Wild ARMs: Last Ignition
Chapter 10: The Journey to Neo Adlehyde
Upon returning to Blue Ridge Alex went to the ARMs Master to have the Multi-ARM checked over, while Glenn, Elena, and Zack went to the Foreman's office to inform him of their discoveries.
"Hmmm" the Foreman mumbled "A Double Bladed Spear, a Boomerang, a Multi-ARM, and the Teardrop…Not exactly a complete success…but a heck of a find none the less"
Elena nodded as she held the Teardrop in her hands "My main concern is the Teardrop…if that woman tried to steal it once…the chances are they'll try again when it's being transported back to Neo Adlehyde"
The foreman agreed "Which is why I'd like to hire your Ranger friends to guard it for the trip"
Glenn had been in a foul mood since the Chimera was killed. The damn beast had slagged his ARM. Even if he didn't use it much that was beside the point, he had always kept it as a precaution. But now he didn't have it to use.
Out of the corner of his eye Glenn looked towards the Foreman upon hearing him speak and said "I'm in, but I can't speak for Alex"
"She's probably still at the ARMs Master" Zack replied as he stood up and picked up his new spear "I need to go to the Armoury anyway…I'll go let her know about the job"
Glenn nodded as he stood up and followed the Zoa Priest "I'll go with you…I'm in the mood for a walk anyway"
On the way to the Foreman's office Glenn had gone back to the tavern to find his hat and poncho had been stolen, probably by some kid that thought it looked cool. A year ago he might have agreed. But after two months the novelty had worn off. The poncho was nothing more than extra weight he couldn't afford.
"You're from Cyprus Springs right?"
Glenn glanced to his left as he walked down the boardwalk and nodded to Zack's question
"Not originally" Glenn answered "But I've lived there with my grandparents since I was seven…I'm originally from Neo Adlehyde"
"Then you must be the Grandson, Jane Leone is always talking about" Zack said
"Guilty as charged" Glenn replied with a smile as the ARMs Master came into view.
"I'll let Alex know" Glenn said "You go get that spear fixed if your gonna come along on this little joyride"
Zack nodded and crossed the street to the Armoury.
Glenn watched Zack greet Elena as she walked past him to the Magic Guild before entering the Armoury.
He smiled to himself as he entered the ARMs Master, where Alex sat at the counter across from the shopkeeper, who held the Multi-ARM in his hand. The ammo clip and the Snipe Barrett cartridge were set on the counter.
"How's it look?" Alex asked as Shiro hopped onto the counter
"Hmmm" the shopkeeper had the stock of the ARM pressed against his shoulder as he looked down the sight "For this ARM to be as old as it probably is it's in amazing condition"
"What needs done?" Alex asked
The shopkeeper thought for a moment and said "It's going to need a bit of an overhaul to get back in perfect order…the stock is rotting, the reload mechanism needs repairs, and a few other things need done"
"Can you get it done by tomorrow?" Alex asked
"I can get it done tonight" the Shopkeeper said "Business has been pretty slim recently"
Alex nodded as she stood up "I'll pick it up before the 8:30 train for Neo Adlehyde" as she left the table Shiro jumped into her bag and she saw Glenn leaning on the door frame with his arms folded and said "What's up?"
"Foreman wants us to guard the pretty gem for the trip to Neo Adlehyde" Glenn replied as he pushed off the door "You in?"
Alex shrugged as she closed the door "Nothing better to do"
Glenn nodded as they walked back to the tavern "I haven't been in Neo Adlehyde since I was twelve"
"It's been a while since I was there too" Alex replied.
Four hours later Glenn, Zack and Alex had been playing poker and several other card games since they met back at the Tavern just after 4. They had all been more or less breaking even.
Just after 8 Alex left to pick up her ARM and the Bullet clips she had bought.
Glenn and Zack were in Glenn's room at the Inn. Glenn was searching through his bag, muttering to himself.
"Zack" Glenn said as he stood up
"Yeah?"
"Not to be rude or anything but why did you come to the excavation?"
Zack frowned slightly as Glenn took off the Harness for his Boomerang and the vest and set them both on the bed before taking an old brown denim jacket from the bag.
"I just turned 18 four days ago" Zack replied "And when a Zoa Priest turns 18 they have to go through a ritual to see if they're worthy to wield the power of the Guardians"
"And I'm guessing you passed the ritual" Glenn said as he adjusted the harness to carry both his Boomerang then put the harness around his shoulders and put on the jacket
"Yeah" Zack replied as he drew the three Guardian mediums he had invoked out of his body and removed the fourth Medium from his pocket.
"These four tablets hold the power of the four elemental Guardians" Zack said "Moor Galt, Guardian of fire, Fengalon, Guardian of Wind, Schturdark, Guardian of Water, and Grudiev, Guardian of Earth…when I performed the summoning ritual the Guardians told me to go to the fallen city of the Light"
"Fallen city of the Light?" Glenn asked
"Adlehyde, Glenn…Adlehyde means Light in ancient Elw"
Glenn nodded and strapped the Scabbard of the Black Feral to his belt Zack took the Medium of Fengalon and placed it in his hand
"This is the Medium of Fengalon, the Wind Tiger" Zack said as Glenn stared at the medium in his hand.
Zack taught Glenn how to invoke the Medium's powers to make himself a superior fighter.
"Every Guardian Medium has the power to enhance the abilities of its wielder depending on the Guardian…Fengalon for example…holds the power of wind, so it will let the wielder move like the wind itself"
"Putting them in a position to do more damage faster" Glenn said
"Right" Zack answered "As well as that each of the Guardian Mediums has the power to absorb elemental magic used against the bearer, in turn healing the person's wounds using the magical energies"
Glenn nodded in understanding as he invoked the Medium and left the room. Slinging his pack across his shoulders as he went.
"Do the other Mediums have the same deal?" Glenn asked
"More or less" Zack answered "Each Medium enhances a different ability…Moor Galt makes the wielder stronger, Grudiev enhances defences and durability to allow the bearer to take more of a pounding, as well as give a little more damage themselves, and Schturdark enhances magic power, making spells used by Mages more powerful"
"As well as the elemental shields you mentioned" Glenn said as they entered the bar.
"Yeah" Zack replied as he slid the spear into a harness he had bought for across his back.
The guy in the armoury had done a great job fixing the spear. The shaft had been cleaned of rust, the blades had been sharpened, and the shaft has been wrapped in leather cord to create better grip.
"Are we ready to go?"
Zack and Glenn looked towards the voice to see Elena sitting at the table next to the door with six Crest Graphs sitting in front of her
"We're just waiting for Alex to get back from the ARMs Master" Glenn replied "Then we're outta here"
Just as Elena picked up her Crests, Alex entered the bar with a new looking ARM resting against her shoulder, and ten fully loaded eight round Ammo clips in a bandoleer across her chest.
"Ready?" Glenn asked
In response Alex spun the Multi-ARM in her hand, smiling as the lever-action reload mechanism chambered a round.
(AN For those trying to picture the ARM just think of a cross between Irvine from Final Fantasy 8's Exeter Riffle and the Terminator 2 shotgun except completely black and a shorter barrel than the Exeter)
"I'll take that as a yes" Glenn said as he walked out of the bar.
On the way to the train Zack gave Alex Moor Galt's Medium and Elena, Schturdark, and taught them the basics of Medium use. But Alex more or less tuned him out since she never touched magic, in any form.
As they walked to the train station outside town Zack fell into step beside Elena and asked "What was up at the Magic Guild?"
"I was getting some of my Crests changed" Elena replied "I needed some healing magic and a barrier spell, so I changed Lightning and Freeze to Heal and Shield"
"Good idea" Zack said as he boarded the train.
Once onboard Glenn had suggested that the group split into two groups to cover possible train access points.
Elena was in the Dining Car having a cup of coffee seven hours later. Aware of the fact that Alex was at the far end of the Car and that Glenn and Zack were in Cars on either side of her, all were ready to move in an instant.
"Are you alright Miss?"
Elena looked up to the speaker and nodded "I'm just tired"
The Barkeeper was about to speak when the train screeched to a sudden halt, throwing Elena to the floor.
In an instant Zack ran through the door from the front Car and helped Elena to her feet
"That them?" she asked
"Probably" Zack said as he drew his spear and said "Let's move"
Elena nodded as she jogged down the Car seeing Alex drawing her Revolver and her sword as she ran to the rear car of the train.
When the Mages arrived Glenn and Alex were crouched next to the door to the last Car
Elena was about to speak when Glenn silenced her with a sharp glare.
She frowned as Glenn reached into his jacket pocket and produced a small explosive device.
Glenn smirked as he motioned for them to get back, then pulled the pin and tossed it through the door.
Just as Glenn hit the deck, the rear car exploded.
The train was rocked by the blast but kept on going.
As Alex pulled herself to her feet she looked out through the opening, the floor of the rear car was more or less intact. Except it was consumed by flames.
But she saw something more at the centre of the car and whispered "No fucking way"
Then a laugh sounded from within the flames and a strong wind blew outwards from the centre and put out the fires
"That wasn't very nice now was it?" a female voice asked as the flames died.
Standing on the remains of the car was a woman, wearing white robes trimmed with blue and gold, pale skin and grey hair, with a massive silver key floating just off her right hand and turning slowly.
The woman looked the four over and snorted "I was expecting a little better from the protectors of the Teardrop"
Glenn ignored the comment and drew the Black Feral as Alex raised her Revolver and took aim, behind him he could sense Elena and Zack preparing spells.
"Before I unscrew your head honey" Glenn said with a smirk "Who the hell are you?"
The woman glared at Glenn before she said "The name is Caina" then she motioned to the key in her hand and said "This is Randolph, the Gateway Key" she looked towards Elena and said "Are you going to give me the Teardrop or not dear?"
"When hell freezes over" Elena answered with a glare
"Fine by me" Caina said as she raised the key above her head. After a few moments the top of the key glowed with purple light. The light grew larger for a few moments before it exploded outwards in a flash of light.
To reveal a tall hulking partially human creature with greygreen skin and white claws.
Caina stepped back as she lowered Randolph and said "I'll let you kids play with my little toy for now" then she opened a strange portal and said as she stepped in "But make no mistake…the Teardrop will be ours" then she was gone.
Glenn stared at the creature for a few moments before it leapt into the air and attacked.
On instinct Glenn gathered his energy and leapt upwards to meet the attack as he yelled "Braver" then in mid-air he slashed across the beast's abdomen
The creature landed at one end of the Car and Glenn landed at the other
As Glenn came to his feet and spun around Alex raised her Multi-ARM and fired off a shot straight for the creature's heart
The creature was thrown back by the shot but remained on its feet.
As the same time Elena and Zack yelled "FLAME" and "RED BEAUT" and two identical groups of four fireballs sailed over Alex's head and struck the creature dead on target.
The creature stumbled under the bombardment but managed to turn around to face Glenn, just as the swordsman was two feet from it with his sword raised.
Glenn was about to strike the creature with Physco Crack when it swung at him.
The backhand blow struck Glenn on the left side, breaking several ribs, lifting him off the car floor and carrying him across the car.
Glenn was brought out of the daze the pain of the broken ribs as he slammed back down on the floor and skidded along the floor. He got the feeling that the edge of the train was close and he immediately reacted by ramming the blade of the Black Feral into the weakened floor.
Glenn barely stopped at the edge of the train. He was hanging halfway over the edge, the only things keeping him on the train were his grip on the Black Feral and the fact that he had dug in his heels.
Taking a deep breath Glenn managed to pull himself back onto the train and stood up slowly to see Elena, Zack and Alex slowly driving the creature back towards him.
Glenn glared at the creature as he rose to full height "You just pissed off the wrong man" he thought as he began gathering his energy.
After a few moments a crimson aura surrounded him and he charged forward yelling "Accelerator" in his mind Glenn gathered energy for a Physco Crack, but before he could release the attack something in his mind took over and he roared "MADNESS BLADE" the blade of the Black Feral shone with a blinding silver light as Glenn struck with blinding speed, hitting the creature with four crushing, explosive blows, each strike drove the creature back towards the edge of the car.
As the light from the final blow faded the creature stood wavering on its feet right on the edge of the train.
Glenn glared at the creature as he said see you in hell, then he drove a heavy roundhouse into its chest throwing it over the edge and onto the train tracks with a sickening crack.
Glenn didn't bother to look back as the train rolled over the creature and kept going.
Alex watched in silence for a few moments as Glenn sheathed his sword and simply stare out into the mountains, watching the first rays of sunlight peak over eastern horizon.
Glenn shook his head as the warm morning breeze washed over him, then he walked towards the next car.
As he passed the others he said "Let's get some sleep" then continued up the car.
Alex stared after him for a moment. She had seen the Fast Draw art practiced before, but never had she seen its techniques used in such a manor. It was unheard of.
She sighed to herself as she shouldered her ARM and walked after Glenn. She had never been able to understand the sword, she simply used it to conserve ammunition.
"I need a vacation" she muttered her she entered her cabin. Hoping to get a few hours sleep before they reached Neo Adlehyde.
Authors Notes: Done.
A little gory at the end. But still good I think.
Next time the group reach Neo Adlehyde and Glenn gets a wardrobe change.