Final Fantasy: Rise of Despair
When we last left off, Clan Falcon was introduced and the clanmaster had to leave on an unknown errand. After the fifth day of his absence, two of Clan Falcon's elites catch wind of a surprise attack by the Black Army. Can Clan Falcon fight off this sudden threat? Read on and find out.
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy: Tactics Advance, I do own the characters and the plot.
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Soaring Falcons
Heidi dashed out of the clan base with everyone behind her. Monty handed her his binoculars so that she could get a better view of the approaching army. She looked and then quickly gave Monty back his binoculars. "Alright! Magic users and long range attackers stay up here at the top of the cliff and attack from above when I give the signal. Monty, give your priority to taking out enemy spell casters." Heidi instructed.
"You've got it." Monty said as he loaded his gun.
"Melee fighters get to the base of the cliff and defend the only way up. I'll go ahead and try and cut down their numbers!" Heidi further instructed. "Everyone! GO!" Heidi commanded.
"For Clan Falcon!" Mendoza shouted. He, Will, Jessica, and Louise all hopped down the rock pathways up to the top of the cliff. Heidi used conceal and ran off ahead of them while Stacy, Gilbert, Monty, and Jason moved toward the edge of the cliff.
"Remember, wait for Heidi's signal." Gilbert instructed.
"Right." They all said.
The Black Army front lines…
"Jeez… is sending two lieutenants necessary?" A Bangaa defender in black armor with red clothing asked annoyed.
"Yeah, they should have just left you and sent me alone." A Human Fighter also in black armor and red clothing said.
"Hey! I was saying that they should have left you behind you cocky punk!" The Bangaa argued back.
"Why you…" That's when an arrow made of mana zipped towards them. The two lieutenants barely dodged and it instead hit a human soldier in the heart. "We're under attack! Men! Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarge!" The Human ordered.
"Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!" Came the collective battle cries of the black army.
"Double-Shot!" Heidi began leaping backwards through the trees firing off two arrows at a time and accurately hitting Black Army members as they charged forward.
"In the trees!" A bunch of archers then aimed up in to the trees and open fired.
"Damn." Heidi muttered. She turned around and leaped away full speed away from the arrows. She fired an arrow up in to the air in sight of the members on the cliff.
"That's the signal! Fira!" Gilbert cast a spell that caused a medium-sized fireball to incinerate five black soldiers at once.
"Charm-shot!" Monty fired a bullet that had a pink aura at an enemy black mage, who naturally turned on his comrades. But by Black Army law, kill all who become a hindrance, so that black mage ended up being brutally murdered.
"Here goes!" Mendoza cried. Everyone followed his charge as Heidi landed on to solid ground with her katana drawn.
"Charge!" Heidi ordered. Clan Falcon was now on the attack.
Heidi sliced through three waists in one slice and back-flipped over an attack in time to counter with a decapitating slice. She then immediately disappeared. "Hey where'd she go?" A generic soldier asked.
"Shadow Bind!" Numerous mana arrows then pierced the shadows of enemy soldiers and they found themselves unable to move. As Heidi landed, a Bangaa Warrior was about to attack her when. "Last breath!" Heidi used her fingers to press the palm of her left hand and that caused a knife to extend from the wrist and she immediately stabbed him through the chest. She then turned around and dashed through all the soldiers who had been shadow-bound. Leaving them all dead.
Will was throwing punches and kicks at anyone that came close. A fencer attempted to stab him but he side-stepped and knocked the wind out of her with a single gut-punch, followed by a duck and a kick to someone's gut. "Is this all you've got?" Will asked. As a bunch surrounded him, he leaped in to the air. "Whirlwind!" He kicked them all in mid-air and kicked off of the last one.
"Shoot him down! Gwah!" Before the archers could respond they became impaled by Gilbert's blizzara spell. As Will was landing, he threw several punches in to the air.
"Far Fist!" The areas his fists aimed at suddenly gave off shockwaves the sent black soldier members flying.
"That's nothing." Jessica said. Jessica sliced her way through several members being careful not to take any hits. However one human soldier managed to slice away a strand of hair. "You're… going to… regret that…" Jessica growled. "Die!" Jessica diced that soldier in to who knows how many pieces and then leaped in to the trees quickly sheathing her swords and making handsigns. "Fire Jujutsu." Red puff of smoke. "Fire Veil!" A burst of flame came from the ground underneath four soldiers, they suddenly went berserk and struck at anyone nearby.
"They've gone crazy! Dispatch them!" A soldier shouted. While they were doing that, Jessica was rigging something up in the trees.
"Throw!" Jessica then landed and threw shuriken at a group of soldiers and hit some of them, but the rest of the shuriken hit ropes in the trees and it began raining a various assortment of knives from above.
"Jump him!" A bunch of Mog Knights, fighters, and dragoons all dog-piled on top of Mendoza with their weapons pointed at him. After a few seconds…
"Strikeback!" Mendoza sent the whole lot of them flying off of him, most of them dead, but for those who lived and came back. "Wild Swing!" Mendoza spun around swinging his blade, cleaving through the soldiers like butter. Mendoza immediately sheathed his weapon. "Thunder Sword!" Mendoza stabbed what could only be described as a sword made by a bunch of lightning bolts through two guys standing in a row through their hearts. And the heart is the worst place to receive several volts of electricity.
"Look out!" Jason quickly shot down two guys that were about to jump Mendoza. "Whew… I hit them." He sighed.
Louise stabbed one in the shoulder with her rapier, at first he didn't feel much, but then he slowly collapsed, dead. "Poison sting." She said. She then lunged at another one, but the White Monk dodged to the side and hit her across the cheek, sending her in to some nearby bushes where a few more black soldiers went.
"Thundara!" Stacy caused fairly large lightning bolts to rain down on the enemies.
"Blizzaga!" Gilbert cast a spell that caused large icicles to burst from the ground and impale several soldiers. "There are still too many of them." Gilbert said in a stressed tone of voice.
"Whoa!" Heidi leaped back just in time to avoid a thunder spell.
"Dang, slien shot!" Monty quickly shot another spell caster, and another few.
"Double Shot! Beso Toxico!" Heidi fired two poisoned mana arrows so that the arrows scratched the sides of about six soldiers, all of them fell dead later from the poison. Heidi then drew her sword and had to dodge her way backwards.
"Fire Sword!" Mendoza created a sword out of flames and slashed several soldiers in half, and across the waist before it disappeared and he drew his own blade again.
"Gah!" Will got cut across the back but turned around and threw that guy over his shoulder so that he hit the guy in front of him. Will then back flipped continuously to avoid getting hit by gunner bullets and arrows.
"Thundaga!" Gilbert quickly dispatched those archers and gunners.
"Earth Render!" As Will landed on his feet he slammed one foot in to the ground and sent an earthquake in a straight line through the black soldiers. "I still smell… a little over 160…" Will panted.
Jessica had received a few cuts and bruises from various punches and slashes she narrowly dodged. Suddenly a bunch of arrows flew at her. She quickly made some hand signs. "Earth jujutsu!" A brown puff of smoke. "Earth Veil." A wall of earth then appeared in front of her and blocked the arrows. Jessica leaped back and threw a few shuriken as some soldiers crawled over the wall and killed them.
"Die!" A Juggler and a morpher morphed in to a red panther leaped from above, but in one quick sword move she slashed them across the chest and killed them.
"Man, these guys are tougher than I gave them credit for." The Bangaa lieutenant said finally walking up to the battle. "Heh, but they're getting pushed back now." He smirked. True to his words, the clan was now backed up closer to the cliff and they were getting exhausted.
"Something's not right…" The Fighter lieutenant said.
"Huh?"
"The clanmaster… where is he? I only see the second in command."
"Oh really… well I shall have the honor of finishing her." The Bangaa commented as he ran in to the battle.
"Hey! Not fair…" The fighter growled.
"Beso Toxico!" Heidi channeled mana through her katana and poisoned it, then she slashed a few soldiers and they soon fell dead. "Hm?" Heidi turned and saw a defender leap at her.
"Heidi the Black Assassin! I challenge you!" The Defender shouted. His knightsword struck the ground as Heidi leaped back and avoided it. The Defender then picked it up and began slashing rapidly at Heidi.
"Oh please." Heidi sighed. She used her sword to stop one slash and then move in to stab him with her wrist knife, but he saw that coming and leaped away.
"Hah!" The Bangaa taunted as Heidi concealed herself. "Where did she…"
"Rockseal!" Heidi then slammed the palm of her hand on the bangaa's back and stone began to spread all over his body.
"Gah!" The Bangaa cried.
"Any last words?" Heidi asked coldly.
"REINFORCEMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENTSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!" The Bangaa shouted before the stone expanded to his head and turned him in to a statue.
"What?" Heidi asked panicked.
"Look out!" Jason once again shot a few more behind Heidi while she was startled by this.
"This is no good, I'm all of a sudden smelling more soldiers!" Mendoza shouted as he slashed another one.
"How many?" Heidi asked getting closer to the rest of the clan as the clan members started to back up the walkway up the cliff.
"It will total 200 more…" Mendoza groaned.
"What!" Everyone gasped.
"I'm out of arrows!" Jason cried.
"And I just ran out of bullets." Monty grimaced as he used a fire shot to burn a few. "That was my last one…" The melee fighters began backing up the hill as the black army marched on menacingly towards them.
"Ha ha ha ha ha." The Remaining lieutenant laughed. "Give it up, although it's impressive that you've killed as many as you have, there is still me, and 200 other men to fight, and you're about out of fighting space." The fighter taunted.
"Grrrr…" Heidi grunted in frustration.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Came the screams of some soldiers from the back ranks.
"What was that?" The fighter asked. That's when a red tulip floated down and landed gently in front of Heidi.
"A tulip…" Heidi gasped.
"I think you miscounted." Came a familiar voice. All heads then turned toward a certain tree branch. "I only counted 175 of you." Harris smirked.
"Harris!" Heidi shouted relieved. Harris then leaped up in to the air and threw something to Jason and Monty.
"Here's some more ammo for you guys!" Harris shouted. He landed in front of Heidi and the melee attackers and raised his hand above them. "Cura!" A white aura surrounded his clan and all of their wounds were instantly healed. "Now then, we have some unfinished business to attend to." Harris said as he drew his knightswords.
"Die!" The fighter ran forward and swung his blade vertically at Harris. Harris used the hilt of his sword to catch the blade mid-swing at its hilt. "Uh…"
"Big mistake…" Harris said. He then slashed the fighter at the waist and instantly killed him. "Let's go!" Harris shouted.
"Chaaaaaaaaaaarge!" Mendoza ran in to the crowd with his blade drawn. "Rush!" He tackled one guy and sent him crashing in to two others clearing a path for him to get in the middle. "Wild-Swing!" Mendoza then cleaved away at all the enemies surrounding him.
"Metal Jujutsu!" Gold puff of smoke. "Metal Veil!" Jessica caused a cloud of golden metal powder to rise up around a number of soldiers and she dashed in.
SLASH
SHING
CLANG
The smoke cleared and all of the soldiers in the smoke were dead.
"Ice Shot!" Monty fired his gun and sent several bullets that formed icy spikes that stabbed several soldiers.
"Take this!" Will rushed in and launched in his crowd clearing punches and kicks. Uppercuts, high knees, and elbow thrusts that caused them all to lose their senses long enough for him to… "Whirlwind!" Will spun around and sent them all flying backwards.
"Hmph…" Heidi disappeared.
"Now where did she go?"
"Hiyah!" Heidi had both her katana and her wrist knife and she dashed and spun her way with deadly grace through a line of black soldiers. Once she sheathed both weapons, they fell to the ground dead.
"Ancient stone of the cosmos… come down and lend us your might… Meteor!" Gilbert cast a spell and shortly afterwards, a huge meteor fell from the sky and was descending on a group of soldiers.
"Run for it!"
"We're screwed!"
BOOM
The soldiers were instantly crushed.
Harris was blocking, countering, and slashing through black soldiers with the deadly grace and precision of a master swordsman. Eight soldiers then rushed him from all sides. "Saint Cross!" A white cross appeared beneath Harris' feet, and then a ring of holy magic repelled and killed all of the attackers. Harris then disappeared and reappeared in front of an attack that a Nu Mou Alchemist with a mace was making on Will. He quickly blocked and countered the attack.
"Thank you clanmaster." Will said.
"Everyone behind me!" Harris shouted. The clan soon obeyed as the remaining thirty black soldiers charged at them. "Heh… it's time to end this." Harris said. A holy light enveloped his blade as he then took a side-stance. "Holy Blade!" Harris then dashed quickly through the remaining soldiers. As his glowing blade passed through them, a holy light erupted from their bodies. When the light vanished, all of the soldiers were dead without a visible wound on their bodies.
"We made it!" Jason shouted out of relief.
"Alright, head count. Heidi." Harris turned around and started calling names.
"Here." Heidi responded.
"Mendoza."
"Here."
"Will."
"Here."
"Jessica."
"Here."
"Louise." Harris waited, no response. "Louise!" He shouted raising his voice. "Ugh… spread out and search for her!" Harris called. Everyone then left where they were standing and searched all over the forested area.
"I found her! It's… it's…" Stacy stammered. Everyone gathered to find Louise's corpse completely run through.
"Hmmm…" Harris held a glowing hand over her. "Full-Life!" A white aura enveloped the corpse, but nothing happened. "As I thought… she's been dead for too long for white magic to work." Harris sighed. Will picked up the corpse, and the clan turned back toward the base.
A few minutes later…
"Alright everyone, I have something to discuss with all of you." Harris said. They were all back in the eating room. Everyone took a seat and Will dropped the corpse on to the ground next to his seat.
"Oops…" Will uttered.
"Never mind that. On to business." Harris said. "I was gone for a few days extra for a reason." Harris said resting his chin on his hands with a serious look on his face.
"And what would that reason be?" Gilbert asked Harris.
"As you know… since the Black King took over they've been trying to regulate mail, so the postal service moves about daily. I had to find the postal service and send three letters." Harris explained.
"Letters? What for?" Stacy asked. Harris then raised a hand a few inches away from his face.
"Forest, Laura, Phantom." Harris said, counting those words off on his hands. "Do you know about those three clan names?" He asked.
"Ummm…" Jessica thought for a minute.
"I do… the clanmasters of those clans are among the ten most wanted by the black king." Gilbert answered as he pulled out a slip of paper.
"Let me see it." Stacy asked. She pulled the paper towards her and Jason looked over her shoulder. It was a list of wanted "felons" according to the black king and their bounties. The top ten entries on the list went as follows.
1.) Harris the White paladin – 10,000 gil
2.) Heidi the Black Assassin – 8,000 gil
3.) Matt, Master of Moogles – 7,900 gil
4.) Adam the liberator – 7,000 gil
5.) Laura, Queen of Espers – 6,800 gil
6.) Syack the phantasm – 6,400 gil
7.) Hunter the tactician – 5,500
8.) Kyle the lance – 4,000
9.) Brently the joker – 3,000
10.) Gilbert the coin – 2,000
"CLANMASTER HARRIS IS ON THE TOP OF THE WANTED LIST!!!" Jason and Stacy shouted simultaneously.
"I've been traveling around and attacking Black soldiers from the very beginning of his rule. And Heidi's wanted for the same thing since eight years ago…" Harris said.
"A little while after I met him…" Heidi finished.
"You're on here too Gilbert?" Stacy asked.
"I used to be a money lender, but after I started doing it as a charity to help with the black king's taxes they put that reward on me." Gilbert said.
"But wouldn't the black king be pleased with getting more money if more people are paying those hard taxes?" Jason asked.
"Damned Black King doesn't care about that." Mendoza cringed angrily. Monty put a hand on Mendoza's shoulder and Mendoza calmed down a little bit.
"Anyways…" Harris continued. "Those letters are notices of us coming to pay a visit." Harris said. That's when everyone looked at him.
"We're leaving?" Monty asked.
"I am." Harris said. "And I want Heidi, Gilbert, Mendoza, and Monty to come with me. The rest of you need to stay here." Harris explained.
"I have to stay?" Jessica whined.
"As you wish clanmaster Harris." Will said taking a deep bow.
"So now what?" Heidi asked.
"Everyone who's coming with me needs to prepare, we'll have a long journey ahead of us." Harris sighed. "We'll hold Louise's funeral right before we leave, first thing in the morning."
The next morning…
Everyone was right outside the cave, Louise's corpse lying on a bunch of sticks and grass. Harris, Heidi, Gilbert, Mendoza, and Monty had packs on their backs, ready for their long journey. Harris stepped forward and cleared his throat. "Louise. She joined the clan two months ago, she was clumsy, she was weak, and she was really annoying. Despite the best of her intentions." Harris said. Everyone nodded in agreement. "Well, Gilbert." Harris finished.
"Fire." Gilbert ignited the pile of sticks and they cremated Louise's corpse. As Harris was about to go gather the ashes, an unusually strong gust of wind blew through and carried the ashes away. Everyone looked for a minute and then shrugged.
"Where are we headed first?" Monty asked.
"We are heading to Salikawood. To Clan Forest." Harris answered.
"Well, we're not getting anywhere just standing here." Heidi said.
"I'm ready for whatever may come." Mendoza said.
"And here, is the beginning." Gilbert said.
"Well, let us begin. The time for the Black King's rule… shall come to an end." Harris said solemnly. The five turned to the Northwest and started walking.
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Well, here is where the adventure begins. I've gotten few reviews, but thank you very much to those of you who have reviewed. Falcored, Biggoron, and RolandtheWicked
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