Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy: The chronicles of Four! ❯ Strange weapons and even stranger allies! ( Chapter 13 )

Okay, another chapter for everyone! But first… (opens mailbag) Shin, you're very welcome! Chapter 12 was a chapter for everyone to remember! Jenni, I NEVER INTENDED SUCH AN IMAGE! EW! Anyway, yes, they are incredibly lucky! So, I don't own FF games or 8-bit!

 

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“Well, looks like we did a good job on the town!” Fighter said happily. He'd woken up as Sabin and Black Belt were making the bases of all the houses, and they finished the one he was supporting first.

 

“I know! I guess training in the cold, rugged mountains for 7 years was worth it!” Sabin exclaimed, kissing his arm muscles. Black Belt was sipping a soda.

 

“I feel we should go and celebrate! After all, we did rebuild a town in less than a day!” BB said, “I wonder why that is, anyway…” Sabin sighed proudly.

 

“That is the true power of the Bum Rush! Many people think its only use is to slam something around in a quick circular motion, but nay, it's to help the good of manual labor!” Sabin explained proudly, as the American flag appeared behind him. Fighter beamed.

 

“I feel like we all really bonded from this! Let's have a big group hug!” Fighter exclaimed as he stepped off where he was set. Black Belt and Sabin looked at him wide-eyed.

 

“FIGHTER, NO!” they both screamed in unison. But they were too late… The building Fighter supported collapsed, and the force of it caused the building around it to collapse, and so on and so fourth until absolutely nothing was left… again.

 

“Crap. Bannon is going to be pissed when he sees this…” Sabin shook his head with shame.

 

“We can rebuild it, right?” Fighter said, and picked up a loose board. He set it gently against a rock and put some more bricks on it. “See? Good as new!” Sadly, the horrible excuse for a house just didn't make it…

 

“We're doomed…” Both Sabin and BB sighed.

 

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As for our heroes, they had just come out of the Earth Cave. However, the condition of the land hadn't improved. In fact, it seemed to be worse. Black Belt looked around, and then shrieked.

 

“CRAP! I knew we forgot something!” he yelled. White Mage turned around and looked at him.

 

“What did we forget, BM?” she asked calmly. Black Mage tugged on his robes.

 

“We forgot to ask the Vampire to get rid of the spell he'd put on 50 years ago! The earth is still dying!” Black Mage exclaimed worriedly. Red Mage looked down and took the small ruby out of his pocket.

 

“Unfortunately, there's not much we can do now.” He said, “We killed the Vampire, and we still don't know where Lich is.”

 

“What about the other door in the Vampire's room? Where did that lead to?” White Mage asked. Thief stuffed his hands in his pockets.

 

“Nowhere. I checked and the door's locked. Either way, we're basically screwed.” Thief replied. Red Mage threw the ruby in the air.

 

“Hold it. We still have this ruby. Maybe the Titan back in that death trap of a cave really does know something.” Red Mage said, “At the very least, we could get his weapons of the gods or whatever he called them.” Black Mage smiled.

 

“They must be pretty damn powerful if he won't let anyone near them.” Black Mage concluded, “Oh, I bet they have awesome side effects like instant death or something! Maybe a random Flare spell here or there…” Needless to say, Black Mage was getting giddy with excitement. White Mage chuckled.

 

“Aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves?” she asked, “We don't even know if the Titan will give us those weapons, and you're already fantasizing about them. But I do agree… he might give us something for that ruby…” After that, the walk to the Crap Cave was a silent one. Not surprising, since no one really wanted to go in there. Memories of Black Mage's insults flashed through everyone's minds as they neared the cave.

 

“So, who goes in first?” Thief whispered. Black Mage immediately pushed Red Mage into the cave and coughed.

 

“I think RM should go first.” He said. Thief nodded, although unlike Black Mage, who wanted to see Red Mage get squished first, Thief felt Red Mage's slick talking skills would help. Red Mage shrugged.

 

“All right. I'll attempt to talk to the Titan and see what he can tell us.” Red Mage said, and strolled inside the Crap Cave. Black Mage snickered as White Mage began to pace and Thief leaned against a large boulder to await Red Mage. After a few minutes, though, everyone was getting restless.

 

“Where the hell is he?” Black Mage asked, “It shouldn't take THIS long to talk to that overgrown rock!” Thief looked down sadly.

 

“What if the Titan smashed him with the club?” he asked, although he hated the thought of the idea. White Mage closed her eyes in an attempt to banish the thought. Black Mage, however, provided no comfort.

 

“Oh well, there's nothing we can do if he did. And chances are he's never coming out. Let's get going. The world ain't gonna save itself.” Black Mage said, about to walk away. But he came to a halt when he heard a familiar voice.

 

“Hey, guys. The Titan says he'll tell us where we have to go for the ruby.” Red Mage said, poking his head outside the cave. Black Mage turned around stiffly.

 

“It took you long enough! What were you doing in there, moron!?” Black Mage hissed. Red Mage scratched his chin thoughtfully.

 

“Well, after I told him about the ruby we have, we got into this conversation about why the Titans grew to like rubies, and what kind of things they liked.” Red Mage answered happily, “You wouldn't BELIEVE the kind of culture they had!” Black Mage's eyes narrowed.

 

“Who freakin' cares what their culture was!? Where's the ruby?” Black Mage asked, a slight vein-throb in his head.

 

“Oh, he's in there, munching on it.” Red Mage replied, and walked back into the cave. The other three followed him in, and saw that the Titan has earlier been trying to harvest more gems. Rocks everywhere were smashed, and there were countless broken pick-axes too. Among them all laid the Titan, happily munching on the precious ruby. Black Mage marched up to the lazy-looking Titan.

 

“Okay, you have your stinking ruby. Now, where do we have to go?” Black Mage asked. The Titan let out a huge belch before sitting up. He lazily yawned and stretched out.

 

“Me knows where, but me no tell you! Me no like you. You big jerk.” The Titan grumbled, his gravelly voice making the small cave shake.

 

“And what do you expect me to do? Get on my knees and beg?” Black Mage asked. The Titan shook his head.

 

“Me no like begging. It annoying. Me prefer to smash you with club.” The Titan replied, showing a big wooden club and smiling. A sweat drop rolled down Black Mage's head, and he turned to look at Red Mage.

 

“RM, get up here and try to reason with this buffoon.” He commanded. Red Mage walked up to the Titan, who was now busy eating a big rock. He looked away from the rock and down at Red Mage and waved.

 

“Hi, funny man! You need anything from Krogg?” the Titan asked.

 

“Whoa, back up. That thing has a name!?” Black Mage asked. The Titan glared at him.

 

“Krogg isn't thing! Krogg is big giant with feelings!” Krogg said.

 

“…Anyway, we need to know how to find Lich. He's not in the Earth Cave. Do you know what we can do?” Red Mage asked. Krogg smiled.

 

“There old man after my cave. He know everything! He help you beat Lich!” Krogg replied, “Since you give my ruby, I let you pass.” Krogg got up and moved out of the way for the four warriors, who ran quickly by. He turned back to Black Mage.

 

“If PUNY human make fun of Krogg again, Krogg smash you with club! Krogg turn you into blackberry pancake for breakfast!” Krogg promised. Black Mage nodded and gulped as the other three were walking back out into daylight. Black Mage soon joined them and looked disapprovingly at the straightforward path.

 

“Wow, and here I was hoping we'd get lost again.” Black Mage said sarcastically.

 

“I think you should be thankful that Krogg didn't smash you with his club.” White Mage stated, walking away from Black Mage with her nose in the air.

 

“Yeah, you were kind of mean to the guy.” Thief added.

 

“Mean!? He's a TITAN! They don't have the brains to understand an insult!” Black Mage cried, throwing his hands up into the air. Red Mage snickered as he passed.

 

“If they don't have brains, why did he smash you right after you called him stupid? Coincidence?” Red Mage asked mockingly.

 

“You… shut up. If YOU had a brain, you wouldn't need to ask me that question.” Black Mage said simply. He quickly marched forward as Red Mage continued to snicker. Black Mage closed his eyes to drown out the image of Red Mage, but because he couldn't see where he was going, he slammed right into a sign.

 

“OW! What the hell!?” Black Mage opened his eyes sharply, glaring at the sign, “Who would put a big sign out here!?” White Mage and Thief ran over as Red Mage laughed even harder. Thief examined the sign as White Mage used her Cure spell.

 

“Sarda's Cave. No solicitors…. Think this is the guy the Titan was talking about?” Thief asked, as Black Mage rubbed his nose.

 

“Who the hell would name a kid “Sarda!?” With a name like that, no one has GOT to take him seriously! No wonder he lives in a smelly cave guarded by an over-sized meat head.” Black Mage said, sighing with false pity.

 

“I just hope Sarda can help us. Knowing BM, he might kill the poor old sage…” White Mage whispered, hoping Black Mage hadn't heard. Unfortunately, he had.

 

“Eh, the old fool should take some comfort knowing that his death will be quick. Besides, the experience we get from his demise will be devastating!” Black Mage boomed. Red Mage snapped his head around when he heard this.

 

“We'll get EXPERIENCE for killing him?” Red Mage asked quickly. Black Mage nodded, suddenly getting an evil idea.

 

“Yes. He's an old wizard, obviously powerful if the Titan says he knows where to find Lich. If we kill him, we're BOUND to level up!” Black Mage lied.

 

“But I don't know… Can I live with myself knowing I'd murder an old man?” Red Mage asked himself, suddenly going into deep, philosophical questions like “Do I actually exist?” and “What IS experience?” After about ten minutes of philosophical thinking, Black Mage began to get very annoyed.

 

“DO YOU WANT THE EXP. OR NOT!?” Black Mage snapped. Red Mage nodded quickly. Black Mage strode ahead, “Good, then let's go see this “sage” and see if I have to kill him… I mean… if he can help us find Lich.” The other three followed without saying a word. Once they got into the small cave, it was clear someone was living there. A nice table was sitting in the middle of the room, with a small chair, and away from that was a doorway leading into a bedroom.

 

“Maybe he's out?” Thief suggested as Black Mage walked into the bedroom.

 

“I doubt it. If he left, the Titan would've said so. Let's look around first.” Black Mage said. He looked in the small closet, while Thief looked under the bed. Red and White Mage were looking behind bookcases and tall plants, but the gang had no luck.

 

“Where is he?” White Mage wondered, when they still hadn't found him after minutes of searching.

 

“Hmm, he is a sage… He might be disguising himself as some sort of weird… object thing. Quickly, let's look for anything out of place!” Red Mage exclaimed. Once again, the four scrambled around the small dwelling. Well, three, actually. Black Mage simply decided to blow up the bed. Everyone looked quickly when a tiny old man screamed and hobbled out of the bed.

 

“Oh my! So it seems you've found me out!” came the old man's croaky voice.

 

“Why were you hiding in your bed?” Thief asked. The old man gave a chuckle.

 

“I wasn't hiding, my boy! I WAS the bed! It's an advanced form of magic.” The old man replied, “It is to the equivalent of Time or Space magic that you young ones have come up with… certainly not elements I would've chosen to play with…” Black Mage blinked a few times, trying to process what the man said.

 

“Okay, if it's so advanced, why did you choose to morph into a bed!? Why not morph into a murderous beast and kill us!?” Black Mage asked, although in reality he was referring to what he'd do. White Mage caught that pretty quickly.

 

“This man isn't you, BM.” She teased, “But speaking of this man… Sir, we're looking for the sage, Sarda. The Titan told us he lives here.” The old man gave her an odd look, and then laughed good-naturedly.

 

“Dear child, I AM Sarda!” he boomed, chuckling with amusement. Black Mage's eyes widened with shock.

 

“This wheezy, dried-up, old man is SARDA!?” Black Mage blurted out.

 

“In the flesh, my young mage!” Sarda said cheerfully, “Well, if Krogg let you through, is must be important that you talk to me. What can I do for such promising warriors?” Red Mage was the one who spoke this time. He took off his hat respectfully.

 

“Sir, as you know, the earth around Melmond has been rotting for years now.” Red Mage started. Sarda stroked his pearl-white beard with interest.

 

“Ah yes. Most people think that the Vampire alone is involved…” Sarda commented.

 

“But we have slain the Vampire. The problem is that we can't go deeper into the cave to find Lich, and we know he's ultimately responsible for the rot.” Red Mage explained.

 

“Yeah, because a stupid locked plate thing is blocking the path.” Thief added.

 

“Ah, I see Lich has not lightened his security for the Light Warriors… Yes, you need something to break the plate. The Earth Rod is the key to getting into Lich's domain, far beneath the Earth itself.” Sarda told them. White Mage looked impatient.

 

“But where do we find the Earth rod?” she asked. Sarda chuckled again.

 

“I have the Earth Rod right here. You may have it for your journey.” Sarda said, and handed Red Mage a heavily worn, but still serviceable rod, “I do not expect it back.”

 

“So, we just show this rod to the plate and it'll shatter?” Thief asked.

 

“No, you must strike the plate with the rod for it to take any effect whatsoever. Beware going down there, though. With the Vampire gone, Lich is sure to notice that you four are after him. I'm sure he'll send more powerful minions to stop you.” Sarda warned. Black Mage laughed, but was able to pass it off as a cough as White Mage glared at him.

 

“Yeah, but they'll be too busy with their disco party…” Black Mage mumbled. Sarda turned around to look at him cheerfully.

 

“What was that, my boy?” he asked. Black Mage smiled nervously.

 

“I said… uh… We'll be off!” Black Mage covered quickly. The four bade farewell to the old sage, and now were walking back into the Crap Cave.

 

“Let's hope this rod still has its old power…”

 

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And so, our heroes are but a step closer to finding and defeating the first of four fiends! Will the Earth Rod work? Are they strong enough to survive whatever Lich throws at them? Can they recover the Earth crystal and relight the orb in their possession? And what happened to the town Fighter was rebuilding? Find out most of the answers to this questions in the next chapter, so click that Review button!