Blazblue: Ashes to Ashes

The Ancient Fire

Jacky walked through the streets of Orient Town, a variety of wonderful smells hovered through the air. It was the best part of Kagutsuchi, how relaxing the town could be. Jacky walked past countless people who went about their day-to-day business.

He unexpectedly bumped into someone as he shifted through the crowds. "I'm sorry about that, sir. I didn't see you there."

The person he bumped into was a bit challenged in the height department, so it was no surprise that he wasn't noticed. The stranger laughed, his voice sounded familiar. "I don't blame you; it's not your fault."

The stranger tipped his hat back, giving Jacky a better look at his face. That bright blonde hair, those deep blue eyes; He couldn't possibly forget that face.

"Carl Clover, is that you?"

"The one and only," he responded. Carl took a good look at the black-haired young man that stood before him and it took him considerably longer to recall who he was. "Ah, now I remember you. You're Jacky Sol Ray, correct? I haven't seen you in such a long time."

"Yeah, it has, last time I saw you was back at Academy graduation a few years back. After that I never heard from you. What have you been up to these days?" Jacky was happy to see a friendly face again, especially an old friend.

"Well, I'm not military anymore, that's for sure. Even you could pick that up, right?"

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean, Shortstack?" Jacky laughed. He would probably have put Carl into a chokehold and given him a noogie for that comment if he hadn't've noticed the doll standing behind him.

"That's a Nox Nyctores, right? What are you doing with something like that out in the open?"

"Sis is always around, since there's no need for her to hide," Carl replied. 'Sis'? What was he talking about?

"…." The doll behind Carl was silent, not surprising, of course. However, something about that Archenemy seemed to suggest that it was still talking, even in silence.

"Anyways, I'd actually heard that you were a vigilante, a bounty hunter, even. Have any targets in mind right now?" Carl nodded in response and what he said made him flinch. "Indeed, I do. His name is Ragna the Bloodedge. Surely you've heard of him, Jacky?"

So Carl was hunting Ragna? What was the reason behind this? The bounty? The fame for bringing in the most wanted criminal? Or was it for what he carried, the Azure Grimoire?

Carl noticed the faint traces of fear in Jacky's expression and smiled. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about him, would you, Jacky?"

He looked down at Carl and then at the doll standing behind him. "No, I don't know anything about him. Only rumors, though I doubt there anything you haven't already heard of," he said as he turned to leave.

The next thing he knew, the Archenemy had blocked Jacky's path leading away from Carl.

"Lying is a bad practice, Jacky. You know that as well as anybody else. I'll ask again, tell me what you know about Ragna the Bloodedge."

"I'm sorry, Carl, but I can't help you and, even if I could, I wouldn't! I don't want to hurt you Carl, but if you try to attack me, I will defend myself and I promise that it won't end well for you." He attempted to pass by the doll, but it extended one of its arms to block his path further.

"I'm warning you, Carl, don't get in my way or I'll be forced to deal with you like I deal with every other obstacle."

The doll swung its arms at Jacky. He bent backwards and high-kicked it before back stepping and tripping Carl over with a leg sweep. After that, he made a break for it, heading to the edge of town as fast as possible, where there were bound to be less people.