VFC Episode #7 - A Worthy Duel
*Opening*
*Michael and Ignis collide blades, slashing down the trees around them* *They swing at each other wildly*
Michael: *Blocking a attack* You mentioned Mortem earlier, why? *Pushes Ignis away* He was killed months ago!
Ignis: Heh heh heh! What's the fun in explaining everything to a half-wit? *Slashs at him*
Michael: *Dodges to the side* You're obviously not part of this test. So you should mind telling me what the hell is going on! *Spin kicks at Ignis's head*
Ignis: *Catches foot* You ARE a moron, just as Leo said. *Throws Michael behind him and into a tree*
*Michael skids down and drops onto the ground* *His sword stuck in the tree*
Ignis: Alright then, I'll tell you the important stuff. *Brandishes his sword* I was created from the DNA you left back at the attack of your hometown. Leo and Brutus took the sample and created me. A perfection of the so called "Ultimate Weapon" to take on the gods.
Michael: *Leans against the tree* A weapon, to fight the gods? I thought Arthur sealed the gateway, a long ass time ago. *Grips sword handle* Why do they need something to fight them again?
Ignis: *Shakes head* You don't get it huh? Mortem came to them, years ago, with a prophecy! *Grimmances* The gods shall attack the earth once more, and only the one with a green aura may be the shining hope. That, is me now.
Michael: Tah! *Takes sword out of the tree* *Tree is torn in two and collapses on the ground* You're telling me that Mortem planned to save the world? Save it, all I hear is bullshit.
*Michael disappears and appears above Ignis* *He stabs down at him*
Ignis: *Grips blade with his hand* *Blood flows down his arm* I only see you as a threat against all of mankind. As did Brutus when he brought a Chimera to Washington. He saw that the president was just a nuisance and wished to terminate him. *Eyes droop halfway* But thanks to your friends, Brutus is dead by my hands.
Michael: *Eyes widen* W-What?! *Jumps away and skids across the ground* If what you say is true, then why don't we band together? We're wanting the same goal, and here we are trying to kill each other! It's ridiculous!
Ignis: *Spits at him* I got my own agenda here pal! *Grips sword tightly* Just looking at you makes me sick. The way you have my movements, the way you talk and fight...it makes a mockery of me.
Michael: ...*Tilts head up at the moon* Hm, that's one thing that seperates you and me. *Looks back at him* I may be a cocky generic good-guy, but I'm not powerhungry.
Ignis: *Grits teeth* Shut up...*Aura flows around him*
Michael: *Smirks* Let's get this over with. I got some friends to meet up with soon.
*The two dash off to each other, slashing and stabbing at one another*
*Cuts to Raven walking through the forest 15 minutes prior to Michael's event*
Raven: *Breathes deeply* This place sure is creepy... *Looks up at the trees* Even the trees seem alive. I like it. *Grins*
*The sounds around her seem to cease at a moment's notice* *Fog flows around her ankles*
Raven: Hm. *Unsheathes her sword* Alright, come on out. *Whistles*
*Dirt kicks up behind a tree nearby*
Raven: Tch! *Goes into a battle stance* Don't move!
*A white rabbit hops out from behind the tree and stares at her* *It's whiskers shiver as it scratches its ear with its foot*
Raven: *Sighs out* Just a animal, heheh. *Slowly walks over to it* A cute one too-
*White string shoots out from the trees and hits the rabbit on the back* *The rabbit is pulled away into the trees by the string*
Raven: W-Woah! *Moves to the side as a string shoots down at her*
*Raven runs off in the opposite direction, the sounds of giant creatures follow her*
Raven: *Skids to a stop as a black shadow drops down in front of her* Gotta be kidding me! *Aura starts to glow around her*
*In the dim light the shadow turns into a gigantic black widow spider* *The spider screeches loudly at her*
Spider: *Eyes and teeth twitching* Kyaaah!
Raven: *Eyes widen* N-No... *Legs begin to shake* Spiders, god damnit! *Runs to the side* You ARE kidding me!
*The spider hurries after her* *Others join in on the chase*
Raven: Damnit, damnit damnit damnit! *Pants* *Runs faster*
*As Raven turns her head to look at the spiders they seemed to disappear* *A object hits her as she continues to run*
Raven: *Falling down* Ooof! *Scurries to her feet* H-Hey!
*Standing in front of her was Alice, weapon drawn*
Alice: *Eyes bloodshot* You're, you're real, right?
Raven: What are you talking about?! *Shakes her shoulder* Of course I'm real! *Looks behind her* But we gotta go, there's something not right about this place!
Alice: Hmph, you're right about that. *Covers her face with her hands* This forest brings nothing but nightmares to life. *Hands shake* I, I saw my parents stand in front of me not even a minute ago.
Raven: The hell are you talking about? *Grabs her arm* Come on, we'll talk about it more after we get outta here!
*The two run off through the forest*
Alice: *Breathing hard* They were covered in dirt, worms and blood. Dad had a hole that ran right through his chest.
Raven: Fuck this forest. It's nothing but trouble! *Looks off to the side* Hey, look at that!
*A small cave stood before them* *Minecarts and pickaxes are scattered across the entrance*
Raven: We can hide in here, set up a defensive position. *Hurries towards it*
Alice: This cave...Raven, wait! *Hurries after her*
Raven: *Stops at the entrance* What is it now?
Alice: *Brushes her hand across the rocks* I, I know this cave. At least, I feel like I know it. *Goes through the entrance* Come on, it's safe in here.
*The two walk through the dark and musty cave* *Candles begin to light around the walls as they walked through*
Raven: *Looks around* The fog is getting even stronger in here! Alice, I think we should head back.
Alice: No, we can't. This is our objective.. *Pushes a minecart out of the way* This is where Mortem went that day, isn't it?
Raven: Huh? *Grabs her shoulder* Hey, what are you saying?
Alice: *Pushes her off* I remember, it was a cold summer day. Mortem went off through the woods and came back with a strange look in his eyes. *Goes up to a large iron door* He must've came here a lot. He was gone for hours at a time. *Pulls on the handle*
*The two step into a large room filled with old construction equipment*
Raven: *Crosses arms* You've been here too?
Alice: I was really young at the time, but yes, I did. It goes deeper, but is it really a good idea to go there?
Raven: Hmm...*The faint sounds of trees falling catch her attention* Huh, you hear that?
Alice: *Looks up at the passage* Yeah, I heard it too.
*Cuts to Ignis and Michael standing in front of each other* *Both of them covered in cuts and breathing hard*
Michael: *Grips sword tightly* You don't give up, do you?
Ignis: *Cracks neck* What can I say? I can take a hit pretty hard. Unlike you ya glass cannon. *Chuckles weakily*
Michael: *Lowers blade* That so? I gotta hit harder then, maybe try something Raven would do.
Ignis: *Raises eyebrow* Like, what?
Michael: Like, THIS! *Flips his sword* *Rams the hilt into Ignis's gut*
*Ignis flies back into a tree, crashing through it and skids across the ground*
Michael: *Walks up to him* Had enough now? We can keep going till the break of dawn.
Ignis: *Coughs up blood* That was, my plan, you dumbass. *Stands up* Why else would I hold back?
Michael: *Eyes widen* *Grips Ignis by his shirt and pins him against the ground* You-! *Stabs blade into the ground* What did you do!?
Ignis: *Laughs maniacally* Leo, you were right! He is thickskulled!
Michael: *Punches Ignis's cheek* I'll get you back you son of a bitch! *Throws him against the ground* I gotta find them all, and fast! *Darts off*
Ignis: *Lies on the ground* Hmhmhm...Michael. *Raises his fist to the sky* I'll be waiting for round 2, ya know. Give me something worth my time.
*Cuts to Michael running through the forest* *He sees a purple and blue light off in the distance*
Michael: Huh? *The lights move closer* Who's there!
Raven: *Popping out of the fog* You dumbass, it's us!
Alice: *Walks up next to her* We could see your aura coming from miles away Michael.
Michael: D-Damn...*Breathes out* I guess I got a bit carried away back there.
Raven: *Stares at his cuts* What did you get yourself into THIS time? *Takes his arm*
Michael: Ow! *Winces* H-Hey! That hurts! *Closes eyes as Raven rubs a rag and medicine on the wound*
Raven: You getting hurt like this and act like me and Joan are here to fix you up, you can't keep doing that. *Ties rag around it* There, at least one of the wounds are covered.
Michael: Thanks, Rae *Chuckles tiredly* I'm glad you guys are okay, Ignis gave me a hell of a scare. *Sits down on the ground*
Alice: Ig-Ignis? You fought him?!
Michael: Yeah, I did. Son of a bitch has been stealing my act. *Looks around* Where are we anyway?
Alice: We're in the middle of the forest. *Points to the cave* Come on, let's get in there.
Raven: *Shivers* I can hear those spiders roaming around.
*Cuts to the three walking through the cave and to the iron door room*
Alice: There's gotta be something else here! *Feels the walls* Why, why would Mortem walk all this way to this side of the forest?
Michael: *Looks over to her* You used to live here in France?
Alice: *Nods* After my parents died, and Mortem left, I ran through the woods till I came across Joan's mansion. And, here I am now.
Michael: *Sighs* Looks like we all went through some sort of hell in our lives. Hey, you guys feel that? *Michael puts his hand close to a wall*
Raven: *Waves her hand over the wall* I feel air coming from it. It's faint, but it's there.
Michael: *Stands back* Alright get back, I'm gonna break this wall in tw-!
*Raven walks up and slams her fist into the wall, shattering it to bits*
Raven: *Looks back at him* Ladies first. *Grins*
Michael: *Eyebrow twitches* Now who's the showoff? *Walks into the hole*
*The three of them head inside* *They walk up to a large glowing pool of water*
Raven: Wooah...*Kneels down* What, is this stuff? *Swirls her blade in the pool*
Alice: Raven, careful! *Pulls her back* That's pure Persona energy. *Stares at it* Damnit...so this is where Mortem..
Raven: It looks just like water Alice, the light must be coming from something in it.
Michael: Welp, I don't know about you two, but I want to go find that light. *Begins to walk into the water*
Alice: Michael, what did I just say?! You're gonna just jump in there like it's nothing?
Michael: Hmm...You got a solid point there. *Lifts his jacket and shirt off* Canon ball! *Jumps into the water*
Alice&Raven: MICHAEL!
Raven: *Facepalms* This idiot keeps forgetting he can't swim...
*Michael swims down into the bottom*
Michael: *Thinking* I feel, strange...like my skin is burning from fire and electricity. *Waves his arms through the water* But it doesn't hurt, not a bit. *His wounds close up*
*Down at the very bottom of the pool Michael sees the light source, a large teal blue crystal* *As he swims towards it he begins to choke on the water*
Michael: Damn! *Grips his chest* Air, I need, air! *Looks up at the rocky ceiling* Oh crap...wish I knew how to swim anywhere but down now...
*A hand grabs Michael's arm and starts to pull him up*
Michael: W-Wait! Not yet! *Reaches for the crystal* *Yanks it out of the ground*
*A wave of energy pulses through Michael as he passes out into a deep darkness* *Michael wakes up his room, body covered in bandages*
Michael: Ooh my aching head...*Rubs forehead and hair* What the heck happened?
Dalton: You idiot, you god damn idiot.
Michael: *Turns to see Dalton sit in a chair next to his bed with Capone standing next to him* H-Hey, you're alright!
Dalton: *Shakes head* I'M alright?! Did you hit your head down there in the water? Getting kinda sick of saving you ya know.
Michael: I, I dunno. *Eyes widen* Wait, where's Ignis?! And the crystal?! *Searches around*
Capone: Ignis was captured and detained down in the basement. He came in without much of a fight. And, crystal?
Michael: Back at that water pool, I found a glowing crystal in the water. Right before I passed out, I remember it pulsing in my hand...
Dalton: *Leans back in his chair* That explains the surge of energy I felt when I dragged you outta there. But there wasn't any crystal in your hand. Maybe you dropped it.
Michael: Maybe...*Flips over and climbs out of bed* Ah! *Grips stomach* Damn, that hurts!
Capone: *Takes Michael's arm and carries it across his shoulder* Come on, where are you wanting to go?
Michael: Ignis...I wanna see Ignis.
Capone: Alright kid, let's go.
*Cuts to Michael walking down a staircase, leaning on the railing* *Ignis sat in a cubical bar cell, throwing a tennis ball at one of the walls*
Ignis: *Catches ball and looks up at him* Well, look who decided to wake up finally.
Michael: I got a couple questions for you, pal. *Sits in a chair* Hope they aren't gonna be too personal.
Ignis: Not even going to have your morning coffee? Wow, must be serious.
Michael: How do you- you know what, nevermind. If you got the same thinking process as me then you know what I'm gonna ask.
Ignis: Hmhm, I may know everything you're going to say...*Walks up to the glass*
Michael: ...I know every cocky response you're gonna make at me. Strange, isn't it?
Ignis: *Chuckles* Well then, you're wondering what my role in all this is. And I think why I came in quietly would be your second question.
Michael: Exactly, but I don't know the answers to those. *Taps his temple* Mind telling me?
Ignis: *Sighs* Alright then, I'll bark. *Leans off the wall* I don't really have a importance to this life of mine, not at all. I was made to fight and I know that. *Grips a fist* But that doesn't mean I enjoy the adrenaline of our fight, it was fantastic. Ten times better then fighting mindless mooks or even your close friend Alice.
Michael: *Shivers* Kinda creepy, not gonna lie. But what about coming into the cell like you did?
Ignis: Come on, don't you want to know yourself a bit better? *Laughs* Give me a good fight and maybe I'll give you a hint as to what I've got in store for you and your friends.
Michael: *Stands up* I don't got the patience for this shit. *Waves off to him* You can rot in there for all I care. *Goes for the stairs*
Ignis: What's with the scarf anyway? Do you have a thing against the cold?
Michael: *Stops and looks back* Something like that. *Grins* I can't stand the harsh winter thats called being alone. *Quietly to himself* Maybe you don't either.
Ignis: *Crosses arms* I'll be waiting for our round two.
Michael: Someday Ignis! Someday. *Walks up the stairs*
Ignis: Hmph. *Flops down on the bed* *Closes eyes*
*A voice comes from inside Ignis's head*
Leo: Ignis, are you inside?
Ignis: Yup, just waiting it out now.
Leo: Good job my boy! You truly are a mark of my great work. *Grumbles* Unfortunately, this is the hardest part for you and me. Our "Master" wants to rally supporters. This may take time.
Ignis: I got all the time in the world, take yours.
Leo: You're quite reckless today, are you feeling okay?
Ignis: Yeah, just, had a hard night...mad over losing.
Leo: Don't let it get to you Ignis. I'll contact you again soon, be patient.
*The voice disappears*
Ignis: *Opens eyes* Being alone huh? Tch, I know how that is. *Squints eyes* But I was born to fight, fighting alone is just my harsh winter.
*Credits Roll*