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"Dahlia?" said Baldwin. "Yes?" she replied. "I...I have been wanting to tell you sszhomething for a few monthsszh now." "R-really? What?" "I...I think I'm in love with you. No, I KNOW I am in love, I wasszh not sszhure of it until now but I really feel asszh if my heart jusszht achesszh for you. Deeply." The sound of bells in the far-off distance, a sound he had always known ever since he could remember. The smell of flowers came briefly to him as a field stretched far beyond the eye could see. White and pink. Dahlia's voice breathlessly came across the far winds flowing beyond the plains. "Oh...B-baldwin I...I did not realise, I-...I have always had this feeling but I was not certain either...until you told me. Is this..." "Maybe it isszh...what do you feel for me?" "I feel...I feel warmth...a hot smouldering warmth that burns in my heart, so deep like the well and unrelenting like a force of nature. Oh...Baldwin, I never knew until now how much I felt for you!" "Ohhhh...thank you...thank you Dahlia, pleasszhe...pleasszhe, I musszht hold you." The two clasped tightly together, her body without clothing as he in turn realised that he was naked too. Her body felt so soft, and warm like a slept-upon pillow holding her so tightly, hair much smoother than he expected it to as he stroked along her back. His snout pressed hotly against hers as whimpering hot breaths came from her lips, blissful and sweet, whilst moans of deep manliness came from him in turn. He could see her bifocals rub against his cheek softly, fogging up as he pressed his tongue deeper upon her allowance. His hands clasped underneath her cheek, sliding across her shoulder from her back to cup her chin before her hands slid down his strong smooth-scaled chest. He in turn began to slide his claws down and caress her soft breasts, hidden beneath the well-groomed gorgeously silken fur as he sighed shakily with lustre in his heart. Slowly he placed her down upon the field of flowers and bit his lip cautiously, guiding himself over to lay on top of her, hands pressed fully against the grass on either side of her head as she panted back up at him. "Ohhhhhh Baldwin," she moaned almost ethereally. "Baldwin...Baldwin please....Baldwin that is-" "QUITE enough!" "M-mwah!?" His eyes snapped open as he laid half-covered on top of a bed, snout pressed fully against a rather wet pillow he currently embraced against his torso. Fayne looked up at him rather standoffishly, tapping his foot as his brother felt his vision fade back to him, recognising where he was. A guest room of three beds and sturdy wood build with window out to the nearby ranch where the sounds of chocobo squealed all through the day. His first question however was not what had just happened, but rather: "...eeeewwwwwww why do I tasszhte you in my mouth?" "You were about to fornicate with MY pillow." "AUUUUUUUUGH!" The monk stood up hastily and began to brush his tongue feverishly with his hands to get rid of the taste. "UUUUUGGGHHH IT'SSZH GOT YOUR SSZHWEAT ON IT!" "Hmhmhmhm, your fault Baldwin, you cannot control your imagining then not my problem. Thank Faram I could flee from your...embrace." "Nnnaaaaagh!" "You are admittedly quite adorable when you do that...except when you um...start-using tongue." "Blluuuuurgh...aaaaagh, why did you not wake me?!" "I did, or tried to, I more wanted to not endure another opportunity to...taste my brother's-lips." "ECH, no thank you. Hhhhuuuh....and it wasszh sszhuch a good dream too...hmmm...where'd everyone go?" "They woke up, we're late." He donked his brother on the head with his staff as he took it on the way out. "We need to clean up before we go, you want anything?" "OOF, hey! Ahhh youuu go on firsszht, I'll take the wasszhroom after." "Alright."

Outside, James and his crew were currently wandering around the chocobo fields seeing all the strange and wondrous creatures that went trotting their way middling about. Most of them were yellow but there were a few other colours that he noted of particular rarity, yet always so vibrant as to remind him of what Yoshis rather looked like before realising he was reminiscing way too much about the Mushroom Kingdom from this field and ranch alone. He shook his head free of thoughts as Maximillian and Navarro lead them through the teeming flocks of at least twenty-seven chocobos all waiting to be picked, curious of the new visitors. Their bodies looked extremely fluffy, and whilst some of them were a little nervous and backed away slightly from the raptor, some were more brave and cautiously came closer to sniff at him. Maximillian had five sets of saddles and reins to hand to the group in preparation of their new steeds. "No sudden movements," said Max, "they can be very skittish." "Okay," replied FG. "So uh...what do we do?" "Leave it to me," said Navarro, "I will find you the right steed for you kupo. But firstly I must tell you some basic rules. One, do not EVER attempt to hurt any of them for whatever reason unless one of them attacks you. Two, do not frighten them even for a joke, kupo. Three, do not take their food. Four, do not approach them if they are backing away from you. Chocobos, whilst complex in themselves, have very simple views on other creatures. Either you are friend or you are predator and whatever decision they make of you first glance, will stick with them almost forever, kupo." "Heh, right." "They smell so lovely," said Dahlia. "I thought they would be more pungent," said Fayne walking behind them. "That's the gysahl greens," said Max, "rub them all over with some solution made of the stuff, it usually takes about three years constantly coating them to get the smell gone so that's a way to know if they've been with us long or not." Dahlia felt this evidence by way of passing nearby one particularly smelly farmbeast that quivered past her nostrils for its animal musk, thick and reedy like hay taken from a male sauna after five years. She coughed from the stench and backed off politely from the offending beast saying not a word as Navarro saw one particular chocobo that she took a liking to. Whistling towards it, a very pale-toned chocobo whose feathers faded somewhere between yellow and a whitish-pink approached with a stern look in its eyes and a scar on its beak. Navarro approached it calmly with her saddle and reins before she made a kissing noise to signal its attention, the chocobo bending down its head to allow the moogle to stroke both sides of her beak, staring into each other's eyes coldly. To the moogle it was a dominating beast, as the chocobo huffed air from its nostrils hotly before sitting down onto the grass to allow Navarro to climb onto its back, the moogle placing on the saddle first before slipping the reins onto its head. The reins slipped on like a muzzle staying between the beak and its eyes to allow control of its head without preventing its beak from opening.

The clan were amazed to see such dominion over a steed as Navarro pet-petted the chocobo softly at the side of its neck, the beast simply silent and oddly aloof matching its rider perfectly. "My goodness," gasped Dahlia in awe, "it didn't even resist." "She knows me," said Navarro, "chocobos have very good memories, and this one is my usual steed for travelling back and forth, kupo." "What's her name?" "Lightning." "What's with the weird colouring?" asked FG. "This is not natural, she was coated with an unknown but thankfully harmless substance when she was a chick. We rescued her whilst she was in town one day, my family have authority to take in abused chocobos legally." "I never thought you would be so kind to animals considering the way you are with people." "People are deceitful, kupo. Animals are not." She demonstrated the control over her steed by clicking her teeth and making the reins twitch slightly as the chocobo walked forwards, proudly like an almost imperial steed. Always silent, never once uttering a single sound as it looked down upon the other clan members. Navarro patted her feathered cheek and lead her group on towards the other chocobos. "Baldwin and Fayne, I have chosen an unusual choice that I think will suit you two well kupo." "Ohh?" asked Fayne. "There are two chocobos over there, this one is Luke, that one is Asch." Standing a small distance away were two chocobos constantly bickering at each other, hissing and shrieking mutedly with almost playful nipping bites to each other's necks and chest fluff. Both of them had red-feathered tips at the top of their head, the only chocobos in the entire pen to have such colouring. Whilst the one called Luke had very short feathers on his head, the other called Asch had his feathers hang down towards his neck almost like hair would. The two stopped fighting upon Navarro's approach looking at the newcomers curiously. Maximillian handed both bangaas the saddles and reins looking at each other oddly, as Baldwin asked: "Okaaaaay, why are we getting them?" "Because they are brothers," said Max, "like you." "A very...surprising find," said Fayne, "what...reason for that can there be?" "Most of our chocobos are either bought or rescued, we become something of a safe haven for these creatures. As a result they are very mixed, which at the very least ensures that we do not cause inbreeding. But we do occasionally get two together like this." "Ahhh...understandable. Well then, what do we do?" "Approach your chosen chocobo calmly, do not hold the saddle up like you're going to trap them in it, just walk up as if you're seeing an old friend. If they turn wary, do not move, let them get used to your presence until you're at their side. This might help." The hume gave them each a small portion of what looked like small eggplants. "Some tantal greens, just slowly approach them and if they turn wary, offer them this. Keep your hand open, raised upwards that way they don't bite you by accident." "I'm not gonna get disszheasszhesszh am I?" asked Baldwin. "I mean if they bite me." "Certainly not, we make sure all our chocobos are clean and perfectly healthy. Go on."

Both monk and bishop looked at each other nervously before nodding straight, carefully approaching with soft steps towards the two chocobos. Both creatures looked at them rather offended by the very look of them, keeping wary until the bangaas stopped. Once they softened their look, they offered up the tantal greens to them before they gently approached. Curious, they sniffed the vegetables before snatching them with beaks opened up and gulping it back into their gullet. However the short-haired Luke got greedy and tried to snatch the other hand of vegetables before the long-haired Asch viciously bit him by the neck and hurled him down ruthlessly, the two bangaas backing off. "WH-WHAT'SSZH HAPPENING?!" "Don't worry!" said Max calmly. "One of them just got greedy and is learning his lesson." "But he'sszh hurting him!" "He won't hurt him badly, this is just a lesson of dominance. Now a REAL fight you would know by the look of it when blood starts flying." Luke started screaming violently trying to kick its feet up at its brother, but Asch was having none of it, pinning him down by the neck keeping away from the strong legs ripping up the ground until made to submit. It took them a few minutes but the shorter-haired chocobo finally stopped from pure exhaustion, keeping quiet as Asch released him from his sharp beak with no real damage made to him, other than a few pulled feathers as James smirked pondering out loud: "Yanno I see what you mean about the right steed Navarro." "Yes," she said smugly, "glad you understand." "What do you mean by that?!" asked Baldwin curiously. "I don't bite my brother'sszh neck jusszht becausszhe he sszhtole my food!" "Not THAT violently anyway," murmured Fayne, "if anything we only bicker and throw the odd punch but-" "But they are yours now," said the moogle, "now gently approach but be careful, their testosterone is up from the fight a little but you must not be nervous kupo. They can smell anxiety and if you have no confidence, then neither will they." "Under...stood." Fayne and Baldwin managed to latch their saddles onto their chosen mounts, Fayne taking the more sternly-dominant Asch whilst Baldwin took the more subdued-but-excitable Luke as Navarro gave instructions on how to handle them. Gentle pattings, look of respect and calmness in their eyes, wait for them to be ready before being mounted and carefully slip the reins over their beak. Fayne and Asch managed to do everything perfectly, whereas Luke was rather twitchy and violently jerked his head away from Baldwin's rein-handling. Then he made the mistake of wrapping his arm around the chocobo's neck as it bolted without warning. "W-WAAAAAAAH!" Luckily Maximillian was out in front with authority and stopped the beast short of running the length of the farm as he shouted: "HOOOOLD!"

The chocobo shrieked and stopped suddenly without daring to cross his master, Baldwin almost falling forwards were it not for his strong muscles helping to regain his balance as the hume stood in front with one finger up towards the creature's beak. Moving it back and forth to make sure it was paying attention, he slid the reins on without problem as he said to Baldwin: "If he resists from the reins being put on him, do NOT try to manhandle him. Let him allow you in his own time." "Hokay, sszhorry!" James sniggered lightly as the moogle lead them to the next chocobo. This one was a rather perky yellow chocobo with its wings coloured snow-white almost like an angel's would be, clearly smiling from its beak as Navarro said: "Dahlia, you will have Rinoa, kupo." "R-rinoa?" asked the nu-mou. "She is a very spirited girl with a great deal of enthusiasm and much easier to handle. I suggested a female chocobo especially for you since females are not so...temperamental as males, kupo." "R-really? Why?" "Testosterone mainly." "N-no I mean, why choose her for me?" "Because she is rambunctious, but kind-hearted and not a fighter, I think her enthusiasm will do good for you kupo." "A-alright, if you...say so, may I have some food for her please?" Cautiously shuffling her way forwards, this chocobo was much more pleasant than the past ones and simply trotted up to her upon seeing her hand open with small vegetables to give. Eagerly snatching them up and gulping down she squawked with pealing joy and nuzzled Dahlia eagerly, the nu-mou rather shocked and simply blushing as she cuddled her beak. "O-oh my! Such a friendly girl you are!" "She senses your kindness," said the moogle, "she also as I said is not really a fighter and very friendly towards others kupo." "Well you are just simply adorable aren't you Rinoa?" "KWEEEH!" "Hmhmhmhm! Alright, now I'm going to put this saddle on you so we can have some fun together as new friends. May I?" She showed her new steed the saddle as the chocobo almost understanding allowed her to do so, sitting down gladly before the nu-mou could slip it onto her. Reins slipped on after a few attempts but she was patient and waited until Rinoa was ready, sliding them on carefully before saying: "Okay now are we ready to go? UP we go-WOAH!" Upon the reins being swished by the nu-mou's hand, Rinoa went off into a brisk trot around the paddock happily enjoying her new friend. Dahlia bumped gingerly upon the saddle blushing nervously at how well this was going. "W-w-wait, wait I-i-i don't know how to-" "Use the reins kupo!" called Navarro from a distance. "You command her head now, guide her head towards us and come back." "A-a-alright...come on girl, this way now, that's a good girl." Gently pulling her head with the reins towards her friends, she managed to guide Rinoa back round perfectly. But unfortunately did not know how to stop her from walking until Navarro's steed Lightning forced her with a cold-eyed stare making her stop straight in front of her. The white-winged chocobo sheepishly brayed in basic politeness but Lightning had none of it, nipping her gently by the beak as a sign of authority. "W-what is your chocobo doing?" "Commanding respect kupo," said Navarro. "Lightning is something of a dominant figure in this paddock and as such commands great authority, almost matriarchal." "Really? Why?" "Some chocobo are just naturally leaders, others are not. Speaking of which, James." "Yeah?" replied FG. "Your last chocobo is over there."

She pointed over towards the short end of the paddock where several odd chocobo simply milled about isolated from the rest of the group by their own will. The only two that stood out especially were a black chocobo with a badly chipped beak, and a rather spiky-haired yellow one sitting down at a corner keeping perfectly still, looking downwards all the while. "Woah...those two look um...unusual." "Yours is the black one," replied Navarro. "Wait really? Aw man awesome, but uh...what's the deal with the yellow one." "...let us not deal with him for now." "Why?" "He has a sickness," said Maximillian. "We do not know what it is or what's causing it but it seems to have created a sense of...schizophrenia." "They can get that?" "Indeed, chocobos are very smart, smart enough to develop that sort of complex if very abused. That one there, Cloud we call him, has had a long string of bad abuse over the years to the point that we don't know WHAT his problem is exactly. Unfortunately that means if we do not know what the problem is, we cannot help to heal him." "You don't have like medicine or something?" "The wrong medicine can kill," said the moogle knight, "if we do not know what the problem is, kupo. We might end up antagonising it which in turn might kill him, so we are not able to guess without hurting him." "Damn...that's awful. What about the black one then I mean-WOAH!" The black chocobo in question suddenly lashed out at another nearby chocobo that tried to come near him, scratching across the beak with a vicious shriek before chasing it away. Slowly stomping around its own self-made territory, the creature watched warily for any and all intruders that dared come close. Another chocobo tried to come near, but it was warned off by a furious screech from the dark one as Navarro answered: "That one we call Cadbury, kupo. He was recently obtained perhaps...one year ago?" "Two," said the hume farmer, "we found him badly wounded after a horrendous fight, badly beaten and bloodied up, we think he may be wild but we did find him near a ruined carriage so he might be half-tame. No one knows for certain but we did give him all his shots so no infections from him at least. His beak might be torn up but thankfully he can still eat." "Thank god for that," said FG. "Is he always like this?" "Long as we know, the only ones he don't hurt are me and the family, the workers can't even get close to him so it's up to me personally to care for him. You sure about this Navarro?" "I am," said the moogle, "give him the saddle, I want to see what our leader can do, kupo." Alright then. A word of warning to you James. If he charges at you, do not move, he is simply testing you." "And if he bites me?" asked FG. "Well like I said, he had all his shots. Remember you have to show you're not afraid of him, BE the one dominant against him." "Gotcha."

Taking reins, saddle and handful of greens James approached the black beast without fear as he strode up confidently. Upon seeing the raptor the chocobo hissed and began puffing itself up into an aggressive stance to which FG stood perfectly still. He waited to see what it would do as it lowered its head fiercely glaring at him. The raptor smiled waiting as if daring him to go first, lowering his head in turn to mimic its combat posture. Then it charged fully towards him, shrieking violently but he simply stood still on Maximillian's advice. Thundering clawed feet made its way across the field as James merely stood with arms crossed defiant against him, seeing it was a game of chicken. Closer it came, fierce eyes burning with rage before the chocobo stopped just short of trampling James before looking at him venomously. Sniffing with uncertainty it was not sure what to make of him before James offered him some greens. But Cadbury was not fooled, smacking his beak across FG's hand and tossing the greens to the ground before looking straight into his eyes. A game of wits came between them as the raptor stared unblinking into the large bird's vision, dark blue eyes seething with potent rage that he had once known thinking fondly back to younger days. He liked this one, there was an energy, a firey distrust burning young at heart as he waited for it to make the first move. The chocobo tried to nip at his head, but the raptor ducked and grabbed its neck before twisting it down to the ground. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" roared Navarro. "TEACHING IT SOME MANNERS!" cried FG. Slamming the chocobo's head to the ground by a hard pull he threw the creature down as the rest of the body was forced to follow by sheer off-balance, the creature shrieking and clawing brutally at the ground tearing up tracks of dirt. But James did not let go giving Cadbury an armlock not enough to choke him, but enough to make him know he meant business as he kept his head in place. "Alright now you listen to me," he said to the chocobo, "you're gonna be MY boy because I like you, but if you try and piss me off I WILL take your ass down like this, you understand?!" "KREEEHHHHHH!" "SHUT. Up." He piled his weight against the strong neck forcing Cadbury to be more still as Navarro rushed forwards with sudden fear in her heart roaring: "DON'T YOU DARE HURT HIM!" "DON'T WORRY, I'M NOT HURTING HIM, JUST A LESSON IN DOMINANCE!" The raptor never took his gaze off the chocobo for one instant, burning fiercely a look of dominance into the beast's eye. Maximillian watched on with surprised smirk across his face seeing exactly what James was doing. "You gonna play nice now blackie?! HMM!? This is how you chocobos work right, when one of you gets uppity, you get your ass thrown DOWN like a punkass bitch! You and me are gonna be friends, because you know what? I used to know a punkass like you who needed to be taken down a notch before you turn into some bully. You got that?"

It took them a few minutes of struggling as FG kept turning around with its kicking ranting body slowly moving in a dirt-torn circle, but eventually Cadbury began to subside its anger slowly submitting to FG. Making sure that he was finally subdued he slipped on the reins first before placing the saddle on, much to Cadbury's protest before James tugged him ruthlessly back saying coldly: "I can see that in your eyes. Don't even think about it, I'm not trying to hurt you. If I wanted to hurt you, believe me I'd hurt you badly. But I don't, so you and me are gonna be best friends while on this journey because you need me...and I need you. Got it?" Cadbury said nothing simply sneering its crackled beak at him before James tugged the reins making certain to not let any slight go unnoticed. Navarro simply walked up towards him on her mount coldly glaring at his face. She came close enough to grab him by the sash of his armour and pulled him close breathing harshly against him. "If you... ever do something like that again without my permission or even harm this chocobo...I will force you to dig your own grave before I fucking kill you...is that clear?" "Yes." "Good, kupo. Your act of dominance was well-played taking from the brothers' quarrel, but I do NOT like surprises. Remember that." She released him as she made her way back towards the centre of the paddock. James did not bat an eye but restrained all of his nerves from shivering off from hearing her so laced with fury. He had never heard her like that before, wondering if maybe he had stepped over a line of some sort as he was given instructions on how to walk forwards by the reins. Tapping his feet on either side of the chocobo's body, he made Cadbury walk back to the main group of five newly-mounted riders all looking at each other nervously. Fayne and Baldwin looked upon their red-haired chocobos nervously bickering with each other with the odd nip between as they tried to pull them away now and again. Dahlia was perfectly happy with her very tame kindly chocobo of white wings and twittering squeals of joy. Navarro watched James sternly as did her own scar-beaked pale mount, whilst James looked back at her defiantly along with his even more defiant black beast of crippled beak with scars all over the bleak pale orange texture. Baldwin was first to ask the penultimate question: "Sszhooooo what do we do now?" "Now," said Navarro Rocino, "we break you in, kupo." "Um...you mean break the chocobosszh in right?" "No. I didn't. This is EXACTLY why I've held onto your money the most." "Wait what?" asked FG. "Simple, kupo. I knew at some point we would have to hire chocobos. Now it comes to fruition, so repeat after me. Or else." They all looked nervously at each other as there came two weeks of chocobo bonding. Whilst everybody had a different pace of learning, Navarro had paid upfront not only for all five chocobos, but also for the regular training all throughout the day that they would have to learn which not only covered riding a chocobo, but also the care and upkeep of their individual steeds. It was a chore they had not expected to undertake and as a result they were all feeling rather exhausted by the end of each day, except for Navarro of course.

The first thing they learnt was on posture and standing upright upon the saddle, for good posture was necessary in order to maintain one's authority upon the rider's mount. Sit with your back straight, do not slouch, put your heels down against the chocobo's sides, do not use the the reins to rebalance yourself, use the saddlegrip to grab on but do not grab the chocobo's neck. James learnt rather swiftly, paying utmost attention to everything Navarro said precisely along with Fayne. Baldwin was able to pull the chocobo but lacked posture for sitting properly, and lastly Dahlia was just too nervous to do anything and simply sat there rigid. The second thing they learnt was how to clean and feed one's chocobo, which Navarro went into with utmost detail. Brushing their feathered coats, washing them regularly to avoid buildup of musk and gunk as well as gel-based treatment by smearing crushed gysahl greens softly into their fluff. Cleaning their claws making certain nothing got trapped or threatened to break, as well as of course the proper feeding. Baldwin hated cleaning most, often taking it too roughly with his chocobo who after enough scrub-scrubbing ended up biting him out of annoyance. Dahlia handled it absolutely perfect, making sure her chocobo was well-fed and almost immaculate like a fashion show winner. Fayne was rather uniform and did as good as he could but James had problems in every way with his chocobo, the brash arrogant refusal to not eat or allow itself to be cleaned turning into one violent roadblock he had to force to submission, with of course permission from Navarro this time. Even worse was the fact James' chocobo Cadbury actively made himself dirty again by rolling in filth just to prove a point, until Navarro and him began using an alternate means of reward. Namely that if he did not allow himself to be cleaned, he would be fed less than the others whilst in full view of seeing the other steeds get fed the full amount, after being washed fully. He didn't last three days before he eventually submitted and allowed James to fully clean him through. After two weeks of rigorous training and bonding with each of their individual steeds, the clan known as Koridai set out to ride upon the veldt, with payment fully made to Navarro's family. James noticed that 80% of her entire earnings had gone straight to her family without a care, the raptor chuckling as he realised entirely why Navarro had held onto most of the money. "Now you be careful out there kupo!" said Ruby. "And do come back soon alright my little sweetie?" "I will mother," said the daughter Navarro. "When money comes through again I shall return." "That's my girl," said Maximillian proudly. "You all take good care of your steeds now you hear?! Or else my mog'll lunk your ears or something worse, haha!" "Trust me father, they will. Are we all ready?" The clan nodded holding their reins tightly, waiting for the signal to march out as Navarro went forwards as leader for this. "HYAH!"

Riding off at turbulent speed, the pale Lightning rode out of Rocinocobo Ranch and off towards the hot summer afternoon, heading further northeast. James followed after as Cadbury raced off furiously ahead of Lightning, trying to outrush her as the raptor felt the wind across his face pulsating with pure speed. He had never ridden a living creature before as transportation, and while it was nowhere near as fast as a motorbike, the sensation was somehow just as thrilling for him to feel. Where there would be the throbbing hum of an engine between his legs there now lied the hot pulse of a beating heart, one just as strong as any engine as the black scarred chocobo raced off along the beaten path. James cackled gladly as he held on tight with one hand on the saddle and the other on the reins in case of steering away from trouble, whistling wild winds howling across his cheeks as all five of them kept up at their own pace. Navarro was behind James, Baldwin and Fayne came middling up beside each other and lastly Dahlia was ambling her way back behind them all with her excitable hotfooted steed. Six solid days of crossing over the length of the Valendian continent, the largest breadth of Ivalice by far in terms of distance from east to west, they found themselves nearing Archadia's border in almost no time at all. Compared to the length of days it would have took on foot, almost double the amount of time to go, James was impressed by the time they were making upon their new steeds. Despite their particular individual natures, Navarro always managed to help keep them back on track. Luke and Asch as fitting to their riders would occasionally argue and bicker, but the two brothers had learnt very quickly on how to stop arguments between the two by firm discipline and control of their heads. Twisting them away everytime one got more riled up than the other, they kept onwards with less and less confrontation once their chocobos learnt to start behaving. Dahlia only ever had to stop her chocobo Rinoa from dashing off every so often, a passionate wily young filly who wanted to explore the world, almost too happy to start racing out into the world beyond. Her enthusiasm, bubbly as it was managed to keep everyone in high spirits with her shenanigans of racing across the fields, kicking up flowers and just generally squeaking up to the sky in bliss. Dahlia had to learn to control her but not stifle her, slowly soothing her spirits and calming her eager disposition to just take things slow and nicely, to smell the flowers alongside the road of adventure, as she so put it. That, and Navarro's own steed Lightning was able to force any of the other chocobos to submission with a cold single stare, including Cadbury.

Whilst they had no problem with enemy encounters having now the ability to almost flee from any foe possible, there were times when one or two of the chocobos had become irate enough to attack monsters out on the long road east. Namely Cadbury, whose reckless nature caused him to violently claw at lizards underfoot, savage-kick wolves that tried to ambush them and even dare try to assault roosting birds of prey. For the most part there was little consequence, and Navarro had instructed them on what to do when chocobos want to fight. Firstly, if the foe looks weak enough, let them fight as if they are fighting for you for it allows both rider and steed to bond together. Secondly, if the foe is much more dangerous, then you were obliged to get off your chocobo and fight alongside them. One such encounter happened as they stood upon a ridge looking down on a particular set of creatures that made the chocobos stop and take note. Cadbury in particular seemed adamant to watch and would not move staring at them. Zaghnals. A beast of around 8 feet tall resembling a cross between a werewolf and an ogre, with flat draconic-looking snout and a thick layer of blue hair on its back, with dark orange skin on its muscular chest and limbs. It was a frightening-looking thing, not as grand and empowering as a deathclaw by any means, but still rather ferocious with large teeth as the raptor noted: "I can't even tell WHAT that looks like." "Your steed is very interested kupo," said Navarro. "I dunno why...hey uh Cadbury, you feelin' alright buddy?" The look the black chocobo had in his eyes was one that James almost recognised. True piercing unadulterated rage silent but nevertheless potent as he dug his claws into the ridgetop. Navarro knew the warning signs and warned FG: "Hold onto his reins hard." "Huh?" "He's going to bolt at any minute to fight them." "Cadbury don't. Come on, no need to fight these punks, Cadbury. Come on!" He pulled back on the reins to assert dominance and for a while was able to, turning his head away slowly but the moment FG let slack on the bridle, he turned and screeched with battle cry and leapt off down the ridge. "CADBURY DON'T-" "KWEEEEEHHHHHHHH!" Tearing his way down the slope, the chocobo did not even stop until reaching one zaghnal before headbutting violently into its brawny chest, the monsters turning with great annoyance at the bird before taking their first swing. James ducked flat against the saddle to avoid the large fist, the size of a war shield as Cadbury teared his beak openly into the gut trying to carve at the flesh. The beast was too sturdy for such, and readied a hammerfist down upon the chocobo's head before the raptor pulled him hard away just in time. With head swung out of danger by FG's reins, the chocobo saw the second zaghnal from the corner of his eye and swiftly backed off before a surprise attack could come. The chocobo puffed up his feathers in defiance, flapping his wings as if about to fly but quite clearly agitated for a fight as claws scraped along the ground, watching the zaghnals come close. "The fuck is wrong with you?!" roared FG. "Why you gotta pick a fight?!" "KWEEEEHHHHHH!" "We can still get out of this if you just run the other way, you can't do this on your own!" "KREHHH!" Screaming at FG, he saw there was no way to make him listen when pumped up with adrenal testosterone, deciding instead another way to prove strength of his rider. He turned back to Navarro up on the ridge shouting: "HE WON'T RUN FROM THIS!" "HE WILL NOT LEAVE THIS FIGHT KUPO!" said Navarro. "HE'S JUST A BULL-HEADED RUNT!" "WHY DID YOU GIVE ME HIM THEN?!" "BECAUSE HE REMINDS ME OF YOU!" "OH THANK YOU YOU FUCKING BITCH!" "IF HE REFUSES TO RUN, PROVE YOUR STRENGTH TO HIM KUPO! FIGHT WITH HIM, STRENGTHEN YOUR BOND WITH BLOOD AND STEEL!" "...YANNO WHAT, I'M OKAY WITH THAT! Alright black boy, you wanna fight?" James brought out his scissors and gripped the bridle in one hand readying himself for the fight, the dark chocobo noting this with intrigue as he smelt James' own change of emotions briefly. "Let's fight." "Kweh?!" "Yeah...let's see how tough you really are Cadbury. HYAAAAH!"

Slapping the reins down, he charged forwards with blades aloft as he readied himself to strike, with Cadbury under him tearing down towards the zaghnal with ultimate speed before turning hard to slow to a stop. Streaking claws onto the dirt, the raptor swung first with burning scissors scarring across the belly flesh cutting deep by a few inches, whilst Cadbury swiped one leg out in a vicious scraping tear across the lower gut. Sharper than his beak, the claws of his feet dug deeply enough to pull blood from its abdomen as the monster roared with a backhand to the beast. Cadbury ducked low on James' command, the raptor forcing him by the reins in mid-turn leaving Cadbury facing the other way. James turned fast on the saddle with scissors high and slashed across the back of the monster's wrist as it swung with a miss, groaning with pain as it readied itself to charge. "RUN, GO HE'S GONNA RAM US!" Hearing the threatening breaths of the zaghnal behind, the chocobo rushed forwards as heavy stomps followed, shaking the very earth beneath as the black bird rushed straight towards the nearest wall. Turning towards the charging beast, James waited with his steed as they both somehow almost immediately understood the plan, the crushing brutal steps coming ever closer. "NOW!" Cadbury strafed left, kicking one foot hard with a flapping leap of his wings as the monster slammed straight into the stone wall with little damage done to its head. But the raptor and chocobo combined became a tour de force when he leapt onto the monster's shoulder and stabbed brutally into its neck, burning hot scissors plunging through until pulsing straight out from the upper pectoral. Roaring with fury, it swung its arm trying to dislodge the loathsome pest whilst Cadbury flapped up underneath its wide-open waist. Claws viciously tore as the chocobo lifted himself up, screeching as he dug deep inside the bowels of the monster trying to tear out its intestinal lodgings. But all it could manage to draw was blood, dripping hungrily from its abdomen as its other fist tried hammering down upon Cadbury. This time he learnt what to do and flapped backwards to narrowly avoid being crushed to paste. But he did not expect the sudden bumrush of its elbow connecting with his head, smacking him back hard into a stumbling fall as he squawked from the bruising pain of his forehead. "CADBURY LOOK OUT!" Hearing his rider's voice still latching on hard to the zaghnal's neck, he looked up blearily with harsh blinking eyes as the raptor swung out his scissors and suddenly blasted a gusty breeze straight across the battlefield. Spinning Cadbury fast with a burst of wind, the chocobo cried out with a sudden upstart upon seeing the other zaghnal come charging down at him, dodging out the way with a dashing sprint as the second monster decided to fight the bird instead.

James finally found himself thrown off from the zaghnal, its sudden shoulder jerk hurling him backwards as he landed on his feet ducking before the beast swung a backhand the size of a rock. Knuckles scarred deep into the wall of the ridge beside it, dragging thick crumbling dirt down as it jumped forwards with both fists raised high, slamming down like a gorilla ruthlessly as James dodged forwards underneath its overhead swing, straight between its legs where Cadbury had been tearing into the monster's gut. With scissors aided by burning flames, he summoned a sharp blast of wind underneath his swing to make it strike that much harder as he tore vertically upwards, cutting straight through the intestinal tract as it roared with agony. Blood poured hotly from the slow-cauterising wound struggling to close itself shut, the zaghnal kicking harsh with one foot slamming the raptor backwards. It was as if a boulder half his size had smacked into him, groaning with a dull headache and blood lightly oozing down his cheek before he dodgerolled to his right to avoid another overhead slam of fists. Quickly getting back up, he swung his blade in a half-circle scraping across the underside of the monster's wrist, slashing through to weaken its grip as it snarled in frustration. Blood dripped from both arms along with its belly, clenching its fists to swing both of them like a mace towards the raptor. Clocked hard in the face by the unexpected strike, he rolled across the ground with a punctured face, purple birthmarks blending in with the rest of his new bruises. Meanwhile, Cadbury was struggling to dodge every violent sweep of the burly arms from the second zaghnal, relying only on his agility as he ducked beneath haymakers, dodged straight fists and flapped mightily into the air to avoid one fist crunching onto the earth. Planting himself on the fist he rushed up along the arm and screeched upon scraping his claws into the monster's eye scarring viciously upon impact. Digging his talon straight into the socket he tore with kicking motions dragging the entire veins of the retina in one pus-filled streak down its cheek. Roars of pain and fury came as the monster grabbed Cadbury with his other fist, threatening to choke his neck to breaking until James from the side came rushing up to stab his flaming scissors through the lower arm of the beast. Plunging upwards with a whirlwind beneath him, he briefly corkscrewed in mid-air as his bladetips drove fiercely into the monster's flesh as it cried with agony, forced to release the chocobo from its furious grip. But Cadbury was not done yet and kept his wings aflutter whilst free from the zaghnal's grasp before flapping forwards with what little airtime he could gain before latching onto the beast's face. Stabbing his claws into the already-ruined eye socket to gain support, he swung down his beak and shrieked with vengeance upon the other eye as he ripped it violently out its socket, smearing whitish-red upon his beak as it stabbed straight in with vicious digging motions.

The second zaghnal had now been blinded with true pain, stumbling with a panicked fury as the chocobo flapped off straight into the path of the first zaghnal, a mighty fist cracking across his beak bruising his eye even worse. Shrieking as he fell to the side, James took blade up against him as he lured the beast towards its blinded brethren, coaxing with vile threats and roars of arrogance whilst Cadbury slowly stood up stumbling. The rest of the clan's chocobos simply stood to one side on the ridge by order of Navarro, watching the fight from beyond to see how the two would fare alone against the enemy. Dahlia was nervous however and pleaded faithfully: "Shouldn't we go help him?!" "No," said Navarro, "his steed will either learn victory or defeat, both of which make a good lesson for him, kupo." "But what if something happens to them?!" "He's our leader. He did not last this long by being an idiot." "Contrary to what you think," said Fayne whimsically. "What is that supposed to mean, kupo?" "That you do not apparently hold him in the...highest regard." "I respect him as a warrior, not as a businessman." "Fair point." The raptor's taunting brought both zaghnals together, as the blind beast swung furiously out towards the sound of his voice straight into the path of its other brother as fists went flying. One straight fist to the jaw cracked brutally across the air as the other's fist went flying in vengeance. The two were now fighting each other, as James and Cadbury stood up alongside each other waiting to see who won out, the raptor sitting back onto the chocobo's saddled back. The blinded one was no match for the already blood-torn rage of its wounded brethren, a vile punch breaking its face wide open with splitting blood down the middle of its forehead as it fell to one side. The beast did not tolerate insurrection from the weak against the stronger form as it stomped its foot straight down onto its former comrade, crushing its skull to snapping point as bone shards scattered across the field. Exhausted from having fought three different opponents, the remaining zaghnal turned with blue hair now streaked red with blood, not all of it from its own body. "Alright," said FG, "final strike time, when he swings at us, I'll go high, you duck low, you ready?!" "KWEH!" "Hokay...LET'S DO THIS! HRAAAAAAAAARRGH!" Charging forwards like a knight true with his mighty scissorblades high above, they waited for the last strike to come from the beast as it made its one predictable haymaker swing. James leapt off pushing Cadbury down making him duck on instinct, the two separating both over and under the raw sheer fist before the raptor slammed his burning tips straight into the creature's sternum, locked in beneath its throat. Pulling down harsh with roaring might, he dragged the blade downwards through its ribcage like it was simply buttered blood. The monster had no chance as James split his heart in twain, blood poured on both steed and rider below as the beast fell onto its kness slumping dead upon its side. Standing shakily upon the ground with pulsing bruises and red flecks on their face, the two smiled at each other more assuredly of their skills in combat. They now found a whole new level of trust between them. "Not bad Cadbury...not bad at all." "Kweeeh-weh?" "Heh...you can say that again...whatever you said that is."

Sitting down at a campfire someplace west of Archadia's kingdom, the chocobos slept together by a collapsible hitching post that Navarro brought along with her basic supplies, easy to assemble by three pieces in itself. With travelling meals composed of Ruby's remaining dinner supplies, they ate up gladly as they watched the firelight glow smoothly across each other's faces. The raptor's especially had looked swollen up badly from the fight, a small sack of ice wrapped round his eyes by means of a belt around his head. Dahlia was first to break silence asking: "How is Cadbury?" "Good," said Navarro, "his eye has gone down from its swollen state so it will be as good as new tomorrow, long as he keeps that ice on it, kupo." "Good thing your spellblade can make ice hmm James?" "Yeah," said FG, "you'd be surprised how often that never really comes up." "Yeah," said Baldwin, "I mean we can cool our drinksszh if we had any!" "Heh, yeah I guess..." "I have heard," said Fayne jovially, "that a rider and their mount look very alike but I think you have taken it to another level...James." "Hahahahaha! Yeah yanno what, I like him, he's a feisty bastard, just needs to cool his head a little." "Remind you of anyone?" "I think Navarro kinda made that blatantly obvious." The moogle simply shrugged with a wry smirk more glad that her group had accustomed to their new mounts rather easily, the raptor asking the bangaa bishop: "Hey, how come I never see you guys praying while we're out travelling?" "We commit our prayer the morning we come awake, and then every night before we fall to dream." "Ahhhh I see, fair enough then, get it out of the way so you can go through the rest of the day." "Well of coursszhe," said Baldwin, "we can't forget our prayersszh. I mean, I may like to have a drink now and again but I'm not THAT out of it like sszhome molly, am I right?" "I do not think," added Fayne, "that can be formed by a...concussszhion Baldwin-agh." "You really had no other word for that?" "No, apparently." "Okay I need to ask," replied FG, "what exactly is a molly?" "What?! You mean you haven't heard of them?!" "Um, no that's why I asked, I mean you kept using it so I had to ask." "Oh come on, molliesszh!" said Baldwin with alacrity. "You know, um, they do...sszhtuff with men they're not sszhupposszhed to do becausszhe they're not right in the head, I mean I've taken a few blowsszh to the head mysszhelf but at leasszht I'm not THAT sszhcrewed up!" "Like what exactly?" "You know, sszhodomitesszh!" James turned slowly towards Baldwin with a side eye glance at him feeling a sharp spine-tingling of hate suddenly rivet through him. "...what?" "Yeah, sszhodomite, you know what THEY are right?" "Don't...ever use that word again." "Wha?" He walked towards him with clawfinger pointed at the monk's snout. "I don't ever wanna hear you say that again, you got me?" "Wh-why, what'sszh wrong with it!?" "It's offensive, THAT'S what." "What?! Offensszhive to who, why are you getting sszho upsszhet all of a sszhudden?!" "Just don't use that word around me, okay? I'm not asking much." "...wait...yer not...one of them molliesszh too are you?" The raptor crossed his arms and simply did not respond as the whole party slowed down to a halt. The bangaa monk's eyes widened as he realised what this meant, standing up suddenly to back off slightly from James. Navarro rolled her eyes and made a heavy sigh as her arms slumped downwards with frustration as Baldwin asked: "Are you...one of them, really?!" "If you mean somebody that loves men, yes," replied FG. "WHA-...WHAT?!?! SSZHWEET FARAM YOU CANNOT BE SSZHERIOUSSZH!" "Keep your voice down," said Navarro, "the chocobos are sleeping kupo-" "BUT HE...he'sszh a molly!" "So?!" demanded FG. "But you, you, YOU-...oh my GODSSZH Jamesszh what isszh WRONG with you?!?" "There is NOTHING wrong with me!" "Noooooo no nonononono thisszh....thisszh isszh bad, no thisszh, thisszh isszh jusszht-...GAAAH!"

Baldwin raised his arms and turned suddenly away from James with a look of fear and disgust upon his face, the raptor spreading his arms out with threatening alacrity asking: "What?!" "I-i-i...why did you not tell me?!" "Why should I, what business is it to you?!" "I-I WASSZHED MYSSZHELF WITH YOU! In the river, the bathing pool, you have SSZHEEN my naked body, I EXSZHPOSSZHED MYSSZHELF IN FRONT OF YOU and you KNOWINGLY let me when you could have done anything to me OR my brother!" "Are you serious?! You really think you're hot shit, trust me, I had no interest in your body and neither would my boyfriend ESPECIALLY not after this I'm hearing." "Boyfriend?! Ohhhh the poor fool." "HEY!" James shoved himself forwards almost touching Baldwin. "Don't you DARE talk like that about him OR me, the fuck is your problem?!" "My problem?! Thisszh isszh YOUR problem not mine, I could not think that you of all people would ever be afflicted by thisszh madnesszh, I thought you were better than that!" "Madness?" "Sszhodomy! The great terrible disszheasszhe insszhide your head, all confusszhed about who you sszhould love, all mixxszhed up about the natural order of thingsszh! Did you know about thisszh Navarro?!" "Yes," replied the moogle, "and it is not a disease, it would have to be infectious in order to be a disease kupo." "W-what about thisszh boyfriend of hisszh, what if he wasszh normal before-" "DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE! _" The raptor's voice echoed throughout the land as the chocobos woke up, startled into awakening as they squeaked and squawked both with fear and frustration at having been woke up. Navarro and Dahlia went to deal with them calming their nervous spirits as James panted heavily into Baldwin's face, the bangaa turning more uncomfortable by the minute. "My...boyfriend IS normal...he's the most wonderful normal person I ever met and if you dare talk in ANY WAY about him like that so help me god I will end you." "A-a-aah...don't...breathe on me like that." "Why? Because I'm _infectious?" "Maybe?! It don't have to be infecszhiousszh to be a disszheaszhe!" "What drivel are you on about now, kupo?" asked Navarro. "B-b-becausszhe it'sszh a disszheasszhe of the MIND, have you not been lisszhtening to me! That'sszh not infecszhiousszh but sszhtill a disszheaszhe right?!" "SHUT UP!" roared James. "I can't believe you're a fucking gaybasher what the hell Baldwin?! I thought we were cool, we hang out together, we enjoyed seeing plays and dumb shit!" "Wha?! What the sszhit'sszh a gaybasszher, isszh that sszhome lingo you sszhodomitesszh got?! I jusszht sszhpeak the factsszh! What reasszhon could there posszhibly be for a male to be intimate with another male, it'sszh sszhickening, there'sszh no purposszhe for it other than depravity or illnesszh! You either enjoy being depraved, or you have sszhomething very wrong with you right up in the head, you cannot have children, you do not get the natural balansszhe of thingsszh between a male and a female, there isszh no reasszhon!" "How about LOVE? You ever think of that asshole?!" "That'sszh not love, that'sszh sszhicknesszh! Sszhomeone can fall in love with a TREE but you don't call that love you call that a mental illnesszh!"

The moment FG grabbed Baldwin by the shoulder he immediately reacted, punching James sharply in the arm to weaken his grip before shoving him back away rumbling for a fight. Fayne jumped in between the two before they clashed and pushed his hands out desperately. "STOP! NO, DON'T DO THISSZH!" "He calls me SICK like I'm some fucking freak!" roared FG. "You're not a freak, you're jusszht ill!" cried Baldwin. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!" "STOP IT!" cried Dahlia. "YOU'RE UPSETTING THE CHOCOBOS WITH ALL THIS SHOUTING!" "QUIET!" demanded Fayne. "BOTH OF YOU! Baldwin, I do not think our leader incapable of leading the clan, nor did he prove to be in the...past-five-months." "Damn right," said FG. "However I do worry that you may allow your mind to wander in the way that a male would in a party of...females." "The fuck's that supposed to mean?!" "Do you...swear-that you will...compose-yourself...concerning your...affliction?" "Affliction, it's not a fucking virus I was BORN that way you fucking assholes!" "What?!" said Baldwin sadly. "Ohhhh no you poor basszhtard, now I really pity you. Not even had a chancszhe to know a female'sszh love." "I like BOTH you ignorant shit, men AND women!" "WHAT!? HOW?!" "Because unlike YOU I do not care who is who so long as they're just likeable people and not douchebags like you, so rest assured I will NEVER be attracted to you even if you were the last guy on earth!" "...thank Faram for that," said the bangaa relieved. "Baldwin," warned Fayne, "you're not helping." "B-but he'sszh-" "Quiet." He turned back towards FG, still separating both of them by his hands outspread. "I did not mean what you thought...James, I am...what I meant being that I know the problem of the wandering mind of a male, and knowing that...yours can wander to both...genders-" "Oh for god's sake," grumbled FG, "you fucking hypocrite, the way you talk about me you only care about yourself thinking I'll just molest you out of nowhere, but you don't even give a shit about Dahlia or Navarro and what I think about them, who I respect as my friends unlike YOU two." "Woah woah woah what'sszh that sszhupposszhed to mean!?" said Baldwin defensively. "I'm just saying, you two like females, why should we trust you around our dear friends here if you can't even trust me around you? What you think every guy wants to fuck somebody!? You know how bullshit that sounds and trust me, I know we're talking about YOU Baldwin because I never heard me or Fayne talk about 'pommel-hopping that moogle' like when we first met." "WHA-I NEVER SSZHAID THAT! Navarro I SSZHWEAR I did not sszhay that, DAHLIA DON'T LISSZHTEN TO HIM!" "Oh really? What about the fact I gave you relationship advice because you were too chickenshit to ask Dahlia out for yourself?!" "Wh-what?!" cried the nu-mou. "R-relationship?!" "HE'SSZH LYING!" roared Baldwin. "I care about you, what I feel about you isszh GENUINE unlike HISSZH disszheasszhe, he doesszhn't know right from wrong the poor feeble-headed basszhtard!" "FEEBLE?!" cried FG. "What you wanna go on about retards now, wanna go the whooooole fucking gamut of offending every person?!" "Am I wrong Jamesszh!? You admit you're a sszhodomite that meansszh YOU got a disszheasszhe in your head that makesszh YOU unbalansszhed in your judgement! Look, let me make thisszh clear, I do not hate you for what you are, but what I REALLY hate wasszh the fact you never told usszh about your condisszhion sszho I could be prepared! I mean if you had leprosszhy, and never told usszh, THAT would be irresszhponsszhible and you all would agree with me!" "IT'S NOT INFECTIOUS YOU SHIT, IT'S THE WAY I WAS BORN!" "HOW DO YOU KNOW?!" "He has a point, kupo."

Navarro said this as she walked forth towards Baldwin's frantic gesturing of faith, backing up her leader. "If you do not trust James around you, then why should we trust ourselves around you? Your logic incriminates yourself, kupo." "TH-THAT'SSZH DIFFERENT, IT'SSZH ONLY NATURAL! I mean I LIKE you Navarro but not THAT way, I resszhpect you, my drive doesszh not engage itsszhelf towardsszh you becausszhe...i-i-it doesszh not feel for you that way!" "And should I trust you not to make any untowards approach towards Dahlia-" "TH-THAT ISSZH NOT THE SSZHAME, I WOULD NEVER DO THAT!" "I-i thought we were just friends!" cried Dahlia. "WE ARE FRIENDSSZH I MEAN-...YOU! THISSZH ISSZH ALL YOUR FAULT YOU-...GAAAAAARGH!" He lunged upon FG and beat him across the face ruthlessly both times, slamming his fists twice across the jaw before James slammed his hand up towards the monk's throat and flared a hot burning sensation to him. Baldwin flung back in surprise screeching with burns on his neck, nowhere near threatening but immensely painful as he panicked crying: "H-HAAAA, AAAAAAAH, FAAAYNE!" "BALDWIN!" "He's fiiiine," said FG rubbing his jaw, "it's not gonna kill him." "NOBODY HURTSSZH MY BROTHER!" roared Fayne. "YOU MAY ARGUE WITH HIM BUT YOU NEVER HURT HIM!" "ENOUUUUUUGH!" The scream of outrage burned through everyone's ears piercing the night sky itself as they winced from the sudden ring in their ears. Navarro stepped forwards with heavy harsh breaths before grabbing Fayne and James by the armoured chest and pulled them to the ground. Dahlia kept near the chocobos desperately trying to soothe them, the creatures now curious for this strange argument going on before them. "I. Am sick. Of your POINTLESS bickering, kupo. Baldwin, you are frankly a very stupid idiot." "Damn right," said FG. "QUIET!" "U-uhm." "James, you are also incredibly stupid for even trying to argue with him." "He INSULTED me and my boyfriend!" "I don't CARE, this is not a public forum, this is a campsite where we are all VERY tired of this infuriating change in party politics now shut up and go to sleep." "...no." "What?" "I said. No." He pushed Navarro's hand away from him staring at Baldwin. "You insult me, you insult my boyfriend, you question me thinking I'm sick with something and I will NOT let you walk away with it." "What are you going to do about it?" threatened Baldwin. "Fight me?" "No. We're not savages, we can talk this out properly, like real people do. We're going to sit here, and we're going to talk about this and where we want to go with this clan because no way in hell am I going to walk alongside a fucking homophobe like you." "What the sszhit isszh a homophobe?" "I believe he meant homophone," said Fayne, "in which I think-" "Shut up Fayne," said FG. "Hey!" Baldwin raised a finger of impudence towards his clan leader. "Don't. Ever. Tell my brother to sszhut up. Fight me all you want, but you leave him out of it." "Fine. We're gonna debate this, Navarro." "No," said the moogle. "You're our most unbiased person here since you literally do not care either way." "Which is exactly why I do not need this, kupo." "The sooner we outsolve this the sooner we all get to sleep, isn't that what you want?" "...very well. Both of you sit opposite of each other from the flame separating you."

The two sat down as asked looking at each other fiercely from across the hot flames, glaring like two tribal chieftains in threat of war. Navarro sat between them a small distance from the fire as she began the debate, Dahlia staying next to the chocobos whilst Fayne stood by his brother. "We are going to end this amicably, kupo. Firstly, you are allowed both to make one statement each. Then, once you have heard each other, you are allowed then to ask one and simply ONE question each, for each of you, kupo. James, as leader you will have first speech, you may begin." The raptor started composing himself as firmly as possible, readying his position in defence. "I am not any less capable of controlling myself than any man or woman is. Yes, I like both men and women, but I am not going to start feeling any of you up because firstly, I'm not that kind of person, unlike SOME people who rather fancy themselves as playboys." "H-hey-" "Quiet," said the moogle interrupting Baldwin. "You will have your chance to speak. Continue, kupo." "Secondly," James added, "I already have myself committed to somebody else, someONE who I love very much. So please...don't insult me in thinking you're that attractive I would ever go for you, even if I was single." "Good. Now, Baldwin." The bangaa monk chewed on this statement in his mind as he composed himself in turn, being more serious than ever he had been outside of Lea Monde. "From what I know of it is, there are sszhome who insszhtead of being attracted to femalesszh they are attracted to malesszh. Whether it isszh by sszhome improbable balansshe or a disszheaszhe of sszhome sszhort in their headsszh, they got all confusszhed, and I worry...that if you are ill, you may not be resszhponszhible for your acszhtions if you sszhuddenly act upon me, or my brother. I sszhimply sszhpeak asszh a concszherned member of thisszh clan knowing now that our leader may be afflicted by sszhomething he can not control." "Good," said the moogle. "Now, James, a question to him kupo." "Do you hate me for what I am?" asked the raptor. "No, not at all!" replied Baldwin. "I mean...I am upsszhet becausszhe you never told usszh about it and for the previousszh five monthsszh me and my brother have been with you but I do not hate you. I cannot hate sszhomeone truly afflicted by sszhuch terrible illnesszh, sszhome people do but not me. I pity you, for not knowing what isszh right and natural and if anything happensszh between usszh, I would have to not work with you anymore." "Alright." "Now Baldwin," replied Navarro, "you ask him your question." "Why do you think love between two people of the sszhame gender isszh anymore natural than between a male and female?" "Because," began FG, "people-...god how is this so difficult to understand, okay, okay...two people, fall in love. Love is a very fickle thing, people can love anyone of any age and either gender because the heart wants it. And if the other person wants it, and they can consent to it willingly, then there should be no reason ever to stop them. Now some people have that sense to only like the other gender, and some people can only like the same gender, whereas others still like me can like both but that's nothing to do with disease, that's just how people are. It's not a disease, it's just a difference like you and your brother having different ear lengths, neither of you are the wrong TYPE of bangaa, you're just different kinds-" "I am NOT different!"

Fayne's sudden outburst brought everyone's attention to him before realising his mistake, gently sitting back down sheepishly before Baldwin added: "Maybe we sszhould jusszht leave the clan." "If that's how you feel," replied FG. "Look I'm not stopping you, I mean you got no contract with us." "Jamesszh, look, I don't...It'sszh not you I don't trusszht, it'sszh your-" "Disease?" "You sszhaid it not me, I cannot trusszht in that. If you were an ordinary guy, I would follow you absszholutely!" "You followed me the past five months," said FG, "what's changed?" "The fact that I know you are harbouring that sszhort of afflicszhion, I-i mean...how sszhelfisszh do you think you are, walking through townsszh an' placszhesszh with that, without any warning, n-n-not even a bell around your neck!" "I am NOT infectious you fucking SHIT!" "That'sszh what all mentally ill people sszhay it isszh SSZHO FRUSSZHTRATING! How can I not...jusszht put up a mirror and SSZHOW you how ill you are?" "Maybe I should put up a recording of your voice so YOU can hear how stupid you fucking sound!" "Oh for gods' sake," moaned Navarro, "you two are useless, kupo." "HE STARTED IT!" roared both debaters. "Why don't you tell him he's wrong?!" cried FG. "Why don't YOU tell him he needsszh help?!" cried Baldwin. "ENOUGH!" shrieked Navarro. "I do NOT care about either of this, if YOU want to leave because you do not trust our leader, then go! James is our leader and founder of this clan, he has not done any wrong by you in the past five months and whilst he may be rather headstrong and very ignorant of the way things work, he has proven himself to be a strong capable leader." "Gee thanks," said FG sarcastically. "If you cannot come to an agreement then you can just take your things and leave, kupo!" Both the monk and bishop looked at each other with uncertainty, sighing deeply. Turning fully towards each other they spoke softly in hushed tones before coming to a more full conclusion, the cleric replying with: "If we are unable to come to an agreement, then we will leave your clan without trouble, after we complete...our-task from mother Mariel. Then we will depart and terminate our contract with you. Forgive me, I...I-wish it did not come to-" "Do you believe in that too?" replied James. "P-pardon?" "That this 'thing' I have, whatever you call it, homosexuality's some kind of disease, you believe in that too?" "...I...I do not believe it to be anymore a threat than any natural...desire a male would have for a female. There are far greater...evils out there upon the world to contend with than-" "Stop it. Be honest, do you, personally, believe it's wrong?" "...I...I am conflicted." "Huh?" "Bu-what?!" said Baldwin. "Fayne, sszhurely you agree with me don't you?! It'sszh dangerousszh, he could infect usszh even if he doesszhn't mean to, we won't be in a right sszhtate of mind and we'll both jusszht sszhimply crumble, we will not focusszh, we might even sszhtart doing it with each OTHER and that'sszh-" "BALDWIN BE QUIET! You are jumping to too many...conclusions, I am not going to automatically agree to everything from you, and what of Dahlia and Navarro?! Are they too not in danger according to your diatribe?!" "Don't be sszhtupid, there'sszh no sszhuch thing as female sszhodomitesszh he can't infect them!" "Are you fucking SERIOUS?!" James' reply of disbelief made Baldwin turn with a rather stroppy look. "What?!" "You're actually saying NOW that you don't believe two women could ever love each other, what the fuck?!" "How could they, they don't have a penisszh, what would they DO together?!" "Ohhh my fookhin-gud." The raptor covered his face with both hands cursing muffled at the inconceiveable belief, the bangaa adding: "I-it'sszh jusszht that the male hasszh the sszhexual drive to pursszhue, to love and to do thingsszh not like a female! They have the passzhion too but they do not have the URGE to go firsszht like malesszh do and that isszh why I cannot trusszht YOU!" "What sort of nonsense is that?!" squawked Dahlia. "Huh?"

The nu-mou decided to speak up finally with a sense of incomprehension, struggling to get around Baldwin's way of logic as she strode forwards towards him whilst the bangaa turned round to face her. "Females can absolutely initiate romance first, you don't NEED to be a male to complete a relationship between two people, how can you possibly think that Baldwin?!" "What could two femalesszh posszhibly DO together," he argued, "without the...the-the...male tesszhtosszhterone, THAT isszh what createsszh the union between people! If at leasszht one male isszh there in the relasszhionszhip, they can consszhummate, but if there isszh none of that, then there can be nothing, two femalesszh would feel NOTHING together, not the sszhame kind of love that a male and female can have, or what two malesszh BELIEVE they have becausszhe they cannot feel the love of a female!" "Wh-tha-...th-that makes no sense!" "I know, bodiesszh are confusszhing, and when you get TWO malesszh who want to get in bed with each other, that meansszh DOUBLE the tesszhtosszhterone and they are both consszhtantly at each other unable to fend the other away, becausszhe their illnesszh attunesszh them ESSZHPESSZHIALLY towardsszh each other by being attracted by another male'sszh own sszhexual drive! NOW do you undersszhtand?!" He said this last sentence towards James who simply blinked looking at him with a mix of anger, shock and a deep sense of pity. Navarro said it sublimely. "That was, the most absolutely incomprehensible and utterly useless argument I have ever heard in my life, kupo." "Oh YOU don't undersszhtand we have been over thisszh, Fayne, back me up!" But the bishop did not say anything, feeling the staring eyes upon him once more as he tried to make his stance clear. "...I...do not...see a great enough threat from it." "What?!" "No more than any other. I have....I have-seen too many wrapped in love, I have known love both...false and genuine. I do not believe it wrong...but I do not know if that...itself-is-true. And I believe that there are much greater...threats, of evil out there in the world, then that of...those like our leader. Forgive me...James." James understood what he was saying, not wanting to upset his brother but also not wanting to alienate the raptor anymore between them. Seeing Fayne's attempts of diplomacy between them, he decided at the very least to come to an agreement crossing his arms once more as he made his last comment on this turgid debate. "You can leave after we finish our quest for Mariel. After this, you don't have to worry about us again. Agreed?" "Agreed," said Fayne. "Thank you." "Okay, whatever I'm going to sleep, night." Heading straight off to his tent he was soon joined by Dahlia who kept company with him, Navarro checking one last time on the chocobos to see they would finally calm down once voices were not being raised to disturb them. Baldwin and Fayne trudged off feeling wounded in low spirits, desperately trying to comprehend the sort of situation they were now in. Dahlia tried to speak to James as he turned himself over to fall asleep. "I trust you." "Hmm?" "You...you stood up for me, you always know what to do and you respect me. I trust you James, never mind what Baldwin says." "Hm...thanks Dahlia. I know always I can trust you." "Goodnight James." "Goodnight Dahlia." Setting down in for the night, they braced themselves mentally for the day when they would reach the checkpoint at Archadia's crossing, for various reasons unto themselves. Baldwin and Fayne became suddenly out of sync with the rest of the clan in but a moment's notice, as they slept a lot less deeply than the other clan members did. Not that it would matter on waking up tomorrow for their new obstacle, something that could not be fought by sword and steel alone.