Disclaimer: I do not own Gilgamesh, or any other Squarenix character portrayed in the following story. If I did, I'd be rich. But I don't, so I'm not. Sucks, don't it? Credit to the characters and places featured in this story go the Squarenix.
Chapter III: Ship Struggle
"I'm cold!" Gilgamesh bitterly complained, for the third time in the past two minutes.
Enkidou glanced over his shoulder at him momentarily, before shaking his head, "Heard you the first time… And the second…" he commented, before focusing on the path ahead.
Gilgamesh muttered something under his breath. "Why did WE get stuck with this lousy assignment anyway?"
Three gobbledecks accompanied the mercenary and demon, and each of them looked at Gilgamesh with their own answer. "Because you botched up on the Big Bridge."
"Because lord Exdeath doesn't like you."
"Because you stink."
Gilgamesh eyed all three irritably. "I did NOT botch up the… Wait, he doesn't like… I DO NOT STINK!" he proclaimed, trying in vain to respond to each three in the same unison they had used to answer him.
Enkidou stifled a small laugh, Gilgamesh raised and arm and sniffed beneath, before shooting a glare out at the others, "See!?"
Enkidou shook his head, "Not what they meant…" Gilgamesh blinked, rather dumbfounded.
Roughly ten minutes passed, Gilgamesh let out a sneeze. Wiping his nose off on his sleeve, he took up muttering again, "Too damn cold…"
Enkidou continued forward, seemingly paying no heed to his companion. The nearest gobbledeck tilted its head slightly, "You could always try using those sneezes as a weapon? Like that one fellow…" he suggested, looking thoughtful for a moment.
Another gobbledeck reached over and swatted at it, "Idiot! You have to be a ghost for that to work!"
"And on fire!" the third chimed in.
The first glared at the others, before leaping towards them in a rather comical looking tackle. The three gobbledecks engaged in such a silly combat, that even Gilgamesh – Usually amused by such things – Turned away, shaking his head. "Exactly WHY did we bring them along again?" he asked.
Enkidou shrugged, "Same reason you were sent I'd gather." He smugly replied.
Gilgamesh nodded his head slightly, before the green-skinned demon's words sunk in. "HEY!"
After pulling the three gobbledecks off each other, Gilgamesh and Enkidou led the trio to the shoreline. An early morning fog had rolled in, cloaking their approach. Gilgamesh squinted to make out the large shapes out on the water; ships. A whole fleet of them. They bore the emblem of king Xezat, one of the four warriors of dawn, like Galuf. "There they are…" Enkidou murmured, nodding at the ships.
Gilgamesh tilted his head slightly, "So… What, do we warp over there?" he asked.
The green demon hung his head, "No, I figured we could swim out there and ask to be brought aboard. OF COURSE WE WARP!" he exclaimed, pointing out the immense stupidity of the mercenary's question.
Gilgamesh frowned slightly, before opening his book, and flipping through it. He'd nearly found the page when Enkidou snatched it away. "I'd best do the casting…" he muttered.
Gilgamesh scowled, "And just why is that?" he asked.
"Remember what happened last time?"
"That was an honest mistake. I thought it said warp!" the mercenary shot back.
"Uh huh, and the time before that?" questioned the demon.
"HEY! It is NOT my fault that they stuck fire next to cure in the spell book!" the mercenary exclaimed with a stomp of his foot.
Enkidou gave him a blank stare and examined the book. The green demon flipped through a few pages, before he found what he sought. "Here we are…" Enkidou murmured the spell, before raising one clawed hand and proclaiming, "Warp!"
In an instant, he, Gilgamesh, and the three gobbledecks vanished. When Gilgamesh next opened his eyes, he was greeted by a most unfriendly sight. Enemy soldiers, lots of them, had surrounded the group. "Crap…" he murmured.
Enkidou threw the book to the deck and rushed forward, slamming into two soldiers, and knocking one of the hapless pair overboard. The second fell onto his back in a dazed state. The gobbledecks, chittering madly, rushed forward to engage the enemy, while two other soldiers converged on Gilgamesh. The mercenary grinned, "Ha! Prepare to taste my power!" he exclaimed, which caused both soldiers to stop and give him odd looks.
The mercenary shook his head and drew his spear, "Shut up, shut up! I didn't mean it that way!"
For having been beaten – Rather easily – By the crystal warriors in the passed, Gilgamesh proved to be an exceptional fighter against those unaided by the light. When one soldier struck out, Gilgamesh avoided and struck the other. This system had worked until one of the soldiers had fallen. The remaining one slashed downwards with his blade. Gilgamesh raised his spear and blocked with the shaft. When the blade sunk into the metal spear shaft, the mercenary kicked out with on swift motion and struck the soldier square in the chest, knocking him overboard. "Gilgamesh!" a voice cried, one of some familiarity.
The mercenary turned his head to see Bartz, and his friends, rushing towards him. Throwing his spear to the deck of the ship, Gilgamesh gestured towards them, "Oh come ON! You four, again?" he cried out.
Bartz grinned, and took up his spear. The mercenary readied his own… Wait, where DID his spear go? He quickly looked around, but could not locate it. Faris coughed, drawing his attention to her… Where she held a familiar weapon, in a rather cocky manner. Lousy thieves…
Weaponless, Gilgamesh took a step back. Some commotion from the ship to the right drew all attention there. King Xezat was being pursued by one of the gobbledecks. Xezat leaped away to avoid one attack, and raised his sword. A lightning bolt struck the poor gobbledeck, which promptly fell over. And twitched. With a savage cry, Enkidou dropped from the sky, and slammed into Xezat with his wings. The swordsman, though powerful, did not anticipate the attack, and collapsed. "Xezat!" Galuf cried, rushing to the side of the ship and leaping to the next to help his friend.
Bartz's spear cut through the air just before Gilgamesh, quickly reminding the mercenary that he was still very much in a fight. And still very much weaponless. Continuing to back up, the mercenary's foot struck something metal, causing his gaze to shift down. A sword! It belonged to one of the soldiers and… And he'd stepped on it! Clutching his foot, Gilgamesh cried out in pain. "Ow, ow, ow!" he exclaimed, tipping over to one side.
Flailing his arms about to try and stabilize his balance, the mercenary managed to strike Bartz, who had drawn to close. Gilgamesh fell, and landed beside the blade. Promptly seizing the weapon, he held it out towards Leena and Faris, trying to cut an intimidating figure, despite being injured. From the way they continued towards him, chances were good it didn't work. However, a familiar rush of air from behind signaled that Enkidou had landed. "Took you long enough. First aid please!" the mercenary called.
"Sorry, the old man gave me some trouble…" the demon muttered, before chanting a spell.
A silvery gust of wind enveloped Gilgamesh, and the mercenary stood once more. "Ah ha!" he cried, jumping towards Leena.
The pink haired girl was surprisingly quick, and shifted to one side, allowing the blade to pass harmlessly by. Quickly, the jabbed out with her elbow, and caught Gilgamesh square in the chest, driving him back. From summoner to monk, what DIDN'T those crystals do? Enkidou pulled Gilgamesh to his feet, before rushing passed him. His sharp claws clanged against the thin blade of Faris. Still dressed in the attire of a samurai, the lavender haired woman put up quite a fight against the experienced demon. With her sword, she could not seem to land a blow. With a quick gesture, however, a large coin struck Enkidou, winding him. Without hesitating a moment, Faris ran her blade through him. "Enkidou!" Gilgamesh cried in disbelief.
The demon had been slain. Then what chance did HE have? A quick look around showed Gilgamesh that none of the gobbledecks remained. The mercenary ran towards the front of the ship, stopping just short of the end. Bartz, rushing passed Leena and Faris, struck out with his spear. Gilgamesh spun about, and grasped the end, making sure not to accidentally grab the spearhead… Like he'd been known to do in the past. Ripping it free from Bartz's grasp, the mercenary spun it about to use for himself. Pointing the spear at Bartz, the mercenary grinned, "Ah ha!" he cried…
Before a one eyed demon appeared before him. Its bluish grey fur did little to distract the mercenary from its crimson, pulsing eye. In the blink of an eye – Quite literally – Gilgamesh was unable to move a muscle. Approaching the now statue-esque Gilgamesh, Bartz, took back his spear, before tapping his finger against the mercenary's head, and tipping him off the deck. The ability to petrify was something to marvel at. Not only did it turn people to stone, but it also made them incredibly light. As he fell into the ocean, and quickly sunk – Hey, he's light, but still rock – Gilgamesh could think of only one thing.
Exdeath was NOT going to like this…