The trip up the hill was pretty laid-back. Sure, the frequent beetle zipping its annoying noise at them and trying to kill them was wonderfully hated, but in the end it was not so bad. The occasion warning of 'watch your step' came out; too many times if you asked Rita. But in the end, the four managed to get over to the clearing that was lead upwards.
"Oh, we're almost there!" Estelle said, joyously out of nowhere running up the hill.
"Whoa! Boy, does that girl have energy..." Tai observed.
"You should have seen her back on our first journey; she was wired up, jerking us around in different directions because of her whims of helping people," Rita said, rubbing the back of her head.
"You don't say..." Tai said sounding like he heard this for the first time, but actually knew since him being dragged into Zaphias was because of these said whims.
"Come on; we better not keep her waiting," Flynn reminded them as they all ended up getting there.
Reaching Estelle's location, the three then feasted their eyes on the glorious view of which the princess spoke up; it was magnificently astounding to see this incredible view of the ocean. The breeze was soothing with its cool chill, and the ocean's mighty waves were heard of you didn't shout. Rita had seen it before, but Flynn and Tai; this was incredible. Something they never had seen in this magnitude of pure nature.
"I... I never thought such a place could exist," Flynn said, looking straight at the ocean.
"Dude... and I thought Halure's tree was the most incredible thing in this world," Tai nodded in agreement.
"The fresh air... the soothing wind... the relaxing tranquility..." Flynn named off the things that he loved about this beautiful area.
"Heehee, I thought you would love it," Estelle said, smiling cheerfully.
Flynn smiled to her and replied, "I'm so glad in the end you were able to get outside the castle and visit places like this, Lady Estelle."
"Me too! I'm so happy that I met so many friends and learned so many things on my journey!" the princess said happily.
Flynn nodded with a smile of pride as he looked at the princess. She was very sheltered her whole life and now she was able to get out for herself and experience the world for her own good.
But Tai couldn't hear what they were saying. The peace and calmness stared to take over. Closing his eyes, he just stood in place and raised his head to let the wind catch his face.
However, the ever-so-observant Rita never lets anything past her gaze. Especially if that certain thing she observes is something she really wants to dive her attention into. The glove was the main prize, but the attitude of Tai just zoning out was just out there, you know? Only being around him for about an hour, his attitude and this behavior right now made no sense.
"Well, it seems the freak is living it up lovely," Rita pointed out in a tone that would cause a normal commotion.
But oddly, to their surprise, more of Rita's, Tai didn't even twitch at that statement. Not even one recognition of a regular insult to set his sarcastic notch off. He just kept quiet and breathed nicely.
"Tai?" Estelle called to his name, but no response.
"Whoa, it's like he's in his own little world," Rita said, surprisingly less hurtful and more amazed.
Flynn, just to be safe, took a hand to Tai's shoulder and shook him gently. The teen's head perked up and looked at the knight.
"Hm? What is it? Are we leaving so soon?" he asked.
"No, we just were talking to you and you didn't seem to hear us," Flynn said, gently with a smile.
"Oh, you were? Sorry, it must've happened again," Tai apologized, then swiftly attached an explanation before anyone could ask what he meant, "It's just whenever I see a place that is so awesome with peace and beauty, or I hear really powerful music that moves me, I zone out everything and lose myself in whatever I'm letting take a hold of me."
"I don't think I quite understand though," Estelle said honestly, looking a bit sad.
"It's rather simple, really," Rita said, surprising the teen with her niceness for once, "In a way, I can relate. Back when blastia existed, I lost myself in being all about it and blocked out everything to research it. There may be a difference in the fact that he does it for enjoyment and relaxation and I did it for research, but it's the same thing in a way."
"No offense intended, Rita, but considering how badly your relationship with him started, I would never have thought you could relate with Tai," Flynn said as politely as he could.
"Hey, just because I don't like him, doesn't mean I can't have some kind of connection," the mage said, giving him an incredulous look as she folded her arms.
"Oh, really now? Then what say you about Raven and Akihiro? Can you think of a common thing to them?" Flynn asked, smiling but fighting the urge to give a grin that Yuri would as he egged her on.
Rita closed her eyes with a 'hmph' and turned, "Look, I know you're the commandant and all, but don't push it and be like that doofus Yuri, okay?"
With a soft laugh, Estelle smiled, "I thought you would end up saying that."
Suddenly, a noise. Out of the blue, he heard it. Flynn turned his head and immediately readied his Spiel Knight Sword, just in case. The three teens suddenly notice him readying his stance as they all go on alert.
"Flynn, what is it?" Estelle has the courage to ask.
"I don't know, but something's coming this way," he said.
And walking up the hill was a hell of a shocker. It wasn't an enemy, but one unexpected face from the past. It was Duke, the hero of the Great War long ago. The same man who had given up on humanity and had associated with our heroes before.
"Duke...?" Flynn said, dumbfounded.
"What the heck is he doing here?" Rita said, cocking a glance of suspicious interest, "I thought he secluded himself from civilization after the events with the Adephagos..."
"Um... I'm in the dark; what now?" Tai looked at the three for an answer.
"Tai, that man is Duke Pantarei," Flynn explained, sheathing his sword, "That man was the hero of the Great War over a decade ago. After his best friend was murdered, he had stayed away from humanity. Until the Adephagos appeared..."
"It was then, giving up on humanity, Duke tried to sacrifice all of existence to defeat it," Estelle finished.
"Wait... so you mean, that's THE guy everyone says you took down to kill that sky worm?" Tai said, looking at the man.
With the trio giving him a silent and collective nod, they all watch Duke walk silently up to a rock that was buried a bit in the ground near the cliff. Suddenly, three-fourths of the group caught on.
"Oh... he's visiting Elucifur," Estelle said, to herself.
Elucifur... must be the name of the friend he lost, Tai thought. Fancying a look at the man, for a guy who was supposed to be old, he was pretty strong looking. And it wasn't long before Duke sighed and closed his eyes. After a bit of silence, he began to turn away, but then he saw the group.
"..."
Estelle somehow didn't think this was right. She felt like he was hurting. Letting her compassion take over, she walked past the commandant and to Duke.
"Estelle?" Rita said, curious and concern mixing in her voice's tone, as the group made their way over.
"Duke... it's certainly been a long time since we've seen each other," Flynn managed to speak to the man nicely and try to start a nice tone of conversation.
"Likewise," the booming bold and deep voice said, giving off a great hero vibe, "It is well to see you again."
"How have you been doing? Hopefully good, I hope," Estelle said, starting to smile.
"It has been... fair. My life has been peaceful now that the Adephagos no longer taunts the world about its power to destroy it," Duke said, looking up into the sky, "But my pride has been weakened. It's not that I am sore about losing, but that I was not able to fulfill my friend's promise..."
"Duke... I... I'm sorry," Estelle looked down, apologizing.
"What? What do you have to be sorry for, Estelle? He tried to sacrifice us to stop the Adephagos!" Rita objected.
"I know, but still; unable to fulfill a friend's promise is a hard thing to take," the princess responded to the objection, causing the genius to rethink her statement.
"Duke, I understand that you feel you let your friend down, but you were doing the wrong actions for the right intentions," Flynn reminded with compassion, "Elucifur would be proud and so happy that you helped us defeat the Adephagos without sacrificing anyone to obtain victory."
"...Perhaps there is truth in that," Duke said, looking at the knight with a more burden-less face, "I will take into consideration of what you have told me."
Tai folded his arms and gave an analyzing glare, peeking out of his hood.
"Something about this man just rubs me wrong... He seems nice enough... but so cold..." he thought to himself, trying to be secretive.
"So, where exactly have you been living ever since our battle, Duke?" Estelle asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"I have resided in Egothor Forest in a far away continent," the man explained, "But I decided to come up here and visit my friend once more."
Duke happened to catch a glimpse at Tai, then turned the focus of the talk on him, "However, I do not recall seeing a tenth person in your group. Is this someone new?"
"Oh, how rude of me not to introduce him!" Estelle said, apologizing, then turning to Tai, "Duke, this is Tai Hurokido, a friend of mine from Halure. Tai, this is Duke Pantarei, the hero of the Great War."
Deciding to be respectful of a veteran and not come off as the stereotype of ungrateful teenager who could care less, the teen waved his right hand with a (putting-an-act-on) social face, "Good to meet you, sir."
It was then it happened. For the third time today. Duke's eyes studied him for a while, but then happened to fixate on a certain left arm. He worried as the man, despite his calm voice and expression, had a bit of anxiety in himself.
"...Could it be...?" he said as he walked right up to Tai for a few moments and said, "...No... but maybe... Hmmm..."
Backing up a bit, Duke then said, "I suppose I might need to wait a little longer before any action is taken..."
Confusing the group enough as it is, he continued, "I must take my leave from you now. I bid you all a good day."
After all saying good-bye, the group was left a bit stunned as Duke made his way down the hill.
"What was that all about?" Flynn asked, unaware completely.
Tai folded his arms and looked at the leaving man as he started to think, "And more importantly, why did he say 'wait a little longer before action is taken'? What does the great hero want with me? I haven't done anything wrong, besides that misunderstanding at Zaphias. Unless... he meant about that thing..."
Rita immediately turned to the hooded teen who was in thought and abruptly snapped, "You. Fork the glove over."
All looked at the mage as Estelle stuttered aloud, "H-Huh? Rita?"
"Wait, what?" Tai said, being dragged out of his own mind.
"I want you to give the glove up to me now," Rita said, serious about it.
"Rita, I mean no offense to you, but right now isn't the time to demand of such a thing. Surely, Tai could give you the glove when we reach Capua Nor or when we're not traveling," Flynn tried to reason with her.
"Look, I'll admit I wasn't so patient about wanting it for research, but if Duke of all people acts like it's a problem and says he would possibly take action against it, that means this thing is more powerful than the freak is letting on," Rita said, looking at the commandant, and then back at Tai, "And if it's dangerous, I won't hesitate to blow his arm off to get it away from him. Now, cough it up."
Tai couldn't believe it. Trying to keep this stupid thing quiet and it all just comes crashing down. First with Yuri in the morning grabbing it, then Rita analyzing it with interest and trying to rip it off, and now this famous veteran saying it might be dangerous and he would take it. Clearly, this secret was going to be public soon if this kept up.
"Well, in that case where you put it that way," Tai said, suddenly activating his glove and causing a wall to come between him and Rita.
It caused the three to jump and cover their eyes as he quickly turned tail and shot down the way they came like a scorching magic spell. (A/N: Seriously, you could just picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail: RUN AWAY!)
Rita opening her eyes to realize she had been upped one, fumed with that infamous rage she was known for and yelled, "HEY! YOU GET BACK HERE, YOU TURD! WAIT UNTIL MY HANDS GET A HOLD OF YOUR NECK!"
With that, Rita bolted down the pathway, leaving the two imperial citizens behind and rushing after her victim. Flynn sighed, shaking his head as he facepalmed.
"Oh, no, there she goes again... And to think, I made fun of Yuri when he complained about her losing her temper," he said.
"We better get down there before she hurts him and the others," Estelle said, rather fearful.
Thus, their little sight-seeing adventure was cut short as the duo ran after the fleeing panic that was coming towards the spar session!
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Skit – Like oil and water
Estelle: (looks down, sad) Oh, this really isn't good.
Flynn: (neutral face) What is troubling you, Lady Estelle?
Estelle: It's just... I feel so bad for Tai and Rita. I want to support them during this time when they argue, but... it feels like what the saying goes. That they're like 'oil and water'; I'm afraid they'll never get along.
Flynn: (smiles) Ahaha... you worry so much. I assure you that I bet those two will become great friends, but it will require much time.
Estelle: (neutral face) You... really think so?
Flynn: Yes, I feel-
Tai: (looks down to his lower right, sweatdrop, looks uncomfortable, eyes closed) Huff... huff... huff...
Estelle: (looks surprised) Tai! There you are!
Flynn: (head tilts to his left, incredulous face) Where were you? Are you all right?
Tai: (neutral face, opens eyes) Oh... that... You see, I was running from Rita because she won't stop chasi- ! (shoulders perk up, head raises up with shocked face, raised eyebrow) Oh, shit! (portrait moves off-screen fast)
Rita: (portrait comes into screen, angry/determined face, fists in front) Rrroooghhh! You're not gonna get far, you closed-off creep! Spiral Flare! (portrait moves off-screen, explosion noise, Flynn's eyes widen, grits teeth, scared/shocked face, Estelle's head turned to the right, scared face)
Tai: (voice off screen) What the hell!? You nearly took my head off!
Rita: (voice off screen) I'll take your whole body apart with my fists!
Flynn: I... I don't have words for this...
Estelle: Maybe they... won't ever get along...
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Flynn, Tai, Estelle, and Rita left the party.
Yuri, Repede, Raven, and Akihiro joined the party.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
And Duke makes his appearance. I must admit, I did have a problem writing his lines, because he's just so cool in how he speaks, that it's hard to replicate that awesomeness. And LOL at Rita and Tai at the end! I laugh hysterically, as I used FMA Edward Elric and Naruto's screaming to influence me. Also, Kudos to Monty Python. XDD Keep on reading!