Chapter 2: Peace by Means of War
Kezaniah soon stopped for a moment to catch her breath as she arrived into deep Brodia territory, as she looked up at the starry sky above her, night having fallen on her as she closed her eyes, a memory appearing in her head, as it showed her tending to a young Nel and Nil of her world, with Nil in tears.
"Don't cry Nil, please… father might hear you." Kezaniah said with worry, holding the twins close to herself.
"Kez… I'm a failure… I'm nothing but a failure… I can't do anything that you two can do…" Nil cried.
"You're not a failure, Nil. You're not." Nel said soothingly.
The memory, however, changes from lukewarm to a sudden bitter memory.
"We do the will of Lord Sombron, sister! No one else's!" Nil yelled, weapon in hand.
"Brother, please! Kezaniah seeks us our freedom!" Nel yelled back, as Kezaniah rushed in just as they struck each other lethally.
"NO!" Kezaniah's scream echoed in her mind, as it shifted to her holding the dying twins.
Snapping back to reality, Kezaniah growled as she clenched her fist incredibly tightly, before hearing footsteps approach and seeing Nel, as she turned to her, quickly blotting out the bad mix of memories.
"So you broke away from the others. I presume you're not against my methods then." Kezaniah quipped to Nel.
"Indeed. If you intend to fight the royals, then you will need an ally." Nel remarked. "...Detest me if you like, but it is imperative that we are together to ensure that the task ahead is done well."
"I thank you for the cooperation." Kezaniah stated, before her memories flared again, and oddly focused on the facts of the omen that she noticed about trading dragonstones, before her voice became softer momentarily. "...Nel… why did you give Nil your dragonstone?" Kezaniah suddenly asked.
"It's because it's a sign that we are two halves of the same whole. We are twins, as you recall." Nel answered back. "He was upset about his own weakness, and so I gave him my dragonstone to remind him that I will be there with him, no matter where he goes. He shares my power, as I share his. It doesn't matter if I cannot transform without him, so long as he believes himself with the stone in his embrace. Was it the same reason that you had for my other self in your own world?"
"It was. Which is why I have something to tell you. Expect death in your future, much sooner than you will expect." Kezaniah stated firmly.
"Death so soon?" Nel remarked. "...As long as it ends with the one who torments this world defeated, I can be at peace with my fate. I worry more for Nil than anything else right now."
"...If only you would understand…" Kezaniah simply stated before leaving Nel once again, becoming too pained to continue the discussion.
Not long after Kezeniah left Nel, she was caught up to by the group, with a fairly concerned Nil.
"Nel, there you are!" Nil exclaimed. "I didn't expect that you would have gotten this far already. And that reminds me… is everyone feeling alright?"
"You worry too much." Zephia scoffed. "I'm not so frail as my title suggests."
"As much as my other self crudely puts it, naturally, we are all fine." Zelestia stated. "Though no doubt it would be easier if I were riding my wyvern. But at least Richard is kind enough to use a Warp staff to catch any stragglers and put them ahead of the group. Poor Marni was trying to keep up!"
"Hey, you try having that much armor, and trudging all the distance without much of a break!" Marni growled.
"Speaking of which, you chose this road for a reason… and by the looks of it, Kezeniah gone through it as well." Richard remarked. "Why did you go there?"
"Brodia is widely known for its hatred of war. We would not be permitted to cross the border." Nel answered back. "And their border security is tighter than that of other nations. So we must enter covertly."
"Wait, Brodia are the peace-makers in this world!? Wow, that really just drains the fun out of a man." Griss sighed. "At least King Morion was a decent man over there. And now, he's going to be some peace-tooting flower-throwing-"
Marni immediately back-ended Griss with the back of her axe, which knocked Griss onto the ground.
"Shut it, will you!" Marni exclaimed. "You do know that we have an alternate Hound right here beside us! She wouldn't be happy to hear all this!"
"Oh, don't mind me." Zelestia answered back. "I think that it's interesting that your world is all the more different to ours. Firene and Brodia trading their trademark policies… I never thought I would hear such a thing."
"...Hold. Someone is ahead." Siege suddenly said. "Who goes there!?" He exclaimed, readying his weapon.
"Gyaaagh! D-don't hurt me!" The frightened voice of a man exclaimed as he jumped back in fear upon Siege about to attack him.
"...This is me from another world? What a wuss…" Griss mumbled under his breath the moment he heard the voice and saw his own figure, with slight differences, having white robes, rather than gray ones, and he had no facial tattoo on his face.
"Oh, and I assume that this is another of the Four Winds?" Alear asked Nel and Nil.
"Indeed, Gregory is one of the Four Winds, like me." Zelestia remarked, before looking at Griss with a glare. "And it seems that his counterpart disapproves of him, I see."
"I can see why." Zephia remarked, comparing mentally Gregory and Griss.
"You never did tell us what the Four Winds are." Richard told Zelestia. "Care to discuss that?"
"We are a small band of knights established after the war to protect Lady Nel and Lord Nil." Zelestia answered back. "Like your Four Hounds, we compose of four members, which bear an uncanny resemblance to each of us, especially your knight."
"So he was right, there is another me here! I can't wait to see what she looks like!" Marni declared eagerly.
"So what are the Four Hounds to you, dear Zephia?" Zelestia asked, as Zephia gave an uncomfortable look upon being called. "I'm sure that you share the same role. But who do you serve?"
"We are retainers to Lady Veyle, as you are with Nil and Nel." Zephia answered back. "Unfortunately, at that time, Lady Veyle was on the wrong side, as she was corrupted, as she has told you before."
"And you fought for her in Sombron's employ?" Zelestia remarked with horror, as Zephia narrowed her eyes.
"Believe me when I tell you this: Things are not as clear-cut as they seem." Zephia declared seriously. "If you truly value your own innocence in all of this, I ask that you do not press further on the matter. What I did back then, is something that I regret deeply."
"O-Oh." Zelestia answered back. "Right, I'm sorry for that."
"And let me guess, Gregory here gathers information for Brodia to you two, right?" Siege asked Nel and Nil.
"Same as Zelestia, yes." Nel nodded. "Thank you for your dutiful work, Gregory. But we did plan to meet some distance from here."
"Right, about that…" Gregory winced. "I got turned around and didn't think I could find our spot. Wasn't sure what to do, so I headed back to the border. I'm so grateful I found you."
"Before you give us your report, there is something you should know. This individual here is-" Nel started, gesturing at Alear.
"Not the Divine Dragon we know. Right?" Gregory remarked, as the silence answered his question. "So, I'm guessing the ritual worked, and you summoned this one from elsewhere."
"Indeed. That spares me the work of explanation." Nel confirmed.
"Amazing, Gregory! How did you figure all of that out?" Nil exclaimed with astonishment.
"Not sure, exactly. Something about this one seemed… more complete, I guess." Gregory answered back. "You're so different to the Divine Dragon I know, because your essence is literally feeling like it's been bonded to that man beside you, like you are divine partners. I'm not making any sense, am I?"
"On the contrary, you are on the dot." Richard responded back. "My bond-brother, who is known as the Radiant Saviour in the world we hail from, is the martial partner of Alear, a marriage blessed by the heavens and earth themselves."
Nel bit her lip upon hearing those words, while Gregory was shocked.
"Wait, you're married!?" Gregory exclaimed, looking at Alear incredulously.
"Well…" Alear started, before seeing Nel's expression. "I think that it's best not to discuss that matter. Please, let us work together. And hopefully… the Hounds won't give you much trouble… especially Griss."
"Who?" Gregory asked.
"She's referring to me, white." Griss remarked, gently moving Alear aside. "Name's Griss, I'm you from the world that Alear here lives in. And boy, am I disappointed by what I see."
"E-Excuse me?" Gregory asked, furrowing his brow.
"I meant what I said." Griss remarked, crossing his arms. "Seriously, you literally wimped out when Siege pointed a blade to you. Haven't you seen enough of those in the war you thought, or you've been sitting on the back-lines while your other Winds got up close and personal with the enemy."
"Why, I never!" Gregory exclaimed, before stepping forward. "I'll have you know that I can fight quite well myself. I don't know where that haughty attitude of yours come from, but I'm relieved that I have none of that arrogant attitude of yours!"
"Well, blast this arrogant fool then! Give me what you got!" Griss exclaimed, before he then pulled out a Nova tome. "And I'll be sure to show you what you're lacking, choir boy."
Richard then immediately intervened, before using a Freeze Staff to lock Griss in place, before tugging him back.
"Griss, NO." Richard declared. "You are not picking a fight with your alternate self, just because you want to see if he's more than some wimp. Gregory didn't earn his title by hiding around. He may be skittish, and he may be timid, but I know for a fact that he's no slouch when it comes to fighting."
"Tch. Fine, so be it." Griss conceded. "I'll see for myself if he's got what it takes soon enough."
"Thank you for putting that mess out before it started…" Gregory remarked. "I… I seriously don't know what's in that twisted mind of that other me."
"He's a sado-masochist." Richard bluntly stated. "He enjoys the act of giving pain and taking pain, although he loves the latter more than the former. But if you piss him off, it's going to be a painful hell for whoever it is."
"What!? That's just-" Gregory exclaimed with a disgusted expression. "Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you?"
"Oh, believe me, you innocent man. You'd literally twist your expression if I told you." Griss cackled.
"Gregory, one question, did you happen to see a red haired woman go by you by any chance?" Siege said, quickly changing subjects before things got worse. "She's a friend of ours who… is… not really taking a peaceable approach to situations." Siege remarked.
"Well, I did see someone of that description." Gregory answered back. "But I was pretty much in a hurry, so I didn't have the time to talk with her and get more details."
"That's enough… Wait, you said you were in a hurry. Why would you be in a hurry?" Richard asked. "You're doing stealth and subterfuge, rushing things is liable to get you detected, unless…"
"Um, Oh…" Gregory remarked, as he became more flustered. "I was spotted? While scouting? I ran for my life. But, hah… I guess they followed. And I don't think that I've got much time,"
"Well, for the sake of not causing more problems, we should find somewhere to hide until your pursuers brush us by." Alear suggested.
"How odd, I thought that you would directly fight them." Nel remarked. "You all seem to be tailored for that."
"We are not so foolish as to charge into a pointless fight." Zephia remarked dryly. "I don't know who our foe is, so all strength and resources are to be conserved until they are needed most. That is how a proper general fights a long battle across the land."
"Hm, glad to see that we have that in common." Zelestia remarked.
"Well, since we're running, follow me. I know a place where we can duck into." Gregory remarked.
The group soon arrived at a remote area where they could catch their breath.
"Okay… so… now we need a new plan, considering we still need Brodia's bracelet…" Siege huffed as they reached the area in question.
"Well, let Gregory give his report. We might be able to garner something from that." Richard suggested.
"That's right! Something is happening in Brodia. They've started sending soldiers out of country." Gregory stated.
"I would not have expected them to be plotting an invasion. Where?" Nel asked.
"That I don't know. Wherever it is, they've done a good job keeping it secret. But judging from the intel I got, I think they want to take the seven bracelets."
"Well, it seems that we have another force in play then…" Mauvier remarked. "Peaceful they are, the lure of power would bring any nation to collect them."
"What would they grant in this world?" Richard asked.
"They can render you immune to all harm." Nel stated.
"Immune? As in, nothing works?" Marni asked. "That's… That's preposterous, it can't be-"
"The ultimate defense." Griss remarked. "Wow, that would take a lot of fun out of war if someone were to use it. I'd sooner die than be subject to that."
"And to Brodia here, it's a priceless treasure that they desire." Richard deduced.
"If that is so, then they would need the Emblems to be asleep. That would require Nel." Nil stated.
"Ah, that is right…" Richard nodded back.
"Indeed it is." A chilling voice would raise up, as the group turned… to see Alcryst and Diamant approach. "But because you now know our plans… you must be disposed of."
"Impossible! I didn't sense anyone approaching." Zelestia remarked.
"Well, they are royals after all." Zephia declared. "Alcryst and Diamant. What a surprise this is."
"Look, Diamant. Here they are. Now finish them off. Or must I do everything for you, my pathetic excuse of a brother." Alcryst, the source of the chilling voice, declared with a cold look on his face.
"I was planning to take them by surprise, Alcryst." Diamant said. "You shouldn't have revealed our position."
"Oh… Thanks for telling me the plan." Alcryst growled.
"Your brother is right. Now I know exactly where you two scuttling royals have been." Kezaniah would say from behind the two of them.
"Wha-? GHYAAA!" Alcryst yelled.
"HUAAAAGH!" Diamant yelled as well, before they both fell, having been cut down instantly.
"Brodia is no more. How pitiful. And the spoils… an Otherworld Emblem bracelet from the burning palace, and an Emblem Bracelet from the hand of the King." Kezaniah stated, procuring two Emblem Bracelets.
"Wow, that's… horrifyingly efficient." Gregory remarked. "But why did you kill the royals!? You could have just-"
"Don't bother reasoning, whites. She knows what she's doing, and she ain't going to care for what you're going to say." Griss remarked. "So then, Lady Kezeniah, you're going to finish the job with Solm and Elusia, aren't you?"
"That is the intention. And I require no help from any of you yet again for it. But I will ask for the aid of this second Otherworld Emblem. Strike True, Emblem of Fantasy!" Kezaniah yelled as a Fell Dragon variant of the ever recognizable Tifa Lockhart descended, standing on the other side of Kezaniah with Mont.
"You called for my aid. Let us push on to a future with truth and peace." Tifa would say.
"I'm off to Elusia. Follow me if you wish. Or don't. Whatever you choose." Kezaniah declared as she left yet again, just as quickly as she had arrived.
"Something tells me that there must be a reason she's been acting like this…" Richard remarked. "I don't know what… but it's nagging me to no end… She burned Firene nearly to the ground, and from the sounds of it, while Alcryst and Diamant were on the hunt, she would have dealt a similar blow to Brodia… what is she trying to achieve here… wiping the nations to the point that it would take a miracle for them to recover… what's her game here."
"I don't know… but I intend for us to find out before we fight Elusia and Solm." Siege declared firmly. "We need to catch her now and get these answers pried wide open out of her! Everyone, follow her! Don't let her get too far this time!"