looking after himself in the streets of Burmecia. He couldn't have gotten into much trouble, this was Burmecia after all. "Or he could have gotten into a fight, you know what Frato's like."
"I do." April said looking less stressed. "I also know it is just like him to be late. You two are nearly always late for the Dragon Academy, despite my efforts to get you there on time."
Fratley looked a little ashamed. "It's not our fault..." Fratley muttered.
April didn't seem to hear Fratley's excuse. "Let's just wait for him, he'll turn up." April said. "He can't have gotten into TOO much trouble."
---
Frato swung his fist with as much power as he could muster at the Burmecian who blocked his escape route. The Burmecian ducked, and gave him a powerful uppercut to the chin. Frato backed off slightly as a reaction, and another fist slammed into his back.
The brown haired Burmecian had joined into the fight. Frato was knocked down to the floor. He tried to get up, but he was kicked fiercely in the ribs and back by the two muggers. Frato couldn't do anything but feel the powerful, painful, pummelling kicks collide with his body.
The Burmecians then began to pummel his face with their fists. Frato was writhing in pain, and he was trying to call for mercy.
The dark haired thief then advanced towards Frato, his dagger poised ready to strike. The other two thieves backed off as the leader walked up to Frato. He leaned over, looking Frato in the eyes.
"Now I'm going to show you what happens when you tangle with the Demon Dragons." The leader spat, showing his blade.
He took a slash at Frato's left shoulder, leaving a deep cut. Frato screamed in agony as the wound was made. This time there was an answer to his screams.
"What's going on there?" A loud male Burmecian voice shouted.
"Guards!!!" The leader yelled in panic. "Run!!!" He commanded, and the three thieves leapt into the air onto the nearby buildings and started to flee.
True to the gang's suspicions, a Burmecian guard appeared in the alley to investigate the scenario. He looked around and saw Frato lying wounded on the floor, and immediately rushed to his aid.
"What happened here?" The Burmecian guard asked, attending Frato's shoulder wound. Frato looked at the guard and sighed with relief.
"I...was attacked." Frato managed to force out of his breath.
"How informative." The guard said sarcastically. "Who by?"
"The demon dragons..." Frato answered recalling the group's name. As Frato said this, the guard's eyes widened with recognition.
"We'd better get you home." The guard said eventually. "So, you must be Frato."
"How do you know who I am?" Frato asked defensively.
"Your father told me about you. You're fairly well known. It's not often that we see a half-breed in Burmecia." The guard replied smiling. He helped Frato and supported him until he was certain Frato could stand.
Frato sighed slightly. He was getting recognition just for being born. Sure, fame was all good and well, but he had done nothing to be worthy of it. He was just another Burmecian in his own eyes. Just another normal Burmecian. However, other people thought different.
The guard began to escort Frato back home. Frato was in no condition to be left alone, he was clutching his bruised ribs in pain and his left arm lay limp.
"So who are you?" Frato asked, eager to know who his saviour was.
"My name is Leo. I'm a Dragon Knight, like your father." Leo answered. "I get on fairly well with Lion-heart."
"So I see." Frato commented.
Leo just chuckled slightly. He then began looking at Frato's bruises on his ribs with concern. He eventually overlooked them as minor injuries.
The two eventually reached the residence of Fratley. Leo knocked on the door as Frato started looking and checking his own bruises.
April swung the door open and looked at the two standing at the doorstep. Her eyes lay to rest over the injured Frato.
"Mrs. Fratley, your son..." Leo began but was interrupted.
"Oh, Frato!" April screamed as she ran up to Frato and gave him a tight hug. Frato eyes widened with pain again as his ribs were squeezed with the pressure of April and her inescapable embrace.
"M-Mother...don't hug me..." Frato wheezed. April backed off and looked him with surprise. "...it hurts." Frato finished.
April looked at Frato again, confirming the bruises and the bandage on his shoulder. She beckoned him inside. "We need to attend those bruises and that wound on your shoulder." She said in a slightly calmer tone. Frato stumbled into the house.
"I would like to ask your son some questions if that is alright." Leo asked April rather formally.
"Now?" April asked surprised. "He's just been injured!"
"Of course not." Leo spluttered, a little intimidated by an angry April. "Sometime tomorrow perhaps?" He asked sweetly.
"Fine." April answered before turning and shutting the door, leaving Leo in the pouring rain.
---
Leo's questioning with Frato the following morning did confirm he was attacked by the demon dragons. The demon dragons were a notorious band of thieves and muggers known for stealing, mugging and various crimes.
Frato recovered from his injuries in a few weeks. He still insisted on attending the academy despite his mother's word against it.
The Demon Dragon's were eventually caught by a few of the Burmecian knights. They were imprisoned for their crimes for a few years.
-*-*-
Disclaimer: I don't own FF9, so don't sue.
Author's Notes: I want to get on the game events and Fratley's journey fairly quickly so we'll be jumping through time to the next chapter.
Breeze of Summoners: Nice to see that you enjoyed the mushy romance chapter. Not bad for a first try eh? I have a strange feeling you will moaning about the description in this chapter.
CuteMooglez: You caught up! The Fratley/ Freya romance is a side story, just like Frato getting his ass kicked in this chapter was. Yes, "The holy spirit" will be making an appearance later on, but I won't say when or how. They are old enough to fall in love, certainly older than the pre-school relationship of your sister! I'm glad you are enjoying it.
Everyone else: Review this story....NOW!
"Fratley...in love with Freya?" Frato mused to himself. "I don't believe it, but there were always spending time together."
Frato then lifted his head up to look at the Burmecians who were walking past. They knew he was there, and tried to stop themselves from laying their eyes on him. They were trying to avoid him. They just walked past ignorantly on their journey home.
"I know I'll never get a girlfriend." Frato thought. "The Burmecians here, they either don't notice me, or they try to avoid me. No-one likes me. Only my family like me. Who would like a half-breed?"
This depressing thought made Frato even more upset. He continued to walk slowly through the rain, which seemed to be raining heavier than before.
A few minutes later, Frato was snapped out of his depression when he heard some fairly quiet, deep voices from somewhere off the street he was walking on. A normal human would not have been able to hear the voices, but Frato's enhanced Burmecian ears allowed him to hear the conversation clearly.
"How much gil don't you think we have here?" One of the voices asked.
"A few thousand easy." Another voice answered. "What a steal! This ought to see us through."
The voices were coming from a narrow alley that went between some of the houses and shops in Burmecia. Frato walked quietly to the entrance of the alley and saw two Burmecians talking to each other over a huge stash of gil. They didn't notice Frato as he began to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"I can't believe how much we stole!" The first Burmecian exclaimed as he examined the gil with his eyes flaring with delight. He was smaller than the other Burmecian; he was wearing a dirty, torn blue shirt with some baggy shorts of a similar colour. He also had some short, grubby brown hair.
"Be quiet!" The other Burmecian hissed. "We don't want the guards to hear..." He was fairly tall, and was clad in a brown leather jacket which was stained with dirt and a few drops of blood. He also some long black trousers which had tears at the bottom. He looked around nervously through his black locks of hair, which weren't very long. His dark brown eyes eventually caught sight of Frato, and they widened with alert.
"You!" The Burmecian said firmly with a hint of anger. "What are you doing!?"
Frato hesitated and quickly tried to think of something. He eventually forced out the words "I dropped something."
"A likely story." The dark haired Burmecian replied sarcastically. "How much did you hear?"
"Nothing! Nothing at all!" Frato lied, trying to sound convincing.
"You liar!" The dark haired thief spat. "Why I'll...hey, wait a minute. You're not a Burmecian. Who or what are you?"
Before Frato could answer his apprentice answered him. "I know who he is! He's that half-breed that Sir Lion-heart adopted! I've heard of him!"
The dark haired Burmecian replied with a pleasant and acknowledging grunt. "I remember now, you're Frato aren't you?" He asked with an evil grin.
Frato nodded, not looking at either of the two thieves. Instead he was staring at his clawed feet nervously.
"Well Frato, we don't like half-breeds around here." The thief sneered, still grinning wickedly. "Especially ones that meddle with our affairs. I guess we'll just have to teach you a lesson." The thief then drew a small dagger from inside his jacket before advancing towards Frato.
Frato would have stayed to fight had he had brought his lance. Despite the handicap of two to one he would have had a much more effective weapon. That and Frato would never back away from a challenge, no matter what the odds. However, his lance was currently in his house, as he didn't think he would need it when going to pick up Fratley. Frato turned around and started to run, but before he could get out of the alley, another Burmecian jumped down to block his path.
The Burmecian sneered, showing his missing tooth. He was wearing a white shirt with a cut across the chest, with brown baggy trousers. "You're not getting away..." The Burmecian said quietly but cruelly to Frato, who was gasping in shock with his eyes wide with despair.
---
"Hello mother, I'm home!" Fratley called as he entered the house. He looked around before picking up a piece of bread off the kitchen table and gnawing at it.
April appeared with a small, pleasant smile on her face and looked at Fratley. "Good to see you back Fratley, I..." she stopped as she noticed his brother's absence. "Where's Frato?" She asked with her face turning to one of concern.
"He went off ahead of me." Fratley explained, his mind then noticed the absence of Frato and he looked back at his mother with the same amount of concern showing on his face. "Isn't he here?"
"No, you're the only one to have come back so far." April answered. The concern on her face now changed to worry. "I wonder where he is..."
"He might have gotten lost." Fratley suggested, trying to brush off the idea. He knew Frato was capable of looking after himself in the streets of Burmecia. He couldn't have gotten into much trouble, this was Burmecia after all. "Or he could have gotten into a fight, you know what Frato's like."
"I do." April said looking less stressed. "I also know it is just like him to be late. You two are nearly always late for the Dragon Academy, despite my efforts to get you there on time."
Fratley looked a little ashamed. "It's not our fault..." Fratley muttered.
April didn't seem to hear Fratley's excuse. "Let's just wait for him, he'll turn up." April said. "He can't have gotten into TOO much trouble."
---
Frato swung his fist with as much power as he could muster at the Burmecian who blocked his escape route. The Burmecian ducked, and gave him a powerful uppercut to the chin. Frato backed off slightly as a reaction, and another fist slammed into his back.
The brown haired Burmecian had joined into the fight. Frato was knocked down to the floor. He tried to get up, but he was kicked fiercely in the ribs and back by the two muggers. Frato couldn't do anything but feel the powerful, painful, pummelling kicks collide with his body.
The Burmecians then began to pummel his face with their fists. Frato was writhing in pain, and he was trying to call for mercy.
The dark haired thief then advanced towards Frato, his dagger poised ready to strike. The other two thieves backed off as the leader walked up to Frato. He leaned over, looking Frato in the eyes.
"Now I'm going to show you what happens when you tangle with the Demon Dragons." The leader spat, showing his blade.
He took a slash at Frato's left shoulder, leaving a deep cut. Frato screamed in agony as the wound was made. This time there was an answer to his screams.
"What's going on there?" A loud male Burmecian voice shouted.
"Guards!!!" The leader yelled in panic. "Run!!!" He commanded, and the three thieves leapt into the air onto the nearby buildings and started to flee.
True to the gang's suspicions, a Burmecian guard appeared in the alley to investigate the scenario. He looked around and saw Frato lying wounded on the floor, and immediately rushed to his aid.
"What happened here?" The Burmecian guard asked, attending Frato's shoulder wound. Frato looked at the guard and sighed with relief.
"I...was attacked." Frato managed to force out of his breath.
"How informative." The guard said sarcastically. "Who by?"
"The demon dragons..." Frato answered recalling the group's name. As Frato said this, the guard's eyes widened with recognition.
"We'd better get you home." The guard said eventually. "So, you must be Frato."
"How do you know who I am?" Frato asked defensively.
"Your father told me about you. You're fairly well known. It's not often that we see a half-breed in Burmecia." The guard replied smiling. He helped Frato and supported him until he was certain Frato could stand.
Frato sighed slightly. He was getting recognition just for being born. Sure, fame was all good and well, but he had done nothing to be worthy of it. He was just another Burmecian in his own eyes. Just another normal Burmecian. However, other people thought different.
The guard began to escort Frato back home. Frato was in no condition to be left alone, he was clutching his bruised ribs in pain and his left arm lay limp.
"So who are you?" Frato asked, eager to know who his saviour was.
"My name is Leo. I'm a Dragon Knight, like your father." Leo answered. "I get on fairly well with Lion-heart."
"So I see." Frato commented.
Leo just chuckled slightly. He then began looking at Frato's bruises on his ribs with concern. He eventually overlooked them as minor injuries.
The two eventually reached the residence of Fratley. Leo knocked on the door as Frato started looking and checking his own bruises.
April swung the door open and looked at the two standing at the doorstep. Her eyes lay to rest over the injured Frato.
"Mrs. Fratley, your son..." Leo began but was interrupted.
"Oh, Frato!" April screamed as she ran up to Frato and gave him a tight hug. Frato eyes widened with pain again as his ribs were squeezed with the pressure of April and her inescapable embrace.
"M-Mother...don't hug me..." Frato wheezed. April backed off and looked him with surprise. "...it hurts." Frato finished.
April looked at Frato again, confirming the bruises and the bandage on his shoulder. She beckoned him inside. "We need to attend those bruises and that wound on your shoulder." She said in a slightly calmer tone. Frato stumbled into the house.
"I would like to ask your son some questions if that is alright." Leo asked April rather formally.
"Now?" April asked surprised. "He's just been injured!"
"Of course not." Leo spluttered, a little intimidated by an angry April. "Sometime tomorrow perhaps?" He asked sweetly.
"Fine." April answered before turning and shutting the door, leaving Leo in the pouring rain.
---
Leo's questioning with Frato the following morning did confirm he was attacked by the demon dragons. The demon dragons were a notorious band of thieves and muggers known for stealing, mugging and various crimes.
Frato recovered from his injuries in a few weeks. He still insisted on attending the academy despite his mother's word against it.
The Demon Dragon's were eventually caught by a few of the Burmecian knights. They were imprisoned for their crimes for a few years.
-*-*-
Disclaimer: I don't own FF9, so don't sue.
Author's Notes: I want to get on the game events and Fratley's journey fairly quickly so we'll be jumping through time to the next chapter.
Breeze of Summoners: Nice to see that you enjoyed the mushy romance chapter. Not bad for a first try eh? I have a strange feeling you will moaning about the description in this chapter.
CuteMooglez: You caught up! The Fratley/ Freya romance is a side story, just like Frato getting his ass kicked in this chapter was. Yes, "The holy spirit" will be making an appearance later on, but I won't say when or how. They are old enough to fall in love, certainly older than the pre-school relationship of your sister! I'm glad you are enjoying it.
Everyone else: Review this story....NOW!