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The Crystal Rule	By : QueenDraggyofSwords Category: Final Fantasy Games > Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Views: 956 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy: chrystal Chronicles, any of its characters nor am I making any profit off of them.

Chapter List
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Chapter Twenty-Nine

"I would like to point out," Layle motioned to Keiss as the group made their way down the road back to Denthe, "That is entire event could have been avoided, if we had just hunted down the Mercenaries in the first place."
Keiss scowled, "If you manage to slip in an 'I told you so' one more time…I am going to tie you up and put you on the Chocobos with them!" He jerked his hand back over his shoulder at the six men. They were bound up and tied on two of the three birds- with Layle and Keiss leading each. Lyra and Clockwork shared the third Chocobo as they made their way back to Denthe.
"…I'm just saying," Layle shrugged and his partner swung out his hand to hit him. As the boys fooled around in front, Clockwork slowed her Chocobo to a stop.
"Something wrong?" Lyra leaned over her shoulder and looked a head.
"A Military envoy…Outside of town." The Lilty Bearer looked forward and slowly everyone else followed her gaze. Sure enough, from here they could see the flags of the army and large vehicles outside of town.
"Wow," Keiss shook his head, "So the Lieutenant really did send someone?"
"Good, maybe now we can get some answers," Layle started for the town again and Keiss followed calling to him. He didn't want Layle to pick a fight with the army, especially not without the full use of his powers.
Clockwork dismounted from her Chocobo and looked up at Lyra, "It was nice meeting you…"
"You aren't coming, Miss-um?"
She looked ahead to see how far away the boys were before looking up at Layle's mother and nodding to her, "The boy's call me Clockwork."
"That's hardly suitable…"
The Lilty smiled at her, "It's just fine." She took a step back and bowed to her. "If you'll excuse me, I have one last thing to tend to before I leave." Before Lyra could say anything else the girl was encased in a haste spell and took off to the edge of the woods and made her way out of sight.

Keiss approached the Military soldiers with a smile on his face. Among them he could see Sir Regal. Layle frowned and looked over at his partner.
"So, what are you going to say to them?"
"Say?" The Selkie looked confused.
"About the whole experimenting on a town, Keiss! Don't you dare walk away from this conversation without answers from them."
"Calm down," The red head rolled his eyes, "Don't I always focus on getting us info. Just let me handle it." The Selkie smirked at him and made his way up the soldiers and Regal to find out where the Lieutenant was. Layle stood back with his arms crossed as Lyra approached on her Chocobo.
"Everything alright, Layle?"
"We'll find out…" The Crystal Bearer shook his head. "You should go find James and Constance…I am sure they are worried."
"And you?"
"I'm going to wait for Keiss…See what the military has to say now. And see if I like the answer."
The woman dismounted from her bird and pat her son's shoulder, "Don't get in over your head, dear. I would like to see you again in the future."
He smirked at her, "I hate to tell you this…But I think I've been in over my head for a while now."
Keiss approached the soldiers gathered on the edge of town. Behind him he led the two Chocobos with the bound up mercenaries. As he approached Regal turned and sneered at him.
"Selkie! Of course you and that Crystal Bearer are mixed up in this."
Keiss stopped and shook his head, "What can I say, we love getting into trouble. ...Is the Lieutenant around, or just you?"
"He is present but busy. He hasn't time to talk to you."
"Oh, he's got time, "Keiss said with a smile and tossed Regal the reigns to the birds. "Be a dear, Regal, and take care of these boys!" The rose haired Lilty stuttered in aggravation as he reached out to catch the straps. "I've got something important to take care of." Before Regal could call him back, Keiss ran off past him and his men and further up the road. There were several Military convoys about. Many of the town's Clavats were out answering questions and being handed what looked like checks. Keiss shook his head. 'Stupid, Clavats. If you take the money you can't protest later…Don't these people know what having their silence bought is?'
The Selkie continued up the road until he spotted Spinosa speaking with James. He slowed down to a steady walk as he approached. From where he was he could see James hand the Lieutenant back the piece of paper and shake his head.
"I can fix my land on my own…All I really want are some answers, Sir. Why did these monsters attack us? And why did it take the kingdom so long to get here?"
"Those are good questions!" Keiss walked up with a smile and stood next to the Clavat. "Don't you think so, Lieutenant?"
"Keiss..." The Lilty man looked him over, his expression unreadable. "So this is where you disappeared to. I was wondering why you had lingered so long from Alfitaria. And more than fifty miles off your course."
"Ah well about that, see…" Keiss looked over his shoulder and down the road to Layle and Lyra, "That lady over there is Layle's mother. We swung by to pay her a visit. And got knocked out of the sky…" He looked back at the Lieutenant. "By a, King Behemoth no less …It's all taken care of now, but I would like to talk to you, about it. If that's okay."
The Lilty officer looked down the road to Layle and the woman before back at Keiss, "This way. Good day to you, sir. If you have any other questions, my associate, Sir Regal will answer them." James frowned as the Lieutenant went away. Keiss followed by his side, and as soon as they were out of ear shot started talking.
"So! The Military has a weapon that moves Miasma Streams," the Selkie started talking, looking over at the other man to gauge his reactions to his statements. "That's a pretty handed device."
"Indeed," Spinosa didn't at all seem bothered. "Its intended purpose is to increase farming capabilities in the prairie lands by reducing monster encounters by seventy-five percent."
"Really? Because from what I've gathered…It's a weapon. Used to move more hostile monster from one area to another."
"That can be its purpose." The Lieutenant still looked unnerved. "It still needs testing. The research you were station at was in charge of its test runs. For both civilian and military purposes. One unit went missing. In the confusion from the recent monster attacks it was released into the hands of a group of fraudulent contract-"
"Wait." Keiss stopped walking, "Is that really the story you're telling these people? That you're going to tell me?"
The Lieutenant turned around to face Keiss. They had walked far up the road into the middle of town. All around them Clavats were celebrating the news. No more monsters and a bit more extra income for the town thanks to the Military. Out in the fields people were already hanging up paper lanterns and setting out tables along the side of the road in preparation for their festival that would begin at sundown. "That is the truth," is all the Lilty said.
"I saw, the contract from Piper," Keiss crossed his arms. "And I've listened to the people. The monsters have been changing every week. They were getting supplies to run that weapon. They were getting upgrades, taking data, making reports."
"They ran a scam on these people, with stolen Military equipment. And they will be dealt with accordingly. The town's people are happy, and compensated for their troubles." This time the man spoke a bit more sternly at Keiss.
The Selkie retaliated to the change in tone by raising his voice, "Not all of them are being paid off. I know at least four that won't even take being paid off. This town was almost wiped off the map. They deserve better than a few thousand gil, they deserve for the truth. And for the people responsible-"
The Lilty watched Keiss and coolly spoke over him. It was barely audible to the Selkie, "High Commander Jegran, had sent Sir Regal to retrieve the weapon…I will make note of his failure to do so, and note that you and your partner, recovered what was stolen. I am sure that for his next contract he will want you involved."
"-for you to even suggest you knew it was gone! Then why was there no word of it gone missi—Did you say High Commander Jegran?" Keiss stopped talking.
"Yes, I will be sure to include it in my report you recovered the machine, and rounded up the criminals. Not to mention with all the, wonderful things Oides and Piper have been reporting about your partner. There is no doubt in my mind; he will be one-hundred percent supportive of me putting you in charge of his next series of contracts. That is…so long as you and I are in good standing with each other."
Keiss raised his hand to protest, but nothing came out. He pointed at the Lieutenant, and a smile crossed his face. He extended his hand to the Lilty, "Well….The criminals are rounded up. And the machine is in good hands…Not to mention the town is still here…I mean look, they are…Even throwing a party!"
Spinosa took his hand, "So they are. So they are."

Keiss walked back shaking his head. In his hand he hand he had three checks from the Commander. One for him and Layle, one for James and one for Lyra. The ones for the store manager and rancher were much larger than his. Of course, hush money is always a lot of money. Layle and the Clavats that made up his family were sitting outside the general store. Constance was setting up their food display humming to herself. Layle looked over as Keiss walked up.
"Well?"
"Well!" Keiss stopped at the table and sighed, "The machine was stolen by fraudulent mercenaries. It's a good thing we came by and uncovered their plot and recovered it. The Military had no idea of what was going on…" he set the checks on the table. "Here is a lump sum the Military feels will cover your losses and then some. Have a nice day."
Lyra shook her head and looked down at the check, "I don't understand…"
Constance picked up the one for her father and held it up to him, "Holy! Moly! That's more gil than we make in a year! Five years!"
Layle glared at his partner, "Where is Spinosa, I want a word with him."
"Don't go looking for him…Just don't, Layle. You're really only going to make it worse."
"Well better I do something than just let you trample all over us!"
"Damnit, will you, shut up! You cannot win this one. All the rest of the town has already taken the money. They might as well take their share too! Here!" he gave Layle the last check, "You take that one!"
Layle didn't even look at it, he just started tearing it into pieces and Keiss rolled his eyes and shook his head, "You're not going to get the truth or justice today, Layle."
"Then when, Keiss! When!"
"Calm the hell down, and let me tell you when!" The Selkie put his hands on his head and smiled at his partner. "When dealing with these people…it's all a waiting game. You have to wait for when the moment to strike presents itself. For when we can have proof and backing…And furthermore, we need to get deeper into this thing. There is still a lot we don't know…like why they need these weapons. And what the High Commander plans to do with them. Hopefully we can find out on our next mission."
"But we don't do contracts for the High Commander."
"We do now." Keiss said with a shrug and Layle frowned at him.
"I should have known he bought you out too…" The Clavat got up from his seat and started to walk away. Keiss called after him but Layle kept walking.

By sunset the Military was gone. The Lieutenant had been so gracious as to haul the Acote to Red Leaf and make sure it was put on a transport to Bridgetown. The Clavats were out in the towns dirt roads celebrating and drinking. There was a band stand set up on the side of the road where men were playing and the citizens were dancing. Well at least Constance told Keiss it was dancing. He didn't quite understand all the high stepping and heal clicking going on. The twirling part he got. But he decided he still preferred the Selkie Tango to…whatever it was the Clavats were doing. They could move their feet fast though.
He sat on the edge of the band stand watching people dance until finally Layle arrived and sat down next to him.
"…You done being mad at me?"
The Clavat took a gulp from the Gourdpotato Beer he had gotten from one of the tables, "Ask me again after six more drinks."
"Tch, look Crystal Bearer, I'm sorry I did not barge up to Spinosa and punch is lights out…but what would that earn us other than jail time?"
"A sense of pride."
"I've got pride!"
"Keiss!" Layle looked over at him, "You are that guy's bitch. He can totally control you."
"If you also think he can control me…then I am a better actor than I thought."
The two sat in silence again; the only noise from them was the sound of Layle drinking. Finally the Selkie spoke up, "In Bridgetown…I want to take you to a doctor."
"Fine."
"And once we know what the new contract is… I'm going to need you to run decoy again."
"Awesome."
"Are you going to say more than one word to me?"
"Maybe."
"Damn it, Layle." Keiss sighed and turned to him, "Are we just going to be like this, for the duration of our partnership? Always mad at one another?"
Layle stopped drinking and lowered his mug. He didn't say anything. He was thinking about it, he didn't really want to always be mad at Keiss. But it was happening a lot lately. ..Is this what they mean by the 'Honeymoon is over'? Before he could decide on his answer Lyra walked up laughing and smiling with James.
"There you are!" She grabbed Layle's drink and handed it to Keiss, "You're dancing with me."
"Lyra…Can't you see we're in the middle of something?"
"What? Looking absolutely miserable? Get up! Get up! They are going to start playing the Song of the Crystal. And I want you to dance with me." Keiss watched as his partner rolled his eyes and stood. He muttered something about his head injury should get him out of this too as he was dragged off to the line of dancers. Men on one side women on the other. A pair danced down the line from one end to the next. Stepping and turning and laughing all the way. James took Layle's seat and sighed.
"…We decided to keep what the Military gave us." He looked at Keiss who was watching Lyra push Layle into line before joining on the other side. "Lyra and I figured we could use it to get some pretty nice things…Maybe some new stock for the store." The Selkie looked down at the drink thrust into his hands moments ago and took a sip. "…She says you and Layle will take care of the rest."
"If Layle and I can stay together…" He looked up again, now they were half way down the line. "He's not been thrilled with me since we crashed here. I think…our last mission together is quickly approaching."
James sighed, "Don't get worried. He's just like Lyra: stubborn and opinionated. They want to do it there way, and if you tell them they're wrong they get cross. But they come around…" The Clavat man laughed, "Example. When she was seventeen, Lyra was determined to leave Denthe. Said she was never going to settle down. Or get married. Or be stuck with farm life…Even though all her life, I always told her she was the nurturing type."
Layle and Lyra hit the top of the line just as the song changed. The violinist kicked up the beat and an accordion joined in. The Crystal Bearer and his mother stepped forward and bowed to each other before the started to perform a step dance similar to everyone else- albeit it seemed a bit more complicated, the way they turned or the way Lyra spun twice for every one of Layle's.
"That still didn't stop her," James continued, "From running away in the middle of night, with the family sword and shield." Keiss looked at him startled. "We had no idea where she went…Not for three years. Till she came back with Dale. And a Lich King skull." He shook his head as he watched his nephew and sister begin kicking out their legs and knocking the sides of their shoes together, adding to the rhythmic stomping beat going with the song. "She doesn't talk about it any now…I guess, because she doesn't want to admit being a mercenary just wasn't for her. But she used to tell the stories all the time to Layle…But now if you ask her, she loves here in this town. It's just for her. Like I always told her it was."
Keiss looked back that the dancing line, 'So…She's the former mercenary? No wonder she was fighting those Behemoths.' He finished off the drink, "I guess…I just have to let him have it his way to learn, right? I think Lyra told me something similar."
James nodded to him and pat Keiss on the back. "You two will make it."
Keiss watched Layle and Lyra reach the other end of the line. Again they bowed to each other and took a step back into the continuously moving line. "I sure hope your right." He titled his head back and smiled up at the clear night sky.
'Because I can't imagine what I would do now without you, Layle.'
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The Crystal Rule