Magnus: Sorry for making you wait, but I had a LOT of work, anyway, here goes the beginning of the festivities (battles) on Ivalice, hope you like it, and more surprises will be included in the next chapters, anyway, Read and Review!
Disclaimer: We don't own anything, most names are alias, there are only a few references to Hellsing or Final Fantasy Tactics, but nothing major, anything else is mere coincidence!
Chapter 18
Brawl
"Limits are nothing but a stupidity created by people that are too afraid of going beyond their potential, and are too ashamed of themselves to allow anyone else to reach what they couldn't dare to get... I have no limits", -Mark Hunter-
"Once upon a time, Ivalice was considered to be one of the most beautiful cities, big, with a medieval theme that inspired loyalty and strength in it's citizens, more than a few said that it could turn up to be a small kingdom, if the near cities decided to join in their views", Zetsumi began to talk, uncaring about the two tamers and the Samurai that were following him and Mark, not that they minded
"Unfortunately, said views lay now dead, all the idealism of peace between men and pokegirls is now crushed under the rule the new lord", Mark explained, his sad voice made both Felix and Illidan flinch, both wondered what kind of impression did they make on the legendary Mr. Hunter, but for Tsuruko, it was another thing
"Excuse me, Mr. Hunter, but by the way you talk, I have to wonder, do you agree with the pro-pokegirls rights view?", Tsuruko suddenly asked, only Illidan seemed to sense how she moved her hand to rest on the hilt of her katana
"All life is beautiful, and needs to be treated with respect, and all sentient beings have voices that deserve to be heard, extremist views are pointless, coexistence is the only thing that matters, so long both parties are at peace with each other, the views lacks any importance", Mark replied, stunning all the witnesses
"I... I guess you are... right...", Tsuruko muttered, she was dumbstruck, she was ready to start a battle out of any of the possible two answers, the third answer never ever passed through her mind, yet somehow she felt herself tricked...
"It's just my imagination, or did Mr. Hunter get away without a straight answer?", Illidan asked in a whispered voice, and Felix couldn't help but to smirk in return
"Now, that's why I'm the boss, and you the bodyguard, just don't think about it... although, I hope that Mr. Hunter's sword skill is not greater than his skill with words, otherwise we are doomed", Felix replied, yet he failed to notice Illidan's annoyed face
'So much unlike my sister's tamer, yet so alike, this is bad, should his skills lives up to his legend, I won't be able to destroy him... unless... yes, that can work, if he doesn't know, then he can be pointed against my enemies', Tsuruko thought, smiling at the possibilities
Meanwhile, with Ramza and Shadow...
Rafa, that was the name that the pokegirl told them, she was dark tan skinned, and dressed like an Arabian harem girl, although neither Ramza or Shadow could understand what was she doing in that cave, not that it prevented them to follow her deeper
"I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention to scare you", Rafa apologized, even when she explained that she was expecting her brother, and not some wandering tamers, she wasn't without need of company
"Don't worry, I can understand that you weren't expecting strangers, I would have reacted worse, so, no hard feelings", Ramza replied, waving dismissively, while Shadow used his pokedex to scan the girl
ENCHANTRESS, the Sexy Sorcery Genius Pokégirl
Type: Very Near Human
Element: Magic/Psychic
Frequency: Very Rare
Diet: human style diet
Role: sex-slaves, retainers, spies, magical item artisans
Libido: High to Extreme
Strong Vs: Dark, Fighting, Poison
Weak Vs: Fire, Ghost, Bug
Attacks: Power Bolt, Mana Bolt, Reflect, Shield, Smile, Sing, Glare, Yell, Cry, Hypnotic Gaze, Backstab, Rapid Stroke, Angel Eyes, Rune Chain
Enhancements: Magical Affinity, innate ability to craft and enchant items of many kinds, Enhanced Sensitivity (x4), Enhanced Senses (x3), Enhanced Reflexes (x3), Longevity (for Dark Elf evolved Enchantresses)
Evolves: Archmage (E-stone Ceremony; see Archmage entry for details)
Evolves From: Witch (Moon Stone), Dark Elf (Mana Crystal)
"Oh, an Enchantress", Shadow muttered, while Ramza sweat dropped, not knowing if Rafa will take this good or bad
"Yep!, I'm an Enchantress, and I'm very good at making enchanted items!", Rafa cheerfully stated, while guiding them into the main chamber where she lived, upon entering it, both Ramza and Shadow got marveled at the place, with a beautiful bright orb that illuminated the chamber, as well as filling them with a strange sense of peace and comfort
"Not a bad place to live!", Both Ramza and Shadow expressed, as if in some kind of trance
Back in Ivalice...
Merchants in the market plaza were anxious, the fabled Mark Hunter was browsing their weapons, obviously searching for some kind of legendary sword, or a very special blade that was calling to become legendary, but they weren't trampling over each other, no, they were waiting on their stands, not wanting to disturb the legendary swordsman, and the legendary samurai that was watching him with great amazement... although the Maggieton could be another reason, fear is a good motivation to keep you from moving too much...
"What do you think of this one?", Zetsumi asked, while showing one of the tech-blades that were on display, an interesting energized blade with a bulky hilt, obviously expensive
"Zetsumi, I can understand your interest in that kind of technology, but I need something more reliable, I mean, that blade can be really strong, but it's also frail, if any of the systems is damaged, it will be completely useless", Mark replied, making the merchant cry due the rejection of his expensive sword
"Then how about this one, Mr. Hunter, I'm sure that the fine crafting of this exquisite blade will suit your tastes", Tsuruko suddenly said, showing an ornate katana, obviously crafted for some kind of lord. Mark carefully took the katana from her hands, and unsheathed it, admiring the blade, rising the hopes of the merchant
"It's a very beautiful steel, good for the occasional duel, but it will not last during a war", Mark passed judgment, and while the merchant owner of the blade fainted, Tsuruko nearly had a heart attack
'Were are you going, Mr. Hunter?, why would you need a steel capable of outlast an whole war?', Tsuruko thought
"Boss, I've found the best sword of the bunch!... Scanning of the steel shows to have a molecular structure 35% superior to most of the top quality weapons in the area... This will surely suit you!", Yuki said, while presenting a plain katana on a cypress scabbard, with no special markings, or ornate designs of any kind, making it look like a curved cane. Tsuruko couldn't help but to notice the zealous devotion of the dangerous Maggieton, which was labeled as near impossible to get
'That menace must be eliminated, if she evolves, not even I would be able to face her, and live to tell the tale', Tsuruko thought, she may be the closest thing to being the sword goddess, but a sword wielding pokegirl is no match for a Mechdoll, no buts, no ifs, she will have to strike her down, and soon
Mark quickly took the blade, he only unsheathed it half the way out, and made a quick inspection to the steel, a small smile was enough, all the merchants were sure that whoever owned that weapon, will become famous for selling something to the legendary Mr. Hunter
"This is indeed a good steel, may I ask who is the current owner?", Mark called, and everyone went silent, all of them wanting to see who was going to make the selling
"That would be me", Illidan replied, and EVERYONE turned their heads to look at him, while Felix face-palmed
"Then I invite you to the pub, we can discuss the price of this blade there... Zetsumi, did you finish your shoping?", Mark called, and Zetsumi appeared, wielding a new glaive, one that looked sharp and durable
"Indeed I am, although I'll have yet to test my new toy, they say is of mithril alloy, we shall see if it's true, or the head of the merchant will roll off", Zetsumi replied, while grinning
"Wait a second, how did you afford a mithril weapon?", Felix asked, mithril is expensive, mithril was expected for Mr. Hunter, not for his companion, but Zetsumi only grinned even more, as if he has already selected his test target
Ivalice Castle, a few minutes later...
"Lord Dycerag, Tsuruko of the Aoyama Temple is asking an audience", A samurai announced, entering the throne room, where the lord of the castle was eating
"Let her in", Dycerag ordered, without taking his attention away his food, missing the moment when Tsuruko entered
"Lord Dycerag, I've come with dire news", Tsuruko began, but Dycerag only nodded to make her continue, whle still eating
'DISGUSTING HUMAN!', Tsuruko shouted in her mind
"Mr. Hunter has arrived, and is preparing for a war", Tsuruko stated, making Dycerag to spat his food
"W-What?... how many men and pokegirls he has already?, has he said against who he is going?", Dycerag asked, he had to admit, that the idea of a legendary tamer going to war was something scary
"I'm afraid it is more complex than that, Mr. Huntar is in possession of a Maggieton, one that it's loyal to the point of insane obsession", Tsuruko explained, and had to fight the smile forming on her lips, for Dycerag paled to the point of being hilarious
"This is bad... all of our elite guards holds either metal armors or metal weapons, if he unleash her, we'll be doomed...", Dycerag muttered
"I can fight back her magnetic powers, but only to a certain extent, in order for me to take her down, I'll need a group of soldiers to fight Mr. Hunter and any other pokegirls he has, I'm afraid that the mercenary that accompanies the honorable ranger may side with him", Tsuruko added, calculating some delightful collateral damage
"The life of a mercenary is inconsequential to us, or the rangers, what it's consequential to us, it's you taking care of our troubles, do not misunderstand us, it's just that we need to make the first strike, and then you will step into the battle to aid us", Zalbag stated, while coming from behind some curtains, probably from a secret passage
"So you can keep all the glory?, sounds fair, but what are you going to throw against this foe?", Tsuruko replied, one way or another, she'll spill blood this day
"You are going to use her, don't you, dear and evil brother?", Dycerag asked, while smiling at the idea
"Of course!, that's why I purchased her from the Tendo Ranch, such hate, such untapped power, and she doesn't need any armor or weapon to break a steel pokegirl", As Zalbag explained, an almost ugly girl, with short dark blue hair, and an old karate gi entered the hall, her eyes reflected madness, her muscles were painfully strong, and she lacked any respect, for she immediately went to eat Dycerag's food, not that he minded
"Tsuruko, Akane needs to feed in order to destroy our enemies, hire some guys to attack Mr. Hunter, and we'll use it to accuse him of being violent against our citizens", Dycerag stated, and Tsuruko nodded and left
"Zalbag, do you think she knows?", Dycerag asked
"No, her hatred towards her sister has blinded her, she only wants to become stronger, she cares not of her name, or the lives of those who inhabits this world, such is the mindset of the Tenebrous pokegirls", Zalbag explained
"The scnario is working nicely, now we only need that rebelious girl, and we'll be able to start our glorious Kingdom", Dycerag said, and then laughed like a madman
Ivalice pub, night time...
On a round table, four foreigners sat to drink and chat, no pokegirls were allowed inside, only humans, not even a Tavernmaid to cheer up the place, but the foreigners didn't complain, they had other things to worry about
"So, Mr. Hunter, can you tell us why are you really here?", Felix asked, he found that it wasn't hard to talk to the fabled Mr. Hunter, at least not when Yuki wasn't around giving death glares to anyone who looked at her tamer
"I hope you don't think we came here o seek trouble", Mark replied, evadng the question
"Errr... is not that, is just that, well, Ivalice is not the greatest place to get anything special, why would a legendary swordsman like you would want here?", Felix asked again, and Mark groaned, earning a snicker from Illidan and Zetsumi, who were currently drinking ale
"Ok, first things first, why in the nine hells are you all calling me legendary?, or even swordsman?, I haven't used a sword since I started my career as tamer!", Mark asked, annoyance noted on his voice, as well as his face
"What?, but!... the stories from Slit Town... the Buzzbreast Hive conquered... the Team Bad Blood gang slain... and the captured Maggiemites?", Felix asked, unable to digest the current information
"All true, but I haven't used a sword on all of those incidents... although I hope you are not refering to the mass murdering that happened on Breast Valley", Mark replied, crossing his arms over his chest, as if warning that he wasn't taking anymore shit
'He is telling the truth, he hasn't used a sword to fight in a while', Felix heard on his mind, and nodded in defeat
'I don't like him, that Anima is trying to read our mind, not that she can, but I find it annoying', Inner Mark voiced
"So, you are trying to say that you are only a very good tamer, and that some stupid kids have been feeding the news with exaggerations of your deeds?", Illidan asked, while waving his bottle
"In a way of speaking, yes", Mark dryily replied
"In fact, Mark's main strength resides in the loyalty of his pokegirls, you wouldn't believe how much they believe on his wisdom, he was looking for a sword to help some of his girls to train", Zetsumi added, he really wanted to help, but found it hard to hide the truth within other true facts, although he had to agree that it was the best solution on this kind of scenario
"While I find it believable, I have to wonder, what about you, Zetsumi?, I mean, no family name, no records, no special battles, only two pokegirls on your data, it looks like you are a beginner, or that you have been a very lazy tamer, but you carry a glaive, which means that you are not lazy... what are you a vigilante?", Felix asked, cornering Zetsumi on what to say, he didn't know why, but he felt himself being scanned
"He is accompanying me in search of a special person, you have no data on him because his focus is not that of amassing girls, or winning tournaments, he just want to find this person, and then live in peace, is that wrong, Felix?", Mark replied, his skill to hide things was astonishing... as if he was used to do this way too often
"Really?, and is this person family?, maybe a turned pokegirl?, that's pretty common around here", Illidan suddenly said, making Zetsumi flinch, fortunately, or not, a group of drunken men gathered around them
"Hey!, look at this, a group of foreigners!", one of the men shouted, earning the attention of the rest of the pub
"And we aren't fond of foreigner, are we?", another added, making everyone chuckle
"Of course we are willing to welcome foreigners into our town, if they allows us to have a little fun with their girls", the first spoke again, and everyone grinned, needless to say, most of the drunken men weren't allowed to keep pokegirls, but were ready to take someone else girls for some fun
"Let's go, this place is not as good as we were told", Mark suddenly said, and raised to his feet, ready to get out before someone made a mistake, quickly being followed by Zetsumi, Felix and llidan
"Hey!, who gave you permission to leave?", a not so drunk man said, while grabbing his shoulder
"Let me go before you get hurt", Mark demanded, although his voice was deceptively calm
"Who do you think you are to give me orders?, you are nothing but a punk!", the man shouted, while hitting Mark on the head, with a bottle, it shattered on his head, spilling the ale all over Mark, but where a normal guy would be falling to the floor with blood on his head, Mark stood right there, seemingly unharmed, but clearly annoyed
"The last man you want to see angry", Mark replied, and then gave the man a punch in the face, that sent him to the ground, uncoscious
"BASTARD!", one of the drunk men shouted, and then all the attendants went against the group
"And I was wondering when the fun was going to start", Zetsumi said, while back handing one of the incoming men
"HA!, this is what I call a great way to pass the time!", Illidan cheerfully stated, while rising two men by their necks, and then throwing them toward the bartender, who was trying to use the phone
"Hey!, take your hands off me!, you can't do this to me!, I'M A RANGER!", Felix shouted in a high pitched voice, while taking a chain out of nowhere, and sweeping off their feet a group of four men
"Woah!, Girlie can actually fight!", Illidan said, amused at the annoyed face of the Ranger wannabe
"STOP CALLING ME GIRLIE!", Felix shouted again, using the chain to hit another man
"Stop fighting among yourselves, and focus on the enemy, defeat them with as little effort possible, the war has just began", Mark reprimand them, while efficiently knocking out anyone who approached him, with no more than two moves
"That's easy for you to say, what kind of technique is that?, or is it a blood gift?", Felix asked, hitting another two men with the chain, which was more harmful that it appeared to be
"I'm just hitting pressure points, why everyone thinks this is some kind of technique, magic, or genetic enhancement?", Mark asked again, annoyed by the mistake of his knowledge with some kind of freak skill
"Does that mean that you can teach it to me?", Illidan asked, while kicking one of the tables against a group of drunken men
"He may be able to teach you, learning it, it's a whole different thing", Zetsumi replied, while kicking one man against a group, taking down all of them
"Are you calling me dumb?", Illidan asked, irritated by the declaration
"Illidan, stop it, you can't learn anything that requires finesse, and Zetsumi, I demand you to stop your comments, I won't tolerate you igniting more fights!", Felix commanded, although it lacked all the authority needed, due to his hands on his hips, in a very girlie fashion
"Felix, while your words are wise, your body language makes you hard to take serious, so stop trying to be the boss", Mark stated, and at his call, both Illidan and Zetsumi stopped their rant
"Yikes!, it's not fair!", Felix wailed, that was what he wanted to imitate, an aura of authority, of command, yet he always failed
"Stop right there!, you are under arrest!", A man suddenly called, he was dressed on a stylized medieval-like armor, holding a shield on his left hand, and a long sword on the right, like a knight of sorts
"Now what?", Mark shouted, clearly annoyed by the turn of events
"We are the City Guards, surrender your weapons and pokegirls, you will come with us, dead or alive", the guard ordered, while more guards entered the pub, all of them with their swords ready to strike, Felix, Illidan and Zetsumi were weighting their options, Felix could surrender for now, and then call upon his rights as Ranger, Illidan could be treated like a weapon, being taken out with a word, or leave to rotten in the dungeon, Zetsumi has no choice, he will ran, or die trying, but it was Mark who set the scene
"No one besides me can touch my girls", Mark stated with a cold voice, that promised death to anyone stupid enough to dare to try taking them away
"They are no longer yours, by the laws of Ivalice, anyone arrested is to be stripped of all possessions, pokegirls included, their destiny is in the hands of the Lord of Ivalice, we'll take them from you, either willingly, or from your dead body", the captain of the guards stated, but got a reply he wasn't wanting, Mark unsheathing his new katana, and pointing it toward the captain
"My name is Mark Hunter, and I swear upon Gaia's blood, that no one will touch my beloved ones while there is still breath within my body, and to defend them, I will destroy towns, cities, countries, kingdoms and empires, now come to me, and show me the strength of your command", Mark proclaimed, earning gasps from the witnesses, trembling swords from the guards, and the awe of those who were with him
"So damn cool!"
'He is serious'
"Oh Shit!"
"You took long enough"
'Show off'
In front of the guards, the one standing, with the sword being held in an old Samurai style, was not a man, not a tamer, he was someone ready to take on the whole world, charge against any kind of pokegirl, laws were beneath him, status meant nothing to him, be it a single man or an army of pokegirls, he will keep sanding strong, he was someone you don't want to cross paths with, a man you don't wish to make angry,a man to fear. And thus, The Legend of Mark Hunter became real...
Magnus: I hope you've liked it, as a little spoiler, one of the soon to appear guests from another universe, will be green, also, next chapter will explain what is going on with our comic heroes, see ya until then!