I do not own Final Fantasy IX at all , but however I do own Luna, Iriador and Hectra.
Forgotten Birthright
Chapter Four: Gizamalukes Grotto
Light shining on her eyes woke Iriador the next morning. Grumbling she opened one eye and glared at the sun as it peaked in through the open curtains.
"Could have sworn I closed them last night." She grumbled as she turned over and pulled the covers over her head. She hadn't had a chance to have a really good sleep over the last few days. Riding for two days without any rest would have been bad enough but it wasn't just that. Her father had made sure to drill one lesson into her early on: only an idiot slept without someone on watch when they were outside of the cities. Luna had helped her but last night was the first time she had gotten a good nights sleep in since she left home. She sighed and closed her eyes full intending to go back to sleep.
"Are you going to sleep all day?" She heard Luna ask in an amused tone.
"Maybe" She grumbled and pulled the covers father over her head. She tired to get back to sleep but the inticing smell of breakfast crept through the blankets. Cautiously she peaked out and saw Luna sitting at the small table that was in their room, grinning. When she saw her companion looking in her direction she picked up one of the muffins and took a bite. Iriador stuck her tongue out at her companion then tried to turn around and go back to sleep…but her stomach let out a growl at that exact moment and she heard Luna laughing. With a disgusted snort the young woman through the blankets off her body. "Fine! If everyone is so intent on ruining my beauty sleep, then I suppose I might as well get out of bed." She grumbled as she rolled of the bed and padded over to the table.
"Beauty sleep?" Luna inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, shut up Luna." The black-haired girl growled as she sat down to eat.
"That isn't a very nice good morning." The mage commented.
"It's to early to be nice." Iriador shoot back.
"Iriador, it's nearly ten-thirty."
"WHAT!?" She looked up shocked. "Why didn't you wake me up?"
"I have been up since seven and I didn't think that you were normally and early riser I let you sleep." The mage smiled ruefully. "Besides I wanted to explore. This is the first time I've been in a palace."
"Mine too you know! I would've went with you!"
"I wanted to explore alone."
"Selfish little b…!"
"Iriador language."
"Oh shut up!" Iriador finished her breakfast and looked up in time to see her companion opening the door. "Where are you going now?" Luna looked back at her.
"I talked to one of the servants when the brought the meal. They said that they would have a map of Lindblum ready for me in the Library after we had eaten."
"Oh. A map was a good idea though."
"I know. Now get dressed, and maybe when I come back you won't be try to bite my head off." The mage shut the door behind her and Iriador winced. She had been a bit snappish to Luna but it wasn't her fault. She didn't really know what was happening anymore. Back at home things had been simple, she helped Dad tend the Chocobos in the morning and then when he went to town Mom had taught her to read. Later, if there was enough light left, Dad would giver her weapons lessons or taker her monster hunting. Now thought…everything was going to fast for her. The picture she had help of her parents, simple people who liked to live a quite life, was being shattered. They were friends with one of the eight heroes, and knew someone high up in Lindblum. It didn't make sense, how could her mother, a woman who went out of her way to avoid people whenever possible know someone that powerful? It didn't make sense but then nothing did anymore, at least not to her. With a sigh Iriador picked up her clothes and changed out of her nightgown. Freya had better keep her promise and tell her everything once they got to Lindblum or she might go mad because of the questions buzzing around in her skull. The Summoner was running a brush through her hair when someone knocked on the door.
"Are you dressed yet Iriador?" Luna's voice called out.
"Yeah!" She yelled back. The door opened and Luna walked with Puck right behind her.
"Good morning Pu… I mean Good morning your highness." The prince waved a hand.
"'s okay, no one's with me. You two ready to leave yet?" He asked.
"Almost." She answered as she pulled her hair back into a braid. As soon as she was done she quickly stuffed the few items that she had taken out back into her bag. "Ready."
"Finally" Luna remarked as she adjusted the pack one her back. Iriador shoot her friend a look as the walked out the door but because she wasn't going to say anything rude to her with Puck around, stuck her tongue out at the mage instead. Luna frowned then mouthed the word "juvenile" at Iriador as the rounded a corner. After several minuets of walking Puck lead them to the front door of the castle.
"Don't people get lost in there?" Iriador asked him as the exited the palace.
"Eh, once in a while…." The Prince answered hesitantly.
"Then why did you build like that? It seems more like a maze than a castle!" The raven-haired Summoner said pointedly.
"Yeah, it took me at least fifteen minuets to find my way back to our room this morning." Luna chimed in. "Who designed it like that in the first place?"
"Welllll….." Puck looked slightly embarrassed. "It was my old man's idea. He wanted Burmicia to be rebuilt better than it was before the war, so he got a bunch of weird architects to design the palace. One of 'um had some really weird ideas, but we couldn't get most of them to work. The place ended up with more hallways then we could ever use and stair cases that go nowhere." He shrugged. "I kinda got use to it after a while."
"What was the architect's name?" Luna asked, curiously.
"Can't really remember, think it was Esther or somethin' like that…Hey there's the air ship!" The Prince grinned and pointed toward the landing area. A large cargo ship hovered there, the crest of Lindblum clear even from this distance. "Come on! Don't want to keep Lady Freya waiting do ya?"
"Course not!" Iriador said as all three of them broke into a run. "I want to know what's going on!"
By the time they had reached the airship, most of the goods had been already been loaded. As the walked up to the ramp, several of the crewmen lead Star up it. Upon seeing her owner the Chocobo stopped and kwehed at her. One of the crewmen gave another tug on her reins and shouted something at the bird. With a muffled wark Comet began to move. Iriador tried to stifle her giggle as her Chocobo was loaded on board. As she watched a sudden thought occurred to her.
"How long will it take us to get to Lindblum?" She asked Luna
"How I am I suppose to know?" The silver haired mage snapped. Iriador blinked and opened her mouth to ask what was the matter but Puck cut her off.
"'bout an hour or so." The prince stated. "It's not really that far from here really but you've got the mountains in between us so it takes longer on foot."
"There's a way to get though the mountains on foot?" Iriador asked curiously. She only knew about the North and South Gates that were around Alexandria.
"Sure. If you go north…" Puck waved his hand in that general direction. "You reach Gilmazukes Grotto. If you manage to get through there then you end up on the other side of the mountains. From there, if you go straight it's less then half a days ride away from Lindblum"
"What do your mean 'if you get through'? Are the monsters in there particular tough or something?" The Summoner wanted to know. Puck snorted.
"Nah, but the guards won't let just anyone through, Master Gilmazuke won't allow it. You have to have written permission from the king or an official like Freya to get through. Goes the same way if you try to come back to Burmicia, 'cept you have to have something from Lindblum instead." Iriador was trying to figure out a tactful way to ask whom Master Gizamaluke was when a Freya's voice sounded from behind them.
"Good Morning, Iriador, Luna. Greetings Your Highness." The advisor said as she walked up to the trio.
"Morning Lady Freya." Iriador responded.
"Good Morning."
"Hey, Freya"
"Did you sleep well?" She asked the two girls.
"Yes." Was Luna's response. Iriador grinned.
"Yeah. It was nice having a bed to sleep in after camping out for the past few days." Lady Freya, Advisor to the King of Burmicia looked at the young woman and laughed.
"That almost sounds like something Zidane would say…." She grinned.
"How do you know my father anyway?" The young woman asked suddenly. She hopped she could startled Freya into giving her a straight answer. The advisor opened her mouth, then closed it again and smiled.
"Nice try Iriador, but I already told you it will be easier to explain once we get to Lindblum." She said.
"Man." The Summoner grumbled as she kicked at the ground before heading toward the airship with a dejected sigh. "It was worth a try." Luna shook her head and followed her friend. Freya chuckled and turned to follow them just as a siren pierced the dawn quiet.
SCCCCCCCCCCCCCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
"What in the hell is that sound?" Iriador screamed as she tried to make herself heard over the racket.
"'s the alarm, but it's only used in major emergencies!" Puck shouted back at her.
"Somebody go and find out what this is all about!" Freya shouted at the soldiers that had been accompanying her. "I want to know why…."
"Lady Freya!" Someone shouted. Everyone turned just as the alarm quite ringing! "I need Lady Freya!" A Burmician soldier panted as he raced into the square.
"I'm here." The female Burmician stepped forward. "What is it? What's going on."
"Lady Freya, it's the mist monsters!" He gasped out
"What about them?" Freya asked frowning.
"They're attacking!"
"What!?" Before the messenger could elaborate an explosion sounded from near the city walls.
"Over there!" Iriador heard one of the guard shout and point toward the sound of the explosion. The Summoner followed the direction of his finger and gasped. A large ironite hovered over the city it's white hide almost glowing in the early morning sun. The dragon opened it's mouth and let out a roar, which was followed almost immediately by the beasts flame attack. Behind it more of it's kind flew over the wall and zipped toward other parts of the city, leaving destruction in their wake. Behind her someone cursed.
"Lady Freya, what should we do now!?" The messenger was almost panicking as he looked at the advisor.
"Tell the General to send guards to secure the palace. Evacuate as many people as possible to the palace, it's the most secure location in the city. Make sure there are soldiers available to guard the civilians as the make there way there. Those are my direct orders, make sure the General gets them! Go!" With a hurried salute the messenger turned and ran toward the center of the city. As Freya turned to shouting orders to the guards Iriador just stood their frozen. This is like……exactly like….. The Summoner gulped. What happened back home. From the corner of her eye she saw Freya grab Pucks arm and whisper something into his ear. However her mind was replaying the events that lead up to her flight from her house. Her mothers strange behavior, her fathers suggestion, buying the supplies….then…then the Mistadons charging into town.
"Are you alright?" Luna's voice interrupted her daydream. The young woman shook her head and looked over at the mage.
"Fine." She said dully.
"Iriador, Luna! Over here!" Freya called out and beckoned for the two of them. The two dodged a few soldiers as the ran over to join the Burmician. She began to speak the moment they were within ear shoot. "Iriador I am sorry but we won't be able to get off the ground, not surround by dragons anyway. And I won't be able to come to Lindblum with you, Burmicia has survived worse things but we have wounded and property damage. I'll be needed here, to help the King manage things."
"Then what are we suppose to do?" Iriador asked. The Summoner could feel her heart hammering as she asked because she had a sinking feeling that she knew that answer.
"I thought something like this would happen, even if I was hoping it wouldn't." Iriador blinked at Freya, she had suspected something like this would happen? Why? She had to know.
"I had a backup plan just in case." Puck came up behind her leading Comet by the reins. Freya took them and handed them to Iriador. Then with a sigh Freya took a small envelope out of her pocket. "I had hopped it wouldn't come to this." She said as she handed it over. Puzzled Iriador took it.
"What is this?" She asked Freya. The advisor grinned tiredly.
"It's a letter of the guards and Gizamalukes Grotto. It should get you through." A dragon screamed close to their position. Freya glanced in the direction the noise had come from, an alarmed look on her face. "You have go, now!"
"Why are you….." Luna started to ask.
"No time for questions!" Freya grabbed Iriadors shoulders and pushed toward a small alleyway. "Follow that alley. There's a door to the tunnel that leads to outside the city at the end, his majesty had it built for emergencies just like this. Outside the city go north until you reach Gizamalukes Grotto, the guards will tell you where to go once you reach the other side, now GO!!!" The advisor gave her a push and then turned and ran toward the other side of the square, shouting orders as she did.
"Freya…." Iriador paused for a second looking back before Luna grabbed her arm.
"Come on!" The mage said and tugged her toward the alley. "We don't have time for this!" Iriador glanced back once more before she turned and followed her friend. They weren't far into the narrow street when a screech announced the arrival of an ironite right over there heads. Iriador reached for her mace, heart hammering in her ribs, but before she could do anything a streak of lighting rammed into the dragon. With a scream the monster flew out of their line of vision.
"Th..thanks." Iriadors stammer out.
"No problem." Luna replied. "But I will say this Iriador, traveling with you had been the most….interesting experience of my life!" With a helpless shrug the Summoner grinned and started forward once again.
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Freya watched the Iriador and her friend run away from the battle, eyes showing worry. It wasn't the battle that had her concerned, she wasn't even remotely worried about that. Iornites were weak and the average Burmician soldier was more than a match for a dragon. The only reason that there were any dragon still in the city was because there were so many!
"Freya!" She turned around and greeted Puck as he walked up. He was carrying a spear that dripped blood and had a scratch on his arm. "You sure it's a good to send them off like that? We can clear these things out in a couple of hours and I'm sure you can convince my Dad to let you go with 'um…." Freya shook her head.
"No. It's better this way."
"Huh?" The Burmician Prince scratched his head and looked over her. "Wha…?" Freya looked over at him, eyes solemn.
"Gaia had been at peace for over a decade Puck. We have had mist monsters to worry about, sure, but nothing serious. Now, exactly eighteen years after Dagger left Alexandria the mist monsters have suddenly become more numerous, more aggressive. Something has started to attack Genomes as well" Freya's voice was the most serious that Puck had ever heard it. "and the only heir to the throne of Alexandria happens to be half-genome."
"Shit!" Puck swore and looked over at her with wide eyes. "You don't mean that…"
"Someone knows who Iriador is…..someone powerful. If she were traveling by airship it would be easy for someone to track her. Maybe whoever wants her will lose Iriador if she follows the ground route…or at least that's what I hope."
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"Are you sure this is the place?"
"Do you see anymore doors around here!?" Iriador glanced skeptically at the door once more.
"If you really think this is the place…"
"I'm sure, this has to be it!!!" Luna growled and glared at the younger woman. This was at least the tenth time she had asked the same inane question. Still the mage had to admit that Iriador had a point. The door looked like it was made of bronze, but it was hard to tell since the years had turned it green. The atmosphere her, like the rest of Burmicia, was wet and moss and started to grow on the rocks around the portal giving it the appearance of immobility. About the only sign that anyone had visited the area recently was the cleared area where the door swung open the footprints that lead up to the door.
"Fine, you don't have to so huffy." Iriador commented as she walked up and knocked on the door. Immediately a small door at the top slide back and one of the Burmician soldiers glared out at them.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" However was on the other side of the portal snapped out in annoyance. "No one is allowed to go through the Grotto!"
"Talk about rude!" Iriador muttered under her breath to Luna before she spoke up. "Iriador Tribal and Luna Thann, we have permission from Lady Freya to take to go through Gizamalukes Grotto."
"Lady Freya?" The guard sounded surprised but then he glared at them suspiciously. "How do I know your not lying?"
"Look we have a letter!" Iriador waved the piece of paper at the guard. "Read it if you don't believe us!"
"Hold on." The guard instructed before he closed the door at the top. Within a few seconds a small bell rang somewhere. Almost immediately the door creaked open and revealing the guard that they had been talking too stood in the threshold frowning. "Let's see it." He held out his hand.
"Here." Iriador handed the paper over. As the guard read the letter the two young women peered over his shoulder. Behind the door was as a small room that seemed to serve as a guard post. Right across from where they were standing there another door, only this one was open. From where they were standing the young women could see what looked like a long walkway that lead deeper into the Grotto.
"How do I know this isn't a fake?" The guard looked up at them suspiciously. The Summoner blinked at him.
"It's not" She said confused.
"Prove it." The guard demanded. "Show me proof that this isn't a forgery."
"Proof, PROOF!" Luna forced her way passed Iriador and glared up at the guard. "Look, Sir, I have been chased halfway across the continent in the last week or so. I have faced Ironites and Grand Dragons. I have risked my life over and over so I can get to Lindblum! Now you" She poked a finger at the guard who took an involuntary step backwards. "want me to show you proof! Bah!" The mage threw her hands in the air and turned on her heel. "Come on Iriador, lets see if we can some other way to get to Lindblum!" She said as she grabbed the Summoners hand.
"Luna, wait!" The younger woman protested. The guard had been staring at them with his mouth open but now managed to recovers some of his wits.
"Then go!" He snapped at them. "and good riddance!" Luna opened her mouth to reply but something cut her.
Let them through
. Iriador blinked and rubbed her ears. She couldn't tell whether she was hearing the voice with her ears or her mind or both."Master Gizamaluke!" The Guard spun around and looked over at the open door. "Why would you…"
Just let them through.
Iriador hear/felt him say. She gulped. No one, except the Burmicians, knew who or what Master Gizamaluke was. It looked like she was going to find out."Very well Master." The guard sighed and motioned them inside. He glared when Comet ducked to come through the opening. "Do you have to bring that!?" He demanded.
"Yes." Iriador said and tightened her grip on the reins. The guard looked like he was going to argue but then he decided better.
"Fine, follow me." He lead them through the door at the other end of the chamber. The emerged onto a walkway that was surrounded by water. On the left side the water was clear all the up to the wall but on the left….. Iriador took a step backwards as she looked up into a the snake like face of Master Gizamaluke. She would have known who it was even if the Guard hadn't bowed to him. The Summoner couldn't tell for sure how she knew, she just did. Gizamaluke didn't say anything more as they made their way through the chamber and Iriador was glade for that. Somehow she didn't think she could stand talking with him face to face. But as she passed into the next cavern she could have sworn she hear a voice whisper in her mind.
Good luck Summoner.
And because no one glanced her way she knew it was a message for her and her alone."What is he?" She asked the guard as soon as they were out of ear shoot.
"I don't know." He admitted. "They say that he was here when this place was first discovered but no one knows how he got here or why he was there. All we do know is that he's very old and very wise."
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For her perch onto of a mountain Psyche watched her prey disappear into the mountain. She ruffled her immature wings and winced. Hectra wouldn't like it. She had failed for the third time. But it wasn't her fault really, she didn't know that the girl would run off with the Ultima Weapon that first time and then she hadn't known that the girl could summon, Garland had said she was too young to be able. Showed what he knows. She thought as she watched the door that they had disappeared into. Psyche winced as she thought of the punishment that awaited her when she returned home empty handed. Hectra wouldn't kill her….at least she hoped that she couldn't. Her older sister had changed so much in the last few years that she was almost unrecognizable
Hectra had never what you could call kind to her younger sister but she had mostly ignored Psyche anyway and the younger girl had been comfortable with that. On the few occasions when she had tried to help her "big sis" she had been driven away. According to Hectra it was because she was too young to remember the War and wouldn't understand. Psyche had accepted this and had been moderately happy with her life. But now….
Ever since Hectra had made that deal with Garland she had become more savage and unpredictable, expecting Psyche to be able to do things that she hadn't been taught to or were beyond her abilities, then punishing her when she failed. Garland always hung around and watched. Psyche had a suspicion that he was causing Hectra to acted this way but she couldn't prove. Besides if the tried to tell her sister then Hectra would simply beat her and not listen. A sudden chirp and at her feet snapped the girl back to reality. She grinned down at the small Mu that was sitting at her feet.
"I suppose we should stop the battle before anyone else gets hurt, huh?" She asked it and scratched it behind the ears. She tried to spread her wings but winced when the stretched farther then they should be able to at this point in her growth. Psyche couldn't wait until her wings were able to carry her in flight but until then…. She reached up letting out a long whistle and almost immediately the ironite that had been dozing higher up on the mountain woke up and glided down to her. I'll use someone else's wings. She thought as she mounted the dragon. As the flew toward Burmicia Psyche couldn't help glancing back at the door into Gizamalukes Grotto, an old phrase flirting through her mind as she did so.
Remember….our kind may be able to control the Mist Monster that populate our world but the Summoners control the Eidolons. This is the way it always has been and the way it always will be.
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Iriador couldn't help letting out a small sigh of relief when the reached from Gizamalukes Grotto. As their guide showed the guards at this end the letter the Summoner puzzled over something that the guard had said. It had taken them longer than it should have to get through the tunnels, mostly because of the monsters that seemed to be everywhere.
"Why don't you just wipe them out?" Luna asked furiously after she had killed her fourth monster. "It would make this a lot easier for travelers."
"Travelers aren't suppose to come through here." The guard answered. "And we have killed all the monster in here before, they just keep coming back. Besides it's not as bad as you think, they don't come into Master Gizamalukes grotto or the guard houses."
"But why do the monster come back?" Iriador couldn't help muttering. Luna nudged her but none of the guards had heard.
"Okay, you can go through." One of the guards ran ahead and opened the door. "Just go straight once you get out of the valley. You should find Lindblum's Dragon's Gate with no trouble." As soon as she was clear of the tunnel Iriador dropped Comet's reins and stretched.
"It's good to be out there!" The black-haired girl exclaimed.
"Iriador, Shush!" Luna hissed but the door to the Grotto was already closed.
"What are you waiting for?" Iriador asked as she grabbed Comets reins and jumped on to the Chocobos back. "Let's go!"
"Fine." The mage grumbled and got on behind her. With a quick kick Iriador started the Chocobo forward.
Both girls were glad that their directions were accurate. It was a straight line to Lindblum and on a gold Chocobo like Comet it didn't take that long, even with a detour.
"I don't' care Iriador! I am not wading through a swamp! Just go around it!"
Now at last they both stood in front of the Dragon Gate.
"Are you ready?" Iriador gulped and looked over at Luna.
"As ready as I'll ever be." The Summoner answered.
"Then lets go." Luna hopped down and started toward the Gate. Iriador stayed on Comet's back for a few more seconds before she took a deep breath and followed the mage.
"Fine." She said weakly as she stared up at the Gates. Gates that lead to answers that Iriador was being to wonder if she really wanted to know.
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AN: Okay, Okay over six months since I last updated and I'm really sorry! I just had a lot of trouble figuring out how to start this chapter and then things kept me from finishing it. Again I'm sorry. Anyway, not much happened in this chapter besides some characterization and moving the Luna and Iriador. Next chapter however they will reached Lindblum! I'm not going to give anything away but expect a few more "old faces" to show up!
Anyway I want to thank everyone who bothered to review this, it's because of you that this is my most popular fic! And I would also like to give special thanks to anyone who put me on their favorite author/author alert lists! It's nice to know that I'm that well liked!
And as soon as I finish the next chapter of Dragoons of the Sacred Jewel (which is half finished) I will immediately start word on Chapter five! Promise!
Thanks again and R &R.
--Plantress