PHANTOM BRAVE: THE LOST CHAPTERS

This is a fan-fiction continuation of a not-so-popular Nippon Ichi game "Phantom brave." This game has made it's way into the hearts of many gamers, however, mine included. This is for fans of the game and those who enjoy obscure Fan Fictions. This is not a continuation of the storyline of "We meet again" or "The Hermuda triangle", but of the original "Phantom Brave" story. This contains many spoilers, and should not be read by people who have not completed the game.

Thanks to Martin III for major editing assistance.

Episode 26 - Faux Fox

Monetopia Docks

–

The crew of the Selencia docked at Monetopia for supplies, and Ash hunted for some additional medical items for Marona, in the event that Marona got injured again with no healers around, Ash would be able to heal her up. Raphael's non-phantom men went to town to buy things for the phantom ones, and to get Raphael a sword 'Fit for a hero.' Walnut, with everyone distracted, was able to make a quick, unseen escape. He had saved Marona, and that was all the debt he owed her. He had his own agenda to worry about.

–

Castile : 'Wow! So.. this is Monetopia! I've read so much about it, but... Ohhh it just doesn't compare to actually seeing it... I just... Thank you for bringing me here, Marona!'

Marona : 'Well... don't thank me jusst yet, we have to take you home soon, hehe! I'm sure Saffron and Joan are worried sick about you... But, I don't think they'll mind if we do a little shopping while we're here!'

Castile: 'You mean it! Thank you! I'm so excited!'

Ash: 'Marona, do you think you'll be okay without me for just a little bit? I need to help Sienna with some stuff around the ship.. don't worry, I'm sure that the woman wouldn't try to pull anything in a heavily populated area, you'll be fine, just have a good time with your friend!'

Marona: 'Are you sure, Ash?'

Ash: 'Yes, I'm sure. Go and have fun, Marona. You deserve it, both of you.'

Marona: 'Thank you, Ash!'

Marona strolled off with Castile, happier than ever. Ash smiled. He had gotten so used to her as a chroma, a warrior, he sometimes forgot that she was... well, a little girl. He decided that she was responsible enough to take care of herself without him, in town at least. He trusted her that much.

He then paid off one of Raphael's knights to keep a close eye on them. 'No need to risk anything,' he thought. He imagined himself as her guardian, her protector, but he realized that sometimes parent status was a little much. So, every so often he allowed her to feel that he trusted her on her own. He chuckled, and went to help Murasaki load a box into the lower hold of the ship. Murasaki had to work double time for the stuff he and Walnut broke, and Ash felt a little bad sitting around doing nothing, so he pitched in.

Forestia

Fox lived in a small straw hut deep within Forestia's darkwood forest, in the middle of the island. He lived carefully, never venturing far from the forest, as his Sister was hunting for him, and he would probably be immediately turned in to chromas, were he to leave. Cynthia had put a price on his head, the bitch. Fox used his necromantic skills to put the abundant supply of zombies on the island under his control. He used them for scouting, hunting, and protection- and to occasionally scare off any adventurers who strayed too close to his settlement.. He has an army at his disposal, one that did not attract any attention from the norm on Forestia. His only threat this deep in the woods would be the Saber Kitty clans, who have been recently attacking almost nonstop. This only ends up feeding Fox's zombie army, so he pays no mind. He hopes Marona got the bottlemail he sent. Sooner or later, Cynthia will find him.. He just hopes Marona does first...

Vapor Island

Cynthia: 'Captain... You and your men need Bordeaux, is that right? Ivoire has entered an era of peace it hasn't seen for centuries. You're... heh... out of work. But... I got a lead for ya. If you've got the stones for it.'

Captain Drab: '*snort* You DARE question the determination and might of the Brave and Mighty Fighting Beasts? *Stomp* Who are you?!'

The Scarlet Clad Woman circled around the captain, and sarcastically coaxed him:

Cynthia: 'Aw, did the little piggy miss his mud bath today? If a little possessed girl can beat your group up twice, a big girl like me should have no problem with you. It's a job offer, not an insult, swine. You help me, and I'll pay you and your men very handsomely...'

(Cynthia explained Fox's description in detail, and that she needed to know where he was hiding.)

Captain Drab: '*snort* So, we just find someone, and you'll pay us, in FULL? '

Cynthia: 'That's right. 10,000 Bordeaux now, the other 40k when you find him. And I don't want you to lay a single FINGER on him. He's mine, I only need a location.'

Captain Drab : Well, you see miss... *snort* we really aren't allowed to attack other Ravens, at least not officially. So... good, no red tape. (This woman's paying in full for a chump job! Haha! This money'll definitely get us on our feet again! And with no White Wolf Army to interfere, nothing could go wrong! *Snort*)

Captain Drab: 'You have our muscle. Leave it to us, the MIGHTY FIGHTING BEASTS!

Cynthia: 'Um... yes, yes of course. Whatever.'

Cynthia: (Dumb animal. His usefulness to me will expire once I know where my idiot brother's hiding. Then I'll be able to unleash my ultimate plan... Heheh..)

The Island of Evil

Cynthia docked at the Island of Evil to gather her dark power. A place with such a high dead count revitalized her soul, and gave her energy, like a siphon, sucking away at the lost, damned souls of the island. She found that the resonance near Sulphur's portal was filled with the most dark energy, so she made her way there, along the way sucking in the occasional lost soul who frayed too close.

Cynthia: 'Hah. My brother can only manipulate the power of the physical dead. Rotting meat. Pathetic. How he managed to defeat me so long ago I do not know, but with this island's evil power, and the blade of darkness, I will not be denied again! '

?: 'Eh? Who's that?'

?: 'Be on your guard, nothing's been on this island for quite some time.'

Cynthia: 'Help! I've been washed ashore from the shipwreck of a recent storm, and I'm stranded! I've been wandering this island for what seems like an eternity... Do you have any food, or... or water?'

Raphael's Knight: 'Yes ma'am, we do, back at our camp. We'll get you next to a warm fire, and some food, you look like you need it.'

Cynthia: 'Thank you, you brave and noble knights!'

The Knights of the White Wolf Army guided her to their encampment, where she saw plenty of potential thralls to quench her thirst for power.

Cynthia: 'So, you're the legendary White Wolf army! Where is your leader, Raphael?'

Raphael's knight: 'He's gone with the braves and some of the knights to hunt down his legendary sword. It's been stolen.'

Cynthia: 'You mean... this?'

Cynthia unsheathed Raphael's holy blade, its gleaming hilt darkening at her touch.

Raphael's knight: '! But how did you- MEN! Seize this woman!'

Cynthia flourished and stabbed the Knight, an ebbing white/black aura encircling the blade. She retracted and parried the attack of another knight. She kicked him down and slit his throat, mercilessly dancing to and fro the blades of the knights, smiling as they, one by one, crumpled to the ground in agony.

She proceeded to kill everyone there. She devoured the souls of the phantom soldiers, and slaughtered all the living. She drew power from the death, and proceeded to the heart of the island to gather her full strength.

This sword... Zephyranth... It pulses with dark energy... The power has been locked away deep within its core... But there it still lies, the power of accursed Sulphur. With this power I can run my own world! What better way to seal the deal than an act of revenge? My brother will be the first to taste the power of the blade that will bring Ivoire to ruin! I am the messenger, his soul will be the Harbinger, and Zephyranth... the catalyst. My day will come.

Forestia

Fox: 'Hey, you! Stop! How did you get past my zombies?! Who are you?'

Walnut made his way up to the hut and leaned against one of the wooden struts:

Walnut: 'You're in danger, dumbass. What the hell are you doing here!? This was the first place I looked, and here you are! Forest full of zombies? Where else would a necromancer go? Just makes my job easier, of course... heheh...'

Fox: 'Heyy...' Fox said in his scratchy, dark voice- 'Have I met you before? Yeahhh... you're that bastard that screwed us over at the Island of Evil! You'll pay for that you coward! Not even the gut to challenge me in battle... heh!'

Fox: 'Dance to my call, forsaken spirits of the dead! Viridian Copper!'

Walnut punched Fox in the face, causing him to fall over. He looked up in bewilderment.

Walnut: 'Yeah, sorry to spoil the fun- I've grown stronger since the last time we met, necrofreak!'

Walnut kicked Fox in the stomach, then took all of his bordeaux.

Fox: 'What do you want, kid!? I've really got bigger problems right now than a... pissed off chroma!' Fox struggled to say, his deep, bedraggled voice not used to sounding out words of fear.

Walnut: 'It's not you I want. It's Cynthia. I figure I'll just sit tight here till' the creep shows up, heh?'

Fox: 'You can't stay here! If she does find us, she'll kill us for sure!'

Walnut: 'You aren't in much position to argue, huh?' Walnut said as he searched Fox's house.

Walnut: 'You got any booze in here? We're probably gonna be waiting awhile.'

Fox: 'You... idiot... you'll gonna get us both killed... *Cough*'

Walnut: 'Well you see,' Walnut said as he exited Fox's house with a bottle of Vermilion Brandy; 'I'm already dead, so I don't have to worry about much. Cynthia and I go way back. Tried to steal a job from me, actually. A chroma Oxide Oxide, I guess. bold ass line of work if you ask me. We eventually got along alright, and we started working together on jobs. Not... together... but... we collaborated on the jobs and pretty much stayed out of each other's way. Then... after stealing a job from some crummy chromas at the island of evil, she changed.' Walnut popped the top off of the brandy, the fizz pouring over onto Fox, still stunned. 'She attacked me afterwords, telling me that she needed more "dark power" or... something. That necromantic power you two share must have been too much her when she went to that Island. She attacked me, and I was able to defeat her. I didn't kill her, which was a damned mistake. I took all her money from the job, and left her to rot. I don't know why I didn't kill her. She deserved it more than anybody. But... I dunno... I guess I kinda liked her. Good looking woman. I guess I never got attached to anyone cuz' no one needs a scumbag like me. But her life was already messed up. I felt a connection to her, a-

Fox: 'Kill me, please. Because I absolutely loveee hearing you fantasize about my psychopathic sister!'

Walnut: 'SHUT UP!' Walnut said as he kicked Fox again.

Walnut: 'Damn... That Brandy is good stuff... I think I'm... drunk!'

Fox: 'Well, what a surprise, stupid! You drank the whole bottle straight! You're supposed to water it down! How the hell are you even still standing..?'

Walnut: 'Hey... I can hold my liquor... Godamn it... why am I making conversation with you? Freakbag.'

Fox rolled over and laid on his back.

Walnut: '*Sigh* even now I'm just a worthless mistake. God, why... why do I exist?'

Fox closed his eyes in annoyance, "Guy... you've got some serious problems...'

Walnut: 'Coming from you? Heh, it's almost funny.' Walnut said, as he grasped his hair and laughed.

Walnut: 'Well, at least I can do SOME good. The woman has a high enough bounty that...

...the doctor will be able to treat her for at least a couple of more months...'

Fox: 'Do you.'

Walnut: 'Do I what?' Walnut said, annoyed.

Fox: 'Do you think of anyone else besides yourself? If Cynthia kills me, her powers will become so strong, then there will BE no doctor!'

Walnut: 'Heheh, have you ever considered killing yourself, freak?' Walnut said, chuckling, 'She wouldn't be able to get your powers then...'

Fox: 'Ugh. You're a hopeless man, Walnut. Cynthia has the ability to absorb the power of spirits, even if I died she would still be able to get my power! And besides- Why are you still paying for Castile's medicine? Do you not read like, the newspaper or anything? Bamboo company's paying for her medicine... complimentary for saving Ivoire? Even you! You have a godamn statue in Monetopia! How do you not know this?'

Walnut: 'So... Castile's going to be okay... And... a statue of me? A damn statue. Heh. I'm a fool. Working to save Castile's life was the only life I knew. Now that... now that I don't have to pay anymore... What in the hell am I going to do with this worthless life? Damn it... I should have died when I trapped Sulphur. That's the fate I deserved. Why am I still here?

Fox: 'Maybe you're role isn't... Y'know, done yet. Maybe there's still something left for you to do. Fate works in funny ways, man. What, with death... life... I mean, if you wanna discuss philosophy, you better get me a drink!'

Walnut smirked, 'Nahh,' He said, as he smashed the empty bottle of brandy over Fox's head and dragged him inside. Fox woke up a short time later chained to the wall in his hut, near naked. Walnut donned his clothes and combed his orange hair back, which made him look like a striking recreation of Fox.

Walnut: 'Y'know, all this talk about philosophy gave me a better idea. Put yourself in someone else's shoes, haha! Sit tight, because soon you're not gonna exist anymore, know what I mean? Don't worry, I'll lock up your hut on the way out;' Walnut said as he left Fox with a searing headache naked on the wall.

Fox: 'So... that arrogant bastard's gonna try to sacrifice himself in order to trick Cynthia into thinking I'm dead? Good luck to em'... I guess? Suicidal freak...'

Selencia, En route to Clutter Haven from the Isle of Healing waters...

Raphael: 'All right, now that all of the loose ends have been take care of- what are we going to do about the situation at hand? We need to find Raven Fox, top priority!'

Scarlet the Brave: 'Back at Clutter Haven, I have something that can help us find Fox... Many of you know her... as the Rainbow Bird.'

Raphael: 'Yes... I remember that bird. That was when I first met Ash and Marona. I ll never forget the grand fight we had that day... '

Ash: 'So, you finally got the Rainbow bird back?' Ash said, a little confused.

Scarlet the Brave: 'Yes, and no. The bird never left my company. I used her as a test, to see who was the kindest and strongest out of you and Cauldron's Ravens. Even with Marona's spirit, I was surprised when the bird told me what she had done.

Marona: 'The bird can talk?' Marona said, with a look as puzzled as Ash's.

Scarlet the Brave: 'No, no Marona... A woman can keep some secrets, can't she? *Chuckle* Don't you worry, all you need to know is that we'll be able to find Fox. Let's just hope we can before that woman finds him first.'

Marona, Ash, and Raphael agreed.

The Bar

Persimmon took another sip of his Vintage Sachsen. He felt good about Walnut being back. Despite his habit of spending all his money on sickly sisters, Walnut could make money when he needed it. Walnut meant money. He was the very word money. 'After all that stuff about that raven Fox clears up, Walnut's gonna get a lot more work, and me... a lot more money;' He thought, taking another sip.

Then, a bunch of Ravens burst through the door.

Persimmon was almost caught off guard, and he wondered what ravens were doing in a back-alley place like this. Persimmon had seen stranger things lately...

Persimmon instantly recognized The Raven captain. Captain Drab, the guy who ripped Walnut off, who, to Persimmon's dismay, came over and sat down in the unoccupied seat across from him.

Captain Drab: 'We... ah... I... *Snort* am looking for a guy. Raven, named... ahh... Fox. Yeah. Fox.'

Persimmon kept his cool, but the Raven captain was clearly out of place here. While he's definitely burly enough to take on every tough guy in the bar, he wasn't street smart at all. He was guarded by two other Ravens, who made it a duty to give anyone who passed by dirty looks. What a nightmare.

Persimmon: 'Well, my name's Persimmon. Nice to... meet you. Afraid I can't help you though. I don't deal with Ravens, not exactly my forte to get involved in political matters. Just check in Clutter Haven, the woman there knows these islands better than anyone. Barkeep, another.

As the bartender came over and filled Persimmon's glass, the ravens made their way out of the bar, stumbling over the feet of several of the bar's inhabitants.

Persimmon sighed, and downed his glass. Things in the world of Ivoire had turned topsy turvy.

Island of Evil

Raphael departed from the group to check up on his platoon still stationed at the Island. He missed his sword, Heliotrope, and no other sword fit the scabbard so perfectly as she did.

Raphael fell to his feet when he saw the devastation Cynthia had caused. Twice he had failed to protect his men. Twice he had failed Ivoire.

Raphael: 'In the name of justice, I will exact vengeance on the one who did this! So swear I, Raphael the Invincible, withstanding ruler of the swords of Ivoire! He unsheathed his blade and held it to the sky, as if to channel the fury of the men that had died that night. Raphael made the men proper burials, then he trekked further into the marsh, tracking the footprints of the perpetrator.

He soon found the place where he died, where Sulphur killed most of his men. The godamn bodies had only begun to decompose. He ventured on with a heavy heart, and made his way to the core of the island. There, he saw Cynthia, gathering the power of the damned souls who had tasted Sulphur's wrath. So... that's how she had gotten so powerful and dark. She had eaten the soul of Sprout... of course... This was not the hatred of a woman, but of a griefstricken, revenge seeking man. Dark and corrupt had been Sprout's soul, so... That is it. The power of Cynthia came from the deep hatred Sprout carried... Too weak was Cynthia to stop it, so her evil power became too much to bear... she had turned from a necromantic psychopath into much worse. Raphael had captured her before, hell, he was the one who had locked her up in Frigidia in the first place. Some time between her escape and her encounter with Marona, she had tapped into Sprout's resonance of power. Damn it.

The woman Raphael saw in front of him was not the same delinquent child he had come upon before. She reeked of darkness. Sprout was strong enough to fight it, to use his darkness to do some good, but this woman... She seemed like a spawn of Sulphur himself.

Cynthia turned around, Raphael's holy blade in the hands of darkness. Raphael felt a deep longing for the blade, and he imagined his vengeance would be swift.

Cynthia: 'Hahaha, foolish man, to come here. You died here once, why come here just to die again? You long for your holy blade, but in my hands it has gone a different path. Like Shiva, it obeys only the darkness now. You cannot possibly imagine the power that lay before you. Hehehehahahaha!'

Cynthia unsheathed Heliotrope and punctured the scar on her arm, leaving a deep wound. She drew blood as black as night, and as it hit the ground it seeped into the earth, home in the accursed landscape:

Sacred blood of damned souls;

Fire my lust for death,

Crimson Diaphony!

As she chanted her dark ritual, she rose into the air, her seeping blood circling around her.

You foolish mortals and your lies of grandeur and power! There is only power in darkness! Sprout saw that! Now I will break you mortal, bend you to the ways of the dark!

As the word "dark" uttered out of her lips, she cast a bolt of red electricity at Raphael, shooting it out of Heliotrope's blade. Raphael ducked out of the way, but the bolt traveled through the ground and came upon him. He felt the warm light of holiness leave his body, and a foul darkness seeped into his mind. He was strong willed, and tried to fight the darkness, to no avail. Cynthia fell to the ground, and walked slowly towards the wounded Raphael:

Cynthia: 'Do you feel it? The darkness coursing through your veins? You are weak, mortal, but I admire your efforts. Let the darkness enslave you, Raphael. Let go... Let it in...'

Raphael smiled. His trick had worked- he launched up with the fury of an angel, and swiped Heliotrope from her accursed hands.

Raphael: 'You underestimate me, foolish girl. Good will always vanquish evil, no matter how terrible!

May the true path shine forth in JUSTICE! HELIOTROPE BLADE!'

Raphael's power attack took on a darker form. Rather than the holy rays of light that would shoot out of the blade, a dark aura came instead. Nevertheless, he cut down Cynthia. She fell, surprised at Raphael's power. She summoned Zephyranth, and they did battle. Cynthia charged first, her attack filled with hate and anger. Raphael used her childish anger against her, and easily dodged the attack with a sideways parry, swinging around and making contact with her at the end of the flourish. Cynthia fell to the ground again, now furious.

Cynthia: 'Damn you! You will feed my blade! You will taste death!'

Raphael: 'Fool! You are not worthy to wield Sprout's sacred blade! Your arrogance will be the end of you! DIE!'

Raphael found a hate within him that had never existed before. His blade flew elegantly through the air, and Cynthia parried barely before her head was cut off. She came back to composure, and swung again at Raphael. Raphael blocked, and kicked her down. He held the blade to her throat:

'You will pay for the lives of my men. For all the havoc you've caused Ivoire, justice has finally come. Taste the might of Heliotrope, and may you be sucked down to Sulphur's domain in death, vile thing.' His voice grew darker, his rants of justice becoming nothing more than grandeur.

Cynthia: 'My work is done. You have been touched by darkness, and now you follow a different path.

May you rue the abomination that you have become. Ta ta!'

Cynthia vanished, her black blood the only thing left of what had happened there. Raphael re-adjusted his pauldron, and went back to the camp for supplies. If he did not rid himself of the darkness soon, he would follow Sprout's path. He felt guilty for succumbing to the darkness... But his blade was back into his hands. All was well.

Clutter Haven

Walnut docked Fox's ship, and made his way up the steps to Sienna's office...

In case the name of the chapter was total gibberish to you...

Faux

Adjective

or imitation: 'Faux pearls".

2. Not genuine; fake or false: "her faux New York accent".

Fox

1. Character on Phantom Brave.