It's me SANGOCHAN again! Last time was the long anticipated meeting of Yoku and Lloyd. Now it seems that our heroes are in a spot of bother…Read on and enjoy!
Chapter Five: Departure
"Did…Colette…leave…already..?" Lloyd gasped, clutching at a stitch in his side.
"Yes," Frank said, "She left this letter for you Lloyd." He handed it to him.
"What does it say?" Yoku asked.
Lloyd opened the letter with shaking hands, it read:
Dear Lloyd,
By the time you have read this letter; I will have gone. Please forgive me for lying to you. But I have no right to drag you into danger, even with Yoku protecting you. I want you, Genis, and Yoku to live happily in the regenerated world. Also, you and Genis have been the best friends I could ever ask for. Yoku, I know we haven't known each other very long, but…I don't want you putting yourself in danger either. Still, I'm so happy I could finally live to this day. I'll become an Angel…
Farewell,
Colette
"This letter sounds like a will…" Lloyd said.
"I think this may have something to do with what Great-grandpa found out…" Yoku said.
"Her letter is a farewell letter," Frank said solemnly.
"What do you mean Mr. Frank?" Yoku asked.
"When Colette releases the Final Seal, she will-." But what Colette would do, they never found out. At that moment there was a deafening explosion outside!
"What's going on?" Genis wailed
"It's the Desians!" Yoku and Lloyd shouted in unison. All three ran outside, the village was in flames.
"Oh…No…" Yoku gasped, "They identified us!"
"No time for worrying!" Lloyd said, "We have to help!" He was right, near by the school house, a man was cornered by three Desians. The trio rushed to his rescue.
"MANA ARROW!" Yoku shouted, again her arrow was surrounded with a multi-colored aura and it hit the Desian in the small of the back. He collapsed-dead.
Lloyd slashed at the second offending Desian. Blood gushed onto the ground and he landed on-top of his partner dead.
"FIREBALL!" Genis shouted. This didn't kill the Desian, it just set his pants on fire and he ran off like a headless chicken, trailing smoke.
"Thank you." The man said, "I thought I was a goner for sure." As his thanks, he gave Yoku, Lloyd, and Genis seven apple and orange gels each.
"Come on, we can still help the villagers." Lloyd said. They ran past Genis' and Raine's house. It was on fire.
"O-our house!" Genis choked, "And just when we came to a place we could finally call home…"
"Finally?" Lloyd asked blankly. Before Genis could explain, screams were heard from the south exit.
"We'll talk later," Yoku said quickly, "We have to get to the south exit."
"Right," Lloyd said nodding.
The trio slowly made their way to the south exit dodging the flames from burning buildings. Finally, the made it, several Desians were blocking the exit; and someone was entering.
A Half-Elf with short blue hair, an eye-patch and a yellow cylinder stepped forward.
"I am Forcytess, one of the Five Grand Cardinals of the Desians." He said, "Lloyd Irving, Yoku Jade, both of you are under arrest for contact with Test Body Host I3362. As for you Yoku, not only is it trespassing, but also for the assassination of Hsuru." An arrow shot past his ear suddenly.
"Forcytess, PREPARE TO DIE!" Yoku shouted.
"Ho, so you're going to avenge your elder brother Riku are you not?" Forcytess chuckled evilly.
The mayor was completely stunned, "What was he doing at the Human Ranch anyway? And why did you assassinate Lord Hsuru from the Palmacoasta Human Ranch?"
"He broke in; to free the people of this village from the burden you Desians put on these people. AND to kill you Forcytess," Yoku growled gritting her teeth.
"No matter, I have prepared an especially difficult opponent for the three of you." Forcytess said, "I shall enjoy telling my master I have eliminated you Yoku, and that I have acquired the Exsphere we have long searched for since the Angelus Project." Something big was coming.
"Guys! Be careful! This is how my big sister was killed!" Yoku shouted as a hulking green, yellow striped figure, with one big red eye, and long limbs dragging on the ground entered the village.
The creature raised its long arm to strike Lloyd, when its arm contracted with Lloyd's chest, Lloyd gasped and staggered backwards.
"Darnnit…" Lloyd growled through his teeth, "Why are you doing this? YOU violated the 'Non-aggression Treaty' too! You attacked Martel Temple."
"Oh…did we? I see that they are also after the Chosen too." Forcytess said.
"What are you talking about?" Genis asked.
"Die," was all what Forcytess said.
The creature advanced on Lloyd, Yoku, and Genis. Preparing to strike again, Lloyd unsheathed his swords, Yoku knocked an arrow into her bow, and Genis began his Fireball spell.
"RAIN OF MANA!" Yoku shouted shooting several arrows into the air. In mid-air the four arrows changed course, aiming for the green creature, surrounded in Mana. It was pierced with each arrow, all of them poking out like pins.
"DEMON FANG!" Lloyd shouted, with inhuman speed he slashed at the monster, only to be thrown back.
"FIRST AID! Lloyd! Are you ok?" Yoku asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He grunted getting up.
"FIREBALL!" Genis shouted. He then ran closer to strike, and then a black circle began forming under the creature.
"GENIS!" Yoku shouted, "GET BACK! THAT"S INSANE CELL!"
Too late, the resulting explosion sent Genis flying backwards right into Lloyd.
"FIRST AID!" Yoku shouted, then turned her attention to the green monster. Don't tell me…that's who I think it is…if this is the same way my sister died then this must be…
Genis readied himself for another spell after he and Lloyd finally disentangled themselves, "AQUA EDGE!" He shouted, water materialized in thin air and began pelting the monster. Yoku loaded her long-bow with another arrow and fired. Hitting it right in the eye; it staggered and fell to its knees.
Forcytess was livid, "Fine! I'll kill you myself!" he shouted darting straight at the trio. Then two big green limbs grabbed him.
R-run away…Genis…Lloyd…Yoku… A voice said.
"That voice!" Yoku gasped, "No! He didn't!"
"Marble!" Genis and Lloyd shouted in unison.
Genis…you were like a grandson to me...goodbye…Marble said. She began to glow. Shafts of light pierced her body, there was a blinding flash of light, and she was gone. Her Exsphere rolled towards Genis.
"Men!" A Desian shouted, "Protect Lord Forcytess!" Five of them circled Forcytess, who was crouching on the ground bleeding. He staggered upright, grimaced at Yoku and the lot of them vanished.
"M-Marble…MARBLE N-no!" Genis screamed clutching the Exsphere, tears spilling from his eyes. The village blazed on.
"This is your fault!" the Mayor shouted, pointing a finger accusingly at Lloyd and Yoku, "If you hadn't gone to the Human Ranch…This wouldn't have happened!"
"NO!" Genis shouted, "It was my idea,"
"Yoku!" The mayor shouted, veins throbbing, "I don't know who exactly who you are, but you don't know that the 'Non-aggression Treaty' is the only thing keeping the Desians out of here!"
"And condemn those people to death?"
"They'll die anyway," a woman in the crowd said.
"If you're going to banish Lloyd," Genis said, "You'll have to banish me too."
"Lloyd wasn't even raised in the village; he's an outsider, raised by a Dwarf!"
The mayor seemed to have made up his mind, "Fine, from this day onward, Lloyd and Genis are banished from Iselia, and Yoku will be banned from entering. Now…leave…"
The crowd left to begin dousing the flames, Genis' hand was shaking as it gripped the Exsphere.
"Genis, I still have the Key-crest," Lloyd said, "You can use it to remember Marble."
"O-ok," Genis choked clumsily attaching the Exsphere to the Key-crest bracelet and putting it on his wrist. Phaedra and Frank entered the South exit area.
"What will you do now?" Frank asked.
"Only one choice," Lloyd said.
"We're going to catch up with Colette and the others." Yoku said.
"Yeah," Genis said.
"Anyway, "Yoku grunted, "I don't have any intentions of coming back to this village only to the ranch, at the opportune moment anyway…"
"Be careful." Phaedra said.
"We will." Lloyd said. Noishe was waiting at the exit; he was holding Lloyd's pack in his mouth. A letter in one of the pockets.
"Let's get out of here," Lloyd said, and leading the way they left Iselia none of them looking back on the burning village.
"What does that letter say?" Genis asked.
"Let me see…" Lloyd said opening it. He unfolded the letter, it was in Dirk's handwriting, and "It's from Dad."
Dear Lloyd,
Somehow, I knew this day was coming. You would leave home with Colette. Foe fourteen years I have raised you, since I found you in Iselia Forest. I know Yoku is protecting you but, be sure to watch after her too; you'll be in her debt. Good luck to all of you.
Dad
Lloyd carefully folded up the letter and returned it to its pocket, "What do you say we get going?" he asked.
"Sounds like a plan." Genis said placing his kendama into his backpack.
"I have plenty of money to buy supplies when we reach Tiret in the desert. If we leg it we should arrive there by tomorrow." Yoku said.
Noishe whined and howled.
"What's he trying to say?" Yoku asked.
"I think he wants us to ride him." Lloyd said.
"Two seventeen-year-olds and one twelve-year-old…the weight would kill him!" Genis said.
"Well…what if one of us rides him…and the rest of us walk?"
Noishe whined again as they walked south.
"No…" Lloyd said, "He…sensed trouble!"
Sure enough, ten thieves showed up and surrounded the trio and the dog.
"Heh…heh…leave your things and we'll let you go." One of them said.
"Hey boss!" one shouted, who happened to be right behind Yoku, "This one's a she-Elf! How 'bout we steal her too?" He made a move to grab her.
"Keep your hands off her!" Lloyd shouted throwing himself at the thief. He tackled him to the ground and tried and failed to pin the thief there.
"If you're trying to kidnap me, you're only asking for a world of hurt." Yoku said cracking her knuckles.
"And what's a she-Elf like you gonna-AAAIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!" The leader began shrieking, due to the fact that Yoku had thrown her attacker right at him.
"That's not all," Genis said, a glyph formed under him.
Lloyd was in a sword lock with another thief-who happened to be twice his size. His wooden swords were giving way, they wouldn't last long.
"FIREBALL!" Genis shouted. Fireballs homed in on three of the thieves and the fell unconscious to the dirt.
The leader began swearing at the top of his lungs and charged Yoku, "YOU"RE COMING WITH ME!" he drew his broad sword out.
Well that was stupid…Yoku thought smirking. She knocked an arrow and fired it.
The thieves were scared senseless when their boss collapsed to the ground dead. They ran off cursing into thin air.
"Well, that's over with." Yoku said shouldering her bow.
"Why did they suddenly go after Yoku?" Lloyd asked.
"Beats me," Genis said, "Maybe 'cause she's pretty?"
"I don't know myself." Yoku said, "That's never happened before…If we reach the House of Salvation, we'll be a day's trip from Tiret."
Finally after five hours worth of walking they made it to the House of Salvation. The lot of them was very hungry.
"The chef here makes a killer curry crab." Yoku said, "It takes half my self control to pace myself. But all of it when my grandma makes it."
An aged old woman walked up to them, "I'll show you to your rooms."
After paying-100 Gald each-they went down for dinner. Yoku was right, the curry crab was very tasty. Lloyd had about five helpings of crab before he was full.
"So, what's Colette like?" Yoku asked.
"Very bubbly most of the time and a klutz," Lloyd said.
"She really doesn't act very Chosen like though…" Genis said.
"Well…if I was the Chosen, I wouldn't want to advertise it to everyone I meet," Yoku said, "But, that would give it away…the most unlikely people seem to become the Chosen of Mana."
"You've got a point…" Lloyd said.
"Do you know any good campfire recipes Genis?" Yoku asked, "All what I can do is roasting,"
"Yup, I can cook anything over a fire." Genis said.
"Name it and I'll go and shoot it." Yoku said.
"Isn't that bow for fighting?" Lloyd asked slightly confused.
"My bow is the hunter's class," Yoku said, "There have been several times when I had to hunt for my food on the way here."
"It's late…" Genis said, "We should get to bed."
"Yeah…"
The trio pushed back their chairs and went up stairs to their rooms.
The next day
"Morning…" Lloyd said sleepily to Yoku and Genis.
"M-morning…" Yoku yawned hugely.
Genis was already eating his porridge at a fast clip and said nothing. Breakfast was not very talkative, due to the fact that two of their number still had their heads on the pillow.
A little later they exited the House of Salvation, a man saw them.
"Are you on a Pilgrimage?" he asked them.
"Ummmm…we're trying to catch up with the Chosen of Mana, she's our friend." Genis said.
"Ah," he said nodding, "Then at least take my map, it may come in handy." He handed Yoku an aged old scroll of parchment.
(You'd think with all that technology, they would've gotten a hologram map of Sylverant…)
"Thanks mister," Lloyd said, "We'd better get going."
"Yeah,"
They all took turns riding Noishe; nothing very eventual happened except Lloyd almost diving into a patch of poison ivy during a fight with some giant hares.
"Lloyd, that stuff can damage your skin."
"How do I recognize it?"
"'Leaves of Three Let Them Be'. It's a rhyme Grandma told me."
"We should save the hide. We can wrap up the meat and cook it for lunch."
"Roast rabbit, yum."
They all found a grumpy rattle snake while collecting firewood for cooking lunch.
"Nobody make any sudden moves…"
"Genis passed out!"
Lloyd burnt his foot while putting the fire out.
"EEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOWWWWWWW!" Lloyd wailed hopping around on one foot.
After one long and very crazy day, they made it to Tiret Desert.
"We shouldn't have a problem now, it is night. Deserts are far more pleasant at night." Genis said.
"And cold," Lloyd said.
"Yes, that too," Genis said.
A coyote howled in the distance, the full moon was rising.
"Maybe we should set up camp for the night and have dinner," Yoku said, "And we can tell ghost stories!"
Noishe rolled around happily in the sand while Genis, Yoku, and Lloyd all collected shrubs for firewood and set up the sleeping mats. Lloyd had an armful of twigs and he bumped into Yoku, he felt his whole body go numb.
"Oh," Yoku said chuckling, "Sorry about that,"
Lloyd dropped the twigs.
"Oh, let me help." Yoku said the minute Lloyd began picking them up.
Genis was stoking the fire while Lloyd and Yoku were picking up the sticks, Lloyd reached for the last one, and his hand touched the back of Yoku's hand.
Ohhhh…man...My face is all red I just know it…This is the first time I really held a girls'-would 'girl' be the right word?-hand…Lloyd thought, panicking a little.
Yoku blushed a little looked down and quickly removed her hand.
What was that feeling? My chest suddenly felt a little tight…She thought moments later with a few stray-now dead- pheasants over her shoulder walking back to camp.
Genis had the rotisserie sticks ready and waiting. After a messy job of cleaning the birds, all had to fight the impression to throw feathers at each other, the pheasants were nice and piping hot over the fire.
"This is really good," Lloyd said.
"Yeah," Yoku said her mouth slightly full.
"Eheheheh…thanks." Genis said rubbing the back of his head.
"I wonder where the Fire Seal is…" Lloyd said.
"Definitely an old ruin that looks ready to fall apart." Yoku said.
Sis'll have a field day…Genis thought helplessly.
After dousing the fire with Genis' 'Aqua Edge' and sand they all went to sleep. The next day dawned hot and bright.
"Hoo…that was a good sleep…feels really warm now though." Lloyd said eating an apple for breakfast.
"We'd better get to Tiret before the day becomes a scorcher." Genis said.
"I know I had to cross this desert during the scorcher part." Yoku said.
Within an hour they arrived at Tiret. And to trouble, the Desians were there!
"Quick hide!" Lloyd said through his teeth, franticly motioning to Genis and Yoku to follow him. The trio and Noishe all darted into a stall. Crouched low, and held their breath.
"That's the last of those posters." One Desian said.
"We should capture Lloyd and Yoku soon." Another, more female voice said.
The two Desians left grumbling about the heat.
"Man…" Lloyd said, "Wanted posters and search parties? These guys are dead serious."
"They are," Yoku said.
"We need to be careful." Genis said, "Anyway, we should reload our supplies and buy new weapons. My old Nova won't last long…"
"Good idea Genis." Lloyd said, "Noishe, stay here."
Noishe lay down in the cool shade and began to snore.
"Let's try that shop." Yoku said.
They reloaded their supplies, bought new weapons-Yoku only needed to have her bow customized, and some food they began asking the villagers about the Chosen.
"You should ask the mystic, that's were I last saw the Chosen." A six year-old boy said.
"Ok, thanks." Genis said, "North area of town right?"
"Right," The boy darted off to the cool interior of the stall his mother was in.
"Ok, I guess we can ask the mystic where Colette went," Lloyd said on the way.
They saw a velvet colored tent near by a spring, they entered. It was dark and cool inside. There was a woman wearing a turban with a crystal ball in front of her on a table.
"How may I help you?" She asked.
"Do you know where The Chosen of Mana is?" Yoku asked.
"That will be…100 Gald."
"Fine, here." Yoku shoved 100 Gald into the box.
"I see…the Chosen journeying to Tiret Ruins."
"Ok, thanks!" Genis said grinning.
The three of them left.
"Now we know where Colette is." Yoku said, "We'd better get a move on if we're going to catch up with them."
"Right," Lloyd said, "We shouldn't waste any time."
"Um…guys…" Genis said, "I think trouble found us…"
Desians were blocking the entrance.
"Wait a second!" Yoku said, "The Desians don't wear red, they wear blue!"
"Maybe red's the color in this region." Lloyd said drawing his new Knight's Saber swords.
"Are they Lloyd and Yoku?" one asked.
Another checked the Wanted Poster-which had very poor drawings of Lloyd and Yoku-, "Yep it's them all-right,"
"How could anyone recognize us with those posters?" Yoku asked thoroughly exasperated.
"Whatever, you're coming with us Lloyd."
TWANG! Yoku released an arrow and it hit the Desian in the gut.
"All right, you asked for it!" Yoku shouted.
"Bring it!" Lloyd shouted, "Unless you're scared."
(Now would've been a good time for Genis and Yoku to do the falling over thing)
On Desian, brandishing a spear lunged at Lloyd; he easily dodged him and kicked him, right in the butt. Yoku fired an arrow.
"AQUA EDGE!" Genis shouted, water blades struck two Desians unconscious.
"RAIN OF FIRE!" Yoku shouted, again firing multiple arrows into the air, this time surrounded by fire, and they homed in on the enemy.
"Whew…that was a close one," Lloyd said, "Let's hurry-." But he was cut short. A ball of electricity hit Lloyd and he collapsed to the ground unconscious.
"Lloyd!" Yoku shouted starting to shake him gently, "Come on snap out of it!"
"Stand up." A Desian barked pointing a sword at her throat.
Slowly and reluctantly she stood up still clutching her bow. Genis was pale as a ghost he didn't even seem to notice that a Desian just wrestled his kendama away from him.
Yoku put up more of a fight as they tried to take her weapons from her.
"You better not break them." She said.
"We won't we won't," the Desian said almost bored, "Get Lloyd and let's head back to base."
One big guy hoisted Lloyd into a walk assist, only Lloyd's toes were barely dragging along the sand. It was over an hour before they arrived at the doors of their base.
Lloyd…now would be a really good time to wake up…Yoku thought her eyebrows tensing. Genis looked like he was thinking the same thing too. But Lloyd's head only lolled limply as the Desian ascended the steps with Lloyd in tow. The other one tossed Yoku's bow back to her and Genis' kendama.
"Take them, you wouldn't want to run into monsters unarmed."
"Ummm…are you sure it's ok to let them go?"
"Sure it is. The boss only needs Lloyd anyway. You two…uh…" He looked like if he was wondering if "kids" was the right word, "…Just…keep out of the way."
Yoku turned on her heel cursing with Genis on their heels, neither said anything until they were a mile away and Noishe showed up to greet them.
"Noishe!" Yoku said, "Of course…"
"Of course what?" Genis asked.
"Genis, you ride Noishe and find the others tell then what happened, I'll break in and try to find Lloyd." Yoku said.
"Ok," Genis said clambering onto Noishe's back, "I'll get back as soon as possible."
"Good luck." Yoku muttered as Genis and Noishe vanished on the horizon, "Lloyd, hang in there till I find you."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
WAAHHHHHHHOOOOOO! Chapter five is done and ready to be reviewed!
Happy New Year folks! I hope you're enjoying my fanfiction! Because, what's a fanfiction without people who enjoy it?
Here I've treated you to an "Angel of Vengeance" parody:
Scene: Desian Retribution
Lloyd: Come on we've got to help!
Yoku and Genis: Ok!
All three run forward then fall down a pit then Team Rocket appears.
Jessie: Hey those aren't the twerps.
Lloyd: (anger mark) WHO ARE YOU CALLING A TWERP!
SANGOCHAN: CUT! Team Rocket, what the heck are you doing here! For Martel's sake…it'll be Christmas again before we get this done!
Keep looking for: Chapter six: Sylverant Base