The sun shined in bluette's room, with Cayde sleeping soundly along with Histoire and Colonel who rested upon the nightstand. But then a shadow appeared over the teen as he continued to sleep.
"He's still sleep. Good." The figure then slowly picked up the boy from out of bed and out of the room but not before leaving a note that gently lied upon the bed sheets.
*Scene*
The sound of rushing waters and seagulls re-sounded in Cayde's ear as he continued his eternal slumber, only thing is when he went to turn he felt something off about what he was resting on. It felt soft but grainy too. And if he recalled his bed wasn't grainy, it was soft to the touch like resting upon a cloud and this felt like no cloud.
"Hmmm? ..What?" Cayde slowly rose from his "bed" and took in his surroundings.
"Where am I..?" He sleepy asked yawning before the sound of water caught his attention once more.
"Hold on..Am I at the beach?"
"Ah, I see your finally awake. For a sec I thought I was gonna have to give you a early morning bath." A voice called out as they approached the teen.
"Huh? Iffy?" Asked Cayde turning to the guild agent.
"Morning sleepyhead, you sleep okay?"
Cayde nodded. "Iffy, Why are we at the beach?"
IF walked around until she was directly in front of him.
"Do you remember what we talked about last night?" He nodded, "You said you wanted be someone better, that you wanted to be someone like me who helps thoughs in need. What you did back in the arena, your fight proved how much you wanted to be the best of the best. Putting your own life on the line to protect your nation, even though there was no real threat, I think you get what I mean."
IF looked up to the sky with slight smile on her face.
"Seeing you in that ring, reminded me of myself when I was coming up. And so I've finally decided." IF looked back to the boy with same smile only now it grew. "I want you to achieve that dream of yours, I want you to succeed in life even if I'm not their by your side. I want you to be better than me!"
Cayde stared up the guild agent as a few tears started to fall from his eyes as he wiped them.
"Cayde Ignaitus, I believe you can become the best Guardian this world has ever seen." Cayde looked back to IF with determination in his eyes as she continued. "And by that, I, IF, Planeptune's Number 1 Agent, The Gust Of Wind, your Caretaker but most of all, your friend, will train you to become the best you can be!"
Cayde's hands griped into fists as he continued to look at the guild agent with the same determined look as of before.
"Do you accept?" IF asked giving the boy serious look.
Cayde nodded before standing on his two feet.
"I will!" Cayde declared making IF's smile return.
"Good, because whether you like it or not your training begins today!" IF smirked turning her back to him.
Cayde froze on the spot before comically falling over. "W-What?! Today!?" He asked shocked getting back up.
IF nodded.
"Yep and your first step is by cleaning this beach along with the park behind me." IF said pointing a thumb over her shoulder.
"Cleaning the beach and the park? What are you..." Cayde's voiced died out as he looked behind the agent only to slowly gasp at the sight behind her.
Behind the guild agent was piles on piles on piles of trash covering the beach area all the way to what seemed to be the park she was talking about as concrete stairs lead up to higher ground where more trash could be seen but this time had broken and busted up trees lying about and some destroyed boulders or some still in perfect condition rested upon the surface.
Cayde's right eye twitched while IF walked up beside him with her phone out as he continued to look at the sight before him. How the hell didn't he notice this before?!
"I was doing some research yesterday when you fell asleep and found about this spot. Apparently it's a high ranking quest in the guild, a B or A Rank quest to be more specific. Tropical Coast is what this place is called, it used to be some of the finest beach's on Planeptune's most visited relaxation spots some years back, but ever since trash started piling up one day they closed it down due to the complaints people were having."
Cayde regained his composure(somewhat) and looked towards the brunette.
"Yeah, I remember this place."
"You do?" IF asked putting her phone away.
He nodded. "Yeah, this place used to popular when I was younger. I would sometimes come running by here and just see people having fun. It was actually really cool, yeah now-a-days people just dump their trash here due to all the accumulating trash that the ocean swept up and brought here."
IF nodded in agreement.
"Right, but now a days people just show off their stuff hoping to make some type of success out of it, some succeeding while others become a laughing stock. But enough about them.." IF walked back in front of him, pointing to garbage heep. "Starting today your job as Planeptune's Guardian, you are to clean both this beach and the park! I don't want to see a spec of trash left you understand?"
"Wait..All of it?!"
"You heard me right. All of it."
"Are you crazy or something?! I can't possibly do all this!? That's impossible!" Cayde exclaimed.
IF placed her hand on her hip.
"Cayde, you said you wanted to become like me, right?"
"U-uh yeah."
IF nodded taking out her phone again.
"Have you earned you guild license yet?"
The boy shook his head making the agent sigh.
"Yeah, I thought so." IF scratched her a bit in frustration before holding up a single finger. "One year."
"One year?" Cayde asked confused.
"In one year, I'm going to whip you into shape before the guild's entry exam. Apparently, their trying to make things interesting this year by hosting a public examination or test to be frank to see whether your qualified to be a member of the guild."
"A test?! Oh c'mon I have enough those already! Histy works me to the bone when comes to education, I don't wanna study more!"
"Relax it's not like any old paper test, I mean it's point wise. You have defeat monsters, monster champions, and possibly some bosses along the way. But in a nutshell get enough points, you pass."
"Really? That sounds easy enough."
IF coughed up a snicker. "Pssh, yeah right. Look at you, you can barely lift a Dogoo with that body."
"What!? I pretty strong, don't judge by looks , Iffy!"
"Oh yeah? Take off your shirt."
Cayde blinked. "I'm sorry, you say what now?"
"Take off your shirt."
Cayde scooted back with a judging look on his face. "Whoa, Iffy. Are you into that sorta thing? I mean, I'm pretty sure this might be illeg-"
IF whacked the teen upon his with a deadly look on her face. "JUST SHUT UP AND TAKE OFF YOUR #$*% SHIRT ALREADY!"
"Y-Yes ma'am!" Cayde quickly pulled off his pajama hoodie and lied it across the ground giving IF chance to look at what she was working with.
"Hmm. Well it seems your fit enough, but that's just from staying healthy and proper exercise. Surprisingly.." IF whispered the last part. "But that's not enough, hurry up and change into your other clothes I packed in your bag over there, then hop to it. Time is precious!" IF pointed to her which Cayde followed to see her bike resting upon the shore with his bag on it.
"(This is gonna be a long year..)" Cayde said walking over to the bike.
"Are you walking? YOU BETTER NOT BE WALKING!" IF's voice rang out behind him, making him jump and bolt to the bike and into his blue and white striped tracksuit. And thus his training began. But unknown to the two Neptune and Histoire watched from afar as Cayde began his training.
"Do you believe he might make it?" Histoire asked slightly worried as she watched IF yell at the boy who lifted two big tires and was jogging across the shore putting them in a pile in the park outside the walkway.
"Don't fret about it, Histy. Cayde's super strong after all. He can make it through i'm sure of it!"
"I hope your right."
"Well, I should get going." Neptune said turning pulling out a purple notebook from her inventory.
"Going bug hunting again I see?" Histoire asked as a purple portal opened in front of the bug hunter.
"Yep-yep! Tell Cayde I'll see him on his lunch break and that I love him! See ya~!" And with that the bug hunter jumped through the portal, leaving the tome to continue to look at where the portal once was before she suddenly vibrated.
"Ababababa!" The small tome continued to shake for a few more seconds until she finally stopped.
"What in the world? Who could be messaging me at this time?" Histoire eyes then turned blue with radio like connection signals in her eyes.
She suddenly gasped putting her small hands to her mouth.
"I-It can't be..! They're coming home so soon!?" Histoire said before she disappeared in a golden light.
Back on the shore Cayde was seen about to grab more trash until, IF called his name.
"Oh by the way I made you this." IF handed him some papers as he walked up to her.
"What is it?"
"It's your training schedule. I want be around to see you suff- I mean train everyday, but you know I have my duties too. So I'm my putting my faith in you to do this. Do you still think you have what it takes?"
Cayde looked through his new schedule before turning to the agent. "I've already started, so why stop now?"
IF smirked. "That's my boy, now get back to it!"
"Aye!" He said putting the schedule in his bag, quickly heading back.
"(And just like that I began 12 months of absolute living hell.")
Cayde struggled to pull a 3x4 locker as he dug his feet into the grabbing pulling back making it move but ever so slowly.
"C'mon, put your back into! You can move stuff like this no problem!" IF yelled making the boy pull harder as he started moving.
He was then seen carrying a locker tied up with a tire and small parts of tread meal with IF sitting like a king on top as she continued her coaching.
"C'mon move those legs. You say your the fastest in Gaminsutri, but you can't carry a single locker!?"
"Maybe, if you get off it would lighter!" Cayde retorted only making it worse. Comical viens popped out the brunettes head as she indeed did hop off only out of pure anger throw another locker and by some type of miracle land it perfectly on the locker the boy was carrying, violently knocking him forward but kept his balance with IF hopping back on again.
"MOVE MOVE MOVE!"
"Yes Iffy!"
"IT'S, "YES MA'AM!"
"Yes ma'am!" Cayde corrected himself in hopes of no further "punishment".
He then started flipping a monster truck tire over and over until he reached the pile he started making some hours ago. Squatting, then lifting with his legs and pushing forward the heavy tire "Tired" his arms out somewhat but he worked through, gritting his teeth with IF's yelling resounding the air.
*A Few Days Later..*
"Come on! Stay up! Your this nations guardian, not a slacker! Act like one!" IF yelled resting in a beach chair with nothing but a bathing suit, white hoodie and sun glasses.
Cayde was doing a set of planks, holding up some rocks IF placed on his back. He gritted his teeth, struggling to hold them up while his trainer relaxed next to him but in actuality was monitoring his progress but also so he wouldn't hurt himself. In the ocean, Neptune and Compa played in the water splashing each other, laughing while they cheered for the teen.
He had made some noticeable progress, a spot on the beach was opened up due to him allowing the others to relax and bathe in the warm sun.
"Go on Cayde! You can do it, we believe in you!" Compa happily cheered.
"Gimme a G, gimme a an O, gimme a C, gimme a A, gimme Y, gimme a D, gimme a E! What's the spell? Go, Cayde!" Neptune cheered with purple pom poms.
Sure enough, that was the motivation the boy need as he slowly rose in a better position breathing heavily.
"Oh! And Cayde when you finish.." Cayde slowly looked up only to see jiggly mounds bounce in his face causing him to go red. "I'll give you something great~." Neptune winked.
"Neptune stop distracting him!" IF yelled with angry comical plate eyes and teeth.
"Oh boo, your no fun, Iffy. This is why you don't have a boyfriend."
"W-Wha?!"
"You should really watch your attitude sometimes Iffy. Getting angry to much can cause you to get wrinkles." Compa innocently replied although for the guild agent it was like a bullet through the heart at the hurtful comment.
"Y-You too Compa?" IF dejectedly asked sulking in the chair.
Histoire watched from the beach table under the umbrella with a sweat drop.
"(Fight on IF, fight on..)" Histoire inwardly cheered for the agent.
*3 Month's Later*
Rain fell from the sky onto the beach with Cayde seen trying to push a dented, beat up truck, he was making progress but due to the wet sand and flat tires it made it harder for the boy to shove. IF quietly sat and watched the boy struggling to push the truck up the stairs and onto the park edge. She comically sighed exhausted from all her yelling, really it was getting them no where at this point.
* A Week Later..*
IF watched from the beach shore as Cayde swam back and forth with small weights on his back near the coast line, she didn't want the boy going out to far afraid of possibly drowning him if she did.
"My the progress is coming along great I see?"
IF turned to see Histoire floating up next to her as she watched the boy swim. IF nodded.
"Yes, he's surprisingly making good progress." IF turned behind her to see a quarter of the beach completely clean. "He'll probably be able to finish this in no time if he keeps it up."
Histoire nodded in acknowledgement, before pulling out some papers from her inventory and handing it to IF.
"What's this?" IF asked examining the sheets of papers.
"These are quests I'd like Cayde to do to help raise share energy but not only that get him back some battle experience."
"But he doesn't have his license?"
"Yes, I know that. That's why i'm having him tag along with someone."
IF blinked surprised at the Oracle's sudden suggestion in helping the boy train, before smiling along with the Oracle.
"Well, alright then."
*Scene*
"C'mon Cayde, keep up~!" Neptune said slicing a through some Dragon Knights with ease, she twirled her blade turning to the boy with a sway in her hip and cheeky grin on her face. "If you wanna keep up with me, your gotta be quicker than that you know?"
Only response was silence before she repeated blinked dumbfounded.
"Cayde? Cayde?" Neptune called growing worried by the second, however, her worry grew into shock as she was suddenly surrounded by monsters.
"What the?! When did I get surrounded by monsters? Is this the event where a some heroine saves the girl and falls in love from him saving her?" Neptune asked readying her swords, but the sound of something slightly cracking was heard from..somewhere.
All of sudden the air around her started to pick up along with some dust making her cover her eyes as the sound of monsters dying resounded in her ears before the wind suddenly died down. Her face emerged from her arm only for her to gasp.
The monsters that once surrounded her were now gone with the only thing left being little hexagon pieces and Cayde standing protectively in front of her.
"Cayde.." Neptune started but Cayde cut her off.
"Neptune, are you okay?! Why did you run off without me!?" Cayde exclaimed waving his arms up and down frantically.
Neptune stared before laughed nervously. "Whoops, my bad. I guess I got a little to into it."
"Seriously? Did you not see how many monsters there were? That was way too many! Heck you even said stay close and you left me!" The boy angrily said with angry comical eyes and sharp teeth.
"Yeah now that you mention it. Why are there this many monsters? It wasn't like this any other time?"
"Maybe they were just having a reunion of some sort?"
"No way. I doubt that's the reason, if that was the case we'd be seeing a whole lot of the same monsters not different ones."
"So what your saying is they were spawned here? How can the mob capacity hold this many unless.." Cayde looked to her.
"Someone left a monster spawner around causing the sudden rise in monsters throughout the dungeon as if it was apart of the cave." Neptune finished his thought for him.
As the two continued their conversation, a Ancient Dragon slowly emerged from the darkness within the cave scanning the area, before noticing the pair some distance away. Noticing the dragon, Neptune alerted her companion of the incoming danger.
"Ah! Cayde, behind you!" Neptune exclaimed poiting to the dragon.
"Huh?" Cayde turned to what she was pointing at to see the Ancient Dragon walking towards them.
"Looks like we got Dragon problems, we won't be going anywhere that thing still roaming around." Neptune says reading her weapons.
"No problem! I'll take care of it!" Cayde said before running towards the Dragon.
"Cayde wait!" Before Neptune could stop him the Dragon sees him running towards it and raised it's claw ready to attack until Cayde disappeared in blur.
"Fire Dragon Crushing Fang!" Cayde suddenly appeared in front of the Dragon in the air with one hand in flames and swings it right in the face in a arc leaving a trail of flames, he then flipped in mid-air turning sideways, "Fire Dragon Roar!" He then unleashes a blast of flames and sends it into a wall exploding not only the Dragon but the wall along with it causing a earthquake.
"... Nevermind, I stand corrected." Neptune stood agape with the teen landing laughing with pride at the defeat of the Dragon.
"Ha! Those things are a bunch of cake walks! They're nothing compared to Ignaius when that big blue bastard was around!" He laughed.
However, due to his last attack the cave they were in started to collapse as Neptune frantically dodged rocks with small squeals.
"C-Cayde! I know your celebrating your victory and all, trust me I would be too, but we need to get out of here!" Neptune exclaimed pointing to the crumbling cave.
Cayde's moment of victory was put on hold before he turned to her only to see a giant rock starting to fall from the ceiling above her.
"Neptune above you!" Cayde called out pointing to the ceiling.
"Huh?" Neptune looked up a little too late as the rock had already started falling and was slowly closing in on her.
She was about to start running out of the way until Cayde came from behind her, picking her up bridal-style and then jumped out of the way as the rock hit the ground behind them shattering to pieces.
"Hang on!' Cayde said tightening his grip on her as she did the same burying her face in his neck before he blasted out the cave and into a more open part dungeon they were in with the cave entrance collapsing in behind them filling up with rocks. Cayde looked behind him only to breath a sigh of relief before looking at the girl in his arms.
"You okay, Nep?" He asked with concern
"Hm? Uh-huh, nice going back there!" Neptune said giving a thumbs up making him smile.
"You bet!" He set her on her feet before suddenly pulling him in a hug. "W-Whoa Neptune!?"
"Thanks a lot, Cayde! Your my hero!" She thanked tightening the hug.
"Hero?"
"Yeah, if it weren't for you back there I would have been turned into a Nepcake!"
Hero. He was called a hero by his best friend. Hearing that slowly brought a warm smile to his face before he cheered jumping up and down.
"Heck yeah! I'm a hero! A hero!" Cayde then turned to her with that same smile. "Come one, let's head back to Histy and tell her the good news!"
"Right! Let's go!"
The two stood there with the same smiles still present on their faces as they waited for one another to act on their way out.
"Aren't you gonna open a portal/run?" Cayde and Neptune asked at the same time surprising each other.
"Huh?! I thought you were gonna open a portal to the Basilicom?"
"I thought you were gonna run us back?"
"Why would I run us back? Your not in danger? I mean it's not like I wouldn't want too but I thought we just use your portal instead?"
"I would too, but I thought since you could run at super sonic speeds it would be faster."
The situation they were in was kinda awkward until Cayde noticed a shadow figure watching them from afar before he spoke up again.
"Well, wanna get going?" He asked sticking his arms out.
"Mhm!" Neptune happily hopped in the boys arms, pointing to the exit. "Onwards!"
Cayde blasted off with the duos cheers echoing throughout the cave as they made their way back to Planeptune. Unknown to them, Lastation's Guardian had been watching them the whole time hiding behind a tree as he watched a blue blur disappear in the distance.
"...So it's true. He really is training just like the scouts said... I wonder why though? As far as I know he doesn't do anything besides gaming and sleeping but now his shares have been going up. I better report back to Croire and tell her what's up." Alex said looking as his phone with a picture of Cayde and Neptune cheering in it.
*Scene*
"So how goes the research ?" Croire asked floating into an observation room.
"Everything is in the green so far," Kei said looking over some documents. "Lately a sign of random monsters and robots have been appearing around the Planeptune and Lastation border as of late."
"Hm? Monters and robots, eh? Sheesh, you think something knew would appear if something like this was happening." Croire crossed her arms frowning.
"That's the thing. Something new did appear."
"Oh?"
"Some of our scouts have been observing the area for the sudden uproar in monster population recently and they came across this in their search." Kei tapped a few buttons on the keyboard before some images appeared. In the images showed a horde of monsters in a forest surrounding some draped in a black cloak with a few flying robots by their side.
"What they are doing?" Croire asked.
"That's the thing. We don't know. Scouts report that the cloaked figure seemed to have some type of understanding for these monsters and the robots seem to be worshipping their so called, "Master" with the upmost respect. But if i'm being honest, I really can't tell the difference if their leading them or just being plane stupid."
Croire sweat dropped. "Uh..right. Anyways, if what i'm seeing is the cause of the monster attack recently then they got another thing coming, by the way where's Alex? Wasn't he here with you?"
"Yes, he was, but he said he some things to do and left.
Croire groaned holding her head with her hand.
"I swear, he just does what he wants. Track his phone, where is he now?"
Kei turned and began typing on the computer with map of Lastation appearing and panning outside the nation, ending at the Planeptune border.
"Hm? What the heck is he doing near Planeptune?"
"Well recently there have rumors going around saying that IF, Planeptune's top agent is training the Guardian."
"IF? That "Gust Of Wind" that blows through Gamindustri? Funny, I always took her to be the solo type of not really having anyone teaming up with her nor being train under her for that fact." Croire cocked a grin.
"Well we all can change in due time."
"True that, Kei. True that. Anyways, call Alex back I want to investigate this." Croire said leaving the room with Kei already calling the Guardian.
*Scene*
"Ugh.." Cayde groaned lying on the floor face first, his entire body burning in pain but really it was just soar from all the intense training he's been doing.
"Im pooped. I can barely even move a muscle to play video games..." He reached slowly reached his aching arm over to the control sitting some feet away from him before his arm completely gave out in the floor. "Dang it..."
"Cayde, you're finally back!" Said the magical tome while flying towards him.
"Yeah..I am.." Cayde weakly said.
"Oh my..Are you okay? Do you need something to drink perhaps?(・_・ヾ" Asked the tome slowly floating in front of his face.
Cola please..." He got out before face planting in the ground.
"I'm pretty sure that's something you shouldn't be having if your trying to properly train yourself but..."Looking down at the exhausted boy, the small couldn't help but smile. "I guess it wouldn't hurt.
Cayde thanked her only for his thanks to be muffled by the ground while the small tome went into the kitchen and back out holding a Coca-Cola can with a bit of struggle before setting it down on the living room table behind him.
"Oh Cayde, your drink is ready.(*＾▽＾)／" Histoire said in cheerful tone.
Like a kid who finally found the candy for the first time in forever, Cayde instantly sat up, grabbing the drink before cracking it open and started chugging with a satisfying burp.
'Ah sweet relief!" Cayde rubbed his cheek on the beverage, "I shall love you till the day I die."
Histoire only shook her head with smile watching the boy recharge before turning and headed straight for her desk and started working on the latest paperwork they received. Setting the drink down Cayde stood stretching as bones in his popped loudly from all the pent up stress they've been getting lately. The tome shivered at the sound before looking at him.
"Goodness, doesn't that hurt?" Asked the tome rubbing her now aching neck.
"Nope!" He said popping the "P". "If anything it feels great, it's almost like i'm a whole new person when it happens sometimes." Cayde said turning walking out the room.
"Welp, I'm gonna go take a shower! Brb!" The boy said before zipping out of the room.
"Remember to wash throughly!" The tome called out before he "Whatever mom!" in the distance. She sighed "Why must all the those who protect this country have such unique personalties? I sometimes wish they could act more responsible once in a while(*´Д｀)=з".
Just then tome started shaking up and down dropping her pencil as she struggled to stop the sudden shake.
"Ababababa!" Histoire floated around for a few seconds until she stopped along with the sudden shake. "Goodness, who in the world is sending me a message at this time night?!" Asked the tome as she opened up her..inner message box and scrolled through her e-mail.
"Hm? A message from Lastation's Oracle? What could they possibly want?" Opening the message all but two words were written on it. 'Heads up.'
"Heads up? What in the world is she-"
"BOO!" Croire's holographic image suddenly appeared in front of the Oralce making her scream in shock, before she hid in her tome shaking with the Lastation Oracle laughing her butt off at the frightened tome.
"Bwhahaha! Y-You should have seen the look on your face!" Croire laughed pointing at the shaking tome before Histoire peeped out of it.
"C-Croire!? How could you do that?! You know how I don't like to be scared!"
"That's why I did it duh." Histoire remerged from her tome sitting back on it with a slight scowl. "Oh? Is the wittle Oracle upset?"
"Do not call me little." Histoire sternly said causing the holographic Oralce to back in "fear".
"Oh no! The great Histoire is mad! Is she going to beat me up, I wonder?" Croire sarcastically said smirking causing the tome to sigh.
"What do you want, Croire?"
"Straight to business as usual, eh? Well understandable it is pretty late." Croire leaned back back on her tome in a sit up position. "You probably haven't heard but recently but there's been some strange sightings on the boarders of our nations."
"Sightings?"
"Yeah, apparently the monsters that kept attacking some villages near Planeptune and Lastation are being leaded by someone unknown to us. And we were wondering if you happen to know anything on the situation."
"Monsters randomly appearing attacking villages and the increase of monsters in dungeons? This is troublesome, actually if I recall Cayde said he and Neptune ran into a bit of trouble to day as well. He said the monsters somehow separated him and Neptune and tried to ambush her but he was lucky enough to get to her in time." Histoire explained recalling todays events.
" Now an Ambush? No normal monster could possibly think of planning something that smart. Well they can but.."
"It's a little too convenient how they did it even if the two are split up." Criore said getting serious.
"Look I know we didn't have our fair times of being peaceful with one another, you and me, but we need to figure this out before something happens." Crioire stated getting a nod from the Oracle.
"I agree, if something like this were to continue I fear what may happen to other adventures when they go out questing." Histoire agreed.
"So what do say, Histy? Call a temporary truce and figure out the cause behind these attacks?
Histoire thought a bit on the situation. If she were to agree to these terms not only would Planeptune's shares increase but Lastation's as well putting the both of on possible equal footing in lead, but she were to agree Cayde's obvious difference in training would be exposed and she didn't want that found out until the next clash of nations. But if she didn't it would seem that the Oracle wouldn't care about the nation being under attack and would seem as if she were being selfish to protect her own skin. Sighing knowing the answer, the Oracle turned back to Croire with final decision.
" I agree-"
"We agree!" Cayde answered popping up from out of nowhere scaring the two Oracles by his sudden appearance.
"C-Cayde!? Where did you come from?!" Histoire asked regaining her breath.
"The shower."
"I know that. I mean, when did you get here?" The Oracle asked more specifically.
"When Croire asked you to join forces and you were lost in thought." He blankly said causing the Oracles to sweat drop.
"W-Wow and I thought Alex was good at sneaking up on people. He just might take the cake." Croire smirked although it was pretty obvious that she was trying to hide her sudden shock.
"Speaking of sneaking up, stop doing that! Your gonna give me a heart attack if you keep that up." The small tome said putting a hand to chest.
"Right sorry about that..hehe." He chuckled nervously. "Anyways, like I said before, we agree!"
"Hm? Do you now? Why's that?" Lastation's Oracle asked mischievously.
"Simple. It's a Guardians duty to protect his people and his nation, so I'm gonna do what I do best. Save the day and make Histy and the people of Planeptune proud." Said the young man giving the two Oracles a warm smile.
The small tome stared at the teen before a warm smile of her own appeared on her face as she turned to Croire.
"Well you heard him, Croire. We'll accept your temporary truce until we figure out what's going on and put a stop to it."
Croire's smirk grew as she sat back up right looking at the two with joy.
"Haha! Yeah now that's what I'm talking about! Well I'll see you soon.." Croire's image started flickering in and out, "Partner." And with that her image disappeared leaving the two only to look at the spot where she used to be before looking towards each other.
"So..I guess were friends with Lastation now, huh?"
"Yes, it would seem so. But don't let your guard down do you here me?"
"What do mean?" Cayde asked with concern.
"Just because we're teaming up with our neighbor doesn't mean they'll act neighborly, you know mischievous Croire and her Guardian can be so stay on your toes when the time comes." Histoire stated getting a determined nod from the team. "Good now let's get to still have a lot training to do in the morning."
Cayde's groaned in disappoint with Histoire following him to the bedroom ready to start the new day but new partnership ahead of them.
*In Lastation..*
"So how did it go?" Kei asked the tome who only stared out on the balcony of the Basilicom.
"Perfect. Now that Histoire and her Guardian are allied with us things can run smoothly if Alex doesn't screw anything up."
"Mm. Correct, but that isn't all I came out here for." Reported the Oracle with stern face.
"Well? Don't just stand there spit out." Croire demanded sternly.
Kei then stepped closer to the tome pulling out a tablet showing it to the tome, which Croire scanned and examined the information presented to her throughly while the silver-haired girl gave her a summary of what'd she fine.
"This is a collection of reports we've been receiving on the subject. It might possibly be lead to the mastermind who's controlling the monsters."
"So we finally found you, huh?..."
Lastation's Oracle quickly went from her mischievous attitude to a stern one like the silver haired Oracle next to her.
"By the looks of things it seems this mysterious foe has been at it for it a while having to seemingly set up a base in a cave outside our nations in Virtua Forest it seems...The fact that they're not as concerned with staying inconspicuous as they've been doing leads me to believe they might be preparing to launch another scale attack but this time larger than the ones before."
"Another one but this time even bigger huh? Talk about a grand entrance to say hello to some new faces." Croire smirked at the devilsh idea while Kei sweat dropped slightly at the Oracle's devious grin.
"Ahem, back to the situation at hand. While this unknown individual is not residing within any of the nations but instead between them is causing some slight concerns of a double ambush to surprise us with our guards down but not only to make the other nation possibly believe we're trying to wipe them from the picture, but makes us too believe they were trying to do the same."
The Oracle lowered her head and closed her eyes while her mind processed what to do for moment before finally looking up at Kei again and spoke her decision.
"I say for now, we find that base and destroy everything in it. With Planeptune and Lastation's Guardian working together i'm sure they'll get it done."
"I'm sure the matter of them getting it done is a point but the fact of them working together is the question."
"Right.."
The tome thought hard on the situation. Alex was known to work fine with others but when it came to working with someone he tends to not like well he'll just flat out leave em', but this is Planeptune's Guardian were talking about. That same someone who defeated him a few months back at the colosseum, and practically embarrassed him in front everyone was not gonna sit well with him and she knew it.
Sighing once more she scratched her head in annoyance before handing the tablet back to Kei, turning heading off the balcony.
"Like I said before we'll find their base and put an end to it before anything can happen."
"My thoughts exactly, "Said the Oracle with a smirk "I have assembled an investigation team to help uncover the location of the individuals whereabouts. All we need now-"
"Don't need em'."
Kei froze with shock at the Oracle's sudden refusal for assistance, she already knew Croire would sometimes work alone but they're country was in state of a monster invasion for peats sake!
"I-I'm sorry I beg your pardon?"
"I said we don't need em'. If those two can't defend their nations without doing things for themselves, they don't have the right to call themselves proper Guardians. Think this as a test, if they find the base and possibly find out whose responsible they pass. But if not, well tough luck try again in the next life."
"Hold on, are you telling me your willing to let Alex die if he doesn't find out the one causing the attacks?!"
"Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not, only time will tell. "Croire said her back towards the Oracle before she entered the building and headed towards the door. "Now you should hurry to bed we got a busy day ahead of us tomorrow." Croire left the room leaving the sliver haired girl in shock at the thought of Lastation's Oracle letting their Guardian die.
"No. Even though she says the things she says, her actions will speak completely louder than her words." Kei said turning the light off in the room.
"Tomorrow is a new day. Let's hope they don't screw this up." Kei said leaving the room.
*Scene*
"Hya!" IF exclaimed giving a Cayde a good roundhouse to chin knocking him to the ground with a hard thud.
Cayde groaned, his entire body felt exhausted but beaten too, he knew IF's training was going to be hard but this..This was just something different. Slowly getting onto his two feet he turned back to the guild agent.
"I'm not done yet!" Yelled Cayde as he dashed towards IF and threw a punch.
"You call that fast?" IF asked side stepping.
The agent quickly jabbed a elbow into the boys back before launching a heavy kick to his torso knocking the air out of him. The teen fell to the ground holding his stomach with pain trying to get up until feeling something press against his neck.
"You lose." IF stated letting the boys head go standing on her feet again.
The past 4 months have been hell. At first was nothing but Hell itself but over the months he's been making progress, Cayde's been learning how to fight more comfortably rather than just throwing punches like he used too even though those worked out in his favor, his style felt more polished ever since his father trained. From proper movements to techniques heck it even felt his speed grow a bit more too. Cayde was finally starting become a more better fighter.
IF noticed the boys progress and throughout the months grew more impressed each time they sparred. He was getting the hang of this quicker than she thought nd just under a half a years worth progress!
"I lost again..." He said lying on his back.
"Don't let the loss get to you. You still need practice is all, besides you've improved better than I accepted. Good job." IF said extending her hand towards him.
Cayde looked at IF's hand for a moment before extending his own and grabbed it. The brunette then helped him back on his feet before he stumbled a bit with IF catching him.
"Hey easy there. Don't push yourself."
"Right. Thanks Iffy."
"Oh~ Isn't that sweet? Right Compa?"
"Mhm! Iffy's the sweetest girl I know!"
The two fire users turned and looked at Neptune, Compa, Histoire and Brandon sitting on white and red checkered cloth some feet away from them watching the match tha took place before them.
"Guys? What are you doing here?"
"Yeah, what are you doing here? Compa and the others I understand but Neptune is a whole other concern."
"Nepu! Why am I the only one that was singled out?!" Neptune asked her once happy face now replaced with a shocked one.
"Your a distraction thats why. In case you didn't know I'm in the middle of teaching so do me a favor and zip for the rest of the day."
Neptune pouted with comical tears falling from her eyes before she grabbed onto to Compa and cried her eyes out.
"C-C-Compa! Iffy's b-being m-m-mean to me!" Neptune whined with Compa hugging her before giving IF a disapproved glare.
"Iffy! You've gone too far! Apologize to Nep-Nep right now!" Compa demanded only making the guild agent gawk in shock.
"W-What!? You've gotta be kidding!"
"Iffy.." Compa menacingly said making the guild agent sweat.
"...Nep. I'm sorry..that I hurt your feelings."
"And?"
"And..grr..I'm sorry for calling you a distraction when your not."
"Aw really? Apology accepted! Love ya Iffy~!" Neptune quickly recovered with the same smile she had earlier.
IF sighed. "Anyways, what are you doing here?"
"Well, I've come to get Cayde for the recon mission for today." Histoire said floating up to the duo. "We should probably be going soon."
"Recon mission? When we're you guys going on a recon mission?
Histoire raised a brow. "Didn't Cayde tell you we were leaving today?"
IF shook her head before the two turned to the teen who scratched his head embarrassed.
"Yeah sorry about that. I tried to tell her but she said "No talking! "IF" you have time to talk then you time to be training!" She said." Cayde recalled also making a slick pun with the agents name.
Histoire blinked before slowly turning her head towards the brunette who whistled a little tune trying to look innocent before noticing th look the Oracle was giving her and sighed embarrassed.
"Um sorry about that..I guess should have been more responsible of listening to him than making him work."
"No it's quiet alright IF, it's understandable." A few loud beeps came from the small Oracle's watch. "It seems it's time, we must be going, come along now Cayde we need to get going." The small tome said with the teen happily following behind her yelling the words 'Freedom!" as they left the scene.
The brunette watched the duo disappear in the distance with calm expression on her face. However, that calm demeanor was soon replaced with annoyance due to the lilac colored girl spouting on about nonsense and her bug collection to the nurse-in-training and ramen owner who eyed with curiosity. She was loud and the mood to train was killed in an instant with her constant bickering, but if were being totally honest IF always did think the bug-hunter was annoying to begin with.
"I guess we'll call it day.." IF said walking to the group with Neptune continuing on with her bug adventures.
*Scene*
On the outskirts of Virtua Forest, Cayde and Histoire were seen making their way to the sight where the unknown individual was last seen, Histoire nervously observed her surroundings even though the were out in the open it didn't mean that someone or something could jump out and down right right attack them right there on the spot.
Just thinking about the possibility of a surprise attack sent a slight shiver down the small tomes spine making her slightly whimper as the urge of looking around her blind spots increased which didn't go unnoticed by the blue hair speedster. "Histy, you okay? Is something wrong?" Asked Cayde making the small tome jump by the sudden sound of his voice.
"O-Oh it's nothing really, I'm just a little weary is all.(;´Д`)." The small tome admitted, honestly the Oracle wasn't really used togo out this much, yes she would go out, but it was only for the necessities, go out eating, or to go on a light walk through the nation. Any other time when she wasn't out and about she would be inside working like she usually does or lecturing the teen on getting his work done as usual.
Cayde, who worriedly looked at the Oracle as she continued looking at her surroundings, decided to look around to make sure no one or anything was behind, above or below them as they contimued on to their destination.
"I don't see anything if makes you feel better." Cayde reassured with a slight smile, the tome looked up to him with a worried look before noticing his smile and wearily smiled too. Although, if being with the Oracle for as long as he's been he knew when she was or was not lying.
And in this situation no less, he knew for a fact that she was scared. Seeing her trying to put on a brave face made him feel guilty even though he didn't bring her out the Basilicom forcefully, this time anyway, still made him feel guilty to the point of him not wanting to continue what he wanted to do with her. "Histoire, it's going to be okay."
"I-I know. It's just t-that I'm so used to-" She was cut off with Cayde finishing her thought for her," Being inside the Basilicom where it's safe? Yeah, I know. But this is why most the time I try and get you out and about, so when we go missions like these you wouldn't have to feel worried." Cayde stated causing the tome to look up at him.
"Besides your already crazy strong on your own Histy, I don't know why you don't do some of the crazy quests even the strongest adventures have hard time dealing with on your own either. Yeah, being alone isn't all that great but it can give you experience as an adventurer." Cayde put his hand under her tome and picked her up causing her to squeal by the sudden jester before he set her down inside his hoodie with her head poking out the front.
"Doing things that scare you can sometimes help you grow stronger in the future, and well..hehe not get scared all the time." Cayde winked his left eye with weary smile hoping the tome understood his meaning even if it was a bit vague.
But surprisingly the tome smiled, this time, a genuine smile as she looked up to the boy carrying her. "I understand even if it was a bit vague, I understand fully to what you mean. And honestly I don't care where we go, as long as your there with me I have no reason to be afraid even if I am."
The tome snuggled a back a bit into his hoodie. "Thank you, Cayde(*^▽^*)."
Cayde smiled, happy that his plan to cheer up his workaholic of a caretaker worked, looking back down the road, toward where knew was southwest of his nation the duo finally made it to Virtua Forest's entrance to spot the Oracle and Guardian of Lastation waiting for them. Alex, who leaned on a tree, rested peacefully with his arms crossed with Croire looking into the forest with a stern expression on her face.
Hearing the sound of someone approaching she turned and smirked at the arriving duo who stopped before her. "Well well, look who finally showed up. For a sec there I thought you might have bailed." Croire said waking the shapeshifter from his light slumber only to groan in annoyance from being woken."Ugh you show up now? I just got comfortable." Alex said walking up beside his oracle with glare towards the bluette only to notice something missing.
"Hey, where's your Oracle? Don't tell me she up and left you to fend your sorry butt." Alex said only then to feel something hard collide against his head, smacking him to the ground. Croire floated above him with a visible tic mark popping out of her forehead as her fist shook with steam coming out of it from the blow she just dealt. "Can kill ya to be nice for a change?!" The dark tome said angrily causing the Planeptune duo to sweat drop at the scene.
"Anyways, incase you couldn't tell numb skull, Histoire is in his hoodie. Maybe if you use your eyes instead of just running your mouth you would've known." Croire stated with Alex already getting back on his feet rubbing his with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry."
"Don't say it to me.", Croire pointed to Histoire, "Apologize to her." Alex nodded, turning and bowing sympathetically to the tome, "I'm so sorry for my rude actions and behavior, Miss Histoire. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me." Cayde and Histoire stared wide eyed. They were NEVER expecting the his mood to change in just a few seconds and apologize no less! Seeing this type of discipline lead the two firmly believe that even thought Croire acted and talked the way she does, she was obviously passionate about keeping a good look.
"U-Um, I humbly accept your apology. You may raise your head（・□・；）." Histoire accepted not wanting the red haired boy feel even more sorry if she rejected his apology, even though she was going to shoo off his earlier comment to being with. "So, I take were all ready?(・_・ヾ", She asked double checking before entering the forest.
Getting a confirmed nod from Croire, Histoire nodded before looking up to the teen carrying her, "Are you ready, Cayde?' He only replied with grin and nod, making the Oracle smile back. "Alright then, let's go!( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/".
Croire hopped off her tome and rested on Alex's shoulder with her tome disappearing into thin air as they were about to start walking in Cayde suddenly started jogging past them with a quick pace, glancing behind him with cocky grin he called out to them, "Come on pick up the pace will ya? We a'int got all day!"
Alex, not at all ready for Cayde's sudden burst of speed, lightly growled before running after them, yelled out, "Get back here hothead!" He insulted trying his best to catch up.
Unaware, however, a cloaked individual was watching them from afar with an evil smirk.
"Hmm...It seems I have drawn unwanted attention. Doesn't matter, this might be time to test out just how strong these so called "Guardians" are worth." They said before disappearing into the forest.