"You fools pull it together! Come on now, this town looks awful because of all that stuff you've left laying around!"A middle-aged woman with a particularly nasty tone began to order the workers around the city streets.
"Hey, we're on break! We'll get back to work in a little while!"a disgruntled worker fought back.
"You've been on break for four years!Get it in gear or Palmacoasta will never recover!"she growled back, hands on hips.
"Ma'am please calm down. I assure you, they're doing the best they can,"Govenor Neil interupted them. The woman preceded to grunt and carry on.
"This town's finally coming together and STILL they can't wait,"a man wearing a hard hat grumbled.
"I think everyone's restless. They're all ready to get back on track. Its been four tough years since the giant tree totaled Palmacoasta,"Neil looked to the sky spacily.
"Well we should be done by tomorrow, right boys?"the leader called out to his scattered troops.
"RIGHT!" The answered in unison and picked up their tools and set to work.
Neil smiled, impressed with their enthusiasim. "I'll work hard too,"he thought. A hooded traveller brushed past him. All he could see of her was a pair of bright pink eyes. He disregraded it and went back to the office.
Late that night he locked up the government office. He yawned carelessly as he traveled home in the near-full moonlight. Neil had grown accustomed to the late hours he had to work but he still always felt a little sleepy.
A shadow fell across his path. Neil instinctively looked up seeing a figure on the roof.
The moon acted as a back light on this person. Still all her unique features were clear to the governor. Her wild purple hair danced on the wind behind her and piercing pink eyes lit her face. A dark cloak fluttered behind her revealing a maroon skirt and high lace-up boots.
"Good evening Govenor,"she called loudly bowing slightly.
"What are you doing?"he glared, sensing danger.
"Why,I'm simply passing along the last kind greeting you're ever going to recieve,"she giggled nonchalantly.
"Last...what are you-----"Neil stumbled back eyes wide with fear. The woman drew a thin, silvery rapier from her belt. She plunged down, stabbing Neil straight through the heart. As his blood splattered over the paved streets she gave a cry."Tonight is your last night Palmacoasta!"she broke into a chaotic laugh as her shadowy assassins came out of the dark. "I'll need three fine specimens. Bring them quick,"she ordered them, still giddy about the blood that stained her blade.
Within minutes the city was up in flames. The pink eyed woman and her assassins bounded off into the silence carrying three young men.
A loud knocking awoke Lloyd and the rest of the partiers who had just zonked out where they were in the early morning hours. It was still before dawn and Lloyd stumbled over the the door, lazily opening it up.
"MR.IRVING SIR! ITS AN EMERGENCY!"a man shouted in his face as soon as the door was opened. A rheaird was parked behind him. "It better be an emergency. Its not even dawn,"Lloyd stretched trying to wake himself.
"Palmacoasta is in ruin, there are no people there at all,"he said in a paniced frenzy.
"What the hell!What happened?"Lloyd yelled, assuring all the group was up. Lloyd's eyes flashed with stunning rage, scaring the poor messager to death.
"I don't know, I just had to deliver some mail there and there was no one! I swear it! I even brought extra rheairds so please go see,"the man trembled wildly.
Lloyd took a deep breath, something Kratos had taught him. Another breath and he got the party ready. They quickly hopped on the flying machines and were in Palmacoasta in no time.The city was still burning. Most of the buildings had been reduced to flaming rubble. "This is horrible,"Presea watched the flames go into uproar. Genis began to chant a spell. Slowly he raised his right arm, a magic seal forming and flashing beneth him.
"TIDAL WAVE!"he shouted as just that came out in front of him. This giant wave engulfed the fire quickly.
"Ah man. Now I'm beat,"Genis took a seat.
"Not a single survivor..."Colette frowned.
"No one to tell what happened but he who did it,"Lloyd clenched his fists.
Raine studied the rising sun."It couldn't have been too long ago."
"Do you think who did this will strike again?"Sheena ventured to ask.
"They probably killed everyone.It seems like the work of and organization. Most likey...they will attack again,"Regal sorted out aloud.
"We'll stop them,"Colette and Lloyd said.
"Let's meet back up in Mizuho. We'll plan using our information network,"Sheena suggested.
"Right, we need to rest and get ready first. We meet in Mizuho tomorrow,"Raine settled.
So they separted, Lloyd returning to his Dad's place. He walked around town thinking, unable to sleep for awhile. The idea of another attacker worried him. But he promised to keep the peace, so he would do everything in his power. Finally he felt as though he could sleep so he headed home. "I'm back,"he annouced coming inside.
"The bed upstairs is all set for you son,"Dirk smiled as Lloyd stumbled in.
"Thanks Dad,"Lloyd waltzed upstairs and flopped onto the bed and almost automatically passed out.
"Boy wake up! Quickly!"Dirk shoke Lloyd while shouting. "What?"he sat up dizzily.
"Iselia...she's under attack!"
"Dammit!"Lloyd jumped up and sprinted out toward town, hands on blades.
Lloyd arrived to townspeople running this way and that screaming. Shadows came up from behind them, killing them coldly. Lloyd caught one of these assassins in his sword. Black ooze spilled onto the steel.
"What the hell?These guys arent human!"He shouted as another popped up behind him. He thrust his blade into its gut and withdrew. He was soon surrounded. He cursed heavily. One at a time they sprang on him, he countered with spinning attacks. But sure enough one caught onto his arm. "Let go!" he cried as others did the same. Four were attached to each limb before he couldn't resist.
"Oh how lovely! A lovely subject,"A shrill woman's voice reached his ears. The woman bounded off a burning home and right in front of Lloyd she landed.
Her bright pink eyes pierced Lloyd's soft brown ones. Her short purple hair stuck out as if she didnt' care it was a bit messy. Lloyd glared at her, trying to free himself from their grip and her stiff stare. A grin spread across her purple lips.
"I'm so glad we found a proper host her in this little nowhere town. You'll do so very nicely,"she ran her sharp nails down his face, piercing the skin.
"Let me go you freak!"Lloyd's eyes widened, feeling extreme rage burst through his body. He beat away a few assassins only to have more take their place.
"Not freak, I'm Anelya, from now on I'm your god little swordsman,"she teased. She traces over the spot she'd already clawed, digging deeper. Lloyd didn't flinch.
Anelya licked up the drawen blood gleefully. Lloyd had never been one to fear his enemies but this Anelya scared him. He suddenly felt very small with this tall insane woman in control. He steeled his face, trying to block emotion.
"Come on let's go home,"Anelya ordered her shadow assassins as they dragged Lloyd along...