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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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- 4
- 5
Authors Note: Been away for long while. But that's what happens when your in your last semester of collage. Back to updating now though. Here's two chapters, though I doubt it makes up for the months of nothing. But as I said before, I plan to finish this no matter what, plus my friend I am writing it for will beat me if I don't...
Chapter Four
Keiss lead the way back to the station terminal. He walked confidently, as usual, with Layle next to him. The Clavat was still thumbing through the money they had just been paid. He didn't show it outwardly, but the idea of strolling into a Tonberry nest didn't sit well with him. He put his half of the payment in his wallet and looked over at Keiss.
"So, is this how you get all your missions?"
"Hm, No…Just when I need a fresh start."
"You act honest…but you're not above thievery," Layle shrugged. "I suppose it could be worse."
"I never steal, Layle," Keiss turned to give the crystal bearer and sideways glance, "I borrow at opportune moments."
"…Theif."
Keiss shook his head and continued to walk. The boarded the shuttle again, this time heading for the Air Ship Dock. The Selkie thumbed through a folder and supplies Dr. Oides gave them, containing a map of the Mushroom Forest from the air, and information on all the known Tonberry species. For supplied he had given them a large reinforced bag and a sealed container to keep their specimens in. "This isn't so bad…our biggest worry is the common Tonberry…carries a lantern, brown cloak or dress depending upon gender and a sharp knife…"
"How many species are there?"
"Just the four…common, Amok, Queen, King…" Keiss handed Layle the folder to look through.
The Clavat took it, looking over the information, "It says here that their most active during twilight, dusk, and evening. If we take the train to Moogle Woods station, judging by how long it would take to walk...We could get there in-"
"Walk?" Keiss shook his head. "We are not walking that far, or taking the train."
"Then how do you pla-"
"Airship." The mercenary said with a smile. The terminal came to a halt and Keiss got up. "Come on."
Layle stood up as well, tucking the folder under his arms. "Isn't it more expensive to go by airship? It would save a lot of time, but is it worth it?"
"It's only more expensive if you're renting a seat." Keiss lead the way from the station doc. He walked through the main hanger entrance and turned to a door kept locked on the side. "But we're not renting. We're taking mine. The Acote."
"You have an airship?" Layle shook his head and followed Keiss through the door onto a set of stair that lead up to the cat walk. "No wonder you take such high paying jobs! That thing must be expensive to keep up!"
"Not really..." Keiss shrugged as the walked out over to his ship. "I know a guy who keeps her in check for basically free. Just have to trade him something every now and again."
Layle stopped and stared at the Acote. The design was a few years old, but that didn't mean it wasn't good. A single pilot, long winged gunner. Two gun tarrets, one on the bottom one on top, with a crows nest for the second gunner. Lilties used these more for hitting hard and fast than anything else, but their use was cut back due to the fact that only the pilot was entire enclosed. His partner was left out in the open on top...
"Let me guess, I get the crow's nest?"
"You got it!" Keiss pat his palm on the ladder leading up. "Hop in and get situated so we can take off." Layle watched as the Selkie slid into the pilot's seat and shut his door. He sighed and shook his head. Not much he could do other than do it. He climbed the ladder and sat on the folder so it wouldn't blow away.
"You all set up there?" Keiss' voice came through the communication tube on his left.
"Yeah, yeah..." Layle lowered his goggles. "Take off, Keiss."
"Great, hold o-" Layle shut the tube and leaned back. He didn't care to hear Keiss check up on him during take off. He had ridden in airships before...Granted he was inside the ship before, but whatever. He could handle this.
As Layle thought about what it would feel like to ride around in the tiny crows nest, the engine kick in, and the ship shook. The bars holding it in the air were lowered and the Acote slowly moved forward. It picked up pace as it approached the large open hanger doors. The Clavat Bearer found himself hanging onto to support bar with one hand, it wasn't that he was scared. It's that he didn't want to fall out during the incline.
The ship built up speed at a tremendous pace, and shot out of the hanger. Keiss pulled the airship up- a bit slower than he usually did to make sure he didn't lose his new partner, but he still had to clear the skyline by a certain time or they would collide with buildings and other airship traffic. He was slightly worried Layle might tumble out and get caught in the engine exhaust, however he was almost certain he could hear someone in the distance cheer 'Yahoo!' as the ship took a sharp turn upward. They climbed for less then ten seconds before leveling out high above Alfitaria. Keiss reached over and banged on the tube to make sure Layle was listening. "You still up there?"
Layle finally let go of the bar. It had been more of a rush than he was expecting. He loved it. "Yeah I'm here!" He shouted down at Keiss through the now open tube, "So, next time you think you can go a bit faster? I've ridden Paopamouse that go faster than you.
"Tch! Crystal Bearer!" This time Keiss shut his end of the tube.
The Acote and her passengers sailed through the air with great ease. Layle leaned over the sides of his crow's nest a bit looking out over the land. In not time the left Alfitaria behind them and were sailing over the Clavat's farm land and herds of the Left High Lands. "Got'ta admit..." he said to himself again, "The view up here is gorgeous. I could get used to this kind of travel."
"...Layle! Are you talking to someone up there!"
He looked out over the skyline, "Just the clouds!" The crystal bearer turned in his seat, up ahead he could make out the tops of trees of a forest. "Moogle Woods coming up...where are we gonna land this thing?"
"Past the main woods." Keiss Looked out his window as the airship passed over the forest and a large tree containing the Moogle's village and the train station. "There's a few clearings here and there...Find one closest to the Mushroom Forest. And we'll land there."
Layle pulled out the map and clutched it tight so it wouldn't blow away. "There's one about a mile from here, northwest...It's the last good clearing before the Tonberry Nest." He heard Keiss give a voice of acknowledgment before the ship turned its course slightly. Again Layle looked out over the edge. Even from up here, he could see dotted among the trees, tall and colorful toadstools. They weren't higher than the trees themselves though. Not yet at least.
They came upon their landing site in no time. After Keiss set the ship down, Layle climbed out of the crow's nest and lifted his goggles. All around were the mushrooms of Moogle Woods', as tall as Keiss and himself, and as tall as a one story house. Mixed in with the trees, or should it be, the trees were mixed in with them? The Toadstools were overrunning the place.
"The map..." Keiss held out his hand. He took the map for Layle and looked it over. "Grab the supply bag from the cockpit will ya'? And we'll get going..."
Layle fished out the bag and followed Keiss as they made there was out from the edges of Moogle Woods. The farther they went, the fewer and fewer the trees became, and the taller the Mushrooms grew. Within half an hour, there wasn't a tree left. The grass had also given way to white ground, covered in spores and moss and stones. As they marched, the sun began to set, and some of the fungus gave off a strange green glow in the dimming light. It was safe to say, they were well into the Mushroom Forest.
"So..." Layle looked around, the bag over his shoulder. "When do we start seeing Tonberries?"
"Why so excited to see one?"
"I'm not...but I don't want them to get the drop on us." He stopped walking and looked around. Checking to see if any monsters were visible.
"Hmn...good point." Keiss tucked his map away and looked around. "Stealth would be our best potion for this. There!" He pointed to the right where a series of mushrooms grew in ascending order. "Like stairs...Well climb up and continue across the tops." He motioned for Layle to follow him and together they climbed the stair-like arrangement. The tops of the mushrooms were soft, but sturdy.
Once at the top the boy looked around, they had to be a good fifteen feet up, but there were still taller mushrooms here and there across the skyline. "What a place..." Keiss turned around and around on the top of their look out.
"Yeah," Layle scratched the side of the crystal in his cheek. "If not for the monsters, it would be a great tourist attraction..."
Keiss chuckled and came to a stop. "Over there. That one's the same height."
Layle looked over at their destination, "Awfully long jump," he smirked at his partner, "Can you make it?"
"Can you?" The two young men stared at each other, and a silent challenge was made. Without another word the two raced forward and propelled themselves from the edge of one mushroom to the next. Keiss landed effortlessly, as did Layle. They stood up and without saying a word looked around for the next jump. Layle found it first and took off running. He pushed off the mushroom and landed. Having to drop to one knee on impact to keep balance. As he stood Keiss landed, and kept running. He was already onto the next shroom before Layle could spot where he was going.
He laughed a bit and gave chase. Suddenly the game of jumping from mushroom top to mushroom top took priority over finding the Tonberries. Up and over, from this one to the next, the two jumped and ran across the top of the Mushroom Forest. They traded off lead from time to time, and would even split ways and take different routes, but neither was ever out of sight from the other. However Keiss had an advantage, Selkies were naturally fast, and he wasn't bogged down with a bag of equipment from the doctor. Layle cursed his misfortune as he watched Keiss jump to the last mushroom of this height.
It was oddly shaped, a perfect white squishy pillar in the middle of the forest. But Lalye didn't have time to think of abnormalities. He landed on the mushroom top and Keiss chuckled. "Guess I win."
"Yeah yeah..." Layle lowered the bag, "You just got—Hey...is this thing shrinking?" The two looked around. Indeed the mushroom was getting lower. "What in the wor-" Before Layle could even ask his next question, the mushroom suddenly sprang back up and propelled Keiss and himself high into the air. The two screamed, unaware that was going to happen they found themselves tumbling through the air to an unknown location. Layle released the bag and stretched out his hand. He garbed Keiss who was falling head over heels back to earth. And with his other hand he reached out and hooked a tall mushroom and dragged them back down to it.
The impact of their landing sent spores everywhere.
"Holy shit..." Keiss sat up and looked around. "Layle! Layle you okay?"
"Y-yeah...I'm good..." He sat up and dusted the sores off his jacket. "Was that in information Odies gave us?"
"Nope."
"Stupid old man..."
Keiss sat up and looked around. "I lost the map...And I have no idea where that thing flung us..."
Layle walked to the edge of the mushroom, "Perhaps we should continue from the ground from here-" He stopped and backed up.
"What are we too high-" Keiss stopped talking as Layle reached over and covered his mouth. The Clavat motioned over the side of their new lookout. The redheaded Selkie slowly peaked over and saw what trouble Layle so. Just below them, a dozen or more little creatures were moving about, their eyes left and afterglow with each step they took. They were slowly walking around gathering up the large spores the boys had just shaken loose. And more of them were coming. The two mercenaries crouched down and watched as Tonberries came out from the forest and collected the spores covering the ground.
"What are they doing?" Layle whispered.
"Food perhaps?" Keiss shrugged. "See a queen?"
"No...just common..." He looked at Keiss, "Maybe we need to do something to draw the queen out? Just like with a king?"
"Got any suggestions, Crystal Bearer?"
"...Just one." Layle lifted his right hand and reached out to the first Tonberry he could snag before making it spin in place and drop the spores it had collected. The creatures closest to it stopped to help it up. He then lifted his left hand and did the same to a Tonberry on the other side. And again, and again, he kept spinning them. "A bit of confusion to shake things up."
Keiss leaned on his elbow, "Or to get them super pissed when they find out it's your fault they keep trip-" He stopped talking and watched as one more Tonberry came out from the overgrown mushrooms. Black and white dress, big red bow, and a teddy bear. There was no mistaking it. "Well I'll be...I guess messing up its followers does draw it out."
The Queen came up to the other Tonberries and stopped. She looked back and forth before giving them some sort of silent order and they all stood up and went back to work. The queen stood still in the middle of them, only moving to fuss over her bear as the others worked.
"Now...How do we get to her?" Keiss muttered looking down. There was no simple way down from their perch. They'd have to drop right into the mix of Tonberries and that was not what he wanted.
Layle scratched the side of his face. "I could yank her up here…"
"Nah, then the other's will just swarm the base...we'll still be in trouble."
"Maybe I can distract them, make something fall…shake up another mushroom for its spores…"
"That could work…" The two kept debating on how to single out the queen, muttering back and forth, looking at each other and then looking down. They were so focused on their plan they didn't notice a faint shadow slowly coming up behind them. The shadow belonged to a ghost like sword drifting through the air, it slowly came upon them and hovered just over their heads where the other Tonberries could see it. Slowly, but surely they all looked up at it and what it was pointing at. Keiss stopped talking and shook Layls shoulder.
"Hey- hey! Look their looking right at us…"
"Huh?" The crystal bearer shrank back a bit, "How did they kno-" Layle stopped and looked down at their shadows, barely noticeable and blending into the mushroom's edge; however there was another shadow. He looked up slowly and gulped. "Hey…isn't there…a breed of Tonberry that can find non-Tonberries with a ghost sword…"
"Yeah…" Keiss looked up.
"Well, it must be nearby." As Layle finished talking the sword swung downward at their heads. The boys each rolled to the side and the blade cut through the mushroom's edge. Layle was up on his feet in an instant, Keiss stayed on his knees as the sword pulled out and swung back around, this time at his face. He rolled to the side and stabbed through the squashy surface once again. Below the Tonberries furiously began attacking the base of the mushroom with their knives slowly hacking it down.
Layle held out his hand and tried to get a grip on the sword, but it was flying around too fast. "Tch! Keiss! Hold still so I can grab it!"
"Are you nuts?" The Selkie jumped back again, this time he found himself on the other edge of the mushroom. He looked over his shoulder and frowned. The sword was fixed on him again and charging right for his chest. Keiss stood up and took a single step back, allowing himself to drop. He kept his hands up and out and grabbed the soft edges of the mushroom to hang from. As he clung on, the sword shoved into the top of the mushroom, its tip stuck out a few inches from the redhead's face. 'Damn…' He inwardly sighed, but the ghost blade began to shake and was slowly pushing through toward him. 'Damn!' Keiss looked around thinking about dropping to the ground, only to see the Tonberries below cutting away at the base of the mushroom. 'DAMN!'
Layle reached out again and took hold of the base of the sword with his powers. Instantly he felt it pull as it was trying to stab Keiss through the mushroom. "Hang on, Keiss!" The Clavat yanked back on the sword pulling it out. It fought him for a moment as it settled over head before spinning around and turning to point at a downward angel. "Hmn…Now what's that mean?"
Before Layle could try to figure out why the sword was suddenly pointing, he heard Keiss shout his name. "Right! Coming, Kei-"
"No!" The Selkie pulled himself up to his elbows. "Hang on!"
"Hang on?" Layle stopped in mid run when he suddenly felt the mushroom shift. He put his other hand out for balance and continued to keep the sword hovering above him. "Whoa…Whoa!" The entire surface was slowly slanting; faster and faster it was being turned on its side. Layle looked around trying to find another close mushroom to jump to- but he couldn't leave Keiss… He stretched out his free hand and attempted to take hold of his partner with his powers. "Hang on, Keiss!"
The Selkie felt a sudden pull, as if his body was being jerked forward, but it was too late. Just as Layle took hold of him, the mushroom collapsed, sending the young mercenaries crashing to the forest floor. They both shouted as they fell. Layle lost his grip on the sword and on Keiss; he reached out sending out a stream of energy hopping to hook onto something to stop his fall. Keiss clung to the mushroom edge as it fell, before pushing off of it and jumping half way to the forest floor. He did his best to curl his body inward to roll on impact, rather than just hit the ground with the mushroom top.
His only thoughts as he tumbled to the forest floor were that this simple retrieval mission was quickly spiraling into muddled mess.
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The Crystal Rule