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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 Forty-Four

For the rest of the flight to Kilanda, Keiss was quiet. Even when he was hailed over the radio again and again, he didn't say a word. He was seething to himself. A deep seeded rage and nauseousness was brewing up inside him. And every time someone hailed the Acote he was ready to let it explode out of him.
But he didn't just yet.
The rest of the escort ships followed behind him, making sure he didn't go off course to try and go back for Layle again. If there was even anything left to go off course and collect. He'd seen the flickers of the explosion in the clouds. It must have struck Clockwork's falling ship.
The rest probably struck Layle.
That would mean they were gone? Both bearers gone in the blink of an eye. And Layle had just come back into his life…
Thinking about it made him sick; then made him angry.
By the time he landed on the airship runway in Kilanda he was squeezing the handle of the Actoe's controls so hard one would have thought he was trying to snap it in two. He didn't bother to get out and help unload the ship. Though he stayed inside the cockpit he could feel the nearly unbearable heat seeping into the ship. Everything had to be reinforced to keep the wires and internal work from shorting out. Outside Lilties ran around from ship to ship, opening them up and unloading their cargo. As soon as the hatch to the back of ship opened more of the blistering air poured in.
It amazed him how anyone could stand to work in it. Even for a Selkie, this weather was hot. He wondered what possessed the Military to build a base so close to an active volcanic island.
As soon as he heard a Lilty give him the all clear, Keiss flipped the switched on the Acote's control board, he started to close up the hatch and start up the engine. However they came a pounding at his cockpit door followed by shouting.
"Get back!" He shouted in return. "I'm going to take off!"
"Keiss, open your door!" The Selkie grumbled to himself in his native tongue as he reached over and unlocked the door. The Lieutenant put one foot inside the ship and leaned forward. "Shut down your ship and come into the base, I have a matter I want to discuss with you."
"No," He turned his attention forward looking out the window. "I'm taking off. I have to go get Layle." The red head leaned forward and continued to power up his engine.
"Keiss, you've been flying for hours. Even if he did survive by now he's drowned." The Lieutenant put a hand on the side of the door and smirked at him. "I want to reward you for a successful mission. Are you not interested in hearing what I will have to say to the High Commander about you?"
The Selkie's lips twisted as he turned to Spinosa. The plum haired Lilty smiled at him, but what happened next he had not predicted. Keiss leaned over from his seat and put his hand in the man's face shoving him back. "I don't give a damn, about you or your High Commander, you rotten onion!" He pushed Spinosa backward with one hand and pulled back on the control stick with the other. The Acote started to move forward as the Lieutenant fell out. He hit the ground and rolled to his side as the ship pulled away. Keiss continued forward past Lilties running to get out the way of his ship. They scrambled and ducked as it pulled forward and upward, then tilted to the side during its ascent to force the cockpit door close.
Regal ran over to Spinosa and pulled him to his feet. "Sir! Are you alright?!"
The man dusted himself off and looked up at the ship as it rounded the base and pulled out of sight. "We got what we needed… It doesn't matter if he goes."
"…But what about the Crystal Bearer?"
The Lieutenant crossed his arms in thought, "Send word to Rebena Te Ra, and see what Piper can cook up with what we have. We'll complete this one way or another." Regal turned his gaze toward the sky where Keiss had disappeared. As far as he was concerned they should have shot down the Selkie, not the Clavat.

Layle felt like he was still floating out in the ocean. He felt like his body was floating and his limbs were lying dead, weighed down to the sides. It was warm, not terribly hot. But lying out in the sun was baking him. Yet he didn't want to move. He was exhausted. He couldn't even open his eyes, yet he felt subconsciously he was floating. Floating up, and up, and up. Maybe he'd died?
He didn't even want to open his eyes to know. And he probably wouldn't have bothered if not for the sudden pain in his finger.
He let out a cry and waved his arm unleashing a gravity spell out form him. To his shock he dropped back to the ground, hitting the sand with a soft thud. The Hammer Crab that had so graciously clamped down on his finger went flying upward. As he opened his eyes he just barely caught sight of it disappearing into what he thought was some sort of purple ring shrinking in the sky.
Was he hallucinating? Was that a Miasma cloud?
He glanced around. There were no monsters. Layle looked back up at the sky, there was nothing there. Not even the crab that had tried to take his finger.
He groaned and rubbed the back of his neck. It was covered with sand. So was the side of his face. And his hair. And in fact he was just as sandy as the beach itself. How long had he been asleep here?
The Clavat slowly forced himself to stand and sighed. "…Keiss…" He looked up and down the beach. "Keiss?" Had the Selkie never come for him? He started to walk forward, down the narrow strip of beach. He could see more debris from the crashed ship had made its way to shore. But no body.
"Clockwork…" He glanced about the wreckage as he passed it. "Did she drown out there?" He stopped and looked out at the ocean. Out the corner of his eye he thought he saw something drop out of the sky, but when he turned his head again it was just a flicker of purple light fading out. A Hammer Crab was scurrying along the ground though, disoriented it ran in circles. "…Okay… I'm, obviously…seeing things…" He turned and started to walk the beach again. "I need water." He looked back down at the ship parts coming up on shore. "Probably help finding Keiss as well."

The longer he walked the more he realized he wasn't going to find anyone here. The sides of the rocky walls were covered with barnacles and bits of reefs. Not to mention he could swear it seemed like the strip of land was getting narrower. This place is obviously covered up the tide when it came in. Meaning no one would be out here regularly. So he had to find where this part of the beach ended, or away up before the tide rolled in.
He continued to walk scanning the wall until he could spot what looked like a ledge up high above where the line of barnacles stopped. The Crystal Bearer used his magic to hook onto it and pulled himself up. He was hoping to just have place to look out for help, but to his surprise he found a cave. And further more a cave with a torch hanging from the entrance.
"Well, this is a good sign." He walked into the cave looking around. He could see a few more torches lighting the way ahead as he ventured into the cliff side. Layle walked deeper into the tunnel, however, he still saw no one. The tunnel itself had branching paths, all with torches sporadically placed. He took one turn, and then another. And another still. After ten minutes he was certain he was walking in a circle.
"Is this some sort of maze?" He started walking faster out of frustration. Going around, then left, then right, then right, and to the left. Finally he stopped and leaned against the wall. "This is not happening... It's a giant fucking circle!" He turned his head to the left and right sighing. Maybe he'd just sit here and wait for someone to arrive. As he was looking up and down the tunnel he caught sight of something on the wall across from him.
The Clavat pushed off his resting place and ran his fingers over the wall. There was a carving here, one you'd miss if you weren't looking directly at it. He supposed it was supposed to be words, or some sort of instructions. But it more or less looked like a bunch of symbols. "Selkie…" He lowered his hand and eyed them. "Too bad Chime says you can't just learn it…" He took one last look at the symbol memorizing it and started walking. He went slower this time looking at the walls until he found another marking. This one was on a corner. "I wonder then, if I take this tunnel, if I'll end up somewhere different…"
Layle proceeded down this tunnel, and down another that had a carving on its wall. He kept walking until he came to a new area where the floor of the tunnel had obviously given out. There were a few planks laid across it to bridge the gap. He started over them taking his time as the wood itself seemed like it was old and ready to give out. About half way across he stopped when something below caught his eye. Something was shining just next to his foot. He leaned down and scooped it up.
Just an old coin. The face of a woman was carved into it, but it didn't look like any gil he'd ever seen. And it was certainly heavier than any coin he'd ever had.
As he stood up the boards creaked again. Creaked and split just a bit. Layle looked back at the way he came and then the few feet he had to go. The Crystal Bearer inched forward listening to the wood start to split under his feet. Finally Layle gave up and ran for it. The boards instantly started to give way beneath him. He stretched out his hand to use his powers to hook onto the ceiling, the coin still clutched in his other hand. He grabbed it just in time to let the wood fall to another tunnel beneath him. When the dust settled Layle let go and dropped down into the room below.
When he landed he heard his feet connect with wood. Something that surprised him as the boards were all scattered around him. He stuffed the odd coin into his jacket pocket and turned around to get a good look at the room. It was filled with chest. Wall to wall old chest and trunks. He was even standing on one. The Crystal Bearer stepped down and tried to open it.
"Locked…" He took a step back and swung his foot, kicking it open with a burst of magic. The chest's lid flew back and the contents inside clanked and shook. It was filled to the brim with more of the odd gold coins. He reached down and picked up and hand full before letting it fall through his fingers. "…A-are they all…" Layle turned and ran to the neck chest kicking it open. An assortment of gems spilled out as it fell on to its side. He ran to another and kicked it open; this one was filled with gil he recognized. But the next had more ancient gold. Then silver. Art work. Weapons. Treasure. Treasure in every single trunk in the room.
Layle looked around at the assortment of open trunks and whistled, "I'm either in someplace I really shouldn't be… Or I should be really excited about."
"Down this way!" He turned his head, "I'm tellin' ya I heard something moving around!"
The Crystal Bearer looked toward the far side of the room. There were two long shadows moving along the wall against torch light. Someone was coming. He took a step back and got down to crouch behind one of the larger chest. Just as he hid to Selkie's walked into the room. Each was dressed in bright orange and yellow striped clothing with bandanas wrapped around their heads. One held a torch up to get a good look at the room.
"Wha'd I tell ya! Someone's been in here!"
'Selkies…' Layle watched them look over the trunks asking each other if anything was missing. 'They could help me get out of here. I shouldn't have to hid from-'
"Hey you scallywag!" One of them shouted, "Ifn' we find you in here you can't bet your hide you'll be answering to the other end of the Guild Master's sword!"
'Or hiding. Hiding is good. I'll just hide till they leave…' The two Selkies started to close the trunks and check around them, still calling out for their intruder to come forward and maybe they'd go easy on them. 'I can take a couple of Selkies. But still…' Layle picked up a gem on the ground and tossed it to the other end of the room. It ricocheted off the sides of the trunks until it hit the wall farthest away from him. The Two Selkies turned their heads and ran over to see what it was. As they turned their backs he got up and rushed out of the room and around the corner.
"Okay- obviously not someplace to stop and ask for directions!" Layle started running through the tunnels again, though this level was new to him. He had no clue which way to take. He started rounding corners, trying to find the directions carved into the walls again, and found himself running right into Selkie maiden making her way through the tunnels. They collided head on and he knocked her over. She looked up at him startled as he slipped around her, "Sorry about that!"
As soon as he turned to run she screamed something in Selkie, but he gathered he wasn't going to enjoy whatever was the result of her shouting.
He didn't get more than two turns away from her until he ran into another Selkie, rushing forward to respond to the call. He pointed at Layle and raised a pistol to stop him. The Crystal Bearer raised his hand and tossed him into the wall to run around him. He ran by the man as he was trying to pick himself up and took off down the tunnel he came from. If nothing else, these Selkie were going to lead him out of this maze.

Every so many turns Layle ran into another Selkie trying to stop him. The group following him through the tunnels was up to ten by the time he finally made it to where they were all coming from. A set of stairs that lead him up and out of the winding tunnel maze into another set of caverns. Up here there were two Selkie guards standing and waiting. They looked shocked to see Layle, but wasted no time drawing their knives to attack him. He blew past them, flipping them onto their backs as he ran. The Selkies in the caverns shouted and run as they say him being chased by the group. He rounded the corner to see a group of Selkie kids playing near what looked like a ledge dropping off from these tunnels. A few of them had little boards in their hands and one was standing up onto of the ledge.
Layle grabbed the kid standing up over the others and tossed him back at the mob chasing him. The kids screamed as he hopped the ledge and found himself landing feet first into a running stream.
If not for his magic he'd have gotten swept away by it, but the moment his feet hit the water Layle extended his hands and made a barrier between himself and the water allowing him to ride it down to its end. He looked back to see the Selkie's still following him all riding boards they'd stolen form the kids. Those that had guns were shooting at him.
"Come on! I don't even want to be here!" The rushing waterway came to an abrupt end spitting him out onto another ledge. He started to run forward but came to a halt when it just ended into a drop off of a large cove. A large cover occupied by a shipwrecked vessel.
He looked out over it for a second, half acknowledging that it appeared to be split in two with both sides slanting inward, while he tried to think of where he was going to run to next. From behind the first Selkie landed and tried to tackle him. Layle jumped over the side of the ledge and out of the way. He landed with a roll and took off across a net and rope bridge that connected the cliff to what appeared to be a series of ship's mast built up into the rocks. He rounded the top of one mast and ran across another bridge toward the ship; bright red and purple flags hung from the sides fluttering in the wind. The Selkies on the bridges shouted and ducked as Layle ran by the guards hot on his tail.
As he got off the second bridge the Selkie maiden standing there screamed at him. She picked up the nearest thing she could, a black and white cat with a bright orange bow roaming the wooden platform and hurled it at him. Layle grabbed the cat as it tried to latch onto his face in fright. It hollered and clawed, and the bell around its neck chimed. He tossed it, to where he didn't know, he didn't have time to think about it. The woman had run, climbing up the ladder to the next level of the platform.
The Selkie's behind him were catching up now, and those that had caught sight of the commotion were running long before Layle got near them. He turned and jumped from the platform down to the deck of the damaged ship. Just as he landed what was left of the Selkies about, and the dozens of cats went scattering. Somewhere over head there was a bell being rung now. And a woman shouting the words 'Intruder' again and again.
More Selkies came running up from the bowels of the ship wielding swords and guns all ready to fight.
Layle hung his head and sighed. He was getting tired. Ship jumping. Swimming for miles. Nearly dying, now fighting endless waves of Selkies.
Keiss is going to pay for not catching him.
He ran at the crowd, hand raised and started flipping the attackers as they swarmed him. Layle used one hand to create a shield and the other to attack as the Selkie attempted to bring him down. For every two he knocked back another three took their place. It was truly never ending he felt. Fed up with them all he swung his hand at the ground and sent out a burst of energy that flipped every single one of them over. As the landed and rolled and struggled to get up he laughed.
"Finally!" The Clavat turned ready to flee again but this time none of the Selkie's tried to stop him. In fact he noticed those that were standing were backing away from one side of the ship. An odd silence fell over them. He turned back around to see another Selkie had emerged from the depths of the ship.
Much older than the group had been fighting, he seemed to tower above them by a good foot. He couldn't tell if that was how tall he actually was, or if it was the slant of the ship, or perhaps just his presence alone. Layle took note that he certainly looked much more hardened than any Selkie he'd ever seen; he had no hair on his head, save for one red ponytail and the beard that spread out around his neck with two long extensions sectioned off by gold rings. He was covered in plated grey armor from the waist down, but wore a large golden belt with a face like demon glaring at him. His arms were covered in the same material but his chest was exposed, and his eyes- or rather one eye, as the left side of his face was covered with a metallic guard to hide old scars- were fixed on him.
The rest of the Selkie's stepped back as the man cracked his knuckles. Layle shrugged his shoulders. 'So he's bigger than the rest. You know what they say, the bigger they are-' the Crystal Bearer rushed forward, his hand raised ready to snag the Selkie man and use him as a bulldozer to take out the crowd. He hooked his arm with a spell and started to drag him toward him. However as he pulled him the red headed Selkie was unstartled by his magic. He opened his hand to grab Layle's as soon as he was pulled within reach. And rather than Layle lifting him the Crystal Bearer found himself being hoisted up by his arm suddenly, his magic still binding them together, and he was flung across the deck. Layle collided with the main mast of the ship and his spell broke the tie between them.
"-the harder they hit…" He pushed off the mast and held his arm. That had hurt. But he wasn't done yet. Layle grabbed the nearest object a barrel left on deck and hurled at the Selkie. The man rushed forward and swung his fist at it, breaking it apart with one swing. As he punched it the Clavat ran around him using both hands to hook his opponent's legs and drag them out from under him. He pulled the Selkie towards him and then flung him back just as hard as he'd been thrown. To his surprise the man tumbled in the air and turned himself up right to land on his feet. He charged at him his shoulder down ready to ram him.
The Bearer put up a shield ready to block him and while he wasn't struck himself, the force of the blow sent him backward and knocked him off balance. While he tried to regain footing he was grabbed again by his arm and lifted up into the air. He cursed and used his free hand to push off the Selkie and out of his grip. The group of onlookers watching them duel cheered for the old man. Layle landed and fell back shaking his head.
There was no way he was going to lose to a non-Bearer. A monster? Maybe. Clockwork? Acceptable. But some overgrown old man? Never!
He took a stand, getting ready for his next attack. This time Layle would put everything he could into knocking that over grown Selkie flat on his ass. As if he knew Layle was going to make a desperate attempt the man raised his hand and beckoned him to attack. Layle smirked and ran at him. As he rushed forward he used his powers to jump up, high into the air, and then brought his fist down. The spell that encased his hand and his body, he was sure, was more than enough to beat even the strongest of his opponents.
And it probably would have been, if he hadn't already exhausted do much of himself earlier.
The Selkie raised his arms and crossed them over his face. Layle's fist connected with his armor and the resulting release of energy knocked everyone else back to the edges of the deck. The planks underneath his opponent cracked and caved in slightly. But the Selkie did not fall. As the spell died down he reached up and grabbed Layle, reaching through his gravity shield breaking it. Before Layle could react from the shock of the failed attack a fist connected with his face. He felt himself be flung again, this time to the ground.
And again he was punched, but this time in the chest, then in the gut. He felt the air being knocked out of him and just as he was gasping trying to recover the heel of the Selkie's foot came down right in the middle of his chest. Layle let out a cry and let his head dropped back to the deck. When the man moved away a swarm of Selkie ran forward and grabbed him. They held onto his arms and shoulders forced him to stand up right.
The Clavat pulled at his arms, trying to jerk them free. He clenched his fist ready to use another spell to knock them off of him when one of the Selkie's from the tunnel came forward and stood before the larger man.
"Guild Master! We caught this Crystal Bearer trying to steal from the Guild Store house!"
Layle stopped jerking his arms and looked up at the man, "Guild Master?"
The Selkie pointed back at him, "The chests were open, and he took out several guards! Not to mention the damage done to the tunnels!"
"Wait…Wait-!" Layle shook his head and started shouting. "I wasn't trying to steal anything!" The Selkie's turned to him. "I wasn't! I was just lost!"
"Lost in our private tunnels!?" The Selkie giving the report practically spat in his face as he spoke.
"Look! I'm telling the truth! I'm not a thief! I was just trying to find my way out and the floor gave away and I feel into that room! I don't want anything from you all! I don't need to take anything!"
"And just how did you end up in there, hmn?"
"A ship wreck. An airship! It crashed and I washed up on the beach." Layle nodded to the Selkie. The other turned toward the Guild Master. Layle looked up at him, slightly frowning as the man jerked his head to the side. The Selkie's holding him suddenly started to dig through his pockets and reach into his clothes. "Hey- Hey! What are you doing?" They kept searching until one of them found the gold coin tucked in his pocket. He flicked it toward the Selkie doing the talking, whom held up sneering at Layle.
"Well, what do you have to say for yourself, thief?"
"That- that is a fluke! I don't want that coin! I just picked it up off the ground!"
"Shipwrecked. A likely story." The Selkie crossed his arms. "Do you know what we do to those that try to steal from the Guild?"
Layle looked around at the Selkie's all glaring at him, "Uh… Give them a slap on the wrist and let them go?" To his surprise the group started to laugh. Another Selkie rolled a barrel over and put it before Layle while a girl came up with a long sword and handed it to the Guild Master.
"We let them choose their punishment." The speaker stepped aside as the group pushed Layle forward. The pulled his right arm out and started to roll up his sleeve while the Guild Master inspected the sword.
"Hey! Hey wait a minute!" He started to pull his arm back trying to cast a spell to send the group flying. "I didn't steal anything!" The Selkies continued to dog pile on him pushing him forward and down until he was kneeling at the barrel. "My ship crashed! I swear! I'm not a thief! I'm a mercenary! My partner's a Selkie for crying out loud!" He kicked out at the group behind him just as another grabbed his hand and one held his arm down to the top of the barrel.
"I'm telling you the truth!" Layle looked up at the Guild Master as he raised the sword high in the air. The Clavat's eyes for just a moment registered the red, yellow and purple hexagons along a pattern. "If you just give me time, I can prove it! He's on his way here!" The Clavat clenched his fist and turned his head as he saw the Guild Master drop his arm.
"DAMMIT KEISS WHERE ARE YOU!?"
Layle clenched his jaw and closed his eyes as he waited for the blade to come down on his arm.
But it never came.
He slowly opened his eyes to see the Selkie's backing away from him. Every one of them had a shocked look on their face. He lifted his head to look at the Guild Master. The sword was stopped just above his arm. There couldn't be more than an inch of space between the edge of the blade and his skin. He looked up into the man's one eye and saw it was filled with rage.
"What name did you say?" It was the first time he'd heard him spoke. And there was no mistaking that the gruff voice was filled with anger.
"A-a name?" The corner of Layle's lips twitched. "I, I said a name just now?" The Guild Master reached down and grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and hoisted him up into the air.
"Cannon ball," The Guild Master swung him out to the side as Layle gripped his wrist trying to break free.
"W-what? What!?" The answer came soon enough as two Selkie's ran forward and grabbed one of Layle's legs. Before he could kick them off he felt something clamp around his ankle and he was dropped to the ground. He lifted his leg to see he'd been attached to a cannon ball. "Oh… A literal cannon ball…" Again he was grabbed by a group of Selkie's and dragged as the Guild Master started walking. Layle didn't try to fight them, but he was annoyed. "What is going on!? Hey! Where are you taking me?" The Selkie's hushed him as they made their way down into the ship.

Layle found the tilted floors disorienting, but the tribal residents seemed just fine. They approached a set of iron gates and the guard there opened the door for the Guild Master. They dragged him into the hall, the floor was covered with barnacles, and the wood was damp and smelled like rotting seaweed. The leader of the Guild stopped next to an iron grate on the floor where a few cats had gathered. The Guild Master grabbed Layle by his jacket again and lifted him up as the Selkies rolled the cannon ball down and into the cell bellow. It yanked on Layle's leg and kicked trying to alleviate the strain.
"You had better not be lying, Crystal Bearer, about Keiss coming for you," The Selkie tribal leader let Layle go and he dropped into the cell. There was a faint splash from the water that had gathered at the bottom. A few little fish scattered away from him. Up above the Selkie's closed the grate over his head. "You have an hour for Keiss to arrive and prove you aren't lying."
"A-an hour!" Layle shouted up through the grate. "But I don't know where he is! He doesn't even know where I am! Can't you give me more time?"
"I'm not the one timing you," Layle heard the Guild Master laughing to himself as he walked away, "The tide is."
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The Crystal Rule