Disclaimer: Wild Arms is NOT my series. It is copyright Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and . I own copies of installments in the series, but I do not own rights to the series itself.
Everything was dark. Nothing else in sight except for two figures...
Virginia kept running towards the figure she identified as her father. It appeared that he was walking, but no matter how fast she ran, she never seemed to catch up. Finally, after a minute of chasing him, he turned towards here, his arms out. Virginia looked shocked. Not because she was seeing things, but she was pointing his ARMs at him.
-
Boot Hill
-
She sat up quickly. She was in her bedroom. Virginia sighed. "What a terrible dream... Why was I pointing my ARMs at Daddy?" She turned towards the door, realizing it was being knocked on. "Come in." The one who entered was Aunt Shalte.
"Are you ready to go? Everyone's waiting downstairs."
Virginia's eyes widened. "Oh, no! Tell them I'm sorry. I'll be right down."
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine! I'd rather be up and about!"
Shalte smiled. "My, aren't we spunky. Well, hurry on now. They're all waiting to see you."
"Okay." Aunt Shalte left the room. Virginia got on her feet, but was nervous on the inside.
I shouldn't worry about that dream I had last night, right?
She followed Aunt Shalte downstairs where everyone else was waiting. "Sorry to keep you waiting!"
Gallows smiled. "Hey, it's no big deal. We've only been waiting a week." Jet simply scoffed.
"Your skills better be up to par."
Clive was the next one to speak. "You seem to be your old self again. I'm glad we waited for you to recover before we take on another mission."
"Another mission?"
"We've been expecting a mission from our clients at the Ark of Destiny. While you were resting, a female bounty-hunter with an eyepatch visited to find the whereabouts of where it was, requesting that we meet her there soon. Let us head there to hear about the details."
"Today sure is a great day to take flight! Full speed ahead to the Ark of Destiny!" This earned a smile from Gallows.
"Heh. Aye, cap'n!"
-
Little Twister
-
When Ashley had arrived at the old town, he took in the features. The tree by the well was old, having no leaves on it, some houses were abandoned, as he could tell by the rusted doors, and few people were giving him strange looks.
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
"That a bayonet?"
Ashley blinked. "Yes, but why are you asking me?"
"Ever heard of that Janus Cascade guy? He once had a bayonet like yours, but ever since he was last sighted in Boot Hill people started to take notice he no longer has it. We don't know what kinda tricks he's pulling now, so if you see him, good luck on getting him."
"What does he look like?"
"Sky-blue hair, yellow eyes, a red jacket, a black shirt, white pants, and some sort of necklace. Looks quite tidy for a thief if ya ask me."
"Well, thanks for the info, I guess." He turned to the saloon, gaining more strange looks as he walked in. He sighed and sat down at the table.
The double-doors were suddenly kicked open and a figure walked in, the room suddenly getting quiet. Ashley looked back at the doors and could not help but realize something. That man looked almost as young as him, the face almost the same as his. Bright blue hair, yellow eyes, red jacket, those were the features given to him a few seconds ago.
Could this be Janus?
-
The bearer of the Dark Spear smirked as he looked across the saloon. His eyes looked towards the unfamiliar person sitting at the table. "What are you looking at?"
No reply. The man was keeping his gaze on Janus.
"Out with it, punk."
"I couldn't help but be lucky and meet someone I am very unfamiliar with."
"What are you talking about?"
"What I meant was I have never seen you before, yet I have received a description of the appearance of this Janus Cascade that I don't know."
"Well, you ran into him. What are you going to do? Spread 'Justice' around this wasteland and best me? Honestly, how stupid can people get?" Would this guy turn out to be another fool like the Princess? Wait a sec...
The man had a bayonet slung behind him. Was this some sort of joke?
"Where the hell did you get that?"
"I can't tell you."
"I don't have time for games. Why are you carrying a bayonet? Seriously, you think you can handle using that thing?"
"Sir, listen. I can-"
"Sir? Haven't heard that word for about a week. If you want to fight, we'll do it somewhere far from town." He walked out of the building, smiling. "See you around, idiot."
-
Ashley just sat there. What did he get himself into now? He did not come to this town just to fight, seeing there was no reason to. Obviously, Janus was challenging him to a fight without listening. Was he actually wanting to fight that badly? Ashley sighed. "Great..." He got up and headed out the door, hoping not to meet the thief again too soon.
-
Ark of Destiny
-
As Virginia and the others neared the Ark of Destiny, someone walked towards them. Virginia took note of the features of the person. It was a woman, wearing a red outfit with a cape flowing behind her in the wind. An gloved arm, the other arm entirely red. Virginia noticed she had dark-green hair, darker than Clive's, and an eyepatch covering one of her purple eyes. On the side of her waste was a dagger tucked away in its scabbard.
"I take it you are the leader of this group?"
"Yes. Are you the one who called us over here?"
The woman nodded. "Indeed. I have business in this area that Lamium must discuss with you." She held out her gloved hand. "My name is Kanon."
Virginia walked up, shaking hands. "Virginia Maxwell!"
-
The group followed Kanon inside, noting several things unusual about the area. One was that the warmth of this area was replaced with a cold temperature in the air. Another was that several rooms were covered in dust. Lastly, the place seemed to be abandoned. Normally there were people in the rooms, but now it was quiet, replacing sounds of people with the sound of the wind blowing.
Eventually, they reached the room and saw Lamium, wrapped in a blanket and standing on the balcony.
What in the world was going on?
"I understand you have been wounded. Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm much better now, thank you."
"I am relieved to hear that. Good health means healthy wings to a Drifter."
"What happened while we were gone?"
Lamium's smile was replaced by a frown. "It was a trick. There was no Saint."
The statement earned surprised looks from the group, with the exception of Jet and Kanon. Gallows was the first to speak. "What the heck are you talking about?"
"I have finally seen the truth. From the beginning, a dream-demon was using guiding me within my dreams, fooling me into believing she was a Saint. You must be curious as to why the area is deserted, yes?"
Clive fixed his glasses before speaking. "Of course. Would you mind filling us in on what had happened a week ago?"
"The dream-demon had given a warning about an approaching threat, even to my followers. After they had found out, they turned against me, leaving me to die. If it was not for Kanon, I would never have survived."
Jet scoffed. "One week, and just look at this place. It's complete garbage now." Realizing someone's eyes were on him, he turned to find the female huntress looking at him. "What's your problem?"
"You should think about what you say before it comes out."
"What did you say?!"
"Stop!" Virginia was not in the mood for arguments. "Can we please act with proper behaviour for now?"
Jet simply turned away, Kanon no longer looking infuriated. "My apologies." She turned to Lamium. "You never told me about the upcoming threat. Was there a hint of the threat that was given by the dream-demon?"
Lamium was silent for a few seconds before speaking again. "The note for the future would be a 'Blaze' that is to consume Filgaia with its destruction. That was all I was told before I realized my followers turned against me." Kanon's eye widened before Virginia spoke again.
"A 'Blaze' consuming Filgaia..."
"Blazer..." Kanon was met with several eyes on her after she muttered that word. "Come with me. I will explain on the way to our destination." She looked up towards Lamium. "It will become dangerous here, so it is recommended you come with us."
"I understand."
-
What to do, what to do... Janus thought of what could happen so he could pass the time. Finding the Princess was one thing, running into the guy he met in Little Twister was another. He was currently near a facility he heard about three days ago, and he thought he should go check the place out. Walking towards his destination, he saw what appeared to be a castle with a bazaar outside, with several people walking around. He smiled. An ancient domain? One that was to be cleared out so it could be his?
Perfect.
As he walked past the people, up to the door inside, he stopped, a guard standing in his way. "Sorry, sir. This building is off limits to those outside the facility. I'm going to have to ask you to leave at once."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought this place was open to the public."
"Open to the public at different times. Sorry, but you are to leave at once."
Janus was silent for three seconds before saying, "Okay... I'll leave... AFTER I GET WHAT I CAME HERE FOR!" The next thing the guard knew, he was punched square in the jaw and knocked out of the way before Janus pulled out the Dark Spear, slashing hard at the door and destroying it. Walking into lobby, he raised the weapon as several more guards ran in, rainbow-like beams coming out from the tip of the blade and knocking them out cold, a Negative Rainbow if you will. An alarm sounded throughout the facility, followed by a guard speaking over the intercom.
"INTRUDER ALERT! SOMEONE HAS BROKEN IN THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR! ALL SCIENTISTS EVACUATE TO THE CHAMBER ROOM! ALL GUARDS FIND AND CAPTURE THE CULPRIT! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! REPEAT! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!"
The drifter took note of what he considered was a warning, then continued on to the next room on the second story. Immediately knocking out another guard that came his way, he performed another Negative Rainbow on the rest.
-
Marivel stood in her chamber, looking at the monitors. It seemed that the cloaked security cameras in each room were unnoticed by the intruder, and everyone outside was probably staying in their basements until things would calm down.
"Whoever we are dealing with is indeed intelligent. But it's the intruder's features I'm worried about... Could it be that the Winchester bloodline... No, it couldn't be."
She sighed. Something was definitely not right. First the oncoming threat, and now this? Her communicator suddenly started beeping. Pulling it out, she put it to her ear. "Hello?"
"This is Ashley. I'm on my way back to the facility."
"You better hurry. We have an intruder at the moment. He is armed and dangerous."
"Roger that!"
"By the way, I received word from Kanon right before we were being invaded. It's important that you regroup with her party before heading in."
"Understood. Ashley Winchester, over and out."
Putting the communicator back in her purse, Marivel looked towards the monitors again. Everything was starting to come together. The only thing on her mind besides the invasion was the similarities between the intruder and Ashley. Was this a coincidence?
Marivel Armitage, the last of the Crimson Nobles, no longer thought so.
Oh boy, what has Ashley gotten himself into...
Anyways! Please favorite and review, hope you have a good day, and I'll see you guys soon.