Altered Tundra

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Not even getting a reply, Ixion just shrugged it off. He would get an answer regardless. Still, the three of them were getting in his way of getting the Dusk Shard, so they must be dealt with. Looking at the three, he smiled. Jaakuna seemed to be frozen with some kind of fear emotion and then there was the other blonde. Ixion didn’t know her name, but he could have sworn he saw her somewhere. On the flip side of things, the brunette chick seemed to charge forth to him.

Ixion smiled as she came in for a horizontal swing with her sword. At this point, Ixion had deflected her attack with his own sword as he had sheathed it. His sword, known as the Static Predator, was vertical. His sword was just erupting with static electricity. The two swords met and Ixion’s own won the advantage as the girl’s sword was brushed to the side, and Ixion proceeded with a lightnaga spell, which extended from his now straightened hand. Out shot it, and it was going to go through Emiri’s body, but Ixion didn’t see him come. Jaakuna had somehow broke out of his frozen state, and he had used his Demonsbane to block the spell, since that sword was one that absorbed magickal energy.

“Though I was a goner, didn’t you?” Jaakuna said as he landed on the floor, with his sword full of lightning magick. He then took his sword and swung it at Ixion, who blocked it. The exchange went on for a few rounds, but Ixion was eventually pushed back.

Ixion smiled. “Not bad older cousin, but you’re still rusty.” He said just admiring how his older cousin was still a little rusty on fighting. “Then again, I’ve always been stronger than you, haven’t I?”

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Ixion just smiled at the pure fact that the blonde here seemed to know quite a bit about his name, title, and even what occupation he holds within the Archadian Empire. He was definitely curious as to who this woman was. She definitely seemed familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it. “You seem well-informed about who I am and my role within the Archadian Empire. Pray tell, what is your name? You do seem awfully familiar.” Ixion said just walking down the five steps from the throne to the floor.

Jaakuna was frozen. He knew of Ixion’s power and he couldn’t do nothing about It. Sure he could try, but he just couldn’t shake the fear that he had in his mind. It might be cause he knows how deathly his cousin can be. It’s just foreign to him. For the first time, Jaakuna Tunick Hinoko-Darcone, is frozen with fear.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Emiri was sure of herself that they could take whoever was the one who did all of this. Jaakuna admired her confidence, but he did have doubts. Sure, against the Gigas it was difficult, but that was done with full energy. Sure, maybe if they tried, they could get him, but Jaakuna still had doubts. Nonetheless, Jaakuna went along with Emiri’s confidence and he went with her and Nadeline to the direction of the sound of which the door originated from.

As they came into the room, the first thing that Jaakuna saw was King Jonathan. “Is that?” Jaakuna asked, then he saw. “And is he?” Jaakuna asked as he definitely saw a sword in the king’s heart. “Yup it is and he is.” Jaakuna said as he was sure of the death of the king.

Jaakuna saw the man who was near the throne, and he couldn’t believe it. This was a different feeling of disbelief. It was full of fear. Jaakuna stepped back. “He’s the one!” Jaakuna said, taking a few steps back.

The blonde man known as Ixion took a look at the three. “Oh visitors?” Ixion said glancing at the three with a smile. He eyed the blonde woman first. “Ah, such a pretty one you are.” He said as he eyed the brunette. “Another pretty one.” He kept on going until he saw Jaakuna. “Oh, my prince. I didn’t know you would be here.” Ixion said.

Jaakuna had an angered expression his face. “Go eat a dick, Ixion.” He said, revealing his name.

“Oh dear, dear prince, is that any way to speak to your cousin?” Ixion said.

Jaakuna was still angry, but he held his ground. “Like I said, go eat a dick.”

Ixion smiled at Jaakuna’s comment. “So, what do I owe the pleasure of my cousin and his two wenches?”

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Perhaps it was cause Jaakuna had seen much worse or whatever, but he seemed to not be too bothered by the trail of blood or the amount of blood that he saw. Perhaps it just takes something much worse to get to him like the current display of violence is getting to the girls. Emiri seems a bit more well-composed, but as Jaakuna glanced over to Nadeline, she was down right terrified, horrified. Jaakuna could understand why she was feeling such a way. Maybe if he hadn’t been around violence for the majority of his adult life, he would react the same. However, that was not the case, so he doesn’t react as such.

Jaakuna just looked on as he heard what Emiri saying and he agreed. A single person did this and Jaakuna thought about it. To him, he thought about what kind of person would have the strength to do such a thing, but at the moment he was drawing a blank. Certainly someone should come to mind, but Jaakuna can’t think up of anyone. Suddenly, the three of them heard a door open with tremendous force. “Maybe we should go in that direction? Could fill in some blanks.” Jaakuna said as he suggested going over to the sound of the door being forcefully opened.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Jaakuna heard Nadeline sort of laugh at his joke. At least someone found the humor in it. That’s all Jaakuna cares about, well at least as far as the joke is concerned. As they did continue, Jaakuna just thought about where all the soldiers were. Surely they would have been guarding the entrances. Of course, Jaakuna also thought about the fact that the city was under attack, but still. He had to wonder about these things.

As he continued to think about such things, Jaakuna almost didn’t realize that they were already at the secret entrance to the palace. It was pretty fast, but then again the lack of water allowed for such fast travel. When they arrived at the stairs, Jaakuna knew that there just had to be soldiers in the palace. So, as he drew his Demonsbane, Jaakuna followed Emiri’s lead as the three of them arrived into the Palace, and what Jaakuna saw was both confusing as fuck and stunning.

“Blood…Blood everywhere.” Jaakuna said as he saw the bodies laid in front of him and the two ladies. Down every hall way, bodies of the Dalmascian soldiers and knights. They all were brutally slaughtered, but by who? Perhaps this is why the water was already gone in the Waterway, and this could also be the reason why there were no soldiers guarding the place. But still, Jaakuna still wondered about who could have done this.

---

Deep within the Royal Palace of Rabanastre, there was a blonde man working his way through the halls of the palace, successfully and effortlessly killing every single guard that came his way. He was using his lightning magic and cutting them down one by one. Then he came to the Throne Room where the royal king himself, Jonathan Rufus Dalmasca

“Who goes there!?” Jonathan shouted as he heard someone.

All of a sudden, through the doors, the personal guard of the king himself went flying in, sent with awesome fury and the shocking power of lightning coursing through him. The King stood up from his throne and was shocked at what he saw, then he looked up and couldn’t believe it.

“J-J-Judge Ixion! What are you doing here?” Jonathan said in complete surprise.

Ixion smiled. “I am here for the Dusk Shard. Hand it over or lose your life, King Jonathan!” Ixion demanded.

Jonathan was stunned and he didn’t know what to do. The Dusk Shard was Dalmasca’s only leverage to remain within the war that’s brewing. “I refuse. I’d rather die than hand it over to scum lik--” Before he could finish, Ixion went forth.

Using the lightning magic to amplify his speed, Ixion sped forward, impaling the king where he stood. The blade of his sword went straight through the king’s heart, and the king died on his throne, legs spread apart and mouth open as that was his last expression before he lost his last breath. “What irony?” He said as he pulled his sword and sheathed it. “Long live the King, I guess.” He said as he smirked at his comment.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

As they all decided on going to the Garamsythe Waterway, they continued to the other entrance. There are two entrances. There’s one that’s available through Lowtown, but Jaakuna closed that one in. The other one is near the aerodome, and Jaakuna was a little worried that by them going there. He would had thought there would be some kind of guard patrol or something of the like, but there was none of that sort, none of Dalmasca or Archadia. This was truly odd.

They came to the entrance of the Garamsythe Waterway and first went in Emiri, then Jaakuna and then finally Nadeline. Jaakuna most certainly didn’t miss the godawful smell of the Waterway. There was nothing but a rotting sewage smell all around. Though Jaakuna could endure it, he didn’t have to like it, not one bit.

As he finally stood up after crawling through the entrance, Jaakuna looked around and there seemed to be less water than he remembered. “Well, the name of this place is misleading. It’s supposed to be the Garamsythe Waterway, but there’s no water. It probably should be called The Garamsythe Way.” Jaakuna said a she laughed at his own joke.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Emiri had reminded Jaakuna that it was yesterday. He had already forgotten that it was indeed yesterday. Or did he? Who is to say? He could had forgotten or actually was just doing that to have fun with Emiri. Regardless, it would seem that their only way to get into the palace. Even though Jaakuna was all for getting to the palace, he did had to ask the question of the Archadian Soldiers.

When he was just about to ask that question, Nadeline had asked her own about the Waterway. She was right. It was all dirty and that anyone who goes through it is bound to get dirty themselves, and wet. “Yeah, we’re going to get wet, you got a problem with it?” Jaakuna somewhat hissed at her as he said that.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

They both gave him the dirty look. Jaakuna’s initial thought was What did I do? He decided to not speak that question as it would get him more dirty looks. He heard Nadeline talk about what this could do to Rabanastre should they not intervene. Jaakuna was just kidding when he brought up the idea of going against his word. ”Jeez, haven’t you ladies ever heard of a joke?”” Jaakuna said shrugging it off. He knew that they had to intervene somehow. When Emiri brought up the idea of going through the Garamsythe Waterway, Jaakuna was brought to good times. “Ah, I remember it like yesterday.” He said, eyes closed, arms folded across chest, and nodding of the head in a vertically way.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Up in the blue sky, several ships marked with the insignia of the Archadian Empire, they hover above both the Dalmasca Estersand and Westerdand, completely blocking any traffic from either side to get into Rabanastre and any of the royal forces from mobilizing to attack them. Granted, they have already mobilized some forces, it would seem that most of those forces have been taken out for the most part.

In the fleet that is above the city of Rabanastre, in the center of it all is the Dreadnought Odin, a mighty ship that is long and almost narrow looking, but it has multiple areas of the ship that are fully equipped with weapons, ammo, and a fully crew. Everyone aboard the ship serve the Archadian Empire and Judge Ixion, or as some refer to him as the Lightning Falcon. He is young looking, with long flowing blonde hair. He has an Archadain-made sword known as Bolt. He harnesses the most of Lightning black magic as he has mastered it to a way that he can freely manipulate it to the very best of his abilities.

Aboard the Odin, in the very large cockpit, there stands Judge Ixion and General Savayna, who after a very long morning, remembered where her place was in Emperor Vincent’s rankings.

Standing as fierce as ever, Ixion spoke. “Are our ships ready for attack round two?” He asked.

The driver of the Odin responded. “Yes sir, they are at your command.” He spoke, sitting in his char.

Ixion was pleased and he spoke. “Fire at once.” He ordered.

The fleet that Judge Ixion commanded was known as the Tenth Fleet of the Archadian Empire. The fleet itself had three cruiser class ships, and three light cruiser ships. The rest are fighter ships.

As the Odin prepared weapons, first it shot at Rabanastre through the Bazaar, killing the innocents within the vicinity . The bazaar itself was torn to bits as roofs caved in and everything that was standing. The beam itself that did this was straight and a pure white. It was much like a holy spell, but definitely nothing holy about what it did. Every stand and building was either on fire or completely wrecked with rubble and caved in roofs. Nevertheless, it’s safe to say that the Bazaar is completely finished.

“Now, dispatch one hundred of our soldiers into the city. Put up a barrier around the city and find me the Dusk Shard. We must obtain it for his lordship, Emperor Vincent.” Judge Ixion said. “I put General Savayna In charge as I see to matters of more importance,” He said as he proceed to walk out of the cockpit and as soon as he did that, Savayna stayed to oversee operations. As she did that, an order went out through the speakers telling the 100 Archadian Soldiers to get ready for beam up.

Within five minutes, the soldiers would be dispatched and beamed down to the Royal City of Rabanastre Ixion wanted to get it overwith, but he knew that the Rabanastre Royal Forces would not just sit idly by while their city became taken over by the Archadian Empire. That’s why Ixion would see to it that this goes according to plan.

---

When Wesley let the three of them go, Jaakuna, Emiri, and Nadeline had followed the prince down to where he would first let them reclaim their weapons. Jaakuna would get back his four weapons, Emiri her three, and Nadeline her one weapon. Then, as they would soon proceed to the teleportation device within the Valefor, that would drop them off via the warping of a beam-like way just three miles outside of Rabanastre. As they touched ground level, Jaakuna was just so happy to be out of that cell. He knew that things were bad, but he was free.

“You know, we don’t even have to help them. Seriously! We can get out of here and they wouldn’t even know it.” Jaakuna, being the idiot that he is, he brought up the idea of running away and going against his word. He was kidding of course…well half-kidding, anyways. “Even if they catch on, we’d be so far out of dodge, they wouldn’t know where we would be at.”

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Just letting it out, Jaakuna let her. He knew that she needed this, but as she would talk more and more, Jaakuna soon realized why she was crying. It was cause she had somehow lost access to her powers. Nadeline commented on how the cuffs were to blame and although Jaakuna wanted to jump in agreement, something was bugging him about it all. If it was truly the cuffs, then why didn’t her powers work when she had grabbed Jaakuna and Nadeline’s hands before they surrendered. Jaakuna just knew it had to be something different.

When Emiri brought up battle with The Gigas, Jaakuna thought back. He remembered when she was knocked down, so maybe that’s when it happened, but Jaakuna didn’t think that The Gigas would be the sole reason for her time-stopping powers to stop working. This truly confused him. Jaakuna brought Emiri’s face up to his as he looked into her eyes. “Listen, whatever it was, we’ll find a way to fix it as soon as he get out the jam we are in right now.” Jaakuna said as he got up, helping Emiri get up as well.

As he got up, Jaakuna just looked around the steel box that they were in. He was looking for any way that they could possibly escape, but Jaakuna didn’t see one. As he kept on looking, there was a knock on the door. Jaakuna instantly faced the door, and as it opened, he couldn’t believe it.

“Oh what do we owe the great pleasure, Prince Wesley?” Jaakuna said with an obvious attitude.

The prince looked at Jaakuna, and smiled with a hm sound. He looked at Emiri, then to Nadeline. The black, slick hair would make any woman swoon in his presence. Perhaps it was in good measure since women seemed to fall for him

Wesley turned to the guard who was holding the door open. He waved the guard to close it. The guard did and Wesley spoke to his prisoners personally. “Okay look, you guys--” He started to say until the ship was rocked to the leftside, thus flinging all four of them — Jaakuna, Wesley, Emiri, and Nadeline — to the left all at the same time. They would all hit the wall.

Wesley got up, surprised and slightly angry. He didn’t know what was going on and he wanted to find out. He went to the door, knocked on it, and said. “What’s going on?”

There was a silence for four minutes until the door opened, and the guard finally showed his face. “I’m sorry , it would seem that the Royal City is under attack, milord.” The guard said.

Wesley’s face lit up in surprise. “Who is attacking us.” He asked.

“The Archadian Empire, your highness.” The guard said.

Jaakuna’s face lit up. He couldn’t believe it that they were actually here.

Wesley left the prisoners, but Jaakuna spoke up. “Hey, prince!” Jaakuna said, speaking up.

Wesley stopped and looked towards Jaakuna. “Not now.”

Jaakuna walked forward, just a few feet in front of Wesley. “I don’t know how bad it is, but on one command and we can help. I have one of the best airships in Ivalice, the Ifrit.” He stated.

Wesley was shocked but he smiled. “And where is this airship? Last I checked, you didn’t board it when my men apprehended you.” He asked.

Jaakuna laughed and then smiled. “Well, you didn’t sense it on whatever radar shit you have, but my ship has been following this lovely warship of yours ever since we were taken.” Jaakuna said.

Wesley thought about it and while it was risky, he knew that he wasn’t in any position to decline help. “Fine, but you’re still going to be held accountable for your actions.’ Wesley said as he, against his obvious better judgment, would shake Jaakuna’s hands and let him and the two ladies go.