In The Name of Love

"As long as you have enemies it shouldn't be too bad," Zac said with a chuckle, "And we never seem to be in short supply of enemies..."

--

Noct smiled, and was about to thank Euryale for her kind words, but then Ramiel was a badass, "Wow... I didn't see that coming."

~Lesalia~

"I knew it. He's a Monk."

*When Ramiel's victory is announced, about 30% of the crowd cheers, while the rest moan angrily.*

"Wait...they gave him better odds than me?!"

*Ramiel steps out of the ring on the other side.*
================================
~Lake Poescas~

"As such, we should resume the trip to Zeltennia, post haste."

"Agreed," Zac said, "This battle is won."

--

"Well, he is a guy," Noct said, "Most people are pretty dumb, and think that girls can't fight."

"Yea, they're probably all just girly dancers," Sab said. Noct frowned, and Sab gave her a christian side hug, "I'm only joking."

~Sal Ghidos~

HERE:

*As they are walking down main street, they spot a peasant girl in a grey dress with brown hair tied back in a style similar to Lilith's, trying to sell something, but everyone pointedly ignores her. When she approaches them, they can see that she is holding a basket of flowers.*

<Excuse me, lady & gentleman, but would either of you like to buy a flower? They're only 1 Gil each.>
==================================
~Lesalia~

"Well, to be completely fair, you don't notice any male dancers."

Knight<Interesting debate you ladies are having-->

*Euryale jumps upon realizing that the knight is leaning over the ring.*

Knight<Let's make this more interesting...how about it, folks, would you like to see the Battle of the Sexes? If the fighters will agree to it, it will be double-or-nothing!>

Ramiel<I will have to pass. I don't want to know which one of us is stronger yet.>

He looked at Lilith, "Would you like a bouquet?"

--

Mortal furrowed her brow, "What do you mean yet?"

~Sal Ghidos~

*Lilith looks back & shrugs.*

"Do as you wish."
==============================
~Lesalia~

Ramiel<Don't you think you should give the official your answer?>

Zac let out a sigh, figuring he couldn't win either way. If Lilith was going to be mad either way he figured that at least he could help the girl's business by buying a dozen flowers. "I'll take a dozen," Zac said, handing over 12 gil.

--

"What, I thought he was talking to you two," Mortal said, "What is the point in agreeing if you're not fighting?"

~Lesalia~

E"(He's talking about you & me against all of the male fighters.)"

Knight<(Exactly. I'm supposed to come up with an extra fight after all of the one-on-ones are done. Give people the attempt to place extra bets, play the odds.)>

<Come on, what's the hold-up?>

<Don't tell us you're being frightened away!>
==================================
~Limberry~

*Zac is practically blinded when her eyes light up. She bows while she collects the flowers, trying not to fumble any.*

<Thank you very much, Ser! Do you have any particular kinds to request?>

Zac was a bit taken aback by her eagerness, "Lilies, please, if you have any."

--

"Oh," Mortal said, "Sure, I'll do that."

Sab furrowed her brow, "That hardly seems fair, two against three."

Noct shrugged, "Mortal beat up her guy, Euryale took hers down in one shot, and that guy was beaten up too. That aside, we've fought in worse odds."

~Lesalia~

"None of them are monks, I could beat them all by myself. What does concern me is that I don't want to upstage Mortal, but I can't very well let her fight alone either."

*Ramiel leaves the basement to a chorus of "boos" & "no stones."*
=======================================
~Sal Ghidos~

*She frowns.*

<I'm sorry, Ser, but I'm afraid I only have 6 lilies.>

"What do you think is a pretty flower?" Zac asked.

--

Mortal shook her head, "You don't have to worry about showing me up. I was actually looking forward to swooning over your heroic display."

~Sal Ghidos~

*Lilith has already moved on ahead.*

<Well, Ser, if you don't mind my saying, I've always been partial to pimpernels. I have quite a few of them.>
===================================
~Lesalia~

"Hrm..."

Knight<(Come on, I need an answer today.)>

"Okay. In that case, I'll do it."

"Then I'll take six of those as well," Zac said.

--

Noct smiled, and Sab let out a small giggle, "You're only happy because you're going to win the bet."

"I'm happy because this should be a good show."

~Sal Ghidos~

*Aerith sets him up with a bouquet of a dozen flowers.*

<Thank you very much for your generosity, Ser.>
===================================
~Lesalia~

*Once Skullsplitter regains consciousness & consents to the match, everyone is put in the ring. As soon as the fight starts, Skullsplitter charges at Euryale. When she aims a punch at his stomach, he grabs her arm & shows where he gets his name by headbutting her in the forehead. While that is going on, The Dragon runs out from behind him, aiming a punch at the side of Mortal's head. Tyler is just taking his sweet old time walking over to them.*

"No, thank you for your help." With that he runs to catch up with Lilith. Once he does he extends the bouquet out to her, "I know it doesn't exactly match up to a priceless shield, but I just want you to know that I am sorry that I insulted you. I want you to know that I don't take your friendship, and generosity for granted. I treasure it."

--

Mortal ducks the punch and aims a triangle punch right for the Dragon's solar plexus.

~Lesalia~

*Both punches make contact, leaving the respective fighters dazed, & in great pain.*

"I'm going to shove that stupid haircut down your throat!"

*Euryale twists to kick Skullsplitter in the ribs, causing him to let go of her. He's only inconvenienced for a moment, however, as he jabs at Euryale, who ducks under his fist. Tyler watches to see which fight to jump into.*
======================================
~Sal Ghidos~

*Lilith takes the bouquet & stares at it, before tucking it away in the chest of her cloak.*

"...The shield is priceless in more than just Gil. It is an important symbol of Limberry's sovereignty. Not using it is like not using the castle. I...appreciate your sentiments towards me, but I have to represent something more than just myself."

Mortal doesn't let up on the Dragon, and hooks him in his kidneys, then head in quick succession.

--

Zac doesn't say that he already told her about his hang ups with the castle and just nodded, "I think I understand a bit better now. I just hope that you'll come to forgive me one day."

~Lesalia~

*He manages to avoid the kidney shot, but gets clonked in the head again. Tyler randomly jumps at Mortal, trying to bring an elbow down on her neck/upper back region. Euryale swings an uppercut at Skullsplitter, but he catches it & hits her jaw with a right cross.*
=======================================
~Sal Ghidos~

*Lilith looks guilty.*

"Yes, well...we should be on our way."

Mortal backs off of the Dragon entirely, and brings her arms above her head in a cross shape to block the elbow. She then counter attacks with two body shots. Mortal would have continues attacking, but that asshole punched Euryale in the face, and she wasn't cool with that. Mortal dashed over and punched Skullsplitter in the face, twice.

--

"As you wish," Zac said.

*Clyde ignores the archer and continues trying to get up.*

~Lesalia~

*Before she could get there, The Dragon got in front of her & punched her in the chest. Tyler is out. Euryale, being quite incensed, throws all of her weight into Skullsplitter's upper body & they go toppling over. She then holds him down by the clavicle & raises her fist above her head.*

<Okay, okay, I quit!>
====================================
~Zeltennia~

*They arrive to find the city pretty calm, but few people on the main street.*
====================================
~Balias Swale~

*The Squire jumps up the bank because, again, he has Ignore Height. The 2 Squires & 1 Archer then continue their escape, but not before the archer shoots Clyde one more time, out of spite.*

*Clyde takes the hit and drinks a potion, and looks for another possible way to get up.*

Mortal doesn't like being cut off, so she just punches the Dragon in the face twice instead.

--

Zac looked around, "Doesn't look too bad. I guess we got here in time."

~Balias Swale~

*It's too late. They've already escaped.*
===============================
~Lesalia~

*To his credit, The Dragon tries to hit her back, but is knocked unconscious when Euryale walks up & punches him in the back. As a result, Noctis wins an additional 6000 Gil.*
===============================
~Zeltennia~

"But why is there no one here?"

Noctis gives a fist pump, "Yes!"

"You're rich..." Sab said, confused as to why Noct was so happy.

"I still like winning," Noct replied, "Doesn't everyone?"

Mortal did, because she made her way over to Euryale, and hugged her, "We won!"

--

Zac shrugged, "Good point."