The New Zodiac Braves

Taiyo: "It was nice seeing you all again."

The three begin attempting to mozy on out of town.

Mortal frowned and said in a quiet voice, "You seemed like something was wrong. I was just concerned."

"We're just glad you're alright," Sab said with a smile.

Zac looked at Lilith, "So they're following us. Not much we can do about that."

*Safian and Cassandra stand awkwardly*

Aroma<Oh, well, thank you for caring. Ajora looks well on your kindness.>

*She puts a hand on Mortal's shoulder.*

R"Good to see Senthose didn't do any of you in, either."

*Lilith folds her arms.*

L"Why are you following us?"

R"Can't ever distract that one, huh?"
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*They are now enjoying a peaceful walk through the forest.*

Safian:<Well, you see...>

*She looks at Roatha*

I can't say because it's an adventure.

"No, she has a certain persistence about her," Zac said.

Mortal smiled and nodded, not having the heart to tell her what she knew of Ajora. She looked back at what was happening, and said, "Is it really that big of a deal? Maybe they're just out on a journey that has nothing to do with us."

Azuma: "That was...awkward? Maybe. Who were those people?"

Taiyo: "Most of them I met at the party."

Azuma: "Oh. All right."

*Unfortunately, the falls are less peaceful. There is one of each species of Squidraken in the pool below, up above at the top of the cliff is a Red Chocobo, with a normal Chocobo & a Red Panther on the falls, & on the other side of the bridge is a Vampier Cat snarling at them with a regular Chocobo & a Coeurl behind it.*
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*Meanwhile, Aroma starts rubbing her shoulder.*

Aroma<(Those swords look really heavy. You must be strong.)>

R"I brought them with me. I thought Senthose might have been re-hired by the Baert Trading Company."

L"But isn't Ludovich dead?"

R"Someone else has taken over. Some say it's Gaffgarion."

L"Isn't he also dead?"

R"That'd be why it's worthy of investigating."

*Safian and Cassandra stand and listen, not wanting to ruin their moment of information getting*

"You need not worry about Senthose," Noct said, "We've dealt with him for the last time... In fact, your new friends could have told you that."

Mortal looked back at Aroma, and smiled, "Well, uh, I guess I am. Could you stop rubbing my shoulder... I mean no offense, but your hands are a bit small, so it feels kind of weird."

Cassandra:<Yeah, he turned into a hydra then they killed him.>

*She points at Mortal and friends*

Azuma: "Goddamn it. I hate Chocobos."

Taiyo eyes the Vampire Cat like she wants to keep it and begins a Slow Dance. The other two move into position, Mimiru advancing on the Red Chocobo while Azuma lines up with the Squidraken.

*Azuma has to climb down to do this, so it's going to take a while. In that time, the Mindflayer hits him with Mind Blast. Mimiru also has to climb a mountain to get to the Red Chocobo, so it just stays in place & blasts her with a meteor. The Vampire Cat advances on Taiyo & fires off a petrifying blast while the Chocobo runs up & pecks her if it doesn't work. They really suck at choosing targets.*
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R"That's not really...okay, let's go over this again: Who is working with Senthose?"

L"Ah. So you think he might have been taking orders from Baert."

R"Wait, he turned into a what?"

*Meanwhile, Aroma takes her hands off of Mortal & just stares at the ground. Completely dejected, all of her energy is now going into trying not to cry.*

Safian:<Hydra, apparently.>

"Would you like one instead?" Mortal asked, sensing that her 'I mean no offense' wasn't listened to.

"Hydra," Zac said, making little puppet monsters with his hands and holding them by his own head to mime a hydra.

Mimiru climbs up, attacking the Chocobo and whatever other monsters are affected with Aurablast when she's at the top.

Azuma climbs down the cliff.

Taiyo stops dancing and mozies around the Chocobo, attacking it from behind with her lance.

R"How did--oh, that thing. Right. Anyway, we should probably get a move on."

L"I suppose it couldn't hurt to have someone investigating another lead, but you're not really...trained for it."

Aroma<I guess that would be okay....>

*She stares at her own hands sadly.*
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*Aurablast only hits one target at a time. Kind of backed into a corner, the Red Chocobo just pecks at her, while the Red Panther jumps up & slashes her from behind. When he's closer, another Squidraken inks him, & the Mindflayer blasts him again, inducing confusion. As it is still on the bridge, Taiyo's attack is impossible, & it pecks at her again.*

Safian:<We can give it a shot!>

Mortal walks around so that she is behind Aroma and begins to give her a shoulder massage.

Sab looks back at them confused, "Uh...?"

"Oh, hey, you know, you're just the right size for Sab, I'm sure she'd enjoy a massage from you," Mortal said.

Zac shrugged, "We don't have many options. We have our own business to attend to."

Taiyo backs up one space and jumps at it.

Mimiru attacks the asshole monsters with Whirlwhind.

Azuma is probably acting like a dink.

<But...I like tall girls, too....>

E"What, are we going to establish some massage conga line?"

*She laughs.*

L"Alright, fine. We'll meet out at Golgallada in a week."
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*Azuma is, in fact, blowing bubbles in the water as the Squidraken surround him & start beating him with their tentacles. The Chocobo & Red Chocobo are dead. The Red Panther is knocked sprawling & jumps down the waterfall. The Vampire Cat scratches Taiyo while the other Chocobo tries to follow her from the other side of the bridge.*

~3~

Cassandra:<Gotcha.>

*Safian looks excited*

Mimiru begins to make her way down the cliff to back Taiyo up. Taiyo attacks the Vampire Cat from the front and backs up, so she's on the bridge facing it.

Azuma attacks the Mindflayer. Right in its face.

"Well, I'm sure preferences like that don't matter for purely platonic massages," Mortal said.

"If it is all the same to you, I don't want a massage," Sab said, "Uh, maybe Noct--"

"Nope, I'm fine."

Zac waved, "Well, see you then."

"Isn't Baert in Wajaris? That'd mean we're heading in the same direction," Sab said, "Might as well travel together."

L"Yes, but in a week we'll meet up to exchange evidence."

*Aroma looks really sad, so Euryale pats her on the shoulder, & turns around.*

E"I'll take one."

*Aroma brightens up, though she finds it hard to reach Euryale's shoulders. They presumably move forward, along with a short massage train.*
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*It manages to duck aside, due to him being blinded by ink. It's not long before they have him beaten into submission. The Chocobo turns to attack Mimiru, while the Vampire Cat kneels, in critical condition.*

~3,2~