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| No title. |
| (2012-11-21 - 2012-11-21) |
| No description. |
| Aerith | Aerith gasped, her eyes opening to the bleary sight of a ceiling she'd never seen before. She glanced to either side and found that she was in the only bed the room had to offer. The flower girl looked down, only to find her shoes were no longer on her feet, just a pair of ankle socks. Her staff was in one corner of the room, next to the lamp stand. The night before came back to her in bits and pieces... and a certain piece clicked into place that made her shudder. It was why she'd had the nightmare just now, of a thousand glowing eyes staring at her, never ceasing their gaze no matter which way she ran. And once there was nowhere left to run, they descended upon her, a thousand times a thousand. Aerith rose from the bed in what she now realized was a hotel room, and searched around for her shoes. Moments later, staff in hand, she headed for the door with a sigh. She had a pure heart, sure enough. Now besides making her a walking Heartless beacon... what else did that mean? |
| Zargabaath | In the hotel lobby, a arcadian guards are speaking with Judge Magister Zargabaath, mostly about last night. "Mmm....I can't prevent every war, nor can Drace. We're facing a losing proposition with Vayne rising to power, and he's starting to consolidate power. If it wasn't for Basch, we might've kept ourselves out of Rabanastre and not spread ourselves so thin. Now the Heartless are causing more problems." A guard speaks up. "But, your honor? OUr forces can handle expansion. Is this about that kid noble last night?" "Partly, but not totally. That kid seems willing to blame all of Archadia for something Judge Magister Bergan did. I'm not going to fight him, or, if necessary, encounter him again. The heartless in Archadia is the real problem though." He then looks up. "Lady Aerith. Not sleep well?" |
| Aerith | Heartless in Archadia. So she was right. Something had happened to his world. And now they were there for the rest of it. Perhaps now he would see that they were no good, and anyone controlling them wasn't either. She made her way downstairs with a wave. "Not at all..." She reached the bottom of the stair well with a yawn. "Last night was... interesting, I'd say." She spotted a lounge chair to sit herself in, and after doing so, looked up at Zargabaath. "You're talking about your nation and the problems with it." She tilted her head to the right. "I'd like to hear everything, please." He'd never told her before, not all of it. Now that the Dark Knight from the night before spoke of it... she was curious. |
| Zargabaath | One of the guards comes forward, and Zargabaath places his hand upon his shoulder. "Let her pass. She's allowed to address me normally." The guard steps aside. "Yes. We do have heartless in Archadia, and even in Rabanastre. That is why I have been gathering information about them. Despite that dark knight last night, I did gain some useful information that I should pass to Drace when I see her again. Unfortunately, I do fear that Judge Magister Ghis, Judge Magister Bergan and Vayne Solidor himself might use Heartless as tool, as that.....LEXUS person, said they could." |
| Aerith | Aerith shook her head. "Remember what I told you about them. They can smell the darkness in a person, sniff it out. They know what it tastes like. And if there is a sign of weakness, they won't hesitate to eat the hearts of the ones that are in command. If this Vayne and the other Judges want to control them, you have to stop them." She noticed she'd started leaning forward while speaking and reclined back on the chair with a sigh. "Tell me more about Archadia and this Basch person." |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath sighs softly and gestures for the guards to guard the door. He then leans down and takes off his helmet. "That, my friend, is the problem. Judge Magister Bergan is completely bloodthirsty and enjoys battle a bit too much. So much so that what happened to that Dark Knight's home sounds like Judge Magister Bergan's doing, not of the 12th Fleet. Judge Magister Ghis is an opportunist and would stab even Lord Vayne in the back and take the emperor's place himself. He's so focused upon gaining power that he even has the largest airship in the Archaedian fleet, the Dreadnaught Leviathan." He quietly sits down and offers Aerith a seat. "Basch Fon Ronsenberg was a holy knight protector of the King of Rabanastre. He defended the king as well as the Prince of Rabanastre. After the prince was killed by Archadian forces, we moved in to occupy Rabanastre and Vayne went to meet with the king for his surrender. During the meeting, Basch broke in and killed the king and was arrested. I heard about it later. Vayne had intended to allow Rabanastre to retain it's autonomy and aristocracy. Instead, Basch forced the occupation of Rabanastre by Archadia, giving power to Lord Vayne. Two years later, a couple of weeks ago, Lord Vayne took his place as Lord Regent of Rabanastre." |
| Aerith | Aerith considered that for a moment, wondering at his words. Aerith sat nearby, considering every point of the story... and then peered at him. "So... you heard about it later." She smiled. "Forgive my questioning, Your Honor, but wouldn't that imply that you heard, but didn't investigate, into the truth behind this matter?" He was a Judge, after all. Their primary concern was the truth, regardless of how many airships they commanded. |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath says, "I did investigate, and everyone present said that Basch Fon Ronsenberg was the one who killed the king. So I considered the matter resolved. The evidence was overwhelming, and Basch himself did not offer anything in his defense. He just simply went silent when we put him in an Archadian prison. And he hasn't spoken since. And the princess of Rabanastre killed herself a few days after the king was killed, though no body has been found." He then hangs his head, looking down at the floor. "It was one of the times where being a Judge Magister weighed the most heavily upon my shoulders. Almost the entire aristocracy of Rabanastre, slain.....because of a blood-thirsty, or power hungry few.""" |
| Aerith | Aerith placed a hand on her chin. Something... didn't add up. There was a missing piece. Maybe it was because she didn't know the events first hand, or maybe it was because there was a gap in what happened between the event of the king's death and the imprisonment. It all felt too... Aerith shook her head. Maybe it was just her. "Evidence can be planted." It was all she would say about it before moving on. "Your Honor, I'm going to come right out and say it. The Heartless are going to be after me in droves. I'm not sure why, something about me having a pure heart. I don't know what about my heart is so special, but they want it, and I apparently have it." |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath looked up at Aerith and tilted his head as Aerith said what she did, then changed subjects and told of her predicament. "You're positive about this, Lady Aerith?" He says quite formally. "What makes you so sure?" |
| Aerith | Aerith went silent for a moment, the echoes from her nightmare still lingering. "The Heartless that... LEXUS... called up, it spoke to me." She shivered. "No one else heard it. How could they? But I did, and I could feel its eyes on me, and it /wanted/ me. It told me that my heart was pure, bright... and it wanted to eat me." She looked up at him. "There were more than one of them. If he could bring up one, that meant there were fifty more in the area, waiting." |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath listens to all of this and takes a deep breath, taking it all in. "Perhaps it is your fear of the heartless that made them 'speak' to you?" He says to her, but his features, if she could read them, said he believed her, but he had to put the question out there. "Can you feel the heartless around you, then?" |
| Aerith | Aerith nodded and turned away from him for a moment. "I can feel a lot of things... Like how, despite that question there, you believe me. I don't even have to look at you, I know." She closed her eyes. "I can tell there are six people outside, on their way past, headed toward the other side of the square. I can feel the guards outside, restless, bored. One of them doubts you." |
| Zargabaath | "After that dark knight accosted me the other night, I don't doubt the guard doubts me." Zargabaath says quite angrily. "If it was up to me, he'd be sitting in an Archadian prison until he apologized. Instead, while he was trying to goad me into a fight, another comes up and tries to tell me how to do my job!" He actually sounds furious, but he's more embarassed because the boy decided to try and pick a fight, and Zargabaath was called out because he tried to avoid it. He then takes a deep breath and attempts to calm down. "Your talents for extrasensory perception is exceptional, Lady Aerith. I wish I had the depth of your powers myself." |
| Aerith | Aerith opened her eyes and turned toward the Judge Magister again. "There's only a few from my world that are able to do it... and they're all gone, save for me." Her eyes softened, brows curled upward with a trace of sadness. "I can do a lot of other things too... but I'm not sure how." She shook her head. "Enough about that... there's one other thing. You mentioned a Larsa... I think. Tell me about him." |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath says, "Larsa Solidor, little brother of Vayne Solidor. He's much too young to rule an empire, and Vayne is the first born, so by rights, Vayne will be next in line for the throne. Drace is trying to be a mentor for Larsa, while I actively try to protect him with the 12th fleet. Simply, we try to give him the wisdom to rule justly and with wisdom, rather than an iron fist.""" |
| Aerith | Aerith nodded. "So he's your future... and Vayne is, ultimately, your problem." She placed a hand beneath her chin again. "The Heartless are only making the problem worse, and you're trying to find a way to defeat them." She nodded. "Then I have a solution. The next time the Heartless stage an attack, use your leverage to put your fleet into action. It'll let you see for yourself the kind of damage these things can do, especially under the guidance of those that control them." |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath says, "The heartless, for all I've heard, aren't worth controlling or using as tools. As for when they stage an attack, unless you'd like to offer yourself up as bait, I can't predict how they will act. Nor can I predict where they will strike next." He then looks up to Aerith. "This conversations doesn't leave this room, my lady. I imagine when people hear that the 12th fleet is looking for information on Heartless. Those controlling the heartless and those fighting them will try to gain the 12th fleet's support, and.....I would like to keep them in the dark for as long as possible, until it is the time to strike.""" |
| Aerith | Aerith smiled. "Just like I just tried to do. I understand." She turned toward the doors again... and frowned. For a few moments, she continued to stare... and her eyes widened. "There's no one outside... I can't sense the guards. I can't sense /anything/." |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath stands up and puts on his helmet, then taps one of the horn bases twice. "Well, you're right. They're not respending to my call. Something is definitely wrong here." His hand then goes to the sword at his side.....and slowly draws it. It's a huge sword too. |
| Aerith | Aerith picked up her staff and made her way toward the double doors, pushing one of them open with her right hand and peeking out. She saw nothing... heard nothing. The silence was empty, disturbing. She looked around in an attempt to find the guards, and gasped as her eyes caught sight of one of them, slumped against the wall, out like a light. "Oh yeah... something is very, very wrong." |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath walks his way over to her and gently gripped her arm. "Come on. Let's get you out of here and onto the Alexander, at least temporarily." He says tugging her to her feet. Even if he didn't have his guards, he was still a Judge Magister, one of the elite of the Archadian Empire. He could see someone out of a spot of danger.... |
| Aerith | Aerith stepped out, her staff held in front of her, parallel to the ground. She moved toward one of the guards and knelt next to him, a hand on his neck. "He's okay... just out..." The flower girl stood again and glanced around, eyes alert. The Voice whispered of darkness. "They're here..." She grimaced. "...For me." |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath stepped out with his sword held in one hand for the moment. As Aerith checked on the guard, Zargabaath's head turned slowly, but his eyes were darting back and forth, looking for the threat. He hadn't faced a Heartless before, but he knew he would have to today.....especially to get Aerith out of here. |
| Aerith | Aerith stood and advanced out into the square, glancing around as well... only for her senses to alert her of a presence behind her. She whipped around, pointed her staff... and her eyes widened as a Shadow rose from the silhouette of one of the guards, another one emerging from the other downed man. They stared at her, intent on finishing what they'd started in Goug. She turned again, and from the alleyways and dark corners of the square, more approached... she couldn't count them all, but first glance said ten... no, fifteen. She inched closer to Zarg, hoping that he'd be more effective than her to stave them off. |
| Zargabaath | Watching as a Heartless rose from one of the guards, Zargabaath tightened his grip on his sword, but used his free arm to keep Aerith behind him. "Stay behind me Lady Aerith. I shall fight them off." The closer they came, the longer he waited. However, when he struck, they knew it. He didn't move fast, but this sword slashes were elegant in execution, almost beautiful..... |
| Aerith | But no matter how beautiful, how elegant, if they didn't hit, they did nothing. And soon, the two Heartless near the guards, as well as two near Aerith, launched themselves toward their pray, intent on taking their hearts, claws ready to dig into flesh! |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath didn't seem to mind the missing too much, but when they ran in to attack, he stuck out another slash that made the heartless bleed from their wounds. However, He continued his attacks. Still slashing his sword, but adjusting his assault to account for their evasiveness. |
| Aerith | Aerith makes an attempt to leap upward, but gets caught on her way up by one of the two. She gets forced to the ground as the shadow tries to tear into her, but kicks it off and moves herself near Zargabaath. "Right, not good!" The materia in her staff light up as she thrusts her right hand forward, coating them both in a pale blue aura. |
| Aerith | The Heartless were knocked back, one of them taking more damage than the other, but they regained themselves and came at him again. Meanwhile the two on Aerith were joined by a third, and together they screeched at her, a grating, tearing sound that made the ears ring and the senses spin. It wasn't just for her, either... |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath was hit again by the heartless, even magical draining technique were being used to attack his life force, but he wasn't going to give up defending Aerith. His slashes were becoming more focused, and he was starting to hit them. Aerith's magic poured over him and it kept him safe, for the moment. |
| Aerith | Aerith let the attack hit her, but bolstered by her defenses, she didn't feel the damage as much. Soon, her target was knocked back by a blast of fire, and one singing shadow fell to the ground... only to scrabble its way back up again. She then glanced behind her, senses running a quick check on her and Zarg. They could both use some assistance, and so she willed her energy toward another materia, thrusting one of the ends of her staff into the air. A brief flash of pale green later, and their bruises were soothed. For now. |
| Aerith | Still they came, and struck again... more of them approaching by the second. They had them surrounded now, each taking the time to pick their attacks, moving with some limited, predatory intelligence. They attacked, retreated, attacked again, waited for an opening. |
| Zargabaath | They would not get such an opening from Zargabaath, for he was a very defensive fighter. The more they attacked and fell back in waves, the more Zargabaath relaxed. They were using a pattern he had seen, and defeated before. Every time they came forward to attack, he deflected their attacks with his sword. However, the next attacker that came close, he swiped at them again. Giving them no quarter.... |
| Aerith | And again, she is knocked back, but into Zarg's back instead of on the ground. At least that was a good thing about standing behind someone. Her eyes narrowed as she fought through the pain, focused her energies, and cried out, her right hand pointed toward several heartless before her. A blinding sphere of lightning burned toward them and exploded, sparks flying as it slammed into the ranks. Two of them fell and one shrieked in pain, causing the others to close the gaps, lest their prey break the circle... and they screeched again, this time all at once! |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath gets hit on the shoulder by the attack, but by now, he was done fooling around. His sword now began to glaw white, even as he missed a slash to counter their attack. He brought his sword behind him and whispered "You will not touch this heart, abominations!" And he slashed out at all of them, sword sheathed in a pure white light. |
| Aerith | All the Heartless screeched at once as the blade of light tore through them, causing them all to dissipate, the Shadows melting away as the light faded. Aerith stared at the remains of the attackers with wide eyes, then glanced over her left shoulder. The difference in power between them was too great... and she realized she had much to do still if she wanted to properly defend herself. |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath watched the Heartless dissipate, and he just grunts a 'Hmph' at them. "Vae Victus." He then turns towards Aerith. "Are you all right, Lady Aerith?" he says holding his hand out the her....the one without the sword. |
| Aerith | Aerith smiled, her eyes half lidded, head tilted forward. "But of course, Your Honor..." She took his hand and squeezed it as much as she could. "You have my thanks. We should be off to your airship before more get here." |
| Zargabaath | Zargabaath nods to Aerith, then taps his helmet. "This is Zargabaath. I need transport to the Alexander, and a crew to pick up wounded. We will also have a guest until further notice." A few minutes later, a small airship lands near them and Zargabaath boards it, with Aerith in tow. The doors close and the ship heads up for the Alexander as fast as it can, with a second airship right behind it....carrying the wounded. |
| Aerith | Aerith boards the lesser airship, looking down at the square below. She blinked... there were people there. The flower girl closed her eyes, and her senses confirmed it. What kind of trick was this? She shook her head and turned forward again, only to see the Alexander looming before her. Her eyes widened, jaw slack just a bit. "Wow..." |
| Zargabaath | The Alexander is a huge ship all right. The small airship landed upon the deck and Zargabaath stepped off, with a few guards saluting him. "Your Honor!" They all yell and he casually salutes them back. "At ease. This is Lady Aerith, my guest. You are to protect her with all your might, especially against the heartless. If you falter in your duty, you shall become a victim, as some of my guards did." He says pointing to the second dropship. "That is all." He says before tromping his way up to the bridge of the ship, and Aerith is joined by quite a few guards, who escort her to the bridge. The Alexander, then, begins to leave Traverse town and towards an airborne portal. |
| Aerith | Aerith wasn't too sure she wanted to know just what possessed those pots and pans... but then her senses went off like a fire alarm. Her eyes widened, right hand tightening on her staff. She'd already felt this once today, and now here it was again. "Tifa, Heartless nearby." She could tell their signature by now, and the flower girl glanced around, trying to pinpoint them. "They're close." |