Chapter 27 - The Journey to War

Six Black Chocobos, each carrying a ride, sped across the rugged landscape. The road they took was scarsely traveled on, and very hilly, complete with jagged rocks here and there, an absence of wildlife and plantlife, and a black-grey, forboding carpet of clouds overhead. But the Chocobos were good at traveling this sort of terrain-- while not as prodigious as the Golden Chocobo, the Black species of Chocobo could still cross many kinds of terrain, such as sharp mountains and even entire rivers or lakes as long as they weren't too deep. For this kind of versatility, the Black Chocobo had evolved into a very speedy model of itself over the years, and Clan Indigo was making progress to the sinister Jagd Ahli almost three times as fast as they would on foot, and even a little faster than if the rides were of the generic species.

Chocobos were Ivalice's answer to wild horses in Tucker's world. Free spirits, while tamable, they had a boundless thirst to run free across wild lands of the unknown; being confined in small areas could have such a stressful effect on a Chocobo that it may die of shock.

The all-purpose, all-terrain Black Chocobos, the midnight-coated stallions of Ivalice, were intelligent and loyal to anyone who shared their wild will to move and bound across lands with them. Chocobos of all kinds shared a bond with their rider, feeling the rider's desires and fears... As those desires and fears almost always determined where that rider was destined to, a Chocobo would feel the need to take him there, their dedication to their rider just barely prioritized over the bird's fighting wild instinct to simply run, run, run. Thus, Chocobos were a boon to the five civilizations of Ivalice as they slowly progressed through the stages and phases of a growing nation, acting as transports and friends to the humans, Moogles, Bangaa, Nu Mou and Viera peoples that required their service.

Today, that destination the Chocobos felt from the hearts of their riders was Jagd Ahli, the Lost City of Dread-- an old remains of a once bustling city, said to have been swallowed up by an evil air ages ago, killing off those who couldn't manage to flee. There had been numerous theories... most agreed that an evil-born wave of Miasma washed over the city from the eastern seas, either as punishment from the Totema or perhaps Dread Lord Gukko from ages past... The cause was still unknown, but the poison taken from the ground pointed to signs of Miasma when studied. Thus, the City of Ahli was designated a forbidden zone from the Palace and became Jagd Ahli-- a lawless dystopia where it was every man for himself and only the strongest and most troubled wild monsters could thrive.

That's how it remained for a long time, until only about a decade ago when the first signs of serious activity from Jagd-based clans showed up. Jagd Clans were the Ivalice equivelent of the most violent gangs in history from Tucker's world, compromised of anywhere from six to twelve elite clanners with violent, harsh and unforgiving childhoods and memories of their past... Such clanners lived by the groove of violence and war, and died by it as well, with little to no regrets.

It made sense to young Molly that a Jagd Clan would ultimately be responsible for the death of her dad. Molly's dad made some very risky, sometimes downright dangerous, deals with all kinds of people, good, bad and ugly, and when misunderstandings occured, as they always did in life, sometimes people got hurt. Molly had tried to find it in her heart to forgive the troubled members of such a clan for the grievious offense against her and her mom, but the only one she could forgive was Alastor, still feeling close to him for being in the clan for so long.

Molly and Alastor had talked a good deal over the past several moons... She knew he was troubled, in a sense she couldn't quite put her finger on. Sadly he would actually make a pretty good addition to a Jagd Clan, she thought... She had felt this way for a while, but didn't actually think it would become a reality. She rode her Chocobo without saying a word or even a kupo, pondering this happening and how ironic the ebb and flow of life itself could turn out to be.

Tucker felt as though he was going off to war. He had never been a Marine before or anything close to it, but he knew this was the same feeling those people would have had on the plane towards Germany during World War II to deploy paratroopers behind enemy lines. This coming fight meant more than the restoration of a clan. It was a symbolic battle, the fight to repair a broken heart, and Tucker would fight in the name of everyone he loved-- Mom, Gene, Cassandra, his dad whom he never got to see anymore, his friends... and Molly.

He knew he loved Molly. He disregarded the fact that she was a Moogle. Her presence triggered emotions he had never felt before, even while he was with his first girlfriend that had left him for a sports jock. He hadn't actually told her he loved her, but he saw it was as though she knew the secret as if it were really no secret at all. Judging from last night, when she had slept by his side, he felt that she loved him back... Whether it was as a friend or romantically, he wasn't sure, but he hoped he would find out before this was all over.

Elliot was... sad, in a distant way. The feeling of knowing he was actually dead made him feel very lonely. He wanted this to be over right then... so he could go to the Bangaa Promised Lands at long last, the goal of his religous journeys he had made all of his life. He had been made an Arch Bishop by Adrammelech himself after meeting him in person, something he daydreamed about occasionally when he was very young and an apprentice White Monk, doing so each time only to be scolded by his Templar and Bishop mentors in the church... He had long given up such selfish thoughts, having become a humble and devoted healer, but they still managed to come true. The feeling wasn't as happy and joyous as he had thought it would be. Instead it was an ironically draining feeling, to know he had been given great power but at such a cost... He rode on, silent as the others.

The Chocobos slowed down to a fast walk, as the dark grey skies grew darker and a wind picked up. Evening was approaching, and the landscape had changed from a craggy road to a flat badlands. Surprisingly, the air was only cool, not full-on cold, even when it began to rain shortly after... again, not full-on rain, just a drizzle. The sound of thunder boomed in the distance, and the grey skies above the horizon lit up faintly in symphonic expression. It was a beautiful, moving sight. Still no member of the party spoke a word as they rode. A crow flew overhead, circling around the clan and calling. "Caw, cawww!" Was this another symbol? The whole scene was the most beautiful, perhaps even spiritual thing Tucker had ever experienced.

As night drew close, the Chocobos stopped, a large, destroyed city gate not too far in the distance. Skulls mounted on wooden stakes stood on the sides of the gate, probably put there by a warring clan after the City of Ahli fell to the Miasma, either as a tribute or a warning, or both...

"We made it," Yinns quietly declared. "Jagd Ahli." The sight of the desolate town was nearly overwhelming. It was not scary, at least not directly... but the sight of the fog-shrouded roads, disintegrating buildings and destroyed stone was enough to leave one speechless. The word 'lost' wouldn't have been close to describing Jagd Ahli.

"And you think Alastor is in there?" Molly asked.

Yinns gave a solemn nod. "Elliot would know, kupo. Right Elliot?" Elliot nodded as well but without speaking, gripping his Snake Staff almost anxiously.

Tucker got off his Chocobo, in his hand an advanced, sawtooth-bladed knife known as a Sword Breaker. The others followed his example and ditched their rides. "Kurrrr," Tucker's Chocobo softly cooed, knowing its companion was going into battle soon. Tucker rubbed the bird's head briefly, facing the Jagd territory ahead of them. He said nothing.

Molly came up to him, and without taking his eyes off their soon-to-be battlefield he put an arm on Molly's shoulder in a big-brotherly way. He spoke after another lengthy pause.

"Everything I've worked for for 18 years may be over soon," he finally said, his voice low. "I feel like... everything I've ever done was preparing me for this moment."

Molly looked up at her friend Tucker. His expression was very serious.

"Kupo," she finally said, "We won't die. Everything will be alright."

"We don't know that, Molly." He stared down at her through his square-rimmed glasses, concerned. Then he suddenly gave a small chuckle. "We just have to watch ourselves, I guess..."

Yinns was by his other side. "You don't have to do this you know, kupo... You've only been in the clan for a day."

"Where Molly goes is where I go," he immediately replied with conviction.

"I don't want you dead," Molly responded.

"And I don't want you dead, Molly."

Elliot had his head bowed in prayer, asking the Totema to watch over them and offer their protection to the clan while they were in the Jagds. April had her Fey Bow in hand, and Theodore looked to the skies for comfort, raising his Heretic Rod in a state of half-meditation. They all had their own way of dealing with the trial that lie before them.

Finally, Yinns told the Chocobos to wait for them out of sight, and they did so with a series of sad coos. He turned to the clan. "Ready guys?"

"Until the very end, Yinns."

"Shooting straight and true, as usual!"

"In the Totema'ss name."

"Yes, kupo, I'm ready."

"Let's do this, guys."

Yinns was moved and honored to have such a loyal team of friends behind him, willing to put their lives on the line so freely for their leader... "Alright. Thanks guys. ...Onward, kupo!"

Each clanner readied a high-level weapon and proceeded, reaching the broken gate and passing into lawless territory. The Jagds. The jaws of death.