FFOG Chapter 9

Characters Introduced: Vicks, Umbriel, Madreid, Ken Shrun, Trilphy, The Court

Villains Introduced: Brigid, Lugi, Hugo

Spirits Introduced: Siren (with Brigid), Fenrir (with Cullen), Ramuh (with Hugo), Palidor, Cait Sith

Summary: The GSPI arrives at Cortez, where they discover that Biggs was once a prince. Jeice reunites with his mentor, Umbriel, only to watch him be captured by Zel's agent. He later leads a group to Mount Dracodore to find the Earth Crystal, but fails to get it. Cullen returns to the group along with Aaron and Psycho, and reveals that Fay is working for Jean. She forgoes his employment and stays with the group, however. Psycho and Reno run away to Voltaire.

Death Comes in Threes

Chapters in Final Fantasy OG

0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10

Masamune

The soldiers were quick the approach the Pinion which had landed but a hundred feet south of Pentz Harbor. Uargo and Cid were quick to settle the issue of them landing and the guards had decided, for safety, they would issue an escort for the groups, as well as keeping a number of men on board the airship as well.

Jeice approached one of the soldiers, shortly after speaking with Siddhearth, "Guard, could you give me some directions?"

"Sure"

"Can you direct me to the Bellows residence... or someone who would know them?"

The guard frowned, "Hm... I think I know who can do that." The guard turned to the soldiers nearby, "Lieutenant! A question, please."

Another soldier walked over and looked over Jeice. The soldier was dressed in a dark green armor, but lacked his helmet at the time. He had dark scruffy hair, yet otherwise he was clean shaven. "Yes, what is it?"

"He wants the Bellows family," the guard replied.

"Indeed," Jeice said, "I have news about one of their relations... Biggs."

The solider narrowed his eyes, "How do you know him?"

"We were co-workers and friends..." Jeice explained, "Did you know him?"

"You're dismissed private," The soldier said to the guard, "Yes... I knew him. I'm Vicks Bellows."

"Then you're his..?"

"Brother," Vicks finished, "What happened to him? Did he come here?"

"No..." Jeice said slowly, "I don't want to say it now, I'd rather say it to the rest of his family."

Vicks frowned, "Fine, but our father, he... nevermind that, I'll escort you"

"I'll go get Reno, so-"

"No, mother doesn't like strangers."

Jeice thought about it, right now it was very early morning, he had plenty of time.... "All right, then let's go."

"Right," Vicks said, "Private, I'm putting you in charge."

"Ah... yes. You know of the Seamuses?" Jeice asked, the man nodded, "If you see one of them, tell them I went alone to the Bellows residence."

---

Jean scowled at the body of Psycho, he had taken down a fair number of men. Three of them had to be given a Phoenix Down and most of the others were wounded and needed some potions as well. The samurai had apparently reached his limits, holding it back up until then. Jean had to be ready though... This was a Mage School, there was going to be the Geomancer himself, Aaron... In addition to the Masters of the school, Magidan and Teska...

The other master is gone now...

He was correct, for the most part. Aaron was already near him and saw that the Gigyas Predator had been seized. But in addition to those two Master Mages, there was also Kelvin, the BLANK Mage. Mumbling a few words, Aaron focused on the water near the ship, willing it to rise into a mist. But something else caught his attention...

They suddenly heard something behind them, they four magicians quickly dived out of the way as they looked to see their attacker... A huge snake like creature with six arms... all with swords. But more was heard behind them. Aaron whirled around to see flames in the sky. Arrows were flying... arrows from Jean's Fighting Squad. They were firing at a three headed dragon. Focusing his mind, he summoned the plants around him.... Hell Ivy...

The roots and vines of the ground lashed out, as the creature struck them with it's swords. As he continued willing the roots into attack, he heard Magidan yell out something, "Two of the fiends, Maliris and Tiamat!"

He recalled hearing Malirirs from Jeice... And he though Psycho mentioned a dragon similar to Tiamat. The Four Fiends...

At the Gigyas Prey, Jean focused as he looked around at his group, "Mighty Guard!"

The fighters were wrapped in a defensive magic blanket, but Aaron was shocked to see one other warrior focus magic into his blade and fire it at the dragon. He had not realized Jean had other magic users in his group. But he had no time to dwell on that fact, he doubled his efforts to attack...

Or was going to, Maliris was gone. And when he turned around, he realized Tiamat was also gone. Had they succeeded in scaring them away? The sound of water send him looking to the right. A sudden blast of water had been directed at him. Instinctively he summoned the ground below him to create a shield. But the pebbles did not so much as rattle, with no time to move, the water sent him flying back into a tree before he was loosened from it's monstrous power. My magic..? Did Lich take it!?

---

"My magic! It's gone!" Kelvin shouted.

---

Aaron stood up as he pulled out the boomerang-hatchet weapon. With my magic, I've hardly needed this...

Kelvin was quick to draw out a sabre to attack, while Magidan and Teska, who relied more on magic, had no more then their staffs as defense. Aaron swallowed and stood, tossing his weapon as accurately as he could at the attacker. With the water gone, he was dressed in the traditional black mage garb. Complete with the big hat and robes...

The hatched teared at the robe as the attacker dodged out of the way. As Aaron retrieved the weapon as it flew back, his eye caught notice of something in the sky. A bright humanoid descending, but though her mouth did not move, a melodious music surrounded her...

Aaron heard arrows flying as he realized to his horror that the fiend Tiamat was back. Which meant... As could be predicted Maliris had returned, the powerful blades that intended to skewer his head. But they did not, Magidan and Teska, with their rods, were quick to his defense to hold the blade off. They were easily tossed aside, as the snake like creature reared up to attack again. As the blade came towards him, he raised his arm as he heard behind him...

---

"Dragon Force!"

The blade struck his arm, ready to yell out the pain, he opened his eyes in wonder as the blade hit his arm and did no more but to damage his coat sleeve. He jumped back to turn around, there stood Jean. "Why...?"

Jean cringed, "Believe it or not, I can't defeat them alone. You being dead would ruin my chances for survival"

Jean pointed his hand towards Maliris again, "Shadow Flare!"

It did no good, though. As the other mages, his power was soon gone. Aaron looked around wildly, "We've got to spread them out!"

Jean's fighters did their part, five taking on Maliris, four taking on Tiamat... And one notably absent. Kelvin, Magidan and Teska did their part to help against those creatures, while Jean and Aaron teamed up against the Black Mage. Aaron cursed, "This battle is hopeless, we can't win!"

"There is no never!" Came a voice behind Aaron, he turned around to see, of all people, Psycho charging blindly at the Mage. His initial slash was avoided, but he was able to land a solid kick into the mage. Following Psycho, the last of Jean's fighters joined them, one who had used a Phoenix Down on him... One that Aaron instantly recognized, despite the red outfit he had like the other fighters.

The battle continued still, while the bright figure slowly landed. A sudden yell distracted everyone from the battle, the strange female had grabbed Kelvin around his neck without his realizing it. The fighter with Jean and Aaron suddenly turned around and yelled, "NO! Don't do it!"

The woman only smiled as she lifted Kelvin over her head, then levitated him beyond her reach. Tiamat flapped it's massive wings, sending all it's attackers to their backs, then flew up in the air and grabbed Kelvin in it's claws. They could not risk arrows... They had no magic. There was nothing they could do. The black mage pointed his hands at the ground, sending blasts of water from them. The force propelled him into the air, far into the sky, so that when he stopped he fells into the ocean. Likewise, Maliris leaped in the air, then burned a hole into the ground.

The strange woman made her return into the air, while the fighter ran at her, "Brigid! Brigid! WAIT!"

His pleas fell on deaf ears as she continued in the air. He fell to his knees and clenched his fists, "Not again... not again!"

"Psycho, does Quetzacoatl know who those spirits we-" Aaron asked, before being cut off.

"Leviathan and Siren," Jean interrupted, Aaron just then noticing his orbs flying back, "Fused with Brigid and.... Lugi"

"I knew it... and now they have that other guy!" Aaron growled.

The fighter suddenly stood up and turned around, his eyes wet with rage and sadness, "Zel brought those two to mess with our minds, those two fiends would have been able to take us out..."

Aaron looked at him with a cold gaze, "Why did you abandon us, Cullen?"

The fighter looked up, "You guys... you guys were running. I can't run anymore! I can't! I found out my sister was alive, I couldn't just go an run away while I knew I could get a chance to save her!"

Jean nodded, "We met back at Goralend while he was making his money in his... own way."

"I pegged him for somebody who wouldn't run way," Cullen said, "Once we got the Dove, I figured..."

One of the other fighters turned to Jean, "The Silence magic is still in control! We can take them all easily!"

"No," Jean said as he scanned the mages and the exhausted samurai, "We will do it fairly. But I do have something for you"

Aaron glared, "And what's that?"

"My sources have discovered Zel has a new plan to destroy your friends. A new set of fiends worst than the first. They have the first all ready.... and now the second. The third is within their grasps and the fourth..." Jean decided to not finish, "I give them no more than two days at most."

Jean looked to his fighters, "Everyone! Back on the ship! This job is foiled, let's hope the other one succeeds."

Cullen looked over, "I'm sorry, but I can't go. My sister will be there, in Cortez..."

Jean waved his hand dismissively and made his way back to the ship. Aaron looked over, Psycho had been knocked out in the battle, all ready completely exhausted from fighting Jean's squad. He looked over to Magidan and Teska and sighed, "I wish I could stay, but..."

Magidan nodded and put his hand on Aaron's shoulder, "I understand. Your friends are in danger."

Aaron nodded, walked over to Psycho, knelt down and put him over his back. He then turned to Cullen, "Your old room is empty, that is, if you want it."

Cullen shrugged, "I... I lost Ironfang... I don't have either sword now. But... I still have my sister, if I can find her again."

---

Meanwhile... at Monaracez City...

"Biggs died avenging his frend, Weston..." Jeice explained gravely, "I tried my best to defeat his attackers, but..."

The king nodded sadly, "Was... was he happy with you and your friends?"

"Yes, I suppose... we were the best of friends, but why would you ask that..?"

"I did a great wrong to my son," The king said slowly. Finding out Biggs had been the son of the Cortezian ruler had been a huge surprise for Jeice. He had figured him as being related to a poor family, but this had been a huge surprise.

"A wrong?" Jeice asked.

"When his mother died, I completely ignored him and dedicated myself to Vicks.. to make sure he would be a fitting ruler," The king explained, "He disappeared one night and never came back, only leaving not so much as a note. We looked for a long time, but never found him..."

"I'm sorry..." Jeice said.

"I cannot blame you... I wish to meet your companions, have them meet me over dinner tomorrow," the king said, "But the weight of this news weight heavily on me, so for now I wish to be alone."

Jeice was escorted out, where he found Vicks waiting for him. The prince glanced at him, before turning away. "My brother always was that way. We may have been brothers, but he never took his royal duty as serious as he should have."

Jeice said nothing.

"He was so used to attention that he got from being younger, but when mom died he lost it... he couldn't face up to it."

Jeice remained silent still.

"He ignored his lessons, wouldn't take his royal duties serious, ignored father, shirked his duties with Captain Apalocks, wouldn't-"

"Apalocks!?" Jeice said suddenly, ".... Umbriel Apalocks?"

Vicks nodded, "Of course. Why?"

"He's an old... friend. I didn't think he was around anymore... do you know where he lives?"

"He retired to an old home in the forest," Vicks explained, 'I haven't visited in awhile... I suppose we could go visit, he'd probably want to hear about Biggs"

Jeice murmured to himself, "Why didn't he ever mention his royalty.... or Umbriel...?"

---

Jeice and Vicks took the walk to Umbriel's home. He lived in a forest a ways west of the city. The two had no trouble dispatching of the enemy. As it turned out, Vicks was a dragoon, the unique warriors that were Cortez's special forces. The cabin Umbriel dwelt in was a simple one. It was nothing extraordinary, had Reno seen it, he would have said Asura's hermitage was far better.

Vicks knocked at the door, stood back, then knocked again. Shrugging, he pushed the door open and went in. After Jeice entered, Vicks looked back him with a shrug. "I guess he isn't home, he likes to go hunting now and then, so I suppose..."

"I don't appreciate people coming in my home when I'm away," A voice interrupted behind them.

Jeice quickly turned around as recognition hit him. Those same sparkling green eyes, the long white hair, the elite green dragoon armor... Age did little to make him different from the Umbriel Jeice remembered as a fatherly figure those short years they spent together...

"Umbriel..." Jeice mumbled, not knowing what to say.

"Jack...?" Umbriel said, "Wait, let me guess, you stuck with the name Jeice you enrolled with?"

Jeice nodded slowly, "I thought you had died..."

Umbriel shook his head, "I was a scouter for the New Continent... I'm sorry Jeice, they had me recalled for war. I didn't get leave again until I retired and by then you had left the Mage School..."

"I see..." Jeice said, "I really never expected to see you again...."

Umbriel nodded glumly, then turned to Vicks, "And the prince came too? Looks like you've both grown up a lot."

Vicks nodded, "Jeice came with word... Biggs was killed..."

---

"...and that's what happened," Jeice finished.

Umbriel sighed, "That's the imperials for you. As much as I love my country, I only wish they would take action... but the king only bolsters his only defense. If his wife still been alive.... but nevermind that, perhaps it is time I finally come out of retirement."

"Tomorrow my father is holding a dinner for Jeice and his companions," Vicks said, "I'm sure he would be honored with your presence."

Umbriel nodded, "There's a chest out in my shed... it has some things I wanted to give you Jeice... Vicks too."

The prince looked at both of them and frowned, "You two look like you have some catching up to do, I'll go get this chest."

Umbriel nodded. As Vicks left, he spoke up again, "Vicks... was he this cold when he heard the news of his brother?"

Jeice nodded somberly, "It only served to make him angry..."

"He was jealous," Umbriel said with a sigh, "Even though Biggs never took anything very serious, Vicks always envied him his freedom and adventurous spirit. To find out he died... so heroically, makes him feel as if he has something to prove now. He doesn't like that."

Jeice nodded, "Hmm... maybe we should just go out and help him."

Vicks suddenly entered the room, followed by another man with bright yellow hair and a pale, blue haired woman.

The man spoke with a twist of sarcasm, "I don't think you'll be needing to go out"

Jeice grimaced, "Jinn... Dove..."

"In the flesh," Jinn replied.

"I can see you have more personality without Zel around," Jeice muttered, he looked to Umbriel, "These are the ones I spoke of."

Umbriel nodded, "I see."

Dove looked up at them, "Surrender and this punk here doesn't have to die."

"Punk!?" Vicks bellowed, "I'm Prince Bellows!"

"Who you are is irrelevant," Dove retorted, "Give yourselves up or..."

Jinn frowned and looked over, "What the...! Hey! Wake up!"

But it did no good, Jeice's sleep spell he cast had taken effect. Vicks elbowed Jinn and rejoined his companions.

"Hurry!" Jeice said, "This place is too small and dangerous to fight them, is there another way out?"

Umbriel nodded and ran out a back door, followed by Jeice and Vicks. Jinn was able to get Dove up easily enough and get her to help him pursue them.

Jeice was all ready preparing his magic, while Umbriel and Vicks showed off their dragoon skills by taking mighty jumps in the air. A quick Barrier spell helped Jeice take off the brunt of the damage Dove and Jinn served him. The two dragoons came down on them and took them both out easily.

"Wow," Jeice replied, "That was a little too easy..."

"Of course it was," A voice interrupted, behind them stood a old man leaning over a cane. He pointed a weak hand towards Umbriel and encased him with electricity and held him, "They were distractions only... oh, pardon me. You must not like surprises. I am Hugo Humphrey, recently fused with the spirit Ramuh... Not that it matters, but my master likes this sort of attention"

Vicks and Jeice both pointed their spears that way, but Jinn and Dove were soon in their path. Hugo turned to Jeice, "I'll be taking your friend here now, you can resist if you feel like it, but it will do you little good."

Jeice grumbled, "B... blast..."

---

Vicks stood over Jeice as he knelt in front of the case. It was easy enough to accomplish. Looking inside, there were many things. On top was a will of sorts... He read it out loud...

"To whomever should read this...

"If it has come to pass that this is being read aside from me, something happened to prevent me presenting these things before I intended to. Contained inside are the magic Dragoon Boots of old... They do not have the power they once did, but those who had some practice can catch up witll full fledged dragoons of these days....

"To Vicks, one of my best students, I have reserved the spear I used during the wars. For Jack I also one of my spears, one that was used in my time trekking through the New Continent with him. To him I give him the boots, so as to make up for the training I neglected to finished. To Frederick..."

Jeice did not finish reading it, seeing that it continued on with several more people he did not know. Umbriel was not dead, there was no point in reading it anyhow. He dug inside the chest and pulled the boots out as he looked at Vicks, "He intended to give them to me... I can use them to help save him..."

Vicks nodded, "I understand..."

Jeice looked through the rest of the things, idly picking up a map as he looked through. It was a map of the City-States north of Cortez... But it's design was very familiar...

It was like the map Reno had for the Fire Crystal... only it seemed to lead to a different one....

"The Earth Crystal..." Jeice mumbled.

Psycho

Chapters in Final Fantasy OG

0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10