III- CHANGE OF PACE
-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, DID YOU JUST SEE THAT?- a voice screamed among the crowd of players and spectators who left the Card Game Stadium, the biggest entertainment event in Treno, the sleepless city, where is located the elite of the Mist Continent,.However, there´s always a second face for everything and this gorgeous city is not an exception. Besides the luxurious buildings and people, there´s another world in Treno, clearly different from the first one: the subworld, the world where people have no reasons to boast themselves. It is said that fate may bring those who were born in the world from above to the the subworld, but the ones from the subworld can only reach the world from above in their dreams.
And, among that crowd, someone from this subworld, wearing a big brown leather coat, walked with some difficulty.
-Watch your step, Mario! Someone may find us out!- a voice that were not suitable to an adult man whispered.
-But Natalie, I can´t see anything in the dark...-another voice answered, coming from his belly, this time
-...all right, there´s an alley near here, we can get a rid of it there.
-Ain´t we gonna give it back to the old man?- the second voice asked
-Never mind, that old drunk doesn´t even know where´s his own head and...
-HEY, wach out, bastard!-a man screamed after being hit
-Sorry sir, I guess the city height is getting me dizzy...- he whispered- Mario, hurry up!
Some time later, the strange man went to the alley and split up into two.
-Unfortunately, we only got the second prize...I thought we could win with that cards we gathered all this time, such as your Namingway...- Natalie said
-Yeah...arf...arf...- Mario agreed, he was still very tired of carrying the young girl all the way- Anyways, we´re lucky ´cause nobody found out about our disguise.
-Forget it, I just can´t stop wondering how did that thug get so powerful cards...
-And everybody there got scared when looked at him...he must be someone important.
The two kids kept talking about the tournament winner and didn´t realize when someone else went to the alley, slowly approaching them. Suddenly, it all happened in a flash:
-MWAHAHAHAHAHA, FOOL KIDS!- an unknown man cried, after grabbing something and run
-Hey- Natalie exclaimed-What was that...HE TOOK OUR CARDS!!
-COME BACK HERE!-the two little kids screamed, chasing the thief.
And so, the pursuit started. The thief, after reaching the corner, quickly got into the Blacksmith´s :
-May I help you, friend?- the shop assistant asked
-Yes! Have you got Running Shoes?!!- the burglar asked
-Oh yes, but you must bring Battle Boots and Emer...
-HE´S HERE!!!-Natalie said, coming in
-Never mind, get out my way!-the man cried, pushing the clerk and jumping from the window behind him
-YOU´RE NOT ESCAPING!!!-the kids screamed, jumping as well, right after knocking down some vials of Potions, Remedys and Echo Screens.
-...I hate my job...-the clerk said
They kept the desperate chase, running three times around Queen Stella´s house; getting a little wet by jumping across a wall and forgetting about the fountain on the other side and passing by the old drunk who was singing some incomprehensible song near the Weapon Shop:
-Hey kids-he asked-Did you see who stole my coat? I´m freezing here...
-IN THE TRASHCAN NEAR THE STADIUM!-Natalie replied
-Natalie, that guy...he´s that four-armed man, ain´t he?
-EVEN IF HE WERE THE "FOUR-LEGGED MAN" I WOULDN´T LET HIM RUN FASTER THAN ME!!!-the girl answered, as red as a tomato
-He got into the Auction House- Mario said
-So that´s where we go.
The Auction House is another must-see attraction of Treno, although only the wealthiest have what it takes to get the extremely rare relics and collection itens that were displayed was also the place where the important families used to solve their differences, always trying to overbid its rival. It became a tradition since when Mr. Calwell´s son started showing off his Mini-Cid to Mr. Ivasil´s and he made his father get the entire minicollection of the Knights of Pluto.
However, when Natalie and Mario tried to go inside, they were stopped by the guards.
-Kids are not allowed here
-But...
-There´s no "but", little girl-the man replied- Go home because it´s already late.
-...but it´s ALWAYS late here...
-Too bad huh? Now get out!
-AAAARGH, THIS IS NOT FINISHED YET!!!-Natalied cried
On the other side, the thief was celebrating, happy and a little tired:
-Too easy...first, I distract the victim by running around the city and then, suddenly, I enter the Auction House and get myself into the clients and, finnaly, I escape by the backdoor avoiding being seen...P-E-R-F-E-C-T, now, What do we have here...rare cards, huh? What is happening with kids these days? First that boy wearing a pointy-hat, and now those two...
-Hmm...so you´re still acting like a rat...-a strange voice said
-Who said that?!- the thief protested
-Have you forget my voice, Gilgamesh?
-H...H...H-HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MY NAME!!?
-I didn´t know that your reputation as a card player and a treasure hunter was sustained by stealing stuff from kids- a tough, red-haired man said, coming by the street
-AMARANT!!!- Gilgamesh exclaimed, really surprised- Flaming Amarant, what do you want?
-I just hate seeing types like you in such a shameful situation...Raphael and Siegfried are gonna overcome you if you keep doing like this...just give that cards back to the kids and go away.
-Give back?- the thief asked, laughing- Let´s see if I got the point...this city´s most wanted and stoned-heart brigand is protecting mere children? It´s hard to believe, although it´s not the first time I see you doing that...
-You should remember I´ve got a deal with the royal guard...-Amarant said
-Oh yeah, of course I remember. I remember how that Tantalus boy just fooled like a baby and...
He couldn´t finish, because Amarant suddenly grabbed his neck against a wall:
-For your own good, I´m telling you that I´m not in a good mood today. So, are you gonna make me ask you to give the cards back again?
-Ok, ok, they´re here, look!- the thief agreed, after seeing the well-sharpened claw on his hand
-Good...now just scram.
-Yes, yes!!!-then he runned away, way faster than before with the kids.
Amarant looked at the stolen cards for a while..."So it´s never too late to start over...that´s typical of you, right, Zidane? Maybe this is not only a pile of crap at all..."
When he got to the street of the Inn, it didn´t take too long to find out who he was looking for:
-Hey, brats!- he screamed
-Natalie, look, it´s the guy that won the tournament!- Mario said, astonished
-Why is he here?
-You better be more careful next time- Amarant said, handing over the cards
-These are our cards!- the two exclaimed, surprised
-You were lucky because I saw everything and I already knew how that loser acts when robbing someone so I waited for him outside the auction.-he explained
-So you knew about our disguise all the time?-Natalie asked, a little hesitant, though
-Yeah, but I dind´t care...actually, it´s interessant to see ambitious kids like you.
-Thanks for keeping our secret safe...-Mario said- By the way, how did you get those amazing cards of yours?
-I gathered them around the world some time ago
-Cool...ok, let´s get going or mom will find out we´re not sleeping...and thanks again
-Never mind...
-Bye bye
When they were gone, Amarant was surprised by a female voice:
-You really changed...- a young woman said. She was beautiful, with short brown hair and carried a big axe
-Really? If you´re talking about being a good samaritan, I guess it´s also suitable for you: Lani, the Guardian of Moogles
-Maybe...-Lani said, kind of embarassed- By the way, since we´re talking about moogles...
-What´s this?-Amarant asked, taking the envelope she just handed to him
-I met Artemicion some hours ago-she explained- Since I was coming to Treno, he asked me to deliver it to you while he headed to Burmecia.
-An invitation from that noisy brat...a party in Lindblum-he read- It´s amazing how she can make an uproar just with writings...
-So the rumors are true...I heard that Cid was planning to have a big party...are you coming?
-Guess I have no choice...
-So you really miss your old friends- Lani insinuated
-There´s nothing to do with it! I´m just tired of dealing with stupid and simpleton people-Amarant protested, leaving her alone in the street- I want to clear my head for a while and that´s all.
-...somethings never change no matter how much time had passed...I wonder if it´s true...- Lani said.
***IX***