Ch 18: Brewing Trouble

With a bone to pick, Fox confronts Claire. Saria and Amy both also have important matters on their minds, and returning to Noctivagus, Gisette hopes against all hope that she's made the right choice.

            With the meeting over, everyone started to disperse. Staring after Claire, who hurried off to the tower to prepare places and sleeping bags for everyone to sleep on, Grey thought, “I’ve heard my fair share of injustices, but being punished for having a family? How could anybody accept that?” Suddenly, Serius’ voice said, “Grey?” Turning to see Serius standing next to him, Grey was slightly embarrassed to have been caught spacing out, and he quickly said, “Ah, sorry… What’s up?” Holding up Deus Amictus, Serius said, “This belongs to you.” Surprised to see the sword, Grey said, “Oh right, I forgot that b*****d did something to it. How’d you guys get it back though?” Staring at the sword as he held it up, Serius replied, “Amy managed to escape with it. It has been unbound from you, but hopefully taking it up again will restore the bond.” Reaching out to take the sword, Grey said, “Alright, let’s try it.” Grasping the handle of the blade, Grey watched as the sword shined with light for a moment, then evaporated. Raising a hand before him and staring at it a moment, Grey looked up at Serius and said, “I’m guessing it worked?” Nodding, confident that it had indeed worked, Serius said, “I can come to no other conclusion. The fact that you still haven’t mastered it after summoning it twice is odd though.” Shrugging his shoulders, Grey just said, “Don’t ask me why. Last time I was just summoning my Anima Weapon like normal, and I got Deus Amictus instead.” 

Serius started to say, “The Grand Anima Weapon requires a certain feeling from the heart that-” Rushing up to them, his cat Ian trailing behind him, Rufus said, “Hey guys, Toshley wants to go check out the Audentia right away and get a head start on getting her fixed up. Since you’re all here until tomorrow, you mind helping? He’s talking about carrying heaps of parts out of this pocket dimension thing. As if Daemonholm wasn’t bad enough…” Having been thinking about talking to Saria after the meeting, Grey said, “Well, there’s something I needed to say to Saria but…” Certain he knew what he would be discussing with her, Serius quickly said, “Yes, I think you should do that. I’ll give Rufus and the others a hand.” Gazing at Serius with gratitude, Rufus said, “Thank you! You’re a lord among lords!” Reaching down and scooping up Ian, Rufus led Serius off to where the others who were headed to the Audentia were gathered.

            Slowly opening the door of the tower and stepping inside, after he’d closed it silently behind him, Fox flipped the switch on the lock and locked it. Moving silently, he crept up behind Claire, who was humming merrily to herself as she laid out another sleeping bag on the floor of the room. Gathering EDE into his hand and forming his steel gloves, as he held his hand flat, Fox formed a long black blade along that hand, cinders smoldering within. Finished smoothing out the sleeping bag, Claire stood up, her back still facing him, seeming unaware of what was coming. Swiftly Fox struck out with his blade, but whirling around Claire blocked his attack with a paper sword. As they locked blades, both gazed into the others eyes, grins on their faces. In a calm voice, Claire said, “My, my, hot headed as always aren’t we Fox Marcellus?” With a smug laugh, Fox replied, “You haven’t lost your touch, Claire the Seeker!” 

They continued to grapple with each other’s blades, and Claire said, “Might I ask why you’ve attacked me this time?” Both suddenly breaking away from each other and jumping back, as Fox channeled EDE into his other hand he said, “Oh, I think you know what this is about! You are THE Seeker after all!” Flames burning in his hand, Fox flung balls of fire at Claire, but pulling out a scroll and holding it before her, Claire jumped back and chanted, “Volumen Nox Phantasia!” The scroll summoned a black rune circle that absorbed the attack, and lowering the scroll, Claire replied, “Actually, you’re almost as unpredictable as Grey himself. I’m assuming something about what happened in Gatria has you upset?” His face becoming serious, Fox said, “You didn’t tell me he would die, or what would happen to Matthews. I would NEVER have gone along with you if I’d known.” Closing her eyes with a sigh, Claire replied, “It was for that reason I did not tell you. You must understand. It was all in order for him to become strong enough to awaken his true power. Chasing Saria from her village so they would meet, challenging Grey, befriending him, leading them to the halls of Origin, rescuing Bella from Magus… You have ensured that he took the most favorable path, a difficult feat when dealing with his Fate Alteration.” 

Raising a fist before him, it began to spark with flames as Fox angrily said, “Favorable?! An entire city blown to bits, his best buddy warped into a pawn of Altera Veritas, not to mention what all his friends went through when they thought he was dead! Just what if that crappy little phoenix stone hadn’t worked huh?! What then?!” As Claire simply stared back at him silently, Fox finally lowered his fist and let his weapons disappear. Turning away from her in disgust, he said, “It’s really my own fault for thinking I could trust somebody who tried to destroy mankind. I won’t be telling the others about all this yet, but I’m done with you.” Heading for the door, as he reached it, he paused and added, “And don’t try to manipulate Grey the way you did with me. It’ll be the last mistake you ever make…” As Fox unlocked the door and stepped out, Claire thought to herself, “I can’t make any mistakes this time. This is my last chance…”

            Having been sent to get some water from the water pump, as she struggled with the seemingly immovable handle, Saria thought, “Stupid Mana… What was I supposed to say? What am I supposed to say to everyone, to Grey? How can I possibly tell them all to stop fighting?! They’re all so strong. Compared to them, I’m just…” Suddenly, someone loudly said, “Saria!” Startled, Saria looked up and exclaimed, “Ah, sorry! I wasn’t talking aloud was I?!” Standing before her, having been trying to get her attention for awhile now, Grey said, “What are you talking about?” Quickly Saria smiled nervously and said, “Nothing, nothing at all!” Thinking she was acting weird, Grey hesitantly said, “Alexander didn’t come talk to you himself, did he?” Confused but at the same time happy that the subject had changed, Saria just shook her head and said, “No, I think he went with the others to look at this airship you were talking about. Why, did he have something to tell me?” Having been thinking about how to tell her, just hearing her ask him outright made him more nervous than he’d expected, and as all the things he’d thought of saying seemed to have slipped his mind, Grey found himself grasping at straws for an answer. 

Laughing nervously, Grey finally said, “Well, you heard about how we’re going to Loralu tomorrow right?” Saria just nodded, wondering to herself if they’d be running into trouble in Loralu as well. Then realizing the fact that they were all alone, Saria thought to herself, “If there’s even the slightest chance…” As Saria debated with herself whether to say something, Grey continued, “Well, there’s a special reason we’re going there.” Making up her mind, Saria stared at the ground as she said, “Grey… There’s something I need to say…” Caught off guard, Grey could only say, “Oh, ok…” Clenching her fists tensely as she braced herself, Saria quietly said, “When I first started traveling with you, I was just so happy to have a friend that I didn’t think about anything. I just thought everything would be fine if I had you to protect me.” Seeing her body begin to shake, Grey didn’t know what to say, and simply listened as she continued, “Even when I got kidnapped by Fox, it didn’t scare me as much as I’m scared now. When I saw Scott… What happened to him because he was trying to protect me, I realized how much danger you all were in! I don’t want to lose any more of my new family!” 

As she started to break down into tears, Grey moved to reach out to her as he said, “Saria, I’m sorry…” Looking up at him desperately, Saria shouted, “Haven’t you all done enough?! Every night I have nightmares about what could happen to you if you keep fighting! Why do you have to do this?! Can’t you just stop and let someone else fight?!” Struggling to find words that could make her understand, Grey said, “Do you think I asked for this? I’m sorry I didn’t realize what you’re going through, I really am! But what are we supposed to do? Turn our back on the world and let Altera Veritas erase everything? We have the strength to fight back! If we won’t do something, who will?! Besides, right now they’re after you and me. It doesn’t matter where we hide, they’ll find us!” With a pleading look, Saria started to say, “But…!” Without thinking, Grey said, “What about Scott?! If we stop now, then who’s left to save him?!” With a shocked look, Saria burst into tears again and quickly rushed off before Grey could say another word. Left standing there, Grey turned and kicked a rock into the edge of the forest as he shouted in frustration, “D****t!” Standing there staring into space for a while, he finally sighed and sank into a sitting position as he quietly said, “I didn’t ask for any of this…”

            Walking through the Dreamer’s Woods with the others as they headed for the crashed Audentia, Alexander was suddenly pulled aside by Amy. Moving off the path, once they were alone, Alexander said, “I take it this is about the assignments?” With a nod, Amy said, “I want to go with you to Loralu instead.” With a sigh, Alexander shook his head and said, “You of all people should know why it should be just the three of us. There is no reason for you to worry about your mother’s prophecy occurring while we’re there. I highly doubt anything dangerous will happen.” Stubbornly refusing to give in, Amy said, “There’s still a chance something could happen! I-” Cutting her off, Alexander said, “I know how devoted you are to protecting him. You’ve come a long way all on your own with him in mind. Training night after night, you haven’t stopped even after unlocking your powers back in Gatria. However, let me say this…” Adjusting his shades, Alexander’s face was serious as he said, “If you’re doing all of this just to sacrifice yourself, then I’m afraid I can’t support you.” Unable to look at him, Amy started to say, “I’m sorry, but for Grey I’d…” Turning to go, Alexander said, “I’m not saying you can’t give your life for those you care for, but none of us would be ok with such an outcome, especially Grey. Don’t delude yourself that it would be a selfless act for his sake.” Amy was unable to respond, and as Alexander left her in silence and walked off, he called back, “The assignments stay. I really feel that you need to think a little harder about this…” As he disappeared from her view, Amy clenched her fists and muttered, “I know all that… but still…”

            Stepping out of one of her spatial rifts and into the halls of the Citadel of Noctivagus, Gisette proceeded down the hall to head towards her room as she thought, “Well, who would have guessed I’d be working with Toshley and Tepes again, not to mention that eccentric old geezer Eazel? Still, I suppose it’s better to have more allies than less, considering what we’ll be up against…” Heaving a sigh as she turned down an adjacent hallway, Gisette muttered, “I hope I’m not making a mistake here.” Suddenly Gisette stopped in her tracks as dark vortexes formed throughout the hall and a battalion of humanoid anomalies appeared from them and surrounded her. Quickly Gisette tried to open another spatial rift, but found she was unable to, and immediately realized Alastor must have reinforced the veil of darkness around the citadel to prevent anything from entering or leaving. Seeing no hope of escape, Gisette grit her teeth and thought, “Damn, was I followed?! Tepes, what the hell were you doing?!” 

Hearing footsteps coming down the hall, Gisette looked past the anomalies to see Giselle coming slowly down the hall with a stern look on her face. As Giselle approached, the anomalies parted and she moved past them. Coming to a stop before her sister, Giselle said, “Lord Alastor has ordered that you be brought before him immediately.” Briefly there was a sad look in Gisette’s eyes, but then she quickly closed her eyes and smirked as she muttered, “I suppose I should have expected him to send you. That man truly has no decency. I don’t know what you see in him…” Quickly Giselle formed her sword, Gladius, and leveled the tip of the blade at her sister’s throat as she said, “Silence!” Opening her eyes slowly, Gisette’s face was serious as she stared at Giselle and said, “I knew you’d choose him. Know this Giselle, he will use you and cast you aside. Your feelings mean nothing to him.” Narrowing her eyes in anger, Giselle said, “For your sake sister, I hope you beg him his forgiveness! Now move! Lord Alastor is waiting…”

            As the large metal doors of Alastor’s personal chambers opened, Giselle, Gisette, and their escort of anomalies stepped into a room dimly lit by flickering blue flame candles along the walls. In the far left corner of the room was a luxurious looking bed that appeared as though it didn’t see much use. Various antiques were spread through the room, such as a wind up grandfather clock, old hand drawn portraits with grand frames, a large wooden display case bearing numerous glass figurines, a circular black table in the center of the room with matching chairs, and possibly the most interesting piece was the black grand piano set up in the far right corner, at which Alastor himself currently sat playing a sad and foreboding melody. As Giselle led Gisette further in, the grandfather clock chimed the hour and Alastor stopped playing the piano. Standing up and turning to face them, dressed in a fresh outfit comprised of the same black suit and red shirt he’d been wearing since he fought Alexander at the Grand Crags, Alastor said, “Welcome back Gisette. I trust Mr. Greyson and his friends are doing well?” 

Shrugging her shoulders with a sly grin, Gisette replied, “Whatever are you talking about Alastor?” Flashing a faint smile as he walked over to the black table, Alastor said, “Oh don’t be shy. It’s not like I really need you to tell me anything about your visit. The Observer of Mysteries has quite the impressive ability, but unfortunately for you Gisette, since you were considered ‘welcome’, it appears your shadow was as well. I overheard every word through my vessel…” Gisette’s eyes went wide as she sensed Shadow rise up behind her from out of the very shadow she was casting in the light of the flickering blue candles. Turning her head to look slowly back at him, Gisette fearfully thought, “S**t, I’ve been had!” Gesturing to the table, Alastor said, “Now that you understand your position, why don’t you take a seat? You’re just in time to join me for my daily coffee break.” 

As both she and Giselle sat down, Gisette eyed Alastor warily and said, “Are you always so accommodating to those who betray you?” Quickly, Giselle turned to her sister and said, “Fool! Do not make things any worse for yourself!” Taking a seat for himself, Alastor replied, “Despite my distaste for traitors among my ranks, listening in on your little excursion has gained me a large amount of invaluable information.” Alastor snapped his fingers and a humanoid anomaly rose from a dark vortex next to him with a tray bearing three cups of coffee. As the anomaly placed the cups on the table, Alastor picked one up and took a sip of it. Then placing his cup back on the table, Alastor’s expression was as blank as usual as he said, “In other words, I am in a rather good mood.” Glaring at Alastor expectantly, Gisette said, “As interesting as it is to hear someone like you say that, I would prefer you get to the point.” Gesturing to Gisette’s untouched cup of coffee, Alastor said, “Do calm down and enjoy your coffee. I have brought you here to discuss a proposal through which you can atone for your little transgression.”

            For a moment Gisette simply stared at Alastor, and then as a smile crept onto her face she began to snicker. Her snickering quickly grew into laughter, and as she continued to laugh, Giselle stared at Gisette in horror. Alastor simply watched her outburst with seemingly no interest. Finally ceasing her laughter, Gisette exclaimed, “Too funny! You’re a riot Alastor! I almost regret the fact I’ll have to turn down your little proposal here, it so greatly interests me to know what could possibly be going on in that twisted mind of yours!” Rising from her chair, Giselle quickly bowed her head to Alastor and said, “Please sir! Pay her words no heed! She knows not what she says!” Rising from the table herself, Gisette had a wicked grin on her face as she said, “Sadly Alastor, our partnership is at an end. I knew from the beginning you had no intention of keeping our deal, but like a fool, I thought I could use you to my own ends. Instead you’ve used me, and in truth, helping you may have set in motion the very events I sought to prevent!” Glancing at Giselle, she added, “You even warped my dear sister and used her loyalty to try and stop me from leaving your service.” Clenching her fists, Giselle turned to Gisette and shouted, “ENOUGH SISTER! NOT ANOTHER WORD!” Forming her golden timekeeper staff, Gisette held it before her as she stared into Alastor’s eyes and said, “But in the end Alastor, the idea that you might fall before the might of that boy’s heart… was far too interesting to pass up!” Taking another sip of his coffee, Alastor simply said, “Pity.”

            As Shadow, still behind Gisette, lifted an arm and formed it into a spike, Gisette swung her staff around her back and blocked his strike as the ancient demon folk brought his spiked arm down on her. With a smug look, Gisette said, “Maledictio Temporis, Obsideo Monumentum!” Power radiated from the staff, and Shadow backed away and clutched his head with his normal hand. Quickly the anomalies standing guard at the door rushed into the room, but turning in their direction, Gisette aimed her staff and said, “Maledictio Temporis, Manuum Fatum!” A giant phantom clock appeared between her and the anomalies, and as its hands spun to both come to a rest on twelve, a powerful blast of time altering energy shot out and washed over the anomalies, aging them until they turned to dust. Standing there watching the events unfolding with a look of terror on her face, Giselle thought to herself, “You fool… Sister, what have you done?!” Then her blood turned cold as she heard Alastor quietly say, “I believe the time has come Giselle. Do not disappoint me…” 

The anomalies dealt with, Gisette turned to Alastor, still sitting calmly in his chair sipping his coffee, and she shouted, “Are you just going to sit there Alastor?! How boring of you!” Leaping into the air at him to strike, Gisette started to say, “Maledictio Temporis-” Suddenly a beam of powerful red lightning shot out of nowhere and intercepted her, carrying her crashing into the ceiling of the room and exploding in a powerful blast. Falling out of the smoky aftermath of the blast, Gisette landed hard on the floor with a thud, her staff clattering to the ground and quickly evaporating. Standing at the side of the table with her black demonic arm outstretched and a horrified expression on her face, Giselle was shaking as she stared with wide eyes at her sister as she lay there, motionless. Finishing his coffee and rising from his chair, Alastor said, “Well done Giselle. Your display of loyalty satisfies me.” As Giselle reverted back to her original form, she sank to her knees and continued staring over at Gisette, who still simply laid there. Walking slowly over to Gisette, Alastor said, “However much of a toll it takes on your body, it’s impressive to see you can still muster such power, Observer of Time. Sadly for you, you’ve underestimated me yet again…”