Final Fantasy: Rise of Despair
When we last left off, our heroes having split in to three groups were attacked by powerful members of the Black Army. Colonel Ize defeated the likes of Laura, Kyle, and Hunter through sheer skill, General Agres stood toe to toe against the mighty Casey, and Marshal Agon proved to be more than a match for Matt and Harris. Had it not been for the timely arrival of Cole, our heroes may have met their end. Later that night, Heidi confronted Harris alone, accusing him of being the human Racemaster through many clues she gathered. Now Heidi is fixated on Harris' left arm, what has been uncovered underneath those bandages?
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy: Tactics Advance, I do own the characters and plot.
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Rise of Despair
"Harris…" Heidi's eyes were fixed on Harris' left hand. "You… you're hand... and arm… it's…" Heidi looked at Harris' arm more closely. His entire forearm and hand was wrinkled horribly, bearing the likeness of an old man, shriveled and scared from a burn.
"…" Harris sighed sadly. "Now you see why I prefer not to show this arm to anyone?" Harris asked.
"Harris… I'm sorry. I… I didn't know…" Heidi started apologetically.
"No… it's alright." Harris said. He walked over to his bandage and picked it up, slowly and carefully wrapping it around his arm again.
"Harris… what happened?" Heidi asked.
"…" Harris sighed. "This arm, is a painful reminder of a past I'd just as soon forget." Harris said solemnly. "I was in a fight with a horrible monster. A monster I dare not describe to anyone." Harris started. "I foolishly thought I would have no problems against it."
"Harris…"
"I was wrong." Harris said, now seeming choked up. "In the fight that followed, it burned my left arm, I can sometimes feel its flames as they enveloped my arm." Harris said.
"…" Heidi just sat where she was, weighted down by guilt.
"I'm lucky that I'm still able to use this arm to its full extent, but I never was able to heal the scars left behind." Harris said.
"Harris… I… I'm…" Heidi started to say.
"This arm is a reminder to me, of what arrogance does to a man. What it costs him, how it can cost him everything he holds dear." Harris thought. "That's why this journey makes me feel uneasy. Knowing that growing arrogant could cost me you, or anyone else." Harris said to Heidi.
"Harris… I'm sorry. I'm sorry I ever suspected you." Heidi said.
"No, there is nothing to apologize for Heidi." Harris said as he finally finished wrapping the bandages. "I rarely sleep, because it brings me nightmares. And you are right, I do suppress my mana."
"But… why?" Heidi asked.
"It gives me a slight edge, if necessary I can tap my extra mana and surprise my opponent." Harris said. "Now wipe those tears away, you have nothing to be sad about." Harris said gently as he stroked Heidi's cheek with his fingers.
"Harris, I'm still so sorry. I should have never suspected you." Heidi said tearfully as she grabbed Harris' hand gently.
"As I once told you, this journey may bring you to doubt others. It's… only natural. I should be the one apologizing." Harris said.
"For what?" Heidi asked.
"I shouldn't have been so secretive." Harris said. "I'm sorry." Harris said.
"So am I." Heidi said. The two embraced each other warmly, a tear rolled down their cheeks as they did so. It didn't seem like they would ever let go of each other, like they were leaving the rest of the world behind them.
"And you were worried about all that shouting." Matt teased Casey.
"Well, you would be too wouldn't you?" Casey asked Matt.
"Come you two, we should leave them be." Cole said as he turned and walked away. The other two looked kind of disappointed, but they nonetheless walked away.
"Harris, do you think we will win?" Heidi asked Harris as they continued to embrace.
"I think we stand a good chance." Harris said. "Now go get some rest Heidi." Harris said gently. "Tomorrow could be a long day. Whatever may come." Harris said.
"Alright." Heidi whispered. They finally let go of each other, Heidi turned and walked away towards the rest of the party. "I'm sorry I doubted you Harris." Heidi thought as she walked away.
Harris watched Heidi as she walked away. He sat down and sighed. "Heidi… I'm sorry."
Meanwhile…
The council of seven was gathered, the Black King was the only one who has not arrived, and the only ones not seated were Agon, Cious, and Ize. "Grrrrrrr… this plan was foolhardy. We should have expected the likes of that Racemaster to show up." Ize said angrily.
"Ize, please calm down." Cious told him.
"Do you have a problem Colonel Ize?" Agon asked him.
"As a matter of fact I do!" Ize shouted. "You could made things a hell of a lot easier just by killing those idiots back there! Yet you had to do things your own way! And now look. They now have three of them!" Ize shouted at Agon.
"Do you challenge me?" Agon asked emotionlessly.
"Grrrrrrr…" Ize growled, realizing that Agon said the four words that could silence anyone in the room.
"Your anger is understandable." Agon started. "That was one of the last feelings I remember. But if you challenge my judgment again…" Agon started. He disappeared and reappeared behind Ize with his sword at Ize's throat.
"!" Ize gasped at this.
"… Make no mistake, I will kill you." Agon said.
"Marshal please…" Cious nearly begged.
"That… is… enough…" Came the sinister voice of the Black King. Agon sheathed his sword walked to his seat and bowed deeply, everyone else stood by their seats bowed and waited for the Black King to take his seat before being seated. "Report… Marshal Agon…"
"Myself, Colonel Ize, and General Agres intercepted and engaged the party of the Racemasters. All went well until the Racemaster of the nu mous appeared and lent his assistance to the group." Agon said.
"Hmmmm… this nu mou Racemaster sure sounds like an interesting character." Diabol said.
"Grrrrr… I would have had that Bangaa Racemaster." Agres growled.
"Heh heh heh… so now who's laughing at whom?" Mis asked Agres.
"Quiet you…" Agres threatened.
"Shush you two. You are still in the presence of his eminence." Mali told them.
"Your majesty, what should we do now?" Cious asked.
"Hmmmm… that group… becomes… a greater threat… with each place they visit…" The Black King said. "It is time… we played our full hand…" The Black King said.
"So, it is time we crush them?" Agon asked emotionlessly.
"You… are correct… my Marshal…" The Black King said.
"Shall I go and do your bidding my Master?" Agon asked.
"Hmmmmmmm…" The Black King pondered this deeply.
The next day…
"Man… yesterday sure was hell." Monty said.
"With enemies like that, I'm kind of feeling outmatched." Mendoza sighed.
"Don't worry about it." Matt said.
"Why not?" Gilbert asked.
"Because you've got me!" Matt said happily. The group was still in the ruined lodging town, sitting in a circle discussing their next move.
"Has he forgotten about us?" Casey asked quietly.
"I do think he has." Cole responded.
"Master Cole, if you don't mind me saying, your illusionist class is pathetic." Syack said.
"Don't remind me, the teacher is a good illusionist, he just isn't a great teacher." Cole said.
"Master Casey, I shall be ready for whatever comes our way." Adam said confidently.
"That's the spirit Adam! Just remember your training and you'll do fine." Casey said.
"I could never forget my training Master Casey! I did not attempt to wrestle a thundrake with my bare hands while being surrounded by a sea of lava at Roda Volcano for nothing!" Adam declared proudly. "And what glorious training it was." Adam said.
"Cool!" Brently and Hunter shouted.
"Ugh… men." Laura sighed.
"Hey, we're not that bad are we Laura?" Kyle asked.
"Well, it's good to know some things haven't changed." Heidi said.
"It is Heidi. It truly is." Harris said with a smile. "So then, where should we head now? We have nearly everyone we'll need correct?" Harris asked.
"Hmmm… I suppose. But perhaps we had best increase our odds." Cole said.
"How so?" Syack asked.
"We should go and meet with other clans." Cole said.
"That wouldn't really give us a tremendous boost." Hunter said.
"But it is a boost." Cole said. "Although as many clans as there are in Ivalice, it would take time. Time that we might not have." Cole said.
"So what do you propose?" Laura asked.
"I have a proposition." Casey said. Everyone's heads turned to Casey to hear his proposal. "Clan Liberation is large enough to fan over Ivalice and hopefully pool together all the clans." Casey said.
"That's brilliant Master Casey!" Adam said.
"Good, so where are they now?" Harris asked.
"Our base we use in the even our Sprohm and Roda Volcano bases are unusable is in Materia Wood." Adam said.
"That's quite a ways Northwest of here." Heidi said.
"But it is still somewhat close." Hunter said.
"Okay then, so we have our next destination." Kyle said. "We just have to pass the Deti Plains and then a little further."
"What are we waiting for?" Matt asked.
"For Brently to not sneak off." Harris said.
"Oh crud…" Brently said from behind some rubble. Casey landed in front of him, grabbed him and then came out from behind the rubble with him. "Darn it."
The group made their way for the Northwest, making very few stops and making good time. It was probably around high noon now, the group was making their way through the Deti plains. It was mostly red and yellow earth, but there were still several patches of grass and the area they were in had a fair number of trees as well.
"Well, this journey isn't so bad." Syack said.
"That's because I've been carrying you the whole time." Adam said. "But this is for training! And I shall not tire!"
"Right… training…" Casey said. "Actually that was just so Syack wouldn't complain." Casey thought.
RUMBLE
"Geez Mendoza, you hungry?" Monty asked.
"Actually no I'm not." Mendoza said.
"Then what was that rumble?" Monty asked.
RUMBLE
"Thunder…" Harris said as he stopped suddenly and looked at the sky. The sky was quickly growing cloudly, and lightning flashed through the sky.
"Something feels, very wrong here." Heidi said.
"Hmmmm…" Cole and the other Racemasters stopped just a step ahead of Harris, the others stopped behind them.
"You feel that?" Laura asked.
"No." Hunter said.
"I should have guessed as weak as you are." Laura sighed.
"Why you…"
"Shush." Cole said. Everyone stared at the sky for several minutes.
"…" Casey's eyes then popped open along with Harris', Matt's, and Cole's.
"MOVE IT!!!" Harris shouted as he grabbed Heidi and Mendoza and started running.
"What for… WHOA!" Brently started to ask when he was scooped up by Casey and the others started running behind them.
"Just trust us on this one!" Matt shouted. Lightning cackled above the group, it started to glow brighter and brighter.
"Just go!" Casey shouted as he threw Brently and pushed along everyone else. Casey and the other Racemasters drew their weapons and turned to where the group was standing.
"What's going on?" Kyle asked.
"Something terrible Kyle… something terrible." Harris said.
"Get ready." Cole said.
"I'm as ready as I'll ever be." Matt said. "Don't pull any punches guys."
"I don't intend to." Casey said. A gigantic lightning bolt crashed down on to the earth and engulfed the area in a deafening sonic boom and a blinding flash of light. The Racemasters all shared a dangerous look in their eyes as the flash died down. Rain started to pour.
"You… have all been… a nuisance… for… too long…" A bone-chilling said.
"That voice…" Harris whispered, his breath condensing.
"Harris… is that…" Heidi started to ask.
"Clanmaster Harris?" Monty asked.
"It is…"
"You mean… that's him?" Hunter asked.
"Yes…" Harris said.
The smoke cleared to reveal a figure in a large red hooded cloak. "I have… grown tired… of watching…" The figure said.
"So then, you've come yourself." Casey said.
"I hope you're ready." Matt said.
"We've been waiting for this chance. For too long." Cole said.
"My Marshal… speaks highly… of your skill… now… let me… feel your power… and in turn… feel the might… of the Black King…" The Black King said slowly.
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Now the time has come. The Black King vs. Three of the Racemasters. Can they prevail? Shall Ivalice be freed sooner than expected? Or shall all hope be crushed? Only the next chapter will tell.