Chapter 1 - The Frozen Forest
As Faust stood up in his room, the sun's light gleamed on his spiky, turquoise hair. He flexed his arms and put on his blue leather jacket with vibrant red, orange and yellow flames on the shoulders. The jacket was very baggy on him and it passed his belt buckle. Still, he liked it. He wore a navy green undershirt and a pair of blue and white jean shorts. He stretched his arms one last time and walked down the wooden stairs from his room, his heavy leather boots clattering as he went. His father and brother greeted him.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Both of them yelled in a hyper tone. Faust grinned and scratched the back of his head, feeling a bit embarrassed although not knowing why.
"Wow, thanks Dad, Cy!" Faust exclaimed, looking at a huge but poorly put together cake. He thought the thing was about to topple over. It was Faust's seventeenth birthday and later that day he was going hunting with 'the guys.'
"So," said Dad, "Are you ready for your first day hunting?"
"Ready as I'll ever be!" Faust raised his fist in excitement.
Cy was jumping and cheering for his brother. Dad offered him some cake, which he hastily passed. He tried not to be curt. Faust grabbed his pouch, which had about two hundred rhox, and waved to his brother and father as he walked out of the wooded door.
Faust took in a deep breath of fresh air and looked at the town around him. He lived in Farseth, a small village on the continent of Castra. He slowly walked toward a small shop, taking in his surroundings. He trotted in holding his pouch, looking around at all sorts of potions and tonics he had never seen before. He was in the magic shop. He gazed around a bit and picked up a bottle of potion. He then took it to the counter where the shop owner greeted him and he paid twenty-five rhox for it. He stored the potion in a satchel and walked out of the store. He looked to his left and saw the other new hunters that were going waiting at the gate. He hurried to the weapons store where he met his good friend Nyx. He was arguing with another person about weapons and such. Nyx was the type of person who would never shut up. He had black spiked up hair, with red streaks in it. The smug face he had didn't help him with the ladies. His clothes were all red and black leather. Apparently he thought himself to be a badass but he wasn't.
Faust ran up to him and said, "I need a short sword!" Nyx immediately pulled one off of a shelf; this one had a sheath, and handed it to Faust. He pulled out 25 rhox and practically threw them at Nyx as he was leaving the store. Faust quickly ran up to the crowd of rowdy hunters and began to sweat, knowing he had a rough trail ahead. As he was putting his sword over his head, he heard someone calling out to him.
"Hey Faust!" A hunter was making his way through the crowd.
"Is that you Zayn?" said Faust in a humorous sort of way.
"The one and only!" Faust and Zayn shook hands.
"So have you learned any new spells?" Faust asked in question.
"Of course," exclaimed Zayn, " I always do!"
"Show me then!"
Zayn was a tall eighteen year-old that had already experienced hunting and spell using. He wore a long black robe with a hood and had green, slick hair. His eyes were also green but more jade like than his hair. Zayn pulled out a glowing red orb that was about the size of a marble. He put his hands together, with the marble in between, and a massive fireball formed around his hands. Faust had to jump back to keep from being burnt. Zayn fired it up into the air where it exploded.
"That was awesome," Faust said excitedly, "Do you have anymore of that element that I could have Zayn?"
"Sure," Zayn answered. Zayn pulled five of the glowing red marbles out of his pouch and handed them to Faust who put them in his pouch. He had a feeling he was going to need them. He was right.
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"Well...well...well, if it isn't the Swamp rat." This was Bloodwyn's nickname for Faust because he would often explore the many swamps outside the town. Zayn thought their arguments and fights were hilarious and so he would stand by and watch them. Faust was filled with so much rage that he skipped the talking and went directly to the fighting. Faust threw a quick left hook and then an uppercut knocking Bloodwyn to the ground. Bloodwyn was about to burst as he did a sort of jump kick with his foot ending up in Faust's face.
"Mare!" A large and muscular man yelled out Bloodwyn's last name as he was about to punch Faust. Faust jumped up and pushed Bloodwyn away. The man was Hunt Leader Beowulf. He was ridden with rage. Veins were buldging everywhere on him, mostly his neck as he scolded Bloodwyn for starting a fight although he tried to explain it was actually Faust who had. Faust and Zayn were containing their laughs until Beowulf was in his hut. They couldn't stop laughing. Bloodwyn walked off in a rage. The two calmed themselves as a beautiful woman walked up to them. She was fairly short, about five feet from what Faust could see. She worn a pair of old black pants, a black long sleeved shirt and an old leather jacket. She whipped her long, dark, purple hair out of her face revealing her colorful eyes as she walked. Zayn had a peticular liking to her while Faust just smiled.
"Hiya guys!" She said enthusiasticly.
"Uh...uh hi." They both spoke in unison.
"I noticed you fighting. You're pretty good!" she exclaimed as she turned her head to Faust. Faust smiled with a childish face and scratched his head.
"Aw gosh...thanks!" he blushed. She blinked blandly at him and turned back to Zayn.
"So who're you?"she asked.
"I'm Zayn," he reached for her hand and kissed it, "I'm pleased to me you." She giggled and blushed. She never had been treated that way before. She began to become attracted to Zayn and it was clear that thier futures were lined together. Faust walked away, he was never more embarassed in his life. his face was a red as the glow like fire on his jacket. he pushed through the thick crowd of young hunters and waited at the front for Nix and Beowulf. He looked back and saw Zayn and the girl. He hadn't even learned her name. But as he looked at the expression on Zayn's face, his hard feelings softened and he felt happy for his friend. Just then Nix appeared by Faust.
"Hey Dude, w'sup?" he asked.
"Jus' waitin' for Beowulf. Heh, the hunt's gonna be good this year." answered Faust. Suddenly, Beowulf appeared infront of the crowd and was about to give his opening speech. He took a deep breath and began to speak.
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"This year we're going to the Frozen Forest. You will all be split up into groups of ten. I will be accompanying a group because we are short of one person due to an...," he coughed then continued, " accident..." Everyone laughed and spoke about a student who disagreed with Beowulf, apparently he really pissed him off. He again cleared his throat. "Now, check the assignment boards at the Memorial Hall and do not forget to read your booklets on battle tactics and hunting survival. This hunt lasts for three days, you are going to need to know what to do when it comes to life or death. Good luck to all of you. Dismissed."
The young men and women turned and began to walk toward the Memorial Hall chatting happily along the way. But all Faust really seemed to notice was Zayn and his mysterious friend. He pondered as he walked along side Nyx toward the Memorial Hall. Nyx was talking with one of his weapon buddies in front of them. Nyx and his friend fell behind as Faust sped up, lost in his own thoughts. Suddenly he bumped right into the woman Zayn was talking to. She and Zayn stopped and looked at him. His eyes were wide and for a while he paused as the people walked by. He swore he heard the wind whistling in his ear. He finally apologized and walked with them, his head low. The woman stopped them.
"We haven't been properly introduced." She smiled in a cute way and shook Faust's hand. "I'm Setsuna Eiondros." Faustian looked up and smiled. "I'm Faustian Benike." He said with a happy voice. Setsuna pushed her bangs out of her eyes and continued to smile.
"Come on, lets get to the Memorial Hall." She pushed Zayn.
They turned and walked off toward their location. Zayn hung his arm around Setsuna's shoulder and she smiled. She kissed his cheek. Faust was again exploring the possibilities of his thoughts. He was thinking about what was in the forest. He had a bad feeling about it. He looked around himself. They had reached the Memorial Hall and were checking out what group they were in.
"Faust, come over here," called Zayn. He walked over and looked for his name. "Group seven......group eight......there it is," Faust excalaimed. "I'm in group nine, Zayn your with me, Nyx is too, Zoe Jasre, Poto Visra, Gail Steri, Kail, Izel Dese, Neelia Jawr, oh man I hate her, and...damn it!"
"What?" Asked Zayn. Faust walked away cursing. Zayn looked at the assignment board. He smiled as he read 'Bloodwyn Mare' inscribed as the tenth member of group nine. "Oh man, Faust can't cooperate with Bloodwyn, this is gonna be harder than I thought," raved Zayn. Setsuna sighed, she was saddened that she wasn't in group nine. She was in two, the group named failures throughout the years. "I can't believe this," she wailed.
"Oh it shouldn't be that bad." Zayn calmed her. He kissed her forehead and they walked back to the front gate. Faust was already there complaining about Bloodwyn with Zoe and Izel. They all three hated him. It was like they had their own little club founded for the sole reason of hating Bloodwyn. Zayn and Setsuna neared them as Beowulf began to gather the groups. "Group one assemble!" He yelled. Ten people appeared in formation out of the crowd. Beowulf gave them a large pack which after they left, piled onto a weaker nonentity in the group.
"Group two assemble!" The large man again yelled. Setsuna gave Zayn a quick 'kiss and run' move. Zayn had a prank planned for everyone in the crowd when they got back, he was almost proud of it. Setsuna and her group set out after they received thier pack. Beowulf cycled through the groups until he reached nine. He gave them all a proud look and Bloodwyn a blank face. Bloodwyn scratched his his green skin and shunned Beowulf. He handed Poto Visra the pack and they were off. "Hey, let me see that," called Faust to Poto.
"Sure," he answered in his elvish voice. Poto had dark green and black hair with war paint going down from his eyes. He came from a family of Elves and humans, he was actually tall considering his elvish side of the family. Faust rummaged through the pack and found a map marked where the different groups were. "Hey look at this Zayn," he moved over as they walked and held the map up so Zayn could see. "Setsuna's group is close to ours." Nyx walked up to them. "Oh really," he interrupted. "And who might be in group two?" he said as he munched on some smuggled snacks.
"Zayn's new girlfriend." Faust snickered. "Shut up dude!" Zayn pushed Faust playfully. "Oh you mean that chick he was talking to back at the meeting," asked Nyx as Faust nodded. "Dude, she was hot!" Zayn was mad at Nyx now and he stopped him. "Whoa guy, calm down I was jus' jokin' wit ya." Zayn calmed himself and they kept walking along the road to the Frozen Forest. Poto and the rest were behind Faust, Zayn, and Nyx. They were having a conversation about a peticular weapon and Nyx immediately joined them. Bloodwyn stayed behind everyone, he was at least five feet behind. They were closing in on the Forest and indeed the had soon arrived.
[Credits] Creator and Writer [XGrieverKnightX@aol.com] Assistance and Special Thanks [AilNasunKryn@aol.com] [ZellDincht32@aol.com] [JrtCrab@aol.com] [Tif2250@aol.com] [TheGreatone85783@aol.com] [Sean M.]
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"Always stay in a fighting stance and keep your eyes on the opponent. Watch how they move and above all what they can do. Man, this is a load of BS if you ask me. Beowulf is full of himself." Nyx whined.
"Quit complaining Nyx or Beowulf will come after you next." Zayn said quickly.
"Yeah yeah." Nyx answered.
Bloodwyn started to come back from his meditating when he came across a large boulder with an inscription on it. It read: 'ALL WHO DWELL IN THE FOREST AT THE TIME OF VISIONS ARE DOOMED TO BE SLAIN BY THE CRYTAL SPIRIT OF THE DEATHSTONE.'
"What the hell?" Bloodwyn thought. "Crystal Spirit...Deathstone.. what're those?" He stood there for a moment and then walked off putting it out of his mind. As he got further away, a light quickly flashed and the boulder was gone. A Crystal sword stabbed into its place. Then... a Crystal hand clasped onto it.
Back at Camp... "Hey Poto,"called Faust," I was wonderin', where are you from, I mean you seem like you aren't from around here."
Poto raised his head, stared at Faust and looked back down. Both Faust and Zayn looked at each other, then at Poto. Nyx was eating again. Then they noticed Poto's elf like ears point more upward as if he was hearing something. Zayn hesitated and then asked, "What is it?"
"I..I'm not sure...sounds like a wild beast...mabye a Tusked Rat...," He answered.
"Oh Shit man, aren't those things like eight feet tall and seriously muscular?"asked Nyx.
"Yes!" Poto exclaimed as a large, muscular, figure began to walk with great thuds out of the shadows. It howled so deeply and so wretchedly that it ensured nothing in the forest would sleep for the rest of the night. The whole group jumped up and stared, most could not move. The Tusked Rat looked and growled, it was going to attack. Neelia Jawr was the the closest, so she was the first to die. The Tusked Rat howled again and brought his long sharp claws into Neelia's chest and began to eat the flesh on her face. She screamed in pain as much as horror as it cracked her skull with its jagged teeth and finally released her. Her carcas fell to the cold ground and a pool of blood formed around her. They all backed away, still unable to speak. The creature was getting closer. Faustian suddenly stopped. He had decided to stand up to the creature, he would not let another of his team die. As the others backed away, Faust walked forward. Poto pulled his bow off his back.He reached for an arrow and slowly pulled the string back. He released the arrow, it caught on fire in mid-air with Zayn's help and hit the Rat in the chest. It quickly caught on fire as Faustian neared it.
"Power Surge!" Faustian screamed with anger and boldness in his voice. He swung his left fist and an electical wave of energy shot from his hand, slicing the Rat's legs off up to it's hips. It howled in pain and fell. Faustian swung his right fist and another surge shot out, decapitating the Rat and ending its pain. The corpse was still burning. Faustian put it out with his foot.
"......Faust..,"Zayn talked in almost complete silence. Faustian was kneeling on the ground, breathing hard and almost decapacitated. Zayn cast his Heal spell on him and Faust stood up.
"Thanks.." Faust answered Zayn. Faustian picked up one of Neelia's blankets and put it on top of her to conceal the atrosity that the rat caused. Faust spent the rest of the night carving a tombstone for Neelia with his short sword. He felt so bad for hating her before. He wanted to try and make it up to her any way he could.
As the sun began to rise, Faustian had already buried Neelia and placed her tombstone at the base of a great Oak Tree. He kneeled down to the grave, rubbed the soil as if to say 'I'm Sorry,' and walked away towards the meeting place buring his anguish.
Chocobo:Music - "Final Fantasy 7" - "Plane"