Altered Tundra

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

It only took a few minute before they would get out of the palace and onto the streets of Archades. As Nadeline, Emiri, and Grant would look to the night sky, Wesley and Jaakuna would look at each other, then to the trio, and then back to each other. They would just look to the sky as well. Wesley didn't think of it that much, but Jaakuna however, he looked and felt differently about it. Jaakuna just stared at the stars, the clouds lightly covering some of the stars, and the full moon. Jaakuna forgot how peaceful his hometown was. Perhaps just being able to look at the sky would make Jaakuna feel at peace. Though, as he would look to the sky, Jaakuna would find his gaze to Emiri. He knew now wouldn't be the time, but he knew before this night would end, he would address the....stipulation that his grandfather told him to do before he accepted to help Jaakuna.

As Nadeline would ask what they should do next, Wesley was drawing a blank. Jaakuna, still looking at the sky. "Oh that's easy. We just walk on by." Jaakuna said so casually. Wesley looked at him like he was stupid. Jaakuna looked to everyone who, at this point, were looking at him the same way that Wesley was. "What? I'm serious. We go through Old Archades, then to the Sohen Cave Palace, and then we're home free in the Tchita Uplands." Jaakuna said as if he were a pro. "And don't worry, I'm sure somewhere in the sky, Iris and the Ifrit are following us. I mean, the SOS was sent out and that's IRIS's mothermode button — she follows me like a mother would her child." Jaakuna laughed at how corny that was, but it was the truth, that is how he programmed her, after all.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

The area around him dark, the area within him dark. Nothing to be seen but darkness and the blonde man knows this. He is surrounded by his own darkness, his own turmoil and he is presented with nothing but and empty void. He walks around for countless hours — or at least that how it seems to him. He would go left, he would go right, but nothing changed. Everywhere he would walk, the darkness would be ever-so present and it would seem to not waver, not even for the slightest second or even millisecond. The man in the red jacket questions why he’s here? Why is he forced through this torment? Is he being tested? Or is this to be his fate? Everything from the littlest wander to the most of severe panic, the man just wondered aimlessly.

He continues to search through the darkness. Just when he thought all seemed lost, just when he saw no hope of escaping, the darkness faded. It would fade and fade into a white void. Now it was the opposite in which he found himself in beforehand. Now nothing was seen but white void, but this was different. The man noticed a figure standing before him. This figure stands tall — taller than the blonde man — and he wears a black cloak. It covers his body head to toe; nothing is seen. That is until the figure would show his eyes. They are as empty as the void in which the two — the cloaked figure and the blonde man — find themselves in. When the man stares into the figure’s eyes, he sees nothing, and then the figure’s hood drops.

When the hood dropped, a skull is in place of a head. The figure would reveal itself to the man and the man looks at him puzzled. “Who are you?” The man said.

The figure stood there doing nothing.

The man gets angry. His eyes flaring with annoyance. “I asked you a question! Who are you!?” The man asked once more.

The figure would repeat its previous action.

The man now furious, charged to the figure. He would have no weapons but his fists. The figure places one arm up, all bone by the way, and the man would come to a stop.

“Death…” The figure said with a very eerie voice.

The figure would lower his arm and thus the control of the man did waver.

Staring at the figure, the blonde-haired man wondered who exactly this thing was and why exactly it said Death. As the man continues to question that, he soon finds himself questioning himself. Who was he? Is he even alive? As the man continues to wonder that, the figure disappears as it faded into black bits. The man didn’t know why that even happened, but he doesn’t know why anything around him is happening the way it is. He doesn’t even know where he is or who he is. When the man would wonder more into the void, he would stumble upon another figure. This person looked like the blonde-haired man. He looked the exact same, but everything was inverted — the eyes, the clothes, skins — everything was just inverted. As the blonde-haired man looked to his complete opposite, he couldn’t help but feel wary that this was going to be bad.

As the man looked to his inverted self, he would tilt his head to the side. He didn’t know why, but something about this man felt off, like it was something to be feared. “Are you…me?” The blonde-haired man asked his inverted self.

The inverted self of the man stared at him with pink eyes. The inverted man would walk towards the blonde-haired man and touch his heart with his hand. “Life…’ He said simply.

The blonde-haired man was confused. What was this all about? Did any of this mean anything? The blonde-haired man didn’t know what at all was going on. First the boned cloaked figure said something about death and now his inverted self saying something about life. As the blonde-haired man would question everything, he started hearing one word that would repeat over and over again, but the people saying it would be different each time.

“Jaakuna!” [b]The Voice of Grant Said

[b]“Jaakuna!” The Voice of Savayna said.

“Jaakuna!” The Voice of Nadeline said.

“Jaakuna!” The Voice of Wesley said.

“Jaakuna!” The voice of Emiri said

“WHAT IS GOING ON!?!?!

Everything went silent. For the few moments that it did, the man was at peace. There was no sound to confuse him, no words to confuse him, and no repetition of some word to confuse him. Then, just as the darkness to the void had done, the whiteness of his surroundings warped within seconds. It would switch from darkness to white void to faces of the voices and repeat the cycle. This would happen several times and each time that it did, the blonde-haired man just saw it get faster and faster until they were ultra-fast frames.

Sitting up ultra fast, Jaakuna looks around. He sees his friends, he sees the people who mean the most to him. Everything around him is as it should be. He sees Wesley, he sees Nadeline, he sees Emiri. Just for a moment, Jaakuna is not aware of what was happening, but his memories came back to him. And that dream..that dream Jaakuna didn’t know whether that was a dream or a vision. He didn’t know if what he saw was actually his subconscious telling him something or if it was something to(not) look forward to. Jaakuna didn’t know, but right now, in this moment, he didn’t care.

“What happened?” Jaakuna asked, blankly staring at everyone.

Wesley was about to answer Jaakuna and then the blonde man saw him. The man that caused Emiri so much grief. “YOU!” Jaakuna stood up. “What are you doing here? Trying to hurt Emiri again?” [/b] Jaakuna was about to lose it. Wesley would prevent him from going any further.

“Jaakuna calm yourself!” Wesley shouted.

“Wesley! What are you doing? Grant is going to take Emiri again! We need to stop him.” Jaakuna was pleading with him.

“You dumbass!” Wesley punched Jaakuna, and Jaakuna would stagger back a few paces. “If it wasn’t for Grant, you nor Emiri would be with us right now. He’s the sole reason we’re all still alive. Or do you not remember your brother almost killing you.” Wesley said coldly.

Jaakuna was just about to say something, but then he remembered everything. He was starting to remember what he had promised his grandfather and the whole reason they came here and he’s even remembering what Vincent did to him. “That’s right..” His voice was low and defeated. “I’m sorry.” He said, apologizing.

Wesley patted Jaakuna on the shoulder. “It’s okay, but we should really go now. Don’t want to get caught now do we?” Wesley said. Jaakuna would return a smile as he would follow on.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

For the most part, it was a very successful rescue mission that Wesley and Grant had set on to complete. From getting new weapons to getting to the seventh floor with minimal resistance from the Archadian forces and not a single scratch they got...until now. Wesley couldn't help but crack a laugh as Emiri kicked the door down and it landed on Grant, who was on the ground at this point and she was on top of the door. She was prepared to fight. Though, to her surprise, she would see Wesley, Vlyn, and Aloa. Her surprise would even be bigger as Grant would pop from below the door as he would answer her question about what exactly was going on.

Wesley laughed even some more, but he would contain it as he would be inclined to agree with Vlyn about how they should get going. Grant would also suggest the same thing. So, without even a moment's notice, Wesley would tug Emiri along to come with them. As they would walk, Wesley would start to explain the situation. "It's a very long story, but this is how it would go.."

And thus began Wesley telling Emiri the story of how they would get to this point. Wesley would begin at the very start where they found out that Vincent had kidnapped her and Jaakuna's very distraught disbelief. Wesley would tell Emiri how Jaakuna nearly lost it, crying, pounding anything he could, and being lost in himself. He would tell her that he was so distant in the fear of never seeing her ever again or just the fear of what Vincent would do to her. Wesley would tell her all of it, even how Jaakuna would go to such drastic measures as to go to his grandfather, Judge Brandon Hamut Darcone, and ask for his help. Wesley would tell Emiri how Jaakuna agreed to get arrested just for the slim chance that he'd be able to save her. He would tell her how everything he did was swept away from his own brother as Vincent had beat Jaakuna to near death and how they were forced to work with Grant. "..do you understand now? Jaakuna was the one who started all of this. He did this for you Emiri. He even..." Wesley couldn't bring himself to say it. No, it wasn't that he couldn't, it just wasn't his place to do so. "I am not the one who should tell you."

As Wesley told Emiri all of that, the time would pass on by to when they were on the main floor and just in time too. They went to the same spot where Nadeline and Jaakuna were waiting for them. "Grant, can you do your thing?"

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

It was like such a casual thing, at least for Grant and the two Viera. Wesley was trying his hardest to at least not to get hit by any of the soldiers and magi. Whether it was blocking, casting reflect, or just doing whatever he could just to stay afloat. It wouldn't be long after that Wesley got rid of the enemies that were bothering him. As he would move his way over to Grant and the two Viera, which was only about ten paces away. Regardless, he was there, and Wesley did have a few questions for the two viera.

Wesley wanted to ask them why they were here, but the enemies were still coming along. Wesley had had enough of it. "You know what, this is getting boring." Wesley said, facing the remaining ten soldiers and magi. He took his sword, and raised it to the sky. The Mist would gather, and he would speak. "By this blade I am judgement, by this blade I am just, and by this blade I am law." Wesley's eyes closed as he said that almost in a chanting fashion, Wesley's blade glistened with a bright light and light from the heavens also came down. Every body part of Wesley's own were glowing. Opening his eyes, Wesley spoke. "Royal Judgement!" When he spoke, bolts gathered around him, and with a motion of his hand, so did the bolts follow, striking through any and every soldier and magi left breathing, including those that were knocked out. Wesley lowered his blade. "Their impurities were judged." He said sheathing the Yagyu Darkblade. "Guilty." He simply said as he would turn to the two viera and Grant.

Wesley cleared his breath. "Okay, as much as i would like to stay standing around, don't we have to rescue Emiri?" Wesley said to Grant.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

It was go time. Grant had just cast the spell of Confuse. The guards and magi were attacking each other. Wesley couldn't have asked for a better opportunity to sneak past them. Him and Grant were just about to do as such, but to their surprise, a sudden chilling explosion overtook the entire halls. As Wesley would peek over the wall that the duo were hiding behind, he saw two familiar faces. two fluffy white tails, and four fluffy, white ears. "Aloa and Vlyn? What on Ivalice are they doing here?" Wesley mused aloud, "and are they helping us or are they against us?" Wesley was just musing aloud.

As he did so, he was the only one actually thinking about this carefully. Grant had just went out going guns blazing. Wesley laughed at that. "Grant is more like Jaakuna than I thought he would be." Wesley laughed as he sheathed his Yagyu Darkblade and followed Grant. He would soon pass up the Rozarrian Prince as he shot him a smirk. "better go faster." He said as he would run along the wall for about five paces and as he would press off the wall with his left foot, Wesley was launched into the sky. Tucking his knees to his chest, he flipped three times, and as his body was horizontally airborne, he commanded magickal essences. "Holaga!" He shouted as his body would glisten with pure white particles and out from his shield and sword shot out beams of pure white magick. They would each shoot through the hearts of some of the soldiers and magi.

All of Wesley's attack happened in the span of five seconds and when he would land, WEsley would raise his arms up. "Now, if i do say so myself, that was pretty marvelous." He said, giving himself a compliment.However, his focus would come to the three soldiers coming at him. "I guess we're going to be doing this for a little while longer, now aren't we?" He said as he smiled to the three guards and charged to them.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

The rescue mission would now be tricky. Not only did they have the constant worry of running into Archadian Soldiers and being found out by them, but as Grant had mentioned, Vincent was most likely on this floor, which meant they had to be extra careful when searching for Emiri. Wesley didn't doubt they wouldn't be able to do it, but he definitely knew that it would be a tad difficult to do it without resistance. Though, even with that being true, the duo will try their best to get through it with the least amount of interactions with enemy forces.

When they headed to the direction of the Emperor's office, Wesley followed Grants lead. It would take them about five minutes of turning corners, going straight, and some more corners until they seemed to arrive at where they needed to be at. However, that's where things got more complicated. As Grant and Wesley hid behind a wall, Wesley would peek over the wall just ever-so slightly until he saw what they were dealing with and oh by the gods, they were cursed. "Well this is not good." Wesley said, "it seems not only do we have several Archadian Soldiers to deal with, but it seems that we're also dealing several Archadian Mages, and if that wasn't bad enough, they're all facing every direction." Wesley said. He couldn't help but find humor in this dire situation. He didn't know why, but a light chuckle was released from his mouth.

Wesley would peek once more just to count up the numbers of the Archadian Soldiers and Mages. "one...three...five..." Wesley said, counting up the amount of enemy forces there are, "...seven...." Wesley said continuing counting, "...fifteen." He said completing it. "Well, shit; we have fifteen of each to deal with." Wesley cursed under his breath. He couldn't believe how many soldiers and mages they have. Thirty of them altogether. Wesley just cursed and cursed.

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Turning a corner, WEsley and Grant would evade the Archadian Guards. They didn't even know they were there; well not the ones that were still alive and roaming. It was getting near nighttime, so perhaps most of the other guards are either cowering around the main level of the the palace or just patrolling other areas. Regardless, Wesley and Grant aren't even on the main floor anymore. By the time the guards arrived on it, the duo had made their way to the fifth or sixth floor. Of course, killing guards as they would come, but that would only be if they found no other way out of it.

As they came to the seventh floor, Wesley had a feeling in his gut. There was something about this floor that felt...familiar. Something about it just made him think."I've seen the walls before, and the carpet — I've seen all of it somewhere before — but where?" Wesley mused aloud. He couldn't place it. Something about the way the room was decorated just brought a feeling of familiarity to Wesley. As he thought back, his mind went back to when he was being taken to the dungeons from Vincent's office. As he thought about that, he realizes it. "Of course. This is the same floor as Vincent's office." He said, "Grant, this is it. She's on this floor." Wesley stated, telling Grant that Emiri was on this floor...somewhere.

Magik Ther Was

Oh lol, no it's quite alright. I just wasn't sure that if you were using a phone or if you didn't like lengthy posts. xD Safe to say I got my answer. Lol

Magik Ther Was

Sorry bout that. Didn't think anyone would have a problem with the length. Maybe I should have shortened it. D:

Time Stops For Fire(Altered Tundra and Hero)

Wesley was actually pretty damn impressed with the way Grant had handled himself with that gun. It was no doubt that he had practiced with guns a lot in order to be able to use in such a way as he was doing just a few seconds ago. Wesley would grin at how good he used it and the Dalamascan prince would get in on the action. He would take out his Yagyu Darkblade and as it would glisten from Wesley applying Magick energy to it, he would go forth(after Grant did his thing of course).

By taking on the first batch of Archadian Soldiers(three of them), he would go in. Applying Holy to his sword, the black and dark blue Ninja Sword would have traces of pure white starting to surrounding the blade. It wouldn't be until Wesley would swing it in a downward slash that the traces of white would come together in an instant and force their way to the tip of the blade and release in a slashing wave. As that happened, the three guards were cleansed of their impurities and put to death.

After Wesley did that, more guards could be seen coming from a distance. "So, a suggestion." Wesley said, "sure, we can keep fighting, but those guards are only following their fellow man; they don't know we're here. We could take this time to retreat and focus our time and efforts on finding — and rescuing — Emiri. What' say you?" Wesley asked.