Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Ninety-ninth Sacrifice ❯ XVI ( Chapter 16 )

XVI

990 S.A.

 

“Argh!” shouted Jecht, cutting the head off of one last fiend. “Do they not stop coming in this accursed field?” Running forward to attack an oncoming drake, Jecht sliced down hard with a speed the drake couldn't match. “Why couldn't we have just caught one of them bird things?”

“Do you know how hard chocobos are to catch?” asked Auron, cracking the shell of another fiend with his heavy sword. “There'd be no point. All we'd be doing is chasing chocobos about this place.”

In a flurry of ice from Braska's new aeon, the Shiva disappeared and all of the fiends died. “There, now we have a bit of piece until we reach Mt. Gagazet.”

“Why don't I like the sound of that?” panted Jecht, reaching for something out of his bag. “Now, don't you think it's the time to make another one of these things?”

“What I don't get Jecht,” said Auron, thrusting his right arm back inside his jacket, “Is that you make them and then just leave them anywhere.”

“I don't know,” said Jecht, placing the sphere recording device on the ground in front of the group. It started to record while they were talking, much like the other ones. “If my boy is in the future somewhere, he might find one of these and have a reminder of his old man.”

“Huh,” said Braska. “That makes sense. I should make one just for Yuna then.”

“Do it on Gagazet,” said Auron, walking away from the group towards the entrance to the Gagazet trails. “We should get prepared down here, where it's warm. The trails on Mt. Gagazet are harsh, or so I've heard, and we'll have no help from the Ronso.”

“The Ronso?” asked Jecht, letting the thing still record. “What are Ronso?”

“The race that live on the mountain,” answered Braska. “They are a furry race, making them look more like dogs with two legs than men. But, they also have a horn in the middle of their heads, unlike dogs. You'll have a better understanding of what they are when you see them.”

“Why can't we just go around Mt. Gagazet?” asked Jecht.

“The mountain is too large, and directly on the other side of the mountain is Zanarkand,” said Auron. “Or, at least that's what the map says.”

“Huh,” said Jecht, gulping in air as he began to tread on a steep, snowy trail. “That map sure has come in handy.”

***

“You were right about the Ronso,” said Jecht, “They sure didn't help us. Had their heads up their butts too much to even notice us.”

“Oh, come now,” said Braska. “That Kimarhi fellow wasn't all that bad.”

“Of course not,” said Auron, “He's a runt with his horn cut off. He has to be nice or he would probably get killed.”

Sighing, Braska asked Jecht, “Do you have one of those recording spheres handy?”

“Here you go,” said Jecht, giving it to Braska. “All you do is press the little button on the bottom and then look at it when you're talking.”

“Okay then,” said Braska, pushing the button. “Hello Yuna ….”

 

***

 

Jecht was the first to reach the top of the mountain. Behind him, still inside the cave, was Braska being helped along by Auron. “C'mon Braska!” shouted Jecht, his voice echoing throughout the cave. “Once you reach outside it gets warmer and we can rest!”

“Wait,” said Braska, collapsing onto the smooth limestone of the cave. “It's too calm. There's something waiting for us up there. We have to rest now, and then meet it head on.” Taking his staff, Braska raised it above their heads and a white light engulfed them all, healing their wounds and fatigue. “There,” said Braska, “Everyone feeling up to a big fight?”

Jecht said, “Sure,” and Auron only shrugged.

 

 

 

 

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