Adult-FanFiction.org : Final Fantasy

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
- 44
- 45
- 46
Chapter Forty-Five

Keiss had flown for hours searching for his friend. He'd circled back around to where the fighter plane had gone down and circled over the waters. He flew the Acote around the ocean scanning the surface until he caught sight of some of the wreckage drifting toward the shore line. Among it he couldn't see a body, so he still had hope.
The further he flew inland the more he saw, until he found himself flying along the southern coast of Alfitaria. The sight of the cliffs, the sand, the crystal clear waters and the sunlight reflecting off it caused an unsettling knot in his stomach. But this is where the debris had washed up. So this is where he would look. He turned the ship a bit further south to land at the airship dock near the largest structure along the cost.
The resort in Costa Faguita.
Keiss walked down the steps carved into the stone that lead down to the beach, the hotels, the shops, and the crowds of the sunny resort. Just like the Isle of Lynari the entire coast line was owned and controlled by the Selkie Tribe. Specifically, this area of land was ruled over by the Guild. No one answered to an elder here; all decisions were made directly by the Guild Master.
"I'm not going there…" He stopped at the bottom of the steps and looked out at the tourist filled beaches. "I'm not going anywhere near there. So there will be no trouble. I just have to ask if anyone has seen Layle. Surly she's washed up on the beach somewhere…"
Keiss started combing the beach, asking anyone if they had seen a blond Clavat with a large fur trimmed jacket. A sight that would obviously stand out in this hot weather. He tried asking all the Clavats he came across and even a few of the Selkie shop keepers. He walked the shore for a good twenty minutes asking anyone and everyone about his partner. He described him down to the crystal in his face, and every time came up empty handed.
"He has to be here," Keiss walked with his head down and kicked at the sand. "How can he not be here?" He tried to think of where else he could go to find the Clavat when a beach ball struck him on the side of his head. It didn't hurt, but it certainly disrupted his thoughts. He picked it up and heard someone shouting at him. He turned his head to see three girls approaching him, one with long pink hair trailing down her back a flower clip to the side, the other with hair of the same color, but curled up into tow ponytails and a hat on her head. The last one, leading the group had short reddish brown hair. All three of them were dressed for a day at the beach.
"That's our ball," the obvious leader of the group spoke up. She held out her hands, "Give it back."
Keiss frowned at her. Normally he would have tossed it to them, but as of right now he was annoyed with his lack of leads to Layle's whereabouts. "Why don't you watch where you're tossing it?"
The girl crossed her arms and shifted to put her weight to one side, "Look, we're in the middle of a game. So can't you just give it back and go. Besides, your gloomy expression is ruining my day off."
"No one told you to look at me, anyway," Keiss continued to hold the ball in his hands.
"Can't we just have it back, please?" The girl with the pigtails spoke up, a bit more soft spoken then her friend. "It's really important."
"Yeah, the losers have to buy drinks," The long haired girl pointed at him, "And we're one point away from a free night at the bar."
"And I'm using that saved money to get some new equipment for my job, so hand it over," the brunette motioned for Keiss to toss her the ball.
"Sounds more to me like your one point into paying out someone else's tab."
The three girls looked at each other, and finally the leader spoke up, "Look you don't give me any trouble. Or I'll get a few of my Guild friends to make you hand it over."
Keiss couldn't help but chuckle, "You, uh, you're in the Selkie Guild?" He tilted his head smiling at her. "Where's your mark?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
He kept smiling at her, "You must be a new Guild Member if you think calling them over will do anything to bother me."
She continued to glare at him, "Why? You know something I don't?" Keiss just shrugged in response to her and she narrowed her eyes at him.
"Hey," The girl with the longest hair pointed at him, "Didn't I see you by the smoothie stand earlier, you were looking for a Clavat."
Keiss turned his attention toward the girl, "Yeah, I was… Why do you know something?"
"Well I-"
"Don't answer that!" The leader of the trio held up her hand. "Don't tell him anything."
The two pink haired girls turned toward their friend, "But, our ball, Bel-"
"I said, no." She rolled her eyes. "Even you two shouldn't know that information."
Keiss held out the ball to the leader, "Here. Tell me what you know." She snatched it from him and he pulled his hands back. The way she looked at him he felt like he'd just stuck his hand into a Coeurl's cage. "Well?"
"You think I'm going to tell you, for a ball? Boy are you clueless." She tucked the ball under her arm and gave him a toothy grin, "What's it worth to you?"
Keiss grumbled. If there was one thing he hated it about Guild Members it was the dealing and scheming part. "How much do you want?"
"Oh no, I'm not naming the price." She pointed at him, "You've been going up and down this beach asking everyone. Everyone but Guild Members. We watched. I don't know what fear you have of the Guild, but it's the only way you're going to get your answer. So you pay me. Then you get what you want."
Keiss glared at her. His reddish eyes locked with her brown ones. The two Selkies tried to stare each other down, the other girls just watched unsure what to do.
"Fine." Keiss dug out his wallet and pulled out a wad of gil. "Here." She took it from him and shook her head.
"What's all? Boy, for someone who walked this entire beach that Clavat, he's not worth much is he?"
"Just tell me what you know."
"Maybe, a Clavat fitting that description washed up on the beach. Can't tell you where. But he apparently made a huge mess."
"Well where is he now?" Keiss watched her fold up the money and tuck it into the top half of her bikini.
"What? You want to know that too?"
"Oh, just tell him so we can get back to our game." The girl with the pigtails elbowed her friend. She sighed but relented.
"There's a Clavat being held at the Guild right now. Something about stealing from the store house… He's supposed to be executed in an hour."
"Executed!" Keiss turned his head toward the northern exit of the beach. "In an hour!"
"Yeah, well that news was actually about thirty minutes old so-" The girl was cut off as Keiss turned to run for the path off the beach. "Hey!"
The red head turned back around and ran to her, shoving another wad of gil into her hands, "Thanks for the tip!" He took off running again.
The trio watched him leave and then looked down at the money falling out of their friend's hands. She let out a cheer and held it up high over her head, 'Girls! I am buying that new camera!"

Keiss ran toward the Selkie Guild's territory. His feet carried him through the winding paths of the cliff side out to the little pond that few Guild Members gathered at to start the mark of their territory. A few gathered their turned to tell him to leave, but words failed them as he ran by. Instead of chasing him off they followed, from a safe distance of course.
He left the hidden pond and its hushed secrets and made his way up into the cove just before the Guild Hall. Here the Selkie's practiced and trained and raced for fun. Just as he was exiting the tunnel when a little match was taking place. A few of the younger Guild Members were racing along the rope bridges trying to impress some of the girls. Their race interrupted however when Keiss pushed past one of the runners knocking him into the water. The rest shouted at him, but when he didn't stop, they too followed.
The Selkie's from the pond whispered and shouted at them not to touch him, to let him pass. Asking didn't they see his face?
At the other end of the cove there was a large cave opening. Hanging from it was a wooden frame with red and purple flags marked with Selkie symbols. They fluttered in the wind, welcoming all Guild Members and warding off all outsiders.
Keiss wasn't sure what they meant for him.
He ran into the cave, the following of Selkies growing behind him.

By the time he got off the river way to the Selkie Guild, there were a good thirty following him. It was not unlike what had taken place earlier that day, only this time there was no fighting. Just a sense of awe and hushed whispers.
"Is that really him?"
"It can't be."
"He looks so pale…"
"No he was much taller…"
Was he really so unrecognizable now? Was that a good thing or a bad thing? He walked forward and looked out over the Guild's cove.
The Izymael looked just the same as when he left. The red and purple banners hung from the bridges and mast, and a bright yellow flag hung from its side. The tribal symbol painted on it in blue. Cats roamed the rope ways and the planks, men locked up in the prison overlooking the ship banged and rattled their bars. Selkies danced and played and drank in the salt air, and somewhere someone was strumming a familiar tune on a guitar that carried through the sea wind.
"What a strange feeling it is to be home." He glanced over his shoulder at his crowd and sighed. "Of course I can't just get in and get out and be done with it…" He started down the path towards the ship. A few Selkie's went past him, jumping off the ledges into the water below and swimming ahead to warn the Guild Master.
It was probably for the best.
He made it to the deck of the ship and by now, he was certain every Selkie in the cove was watching him. What a nightmare. He just wanted his partner back, now he had the eyes of his entire tribe on him. Not that he couldn't perform under pressure. In fact an audience was usually a good thing; it gave him witnesses to see how great he could be. But this is different. This is the Guild. This is the place he ran away from. The family he ran away from.
This is was the Guild Master.
The show was always different in your own home.
It's not that he couldn't best him. He had done so before, and he'd gladly do it again. Their arguments were always heated. Since the day he started having ideas of his own. There was no doubt that their arguments were as legendary as the ship and it's captain. When he made his way down the slanted stairwell toward the Guild Stateroom, the Selkies were lining the halls waiting to see what would happen.
What round of fighting would this be? Who would win? Would Keiss stay? He knew he wouldn't stay. The plan was to leave, always. But as for the fight, he knew he'd win. Not because he was smarter than last time, or wiser, or more certain.
But because this was Layle. It was different this time. He wasn't arguing for himself, he was arguing for his partner. His friend. Maybe more.
That made it different than before. That made the ship different, the hushed voices different, and the stares different. And seeing him again different.
He pushed open the doors to the state room, jaw set and mind determined. No matter what came up, he wasn't leaving without Layle. Even if he had to give a little to get him. He put on the best face he could and stood in the doorway. His arms out stretched holding the doors as he swung them open Keiss bellowed as he entered the room.
"VAIGALI!"
Across the room the Guild Master stood waiting. To his side were to Selkie ladies, speaking in whispered tones, but giggling just the same. The man was already standing and waiting in front of the banister that circled the center of the room and pool below; his arms crossed and a grin on his face.
"Well, if it isn't my ingrate son, finally come home with your tail between your legs?"
Keiss took a deep breath and started across the elaborate room. The Stateroom was beautiful, but he wondered if it had always been so. The low hung chandeliers, the yellow and green painted walls, the book shelf and display of the former captains finest raids splayed out behind his chair. It was awfully nice for a former mess hall. He wondered what it used to be like.
"I'm not here to apologize to you, Vaigali."
He snorted, watching Keiss round the room. "Then why return? Do you want me to send out of here, black and blue all over again?"
"I'm here for what's mine," Keiss stopped a foot away from him. "Give me my Crystal Bearer."
The rest of the Guild stood on the other side of the room watching the two speak. Vaigali and Keiss stared at each other, neither saying a word for the longest time.
"You have quite a lot a nerve, waltzing in here like you're someone important. Making demands upon me. For a prisoner I have a right too!"
"You have no right to Layle! He's mine! By contract! And by our work! He crashed here! He's not trespassing, you're kidnapping!"
"He was caught snooping round the Guild's funds. He's a thief-"
"Clavat's don't know the value of anything! They're a tribe of idiots! And believe me; I've seen where this one comes from! The lot of them don't know what's valuable versus what's garbage. He's not after your money. He's just here by mistake. Now hand him over and I'll be on my way."
The Guild Master turned his head to eye a clock on the wall before looking back to his prodigal son, "You're too late. His hour is up."
Keiss blinked a few times. He looked horrified. Was it not here that Layle was being kept? Every Selkie on the ship was here with them. How could Layle be executed already? "You- you! You killed him!" Keiss lunged forward before he could think. He never made contact with the Guild Master though. Vaigali reached out and grabbed him in midair and held him up. He swung his legs trying to hit him and beat on his wrist with his fist. "You killed him! And he was innocent! He didn't do anything to you! Vaigali! Vaigali, he was my friend! You killed him! You idiot! You murderer! I'll never forgive you!"
The man turned and tossed Keiss to the ground. He landed with a thud and as Keiss rolled over a key was tossed onto his chest.
"I would think you'd remember, that that clock is five minutes fast," The Guild Master didn't look at him. "If I were you, I'd get down to the holding cell before the tide finishes coming in."
Keiss lifted the key bewildered, but didn't stay to talk. He scrambled to his feet and went running. The rest of the tribe moving out of his way as he ran.
One of the women approached Vaigali as soon as Keiss was gone. Her short red hair framed her face; she wore a dress with a purple and auburn top and a long white flowing skirt. She put her hands on her hips and shook her head at him, "Why did you give him the key?"
Vaigail turned his gaze toward the door and smirked, "A first mate you care for is something too hard to come by to just let it go to waste."

Layle had managed to grab hold of the grate above his cell and was hanging on with his face pressed to the bars so he could breath. His legs were still pulled down by the iron ball he was tethered too. And now the cluster of cats at the grate had grown. They gathered there to fish out the little fish that came in with the tide. The one he'd tossed earlier with the bright orange bow, however, bat at his face. As if it was getting its own revenge.
"Buzz- buzz off will you! This is hard enough as it is!" He kept trying to shoo the cat away. He heard the iron door down the hall open followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.
"Layle! Layle! Are you still here!?"
"…Keiss?" The Clavat raised his hand through the grate. "Keiss! Here!"
The red head ran to the grate and dropped to his knees. He pushed the cats back as he opened the lock. "Hang on, Layle! I'll have it open in a second!"
"My leg, Keiss, I still can't get out!"
Keiss unlocked the grate and stood back looking over the keys. "It's okay! Just let go!" He opened the grate as Layle let go of it. Instantly the Crystal Bearer was pulled back down into the water. Keiss jumped in and swam to the bottom. He grabbed the shackle around Layle's ankle and unlocked it. The Clavat swam up and pulled himself out of the cell gasping for air. Keiss followed and pulled himself up over the edge. Layle laid down flat on the soaking wet floor while the red head pat him on the back.
"Layle? Layle are you okay?"
"Keiss… I-I nearly drowned twice today… was nearly blown up… fought my way through half the Selkie tribe…and your father punched me several times in the face!"
"…I-I'm sorry about all of that…"
Layle rolled over and smiled at him, "All in all, it's been a pretty fun day." Keiss stared at him and shook his head. He was happy? How could he be happy? Layle pointed at him and sighed, "But don't get me wrong… I mean… The Guild Master, is your dad? …You- you owe me a lot of explaining."
"Yeah…" The heir to the Selkie Guild nodded, "Yeah, I guess it's about time I told you a thing or two."
- 44
- 45
- 46
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Crystal Rule