Final Fantasy: Rise of Despair
Super Paper Mario is fuuuuuuuuuuun. But enough about that. I'm back to updating, although I still have school. So then…
When we last left off; Kyle, Casey, and Adam wound up in Ambervale. While Casey and Adam had a heart to heart, little did they realize they were being watched.
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy: Tactics Advance, I do own the characters and plot.
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Only Family
"Is everyone ready?" A nu mou asked in to a radio headset.
"Yes boss, but… why do we have to draw the attention of the guy most likely to kill us?" A human voice asked over the radio.
"Because you won't die if you follow my plan." The nu mou said. "Oh just go."
"Fine."
Back to Casey and Adam…
"Well Adam, get some rest. We have a long journey ahead of us." Casey said.
"Yes Master Casey, and… thank you very much." Adam said.
"It's not a problem Adam." Casey said. "Hm?" Casey then turned to the right.
"What's the matter Master Casey?" Adam asked.
"Stay here and guard Kyle." Casey said as he drew his sword and ran in the direction he was looking in.
"Yes Master Casey!" Adam said as he drew his own sword.
"He's gone. Now." The nu mou said in to the radio.
"Raaaaahhh!" A few generic soldiers and warriors, along with a fencer or two charged at Adam.
"What is this?" Adam stood right over the still unconscious Kyle and listened carefully. "Expert Guard!" Adam easily blocked and countered each strike that was made at him.
"He fell for it. Now!"
"Sleep!" A red mage a ways away from the others cast sleep on Adam, and due to him using expert guard, Adam was in no position to avoid the spell.
"Ugh…" Adam fell over on to the ground.
"Good, let's grab them both." The red mage said.
"No! Take only the one that was unconscious. Let's not take chances of the other one waking up mid-journey." The nu mou said.
"But…"
"Besides, with that one's enhanced senses, he'll make it easy for them to find us. And that's what we'll want." The nu mou said.
"Right." The ones that were still alive grabbed Kyle and started carrying him.
A little while later…
"Adam… Adam wake up."
"Ooooooohhhh…" Adam shook his head groggily and started hearing someone's heartbeat. "Master Casey?"
"Good, you're still with us." Casey said.
"What… what… KYLE!" Adam suddenly realized that Kyle was absent from them and he sprang to life. He felt around for him, smelled for him.
"Whoever attacked you took Kyle." Casey said.
"What for?" Adam asked.
"They left this." Casey said as he held out a note.
"What's it say?" Adam asked when he heard the slip of paper rustle with Casey's movement.
"We are to follow them with all of our valuables, or else we won't see Kyle again." Casey said.
"What… but but…" Adam said.
"Adam, you'll be able to find them easily." Casey said.
"You're right Master Casey. We have to find Kyle. He is… a valuable ally and friend."
"And… Laura's only family in case you've forgotten." Casey said.
"Right…" Adam said sadly. He sniffed around for a moment before turning in one direction. "I think they went this way." Adam said as he lead the way.
Meanwhile…
"Oooooooooooohhhhhhh…" Kyle moaned. Kyle slowly opened his eyes and raised his head. "Hrngh… kind of… uncomfortable… hm?" Kyle looked around and then tried to move, but found himself unable to move his body at all. "What?" Kyle looked at himself as best as he could. He was a few feet above ground, without his lance and shield, bound by chains to some arm of a statue against the wall. "HEY! WHO'S THERE!!! WHERE AM I!?!" Kyle started demanding.
"Settle down Kyle the Lance." The nu mou from earlier said.
"Who are you?" Kyle asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" The nu mou asked snidely.
"Is this… the Black Army prison?"
"Oh heavens no. You see…" The nu mou reached in to a pack at his side and pulled out the latest wanted poster for Kyle. "We're bounty hunters." The nu mou said.
"Bounty hunters?"
"Yes, although we occasionally have to pursue… other forms of cashing in." The nu mou said.
"Pft… you're no more than thieves." Kyle said.
"Oh no no no." The nu mou said. "We're far better than thieves."
"Why you… what have you done with Laura and the others?" Kyle demanded.
"Laura? Who's Laura?" The nu mou asked confused.
"Don't feign ignorance with me!" Kyle shouted as he struggled to break the chains.
"Give up on the chains, they're made from pure adamantite. They are unbreakable." The nu mou said.
"Grrrrrrr…"
"And if you're talking about your companions you were only with two other bangaa." The nu mou said.
"What! Why you… Adam… Casey…" Kyle said as it dawned on him. "Wait… what did happen during that battle?" He asked himself.
"And if I'm correct, your companions are these two." The nu mou said showing posters of Adam and Casey. "Once we capture those two, we'll be living well." The nu mou said.
"What makes you think you can capture them?" Kyle demanded.
"They'll come quite willingly, unless they want you to die." The nu mou said.
"Even so, the Black Army won't pay it. They'll make you join them."
"I've thought of that, and I used to be a black soldier actually. I know just how to get in and get out easily." The nu mou said. "Now then… sit tight and…"
"Fire breath!" Kyle inhaled as best as he could with those chains around his chest and then breathed out a stream of flame.
"Whoa!" The nu mou narrowly avoided. "Easy there! If you weren't worth so much I'd kill you right now! But no… I need you alive if I want full price." The nu mou said as he turned and left the room.
"No! Let me out of here!" Kyle shouted as the nu mou began to shut the door. "I have to find Laura! Release me at once!" Kyle yelled as the door slammed shut.
Meanwhile…
The sun was starting to rise now, Adam and Casey were proceeding at a steady pace so as to not miss anything. Adam would occasionally stop and feel around to see if anything was different. "Anything yet Adam?" Casey asked.
"No… I'm sorry Master Casey." Adam said.
"It's alright Adam." Casey said.
"No it's not alright. If I had just been more cautious, Kyle wouldn't be in this situation." Adam said.
"Adam, it happens to the best of us." Casey said.
"I don't think… I can forgive myself for this." Adam said.
"I never even blamed you Adam."
"Hm? Why not Master Casey?" Adam asked.
"Because, you and I are like family. We forgive each other, and hope that we forgive ourselves." Kyle said.
"…" Adam sighed, but then smiled. "Alright Master Casey. I think we need to go this way." Adam said.
"We'll find some way to free Kyle. We will." Casey assured Adam.
Meanwhile…
"RRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!" Kyle groaned as he still tried to free himself from the chains. He kept pulling, and trying to move, but the chains would not give way. They would not give way no matter how much Kyle struggled, or how much he shouted, or how much he cursed. They would not even budge, no matter how much he cried Laura's name. "LET ME OUT!!! WHERE IS LAURA!?! I NEED TO FIND HER!!!" Kyle shouted.
"Oh stop your shouting already." A nu mou beastmaster said as he walked in with a fire drake, blade biter, a lamia, and two ahrimans.
"I demand you let me out!" Kyle shouted.
"That is enough out of you. I'm leaving my pets to keep an eye on you. If you get too noisy they will take proper disciplinary action." The beastmaster warned him as he turned and left Kyle once again.
"Turn and face me! I demand you let me out!" Kyle shouted. The ahriman then flew in and swiped a claw at Kyle's head. "Augh!" He cried. The next he felt was the fire drake gut punch him and knock the wind out of him. "AUGH!" Kyle then began to feel himself lose consciousness. "Laura…" Kyle thought.
Meanwhile…
"Master Casey, I feel two other people." Adam said.
"I see two other people." Casey said. "Who are you two?" Casey asked the human archer and moogle animist.
"We're your… guides." The archer said.
"Guides?" Adam asked suspiciously.
"Drop your weapons." The animist said.
"What!" Adam shouted.
"You heard us. Drop your weapons." The animist said.
"What for?" Casey demanded.
"Because if you don't we won't take you to your friend." The archer said. The two bangaa paused, sighed, and then reluctantly dropped their weapons at the feet of those two.
"Just to warn you, if they see that even one of us isn't with you. They'll kill your friend immediately." The animist said as he and the archer picked up their weapons.
"Grrrrrrrr…" Casey growled. "Fine then. Just take us to our comrade." Casey said.
"Very well. This way." The archer said.
Meanwhile…
"Laura…" Kyle thought, barely clinging to consciousness. "Laura… you… you are… the only family… I have… you're… my sister now…" Kyle thought. "I could never… forget you… even thought at times… you have hurt me." Kyle thought with bitter sweetness.
Flashback…
Laura was walking out of town and in to the desert, a face determined as ever to accomplish something. "Wait Laura!" Laura turned around to find Kyle following her.
"What?" She asked.
"Where are you going? The desert is dangerous and you know it!" Kyle shouted, a few tears welling up.
"I'm going to become strong." Laura said.
"What?"
"I said that I'm going to become strong." Laura said again. "I… I have to be."
"Laura… but but… mom and dad. I know they meant a lot to you, they meant a lot to both of us but… leaving town on your own?"
"I'm not going to just sit by!" Laura shouted. "I'm going out there to make myself in to something." Laura said forcefully.
"But… but then… let me come with you." Kyle said.
"…" Laura sighed. "No."
"But… Laura… you…" Kyle started to say as Laura turned to walk away again. "But Laura you… you can't leave me." Kyle said as Laura started walking away again. "You're the only family I have!" Kyle shouted.
"Kyle… if you want… if you really care about me." Laura said, almost choking up. "Then… then…" Laura swallowed before continuing, as tears welled up. "GROW STRONG ON YOUR OWN!!!" Laura shouted before running away, leaving a trail of tears behind her and a stunned and saddened Kyle standing there.
End of flashback…
"It… it hurt that day… that was the most hurt I had ever been." Kyle said. "But… I did grow strong."
Flashback…
Kyle wandered the desert alone. He let a few tears trickle down his cheek as he pondered over Laura's words, ignoring the desert winds blowing against him. He stood before a lone rock in the desert. "Laura… grrrrrr… GRRRAAAAHHH!!!" Kyle finally snapped, he punched the rock with his right fist over and over again as the tears flowed down his cheeks in rivers, punching the rock so many times that his fist started to bleed. Finally, a hand grabbed his own. Kyle turned and found a templar standing above him.
"You'll only hurt yourself like that boy." The templar said. "Is there… anyone you care about?"
"Uuuuhhh…" Kyle felt speechless beneath the figure.
"If so… then come with us." Said another voice. Kyle turned his head to a dragoon sitting on the rock. "If you wish to protect this person precious to you… we can give you the strength."
End of flashback…
"They trained me… they gave me strength… and I… I found Laura again…" Kyle thought.
Flashback…
"Laura!" Kyle, gasped as he saw Laura. She was in a red mages outfit, though purple in color.
"…" Laura turned and looked at Kyle. She didn't change her serious expression, but she did pay attention.
"Laura, I found you again…" Kyle said. "I became strong Laura. I did it for you." Kyle said.
"…" Laura looked at Kyle a moment before drawing her rapier. "Then show me."
"What?"
"Prove it to me. And don't hold back." Laura demanded.
"But…"
"Show me!"
"…" Kyle hesitantly drew his lance. "Fine then."
End of flashback…
"Heh… she beat me… she beat me badly but… but she still let me stay with her." Kyle thought. "I knew she had changed but… I knew she still must have longed for her family… for me." Kyle thought. Kyle finally seemed to lose conscious. But as he did so, a new vision played in his head.
Laura was standing on a rocky mountain path as a blast of flame was coming at her, threatening to envelop her. "AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!" Laura cried.
"!!!" Kyle snapped back to life suddenly. "LAAAAAAAAUUUUUUURAAAAAAAAA!!!" He shouted. The monsters in the room turned towards Kyle, who was now struggling all the harder against the chains. "RRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!" He roared. The monsters all approached him. The dragon was looming right above him with his mouth open.
"Grrrrrrr…" It growled.
"ICE BREATH!!!" Kyle breathed an icy blast straight in to the fire drake's mouth.
"GROOOOOAAARRRR!!!" It roared as it was frozen from the inside. The other monsters sprang towards Kyle.
"GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR…"
Meanwhile…
BOOM
"What is all of that racket?" The beastmaster asked as he walked towards the room Kyle was in. "Hey! Quiet in there!" The beastmaster yelled as he opened the door. "AH!" He screamed when he opened the door. Inside he found the burnt corpses of his monsters inside, and Kyle struggling all the more to break free.
"GRRRRRRRRRR!!!" Kyle moaned loudly as he writhed.
"You… you killed my pets!" The beastmaster shouted.
"I MUST… HELP LAURA!!!" Kyle shouted.
"I don't know who this Laura person is… but for all I care she can go to hell." The beastmaster said.
"Don't… insult Laura…" Kyle threatened darkly.
"Or what?" The beastmaster asked.
"GrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" The whole place seemed to shake violently as Kyle struggled to break the chains. After what felt like forever, a single link in the chain stretched before it finally snapped. "GRAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
"NO!!! THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!!" The beastmaster shouted as Kyle landed on the ground and dashed at him with a murderous look in his eyes.
Meanwhile…
"Hello? Is everything all right in there?" A human soldier asked as he walked towards the room Kyle was in. Suddenly…
CRASH
"Whoa!" A section of the door was blown apart as Kyle leaped through, holding the dead beastmaster in his hands.
"He's escaped!" The soldier shouted. Several other people suddenly flooded in to the room with their weapons drawn.
"That's it. Bounty or not he is too dangerous to be left alive. Kill him!" The leader nu mou ordered. A dragoon jumped at Kyle with his lance and shield, more specifically Kyle's lance and shield.
"Grrrrah!" Kyle leaped at him and swung a powerful fist at him. Kyle then grabbed his equipment, stabbed the dragoon with his lance, and then landed while inhaling deeply.
"BANGAA CRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!"
Meanwhile…
"Okay, we're here." The archer told Kyle and Casey.
"You're using the secondary palace as a hideout? How shameless." Casey said.
"Hey that's enough… say where are the outside guards?" The animist said.
"!!!" Casey and Adam realized that this gave them an opening. Casey inhaled somewhat, and then spit out two icicles that impaled those two in the hearts from behind.
"GUH!" They cried.
"Alright!" Adam said as he grabbed his sword.
"Now let's go save Kyle!" Casey said as he grabbed his sword. Suddenly the double doors to the inside shattered to bits as several bounty hunters came flying out and a loud cry could be heard.
"Augh… that is… loud…" Adam cringed as he tried to cover his ears.
"That's… Kyle?" Casey asked. Kyle then rushed out and leaped over top of their heads without even noticing them.
"LAURA!!! HANG ON!!!" Kyle shouted.
"What? Where is he…" Adam started to ask.
"No time… come on!" Casey said as he grabbed Adam's hand and started running.
"Whoa!" Casey then yanked Adam and hoisted him on to his back so that he could run full sprint without losing Adam. "Argh…" Adam groaned as he resisted the winds.
"Are you alright Adam?" Casey asked as he picked up speed and then leaped through the air.
"Of course… I didn't climb up a waterfall while wearing weights and avoiding boulders you rolled down for nothing. Thank you so much for that training." Adam said.
"No problem." Casey said. Casey shortly caught up with Kyle, who was leaping in tremendous distances in succession. "Kyle!"
"Casey! Adam!" Kyle shouted in surprise.
"Calm down and tell us what's going on." Casey told him.
"I don't have time to slow down. I have to get to Laura!" Kyle shouted as he kept jumping.
"Kyle! We don't know where Laura is." Adam told him as calmly as possible.
"Well I do! And I'm going after her!" Kyle shouted.
"Master Casey?"
"We'll follow you Kyle." Casey said.
"You will?" Kyle asked.
"Yes. Some things are beyond explanation, so perhaps you do know where she is. And we will help you." Casey said.
"Thank you Casey." Kyle said.
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