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fortheloveofeos · 7 years

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The Vanguard - Chapter 1

Whelp, here is the project that started off as a joke and has really taken on a life of it’s own. This story is going to be as much about my two new OC’s (I can really only claim Eirwen. Amira belongs to @opalandowl but she has allowed me to use her) and about giving the Glaives a happier story. THEY ALL DESERVE SO MUCH BETTER.

This story has made me excited to write again and I hope anyone that reads OC stories will stick around through this fun. I”m working on several things at the moment, but I’m so happy about this.

And a huge thank you to El for screaming/crying with me through all the rants and our ridiculous twinning despite the geographic separation. You’ve made tumblr a fun place to hang out.

XXX

The musty scent of old cigarette smoke and soured alcohol filled the room. The overhead lighting was effectively useless in the rickety old building. Rather, a handful of antique tiffany lamps and a few strands of string lights provided the dim illumination. The seats were cracked from both age and wear and the tables were carved from an ancient wood, nearly covered over now with marker and hastily scribbled words.

“No way,” Crowe leaned back against the booth with her arms crossed over her chest. Her brown eyes glimmered in the warm glow of the overhead lamp with excitement. “You hit that target, and the next round is on me.”

Nyx laughed and toyed with the knife in his hand. The pocketknife was much smaller and lighter than the Kukris he was so known for wielding. Still, the alcohol was only adding to his self confidence, and he had determined he could hit the bullseye with the small knife. “Get ready to pay up then,” he chuckled and slid from the booth beside Crowe. Libertus shook his head and sipped on his beer, knowing there was no stopping the Hero when had made his mind up. Focusing on the red dot at the center of the dartboard, he pulled his arm back before flipping his hand forward so that the knife spun towards the target.

“Not quite.”

Nyx groaned just as the hilt of the knife connected with the board rather than the blade and it clattered onto the chipped cement floor. Before he could retrieve it, another knife whipped through the air missing his ear only by a fraction. His eyes widened as the blade of this knife struck true and dead center. “What the f-”

“Bullseye,” someone giggled before the sound of two hands connected in a solid high-five. “That was even better than I expected.” He knew that The Twins would be standing behind him, both with a smirk and a matching set of popped out hips.

Nyx turned once he had retrieved both his knife and the newcomer’s. “Amira,” he sighed with a smile on his face. There was no use fighting the happiness that always managed to creep onto his face whenever she was around. Noticeably, she was without her usual partner in crime. Still, Amira stood with her arms crossed and one hip stuck out, her trademark smirk lighting up her sky blue eyes. Clear and cloudless compared to his storm blue.

Waving away her victory, Amira snatched her blade and closed it before returning it to the pocket of her form-fitting jeans. Though she was out of uniform, she was still dressed in all black and her long, dark hair was tossed up in a messy bun. Despite Nyx towering over her by a couple inches short of a foot, she didn’t lose a step as she shot him a wink. “Better luck next time,” she laughed and slid her petite form into the booth beside Libertus.

Crowe and Libertus laughed at the defeated look on the Hero’s face, and Crowe offered a playful pat on the back. “So, I’ll buy Amira a drink. Looks like you’re stuck with paying for your own.”

Just as Libertus opened his mouth to speak, a tray of ice cold beers clinked onto the table. “You can all thank me later.”

“Girl after my own heart,” Libertus laughed and pulled Eirwen in for a hug. Her silver-blonde hair seemed to sparkle as she brushed it over her shoulder almost as if it were covered in a layer of ice. Her pale skin contrasted nicely against the dark tan of the native islander before she pulled back enough to perch on the booth so that he was sandwiched between the two younger Glaives. “Was wondering where my little sister had gone.” He ruffled the young woman’s hair despite her protests. “Knew you couldn’t be too far behind this one,” he elbowed Amira at his other side.

Though the two weren’t blood relatives, Libertus had become especially protective of Eirwen since her initiation as a member of the Kingsglaive. He was also quick to jump to the defense of both Amira and Crowe, but being the youngest of the Glaives by a couple years, Eirwen had managed to tug at his heart in ways no one else could. Luckily, she didn’t seem too bothered by his brotherly worry and his apparent wish to keep her near his side so that he could keep an eye on her and keep her out of trouble.

Amira took a sip of her drink and nodded once towards the platinum blonde on the other side of the teddy beary Glaive. “Perfect,” she sighed in content and closed her eyes for a moment. After a long day of training and a refresher course on emergency protocols, the ice cold liquid was more than soothing as it flowed down her throat. “And she’s my twin, Libertus. Get your own.”

The group of Glaives shared a laugh before their phones rang out in unison. “So much for the night off,” Nyx sighed as he scanned the alert. “Looks like they’re calling in the Vanguard.” The peaceful look that he’d worn since they had arrived at the bar faded and was replaced with one of determination and focus, mirrored in the eyes of each of those gathered around him.

Each member of the Kingsglaive downed their beer quickly, leaving money enough for a tip on the table before grabbing their jackets and rushing out of the small bar. Crowe immediately hopped onto her bike, pulling her helmet on before speeding towards the citadel. Amira led the rest of them towards her car parked nearby. She tossed the keys to Eirwen, who eagerly hopped into the driver’s seat before peeling away from the curb. Nyx had taken up the passenger seat and was dialing Pelna, the last member of the front line defense, confirming that he was on his way.

Crowe had only made it a few feet from her bike when Eirwen parked the car and the entire group rushed inside. They found Pelna already changing once they entered the locker room. The last pair of boots had only just been buckled when the door swung open and Captain Titus Drautos entered, followed by Cor Leonis, the Marshal of the Crownsguard.

Drautos was as harsh and to the point as ever, wasting no time in handing out his orders. Niflheim was drawing their forces closer to Insomnia than was comfortable under the guise of sending in a messenger. It wasn’t unusual for the Empire to use covert means in order to accomplish their true goal. The king would receive the messenger, but he wasn’t willing to do so without some information on what the Magitek Infantry that they had brought along was up to. Though his demeanor was the same, something about the Captain’s eyes seemed off and all six of the Glaives standing before him saw it.

However, before Captain Drautos could finish, Cor stepped forward and silenced him with a steel blue gaze. “The king has asked for the six of you, specifically, to be a part of the dispatched soldiers. This mission falls under the Crownsguard, therefore I am the one you answer to. You are not to engage the enemy unless I have given the orders for you to do so. Though you are all one unit, you may each receive specific orders. Is that clear?”

Six nods confirmed that the message was clear. It wasn’t unheard of for the Glaives and the Guards to work together. It was, however, unusual for one group to fall under the command of the other. Drautos stiffened visibly at the Marshal’s words but didn’t comment. Nyx, however, didn’t seem to share that control.

“We handle reconnaissance missions all the time without command from the higher ups.” He looked between the two commanding officers before him as he stepped forward. Nyx usually functioned as the unofficial leader of the Vanguard - so named as the group of Glaives currently gathered were the ones thrown onto the front lines and into the pit of battle before calling in the others. If it could be done without deploying an entire unit, the Vanguard were the ones called to battle. Nyx had been a member of the Kingsglaive nearly since its formation a decade ago. It was both his experience and his drive that had put him as the natural leader of the group. “What makes this one so different?” He asked the very same question that the others behind him were wondering.

Drautos scowled deeply before opening his mouth, probably to reprimand Nyx for speaking out of turn, but Cor was faster. Rather than mirroring the angry look Drautos seemed to always possess, a certain type of interest seemed to sparkle in his eyes for a moment. “This mission is different because the six of you won’t be going in alone. This is a relatively low-risk mission, so long as you all follow my orders, and we will be sending in a few members of the Guard to be of assistance.”

Each of the Glaives bore their own shocked expression for a moment but no one spoke. Nyx clenched his jaw but only nodded in acceptance. Captain Drautos stepped forward, looking at each of his Glaives. “You leave immediately. Gather your weapons and any other necessary items. If you need something, just say the word.” With a final nod, he turned and exited the room leaving the Vanguard with Cor.

Silence hung over the group for a moment, each processing the information and what they would soon face. This mission was have been especially important for King Regis to have called in both his Glaives and his Guards, ordering them to work together. Without saying so aloud, each member of the Vanguard knew the others with a sort of intimacy that could only be achieved by working so closely with another person. They trusted each other with their lives. Working so closely with another group of soldiers would not be easy when much of the Vanguard’s success came from their innate ability to work together - words not always needed.

Eirwen strapped her Kukris - lighter than most with slightly longer blades than were typical standard issue - onto her back. The frost that spread over the metal blades nothing more than a reflex as she readied herself for battle. Amira sat beside her, playing with her earpiece to be sure this one wouldn’t short circuit if she weren’t too careful. Pelna had assured her that these were special and had been insulated against electrical currents. Eirwen watched her Twin for a moment in silence, chewing on her lip in silence.

“So. I guess this is going to be one for the books.” The worried look on the young girl did not escape the others as they turned to her.

Suddenly, a large arm wrapped around her neck and she was crushed against a large body. Libertus laughed as he ruffled her hair affectionately once again despite her protests. Amira rolled her eyes but smiled at the sight. “Guess those guards are about to get a first hand look at the Vanguard. Can’t wait to see the surprise on Cor’s face. Been awhile since I’ve had the pleasure of shocking him.”

Nyx flipped his blade in his hand idly, nodding with a confident smirk that set everyone at ease. Amira’s comment earned a breathy chuckle from him but he only shook his head in amusement. “They’re not the only ones in for a surprise. Guess we’re going to be going ghost with the Guard.”

“If they can keep up,” Crowe smiled.

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