Hi guys! I am alive, and I will and I will update Promenade once I get some inspiration I promise, I promise. Anyhow, this is a fic asking: What if Lloyd was taken to the Ranch rather than fleeing Iselia? Plus a bunch of other stuff about Forcystus...
Planned pairings: Lloyd/Sheena, Genis/Presea, Forcystus/Raine, but I guess that might change.
Uses the game script in some places, the OVA script in others, and sometimes I just make stuff up.
Disclaimer: I do not own ToS.If I did, certain people wouldn't leave the world forever, you wouldn't have to kill certain people to get other certain people back, and Colette wouldn't be so... So... Colette.
WARNING: CONTAINS GAME SPOILERS. Don't read this unless a) You don't mind major spoilers or b) you've finished the game.
And also HUGE thanks to Katana of the Jade Wings, who has agreed to Beta this story and correct all my lovely mistakes, which I do make rather a lot of on occasion.
"But, if I make a mistake, can't I just… Do it over again?"
"…Humph. 'Do it over'. If it's something you can do over again, then…feel free."
Book One: Iselia Ranch
Chapter one: Beginnings
Lloyd was sleeping. To be fair, he had a good reason – he had been up all night finishing that present for Colette. Sure, the sun was in the sky, but they didn't leave until noon, so there was no rush.
"Lloyd… Lloyd!" Genis' voice cut across his dreams.
"Huh… Wha?" He murmured, sitting up. "Oh… I must've fallen asleep. What's the matter?" Genis had his 'how do I even deal with this guy…' look on his face coupled with worry, and that told Lloyd that something was wrong. Possibly very wrong.
"You idiot! Where were you?" Genis demanded. "Colette and the others left ages ago!" Lloyd jumped off the bed instantly.
"Wh-what? But she said…" he started, grabbing her freshly-made present from the table and already heading down the stairs. "Grah, why did she lie to me?" Dirk raised one eyebrow at him as he headed for the door. "Ah, I'm going out for a while, Dad," he told him sheepishly. "I have to go to the village." Dirk nodded.
"Aye. Take care," he replied, and Lloyd nodded and ran out of the house, grabbing his swords from by the door as he did so. Why had Colette told him the wrong time?
Noishe ran up to him, whining profusely.
"Ah, calm down, Noishe," Lloyd told him. Noishe whined again. "Seriously. What's been up with you? Ever since that incident in the Martel Temple…" Noishe whined again. Kratos. Lloyd shook his head, confused. He hated getting that weird noise in his head. What sort of weird noise, and why? Kratos' name? Kratos. "Gah, who cares about that stupid arrogant mercenary?" He muttered. "C'mon, Noishe, we're going." Noishe simply whined again as Lloyd got onto his back and gave Genis a hand up.
"Let's get going!" Genis insisted. Noishe whined again and set off, and although he looked reluctant when they got to the Iselia Forest, Lloyd encouraged him through. They had a brief speed burst when some monsters threatened, and Lloyd urged Noishe on himself when they passed the Ranch, but the journey through passed without incident.
"Ah, Lloyd. Phaidra was looking for you," a guard informed him when they arrived at the village. Lloyd jumped off Noishe, Genis following soon after, and Noishe whined and speedily vacated the entrance when the guard gave him a funny look.
"I'll go see her. Why did Colette give me the wrong time?" Lloyd murmured. He glanced back to make sure Noishe was well out of the way – he was – then set off in the direction of Phaidra's house.
"Ah, Lloyd…" Phaidra started as Lloyd entered, unannounced as usual.
"Phaidra! Is it true Colette already left?" he asked. It wasn't that he didn't trust Genis, but he had to hear it from Phaidra. How could Colette have done such a thing?
"…She asked me to give you this," Phaidra said in reply, handing him a letter. He took it, numb, and read it.
"This… This is practically a will…" He murmured. Phaidra sighed, her eyes sad.
"…You could call it that," she replied. Lloyd looked up sharply, confused, but before he could delve further there was the noise of an explosion from outside, and the house shook.
"Ah! Wh-what was that?" Genis exclaimed, running out of the house. Lloyd shook his head. Too much was happening all at once! With one final glance at Phaidra, he finally shook his head and ran out of the house.
The village was in flames.
"What…" Lloyd murmured, looking around. Everywhere, fire. Its red light cast a glow in the sky similar to those of the sunsets he had so often watched with Colette. Sick. Clouds were gathering in the sky overhead, dark grey clouds washed red by the fire. The colour of blood. Blood that surely must have been spilled for people to allow these fires to start…
"Hahaha! Burn! Burn!" A voice yelled from over to their left, and, turning, Lloyd and Genis saw the last thing they hoped for – two Desians.
"Are you sure about this? Lord Forcystus said…" The other started. The pyromaniac turned.
"C'mon. It's just a filthy village full of Inferiors. Who cares?" he responded, before his eyes fell on Lloyd and Genis. "More survivors! Let's kill 'em!" Lloyd drew his swords, a hate-filled look on his face.
"Lord Forcystus said…" the other one started, before shaking his head. "Fine, fine. But on your head be it!"
Genis cried out and raised his kendama to cast a spell as the Desians rushed Lloyd. Gritting his teeth, Lloyd beat them back with his wooden swords.
"Oooh, what you going to do, little worm? Give us splinters?" the first Desian mocked.
"Distract you," Lloyd replied simply as Genis cast Fire Ball. The Desian cried out as he burned, and Lloyd looked away as the smell of burning flesh filled the air. It lasted barely a second before the Desian died. The other backed away.
"…Can't we talk about this?" he asked. Lloyd's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword.
"Did you let the owner of that house talk things over?" he growled. The Desian swallowed nervously.
"Look… Hey." The Desian stopped, looking at Lloyd's bandaged hand. "You… What're you hiding, human?"
Lloyd growled, taking a step forwards before charging at the Desian, who blocked his sword swing.
"I'll kill you! You filthy scum, you killed my mother!" Lloyd yelled, hacking at him. "Demon Fang!" The Desian screamed out as the light hit him and he dissolved in a glow of mana.
"…Lloyd, he wanted to talk things over…" Genis murmured, shocked by Lloyd's violence. Lloyd shook his head, hands shaking.
"No… They're all the same," he spat. "They killed my mother… So I'll kill them." Genis bit his lip, worried by Lloyd's words.
"Wh… What about the rest of the town? We've got to help them, Lloyd!" He decided. Lloyd nodded, sheathing his swords and running with Genis in the direction of the school.
The smoke was starting to get thick in the air – it was almost impossible to distinguish the clouds from the billowing smoke. There was an acrid smell of death in the air as Lloyd and Genis fought back the Desian terrorising the man guarding the school, and although rain started to fall as they ran towards the main square, it did nothing to stop the out-of-control blaze.
"Lloyd Irving! Come forth!" a Desian shouted as the pair rushed into the square. All of the people of the village were being held at swordpoint, a turquoise-haired Desian at the centre of the group of Desians watching with a slightly troubled expression on his face. "Kill 'em one by one until he comes out," the captain ordered, but Lloyd stepped forward from the path.
"Wait. I am Lloyd," he told them. "And I will not let you do any more harm to the village! Was one attack not enough for you?"
The Desian who had demanded Lloyd frowned. "What are you talking about?" he murmured.
The turquoise-haired half-elf shook his head. "He speaks nonsense, ignore him," he ordered curtly. "…Lloyd. Well, well. Listen up, inferior beings!" He was addressing the group of humans held captive rather than Lloyd. "I am Forcystus, one of the five Desian Grand Cardinals!" There were gasps and murmurings from the crowd, which made Forcystus shake his head slightly in despair. Lloyd gripped his swords tightly. He was not going to let any Desian waltz in and burn the village, Grand Cardinal or no. "I am a… Superior half-elf who rules over the farm where we cultivate you pathetic humans," Forcystus continued, throwing a quick glance back at Lloyd and making a slight noise of irritation.
"…A half-elf," Genis murmured, sounding dismayed. Forcystus' gaze fell on him, and he turned to face Lloyd once more, the expression on his face unreadable. All Lloyd could see was… Pity? From a Desian?
"You, Lloyd Irving, have been found guilty of violating the non-aggression treaty and trespassing upon the Ranch lands. Therefore, I bring… judgment upon you, and this village!" He seemed to hesitate over the word 'judgment', but the pause was so brief it was barely noticeable.
"You violated the treaty first! You killed the Temple Priests and tried to kill Colette!" Lloyd cried out, angry. Forcystus frowned slightly.
"Ah, I see! They must be after the Chosen!" the captain realised. Forcystus shrugged, uncaring.
"Are you saying you aren't the ones who attacked Colette?" Lloyd demanded, clearly disbelieving. The captain laughed.
"Us, kill the Chosen?" he replied, as if the idea were pure stupidity.
Forcystus twitched and quieted him with a glare. "We have no need to explain ourselves to you. All that matters is that you have been in contact with Host Body F192 and attacked and killed our guards. Not overlooking the fact that you trespassed on Ranch property and ran about on top of the gate."
Lloyd glared at him. None of this made any sense! Why wouldn't they attack Colette? And the people at the Temple had clearly been dressed in Desian uniforms; they had been identical to the ones these half-elves here were wearing, Forcystus excluded.
"We have prepared a punishment fitting for your crime!" Forcystus continued, nodding to the guards behind him and stepping out of the way. "If, by some chance, you survive this, then you will be arrested and taken to the Ranch!"
"I would die before I let you filthy Desians get me," Lloyd growled. Forcystus rolled his eyes.
"Humans… So foolish," he decided, looking over his shoulder as a horrible sound split the air and a horrific monster lurched into the town. Several townspeople cried out in horror, and one woman fainted.
"Wh-what is that thing?" Genis cried out, horrified. Lloyd frowned, unable to shake the feeling that he'd seen a similar aberration before. His Exsphere flashed brightly, burning through the bandages he'd put in place, and he felt the familiar rush of power it gave him.
"I won't give up, no matter what," he muttered.
"I'll help you, Lloyd!" Genis promised, rushing forwards. Forcystus' eyes went to Lloyd's Exsphere.
"That's…" He murmured, frowning, as Lloyd blocked a swing from the creature and slashed at it with his swords. "He's Lord Aurion's boy, as we thought…" Genis cast magic on the thing as Lloyd beat it back with a Demon Fang. "…I can't let the Exbelua kill him… Lord Aurion ordered me to keep him safe…" Lloyd jumped back as the creature tried to crush him, panting heavily, then rushed forwards again, slashing out as Genis' magic hit it dead on. "Although it doesn't look as though I will have to interfere, just to arrest him will be enough…"
"Sir?" The captain asked, looking slightly worried. "Should we…" Forcystus shook his head.
"Leave them. Even if they kill it, we can simply arrest him and take him back. He will make a nice addition to our Ranch. If you idiots hadn't set the town aflame we would have had more, too."
The captain winced and nodded. "Yes sir," he replied instantly. Forcystus grumbled under his breath and took a step forward as Lloyd and Genis took yet another shot at the creature, only to be grabbed from behind by it.
"Lord Forcystus!" The captain cried, rushing forwards.
"No, idiots! Get the boy!" Forcystus cried out, struggling in its strong grip. Did Lord Aurion fear this, when A012… Anna…?
"…Lloyd… Genis…" The voice of the human Forcystus had turned into an Exbelua, came from the monster. "Run… away…"
"That… that sounded like… Marble…" Genis murmured, horrified.
"Grab the boy! Imbeciles! Follow an order for once in your life!" Forcystus yelled as the Desians tried to beat back the Exbelua. "Grah, you pathetic excuses for soldiers!"
"Genis… you were like a Grandson to me…" Marble murmured. "Now, go!" The soldiers retreated with cries of worry as the monster gathered mana around itself, and Forcystus braced himself. The explosion that resulted made him fall to the floor, and he heard the Exsphere hit the ground in front of him.
"Protect Lord Forcystus!" One of the soldiers cried, and they gathered around him again. Forcystus struggled to his feet.
"One… simple order…" Forcystus growled. Genis had picked up Marble's Exsphere and was staring at it, dumbfounded. "Ugh… Fine!" He staggered forwards and grabbed Lloyd, who cried out, not having expected an attack from the wounded Desian.
"Ah! No!" He cried out.
"You… Lloyd Irving… are under arrest," he growled in the teen's ear, hitting him hard around the side of the head. He went limp in his grip.
"Lloyd! No! NO!" Genis cried out, spinning around. Forcystus, panting heavily from the injuries the explosion had given him, looked the young boy in the eye.
"…Flee the village. Get to the Chosen, half-elf. There's nothing left for you here," he murmured. "It's all you can do, no?" Genis yelled out, enraged, and ran forwards at Forcystus, but he was stopped by soldiers' swords. "If you idiots had just done as asked, this problem would have been resolved a lot more easily!" Forcystus barked at the troops around him. "Back to the Ranch, now! You are all in a great deal of trouble!" He turned to face the mayor. "…The crime has been paid for. The Treaty still stands. Agreed?" The Mayor nodded hurriedly. "Good. I expect no more trouble of this sort in future; else I may not be so forgiving or lenient. Most of you got to keep your lives today. Don't expect to stay free if I have a repeat. Understood?" The terrified villagers all nodded, not even making a move to help Lloyd, who was limp in Forcystus' grip. "Good," Forcystus murmured, passing Lloyd to his captain. "Come on, we've wasted enough time here." And with that, the Desians left Iselia.
A/N – this has caused confusion with the few people who have read this story so far, so, to clarify: The "weird noise in Lloyd's head" is, in fact, Noishe speaking. He says Kratos' name because, as we all (some) know, he travelled with Kratos before.
I always did wonder why he turned up at the village unannounced, XD
Anyhow, if I get reviews, I'll post some more up. If not, I guess nobody will miss it, hey?